Chapter 17: Temple on the Mountain

Chapter 17: Temple on the Mountain

Returning home in the afternoon, Yang Haoran raised the rolling door. Despite the lateness of the hour, he prepared to open his shop. Regardless of the business's fortune, earning even a small profit wasn't a bad thing.

Seated behind the counter, waiting for customers, he dialed Guanhai's number. He specifically reminded the lad not to associate with the university girl, Wang Qing. Guanhai chuckled on the other end, assuring he understood.

Wang Qing's vibes were off, and he didn't want his friend to get into trouble for fleeting pleasures. As night fell, Guanhai, the libertine, would likely be out foraging again. It was the best time to caution him.

As night descended, Yang Haoran hastily had his dinner, then resumed business at the general store. Having drunk too much the previous night, he had no intentions of carousing tonight.

Moreover, he wasn't in the mood. He wondered about Jiang Zhenzhen's situation. He harbored some concerns. Though a charlatan, he wasn't a scoundrel. He awaited Jiang Zhenzhen's call, ready to assist her if needed.

Taking someone's money meant taking on their troubles. Since he accepted Jiang Zhenzhen's payment, he had a stake in the matter. Retrieving the envelope she gave him, containing 500 New Genesis Coins, Yang Haoran frowned in contemplation, wondering what to do.

Late at night, Yang Haoran closed the general store, cleaned up, and collapsed into bed. Glancing at his phone, he found no messages or calls from Jiang Zhenzhen. He contemplated calling her but hesitated and ultimately decided against it.

Playing with his phone out of habit, Yang Haoran eventually drifted off to sleep.

The next morning, before dawn, Yang Haoran was awoken by his alarm. Groggily, he silenced it and got out of bed.

It was only six o'clock, still pitch black outside due to winter. Few pedestrians roamed the streets, but those engaged in business were already up, commencing a busy day.

In a sense, Yang Haoran was also a businessman, running a general store. Rising early, he aimed to open the shop and start his day's work.

Early birds catch the worm; without a good start, one had to rely on their own efforts. Laziness was a person's undoing. Those who weren't diligent couldn't become rich. Poverty often stemmed from laziness, except for a few exceptions due to special circumstances.

After getting up, Yang Haoran opened the rolling door and turned on the lights to begin business. Then, he attended to his morning routine, awaiting customers while engaging in physical exercises. Besides sit-ups due to space constraints, he enjoyed push-ups, squats, and dumbbell exercises. After working up a sweat, he prepared breakfast.

Typically, unless he had too much to drink the night before, Yang Haoran rose at six every day, repeating these activities. As he completed his tasks, the sky gradually brightened.

In Yang Haoran's view, Jiang Zhenzhen was quite generous. Five hundred coins might not be much for the wealthy, but for an ordinary worker in Lecheng, it equated to several days' wages.

After happily pocketing the bills, Yang Haoran suddenly had an idea. After thinking it over, he seemed to make up his mind.

Excitedly, he rushed behind the green curtains, then returned with a yellow satchel slung over his shoulder, closed the rolling door, and left the shop.

Normally, if he didn't have other business, Yang Haoran would stay in the general store all day. Therefore, his departure signified something important to attend to.

Outside Lecheng's South Gate was a sizable park known locally as South Lake Park. Behind the park was a small mountain, atop which stood a temple known as the Death God Temple.

The Death God Temple wasn't small, and it only worshipped one deity: the god of death. There were quite a few temple attendants who were devotees of the god of death. They had forsaken worldly matters, dedicating their lives to their faith.

On regular days, the Death God Temple wasn't crowded, but there were still many visitors coming to pay their respects. It could be considered popular.

The death god pendant Yang Haoran lent to Jiang Zhenzhen was obtained from the Death God Temple, and the temple attendant even performed a ritual for him.

At this moment, Yang Haoran arrived at South Lake Park. The park was bustling with people engaging in various activities. However, he didn't waste time in the park but headed straight for the Death God Temple.

To reach the Death God Temple from South Lake Park, one had to climb a long staircase. The staircase was not only numerous but also steep, daunting for many. To climb such a staircase tested not only the physical strength and endurance of believers but also their faith in the god of death.

However, besides believers, there were also tourists who didn't believe in the god of death but climbed the temple for sightseeing or relaxation. Although they weren't believers, they increased the popularity of the Death God Temple, bringing in more visitors and revenue. The temple welcomed these tourists because, without money, it couldn't expand or attract more followers.

Years ago, the Death God Temple allocated funds to construct a cement road leading up the mountain from South Lake Park, along with a parking lot for tourists' use.

Of course, believers and ordinary people could still ascend the mountain via the cement road. There were no strict regulations. Some believers with mobility issues might even choose to take a car up the mountain.

Yang Haoran didn't choose the cement road but opted for the staircase. Not because of his deep faith in the god of death, but because he didn't have a car.