The questions raised by Ji Ye clearly stunned the others into silence, everyone pondering those two incredible inquiries.

Qin Bing'er clutched my arm, her whole body trembling slightly. I understood her perfectly. As a girl born via in vitro fertilization, after a series of bizarre events, learning from a strange poem that her ancestor might be the Tusi King Qin Cheng must have filled her with a mix of intense excitement and surprise beyond measure.

It was then that another question I had long ignored resurfaced: How exactly did the green-haired diagram on Qin Bing'er's back disappear? When we learned of its vanishing at the Yin-Yang Tree, I was too eager to find Anle Cave to properly dwell on it; moreover, I was extremely reluctant to attribute it to anything "supernatural." Later, successive encounters with various "Sha" left me neither the time nor the energy to investigate thoroughly. Recalling it now, this was absolutely no mere coincidence.

What struck me as even more astonishing was that when I pieced the entire series of events together, I realized Qin Bing'er played the role of the connecting thread, stitching disparate fragments of events into one cohesive whole. Entering Anle Cave was due to the green-haired diagram on her back. Just as we dissected the strange dream incident of the sixth day of the sixth lunar month, more baffling mysteries emerged. When we felt utterly at a dead end, we unexpectedly found a clue in a poem that unlocked the secret of the Blood Soul Stele—a clue intimately connected to Qin Bing'er!

—This matter, I suspect, is far from simple.

The biggest enigma facing me now is the origin of the Blood Soul Stele: why has it appeared after more than two millennia, and what is its purpose? The eight words, "To unravel the Blood Soul, seek Qin Cheng," had become a lifeline in a snowstorm. Solving the mystery of the Blood Soul Stele would unravel all the other puzzles: the riddle of the prophecy, the mystery of the character 'Tu,' the puzzle of the green-haired diagram, the enigma of Anle Cave, the mystery of the Seven Star Alignment, and likely even the mystery of Master Qinghe would find a reasonable explanation.

I shared my thoughts with Ji Ye and the others, and they wholeheartedly agreed with my analysis.

Ji Ye asked, "Then... what do you mean?"

"We go to the Tusi Imperial City to find Qin Cheng. We leave tomorrow. Even if he died hundreds of years ago, there must be descendants, and they will certainly have left behind clues," I stated firmly.

The Tusi Imperial City referred to here is specifically the Tangya Tusi City in Xidu, as it was the place where Qin Cheng carved out a secluded kingdom for himself.

Although I was born and raised in Xidu, I had never visited the Tangya Tusi Imperial City. My understanding of this ancient city, which witnessed centuries of the Tusi system, came only from sparse historical records and fragments of local gossip; I had never conducted an in-depth study. This, of course, was related to my general lack of interest in Tujia history and culture.

However, after this series of inexplicable events, especially after determining their connection to Tujia history, the Tangya Tusi Imperial City sparked a profound interest in me. I had considered asking the old chronicler about the Imperial City, but seeing his grim expression—as if someone owed him dozens of bushels of aged millet—and his impatient demeanor, I wondered if I had somehow offended his family. I felt strange but couldn't pinpoint why. Thinking that I would visit the site tomorrow, where the locals would surely have much richer knowledge, I figured, besides Butcher Zhang, was I going to eat a live pig?

That night, I slept extremely soundly, not having a single dream.

The next morning, the "Four Musketeers" gathered early and boarded a minibus bound for Tangya. There weren't many passengers, and judging by their attire and accents, they were undoubtedly locals from Tangya.

Hua'er’s appearance on the bus immediately drew gasps. Seeing the fearful expressions on some of the female passengers, I quickly reassured them, emphasizing that Hua’er wouldn't bite and there was no need to worry. The passengers relaxed when they saw Hua’er curled up contentedly between my legs, its head resting on my knee, eyes closed in repose. Noticing the large, fleshy lump on Hua’er’s leg, they started asking curiously what was going on. I managed a wry smile and explained that I didn't know exactly what it was, not even when the lump first appeared. After some random speculation, the passengers dropped the matter.

Before leaving, I hadn't intended to bring Hua'er to the Tusi Imperial City, but recalling how this creature had saved my life several times in critical moments in Anle Cave, I realized it was an indispensable helper. Just before boarding, seeing Hua’er ignore my father’s call and insist on following me, I relented and brought it along.

The minibus traveled quietly along the mountain road shaded by green trees. The road was uniformly paved with cement, ensuring a smooth ride. However, the winding mountain path presented a spectacle of bizarre and exquisite scenery that unfolded like a three-dimensional movie before our eyes. The dominant color of this scenery was undoubtedly the dense, lush greenery covering every ravine and hollow of the mountains, like a vast emerald tapestry inviting a touch; occasional breezes caused the green tapestry to ripple, teasing the thin, gauze-like mist lingering in the mountains into a faint, ethereal dance; the rustling of the pines and the soft sound of dew drops drew out the rising sun, which generously and recklessly poured its gentle warmth over the mountains and waters, coaxing the droplets on the green tapestry to become crystal clear, incomparably shy, shimmering and concealing themselves; above the peaks, the sky was a blue so heartbreakingly beautiful and clean that it was endearing, with a few wisps of stubborn morning clouds gathered quietly and kindly around the blue, watching over the vast world; the grayish-white road intermittently appeared and disappeared amidst the embrace of the mountains, like a leisurely, serene giant dragon winding its way; unknown birds in the distance and nearby sang their melodious, unrestrained songs, causing the scattered red and white flowers in the mountains to nod and dance frequently; the light engine sound, the occasional horn beep, the sporadic sound of dripping water, the faint, melodious dripping of a small mountain spring, the distant, intermittent barking of dogs, the sound of cowbells—all became cheerful, jumping musical sprites, lending the scenery and dense woods a deeper, quieter ambiance; in the verdant fields, a few diligent farmers were methodically busy, and behind them, the ancient stilt houses either boldly revealed themselves or modestly hid behind veils, their curling smoke testifying to their vibrant life; the fresh, damp, cool air chased the fragrance of flowers, pine resin, and other heart-refreshing scents, seeping into the very core of one’s being, nourishing the body and spirit to a state of near-immortality...

—What an earthly paradise!! I exclaimed inwardly. Living here so long, I had failed to notice such extraordinary scenery. No wonder the ancients were so moved—"Not seeing the true face of Mount Lu, only because one is within the mountain!" What does it mean to travel within a painting? This is precisely our situation.

On the bus, everyone except the driver, who was humming a Tujia folk song while focused on driving, was awake. Only Qin Bing'er and I were truly alert. Man Niao Niao was leaning against the seat back, his earth-shattering snores being the most dissonant note in this beautiful symphony. Ji Ye, however, did not seem to be asleep; his brow occasionally furrowed and smoothed, and I couldn't fathom what was occupying his mind.

I felt Qin Bing'er tense beside me; although her eyes were looking out the window, her gaze seemed vacant. I took a breath, gently nudged her, and murmured, "Bing'er, how is it? Xidu is known as one of the three great back gardens of the motherland; it’s not an undeserved reputation, is it?"

Qin Bing’er seemed to awaken from a daze, her eyes focusing as she looked at me and nodded, "Mm, very nice!"

"When foreigners visit Xidu, they all give it a thumbs-up, saying it's the most suitable place for human habitation!"

"Really?" Qin Bing’er’s mind was clearly not on the scenery outside; she seemed preoccupied.

Seeing her tension mixed with anxiety, I knew she was pondering the state of the Tusi Imperial City they were about to see and what outcome awaited her. In truth, I felt the same way. Looking at Qin Bing'er’s lovely face, I tried to distract her by talking about other things. "You’ve studied the essay 'The Peach Blossom Spring,' haven't you? Legend has it that the 'Peach Blossom Spring' in the text refers to our Xidu!"

"Oh!" Qin Bing’er replied distractedly. After a long silence, she whispered, "...How much farther until the Tusi Imperial City?"

"...Not far now, I think?" I said hesitantly.

"Oh! Are you all going to visit the Tangya Tusi Imperial City? It’s not far now. See that? Ahead is the Tangya River. Follow the Tangya River for about ten more kilometers, and you'll reach Mount Zhuque. Cross Mount Zhuque, and you'll see the Tusi Imperial City," a sharply dressed, trendy young man sitting to my right suddenly opened his eyes and quickly interjected. I was startled, marveling at his sharp ears. Turning to look, I saw his gaze fixed intently and hotly on Qin Bing’er. I chuckled inwardly; I had noticed long ago that the moment this kid saw Qin Bing’er, his youthful hormones had begun to stir, and now he finally had a chance to flirt, so why wouldn't he seize the moment?

"Oh! Thanks. So there's also a Mount Zhuque?" I said to the guy with a slight smile.

"Good heavens. Not just Mount Zhuque? There’s the Azure Dragon on the left, the White Tiger on the right, Zhuque in front, and Xuanwu behind—the full set! The Tusi Imperial City is situated right between these four mountains!" The young man glanced at me with an air of condescending superiority, as if I were hopelessly ignorant.

"Seeing this girl... she doesn't look like a local, does she? You should really go see it. We see it every day and are sick of it. Alas! What you learn from books is ultimately shallow; to truly know a thing, you must experience it yourself," the young man, finding Qin Bing'er unresponsive, desperately tried to engage her with a slightly misplaced poetic line.

Qin Bing’er offered a faint smile and turned her head to look out the window. The young man seemed mesmerized by that smile and only shifted his gaze after a long moment, his eyes scraping across my face like two knives, the cutting edge surprisingly deep. We were both worldly enough for me to understand his intentions immediately. I met his eyes silently, thinking, Kid, don't mock the dung heap when you're not much better yourself.

I leaned close to Qin Bing’er’s ear and whispered, "Bing'er, this kid wants to kill me..."

Qin Bing’er gasped, turning in surprise to look at me questioningly. I continued in a low voice, "Don't his eyes look like knives?" Qin Bing’er understood, let out a soft chuckle, then instantly composed herself, adopting a serious expression. "See if I can cut him back!" she said, looking up and staring directly at the young man. The kid’s face flushed slightly, and he lowered his head in defeat.

I was a bit curious. In the past, when confronted by the hook-like gazes of rough boys, Qin Bing’er would have blushed, lowered her head, and quickly averted her eyes. Why was she confronting others so openly now and saying something so witty? —Strange!

With this little interlude, we unknowingly arrived at the foot of Mount Zhuque. At that moment, the sky, which had been washed clean and azure, was suddenly covered in dark clouds, and a light drizzle began to fall instantly, with lightning occasionally flashing on the horizon, followed by faint thunder.

My heart sank. Damn it, why did the sky change just as we approached the Tusi Imperial City? Does this carry some inexplicable hidden meaning?

The rain intensified, rapidly building toward a downpour. Great masses of black clouds pressed down upon our heads unnoticed, plunging the world into a deep gloom. In an instant, the mountains and rivers displayed a dark, inky green panorama.

Mount Zhuque wasn't very high. The minibus wound its way up to the summit, and a highly peculiar topography burst into our view—three majestic, towering mountains encircled a broad basin, through the center of which snaked a winding river. On one side of the river was a long, wide, gentle slope leaning against the opposite mountain. Combined with Mount Zhuque beneath our feet, the entire scene looked like a washboard placed slanted inside a large wooden tub. The slope was also a deep shade of emerald green, and several grayish-white ruins and broken walls, beneath the dark green foliage, gradually ascended from the base of the slope, merging with the milky white mist swirling among the inclines. The dense curtain of rain outside the bus window seemed to render the visible area into an old, grayish-black photograph...

"That is the Tusi Imperial City," the young man from before pointed toward the opposite slope. "It's a shame. The originally grand and magnificent Tusi Imperial City was almost entirely destroyed during the Cultural Revolution and the 'Learn from Dazhai in Agriculture' campaign. Otherwise, this Tusi Imperial City, which is much larger than the Forbidden City in Beijing, wouldn't look so dilapidated, fragmented, and silently desolate like this ruin now..."

These few sentences were elegantly and poetically delivered, inexplicably stirring a sense of melancholy in my heart.

Because I was mentally prepared, I wasn't surprised to see the ruins nestled on the gentle slope. Qin Bing’er, however, was different. Her gaze was fixed blankly on the intermittently visible Tusi Imperial City in the distance, her face stark white, and her body beginning to tremble slightly again.

"The mountain to the right of the slope is Mount Baihu, and the one to the left is naturally Mount Qinglong. The mountain behind the slope, needless to say, is Mount Xuanwu. The Tusi Imperial City was built entirely according to the Feng Shui layout of Zhuque in front, Xuanwu behind, Qinglong on the left, and Baihu on the right," the punk didn't notice Qin Bing’er’s change in complexion, continuing his ceaseless introduction of the approaching Tusi Imperial City, his head swaying with the bumps of the bus, his tone conveying a sense of seasoned familiarity and smugness.

"Then... do you know why the Tusi Imperial City was built on the banks of the Tangya River?" I countered the young man.

"Well... I don't know about that. I wasn't involved when they built the Tusi Imperial City back then..." The young man was caught off guard by my question, his face reddened as he offered a flippant remark he thought was clever as a deflection.

"Then... do you know where Qin Cheng is?" Qin Bing’er withdrew her gaze and turned to ask the young man.

"Qin Cheng? You mean the most famous Tusi King, Qin Cheng, right? I'm very sorry, he passed away hundreds of years ago... Girl, if you had been born a few hundred years earlier, you could have paid your respects in person." The punk’s eyes flared with a spark of excitement, and he immediately followed up with what he thought was a brilliant joke, failing to realize it backfired. Not only did he not earn a smile from Qin Bing’er, but he instead received a displeased glance from her.

Confused, the kid mumbled dejectedly, "You guys should get off at the bridge ahead and walk two li to the left. Look for an old man named Chen Zhaobei; he’s in charge of the Tusi Imperial City. If you have any business, he’ll surely know the answers..." He then turned to the driver, "Old Second, why don't you drive them straight to the Tusi Imperial City? It’s raining so hard, and it’s not far..."

The driver cheerfully agreed, "Sure thing!" He steered the wheel, and the bus, carrying all of us, drove toward the Tusi Imperial City.

In just two minutes, the bus stopped. The young man pointed toward an old man under the roadside embankment, wearing a straw cape and a conical hat. "You're lucky. That old man tending cattle right there is Chen Zhaobei. Go find him!" I excitedly stood up and stepped off the bus first. As soon as my front foot touched the ground, my back leg was tripped by something, and I pitched forward in a face-first sprawl. Fortunately, in that critical moment, I managed to brace myself with both hands, saving my mouth from kissing the solid earth, but my forehead, due to inertia, happened to strike a rock squarely, instantly gushing blood.

The sudden turn of events shocked everyone on the bus. After a long moment, Qin Bing’er snapped out of it, rushed off the bus, and helped me up. The young man burst into laughter, saying with a touch of schadenfreude, "Brother, you’re too devout! Starting to kowtow the moment you get off the bus, haha..." The punk’s words provoked some good-natured laughter from the rest of the passengers.

Already dizzy from the fall, hearing that kid's mockery made me feel even more mortified and incredibly angry. I clutched my forehead, turned around, and glared fiercely at the young man, then searched near the door of the bus, wanting to find the tripping object and kick it hard to avenge my embarrassment. After searching for a long time, I found the area by the door perfectly clean; there was nothing there that could have tripped me?

I looked suspiciously at the young man. He quickly understood my thoughts and hastily waved his hands, "Don't look at me, I didn't do it—Girl, you have to speak fairly!" He addressed the last part to Qin Bing’er.

Qin Bing’er nodded and said, "There was absolutely nothing and no one that tripped you; why did you fall?" Then the measured Ji Ye also stated he hadn't seen anything trip me.

Huh?—This was truly strange!

"Brother, you all hurry down to that pavilion ahead to take shelter from the rain. Treat your wound there. That pavilion is also an important scenic spot of the Tusi Imperial City," the punk said to me seriously after he had finished laughing.

"Thanks," I replied sullenly, and amidst the laughter of the passengers, I ran down a stone path into the red pavilion the young man had indicated. Qin Bing’er, Ji Ye, Man Niao Niao, and Hua’er followed closely behind and entered the pavilion.