Chapter 3, Leaving the Mountain

This night pearl is indeed a rare treasure, with only two in the world. In the past, Emperor Xianfeng distributed them to the empresses of the East and West Palaces. The empress of the West Palace, Yehenara, known as Empress Dowager Cixi, was buried with her night pearl in her mouth at the Dingxi Tomb in the Eastern Qing Tombs. In 1928, the warlord Sun Dianying stole it and presented it to Soong Mei-ling. The empress of the East Palace, Niuhulu, known as Empress Dowager Cian, was buried at the Dingdong Tomb in the Eastern Qing Tombs, but Sun Dianying did not have the chance to rob her tomb. In the autumn of 1945, a group of bandits descended from Wuling Mountain, led by the Wang brothers, who blew open the underground palace of Empress Dowager Cian's tomb. Empress Dowager Cian had been resting in her coffin for decades, yet her complexion remained rosy, as if she were still alive, with the night pearl in her mouth. When the bandits pried out the night pearl, they saw Empress Dowager Cian's cheeks instantly collapse, her face filled with wrinkles, her skin dry and dark, appearing as if she were a different person, causing the bandits to flee in terror from the underground palace.

A crowd had gathered by the railway ahead, possibly indicating that someone had been crushed to death again. Xiaofen dared not look and hurriedly pulled Tangshan to take a detour. ... Tangshan glanced over and, through the gaps between people's legs, he saw a top with a blue floral pattern stained with patches of blood and a pair of mandarin ducks.

Tangshan returned to his seat, but his backpack was already missing. Looking around, there was no trace of it. Losing the backpack not only meant he couldn't pay for the meal, but without identification, clothing, and travel funds, how could he set off? Just as he exited the temple, he encountered this misfortune; what was to be done? It was time to settle the bill, and Tangshan searched through his pockets, feeling helpless and embarrassed. An elderly man, who had regained his vitality, observed all of this and smiled slightly, stepping forward to pay the bill for Tangshan. Tangshan clasped his hands in gratitude, but the old man waved his hand and tugged at the corner of Tangshan's clothing, saying, "Please follow me." After heading north for a short distance, they arrived at the ancient city inn.

Hua Xin was quite surprised: "You know my nickname too? They all jokingly call me the Flower Heart Daoist, but I haven't really done anything. " After saying this, he awkwardly rubbed his hands together

"It would be wonderful if your father could see how well you are doing in school," the mother said softly

The youngest one focused his gaze and was taken aback; the needle had actually pierced his own wrist! The syringe had already injected halfway, and immediately, large beads of sweat rolled down his cheeks, leaving him in a daze. ... Boss Cui stepped forward, snatched the syringe with a swift motion, glared at the youngest one with anger, and firmly grasped Tangshan's arm, clearly recognizing him, and forcefully stabbed in...

Hua Xin shouted, "There is no disinfection, it is too unsanitary!" Her pleading gaze urgently turned towards Tang Shan, who, however, displayed a completely indifferent expression. Hua Xin rolled her eyes and sighed, "Forget it, forget it, just give it to them. Brother Tang, take out the belongings and give them to them."

I grasped the luminous pearl, held the urn, turned around, and discovered the figures of my cousin and Boss Cui... At this point, Hua Xin let out a long sigh and hurriedly added, "You already know what happened next; Boss Cui chased me all the way to Lijiang."

In the countryside of my hometown, tomb raiding has become rampant, as the saying goes: to get rich, one must raid tombs. ... The news of my father's body remaining intact for thirty years will surely spread like wildfire, will there be anyone ... . ... I scanned the crowd, and my cousin was no longer in sight

Lijiang Ancient Town. The cobblestone paths wind and twist, flanked by the unevenly arranged small residences from the Ming and Qing dynasties, featuring white walls and tiled roofs, intricately carved beams and painted rafters, small bridges over flowing water, and the graceful shadows of flowers. The melodious and pleasant sounds of ancient Naxi music drift in with the wind, captivating the tourists who linger and wander. At noon, the square city is bustling with tourists, jostling against one another. Among the crowd walks a tall young man dressed in a suit and casual attire, carrying a canvas backpack, looking around as he walks. He is Zewang Renzeng, with the Han name Tang Shan.

"The turtle's mouth is tightly shut," Boss Cui chuckled sinisterly and made a gesture, "Little Yao, please serve Boss Hua a drink of water wine." Upon hearing this, Little Yao grinned, smacked his lips, and cheerfully took out a small rectangular box. He opened the lid, took out a syringe, pulled out two packets of white powder, and casually poured them into a disposable plastic cup on the table. With a deft motion, he reached down, prepared the mixture, extracted a small amount of urine, shook it, and drew it into the syringe, all in one smooth motion. ... Little Yao's strong hand grasped Hua Xin's arm, shaking the needle to locate a vein ...

Hua Xin's face flushed red as she reached into her underwear, carefully retrieving a pale blue bead from the hidden pocket. She gently cradled it in her palm and presented it to Tang Shan. The bead was the size of an egg, perfectly round and semi-transparent, radiating a bluish light, without a single flaw, indicating it was of considerable value

At this moment, not only was the youngest astonished, but Hua Xin was also left speechless in amazement

Tangshan squeezed into the crowd, and the old man's gradually dimming gaze helplessly looked at him... Tangshan bent down, gently held his hand, and with a slight movement of his mind, a strand of true energy entered the old man's little finger at the Shaoze acupoint. It traveled along the hand's Taiyang meridian, up to the shoulder, penetrating the Du meridian to the head's Shenting point. He had already discovered the location of the blockage in the old man's cranial meridians and the ruptured blood vessels. He then urged the true energy to open the blocked meridians and blood vessels. In just an instant, it was completed, and the old man slowly sat up. The crowd was puzzled, but the old man knew in his heart that this young man had saved him and felt grateful.

The neighbor's little Fen walked to school accompanied by friends. She is a kind-hearted girl who often sneaks some delicious treats from home to give to Tang Shan. The school is located a few miles away in Malan Valley, which was once the garrison of the Fourteenth Prince. After the opening ceremony, Tang Shan received new books, inhaling the fresh scent of ink, and secretly vowed to study hard so as not to disappoint his mother

If it really existed, it has already been burned down, Hua Xin exclaimed

At the beginning of this year, a development zone was established in my hometown, and my father's old grave needed to be relocated, so I returned to Sichuan. On the day of the exhumation, relatives gathered, and among the crowd, I saw that cousin, shabby and lewd. As the grave mound was gradually excavated, I thought that after thirty years, my father should have been reduced to mere bones. However, when the coffin was opened, my father's complexion was rosy, and his body was intact, as if he were merely asleep... In that instant, I understood; my poor father must have swallowed the luminous pearl to protect it... The grave mound was gradually excavated, and I thought that after thirty years, my father should have been reduced to mere bones. However, when the coffin was opened, my father's complexion was rosy, and his body was intact, as if he were merely asleep... In that instant, I understood; my poor father must have swallowed the luminous pearl to protect it! He accompanied the luminous pearl in its underground slumber for a full thirty years at the cost of his life...

Boss Cui was furious upon hearing this: "Damn it, this little turtle's son is really tired of living, come drink some wine!" The youngest rushed forward and grabbed Tang Shan's wrist, pretending to stab him. Tang Shan sat on the bed without moving, simply closing his eyes and ignoring him, secretly reciting a soul-moving spell. Boss Cui snorted, thinking to himself, is this kid crazy? He then signaled the youngest to stab. ... The youngest was already impatient, applying force with his hand, the needle piercing the skin ... ... Boss Cui snorted again, thinking to himself, is this kid crazy? He then signaled the youngest to stab. ... The youngest was already impatient, applying force with his hand, the needle piercing the skin ... ... That feeling was really good, numb and tingling ... ...

Hmph! You are quite perceptive. " Boss Cui turned around and extended his hand towards Tang Shan, " Little brother, hand it over.

The same feeling, a tingling and itchy sensation, is truly wonderful... Pushing in, pulling out, Boss Cui let out a long sigh. Of course, that was his own arm.

The old man exclaimed: "A mere gesture? This is simply a miracle in the medical field! I can feel that warm current moving! It travels all the way to my head, spinning and heating up, it feels extremely comfortable." Before Tang Shan could respond, he hurriedly introduced himself: "My name is Hua Xin, I am the host of the 'Kaitian Ancient Temple' in Zhujiao, Lushan District, Jiujiang City, Jiangxi Province, China... I am the secular senior brother of Daoist Hua Qing. May I ask how to address you, young brother?" He finally managed to finish his elongated introduction, taking a breath in between.

It turns out that Hua Xin is a geologist. After the exploration team was disbanded due to poor business conditions, he ventured into business and has made a few small profits over the years. His wife passed away many years ago, and he has no offspring, living alone and enjoying a carefree life. This time he came to Lijiang for tourism, and since he had nothing else to do, he was happy to accompany Tang Shan on a trip to the mainland. With his rich social experience and geographical knowledge, he could ensure that everything would go smoothly for Tang Shan, and as for the expenses along the way, he was willing to cover them. Tang Shan, seeing no other options, agreed.

On the first day of school, there were no classes, and they were dismissed around 10 o'clock. Tangshan and Xiaofen, with their backpacks slung over their shoulders, walked along the country path, chatting and laughing joyfully...

What happened later?" Tangshan became interested.

"Cross-bridge rice noodles, boss, one bowl of rice noodles, please?" A flurry of shouts and the enticing aroma interrupted Tang Shan's memories. Upon focusing, he saw a steaming fast food stall and the smiling face of the vendor. Feeling hungry, Tang Shan chose a seat, set down his backpack, and ordered a bowl of rice noodles. The rice noodles were delicious, with a thick layer of oil, piping hot. Tang Shan raised his gaze and unexpectedly met the eyes of an elderly man sitting across from him. The old man smiled gently at him, and Tang Shan nodded slightly before resuming his meal with great appetite. ... When he raised his gaze again, he was taken aback; the kind-faced old man across from him suddenly appeared grotesque and terrifying, his face contorted, staring blankly at Tang Shan, slowly leaning back... . ... The crowd erupted in screams, chaos ensued. Someone in the crowd shouted, "He has had a stroke, we need to get him to the hospital quickly." When he raised his gaze again, he was taken aback; the kind-faced old man across from him suddenly appeared grotesque and terrifying, his face contorted, staring blankly at Tang Shan, slowly leaning back... . ... The crowd erupted in screams, chaos ensued. Someone in the crowd shouted, "He has had a stroke, we need to get him to the hospital quickly."

***

Mother sent Tangshan to the village entrance, giving countless reminders, and insisted on picking up Tangshan from school at noon ... As Tangshan walked past the West Dahu River and looked back, the thin figure of his mother in a blue floral top was still standing under that old white poplar tree ...

My father passed away thirty years ago. After obtaining the luminous pearl, my father quietly took the whole family away from Beiping and returned to our hometown in Sichuan. When I was young, I had seen this luminous pearl, and my father spoke of its origins, telling me that it was a family heirloom meant to be passed down through generations. After graduating from university, I was assigned to work at the geological team in Jiujiang, northwest of Jiangxi, and I rarely returned to my hometown.

Upon entering the inn, passing through the courtyard, he walked into a guest room. The old man turned back to close the door, then turned around with his hands clasped together and said: "Young brother, I am truly grateful for your timely rescue just now, and I am at a loss as to how to express my thanks."

During the Cultural Revolution, the Red Guards came to ransack my home, specifically demanding the luminous pearl. The leader of the group was my distant cousin. The Red Guards turned the house upside down and even dug three feet into the ground but were unable to find the pearl. My father passed away that very night, and from then on, the whereabouts of the luminous pearl remained unknown.

I do not know what you are talking about said Tangshan淡淡

In the dead of night, Hua Xin's snoring was like thunder, while Tang Shan tossed and turned. He simply sat cross-legged on the bed, closed his eyes, and entered a state of quiet meditation. In his ears, he faintly heard that sound, which seemed to come from a distant space; whenever he slightly lost focus, it would vanish. The first time he sensed this elusive sound was in the sixth year of his practice, and as his cultivation improved, the frequency of hearing this sound increased, almost every day during his meditation.

The Wang brothers were eager to part with the luminous pearl, and they hurried to Beiping overnight, selling it to an antique dealer in Liulichang for fifty taels of gold. A few months later, both of them met with untimely deaths. For several decades thereafter, both the antique dealer and the luminous pearl remained missing.

Tangshan introduced himself, telling Huaxin that he is a lama of the Tibetan White Sect, has never traveled far, lacks social experience, and has lost his travel funds, leaving him in a dilemma. Upon hearing this, Huaxin laughed and repeatedly said it was not a problem, not to worry, as he had a solution.

Hua Xin continued enthusiastically: "This antique dealer is my father..." This time, it was Tang Shan's turn to be surprised

Tangshan secretly laughed and said: "So it turns out to be the fickle Daoist priest." His Yunnan accent does not distinguish between 'hua' (flower) and 'hua' (to spend)

In an instant, Boss Cui and the youngest brother both collapsed softly. Hua jumped out of bed, happily kicked the two of them, and then leaped to sit beside Tang Shan, asking with boundless admiration: "Brother, you can’t possibly be a magician, can you?"

Tangshan nodded slightly, and the two individuals packed their belongings and took advantage of the night to leave

Tangshan slowly opened his eyes and said, "What have you taken from others?"

Boss Cui cast a disdainful glance at Tangshan, who was sitting cross-legged, and with a sullen expression, coldly stared at Huaxin, saying: "You little bastard, let's see where you can run to. You made me run my legs off, so hand over what’s life-threatening quickly."

In the funeral home, I silently watched as my father's body was slowly pushed into the cremation furnace, flames rising fiercely, everything was supposed to come to an end, poor father, may the luminous pearl accompany you forever. An hour later, the ash tray was slowly pulled out, the white ashes radiating heat, and among the ashes, a luminous pearl was prominently displayed, the precious gem completely unharmed

Tangshan vaguely remembers the old home in Wuling Mountain, a village called Qianbaoshan located right next to the Eastern Qing Tombs. To the east of the village flows a river called Xidaha, and across the river lies the Xianfeng Emperor's tomb. I recall often jumping into the river as a child to catch fish, and by chance, I caught a large catfish with a yellow back and long whiskers, looking quite majestic. I ran home to present it to my mother, and I would inevitably receive a few words of praise, which filled my heart with joy. At night, when I went to bed on the kang, every time I asked about my father, my mother would smile, a smile that came from the depths of her heart, a look that Tangshan would never forget throughout his life. I remember often jumping into the river as a child to catch fish, and by chance, I caught a large catfish with a yellow back and long whiskers, looking quite majestic. I ran home to present it to my mother, and I would inevitably receive a few words of praise, which filled my heart with joy. At night, when I went to bed on the kang, every time I asked about my father, my mother would smile, a smile that came from the depths of her heart, a look that Tangshan would never forget throughout his life. My mother told me that my father's ancestors were from the Eight Banners and had once followed the Fourteenth Prince to guard the imperial tombs, living in Qianbaoshan village for generations. My mother is from Shaanxi, and in 1969, she came to Qianbaoshan village as a sent-down youth to stay with distant relatives, where she met my father. My father was a simple young farmer from the village, and they got married in 1975. Despite their impoverished circumstances after marriage, they were loving and harmonious. My mother is from Shaanxi, and in 1969, she came to Qianbaoshan village as a sent-down youth to stay with distant relatives, where she met my father. My father was a simple young farmer from the village, and they got married in 1975. Despite their impoverished circumstances after marriage, they were loving and harmonious. Soon after, my mother became pregnant. My father, not wanting my mother to live a too difficult life away from home, went to Tangshan to work in the coal mines, hoping to earn more money to support the family and save for the child about to be born. In the great earthquake of 1976, my father died. My pregnant mother, with her large belly, rushed to Tangshan and searched for three days and nights among the endless ruins but could not find my father's remains. Soon after, my mother became pregnant. My father, not wanting my mother to live a too difficult life away from home, went to Tangshan to work in the coal mines, hoping to earn more money to support the family and save for the child about to be born. In the great earthquake of 1976, my father died. My pregnant mother, with her large belly, rushed to Tangshan and searched for three days and nights among the endless ruins but could not find my father's remains. My mother, in despair, wanted to follow my father, but she could not bear to leave behind my father's unborn child. Thus, she returned to her hometown in Shaanxi, gave birth to the child, and named him Tangshan. The old home could not register the household, and life was uncertain. Relying on her family was not a long-term solution, so she soon returned to Qianbaoshan village, where she and her child depended on each other and lived a hard life. My mother, in despair, wanted to follow my father, but she could not bear to leave behind my father's unborn child. Thus, she returned to her hometown in Shaanxi, gave birth to the child, and named him Tangshan. The old home could not register the household, and life was uncertain. Relying on her family was not a long-term solution, so she soon returned to Qianbaoshan village, where she and her child depended on each other and lived a hard life.

I recall the year I was seven, on a day when the sun shone brightly and the breeze was gentle. My mother rose early and rummaged through the bottom of the trunk to find that cherished duck-egg blue blouse with delicate floral patterns, which she seldom wore. She stood before the mirror to adorn herself, and I knew that it was the wedding dress she wore on her marriage, with a pair of mandarin ducks embroidered by her own hands on the collar. My mother brought over a steaming bowl of boiled eggs, garnished with green onions and a few drops of sesame oil, the aroma wafting through the air. This was a custom from our hometown, and on my first day of school, my mother was exceedingly happy.

What are you doing! Boss Cui shouted

A creaking sound interrupted Tang Shan's contemplation. He opened his eyes and saw that the window had been opened, and two people jumped in one after the other. The leading middle-aged man had a waxy complexion and was emaciated, while the man behind him was tall and burly, with a face full of flesh. At this moment, Hua Xin had already awakened and sat up, displaying a look of terror, but soon his face broke into a smile as he repeatedly said, "So it is Boss Cui who has arrived, please take a seat, please take a seat"

After listening to Hua Xin's narration, Tang Shan reached out to pick up the luminous pearl and observed it carefully, secretly thinking that this pearl seemed to be quite ominous. Hua Xin turned off the lights, and the room was plunged into darkness, but Tang Shan's hand emitted a green, eerie glow, chilling to the bone. The pearl was crystal clear, and within it, there seemed to be clouds swirling, deep and unfathomable, indeed a rare treasure.

After leaving Cheng'en Temple, Tangshan took a long-distance bus to Lijiang. Having practiced in Cheng'en Temple for over ten years, everything felt fresh and new upon emerging, as if he had returned from another world. ... Reflecting on his own background, he couldn't help but feel a wave of bitterness; had it not been for the rescue by Master Zhongba thirteen years ago, he would have long since frozen to death on Meili Snow Mountain

Tangshan Hezhang Road: "A small effort, no need for thanks"

Hua Xindao: "It seems we must leave tonight. Where are you going, brother? I will accompany you all the way."