The wind swept across the grassland, seemingly whispering of the dangers that lay ahead. With each step away from the land that had offered us warmth, our resolve strengthened. The three of us had shared life and death moments, laughed in the face of powerless pursuers, and warmed our hearts by the campfire's glow. This journey rendered our bonds as close as if we had faced the brink of death together.
We traversed the rolling green waves of the grassland, the continuous undulating hills seemed to whisper ancient legends and countless sorrowful tales. We crossed gentle streams where the tender waters caressed our weary feet.
As clouds gathered and the moon rose, we navigated by the stars, determined to leave the grassland before dawn to head for the Western Sea - a place unheard-of yet well-known by name. Under the cover of night, the terrain swallowed our figures, leaving only the steady clop of three horses' hooves to inform the grassland that once, three solitary travelers had passed through with determination and hope.
We had no map, relying solely on Li Hao's memory of an ancient parchment and my own deductions. We constantly recited the directions given by the aged nomads, their descriptions of mountains and rivers guiding us onward.
During the journey, the three of us talked and laughed, hearts filled with curiosity about the unknown world. The Western Sea, a place we painted in our imaginations countless times, what surprises or challenges would it hold for us?
The Western Sea, known today as Qinghai Lake, that mysterious and ancient highland sanctuary was about to welcome us, three travelers. As the sunset of the grasslands witnessed our departure, what chapters would the sunrise over the Western Sea unfold?
En route to the Western Sea, the three of us witnessed the vast expanse and magnificence of the Qinghai-Tibet plateau. Winding mountain paths were flanked by rolling hills and the horizon where snow-lines meet the sky, air thinning and carrying a chilling wind. By day, sunlight scattered through the clouds onto the hillsides, each ray telling a fine story in the silent space.
Yet behind this natural beauty, numerous hardships lurked. Landslides and sand slides occurred intermittently, forcing us to detour, for time was precious for fugitives. As night fell, the howling of wolves added tension and unease to our journey.
Just when a semblance of stability was felt, a new misfortune quietly struck. A new group of pursuers had stealthily appeared behind us; we were discovered again by the retainers from our clan. However, the vastness of the grasslands provided us with space to hide. Shielded by a flock of sheep, we concealed our tracks and sneaked into a hidden cave while the pursuers were distracted searching elsewhere.
Only when the pursuers had drifted far away did we dare to quietly leave our shelter. This clever escape taught us to find wisdom for survival in the midst of nature.
We then ventured deep into the heart of the Qinghai-Tibet plateau. Here, everything appeared more raw and desolate - the plateau winds strong enough to sweep away anything unanchored, and the white clouds hung so low they seemed within reach. In the vast expanses of heaven and earth, three tiny figures appeared exceptionally persistent and resolute.
Passing through the Tuyuhun villages on the plateau, we were warmly invited by the enthusiastic Dangxiang people to enter their homes for warmth and resupply. Amidst the distinctive Dangxiang songs and dances, I felt the purest warmth and kindness between people, a rare source of warmth and strength on this journey. After a brief exchange with the land and the people living on it, we set off once again on the road to the Western Sea with longing and reluctance.
At last, we arrived at the edge of the Western Sea, the lake glistening under the sunlight like a vast mirror reflecting our laborious travels and expectations. This sacred lake, witness to every step of our flight, would now accompany us as we embarked on a new chapter.
After braving the elements and traversing the vastness and chill of the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau, we finally reached the shores of the Western Sea. The lake, like a vast silver screen stretching beyond the horizon, reflects the meeting point of sky and earth. Standing by the lake with the wind caressing my face, I gazed at the vast world before us, my heart swirling with a mixture of emotions.
Li Hao stood beside me, his body, tensed from battles, finally able to unwind in this tranquil setting. We exchanged looks, silently understanding each other's determination and unease. The magnificence of the Western Sea, like a cascade of crystal-clear tears from the heavens, allowed all weariness and anxiety to settle at this moment. Lysandra was also overjoyed, rarely having visited such places before, the happiness in her heart from experiencing these beautiful highland scenes was indescribable.
The three of us decided to put aside the tension and urgency of our escape, to take a moment of calmness boating on the lake. We borrowed a canoe from the local fishermen, the gentle breeze stirring ripples on the water. As the fishing boats gently swayed on the lake, our hearts gradually quieted, in harmony with the vast expanse of water.
However, an unusual disturbance suddenly arose on the lake, causing the boat to quiver slightly. At first, we thought it was just the breeze, and paid it no mind. But then the disturbance grew more violent, as if a massive creature was churning beneath us. Lysandra and I looked alarmed, while Li Hao gripped the oar tightly, ready for the unexpected.
Suddenly, a massive Jiaolong emerged in the center of the lake. Its appearance, like a deity descending from ancient legends, caused ripples to spread across the water's surface with the edges of its scales. We gazed in awe at this immense creature as it rose to the surface, revealing its coiling body, which shimmered with a bluish glow under the sunlight as it swirled.
This was a prelude to the Jiaolong revealing itself, signaling the arrival of mysterious and powerful forces; I had read about legends of lake dragons but never imagined this legend would become my reality today. A thought crossed my mind, wondering if this Jiaolong's appearance would have some unknown influence on our destiny.
At that moment, our lives seemed to be bound within the grand cycle of fate. Unable to foresee what the Jiaolong's revelations hid, we could only search for a way to survive amidst these waves where the mystical confronted reality. Those eyes that dared to face the unknown would become part of the most touching legend on the remote Western Sea.
On the cobalt blue lake, we sat in a swaying canoe. As a great whirlpool formed in the center of the water accompanied by a sonorous roar, the Jiaolong revealed its ferocious head with scales reflecting the bright light of the moon. Its enormous body nearly swallowed the boat whole, compelling us three to instinctively clench the paddles in our hands.
The eyes of the Jiaolong were deep and dark as the night, a mysterious creature that had existed since ancient times. Its bewildered gaze seemed to be searching for something, perhaps the lake held endless memories and vigilance for it. A strange resonance stirred in my heart—could this be the legendary spiritual dragon, the Dragon King guarding this holy lake?
Yet, a miracle occurred. The Jiaolong did not launch an attack on us; instead, it was the waves stirred by its massive body that helped us. Lysandra appeared to understand something as she gently touched the scales of the Jiaolong and muttered to herself as if in conversation with the creature.
Seizing the opportunity, Li Hao and I, using the force of the current, rowed towards the other side of the lake. It seemed as if the Jiaolong felt our intentions, letting out low murmurs and moving its body in a way that carved out a path for us. Our boat steadied itself on this sacred lake, and we witnessed an extraordinary interaction between a giant creature and humans.
As our boat moved slowly across the lake, we watched the Jiaolong disappear into the murmur of the night, leaving behind legends in the waves and fresh musings for our future journey. Then, when the tumultuous waves calmed, the three of us were amazed to see an ancient-looking, plainly dressed old man step out from the mist.
The Jiaolong that appeared on the lake had transformed into this exceptional hermit. He seemed to understand the language of the lake, piercing through all the secrets of this land. We were shocked at the sight before us, especially when we realized that this celestial being was the Jiaolong from the legends—the excitement was indescribable.
The sage looked at us with an evaluating yet reassuring gaze before finally sharing an incredible prophecy. He revealed that he had long foreseen our fates; our arrival was destined, and he was indeed the guardian of this holy lake. Our life journeys, the three of us, were meant to shift the world's balance. He particularly looked at me intently as he spoke.
The sage said our path would be fraught with difficulties, but each step was necessary, and he would guide us along this twisted road. With a light wave of his staff, it seemed he summoned the wind and clouds to disperse all the lake's mist. Then, he pulled out a mysterious map from his wide sleeves—the map outlined not only mountains and rivers but also the mysteries between heaven and earth.
Pointing to a mystical location on the map, he told us it hid the key to changing everything. But the journey there was full of unknowns and danger, and only true warriors and wise men could find its traces. This time, we needed to prepare to face the biggest challenge in our lives.
The sage's words filled the three of us with newfound courage and determination. We understood that the road ahead was long and arduous but also filled with opportunities. Afterward, the mysterious sage transformed into a wisp of breeze, vanishing in the early morning sunlight.
Holding the map in my hands, sitting in our small boat, I watched the direction where the sage had disappeared, feeling both fortunate to have encountered this mystical sage and filled with endless imagination for the future. With the map in hand, it felt like we had the key to unlock a new chapter, ready to venture toward a new journey despite the thorny and challenging roads of the unknown.
With the first rays of sunrise casting light onto the Western Sea, we stood in our ragged clothing, exchanging looks of determination, like a promise for our futures. Our fate had undergone an unpredictable change due to the previous night's turbulent waves, the sudden appearance of a mystical sage and Jiaolong. The struggle on the azure waves and the unexpected encounter with the lake dragon seemed not to be coincidences but the arrangement of the heavens.
Having just witnessed the mysterious sage transform into a breeze and disappear into the dawn light, our hearts were filled with a sense of mission. That mysterious sage had illuminated the path for the three of us.
The Jiaolong revealed itself because, according to ancient lore, the prophecies connected with our fates had stirred its protective instincts. The three of us, endowed with unique gifts, were chosen to fulfill an age-old mission that would directly affect the future of the Tang Dynasty.