“What a divine couple, envied by so many,” remarked an old man with white hair at the next table, stroking his beard as he heard them mention Yuanming Mountain. Liu Buqun and Xu Caitong turned to look at the old man, and seeing his praise, they exchanged a glance full of warmth and affection. Liu Buqun scrutinized the old man, noting his youthful appearance despite his white hair, his dignified demeanor, and his spirited energy, unlike that of an ordinary person. He bowed respectfully, “Greetings, elder.” “No need for formalities, young sir,” the old man bowed in return.
Liu Buqun was momentarily stunned, almost dropping the food he had just picked up. He chewed thoughtfully, having been unable to find any information about Yuanming Mountain for days, and now this old man casually mentioned it, raising his suspicions. Liu Buqun turned his head back, his eyes sharp on the old man. “Yuanming Mountain? What’s that?” Liu Buqun pretended not to know. The old man shook his head, saying to himself, “When I was young, I heard from the elders about a mountain called Yuanming Mountain, said to be a fairy mountain. Ordinary people wouldn’t recognize it, let alone visit. It’s rumored to have a fierce immortal bird, the Great Peng, which no common person could subdue. Someone asked me about it the day before yesterday, so I thought everyone was looking for it.”
Liu Buqun, still curious, asked, “Why do you want to go to Yuanming Mountain?” “Oh, no reason. It seems like you’ve been the one talking about it, not us,” Liu Buqun said with a slight smile. “You’re not really going to the fairy mountain?” the old man asked skeptically. “No,” Xu Caitong chimed in.
The old man suddenly burst into laughter, his beard trembling, and his laughter echoing through the hall. Liu Buqun and Xu Caitong watched him, puzzled. After his laughter subsided, he shook his head at them. “You two have the aura of immortals, looking every bit the divine couple. Are you not immortals?” he asked again.
Liu Buqun, feeling that the old man had seen through his thoughts, laughed heartily to cover it up. The entire hall turned to look at the unrestrained laughter from the old man and the young couple.
