She is someone I watched grow up; she’s been to Europe, the Americas, and Japan. I never once heard her mention anyone she met along the way. You are the first… After returning from Qiangbake Mountain, she feared you might run into trouble, and despite all dissuasion, she insisted on secretly protecting you. I know all about it—including her writing notes in Manchu for Niqiong, telling him to look after you. Just now, Wangmu even pleaded on your behalf, saying you are the person the Princess loves most, begging me not to make things difficult for you. How could I possibly make things difficult for you? You are our most honored guest…” The Grand Hierophant took several sharp puffs on his pipe, let out a long sigh, and said, “Alas… alas…” After sighing, he asked again, “Luolian, what is your meaning—?”

I felt an overwhelming sense of desolation, unsure how to answer, and nervously rubbed my hands together.

Seeing my silence, the Grand Hierophant sighed once more. “In truth, no matter what you think, she is still our King. And you, you are merely a young upstart from a foreign tribe. She understands the ending of this matter far better than I do.”

I still felt desolate, at a loss for a reply. Fortunately, the Grand Hierophant didn't press me and immediately changed the subject, asking Old Li, “I heard you are a successor to Master Banqin?”

Old Li bowed slightly. “I was fortunate enough to spend some time with Master Banqin.”

The Grand Hierophant inquired, “Did he leave you with any instructions?”

Old Li paused to think. “Master Banqin repeatedly warned me never to let just anyone enter Qiangbake Mountain, especially the Japanese. He insisted that I must block them by every means possible, saying the matter concerns the stability of the entire Tibetan Plateau.”

The Grand Hierophant nodded. “It was only after the Princess returned from Qiangbake Mountain that I learned about his affairs. It must have been hard on him, guarding that secret his entire life, never telling anyone, not even us.” He shook his head and sighed again.

After a while, Master Banqin looked at me with immense kindness, uttered a sigh of regret, and ordered someone to escort us back to our rooms to rest. As soon as we stepped out, we saw Wangmu standing by the door.

“The Princess requests your presence, both of you,” she said, gesturing for us to follow before turning to walk away. I was indeed planning to see Zhuoma Yangjin, feeling there were a few things I needed to explain to her, so I pulled Old Li along behind Wangmu.

Wangmu appeared to hold some status; servants bowed low and stepped aside instantly upon seeing her, only straightening up to resume their tasks once she was far past.

As usual, we walked through a maze of winding, dazzlingly ornate corridors. After some time, we spotted Zhuoma Yangjin waiting for us in the distance beneath an eave.

As we approached, Wangmu said respectfully, “Princess, they have arrived.” Her voice was choked with tears.

Zhuoma Yangjin smiled faintly. “My grandfather didn’t say anything inappropriate, did he? Old people are like that sometimes. A bit long-winded.” I chuckled along, saying everything was fine. Zhuoma Yangjin immediately told Wangmu to fetch tea. But as soon as the words left her lips, Wangmu’s tears began to fall like broken beads. She cried out, “Princess, you are clearly upset, so why are you pretending to be happy?”

Zhuoma Yangjin feigned surprise. “Wangmu, what nonsense are you speaking, child? Why wouldn't I be happy? Seeing Luolian and Li Zeng makes me incredibly happy. Hurry up and brew the tea. Don't neglect our guests.”

Wangmu, tears streaming down her face, looked up at me briefly before turning to prepare the tea. Zhuoma Yangjin pushed the door open and beckoned us inside. The interior was still dazzlingly luxurious. Without any pretense of formality, Old Li and I casually chose chairs and sat down.

Zhuoma Yangjin then asked if the Grand Hierophant had said anything unpleasant to trouble me. I quickly assured her he had not. She thought for a moment. “Although I have always respected him as an elder who raised me, but—” She gestured toward the three-petaled crown on her head, “—he reveres this above all else. He surely wouldn't make things difficult for you.”

Old Li ventured, “Yangjin, forgive my presumption in asking, but is the crown on your head that of a king?”

Zhuoma Yangjin froze, her expression instantly clouding with sorrow, though she quickly regained her composure, smiling brightly. “Yes, Li Zeng, how did you know?”

Old Li replied, “Master Banqin mentioned it to me. He said the King of Guge wore a three-petaled crown, while the first-rank Grand Hierophant wears a gold box inlaid with rubies.”

Zhuoma Yangjin looked thoughtful. “Master Banqin… He truly was a loyal subject, keeping his vow. Not even on his deathbed did he reveal a single thing about Qiangbake Mountain to anyone. If I hadn’t later obtained intelligence from the Japanese side, perhaps even the Guge people, those most entitled to know the secret, wouldn’t know about that mysterious Shengtai Tomb on Qiangbake Mountain.”

Speaking of the Shengtai Tomb, I immediately recalled everything I had experienced in the burial chamber, especially the look in Zhuoma Yangjin’s eyes when she looked at me with such desolate resolve, saying she loved me. I will never forget that look.

Just then, Wangmu entered with the tea. Zhuoma Yangjin immediately took the tray and began pouring for us. Wangmu stood awkwardly to the side, weeping incessantly and occasionally biting her lip while glancing at me.

I was terribly flustered. It was Zhuoma Yangjin who continuously forced a smile, clearly struggling to suppress her emotions. “That’s enough, Wangmu. There’s nothing more for you here. Go and rest. Li Zeng and I will chat for a while,” Zhuoma Yangjin said.

Wangmu shot me one last look, as if wanting to say something, but hesitated. After a long pause, she whispered, “Luolian, do not let our Princess down.” With that, she turned and closed the door firmly before leaving.

Old Li also sensed the underlying tension and tried to leave. Zhuoma Yangjin insisted he stay, trying hard to keep him there. Fearing the awkwardness of being alone with her, I also insisted he remain, so he finally stayed, resignedly.

Zhuoma Yangjin maintained her smile, inviting us to drink our tea and engaging us in trivial small talk. Finally, she said that if there were anything else we didn't understand, we could ask her now; she would tell us everything she knew without holding back.

I constantly felt uncomfortable facing her forced cheerfulness and didn't know what to ask. Fortunately, Old Li broke the silence. He asked, “I’ve never quite understood: if you are a Princess, or perhaps a King, why would you take such a great risk to follow the Japanese to Qiangbake Mountain?”

Zhuoma Yangjin still smiled. “The Shengtai Tomb on Qiangbake Mountain—we had only heard rumors that it was connected to Guge immortality, but we found no proof. And Master Banqin, the only one who knew the truth, strictly upheld the oath his family swore to the King, refusing to reveal the secret of immortality to anyone. So, even I, to this day, do not know how to achieve immortality. Under these circumstances, I was the most educated among all my people, the one who knew the most languages, so the entire burden naturally fell upon my shoulders.”

That particular doubt was resolved.

I actually wanted to ask her how, as a Princess, she didn't know the true secret of immortality, but upon reflection, it felt inappropriate for me to ask. Just as I was about to subtly prompt Old Li to ask, Zhuoma Yangjin, sharp as ice and snow, looked at me with a faint smile. “You both really want to know why we are willing to risk death to keep everyone, including the secrets of Qiangbake Mountain and the Guge ruins, from outsiders? I remember when I thought I was going to die, I mentioned this concerned the stability of the entire Tibetan Plateau. Do you recall?”

Old Li and I both nodded unconsciously.

“Then, I can tell you—because this involves the secret of the Living Buddha reincarnation. We Guge people originally founded our nation upon the Buddha.” At this point, Zhuoma Yangjin looked somewhat sly. “However, I still haven't figured out this secret myself, even now. That’s all I can tell you for the moment. As for the rest, you can ponder it yourselves.”

For some reason, I kept sensing a profound sadness in her expression, even though she strove to maintain her smile; the sadness persisted. I wanted to say something, but words failed me.

Old Li wasn't naturally talkative; he had been searching for conversation earlier just to alleviate the awkwardness. Now, he too had run out of things to say. For a moment, the three of us just looked at each other in unusual silence.

After a long pause, Zhuoma Yangjin said mournfully, “I love you, Luolian.”

I was startled. I didn't know why she would bring this up at this moment. Besides, everyone knew this already—even her ministers and maids knew—there was no need to state it again.

“I… I…” I stammered, unsure how to respond. My feelings for her were, at best, occasional bursts of emotion, and certainly not dislike.

“It’s alright, you don’t need to answer. Because, this is just my matter,” Zhuoma Yangjin reverted to her smiling demeanor, saying softly, “I just hope you will remember me. Remember that such a person existed… I have subjects to protect, and you have your path to follow…” As she spoke, she paused, and when she spoke again, she could no longer feign calm, her voice cracking. “An emotion doomed to have no ending…”

My heart ached suddenly, and I mumbled, “Don’t say that.”

Zhuoma Yangjin offered a sad smile. “Luolian, how can you understand? How I wish I could follow you… but I cannot be reckless.”

Old Li tried to comfort Zhuoma Yangjin, but opening his mouth several times, he found no words. He could only signal me with his eyes, urging me to say something kind. Unfortunately, I am a dull person and did not know how to handle the situation before me.

After indulging her sorrow for a while, before the tear stains had even dried, Wangmu entered to report an urgent matter needing attention. Zhuoma Yangjin told us to rest well and stay as long as we wished. If we decided to leave, we just needed to tell the servants, and someone would surely escort us safely back to Lhasa. Then, she rushed out.

Wangmu stayed behind to look after us. Seeing me still sitting there foolishly, she sneered, “What a pity for our Princess… Luolian, now that things are like this, you won’t even be able to see her if you want to.”

Alarmed, I thought Zhuoma Yangjin might have done something rash and quickly asked what was happening. Wangmu said, “The Grand Hierophant has ordered that you both leave immediately; the Princess must attend to her duties. The Grand Hierophant, for the sake of his subjects and the tens of thousands beneath the earth, has resolved to prevent you from meeting by any means necessary. Therefore, from this moment on, you will have no further contact, never to meet again for all eternity.”

Hearing this, I felt as if struck by lightning, speechless for a long time.

You will have no further contact, never to meet again for all eternity—what words could be more heartbreaking than these?