Chapter 315 Where Is the Country of Green Mountains (III)
Cla.s.sic of Mountains and Seas says “On the southern slope of the Country of Green Mountains there is a great deal of jade while on its northern slope there are rich deposits of dark cinnabar. There is an animal that looks like a fox and has nine tails. It makes a sound like a crying baby and it may eat human. Whoever eats it, he will be free from the plague of a malign force. In addition, there is a bird called guanguan which looks like a turtledove. It makes a sound like those who are cursing each other. Whoever wears it in his belt, he will be immune from confusion. There is also a river that flows out of this mountain and is called the Yingshui River. With its water flowing swiftly to the south, it finally empties itself into the Jiyi Lake where there are many red giant salamanders. They look like fish, but they have a human face. They make a sound like those of mandarin ducks. Whoever eats it, he will not suffer from scabies.”
This may be the earliest record of the Country of Green Mountains.
When Lin Luoran was studying at Chuan University and doing research with Professor Qi, she consulted many mythological doc.u.ments in order to find the clues of the Soul Wood. She still remembers that the Country of Green Mountains is in the north of Zhaoyang Valley and south of the kingdom of Heichi. Of course, both of the two places are in the Cla.s.sic of Mountains and Seas. Some scholars have verified that the Country of Green Mountains is in Shandong today. Lin Luoran originally did not believe them, but when she arrives in Shandong and sees Goldie’s speed falls sharply, she starts to believe that these experts may have a lucky guess sometimes.
Weifang is in Shandong Province.
As a “Garden City”, Weifang receives a large number of tourists every day. Though taking a hard journey, three of them still keep their n.o.ble temperament and choose a three-star hotel in Kuiwen District to stay. It has been over ten days since they follow up Sakurako Asada.
It’s actually very fast when using Sword-riding Spell. The main reason is that Sakurako is too slow. But why? It is because that cyan little fox is very fast and it picks up mountain roads deliberately to fool them. These Nihonese must suffer a lot.
When it arrives in Shandong, cyan little fox seems to play a game with these Nihonese. Lin Luoran knows this, so she decides to take a good bath in the hotel without a hurry. Weifang’s dog days are approaching which tells that the summer here is extremely sweltering. After having a good rest, they converge. They feel like Robinson when he comes back to urban society.
While Sakurako Asada is fooled by the cyan little fox, Lin Luoran and two teenagers also spend time in the mountains and forests these days and the only difference is that they are not in such a hurry. The portable s.p.a.ce is convenient, but it can’t compare with the various kinds of gourmet in Chuan. When Lin Luodong comes to Weifang for just one time, he is already influenced to be a food lover. After knowing the safety of cyan little fox, Lin Luodong begs Lin Luoran to go out.
Shopping is a good way to relieve stress. Lin Luoran takes two teenagers out and buys a pile of wooden fish stones, which sounds like Chinese temple blocks when tapped. The stall owner says that it also called “phoenix egg”. Lin Luoran quietly asks the phoenix in the s.p.a.ce and is despised by it.
Although these orange-yellow or purple-red stones with different-sizes are not real phoenix eggs, they are indeed a traditional medicine. In addition to the naturally-formed delicate shapes, they pick these local goods as gifts since these eggs are not expensive.
There are also shops selling inlay silver lacquer on the commercial street. Some of them are made with real redwood or sandalwood. Depending on the craftsmans.h.i.+p and the wood quality, the price differs. The inlays are all real gold and silver, so the price is not cheap. Lin Luoran sees that there are many people visiting the store. Pieces of lacquerware, under the soft light, look like the art in the museum. However, there were few people who really take action to buy them.