Initially, once the green moss pattern vanished from Qin Bing'er’s back, her origins ceased to be a matter that particularly preoccupied me. Not only was her birthplace impossibly far from us, but given the brutal murder of the surrogate mother and the sheer cruelty of those who "manufactured" Qin Bing'er, it was likely that the donors of the ova had met equally grim ends long ago. Furthermore, even if her birth parents were still alive, where would we ever find them? What would be the point of finding a man and woman who had contributed only two cells?

Later, at the Star Mountain in Tangya, through that bizarre means—Qin Bing'er’s past-life memories—we finally learned she was descended from Chief Qin Cheng, and she had found her roots. I became even more reluctant to dredge up her origins. Firstly, I worried about upsetting her; secondly, she herself was overjoyed when the green pattern disappeared, and she never mentioned it again. Thus, the story she told atop the lacquer tree had almost faded from my memory. But hearing this boy suddenly mention the "long-nosed old man" and seeing Qin Bing'er’s sudden pallor made the scenes from that story burst forth from the depths of my heart with irresistible force.

What was even more bewildering was that the matters this foreign old man with the long nose—who seemed to have emerged from some desolate corner of the earth—was inquiring about were the very same things we were trying to uncover. Was this mere coincidence, or was there some deeper reason?

Qin Bing'er noticed her lapse, offered a slightly awkward smile, and dismissed the boy who treated her like a celestial beauty. She politely turned to the old woman to ask about the long-nosed old man. "Could your family describe what he looked like?"

The old woman thought for a moment. "I couldn't say exactly, but he seemed quite old, with a head full of white hair, and his nose truly was very long. He spoke Chinese quite fluently... Oh yes, the group accompanying him were all strapping and burly, but they were very quiet. They seemed quite respectful toward the long-nosed old man."

Qin Bing'er glanced back at me. "Did your family know where they came from?"

"Well... I didn't ask."

The boy chimed in again. "My great-grandfather and grandfather were performing in Tenglong Cave and wouldn't let me play, so they made me help my great-grandmother sell divine tofu. That group of foreigners came out of Tenglong Cave. They must have watched my great-grandfather and grandfather perform inside before they left..." This boy was good at many things, but he insisted on putting his own affairs first when speaking, his "sinister" intent laid bare. He treated me with complete indifference, which left me quite frustrated.

The old woman smiled sheepishly. "Those two old men performed the Maogusi dance in the cave every day. I was bored out of my mind at home, and I’ve loved making divine tofu since I was little, so I set up this little stall to pass the time and wait for them to come home. What little doggy said is true: just as we opened for business, we saw those foreign guests emerging from the cave. They were arguing about something as they walked, and when they got to my stall, they asked about the ancient tree, but they didn't buy anything and just left!"

"And where did they go after that?" I interjected.

The boy stared dreamily at Qin Bing'er, clearly having not heard my question. The old woman chuckled. "We don't know exactly where they went. This place has such beautiful scenery; who knows where they decided to wander off to next?"

"Did... did you hear them mention Xuanguan (hanging coffins)?"

"I didn't hear that. I was busy attending to other customers at the time!"

I was momentarily speechless and about to leave with Qin Bing'er when the boy suddenly blurted out, "Sister, why don't you ask me? I know where they went!"

Qin Bing'er looked curious. "You know? Where did they go?"

The boy stretched his neck high, immensely proud, and said quickly, "They said they were going to play in the Suobuya Stone Forest!"

Suobuya Stone Forest? Isn't that at the entrance to the world-famous Qingjiang Grand Canyon? Could their final destination be the Qingjiang Grand Canyon? I suddenly recalled the scene from the murals in Tenglong Cave—rushing water, ancient trees, mountains facing off across the banks, hanging coffins... Such a scene was most likely to occur in the Qingjiang Grand Canyon. The silk manuscript also mentioned that Lord Lin, Ba Wuxiang, was expanding his territory along the Qingjiang River, and the Qingjiang Grand Canyon is the most bizarre and exceptional section of that river basin. If there was any hidden realm forgotten by the world, this would be the most probable location.

Analyzing all the signs, I couldn't help but wonder: Were those foreigners also searching for the Suoluo Sacred Tree? Did they also get their clues from the murals in Tenglong Cave? Was the fir branch torch left behind in Tenglong Cave one they had used? If so, what was their motive?

I couldn't help but recall the tragic scene Qin Bing'er described at her birth, and a bold idea startled me: Could the long-nosed old man the grandmother described be him? This would truly be the stuff of mad fantasy.

Qin Bing'er noticed my ragged breathing and looked back, instantly understanding my thought process. She touched the boy's cheek, managed a strained smile, and waved goodbye once more.

We walked a long way before I looked back and saw the boy touching his own cheek, staring blankly at Qin Bing'er. I hurried back, waved my hand in front of his eyes, and said, "Hey, brother, have you ever heard this phrase?"

The boy snapped back to attention and pouted with annoyance. "What phrase?"

"Catch the ladle handle, the ladle grows long; after eating pig slop, go push the wall!" Seeing the boy's eyes widen, I burst into loud laughter and walked away. The boy obviously understood I was mocking him for always interjecting.

Since Tenglong Cave is a famous scenic area, its transportation network is naturally well-developed. Qin Bing'er and I found a minibus, planning to head back to Lichuan City first.

We didn't speak during the ride, each lost in our own thoughts. Finally, Qin Bing'er broke the silence. "Yingying, can we go to Suobuya first? I really want to see if that long-nosed old man is the person Master Qinghe described..." I understood her feelings perfectly; I also wanted to solve this mystery sooner. But where were Ji Ye and Man Niao Niao now? Could we just abandon them and leave?

I voiced this thought, and Qin Bing'er looked equally bewildered. As we were considering our next move, the minibus suddenly screeched to a halt, followed by the driver’s curses: "That damn dog, chasing my vehicle! Does he want a head-on collision? It's like a dog biting a motorcycle—no sense of science..." I was startled by the noise and instantly remembered we had forgotten Hua'er. I jumped up and saw Hua'er standing not far in front of the bus, barking furiously. I quickly placated the driver. "That's my dog, sir, please open the door and let him on!" The driver looked bewildered, but seeing that I wasn't joking, he politely offered a cigarette and opened the door. Hua'er leaped onto the bus with a swoosh. Its arrival naturally caused a commotion inside, and I spent considerable time explaining to calm the frightened passengers.

This ill-fated companion, Hua'er, had disappeared for some time recently, but his belly was now round and his spirits much improved. Once on the bus, he became restless, repeatedly tugging at my trouser leg toward the door. Sensing something was amiss, I tried to guess his intention, just as we arrived in Lichuan City.

The moment the driver opened the door, Hua'er bit down hard on my trousers and frantically pulled me toward the signpost marked "Suobuya."

I suddenly remembered Hua'er's exceptionally keen sense of smell. Seeing him act this way, could he have caught the scent of Ji Ye or Man Niao Niao? Could Ji Ye and Man Niao Niao have gone to Suobuya too? Everything was becoming a jumbled mess!

Qin Bing'er and I shared a look of perfect understanding and, without hesitation, boarded the next vehicle heading to Suobuya. —For now, we could only take things as they came.

The distance from Lichuan to Suobuya was not short. Qin Bing'er and I sat on the bus, wishing it would go faster so we could reunite with Ji Ye and Man Niao Niao and then perhaps track down that long-nosed foreigner... Of course, what occupied my mind now was whether that Suoluo Sacred Tree truly lay hidden somewhere in the Qingjiang Grand Canyon.

The bus traveled for about three hours before we reached the renowned Suobuya Stone Forest.

This Suobuya Stone Forest, composed of Ordovician limestone, spans a total area of 21 square kilometers, making it the second-largest stone forest in China. Its vegetation coverage ranks first among all stone forests nationwide. Seven square kilometers have been developed. It is a typical karst landscape, formed by geological solution phenomena, and is a natural ecological scenic area centered on the stone forest, with its etched rock patterns being the most significant feature.

Suobu means "three" in the Tujia language, so Suobuya means "Three Ya" (ridge). The scenic area has an average elevation of over 900 meters and enjoys a subtropical monsoon humid climate, with mild winters and cool summers. The vegetation is excellent, animal resources are abundant, and the natural scenery is captivating, earning it the nickname "The Crowned Stone Forest."

The entire stone forest is shaped like a giant gourd, encircled by green ramparts and competing peaks. Currently, there are eight major scenic areas and over a hundred attractions, including Qinglong Temple, Liubuguan Pass, Lianhuazhai Village, Baotayan Rock, Mozi Gully, Jinxiugu Valley, Lizi Ping, and the Ancient Cypress Folk Park. Throughout these eight scenic spots, strange and unusual rocks abound: some resemble an eagle gazing at the moon, others a fairy turning her head back, some look like dragons locked in combat, others like clusters of lotus blossoms. Some are graceful, others imposing and magnificent. Along the edge of the stone forest runs a fissure, three kilometers long and over ten meters deep, winding and twisting like a labyrinth, mysterious and unfathomable. Navigating this fissure, one sees only a sliver of blue sky above, hears nothing but the gentle murmur of spring water, yet cannot trace the water's flow with one's eyes. The entire stone forest displays myriad forms and endless charm, leaving visitors awestruck.

The annual Tujia Daughter’s Festival (the twelfth day of the seventh lunar month) is held here. Tujia maidens "go to market" halfway through the month, feigning shopping while selecting suitors, exchanging mountain songs to express affection, and offering Xilankapu embroidery as tokens of love. The Tujia men are robust and forthright; on the night of the harvest, they swing their arms to beat the great drums and leap into the lively hand-waving dance. The simple and kind Tujia people welcome faraway guests with steamed Suoyi rice and poured corn wine.

What keeps visitors lingering long after arriving at the Suobuya Stone Forest, aside from the various bizarre, uncanny, and lifelike stone formations, is mainly its completely original ecology. Whether under the bright serenity of spring, the heat of summer, the crispness of autumn, or the snow of winter, the place remains immaculately clean and transparent. The stone forest and vegetation weave intricate, hidden barriers, making it a perfect haven for deeply devoted lovers. Especially during the annual Daughter’s Festival, the air rings with songs and is vibrant with colorful attire, and in every nook and cranny, pairs of eyes meet with affectionate longing. As for what happens after those gazes are exchanged—that is far too complicated... In short, those accustomed to steel and concrete, upon witnessing the joyous hand-waving dance of the Tujia men, savoring the fiery songs of the Tujia lasses, drinking the mellow Tujia corn wine, and feasting on the tempting smoked meats, feel an intense, burning desire rising from their lower abdomen.

And so, one lingering, passionate story after another unfolds, scene after scene...