Holy Bone

Chapter 582 Get the clue of the old Taoist priest!A veteran veterinarian with wonderful hands and rejuvenation!
The most suitable time to enter and exit Tubo every year is from May to September. Only these months are not snowy. However, the weather in the snow-capped mountains is capricious. It is not impossible to have abnormal weather occasionally, but in most cases it will not have too much impact.

As we head towards the Kunlun Mountains, the altitude becomes lower, the temperature rises, and the number of snow-capped mountains decreases, replaced by plateaus and deserts along the way.

As the journey continued, the scenery along the road began to be rich and varied. There are valleys that are like spring all year round, meadows, and snow-capped mountains. Here, you can experience the four seasons of spring, summer, autumn and winter in one day.

At first, Jin'an and the others would take a fresh picture and feel the power of nature's uncanny craftsmanship, but after a long time, it gradually faded away, and they only felt that it was too desolate and uninhabited.

In this way, they passed Jiantou Lake and Yanghu Lake all the way... On this day, they arrived in front of a huge blue lake with snow-capped mountains behind.

Melted water from the snow-capped mountains flowed into the lake, and the lake surface was rippling. This lake is running water, not a saline-alkali lake. They can just replenish some fresh water here.

"what?"

They saw several herdsmen walking around the lake.

Turning around the lake, turning around the mountain, this is a very important local traditional custom. In the eyes of the locals, this is a very devout prayer ceremony, praying for the gods and lakes to wash away the demons and bring good luck.

"The locals call the snow-capped mountain a holy mountain. If there is a lake at the foot of the holy mountain, it is a holy lake... But that's not true. If this is a holy lake, some believers will travel thousands of miles here to pray for blessings. The map I bought from the locals Why isn’t the name of this place marked on the map?”

Zhao Jinchuan couldn't understand it.

"It's getting late now, let's camp here and rest overnight." Naturally, no one objected to Jin An's words, and the caravan tea merchants, including Zhao Jinchuan, began to unload their goods, light a fire, and prepare dinner.

However, Jin'an did not bother those devout locals around the lake, but stopped far away.

In fact, there are not only these locals who turn around the lake, but also tents with wind horse flags hanging on the lake.

After dark, the herdsmen came over to greet Jin'an and the others in a very hospitable manner. Zhao Jinchuan was in charge of translation, saying that these herdsmen wanted to invite them to visit.

Tea merchants like these who have been doing business on the Ancient Tea-Horse Road all the year round often deal with the lamas of the local princes and aristocrats. They speak fluent Tubo and have no trouble communicating with the local herdsmen.

In Tubo, if the host can bring out hot buttered tea, yak yoghurt, and tsampa to entertain guests, it will treat you as a guest of honor.

It was an old couple who took the initiative to invite Jin'an and the others to come to the tent. The old lady's name was Baima Yuzhu, and the old man's name was Nianzha.

This is a pair of simple old people whose eyes are as clear as the blue lake on the plateau.

It was very lively tonight. The simple old couple not only invited Jin An and the others to come to the tent as guests, but also invited other people who went around the lake together as guests.

The local people who came to visit the lake were very simple, and each of them brought beef, horse meat, and mutton to the door. On the contrary, Jin An, Mr. Yiyun, and Qibo came empty-handed, and the expressions on the faces of the three could not help but embarrassment .

Fortunately, Zhao Jinchuan, a tea merchant who went to the country to do as the Romans did, helped Jin'an and the others. He took out the spices he had prepared in advance and brought them from the Central Plains. The foreigner looked solemn.

Spices and seasonings from the Central Plains are in short supply in Tubo, a luxury that only nobles, royal families, and monasteries can afford.

These locals have never seen the outside world in their entire lives, especially the locals living in the bitter cold Xiangxiong. Many of their grandfathers, fathers and children have never seen outsiders for three generations. These locals see Jin'an and they are not locals. , so they invited Jin An and the others to be guests, wanting to find out about the outside world.

Speaking of this, Zhao Jinchuan is right in his old profession. His mouth is full of eloquence. What he saw and heard along the way made these local people who have been trapped in the bitter cold place in the far west for generations stunned. .

As the words were opened, Zhao Jinchuan also asked casually, what is the name of the holy lake they turned to, and why wasn't this holy lake marked on the map he bought from someone?
As a result of this question, Zhao Jinchuan jumped up as if his tail was stepped on, with a shocked expression on his face, Zhao Jinchuan didn't have time to wipe the tea spilled on his robe, and excitedly said to Jin'an: "Master Jin'an, that one, That portrait...quick..."

Because he was too excited, Zhao Jinchuan stammered.

In the end, Mr. Yiyun, who had been sitting calmly beside Jin An, finished the sentence for him: "Show them the portrait of Daochang Chen. Daochang Chen seems to have been to this Crouching Niu Lake."

Seeing that Mr. Yiyun could understand Tubo, Zhao Jinchuan was surprised and even forgot to say what was on his lips.

Hearing Mr. Yiyun's words, Jin An was taken aback.

It wasn't because he was unsteady and easily distracted, but he didn't expect that he would find clues about the old Taoist priest near the Kunlun Mountains so quickly.

After regaining his senses, he took a deep breath, calmly took out the portrait of the old Taoist priest, and handed it to Nianzha and Baima Yuzhu with some hope and anticipation in his eyes.

After the couple took the picture scroll, they did not give an answer immediately. They confirmed it for a while and then handed it to other herdsmen. The herdsmen passed it on one by one for discussion.

During this period, Zhao Jinchuan took the opportunity to explain the ins and outs of the incident to Jin An: "During the rainy season last year, it was around September and October. Some herdsmen nearby claimed that they saw the holy miracles of Wo Niu Lake with their own eyes, which caused a sensation. As the story of the Holy Manifestation of Woniu Lake spread, herdsmen from other places came to the lake to pray for blessings and relieve illnesses for themselves or their families.”

"This mythical beast has nothing to do with Taoist Jin'an's search for someone. What really matters is what happened later. Just a few days after Woniu Lake became holy, a herdsman met a Han from the Central Plains near Woniu Lake. , the Han people in the Central Plains are just like what you said, Daoist Jin'an, around 50 years old, know astronomy and geography, and know everything, especially the skill of rejuvenation, which can not only heal people, but also save horses from dystocia. When he came back, he finally kept the mother and child safe. Later, the old man became a veterinarian for several pastures. The calves and pony cubs he delivered were eighty if not a hundred, and all the cows and horses he delivered could be The mother and child are safe and deeply respected by the local herdsmen."

Speaking of this, even Zhao Jinchuan couldn't help admiring him.

Jin An: "?"

Sure enough, it was unnecessary for him to worry about the old Taoist priests along the way.

The old Taoist priest traveled all over the world for so many years, and even went to the desolate and deserted north, and finally came back whole. He could heal himself when he was sick, make a stove by himself when he was hungry, drink dew when he was thirsty, and use the earth as a blanket when he was cold. There is really nothing that can stump the old Taoist priest.

The old Taoist is like an all-rounder, omnipotent.

So when I think about it this way, it is really possible for the old Taoist priest to go to Tubo and become a veterinarian who has rejuvenated his hands!
And this old and unscrupulous style is indeed in line with the style of an old Taoist priest!

In fact, Zhao Jinchuan was wrong about one thing. The appearance of the holiness in Woniu Lake is not only related to the old Taoist priests, but also has a lot to do with it!If he guessed correctly, then the divine cow that manifested its holiness should be Fellow Daoist Stone Niu!
The haze and worry that had been pressing on my heart for more than half a year, when I heard that the old Taoist priest came to Tubo to become a veterinarian, and he was doing well, all disappeared, and turned into a laugh: "This old Taoist is really everywhere. It’s a surprise and a surprise.”

Although the herdsmen in Nianzha haven't given a definite answer yet, Jin'an is already sure that this person is an old Taoist priest.

Nianzha and several herdsmen passed on the portraits for two rounds, and finally nodded and returned the portraits to Jin'an.

Nian Zha said a few words to Zhao Jinchuan, and Zhao Jinchuan translated to Jin An: "They confirmed that they have seen the person in the portrait."

Jin An couldn't wait to ask: "Where is the old Taoist now?"

Soon, Zhao Jinchuan translated to Jin An: "They said that the old Taoist priest didn't stay for too long, so he went all the way to the east."

"To the east?" Jin An was taken aback.

He hastily took out the map to check, and walking east from Woniu Lake happened to be able to enter the Xizhou Capital of Kangding Kingdom from Shugu.

The old Taoist is planning to return to Wuzhou Mansion from Xizhou Mansion to find him!
This was Jin An's first thought.

"Hey, walking east, we just passed by the avalanche place in Kunlun Mountains we are going to? Could it be that the old Taoist priest you are looking for, Taoist Jin'an, has also gone there?" Zhao Jinchuan leaned his head over, and after looking at the map, He pointed to the Kunlun Mountains on the map and said.

Qi Bo: "Daoist Jin'an, I remember that you and Daoist Chen both have Luo Geng jade plate. Make a difference."

It is said that outsiders are clear.

Qi Bo's words awakened Jin An.

He hurriedly took out the Luo Geng jade plate repaired by Mr. Yi, and saw that the pointer on the Luo Geng jade plate was always pointing to the northeast corner. No matter how Jin An moved, the pointer was always pointing to the northeast corner.

I don't know if it is affected by the magnetic field or there is really someone he is looking for in the northeast corner?
After not contemplating for a long time, Jin An fixed his eyes and made a decision in his heart. No matter what kind of road it is, this road is his only way.

Finally found the whereabouts of the old Taoist priest. Although Jin An had never expressed his feelings in front of others, he always cared about the old Taoist priest and Chijian who had wandered away. When he learned that the two of them were safe, he kept pressing on his heart. The boulder finally settled, and he drank a lot of highland barley wine that night.

Even Mr. Yiyun saw Jin An's mood change, and with a smile on his face, he offered to pour Jin An a glass of highland barley wine.

As a result, Jin An was so frightened that his hands shook, and he almost spilled the highland barley wine in the bowl.

Mr. Yiyun also knew that his actions just now were a little too intimate, so he put down the stone altar of wine with a serious face.

Looking at Mr. Yiyun whose expression was more unpredictable than the weather on the plateau, Jin An looked at the highland barley wine in the wine bowl, with a tangled expression on his face, should he drink this wine or not?

……

……

Because the whereabouts of the old Taoist priest were finally found, the next day, Jin'an, who hadn't slept all night, led the team on the road early, and the altitude became lower again for the next journey, which made the team's speed increase again.

After walking for more than a month, they finally arrived at their destination. It was a small village. The original population was men, women, old and young plus a full pack of 30 people. But at this time, the small village was expanded and became a large village that could accommodate thousands of people. Little Tucheng.

In the distance, there are snow-capped glacial forests. The ridges are covered with snow. Those glacial forests are like white dragon scales in the Kunlun Mountains, shining brightly under the dazzling sunlight on the plateau, and the atmosphere is extraordinary.

At this time, the small earthen city was extremely lively, gathering Han people, Fan people, and many black-skinned Tianzhu people.

These are people who came to dig treasure.

There are rumors that a huge avalanche on a mountain peak in the Kunlun Mountains last year shook out a piece of ancient monuments, suspected to be the ancient monuments of the ancestors, and also suspected to be the Palace of the Queen Mother of the West and the Taoist Temple of Yuanshi Tianzun. .

"Didn't you say Avalanche? There are snow peaks everywhere, which one is the peak of Avalanche?" Someone in the team complained.

Immediately, someone looked at the idiot's expression and said contemptuously: "Avalanche was a snow season last year. More than a year passed, and there were several heavy snowfalls in the middle, and even the bare mountains were covered by heavy snow long ago, so of course you can't see it. "

The person who spoke before yelled loudly in disbelief: "We have worked so hard to come here, and we haven't gotten any good money?"

"What are you in a hurry for? Didn't you see that there are many people gathered in Tucheng? The noses of businessmen are like dogs' noses. Wherever there is a bloody smell, they will go there. Do you think so many people are here to visit the snow mountain? Where is it? Looking at the snow-capped mountains, do you have to travel all the way here to see the snow-capped mountains?"

……

Jin An ignored the quarrels in the team, he seemed to have noticed something, and looked up.

Not far away on a piece of earthy mountain peak, a teenager appeared. The boy was dressed luxuriously, using high-quality silk brocade that only nobles could afford even in Kangding Kingdom. He was wearing soft wolf fur and a wolf head. Hat, this is a noble boy from the Tibetans. He rode a crawling man to the edge to overlook the Kunlun Mountains.

The person he was riding under was also a boy of the same age, with an iron chain around his neck, and he was leading the chain like a dog. He was on all fours, with wood chips on his palms and knees. Crawling on the desert Gobi, with a thin body, exposing bruised and swollen frostbitten skin, his eyes are empty, numb, and unfocused. It seems that he has been enslaved for too long. He has no human emotions, only numbness and no resistance.

"Do you think it's unbelievable? I never imagined that there are people who ride people like dogs in this world, and the people around them are used to it, so they don't think there is any problem..." Zhao Jinchuan sighed with mixed emotions in his ear.

"This is the life of a serf. Parents are serfs, and their children are also serfs. Children's children are also serfs at birth. Once they are marked as serfs, they will be serfs for generations. Serfs are the private property of royal noble serf owners. These serfs have long since become numb. Accept your fate and forget to resist."

"Since Tubo fell into the era of tribal wars, this Tubo has also entered the darkest era of cannibalism. Serfs like this can be seen everywhere. Eighty to ninety percent of the people in Tubo have become the private property of the serf owners of the royal family and nobles. I am not happy. Just kill, and when you are bored, you will ride people like dogs, people are not as good as animals, at least cows and horses have cowsheds to live in, but no serf owner will feel conscientious and build houses for serfs.”

"In the beginning, we would be angry, we would be angry, and we would come forward to stop the young and hot-blooded superiors, but after seeing it a lot, when people around us take the existence of serfs for granted, and even the serfs themselves think it is normal, this kind of anger can't be ignored. It slowly became numb."

"Hey, in this era, we can't resist. We can only rejoice that we were born in Han soil, and we have no regrets in this life to enter our Han soil."

(End of this chapter)