Master Longbrow looked up, his pupils shrinking sharply.
Eighty metres ahead, on a massive rock, stood a half-metre-tall weasel.
Its fur gleamed, not a single stray hair, its two paws clasped together, worshipping the moon.
Solemn and devout!
Master Longbrow couldn’t help but recall a record from Dragon Tiger Mountain’s ancient texts: “A weasel worshipping the moon brings great fortune.”
Could this mean he’d finally find what he was after?
Master Longbrow grinned so widely his mouth twisted.
After its moon worship, the weasel leapt off the rock and vanished without a trace.
Ye Qiu turned and saw Master Longbrow smiling broadly, asking, “Old man, what’s so funny?”
“Heh heh…” Master Longbrow chuckled.
Ye Qiu added, “That’s the biggest weasel I’ve ever seen.”
Master Longbrow said, “That weasel’s probably lived a long time. If it keeps going, it might turn into a spirit.”
Ye Qiu had heard tales of animals absorbing the essence of the sun and moon to gain cultivation, eventually transforming into human form.
Of course, those were just legends.
“Old man, how far is this place we’re going?” Ye Qiu asked.
“Almost there, almost there,” Master Longbrow said, glancing at his compass. The needle was still spinning wildly, showing no sign of stopping.
Ye Qiu grumbled, “You kept saying ‘almost there,’ but we’ve been walking forever. Why aren’t we there yet?”
Master Longbrow fiddled with the compass, trying to find direction, but the spinning needle left him clueless.
Ye Qiu pressed, “Old man, where exactly are we going this time?”
“Heavenly Lake,” Master Longbrow blurted out.
Heavenly Lake?
Ye Qiu froze, then fumed, “At this point, you’re still lying to me!”
“Changbai Mountain’s Heavenly Lake is famous. Who doesn’t know where it is?”
“If we’re going to Heavenly Lake, why are we in the restricted area?”
Master Longbrow said seriously, “My purpose for coming to the Northeast is to find Heavenly Lake.”
“But the Heavenly Lake known to the world is just a tourist spot.”
“The Heavenly Lake I’m talking about is where Changbai Mountain’s dragon vein converges, deep in the restricted area.”
Ye Qiu frowned, “You mean there are two Heavenly Lakes in Changbai Mountain—one a tourist spot, the other unknown?”
Master Longbrow nodded slightly, then shook his head.
Ye Qiu, confused, asked, “What’s with the nodding and shaking?”
Master Longbrow replied, “As you said, there are two Heavenly Lakes in Changbai Mountain. The other one isn’t exactly unknown, just known to very few.”
“As it happens, the forty-second master of Dragon Tiger Mountain, Master Dongxuan, visited this lesser-known Heavenly Lake.”
“I read about it in Dragon Tiger Mountain’s treasured ancient texts.”
“According to Master Dongxuan, after an emperor secured the throne, to ensure eternal rule, he ordered a diviner from the Imperial Observatory to sever dragon veins across the land.”
“This diviner travelled the country, leaving footprints in every famous mountain and river, cutting ninety-eight dragon veins.”
“Finally, he came to Changbai Mountain.”
“He discovered a dragon vein here, with the potential of a latent dragon in the abyss. If the time came, it would surely soar to the heavens.”
“The diviner declared that if this dragon vein wasn’t severed, a true dragon emperor would emerge here centuries later.”
“He prepared to cut Changbai Mountain’s dragon vein, but just as he was about to act, a heavenly phenomenon appeared—thunderclouds rolled, a storm raged, and a bolt of lightning struck him dead.”
“Master Dongxuan said dragon veins are born of heaven’s will, but this diviner defied heaven, angering the skies and dying by divine punishment.”
“Centuries later, Changbai Mountain indeed produced a true dragon emperor—Nurhaci, the ancestor of the Qing Dynasty.”
“Nurhaci rose from the Northeast, laying a solid foundation for the Qing Dynasty. Without him, there would’ve been no Qing.”
Ye Qiu, still puzzled, asked, “What’s this got to do with the Heavenly Lake you’re looking for?”
“Little brat, don’t rush. Let me explain slowly.”
Master Longbrow said, “Every master of Dragon Tiger Mountain is a master of extraordinary arts, as you can see from me.”
“Shameless!” Ye Qiu snapped without mercy.
Master Longbrow, as if he hadn’t heard, continued, “Each master of Dragon Tiger Mountain excels in something. The second master was skilled in talismans, the third in Qimen Dunjia, the fourth in swordsmanship… As for me, I’m adept at divine calculations.”
Ye Qiu grew impatient, “Old man, stop flattering yourself and talk about Master Dongxuan.”
Master Longbrow grinned, “Master Dongxuan was a prodigy, skilled in feng shui and geomancy.”
“He travelled famous mountains and rivers, seeking dragon veins, and heard the story of the diviner cutting dragon veins, so he came to Changbai Mountain.”
“According to Master Dongxuan, he saw a Heavenly Lake deep in Changbai Mountain.”
“This Heavenly Lake was at the peak of a solitary mountain, utterly miraculous.”
“He also said the Golden City lies beneath this Heavenly Lake.”
Master Longbrow added, “Master Dongxuan said the Golden City holds a great treasure. If Dragon Tiger Mountain obtains it, we’ll shine for ten thousand years.”
“True or not?” Ye Qiu was skeptical. “If Master Dongxuan visited the Golden City, why didn’t he take the treasure?”
Master Longbrow said, “For some reason, he didn’t take it. He left word that to claim the treasure, one must have sufficient destiny.”
Ye Qiu asked, “Old man, do you think your destiny is enough to take the treasure?”
Master Longbrow sighed, “I don’t know if my destiny’s enough, but if we don’t take the treasure, Dragon Tiger Mountain will only decline further.”
“I’m old, with little time left.”
“I must retrieve the treasure from the Golden City before I die. That way, Dragon Tiger Mountain might regain its glory.”
Ye Qiu pressed, “What’s this treasure in the Golden City? Do you know?”
Master Longbrow shook his head, “No idea.”
Damn it, you know nothing and aren’t afraid of being fooled.
Ye Qiu advised, “Old man, listen to me. The higher the hope, the greater the disappointment. Lower your expectations.”
“You think Master Dongxuan’s words are false?” Master Longbrow shook his head, “He wouldn’t lie. I believe the Golden City holds a great treasure.”
Ye Qiu glanced at the compass in Master Longbrow’s hand, its needle spinning wildly, and asked, “What now?”
“No worries, I have a way.”
Master Longbrow put away the compass and pulled a turtle shell from his sleeve.
