Chapter 140: Five Immortals Bridge

Village Chief Pan touched his face with a look of helpless reluctance, sighed, and gently shook his head. The woman burst into tears immediately, rushed over to Dongzi, and cried out, "Dongzi, my dear Dongzi! How could you bear to leave the two of us behind, wuwu! Everything was fine just yesterday, why did you have to leave us today? What am I supposed to do now, ah..."

The woman's weeping was loud, drawing the surrounding neighbors. I frowned deeply as I looked at the scene before me, a nameless sorrow welling up inside. Village Chief Pan let out a heavy sigh, sat down, and hung his head in silence. I saw another man rush in anxiously, asking hurriedly, "What happened? What's wrong with Dongzi?"

Village Chief Pan raised his head, looked at him, and shook his head. The man was too shocked to speak for a moment, then stammered, "How can it be so sudden? Wasn't Dongzi perfectly fine yesterday?"

Village Chief Pan shook his head and softly uttered a "who knows." A sudden silence fell over the surroundings. Aside from the cries of the woman and little Bao'er, everyone else wore sorrowful expressions. After all, living in the same village, even if they weren't family, bonds of affection had been forged.

Village Chief Pan gathered his composure and said, "Zhuzi, do you have firecrackers and yellow spirit paper at your house? Go get them quickly."

The man called Zhuzi nodded hastily and ran out. After a short while, he ran back. Village Chief Pan took a string of firecrackers and the yellow paper, walked outside the door, and lit the firecrackers with a lighter. He shouted aloud, "Guiding you to the Dragon's Gate, returning half a lifetime of grace!"

Then, the firecrackers popped and crackled fiercely. The loud noise drew even more onlookers. I knew what this custom meant; generally, when someone passed away in the countryside, firecrackers had to be set off first. Hearing the sudden burst of firecrackers, the villagers immediately understood the reason. Village Chief Pan laid a stack of yellow paper over Dongzi's face. The woman sat on the ground crying inconsolably until several people helped her up. Village Chief Pan glanced at me, walked over, and said, "Little brother, I might not be able to send you off today, as you can see."

I shook my head and softly replied that it was fine. Then Village Chief Pan sighed and walked back. The funeral preparations proceeded swiftly. Everyone in the village came to help. Some erected the mourning shed, some carried in the coffin, and others busied themselves washing Dongzi's body and dressing him in his burial shroud. I watched the entire process. Having received the kindness of a meal from Village Chief Pan, I decided to lend a hand as well.

We wiped the dust from inside the coffin. Village Chief Pan seemed somewhat knowledgeable about these matters; he checked the time and told the helpers, "Lower the coffin before two o'clock."

The people around nodded in agreement. Soon, the time reached one-fifty. Dongzi's burial shroud had been put on, and everyone bustled about. Four strong men and I lifted the coffin lid to Dongzi's side, then gently lifted Dongzi himself onto the lid, moving step by step toward the prepared coffin.

By this time, the woman was too weak from crying to stand. With a vacant, lifeless look in her eyes, it was as if her world had collapsed at that moment. Little Bao'er had also cried herself to sleep, collapsing into someone's arms. Village Chief Pan glanced at the time and said, "Lower the coffin. Where are the firecrackers? Light them the moment he is carried inside."

One of them nodded, took out the firecrackers, walked outside the door, and kept his eyes fixed on us. The instant we lowered Dongzi into the coffin, the crackling of firecrackers erupted once more. We slowly withdrew our hands, and Village Chief Pan checked the time again, saying, "Seal the coffin! Quickly, we cannot delay."

We nodded and put the coffin lid back in place, which marked the completion of that phase. I dusted off my hands, walked outside, and sat down on a stool. This was the first time I had ever helped carry a coffin. Village Chief Pan gave a few final instructions inside before walking out to sit beside me. He pulled out two cigarettes and offered me one. I waved my hand to indicate I didn't smoke. Village Chief Pan nodded, lit one for himself, took a deep drag, and said, "Ah, human life... that's just how a lifetime goes."

I didn't reply, only nodding in response. At that moment, my thoughts had drifted elsewhere. While carrying Dongzi earlier, I had distinctly sensed a hint of anomaly, a lingering feeling that something was amiss, though I couldn't quite put my finger on it. Shaking my head, I decided to stop dwelling on it. Sitting beside me, Village Chief Pan asked, "Little brother, aren't you afraid?"

I was slightly stunned, shook my head, and instinctively replied, "I'm used to it."

Village Chief Pan paused, looking at me in confusion. Realizing my slip of the tongue, I quickly glossed over it, saying, "I mean everyone has to face this day eventually, so there's nothing to be afraid of."

Village Chief Pan nodded in understanding and said, "True, everyone has this day, it's just a matter of sooner or later. It's just so pitiful for Xiuying and Bao'er."

I nodded and asked, "Is Xiuying that auntie from just now?"

Village Chief Pan nodded. I said nothing more and looked out into the village. After finishing his cigarette, Village Chief Pan was called away by someone. He stood up and said to me, "Little brother, why don't you stay here for the day? Once I finish handling things here, I'll send you out tomorrow. What do you think?"

I waved my hand and replied, "It's fine, go ahead and get busy."

Village Chief Pan gave a word of agreement, patted his trousers, and walked back inside. I sat to the side, watching the helpers coming and going, while my mind involuntarily drifted back to the events outside the illusion.

..........

Meanwhile, on the other side, Master was striding through the illusion with a cigarette dangling from his lips. He showed no trace of nervousness; instead, a hard-to-suppress joy flickered across his face. Gazing ahead, Master muttered to himself, "This is the only way left. I wonder if what Li Xin said is true. If he's right, and my own hunch is correct, Wei Wujiang's illusion art should be able to lead me to Mount Fangzhang to have a look around."

After talking to himself, Master looked into the distance and walked on aimlessly. After an unknown length of time, Master halted his steps. Looking at a mountain peak that pierced straight into the clouds ahead, his heart suddenly fluttered with a surge of excitement as he murmured, "Could this be the legendary Mount Fangzhang? I never expected that kid Li Xin's words would actually be true."

With that, Master strode forward. The mountain peak was exceptionally quiet, with a stream flowing through the middle, and the surrounding sounds of birds and fragrances of flowers were remarkably intense. Master walked on and on until he reached the side of a bridge, where he suddenly stopped. Looking at the bridge structure, he said, "The Five Immortals Bridge... Is this the rumored Five Immortals Bridge?"

Having spoken, Master gazed at it for a moment longer and walked straight ahead, only to be blocked by an invisible barrier. Several characters materialized in mid-air. Master paused in astonishment, staring at the golden text floating before him, and murmured, "Only the predestined may enter."

Master frowned slightly and called out, "Could it be that I am without destiny?"

No one answered. The surroundings were so silent that, apart from the chirping of birds and the babbling of water, only Master's own voice echoed through the air. Master lowered his head, pondered for a moment, and closed his eyes slightly. When he opened them again, his eyes radiated a dazzling golden glow. Tentatively, Master took a step forward, and to his surprise, he succeeded.

A wave of joy washed over Master as he quickened his pace. After crossing the Five Immortals Bridge, the scenery transformed completely. It was still filled with fragrant flowers and singing birds, alongside lush green lawns and colorful blossoms. Master walked across this land for a long time until a figure suddenly appeared ahead. The person had a gourd tucked around his waist, wore a straw hat, and carried a few bundles of firewood on his back. As he walked, the person was even humming a tune. Catching sight of this person, Master froze for a moment and muttered to himself, "Isn't this Mount Fangzhang? Why is there an ordinary person here?"

Perplexed, Master shook his head and walked straight toward him. The man noticed Master as well, stopped in his tracks, and stared in surprise. A smile broke across Master's face as he called out, "Sir, please stay your steps."

The man set down his firewood, looked at Master with puzzlement, and asked, "How did you get in here?"

Master was taken aback, glanced back the way he came, and replied, "I just walked in like this. Why do you ask?"

The man nodded, seeming to understand something, but did not question Master further. Master glanced around and said courteously, "Honored elder, is this place Mount Fangzhang?"

The elder nodded. Master continued, "Then why, as I walked all the way here, did I only see you alone? Could it be, elder, that you are the avatar of some immortal?"

The elder paused, feigning confusion as he asked, "Avatar? What avatar? It is true that immortals reside here, but I am merely a temporary dweller. As for you, why have you come to this place?"