Chapter 1421 - 1411: Down and Out

Chapter 1421: Chapter 1411: Down and Out

At the foot of the mountain, there’s a spring named "Mayu Xiangquan," which is the foremost of the ancient "Ten Sights of Han Yang." Its area is not large, about three meters in length and width, formed by several huge rocks. The spring water flows gently from the mountain top, and Jiang Cheng steps forward to walk up the mountain. What first catches his eye is the newly repaired gate.

Jiang Cheng continues to climb up, stepping through the mountain gate. On the left, there’s a Mazu Temple. The architectural style is similar to the Zhouwan Mazu Temple. Inside the wall, there are two Jade Emperor Halls and Celestial Empress Temples parallel to each other, with two small pavilions for worship facing each other on the sides. In the front center stands the stone statue of Lady Mazu, flanked by two reverent guardians. Giant dragons coil atop the temple, and drinking from the spring behind the temple gives a sense of tranquility. Lush trees line the red temple, arranged in an orderly fashion. During the New Year, the temple is bustling with crowds, each person seeking the blessing of Mazu for the family’s safety throughout the year. A Daoist’s revelation: "Guest, dispel worries and rest your spirit quietly; when friends arrive, deepen bonds and honor the Dao."

But this time, I’ve found that people no longer seem as devout as before; they come in haste and leave in haste, lacking much faith. On the left slope of Mount Da, there’s the "Heaven Temple," where two statues of flying horses at the entrance seem to warmly invite. Gazing at the mountain top, one sees the black horse soar over the treetops and take flight.

Walls, stone pavilions, stone columns, stone lions, and the Three Fortune Gate are elegant and pleasing to the eye.

Jiang Cheng continues to ascend the steps. Among the lush river and repaired bamboo, the camellias waft their fragrance; from high up, the scenery of Han Yang spreads out before your eyes. From a Ming Dynasty poem by Chen Shili: "At Celestial Horse Peak, a touch of nest; travelers borrow vines to ascend." Stars approach my head

in proximity, apes and cranes embody harmony. The lofty pavilion, dust-free in the air, pine trees in June grant courtyard coolness. The world of mist and dawn is beyond human realm; to ask the returning master why it is so old?" This captured the transcendent mountaineering pleasure of scholars of the past.

Soon, Jiang Cheng reached the halfway point of the mountain, feeling a bit tired and decided to rest at the newly built Xia Mountain Scenic Corridor. This corridor, newly constructed for viewing, is only about twenty meters in length. Built close to the edge, sitting on it and looking down offers a full view of half the district. On the left side of the corridor and down about a hundred and ten steps is a small fitness square with some fitness equipment for the elderly to use. Many people were gathered on the scenic corridor now, and as Jiang Cheng leaned against it, admiring the beautiful mountain scenery, a sudden clamor reached his ears.

On Celestial Horse Mountain, at the scenic halfway point.

At this moment, people had lost interest in the beautiful scenery. They were all moving toward a broken edge on the east end of the scenic corridor, gradually forming a huge encirclement, layers upon layers, and Jiang Cheng couldn’t immediately tell what had happened. More and more people converged there, making Jiang Cheng curious enough to join them.

After a struggle of considerable effort, Jiang Cheng finally managed to squeeze in with his robust physique. He discovered a middle-aged man standing on the other side of the safety barrier at the cliff’s edge. This man appeared to be about ten years older than Jiang Cheng, and his first impression was one of dejection, followed by ugliness. Yes, the middle-aged man looked very ugly, with a prominent forehead and small eyes, quite peculiar-looking.

No doubt, the man’s deep-set eyes and stubble-covered face made him resemble someone down on their luck, looking to end it all here. He hadn’t had the chance to jump yet but was already spotted, raising a commotion.

At that moment, someone from the crowd was trying to talk him down. Jiang Cheng noticed that person and recognized him immediately: wasn’t that the leader who interrogated him just yesterday?

This leader really had it easy, coming for a mountain climb early in the morning, Jiang Cheng thought. Yet, he still liked this leader quite a bit because he could tell he was someone who got things done. From yesterday’s events, it was clear he was not one to listen unreasonably or tread crooked paths, which was why Jiang Cheng mentioned him in front of so many leaders. Plus, having a good relationship might prove useful, as his family resided within this Government Office’s jurisdiction.

The leader stood on the safe side of the barrier, speaking to the desperate middle-aged man across from him. However, the man, with eyes filled with deathly despair, seemed unfazed and determined to end his life. Jiang Cheng found it very strange because the middle-aged man looked so familiar, like someone he had seen before, yet no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t recall where he’d seen him.

Meanwhile, back with the leader, seeing how the man wasn’t paying any attention to his words, nor even listening at all, he grew anxious. After all, this was a living, breathing life—he couldn’t just stand there and watch him jump off. Something had to be done.

So the leader stopped speaking, scanning the crowd for a moment, ensuring that the man wasn’t paying him any attention. He then stealthily climbed over the barrier, inching his way toward the middle-aged man.

Just as he was about to grab the man’s arm, unexpectedly, the man snapped back to alertness. Seeing the leader almost within reach, his expression changed dramatically, and he prepared to jump. Jiang Cheng wouldn’t let him succeed. In that critical moment, Jiang Cheng acted; the Thunder Element within him instantly activated. Jiang Cheng transformed into a blur and, in the blink of an eye, appeared beside the middle-aged man. The crowd didn’t even react before Jiang Cheng had already pulled the man back inside the barrier.

The middle-aged man was in shock. Just as he was about to jump, he felt a tremendous force lift him by the shoulders. Suddenly, his body was beyond his control; then, before he knew it, he felt like he was flying, and soon after, he was back inside the barrier. What just happened??

Someone in the crowd seemed to have realized what occurred and shouted, "Superman!"

The shout awakened everyone, and Jiang Cheng also came to his senses. Casually, he picked up the still-dazed middle-aged man and moved him away.

Fortunately, cameras and smartphones aren’t widespread in this era, so Jiang Zai doesn’t have to worry about being recognized later.

Dragging the middle-aged man to a secluded corner, Jiang Cheng breathed a sigh of relief. Being recognized would mean never having a peaceful day in the future.

At present, the hopeless look in the middle-aged man’s eyes seemed somewhat diminished by the scare, but his face still bore the signs of collapse. Why jump off a cliff? Jiang Cheng asked the middle-aged man in front of him. Jiang Cheng couldn’t understand why anyone would choose to end their life over troubles; it was a severe disregard for life. Their death might bring closure to their pain, but the negative impacts on society can’t just disappear overnight.

In psychology, there’s something called the Werther Effect; if this middle-aged man succeeded in jumping today, it would surely lead to media sensationalism, drawing more people seeking the same end here, thus amplifying the societal impact dramatically.