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墨書 Inktalez
"Guixu Gate, what exactly is it?" Lin Mingchang asked.
"According to ancient texts, Guixu Gate is a portal to the Void Realm, opening once every hundred years. It can alter the fate of nations and change the course of lives," Liang Qingsong said, gazing intently at Shen Tong. He continued in a measured tone, "Legend has it that the Rakshasa Bird is the guardian of Guixu Gate, preventing mortals from trespassing into the Gui Xu Forbidden Area."
The four of them had been poring over ancient texts in the study until late into the night, each returning to the rooms arranged by Liang Qingsong with a mind full of questions.
Shen Tong lay on the wooden bed, her right eye still throbbing with pain. She recalled her grandmother's notes mentioning the "Contractor Bird" and thought about her identity as a Contractor. It seemed that the mystery surrounding her family and identity was hidden within the ancient legends of Lijiang.
The next morning, as Shen Tong got out of bed, she heard voices coming from the courtyard.
She opened the door to find a tall young Naxi man standing in the yard, conversing with Liang Qingsong. The man appeared to be around twenty-five or twenty-six years old, dressed in traditional Naxi attire with a colorful belt around his waist and a short knife at his side.
The other three had also risen by this time. Liang Qingsong smiled and introduced them: "This is Mu Qing, our local guide who knows the terrain around Lijiang extremely well. His grandfather was a famous Dongba Priest in Lijiang, so he is quite knowledgeable about local legends and culture. I've asked him to take you to see some places related to the Guixu Gate legend."
Mu Qing nodded at the four of them. His Chinese was quite fluent with little accent: "Hello everyone, Mr. Liang mentioned that you are interested in Guixu Gate. I can take you to some places related to the legend."
Lin Mingchang thanked him with a smile and asked, "That sounds great! Where would you recommend we go first, Mr. Mu Qing?"
"Just call me Mu Qing," he replied. "How about we start with Yuqian Temple? I'm familiar with Abbot Wu Chen there; he is well-versed in Dongba culture and might be able to answer some of your questions."
After breakfast, Liang Qingsong prepared some water and snacks for them to take along. He saw them off before turning back to his study.
Liang Qingsong took out a locked black wooden box, gently stroking its surface as he murmured to himself: "I promised I would wait for you. Now, you have finally come."
Early autumn in Lijiang Ancient Town was already quite chilly, with mountain winds carrying the breath of snow-capped peaks through narrow streets.
They all donned thick coats prepared for them and followed Mu Qing as they walked towards the outskirts of the town.
"Yuqian Temple is built halfway up the mountain, about an hour's journey from the ancient city," Mu Qing said while leading the way and providing commentary. "The temple isn't large but has a long history; it is one of the few places in Lijiang that integrates Tibetan Buddhism with local Dongba beliefs. The head monk there, Wuchen Mage, is proficient in both Han and Tibetan scriptures and also understands Dongba Scriptures."
Once they exited the ancient city, the dirt road began to become bumpy and difficult to navigate.
A light rain the day before had left the ground soft and muddy, and soon the shoes of several people were caked with red mud.
Lin Mingchang supported Shen Tong with one hand and asked as they walked, "Mu Qing, can you tell us about the legend of the Rakshasa Bird in Naxi culture?"
Mu Qing paused for a moment, suddenly turning to look at Lin Mingchang. He slightly opened his mouth but said nothing. After a brief silence, Mu Qing turned back and walked a little further before softly saying, "Alright, I will share what I know."
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