TAOIST TEMPLE 2

"It is true. Zhong Yong also teaches us not to be shackled with our emotions, such as happiness, anger, sadness, or dreamy. Yet on the other hand, worldly pleasures tend to drag us to get attached to our emotions."

"Humans do good because of emotion, and do evil also because of emotion; humans are making friends because of emotions, and declaring war also because of emotions. Emotions can easily drag us to an extreme point while we are supposed to be stable and calm. We are seemingly happy with our emotions, but if the emotions becomes uncontrollable, we will eventually suffer greatly from it."

"And that is our main purpose of meditating. To release ourselves from the shackles of emotion?"

"The theory says so, but in real practice, the one that always thwarts our meditation is indeed our emotion." And the most difficult is to control emotions to get revenge, Zhu Su added to himself. Otherwise, how can it be so annoying and makes me fail in meditation and thus I am supposed to go here to look for any insight?

"The most difficult enemy to conquer is ourselves."

Shortly after Zhu Youdun muttered so, a silhouette soon appeared; they was running fast from a distance. As they got closer, it appeared that it was Hu Nayin who was running towards them, she was wheezing and her whole hair was spreading like whirling feathers.

"Your Highness... you are in danger, Your Highness!"

***

Hu Nayin did not care anymore even if her recent appearance made her seemed like an insane one - her fright forced her to be totally blind about anything seemed unimportant to her. Only one was the most important matter for her right now - the matter which brought her both lords into danger - and maybe risked their lives', if she could not save them.

"What's wrong, Nayin?!" Zhu Su twitched to surprise. Hu Nayin's appearance more or less forced him to get frightened.

"Don't... go back... to medical center... run away... Both of you should run as far as possible..."

Hu Nayin's voice faltered since it was difficult for her to breathe normally. Her footsteps staggered. It seemed that she forced herself to keep running even when she had been climbing this mountain, whereas it was not suitable to climb Mount Laojun by running since it would drain our energy on large scale.

"Take a rest first, Nayin... you must be tired..." Zhu Su assured her.

Hu Nayin's eyes went huge as if it would bulge out soon. "You can't... Your Highness! Both of you must run away... must hide!"

"But why? Nayin, you should tell your reason, don't make us confused!"

After pausing for a while, Hu Nayin's breath became less severe. She was able to speak more gently.

"Just now, a group of frightening-face troops came ransacking the Medical Center. They said, they are ordered to arrest "The Rebel from Yunnan" who has committed medical malpractice by pretending to help the people. They are apparently looking for you! But you are very lucky, you have been here when they came..."

Both Zhu Su and Zhu Youdun felt fear crept into them. They looked at each other, frightened.

"Finally... it comes..." Zhu Youdun whispered. "The time when Yunwen is targeting us..."

"Or maybe Youxun..."

"So, both of you must run away!" Once again, Hu Nayin shouted in panic.

"But... where should we go..."

Zhu Youdun's question forced Zhu Su to think hard. That was true. Where should they run to? His eyes wandered around, looking for a place to hide. And then staring straight to the Taoist Temple hidden behind a grove of trees.

If the soldiers search into the temple, the priesthood there will be trapped in danger. No. I can't bother them.

"We have no place to hide, Nayin," With despair, in the end, that was all Zhu Su could answer.

Zhu Youdun looked around. This area seemed so calm and quiet. "The Medical Center is much closer to the foot of the mountain as well as the residents' dwellings, whereas this place is much farther and isolated from society. I think it's okay if we stay here for a while..."

Zhu Su stared at Zhu Youdun. Despite trying to speak confidently, Zhu Su knew that Zhu Youdun was hesitant about whether he could do it or not. If Zhu Su got used to be a Fan Wang who was surrounded by luxury and were not used to living a hard life, then Zhu Youdun was even more pampered than him. At least Zhu Su had ever lived in an awful exile. But Zhu Youdun did not have that kind of experience. When chilly wind blew, Zhu Youdun automatically tightened his clothes and shivered while Hu Nayin did not appear chilled at all.

"You must be strong in order to survive in the midst of nature, Youdun, like Yuan people who are used to live in the prairies and be strong when facing the wild nature."

Zhu Youdun's teeth clattered. "Yes... Fu Wang! Because... we have no way out. I will choose to be chilled here rather than being caught by government forces!"

"But, now it is indeed very cold..." Hu Nayin evidently tightened her clothes. She looked up. "Gosh... looks like it's going to snow."

"It is snowing now?" Zhu Youdun was surprised.

"This location is one of the highest areas in Mount Laojun and much closer to the sky. The lowlands have not yet snowed, but here is different."

Zhu Youdun also looked up. The evening sky was now full of thick clouds. The fog had doubled and began to blur their visions. The cold wind blew chiller.

"We can't stay overnight in the wilderness. We have to look for lodging." After saying so, Hu Nayin walked fast towards the Taoist Temple.

Zhu Su tried to chase after her. "But Nayin... we can't bother them!..."

"You have nowhere to live now. After all, we just ask for permission to stay for a while."

"But if the forces also get them?!..."

Ignoring Zhu Su, Hu Nayin had been standing in front of the temple. She knocked on the door.