White Bone Monkey King

The most suitable time to travel to and from Tubo every year is from May to September. These are the only months where there is no heavy snowfall. However, the weather in the snowy mountains is unpredictable. Occasionally, abnormal weather is not impossible, but in most cases it will not happen. It has too big an impact.

As we move toward the Kunlun Mountains, the altitude becomes lower, the temperature increases, and the number of snow-capped mountains decreases, replaced by plateau desert Gobi along the way.

As you continue on the road, the scenery along the way begins to become more diverse. There are valleys that feel like spring all year round, meadows, and snow-capped mountain peaks with melted snow. Here, you can experience the four seasons of spring, summer, autumn, and winter in one day.

At first, the people in Jin'an would be curious about the wonders of nature, but after looking at it for a long time, it gradually faded away and they just felt that it was too deserted.

In this way, they passed by Jiantou Lake and Yangtze Lake... On this day, they arrived at a huge blue lake backed by snow-capped mountains.

The melted water from the snow mountains gurgled into the lake, and the lake surface was rippling with blue waves. This lake was living water, not a saline-alkali lake. They could just replenish some fresh water here.

"Huh?"

They saw several herdsmen walking around the lake.

Turning around lakes and mountains is a very important local traditional custom. In the eyes of local people, this is a very pious prayer ceremony, praying to the sacred mountains and lakes to wash away evil spirits and bring good luck.

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

Zhao Jinchuan was puzzled.

"It's getting late now. Let's camp here and rest for the night." Naturally, no one objected to Jin An's words. The caravan tea merchants, including Zhao Jinchuan, began to unload the goods, make fires, and prepare dinner.

However, Jin'an did not bother the locals who devoutly visited the lake, but stopped at a distance.

In fact, there are not only these local people who go to the lake, but also tents set up with wind and horse flags.

After dark, the herdsmen were very hospitable and took the initiative to greet Jin'an and the others. Zhao Jinchuan was responsible for translating, saying that these herdsmen wanted to invite them to their homes.

Tea merchants like these, who have been doing business on the Tea Horse Road all year round, often deal with local princes, nobles, monasteries and lamas. They speak fluent Tubo and have no problem communicating with local herdsmen.

In Tubo, if the host can bring out hot butter tea, yak yogurt, and tsampa to entertain guests, you are treated as an honored guest, which is very grand. Jin'an and the others are lucky enough to receive such honored guest treatment today.

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

These are a pair of simple old people with eyes as clear as the blue lake on the plateau.

It was very lively tonight. This 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 to the lake together as guests.

The local people who came to Zhuanhu Lake were very simple, and each of them came with beef, horse meat, and mutton in their hands. On the contrary, Jin An, Mr. Yiyun, and Qi Bo came empty-handed, and the three of them couldn't help but look embarrassed. .

Fortunately, Zhao Jinchuan, a tea merchant who followed the local customs, came to the rescue for Jin An and the others. He took out the spices he had brought from the Central Plains and added just a little. The roasted meat became fragrant and made Nian Zha several times. The Tibetan man looked solemn.

Spices and condiments from the Central Plains are in hot demand in Tubo. They are luxuries 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 grandparents, fathers and children have never seen outsiders for three generations. These locals see Jin'an and they are not locals. , so he invited Jin An and the others to come as guests, hoping to find out more about the outside world.

Speaking of this, Zhao Jinchuan hit the mark. His mouth was eloquent. What he saw and heard along the way made these locals who have been trapped in the bitter cold land of the extreme west for generations stunned. .

As the conversation started, Zhao Jinchuan also asked casually, what was the name of the holy lake they visited? Why was this holy lake not marked on the map he bought from someone?

As a result of this question, Zhao Jinchuan seemed to have been stepped on. He jumped up with a shocked expression on his face. Zhao Jinchuan had no time to wipe the spilled tea on his robe, and said excitedly to Jin An: "Taoist Master Jin'an, that one, That portrait...quickly..."

Because he was too excited, Zhao Jinchuan was stumbling when he spoke.

In the end, Mr. Yiyun, who had been sitting calmly next to Jin An, finished his words for him: "Take out the portrait of Taoist priest Chen and show them. Taoist priest Chen is suspected of having been to Woniu Lake."

Seeing that Mr. Yiyun could understand Tubo language, Zhao Jinchuan looked surprised and even forgot to say what he was talking about.

After hearing what Young Master Yiyun said, Jin An's expression was startled.

It was not because he was not determined and easily distracted, but he did not expect that he would find clues about the old Taoist priest near the Kunlun Mountains so quickly.

After regaining consciousness, he took a deep breath, calmly took out the portrait of the old Taoist priest, and handed it to Nian Zha and Pema Yuzhu and his wife with some hope and expectation in his eyes.

After the couple took the scroll, they did not give an immediate reply. They confirmed it for a while and then passed it to other herdsmen to see. The herdsmen passed it on one by one and discussed it.

During this period, Zhao Jinchuan took the opportunity to explain to Jin An the ins and outs of the matter: "In the rainy season last year, probably around September or October, some herdsmen nearby claimed that they had witnessed a miracle in Woniu Lake, which caused a sensation. As the news about Woniu Lake's sanctification spread, herdsmen from other places came to the lake to pray for blessings and relieve themselves or their families from illness."

"This mythical beast has nothing to do with what you, Taoist Jin'an, are looking for. What really matters is what happened next. Just a few days after the sacred appearance of Wuniu Lake, a herdsman encountered a Han Chinese from the Central Plains near Wuniu Lake. , then the Han people in the Central Plains are just like what you said, Taoist Master Jin'an, they are about fifty years old, they know astronomy and geography, they know everything, especially their wonderful rejuvenation skills, which can not only heal people, but also cure horses with dystocia. He rescued the mother and her child, and finally kept the mother and child safe. Later, the old man grew up to be a veterinarian at several pastures. The calves and pony calves he delivered were eighty, if not a hundred, and all the cows and horses he delivered were The mother and child are safe and deeply respected by the local herdsmen.”

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

Jin An: "?"

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

The old Taoist priest traveled all over the country for so many years, even to the desolate desert north, and finally came back intact. He could heal himself when he was sick, make his own stove when he was hungry, use dew as a drink when he was thirsty, and use the earth as a blanket when he was cold. Think about it carefully. There is really nothing that can stump the old Taoist priest.

The old Taoist priest is like an all-rounder, capable of doing anything.

So thinking about it this way, it is really possible for the old Taoist priest to go to Tubo and become a veterinarian who can rejuvenate!

And this old and irregular style is indeed in line with the style of an old Taoist priest!

In fact, Zhao Jinchuan was wrong on one point. The manifestation of the saint 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, the sacred cow that manifested his holiness should be Fellow Taoist Stone Niu!

The haze and worry that had been weighing on my heart for more than half a year disappeared when I heard that the old Taoist priest came to Tubo to work as a veterinarian and was doing very well. It gives people surprises and surprises.”

Although the Nianzha herdsmen have not yet given a clear answer, Jin An is already sure that this person is an old Taoist priest.

After several herdsmen in Nianza looked at the portraits twice, they 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 priest now?"

Soon, Zhao Jinchuan translated to Jin An: "They said that the old Taoist priest did not stay for too long and went all the way to the east."

"To the east?" Jin An was stunned.

He hurriedly took out the map and looked at it. Going east from Woniu Lake, he could enter the Xizhou Prefecture of Kangding Kingdom from Shugu.

The old Taoist priest planned to return to Wuzhou Prefecture from Xizhou Prefecture to find him!

This was Jin An's first thought.

"Hey, walking east, we happen to pass by the Kunlun Mountain avalanche place we are going to? Could it be that the old Taoist priest you are looking for, Master Jin An, also went there?" Zhao Jinchuan leaned his head over and looked at the map. He pointed at the Kunlun Mountains on the map.

Qi Bo: "Taoist Master Jin'an, I remember that you and Taoist Chen both have Luo Geng Jade Plate. The Luo Geng Jade Plate has a long history. Maybe there is a connection between the two. You have climbed hundreds of thousands of mountains, and now you are only one step away from Mr. Chen. Maybe the Luo Geng Jade Plate can Make some difference.”

They say outsiders are wise.

Qi Bo's words awakened Jin An.

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

I don’t know if it’s due to the influence of the magnetic field or if there’s really the person he’s looking for over there in the northeast corner?

He didn't ponder for long, Jin An's eyes were fixed, and he had already made a decision in his heart. No matter which way it was, this was the path he must take.

The whereabouts of the old Taoist priest was finally found. Although Jin An had never expressed his feelings in front of others in the past, he always remembered the lost old Taoist priest and Jiajian in his heart. When he learned that both of them were safe, it weighed heavily on his heart. The big stone finally settled. That night, he drank a lot of highland barley wine.

Even Young Master Yiyun noticed Jin An's change in mood. With a slight smile on his face, he took the initiative 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 bit too intimate, so he put down the stone altar containing wine with a serious look on his face.

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

…

…

Because he finally found the whereabouts of the old Taoist priest, Jin An, who had not slept all night, took the team on the road early the next day. The altitude became lower during the rest of the 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 no more than thirty people, including men, women, old and young. But at this time, the small village was expanded and could accommodate a thousand people. The small Tucheng.

In the distance, there are snow-capped mountains and glacial forests. The ridges are covered with white snow. Those glacial forests are like pieces of white dragon scales in the Kunlun Mountains. They shine brightly under the dazzling sunshine of the plateau and are extraordinary.

At this time, the small earth city was extremely lively, with Han people, Tibetan people, and many black-skinned Tianzhu people gathering together.

These are the people who came to dig for treasure.

There are rumors that a huge avalanche on a mountain peak in the Kunlun Mountains last year shook out a historic site, which was suspected to be the ancient ruins of the ancestors, the Palace of the Queen Mother of the West, and the Yuanshi Tianzun Dojo. But now when I look over, there is only a vast expanse of white in front of me, and I can’t see anything. .

"Aren't you talking about avalanches? There are snow peaks everywhere here. Which one is the peak where the avalanche occurs?" Someone in the team complained.

Immediately, someone looked like an idiot and said disdainfully: "The avalanche happened during last year's snow season. More than a year has passed, and there have been several heavy snowfalls in the middle. Even the bare mountains have long been covered with heavy snow, so of course you can't see it. "

The person who spoke before shouted unconvinced: "We worked so hard to get here, but we didn't get anything?"

"Why are you so anxious? Haven't you seen a lot of people gathered in Tucheng? A businessman's nose is like a dog's nose. He will dig wherever there is the smell of blood. Do you think so many people are here to visit the snow-capped mountains? Nowhere. To see the snow-capped mountains, do you have to come all the way here to see the snow-capped mountains?”

…

Jin An ignored the arguing in the team. He seemed to notice something and looked up.

Not far away, on a mountain peak, a teenage boy appeared. The boy was luxuriously dressed in fine silk brocade that only nobles could afford even in Kangding. He was wearing soft wolf skin and a wolf head. Hat, this is a Tibetan noble boy. He rode a man crawling on the ground to the edge and overlooked the Kunlun Mountains.

The person he was riding underneath was also a young man of similar age. He had an iron chain around his neck and was being led by him like a dog. He was on all fours with wooden pieces padding his palms and knees, carrying a young Tibetan noble boy on his back. Crawling on the desert Gobi, his thin body reveals bruised and swollen frostbitten skin. His eyes are empty, numb and without focus. It seems that he has been enslaved for too long and has no human emotions. He is only numb and does not know how to resist.

"Don't you think it's incredible? You didn't expect that there are people in this world who really treat people like dogs, and people around them are used to it and don't think there is anything wrong with it..." Zhao Jinchuan sighed with mixed emotions in his ears.

"This is the fate of serfs. If their parents are serfs, their children will also be serfs. Their children will also be serfs throughout their lives. Once they are labeled as serfs, they will be serfs for generations. Serfs are the private property of royal noble serf owners. These serfs have long been numb. Accept your fate and forget to resist.”

"Since Tubo fell into the era of war between tribes, Tubo has also entered the darkest era of cannibalism. Serfs like this can be seen everywhere. Eighty-nine percent of the Tibetan people have become the private property of the serf owners of the royal family. I am not happy. Just kill them, and when they are bored, they treat people like dogs and ride them. People live worse than animals. At least the cattle and horses have stables to live in, but no serf owner would have the conscience to build a house for his serfs. "

"At first we would be angry and angry, and some young and passionate superiors would step forward to stop us. But after seeing it more often, when people around us think that the existence of serfs is natural, and even the serfs themselves think it is normal, this kind of anger is also It slowly turned into numbness.”

"Hey, in this era, we can't resist. We can only be grateful that we were born in Han Dynasty. We have no regrets in this life."