The four temples were positioned in the four cardinal directions of the town, and today, they were visiting the Snake God Temple, which wasn’t actually on Snake God Mountain but on a hill in the middle of Snake God Town, at the center of the four temples.
Although not located in the towering mountains, the Snake God Temple was still perched on a hill within the town.
Every visitor who came here would visit the Snake God Temple on their first day. Legend has it that the snake god ascended to the heavens from the very hill where the temple now stands. After the snake god’s ascension, a lingering divine aura remained in the area, transforming the hill into a sacred place.
To preserve the divine aura, people built the Snake God Temple here to enshrine the true form of the snake god. Around the temple, the four great temples of the east, west, south, and north were constructed to form a protective array.
Bai Lixin followed the four girls to the foot of the Snake God Temple hill, where Dong Jing was already waiting.
Standing beside Dong Jing was a young man dressed in a clean white T-shirt. He was handsome and elegant, making people unable to take their eyes away.
Min Min’s eyes immediately lit up. She quickened her pace, approaching the young man and looking him up and down. “Jing Jing, is this your brother?”
Dong Jing’s eyes flushed with surprise. “You four look so beautiful today.”
Min Min twisted her waist and struck a graceful pose. “Surprised? Jing Jing, why didn’t you tell us sooner that your hometown had such a delicacy as dragon meat?”
“Because dragon meat can only be eaten within Snake God Mountain,” Dong Jing replied with a slightly apologetic smile. “You can’t take it out.”
Min Min was curious. “Why can’t you take it out?”
Dong Jing explained, “Dragon meat is nourished by the divine energy of Snake God Mountain. Once it leaves the mountain, it immediately turns into rotten meat. I’ve tried bringing some to you before, but it got rotten the moment I left Snake God Town. I didn’t tell you because I thought you wouldn’t believe me.”
She paused. “We still have some dragon meat at home, which my mother saved to treat you all. If you don’t mind, you can come to my house to eat it.”
On hearing this, the girls’ eyes lit up at this, and they agreed eagerly.
Dong Jing: “Tomorrow night, then. Tonight won’t work. I’ll ask my mom to marinate the dragon meat, and tomorrow night we’ll make soup. Our dragon meat soup is the best. You’ll definitely love it.”
The young man next to Dong Jing smiled politely, “Hello, I’m Dong Jing’s brother, Dong Qing.”
Min Min immediately wrapped herself around Dong Jing’s arm like a water snake, “Brother Qing, Jing Jing is our good friend, and you are her brother, so you are our brother too.”
Dong Qing’s voice was gentle, his manner elegant, like a nobleman from a wealthy family in ancient times. “I know. Thank you for taking care of Dong Jing at school. I owe you my gratitude.”
Min Min deftly moved from Dong Jing to Dong Qing, naturally wrapping her arm around his, her tone intimate, “It was nothing, but Brother Qing, how do you plan to thank us?”
Dong Qing didn’t look flustered by her proximity, and smiled calmly, “How about I pledge myself to you?”
When he said it, it was impossible to tell whether he was joking or serious.
Min Min was momentarily stunned, then let out a burst of laughter like silver bells, and she snuggled in Dong Qing’s chest, “Brother Qing, you’re making me blush.”
Dong Qing calmly pushed her away, “We’ll continue discussing when you’re not blushing anymore. For now, let’s start climbing.”
Min Min was a little confused. She stood there and watched Dong Qing’s retreating figure, unsure of what to think. After a few seconds, she slowly followed the group.
Dong Qing walked at the front, clearing the way for the girls. The short-haired girl never missed a chance to mock Min Min. Now she sidled up to her, and lowered her voice in a sarcastic tone, “Vixen, you were trying to act all coy, and now the duck you cooked has flown away, huh?”
Min Min glanced lazily at the short-haired girl, “What do you know? This is called playing hard to get. If men get something too easily, they won’t cherish it.”
The short-haired girl responded, “Watch yourself. You can’t have sex while you’re on Snake God Mountain.”
Min Min snorted dismissively, “Yeah, yeah, I know what I’m doing.”
Snake God Mountain wasn’t tall, but it was steep.
The mountain had 999 steps, and it was said that only those who prostrated every three steps were truly devout.
Many pious believers were prostrating every three steps, but the group of girls felt exhausted and simply walked.
After a while, Min Min was panting and clinging to Dong Qing’s arm, “Brother Qing, I can’t walk anymore.”
Dong Qing hoisted Min Min onto his back without a word.
Carrying Min Min, he climbed the steps effortlessly, without breaking a sweat or even breathing hard, his face as calm as ever.
Min Min’s hand lightly brushed against Dong Qing’s biceps and chest. “Brother Qing, you’re really in good shape.”
Dong Qing: “I often eat dragon meat. Of course, I’m in good shape.”
Hearing this, the short-haired girl became interested. “Does eating dragon meat make you stronger?”
Dong Qing: “Of course. You can think of dragon meat as containing immortal energy. What do you think happens when a mortal eats immortal energy?”
“Extend their lifespan?” the short-haired girl guessed.
Dong Qing: “More than that. They can transform themselves entirely.”
The short-haired girl’s eyes lit up with excitement. “So if I eat a lot of dragon meat, could I compete in international sports competitions?”
“There’s a chance,” Dong Qing replied with a smile.
Min Min tightened her arms around Dong Qing’s neck. “Brother Qing, are you this handsome because of the dragon meat too?”
Dong Qing chuckled, “Yeah, when I was a kid, I was really ugly. According to my mom, I was so ugly that I would’ve had to buy a bride.”
Min Min playfully punched Dong Qing’s back, “Brother Qing, that’s terrible! Buying and selling people is illegal!”
Dong Qing laughed heartily, “Luckily, our family had dragon meat, so I didn’t have to walk down that criminal path.”
Min Min: “So if I eat more, will I get even prettier?”
Dong Qing: “You’re already as beautiful as a fairy. If you eat more dragon meat, you might turn into a goblin. And by then, you’d better not show up in front of me.”
Min Min: “Why?”
Dong Qing teased, “Because I might not be able to resist proposing to you.”
Min Min smiled so hard her eyes almost disappeared.
Dong Qing’s gentleness, humor, and charm soon captivated the four girls. They all crowded around him, gradually forgetting about Bai Lixin behind them.
Bai Lixin quietly followed, his gaze subtly scanning the surroundings.
Narrowing his eyes, he noticed a faint blue mist lingering around the mountain.
The mist shimmered faintly, emitting an eerie glow.
The higher they climbed, the lighter the mist became.
However, the base of the mountain was enveloped in the densest mist.
Even the ground at the foot of the mountain glowed faintly blue, as if the mist was seeping from underground.
It took them nearly two hours to climb the 999 steps.
When they reached the top of the mountain, an imposing temple appeared before them.
At the entrance stood a red torii gate, with red pillars and black roof tiles. On the black plaque were large characters: Snake God Temple.
Min Min was still clinging to Dong Qing and was unwilling to get down, but the short-haired girl yanked her off.
Though Min Min seemed irritated, perhaps for the sake of maintaining her image, she didn’t lash out like she did the day before.
Dong Qing: “How about we take a photo?”
He handed his phone to Bai Lixin, his smile warm, “Could you take a picture for us?”
Before Bai Lixin could respond, Dong Qing had already forced the phone into his hand and positioned himself in the center of the torii gate.
The girls quickly followed, with Min Min rushing to stand beside Dong Qing. The others lined up beside them in a straight line.
Bai Lixin quietly raised the phone, snapping pictures of them one after another.
Afterward, he opened the photo album, and as he scrolled through, he noticed something unusual.
In the photos, Dong Qing had posed with many different girls here before.
His fingers moved quickly as he scrolled through the images.
Just as a large hand reached for the phone, Bai Lixin saw a picture of Su Yixue.
Dong Qing snatched the phone back with a cold face, “Thank you. Do you want a photo too? I can take one for you.”
Bai Lixin looked at the young man in front of him and discreetly stepped back, “No, thanks. I have a phobia of cameras. I’ll just take some scenery shots on my own.”
Dong Qing’s expression softened, as though the earlier hostility was merely Bai Lixin’s imagination, “Oh, alright then.”
As a local, Dong Qing was very familiar with everything in the temple.
He explained in detail the proper posture for worshiping, what to say during prayers, and the significance behind it all.
The girls were thoroughly engrossed. They looked at Dong Qing’s handsome and spirited face, and strange emotions gradually flashed in their eyes.
Bai Lixin was lost in thought, his mind replaying the group photo he’d glimpsed earlier.
In that fleeting image, Dong Qing had been standing with Su Yixue and her boyfriend.
Did Dong Qing know Su Yixue?
Could her disappearance be connected to this strange Dong Qing?
“We’re approaching the Snake God Temple,” Dong Qing’s voice pulled Bai Lixin from his thoughts. Right ahead of them was a massive red gate, and beyond it was a five meter tall golden snake statue.
He stood at the entrance. The golden snake stood with its body coiled up, and its head slightly lowered. It was as if its eyes were looking directly at Bai Lixin.
The giant body loomed in the temple’s shadow, exuding both majesty and a sinister, eerie aura.
Obviously the crowds outside bustled with activity, but the lively atmosphere failed to penetrate the temple.
One step past the entrance, and the outside warmth vanished, leaving behind an icy chill as cold as a winter’s night.
