Standing at the edge of the cliff and looking down, they saw white clouds spreading like an ocean, with mist rolling in.
But if you looked up, Yunding Mountain was right across the misty clouds.
There was only a chain the width of a bowl leading to the other side of the cliff. Amidst the swirling mist, the view on the other side was vaguely visible, yet indistinct. It seemed neither far nor near, as if everything seen were merely an illusion.
“This is the Yunding Mountain Immortal's Chain, likely built by immortals. In any case, to reach Yunding Mountain, one must climb across using this chain,” Cui Nanxi said.
He continued, “The opposite mountain is too steep to climb directly. The only way up is to climb from this side to here and then use the chain to cross. Many people know they cannot cross here, so they simply turn back halfway up the mountain and do not reach this point.”
“Mm...”
The mountain wind swirled, and the mist flowed. The chain was faintly swaying.
“This chain is very thick, so there's no need to worry about it breaking. However, the mountain wind is strong, and the chain sways more in the middle. Even if you have a rope around your waist, it is still extremely difficult to cross,” Cui Nanxi said. “Every year, some people cross safely, while others fall off the cliff and have all their bones shattered. Have you decided if you want to cross?”
“Of course, I will cross.”
“Great! You’re decisive!” Cui Nanxi himself was quite apprehensive. Hearing Song You’s response so decisively, he abandoned his own hesitation and thoughts of giving up.
“Since we’re here, there's no reason to turn back,” Cui Nanxi encouraged himself. “Only the horse and donkey cannot cross. I will leave the donkey here and have Hong Xiu stay here guard it. If you trust me and my attendants, you may also leave the horse here.”
“Thank you for your kindness.” Song You paused. “However, my horse does not have reins, and thus no one can restrain it. It is very obedient and does not need supervision; it just needs to graze on the mountain.”
“Sir, you do resemble a divine immortal!”
“You flatter me.”
“Do you have a safety rope?”
“A safety rope?”
“You don’t have one?”
“What is that?”
Cui Nanxi waved his hand, and one of his attendants took out two sturdy ropes from their bundle.
“When crossing the chain, one end of the rope is tied around the waist, and the other end can be easily looped over the chain using a device here. This way, even if you get tired or slip, you won’t fall off.”
“That’s quite clever.”
“Since you don’t have one, I will... I will go first with Xu Le. Xu Le is skilled in martial arts and can bring the other rope back for you to use.”
It seemed that the chain still made him a bit fearful, as his confidence was noticeably lacking when he said he would go first.
But he still said it in the end.
Song You smiled. “There’s no need for that.”
“Huh?”
Just as Cui Nanxi was feeling puzzled, he saw the calico cat by the gentleman's feet suddenly take a few steps forward, moving lightly as if in a trot and casually stepping onto the iron chain.
It then proceeded to run forward. After a few steps, it even looked back at them, as if it were merely walking on a beam in a house.
Cui Nanxi was somewhat astonished.
It was not the fact that the cat was casually walking on the chain that surprised him. The chain was far thicker than a normal iron chain, about the width of a bowl. Although it swayed slightly up close, it was understandable that a cat could walk on it.
What really astonished him was the cat’s bravery and spirituality—it seemed completely unafraid of the sheer cliff and almost as if it could understand their conversation.
Maybe it really could understand human speech.
But even though the part of the chain near to them was quite stable, once it reached the middle where the chain swayed more violently, it would be impossible for even a cat to continue walking in such a manner.
Cui Nanxi thought this and glanced at Song You.
Ah, such a dilemma.
Gradually, figures began to emerge from the mist.
Two figures, one in front and one behind, were wrapped in ropes. The other end of the ropes was looped around the iron chain, and they were hanging upside down from it, using their hands and feet to slowly climb across. Every sway of the chain was met with cries of alarm.
Cui Nanxi had slipped several times, and if it weren’t for the safety rope, he would have already fallen to his death.
The two of them finally made it across.
Cui Nanxi, who had climbed in front, was not only exhausted and gasping for breath but also terrified witless. After finishing the climb across the chain, he lay there with his mouth open and eyes wide, pale-faced and gasping. He lacked even the strength to climb up to safety.
He held onto the chain and rested a while. Then, he saw that Song You, who had already crossed the cliff, showed no intention of coming to help. Cui Nanxi mustered the last of his strength, gritted his teeth, and managed to climb up and unfasten the safety rope.
He scrambled away from the edge of the cliff, rolling and crawling. Then he sat directly on the ground, letting his upper body fall back, lying down with his sight filled with the sky.
It was unclear what he was thinking at that moment.
After a while, he actually started to laugh. At first, it was just a grin. Then, gradually laughter emerged, growing louder and echoing on the summit of Yunding Mountain.
“Hahaha...”
“‘Knowing others is intelligence; knowing oneself is wisdom; conquering others is strength; conquering oneself is true power’,” came the voice of the Daoist from beside him. “Congratulations.”
“Thanks to you, sir...”
“It has nothing to do with me. Every single bit of the courage you had left in your heart after I crossed the chain belongs entirely to yourself,” Song You said. “Once you’ve crossed this chain, what obstacles in life can stop you?”
“Do you think I’ll find gods and immortals?”
“Perhaps.”
“Then if I write an article about this journey when I get back, might it be passed down through the ages?”
“Perhaps.”
“Hahahaha...” Cui Nanxi continued to laugh heartily.
Song You smiled along with him.
Before long, the laughter stopped abruptly. Cui Nanxi turned and got up, looking toward Yunding Mountain.
“Sir, let’s go!”
“Le
The three of them and the cat began their ascent up the mountain. At this point, there was no path left.
The mountain was extremely steep and barren, with a smooth surface. It resembled a massive stone more than a mountain, its surface a pale yellow, like a stone mountain in a traditional landscape painting where ink and wash had spread out.
On such a mountain, Song You could walk as usual, while the others had to use both hands and feet to carefully find a climbing route. Otherwise, a moment's carelessness could make the cliff face vertical above them. At that point, they wouldn't be able to climb up or retreat down, which would be truly frustrating.
What was even more astonishing was the countless carvings on the mountain.
These carvings covered the entire mountain, weathered by countless years of wind, which had blurred their shapes. It was unclear how many years they had been there. The wind has even eroded the contours of the stone carvings into horizontal lines. From these uneven lines, another set of contours filled with the passage of time emerges. Upon closer inspection, one can vaguely make out figures—some standing, some sitting, some flying, and others dancing—imbued with a unique charm.
Perhaps the wind itself was a master of stone carving.
Cui Nanxi marveled and sighed as he admired the scene, stretching his neck to search everywhere. He was hoping that just around a corner or by climbing another level, he might encounter an immortal, smiling and looking at him. And perhaps, the immortal might extend an invitation to converse about eternal life.
Unfortunately, he did not have such an encounter... Perhaps it was not meant to be. Cui Nanxi thought with regret in his heart.
But he soon felt that even if he did not find immortals on this journey, having crossed the iron chain that had challenged countless seekers and met a master Daoist cultivator like Song You, made this journey worthwhile.
Thus, his mood lifted again.