Helpless, Zhou Chun had no choice but to follow the man's advice and set off. He walked with heavy steps, his heart filled with worry for Yan'er. He kept calling his disciple's name as he went, but the only response was the echo of his own voice, bouncing off the mountain walls. The mist grew thicker, wrapping around him like a cold shroud, and the night wind carried a faint, unsettling chill. He had walked less than five li (approx. 2.5 km) when he suddenly felt a strong wind blowing from behind, carrying a pungent, fishy stench. Zhou Chun knew something was wrong—this must be the demon. He dared not look back, running as fast as he could toward the direction of the thatched nunnery. Just as he reached the nunnery gate, the wind suddenly stopped. Zhou Chun turned around cautiously, his heart pounding. Through the thick mist, he saw two faint red lights flickering—like the eyes of a beast—retreating along the path they had come. In the moonlight, the sight was clear enough to make his blood run cold. He let out a long breath, his back soaked with cold sweat.
He turned to look at the nunnery. It was not large, with two withered willow trees at the gate. Their shadows stretched across the ground in the moonlight, creating a quiet, even eerie atmosphere. Inside the nunnery, the sound of Buddhist chants echoed continuously, telling Zhou Chun that the master here was still holding her night prayer. He approached the door and knocked gently twice.
A young girl's voice responded from inside: “This is a nunnery. If you're looking for a place to stay, please go further ahead.” Zhou Chun replied hastily: “I encountered trouble on the road and came specifically to seek help from Master White Cloud.” Before he finished speaking, the door creaked open. A young nun named Zi Juan, about thirteen or fourteen years old, stood at the door. She was very beautiful and elegant. Seeing Zhou Chun, she said: “Master is having her night prayer. Please wait in the Buddha Hall for a while.” Zhou Chun followed her inside and sat down in the Buddha Hall. Zi Juan brought him a bowl of tea and some vegetarian steamed buns, then left and did not return for a long time.
Zhou Chun waited anxiously, his mind filled with thoughts of Yan'er. Suddenly, he saw a flash of green light in front of him, darting toward the backyard like a flying bird. Curious by nature, Zhou Chun quietly left the Buddha Hall and walked toward the backyard. As he approached a window, he heard two people talking inside—one male, one female.
He listened carefully, and heard the female voice say: “Senior Brother, why have you come here so late? Do you have something to tell me?” The male voice replied: “I just passed through Yunling Mountain and saw a strong evil aura. I was about to investigate when I saw a young boy standing under the eaves of a house nearby, less than ten zhang (approx. 33 meters) away from the source of the aura. I saw the boy had a strong foundation and couldn't bear to see him harmed, so I picked him up and rescued him from danger first, then drove the demon away with my sword. Later, I questioned him about his background and learned he is the disciple of Zhou Chun, one of the Three Heroes of Qilu. I saw the boy has celestial bones—letting him follow a mortal swordsman would waste his talent, so I took him as my disciple and asked my sister Master White Cloud to carry him back to my mountain. He was worried about you and his mother, so I promised to pass on a message to you. By the way, when I passed by Yunling Mountain earlier, I also rescued my junior nephew Shi Lin—he is the disciple of my seventh junior brother. He was poisoned by the demon and was on the verge of death, but I have cured him and sent him back to the mountain.”
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Zhou Chun was stunned, his heart pounding with a mix of relief and shock. Just as he was about to push the door open, the female voice inside suddenly spoke again: “Warrior Zhou, you have come from afar. Why not come in to talk instead of listening outside the wall?”
Zhou Chun's face turned slightly red with embarrassment at being discovered eavesdropping. He took a deep breath, pushed the door open, and stepped inside respectfully. Inside the room, he saw a nun sitting on a futon, around forty or fifty years old, with a serene and dignified demeanor; on the upper seat sat a Taoist priest with a thick beard, his eyes shining with sharp light. The nun smiled gently and said: “Warrior Zhou, you must have heard our conversation just now. Let me introduce myself first. My name is Yuanyuan, and people call me Master White Cloud. This is my senior brother, Li Yuanhua, also known as the Bearded Immortal.”
Zhou Chun was astonished, quickly bowing deeply to the two of them. “I'm Zhou Chun, and I'm deeply grateful to Senior Brother Li, also known as the Bearded Immortal, for rescuing my disciple Yan'er and Shi Lin,” he said sincerely.
Master White Cloud then changed the subject, her expression turning serious: “Senior Brother, you came just in time. That snake demon on Yunling Mountain is extremely tricky, and I've struggled to deal with it alone. Every creature has its nemesis. I know this demon fears centipedes the most. I have long heard that Master Canxia from Yellow Mountain has such a creature, so I sent Zi Juan to borrow it. At first, the master refused, saying the centipede was her treasure to guard the cave. Later, I went there in person and borrowed it yesterday. It's just in time that you and Senior Brother arrived—I think the day when the demon is vanquished is not far away.”
