After a series of transfers involving flights, trains, and other means of transportation, Shun and Seele finally arrived at Taixu Mountain, located in the eastern part of Shenzhou.
Speaking of Taixu Mountain, one must mention its real-world prototype: in reality, Taixu Mountain is Mount Tai. This can be seen from the setting where Shenzhou emperors, upon ascending the throne, had to pay respects at Taixu Mountain to seek prosperity for their dynasty. Moreover, Shandong has been part of the core region of Central Plains civilization since ancient times, so it makes sense for Fu Hua to reside here.
In the Honkai world, however, Shenzhou's Taixu Mountain seems to be Fu Hua's private property, so it has not been developed into a tourist attraction. This makes it much quieter than Mount Tai, aside from people living at the foot of the mountain, no one climbs up it. Pilgrims who come to pay respects mostly do so only at the base.
This conveniently allowed Shun and Seele to sneak up the mountain unnoticed. Taixu Mountain towered into the clouds, shrouded in mist, resembling a fairyland. However, although there were steps for climbing, these steps had long fallen into disrepair and looked dilapidated. After careful observation, Shun estimated that the place hadn't been maintained since about five hundred years ago. Every step was covered in cracks and moss, as if narrating the vicissitudes of time. Some sections had even collapsed, requiring careful navigation to cross.
Fortunately, both Shun and Seele's physical abilities far surpassed ordinary people, so climbing such steps wasn't particularly difficult. After about two or three hours of climbing, they reached near the summit. Shun noted that Taixu Mountain was much taller than Mount Tai the latter was only a little over a thousand meters, while this Taixu Mountain had to be at least three or four thousand meters high.
Looking down from the cloud-shrouded heights of Taixu Mountain, one saw an endless sea of clouds stretching boundlessly before them, like a majestic ocean with surging waves that shifted endlessly. The cloud sea blanketed the valleys, resembling a layer of pure white gauze lightly dancing, as if it might drift away at any moment.
Sunlight pierced through the clouds, casting golden beams like mysterious pathways leading into a fantastical realm. Wisps of mist rose from the sea of clouds from time to time, forming floating islands that gave a sense of both illusion and reality.
In the distance, where the mist parted, a stone statue was revealed resembling Fu Hua by about fifty percent, though the chest proportions might not quite match. This was likely a statue built by the ancient people of Shenzhou in honor of the Red Kite Immortal.
"Arriving at the highest point in the world Taixu Mountain! So beautiful, Taixu Mountain! Oh hey, isn't that the Red Kite Immortal? Better take a look at Fuyun Temple in the distance, folks." Since they had reached the summit, Fuyun Temple where Fu Hua lived couldn't be far away.
Seele couldn't help but facepalm. Big brother was great in every way, except sometimes he couldn't resist going full chuuni, which made her a little hard to handle. Fortunately, no one was around right now, and what Shun said probably hadn't been overheard by a third person this at least spared Seele from social suicide.
Little Seele's big social death please no!
Once Shun's mood passed, the two continued advancing toward the summit.
They followed the winding mountain path onward, the terrain growing steeper. Along the way, Shun excitedly pointed out the surrounding scenery, while Seele carefully followed behind him.
Finally, they reached the summit. A refreshing breeze blew through, carrying a slight chill that felt wonderfully comfortable. Looking around, endless mountain ranges stretched out, shrouded in mist like a true fairyland.
The summit had a large open area. Based on prior knowledge, Fuyun Temple was nearby. After some searching, they finally found a narrow path between bamboo groves that appeared to lead toward Fuyun Temple.
The two stepped onto the path and continued forward into the unknown. Pushing aside bamboo that had overgrown and blocked part of the way, they finally saw the wooden building hidden among the groves.
This had to be the Fuyun Temple where Fu Hua resided. The bamboo outside was probably planted to prevent satellite photography after all, Fu Hua was not only still amnesiac but also didn't want to reveal her identity.
"Is this the place where the immortal lives?" Seele asked aloud. Though she hadn't heard the story of the Red Kite Immortal before, Shun had told her about it on the way albeit mixed with some personal embellishments, like the immortal loving pickled mustard greens and spring eternal.
Watching flocks of red kites flying past them in formation, Shun confirmed his suspicion: this had to be Fuyun Temple. After all, red kites were free-range pets of Fu Hua's unique in the entire Honkai world.
He didn't know if Fu Hua was home right now, but after losing her power, the immortal rarely went out. Moreover, in the five hundred years without the Red Kite Immortal, Shenzhou had done an excellent job protecting itself. So she was probably still holed up in the temple like a shut-in.
Still, Fuyun Temple looked quite large. He wasn't sure if knocking at the door would be heard by Fu Hua inside. Shun pulled the handle at the entrance, causing a light knocking sound against the wooden door.
In ancient times, such knockers were used because there were gatekeepers who could hear someone arriving. But Fu Hua had no gatekeeper now... Five hundred years ago there had been those seven rebellious disciples; twenty or thirty years ago, Cheng Lixue might have kept watch. But now...
"As expected, no one's watching the door." Shun had waited at the entrance for ten minutes, but the door remained closed. Sure enough, this kind of design was garbage.
"Forget it let's just climb over the wall." Shun made to scale the five-meter-high wall beside them but was stopped by Seele.
"Big brother, let's wait a little longer. The immortal has done so many great things we should show respect toward her."
"You're right." Shun thought it over and realized he had been carrying over his captain identity from the game. In the game, Fu Hua was his Valkyrie, his subordinate, while he was the player, the captain.
But this was a real world now he couldn't treat real people with the same mindset he used when playing games. He patted Seele's head and said, "Yeah, I didn't think it through, Seele. The Red Kite Immortal has protected Shenzhou for five thousand years. Waiting a bit longer is only right. I shouldn't be so impatient."
This time, he had actually been educated by Seele or rather, this was probably the attitude someone living in this world should have toward Fu Hua. "Seele, you go sit over there. This time, I'm the one seeking the Red Kite Immortal for something. You're just here accompanying me."
"Okay." After hearing this, Seele found a stone step nearby and sat down beside Shun. Meanwhile, Shun went to knock every fifteen minutes, hoping Fu Hua inside would hear sooner.