The Desolate Tomb—Longshan Temple 31: Dragon Chant Temple

Li Xintian and Hu Changyun sat in the grand hall, never expecting he would one day serve as a wedding witness.
"Bow to Heaven and Earth!" the page boy announced loudly.
Yang Zhenye, Qi Hui, and Hu Na, holding the ceremonial red cords, bowed to Heaven and Earth, flanked by two maids on either side.
"Bow to the elders!"
The three turned to bow respectfully to those seated in the hall.
"Bow to each other as husband and wife!"
Yang Zhenye stepped back, forming a small circle with Qi Hui and Hu Na, as Qi Hui and Hu Na bowed to one another.
"Escort them to the bridal chamber!" the page boy shouted.
Thus, the couple and a fox were led into the room.
"Young Master Li, I should be on my way now. Please take good care of Qiu Yan," Hu Changyun said, rising to his feet.
He glanced at Hu Qiuyan, whose cheeks were flushed.
"Very well, take care on your way," Li Xintian replied, nodding.
Hu Changyun nodded in return and departed with his family of fox spirits.
"You've been busy all day, you should rest. I'll finish up here and rest as well," Li Xintian said to Hu Qiuyan, who had been helping him these past days.
"You too, rest early," Hu Qiuyan replied shyly as she looked up at him, then left.
"It's time to take my leave as well. I've lingered here long enough," Li Xintian arranged matters and returned to his room, as he did every so often, writing letters home to Chen Shuxia.
The next morning.
"Brother Zixin, Lady Yangs, I've come today truly to say farewell," Li Xintian declared after breakfast.
"Brother Zhixian, you won’t stay a few more days? I haven’t properly repaid your kindness, and I’m deeply ashamed I couldn’t help more," Yang Zhenye sighed, regret heavy in his voice.
"No need to stay longer. These were but small matters, nothing worth mentioning. My belongings are packed, and I’m here to bid you goodbye," Li Xintian replied.
Hu Na pulled Hu Qiuyan aside to whisper.
"Sister, you must try harder. I don’t see you making progress with Young Master Li, and he doesn’t seem to have feelings for you," Hu Na whispered, holding Hu Qiuyan’s hand.
"What can I do? Young Master Li seems utterly ignorant of matters of the heart. When he looks at me, his gaze is clear, as if he feels nothing at all. He only took me in out of helplessness," Hu Qiuyan sighed.
"Sister, just go and kiss him now. See how he reacts," Hu Na encouraged her, thinking Li Xintian wouldn’t notice.

"Isn’t that improper? There are so many people around," Hu Qiuyan murmured, glancing at Li Xintian who was speaking with Yang Zhenye and Qi Hui nearby, her face reddening as she looked down.
"If you do it now, with so many witnesses, surely he won’t refuse to marry you," Hu Na pressed her sister.
"Alright, I’ll try," Hu Qiuyan agreed, emboldened by Hu Na’s urging.
Taking a deep breath, Hu Qiuyan ran towards Li Xintian.
Li Xintian raised his hand to block her, casting a glance at Hu Na. "Brother Zixin, farewell," he said.
Hu Na, startled by his gaze, quickly lowered her head and dared not meet his eyes.
"Brother Zhixian, remember to visit us when you can. In future, I’ll come to Shuixian County to pay respects to your family," Yang Zhenye escorted Li Xintian to the gate of the Qi residence.
"You’re most welcome. Farewell!" Li Xintian cupped his hands in parting.
"Take care!" Yang Zhenye replied, Qi Hui and Hu Na bowed and spoke in unison.
"Take care!" Li Xintian echoed, then departed, with Hu Qiuyan following and uttering her own farewell.
Li Xintian resumed his journey, now accompanied by the fox spirit Hu Qiuyan, who seemed to have forgotten the earlier embarrassment, smiling as she walked alongside him.
"Let’s head back," Yang Zhenye said, watching Li Xintian leave, as Qi Hui and Hu Na nodded in agreement.
"Where are we going next?" Hu Qiuyan asked as she walked beside him.
"To Longming Temple," Li Xintian answered, recalling what he had seen on the painted skin. He suspected something was amiss at Longming Temple, as the style of the painting changed abruptly, with the mountain demon as its foundation, and the woman slain by bandits—where had she gone? Moreover, the passage of time remained unclear.
Li Xintian decided to head for Longming Temple, having only delayed briefly at Yang Zhenye’s place.
On the road to Longming Temple.
Longming Temple had long since fallen under the dominion of the girl in red. Beneath the temple, more than a thousand souls howled and shrieked, the place a veritable purgatory.
Dark clouds perpetually hung over Longming Temple, blocking out even the sun.
The girl in red absorbed the souls, increasing her own dark energy and spiritual power. She had slain more than twenty Daoists already, all of whom contributed to her growth. Now, she feared neither Daoists of a thousand years' cultivation nor spirits and monsters.
Trapped within Longming Temple, the girl in red could not leave. The women who died at her hands were possessed by her spirit and sent out to lure men into the temple.
Spotting two scholars approaching Longming Temple, the girl in red altered the surroundings: the grass grew taller than a man in an instant.
"Brother Xue Sheng, do you notice anything strange around us?" Gu Xu asked as he surveyed their surroundings.
"Brother Gu Xu, don’t be so suspicious. We ought not to speak of supernatural matters," Xue Sheng replied, waving his hand dismissively.
Unbeknownst to them, danger was drawing near.

"Help!"
"Help!"
"Help!"
A woman’s desperate cries echoed in their ears just as Xue Sheng finished speaking, sounding as if she were right beside them.
"Did you hear that, Brother Xue Sheng?" Gu Xu asked.
"I did, but the grass is so tall, it’s hard to help. We could easily lose our way," Xue Sheng commented, noting the grass towered over them.
"Help! Someone please save me!" the woman’s voice grew urgent, as if she were right next to them.
A gust of wind rustled the tall grass.
"I’m lost, I can’t get out. Please, save me!" the woman cried, seeing Gu Xu and Xue Sheng hesitating.
Without further thought, Gu Xu plunged into the grass, leaving Xue Sheng behind.
"Miss, where are you?" Gu Xu called loudly as he entered the tall grass.
Xue Sheng, left outside, had no choice but to follow. The two became separated.
"Don’t stray too far, Brother Gu Xu, you’ll get lost," Xue Sheng shouted, hearing Gu Xu also calling out for the woman.
"Remember to mark your path with the grass, to avoid getting lost," Gu Xu called out, though the two were only ten meters apart, it felt as though a wall separated them; in the darkness, finding a person was no easy task.
The girl in red smiled as she watched them enter the tall grass.
Any marks the two made vanished as soon as they moved away, restored by the girl in red.
They searched for a long time, failing to find any trace of her. Anxiety crept into their hearts—they were lost.
"I’m right here, come and save me!" the girl in red continued to lure them, her voice pitiful and haunting.
Step by step, the two followed her voice into Longming Temple, becoming resources for the girl in red to further her power.
Only the laughter of the girl in red could be heard from the temple.