Chapter 28: First Arrival at Maple Town
Qin Yue furrowed her brow and pondered for a long time before finally speaking: “Perhaps… it’s that place near Mount Wuyi?”
Luo Yu grew anxious. “You don’t know either?”
Qin Yue nodded. “There are many places I’ve never been. I only remember my mother mentioning that my father once took her to the town in Jingnan Mountain to admire the maple forest. Jingnan Mountain is the old name for Mount Wuyi, so there must be some territory there.”
Luo Yu gritted his teeth. “Then let’s go there and see for ourselves!”
Qin Yue said, “Since we’re only catching the Qi Refining period marketplace, we should bring more pills suitable for Qi Refining cultivators.”
Luo Yu nodded. “I’ve rushed to make some pills with three-hundred-year-old ginseng, so the effects should be quite good… sigh. I should’ve had Gong Jingqian give me some of the hundred-year-old ones—these are almost too precious to sell.”
The two returned home and started packing, checking their supplies one by one.
Old Master Luo had not gone to the shop that day; he was sitting on the sofa watching TV with Best. That little fellow had always loved watching television, especially cartoons, and lately, he’d been engrossed, staring without blinking. As long as the TV was on, you’d find him squatting in front of it—sometimes even using the remote himself. He was so clever that Luo Yu suspected he was about to transform.
Luo Yu left some pills behind, asking his grandfather to dissolve them in water for Best to drink every day on time. This routine had begun ever since Luo Yu had returned from collecting ginseng. He eagerly hoped that little Best would transform soon—not necessarily into a baby, but at least maintain the appearance of a thirteen or fourteen-year-old! If Best turned into a great beauty and charmed his father away, that would be a disaster!
With everything prepared, Luo Yu and Qin Yue bade farewell to his father and grandfather and set out for Mount Wuyi.
Their journey involved planes and trains, and they arrived at Mount Wuyi at seven in the morning. After finding a spot to enjoy authentic local hand-made wontons for breakfast—Luo Yu praised the crispy filling—they asked a server for directions to the nature reserve, then headed toward the more secluded areas.
The road was crowded with tourists, but the two seized a moment when no one was paying attention, held hands, and slipped into the roadside thicket. With their spiritual senses fully extended, they moved wherever there were no people, flitting through the mountains like headless flies, wandering in circles.
Deep within Mount Wuyi, above a vast sea of bamboo, two figures darted nimbly through the mist, as if filming a sequel to “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”—light as swallows, swift as the wind, appearing and disappearing in the haze.
After some time, they stopped beside a small mountain stream, both starting to doubt themselves.
Luo Yu said dejectedly, “Did we choose the wrong place? There’s nothing here but bamboo, not a single maple tree.”
Qin Yue was also a bit disheartened. “Let’s keep moving forward; this bamboo forest must end somewhere. If we can’t find it today, we’ll try somewhere else.”
As they continued to wander, Luo Yu mused, “Could it be at Xiangshan? The red leaves there are famous.”
Qin Yue replied, “You know Xiangshan is famous for its red leaves, not red maples.”
Luo Yu was surprised. “Huh? Isn’t Xiangshan famous for red maples? What else could be red?”
Qin Yue explained, “Most of Xiangshan’s red leaves are from smoke trees. Maples don’t grow in groves there—how could there be a town called Falling Maple Town? Have you ever heard of any strange tales from Xiangshan?”
Luo Yu thought for a moment. “Not really… Wait, there’s someone ahead!”
Qin Yue paused, then immediately surged forward in that direction. Luo Yu followed, and they stopped under a pine tree, both staring up at its thick branches.
The tree seemed peaceful for a moment, until a sneaky head poked out and peered down. Once it got a good look at them, it called out, “Hey! Are you cultivators? Why are you following me?” The voice was old yet tinged with mischief.
Luo Yu quickly spoke up: “We just want to ask if there’s a place called Falling Maple Town in these mountains?”
The figure in the tree, upon hearing Luo Yu’s question, leapt down with a whoosh and asked, “You’re here for the Gathering of Immortals too?”
Luo Yu took in the sight of this character: clad in a white Tang suit—the kind with frog buttons that elderly men wear when practicing tai chi in the early morning—but barefoot, with limbs covered in fur, even much of the face was fuzzy. He looked like a tiny old man with enormous eyes, and his ears were pointed and thin, with a long, slender tail trailing behind—clearly not human.
Qin Yue asked in surprise, “Are you a demon cultivator?”
The fellow scratched his neck, grumbling, “Never seen a demon cultivator before? What’s so strange about that?”
Qin Yue was momentarily at a loss for words and fell silent.
Luo Yu felt a profound sense of absurdity, as if his own pet had suddenly started talking: “How come you don’t even have a tail!” The situation was bizarre and stifling.
After a long moment of mutual staring, the demon grew impatient: “Why did you stop me? I’m in a hurry—if you’ve got something to say, make it quick!”
Remembering Qin Yue’s warning that human cultivators looked down on demon cultivators, Luo Yu hurried to keep the encounter friendly. “We don’t know the way to the Gathering of Immortals and hoped you could give us some guidance, senior.”
The demon paused, then burst into a series of delighted cackles. After a few chuckles, he said, “Very well! This elder will take you with me!”
And so, the two of them continued on with their new companion. Luo Yu, curious, struck up conversation. “My name is Luo Yu—‘Luo’ as in Luoyang, ‘Yu’ as in feather. May I ask your name, senior?”
The demon responded with another round of gleeful laughter. “My surname is Sun, given name Wuming—Sun Wuming! I’m related to the Great Sage Equal to Heaven!”
Luo Yu was dumbfounded. Sun Wuming? What kind of name is that!? He awkwardly pressed, “But isn’t Sun Wukong a character from stories? Does such a person really exist?”
The demon’s eyes widened. “What does it matter if he’s real? The Great Sage Equal to Heaven is my idol, and there’s no celestial law against taking that name.”
Luo Yu understood then—he’d run into a diehard fan of Sun Wukong, who had named himself after the legendary Monkey King.
As they chatted, Luo Yu gathered from their conversation that this demon was a monkey spirit from the Republic era, not much older than Luo Yu’s own grandfather. His favorite book was “Journey to the West,” his greatest hero was Sun Wukong, his favorite drink was wine, and his favorite pastime was sneaking into human homes for mischief.
After a while, they arrived at a place where, as expected, there were many maple trees, and a massive formation similar to the one they’d encountered before shrouded the area. The three passed through the array and found themselves before a great mountain gorge, both sides ablaze with red maples. At the end of the gorge stood two colossal ginkgo trees, at least thirty or forty meters tall, their golden trunks exuding spiritual energy, their lush leaves spreading shade over several acres. The trees were so magnificent that they seemed to predate the history of human civilization itself. Between the two ginkgoes hung a floating plaque inscribed with the words “Falling Maple Town,” the calligraphy so masterful it could only be described as a work for the ages.
Luo Yu, awestruck, followed the others forward, his eyes taking in a landscape of fiery reds and dazzling golds, as if he’d stepped into a fantasy.
Beyond the ancient ginkgoes, the path curved and revealed Falling Maple Town. A wide river wound through the settlement, dividing it in two, while the hills behind were covered in a blaze of autumnal colors, as if the sky itself were burning. Countless pavilions and towers stood along the water, each three steps a view, every five steps a new scene. Rare and exotic beasts leapt playfully beneath the eaves and along the streets, flocks of elegant, snow-white birds skimmed the water’s surface in harmony with the town, embodying the ultimate vision of “man and nature in harmony.”
With time still before the market opened, Luo Yu and Qin Yue decided to investigate the local scene. As they strolled through the main street, the town was not yet crowded, but still lively enough. Luo Yu gripped Qin Yue’s hand tightly, his head swiveling everywhere: That beauty over there is stunning—and barely dressed… Wait, why are her nails so sharp? That wouldn’t be good during an intimate moment. Wow, that little girl is adorable—are those rabbit ears? If only I could take her home… And over there, that hot girl is strutting around in just a bikini—doesn’t she worry about being, well, accosted?
Just then, a human cultivator in a long robe brushed past Luo Yu, spat in the direction of the scantily clad girl, and muttered, “Shameless demon,” before turning away.
Sun Wuming asked, “Did you bring anything good to sell this time? Let me have a look first.”
Luo Yu looked hopefully at Qin Yue.
She hesitated, glanced around, and said nothing.
Sun Wuming picked up on her caution. “Let’s find a tavern to sit. The Golden Bough Ginkgo Wine of Falling Maple Town is quite famous—coming here and not having a taste would be a shame.”
Qin Yue hesitated. “We don’t have any spirit stones.”
Sun Wuming froze, then laughed heartily. “It’s nothing for me to buy you a drink!”
The three of them entered a small tavern by the street. The interior was elegantly antique, seemingly built in the Qing dynasty, and the proprietor’s cultivation was likely at the Foundation Establishment stage.
Luo Yu glanced toward the counter and saw the innkeeper playing a game on an iPad 4, muttering, “Lost again… This thing can’t be controlled by magic, nor manipulated with spiritual sense, you have to use your hands—how troublesome. Trading wine for this was a bad deal, foolish, foolish—the foreign devils are indeed cunning!”
They found a window seat and soon the proprietor called out, “What will the three of you have?”
Sun Wuming ordered, “A jug of Golden Bough Ginkgo Wine, and two plates of your tavern’s specialties.”
The innkeeper nodded, barely moving and still cursing his device and the “barbarians” under his breath.
Soon, a figure emerged from the back with their order, placing three cups on the table. Luo Yu found the server a bit odd—his face was wooden and expressionless—and thought, What terrible service, no wonder the place isn’t busy.
Sun Wuming noticed Luo Yu staring and cackled, “Never seen one before? That’s a puppet.”
Luo Yu was taken aback, extending his spiritual sense to check: sure enough, it was an intelligent robot.
Sun Wuming picked up the jug to pour for the three of them, but Luo Yu quickly said, “Thank you, but I don’t drink, no need to pour for me.”
Sun Wuming replied, “This isn’t some crude mortal grain wine—it’s brewed from the golden ginkgo at the town entrance and spiritual fruits from the mountains. It may not be the finest, but its flavor surpasses any mundane wine, and it’s rich in spiritual energy—good for cultivation.”
Curiosity piqued, Luo Yu poured himself a cup and took a sip. The taste was indeed refreshing, fragrant but not harsh, and as it slid down his throat, a gentle spiritual energy blossomed in his belly. He couldn’t help but praise, “This is truly delicious!”
Seeing them drink, Sun Wuming said, “Now, can I see your good stuff?”
Qin Yue glanced at the innkeeper, then took out a jade box, opened it, and placed it on the table.
Sun Wuming looked it over. “A two-hundred-and-thirty-year-old ginseng, not bad, but… having it refined into pills will be troublesome, and you’ll have to pay for that.”
Qin Yue replied coolly, “There’s an alchemy workshop in town—it’s only a few steps away.”
Sun Wuming asked, “How much are you selling for?”
After a moment’s thought, Qin Yue answered, “Two hundred spirit stones.”
Sun Wuming shook his head. “Too expensive. I’ll buy it for one hundred and fifty.”
Qin Yue insisted, “One hundred and eighty is the lowest I’ll go.”
After a brief pause, Sun Wuming agreed. “Fine. Anything else?”
She gave him a cool glance. “We’d like to look around town a bit more. If someone wants to barter instead of using spirit stones, we’d like to keep our options open.”
Sun Wuming nodded in understanding. “I’ve been in the mortal world for so long and haven’t found anything good—I’ll have to use spirit stones.”
Qin Yue asked, “Do you know where we can buy Foundation Establishment Pills in this town?”
Sun Wuming was momentarily stunned, then burst into laughter. “You don’t know… Foundation Establishment Pills? There’s no such thing for sale!”
Qin Yue was also taken aback. “No one sells Foundation Establishment Pills? How can that be?”
Sun Wuming cackled, “If you can buy a Foundation Establishment Pill here, you’ll have to let me reserve one first! Ha!”
Luo Yu asked, “Are Foundation Establishment Pills so hard to get? Why?”
Sun Wuming replied, “You two—where did you come from, not knowing even this? Foundation Establishment Pills require two rare spiritual ingredients: Dew of the Immortal Finger and Transforming Essence Marrow. Only with these can someone be reborn. Both medicines are formed from the essence of heaven and earth; Dew of the Immortal Finger vanishes in a moment, and Transforming Essence Marrow is even rarer. Even the great sects don’t have many Foundation Establishment Pills stored. For us wandering cultivators, we’re all searching for these two things. However… I do know where you can find Dew of the Immortal Finger. I doubt you’ll be able to get it.”
Qin Yue frowned. “Where is it?”
Sun Wuming grinned, “It’s in the spiritual garden of the Bamboo Courtyard. Ha ha ha ha ha!”
End of Chapter 28: First Arrival at Falling Maple Town.