Chapter 632: Returning to Jingzhou to Seek Fuyun Temple Again
On the table, an oil lamp flickered, lighting up the guest room in the Daoist temple. The room was still spacious, and the bedding had just been taken out of the cupboard, carrying the faint fragrance of aged wood.
Everything felt as if it had remained the same.
The Daoist sat in the center of the room. From the bottom of Lady Calico’s brocade pouch, he pulled out a thick, stiff oil-paper package. Holding it up under the lamplight, he began to unwrap it layer by layer. The rustling sound it made echoed clearly in the quiet night, where even the distant chanting of young Daoists practicing their scriptures could be faintly heard.
Finally, a stack of paper was revealed. The paper had yellowed with age, yet the ink remained fresh. As soon as it was opened, a burst of ink fragrance wafted out.
This was the scent of Congealed Fragrance that the Daoist had collected, and it was sealed within these sheets of paper.
Rustle...
The Daoist carefully searched through the pages until he found the one he was looking for. Then he held it in his hands and examined it closely.
“Beginning of the second month in the second year of Mingde, arrived in Anqing County, Long Commandery, Xuzhou. Coincidentally encountered a grand jianghu event, the Great Liujiang Gathering...”
The Mingde era lasted eleven years in total. It was now the fourth year of Da’an, early March. Thirteen years had passed.
What was written on the page was a travel journal from back then, and his thoughts and experiences from thirteen years ago. It was, essentially, a reflection of his former self.
Now, holding the pages and reading them again, the Daoist was immersed.
Strangely, even though it was his own writing and personal experience, not every word felt familiar. Hwoever, reading it brought back a sense of memory and introspection. He would often pause, look up, and recall the past, like reliving a dream in the night.