Immortal JouImmortal Journey: The Tale of Chu

Prologue: Ancient Artifacts Possess Spirits, Guided by Fate

**Eighteenth Year of the Western Tang Yuanbao Era, Twelfth Month, Dusk – Purple Mist Gorge**

The heavens roiled with dark clouds, casting the world into a dim haze. Gale-force winds howled, flinging dust and debris through the air. From afar, the landscape appeared as a desolate canvas of shadowy gray.

Within the shrieking wind, faint traces of a voice emerged, reciting in broken tones:

*"The snow of Heavenly Mountains never melts,

Its peaks and ridges cloaked in icy majesty.

Northern winds sweep the Red Pavilion Pass,

Leaving a thicker blanket of snow overnight..."*

Suddenly, a flash of lightning slashed through the darkness, illuminating the gorge in an ethereal brilliance. Sheer cliffs rose on either side, flanked by a restless sea of pine forests. Along a narrow, winding mountain path, a young scholar, one hand clutching a scroll and the other guiding a scrawny black mule, walked leisurely while reciting poetry.

The scholar's refined features—sharp eyebrows, star-like eyes—stood out in the storm. His headscarf fluttered in the tempest, and his simple cotton robe whipped about him, yet he remained undisturbed, seemingly impervious to the rare winter thunderstorm.

"Boom!"

A thunderclap shook the mountains, and the mule reared in fright. Unlike its master, who exuded poetic elegance, the mule brayed in panic, planting its hooves stubbornly and refusing to take another step.

"You lazy, obstinate beast!" the scholar exclaimed with a wry smile. "Wait until we reach Chang'an and I've passed the imperial exams—see if I don't turn you into dried jerky!"

Shaking his head in exasperation, he tore a strip of cloth from his robe, stuffed it into the mule's ears to muffle the thunder, and tugged it forward. The wind howled more fiercely, and ahead, the path dissolved into pitch darkness, shadows flickering with an uncanny light.

Lightning struck a towering pine with a deafening crack, engulfing it in flames. Torrential rain followed, pummeling down like an army of arrows. The scholar shielded his scrolls with oiled leather, muttering, "If I get soaked, it's no matter—but if my books are ruined, that would be a disaster."

Seeking shelter, he quickened his pace, scanning for a cave. But the cliffs offered no refuge—only slick, sheer rock walls.

Within minutes, he was drenched, stumbling along the muddy path. Shivering from the biting cold, he sneezed violently. Just as despair threatened to creep in, he spotted a faint red glow flickering in the distance. His spirits lifted. "Light! Someone must be there!"

Yet as he drew closer, the glow shimmered unnaturally, cycling through vibrant hues—violets, greens, and golds—casting the night in an eerie, surreal brilliance.

The scholar hesitated. "A village here? Impossible. Could it be... something else?" His breath hitched as the possibility of the supernatural crossed his mind. But then he smiled wryly. "A clear conscience fears no ghosts. I, Chu Yi, have lived with integrity. Why should I be afraid?" Resolute, he tugged the mule and pressed forward.

The light faded as he approached, revealing an old, decrepit temple nestled among the trees. Its red walls were weathered, the black-tiled roof half-collapsed. A faded sign over the gate read, **"Temple of Universal Mercy."**

Brushing rain from his face, Chu Yi called out, "This humble scholar, Chu Yi from Min Province, is on his way to Chang'an to take the imperial exam. I seek only temporary shelter from the storm."

The gates creaked open slightly under the relentless wind, revealing only darkness beyond. No one responded.

After calling out several more times, Chu Yi sighed, "Well, if no one objects..." Just as he began to step forward, his mule brayed excitedly and darted inside, vanishing into the shadows.

"Hey! You stubborn beast!" Chu Yi laughed in disbelief but hesitated. "I hope this doesn't offend any monks," he muttered, bowing toward the temple gate before stepping inside.

The temple was eerily quiet, its halls shrouded in darkness. As he followed the sound of his mule's braying, his unease grew. Passing empty altars and abandoned corridors, he saw no sign of life. The once-sacred grounds felt suffocatingly cold.

Finally, he reached the main hall. Lightning illuminated the scene, revealing a chilling sight—corpses of monks strewn across the floor, their faces frozen in expressions of terror and anguish. Blood pooled beneath them, glistening like frozen rubies in the stormlight.

Chu Yi's heart raced, but his curiosity refused to let him turn away. "Was this the work of bandits?" he murmured. His eyes fell on two figures seated in the courtyard beyond, locked in a deathly grip, their hands clasped around a small, glowing object.

Compelled by a mix of fear and fascination, Chu Yi carefully pried the object free. It was a miniature crimson tripod cauldron, exquisitely carved with entwined serpents, emanating an otherworldly light. As he held it, a strange warmth coursed through him, dispelling the storm's chill.

Before he could inspect it further, a muffled sound drew his attention. Turning, he discovered a small jade box among the debris. To his shock, it contained a trembling silver-white fox, its fur icy to the touch.

Instinctively, Chu Yi held the creature close, sharing his warmth. "What strange treasures have I stumbled upon?" he wondered, his unease deepening.

By dawn, the storm had passed, but the temple remained shrouded in its grim silence. With his newfound companions—the mysterious fox and his ever-unruly mule—Chu Yi resolved to continue his journey. Little did he know, the treasures he carried would mark the beginning of an extraordinary adventure, leading him into a world of immortal power, dangerous secrets, and a destiny far beyond his imagination.