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墨書 Inktalez
This is a courtyard house that showcases a blend of Southern and Northern architectural styles, characteristic of the Naxi culture. Although it follows the layout of a Northern courtyard, it features wooden structures in the Naxi style, with exquisite local wood carvings adorning the door frames and pillars.
Liang Qingsong is a middle-aged man in his forties, tall and slender, wearing round glasses and dressed in a gray long gown, giving him the appearance of a scholar. Upon hearing that the four travelers needed a place to stay, he immediately expressed his warm welcome.
"It is my honor to host guests who have traveled from afar; I shall do my utmost as your host," he said, gesturing for them to enter the courtyard. He then instructed an elderly local servant to prepare dinner and rooms for them.
During dinner, Liang Qingsong laid out a table filled with authentic Naxi dishes: spicy pork rib hotpot, chickpea cold noodles, Naxi pancakes, and Qingke wine. As they ate, Liang Qingsong inquired about their purpose for visiting. Naturally, they could not reveal too much and simply stated they were there to study local customs and culture.
Fang Zigui changed the subject and asked, "Mr. Liang, as a Han person who has moved here, how long have you been living in Lijiang?"
"It has been over ten years," Liang Qingsong replied after sipping some Qingke wine. "I originally came to study Naxi's Dongba Culture, but I never expected to stay for so many years."
As dinner progressed, Lin Mingchang put down his chopsticks and casually asked, "Mr. Liang, have you heard of any strange occurrences in Lijiang recently?"
Upon hearing this question, Liang Qingsong's expression suddenly turned serious. "You’ve noticed too?"
Xiaoshuang immediately pressed on, "Noticed what?"
"The phenomena above the ancient city," Liang Qingsong lowered his voice. "Recently, many locals have seen ominous signs—some say it’s dark clouds, others claim it’s shadows of birds. Many elderly locals believe these are harbingers of disaster."
Shen Tong felt a jolt in his heart and met Liang Qingsong's gaze.
"I am currently researching an ancient Naxi legend—the Guixu Gate," Liang Qingsong said as he stood up. "If you are interested, you may follow me to my study."
At the mention of "Guixu Gate," the group was momentarily taken aback. They immediately recalled what Xu Guangyao of the Gui Xu Society had said after they captured him in Wuhan: "We must reopen that door..."
Seemingly unaware of their reaction, Liang Qingsong cheerfully led them to a study on the east side of the courtyard.
Upon opening the door, they were greeted by walls lined with bookshelves filled with ancient texts and scrolls—an unmistakable sign of a seasoned scholar's study. In the center of the room was a large table covered with thick tomes and some parchment inscribed with peculiar symbols.
"These are texts and materials related to Dongba Culture; it took me many years to collect them," Liang Qingsong said, pointing at the parchment on the table. "These contain records about the Guixu Gate."
The four of them gathered around the table, where the parchment was covered with Dongba Script and various illustrations. One particular image caught their attention—a large bird with outstretched wings, its body adorned with human faces and claws resembling golden scissors.
This was unmistakably the Rakshasa Bird!
Liang Qingsong noticed the change in the expressions of the four and began to explain the illustration. "This is the Rakshasa Bird, a divine beast from ancient Naxi mythology. It is said to guard the Guixu Gate."
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