When Maria returned after over three hundred years, the place had lost its original charm long ago.
Though Erhai was still the same Erhai, centuries of development had transformed its once pristine waters into a
different sight from what it used to be. Standing on the vibrant and bustling Shuanglang Street, Maria found it
challenging to reconcile her memories with the reality before her.
Thankfully, the changes in the mountains were not as drastic. A few peaks had been mined in the past, but the
landscape alterations were relatively minor.
With Maria leading the way, Nori left their car in the town, donning the couple’s sneakers she had prepared. They
embarked on foot towards the mountains.
As they set off, Nori quieted his mind, reducing the aura fluctuations on his body to a minimum. It seemed his
mental preparation was indeed effective.
The mountains weren’t towering, with only a few hundred to a little over a thousand meters of altitude difference
between the peaks and the ground. Climbing was relatively easy, and the scenic views along the way made it a
popular trail for young hikers.
While heading toward the mountain pass, they encountered numerous outdoor enthusiasts clad in hiking gear. As
they neared the foot of the mountain, Maria’s excitement became evident.
Pointing towards the mountain pass, she whispered to Rowan, “I climbed this mountain over three hundred years
ago. Back then, there was a small path here, trodden by the locals. I never imagined that after all these years, the
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtsame path still exists.”
Nori smiled and replied, “Climbing a mountain is like finding the best route. Once you find it, as long as the
mountain remains unchanged, the route will endure.”
Maria nodded, saying, “The route may remain, but the ambiance is different now. There are signs of artificial
repairs everywhere, with specially hardened roads and steps. Many more people now visit; previously, it was mostly
locals paying respects to their ancestors buried in the nearby mountains.”
Taking in the surroundings, Nori remarked, “The manual trimming does have its benefits. It seems there are plenty
of people visiting on regular days and surveillance cameras are abundant, including forest fire prevention ones. If
Morgana comes this way, she won’t be able to avoid these spots. Perhaps, with Mr. Myers’ help, we can gain access
to all the surveillance information and trace Morgana’s movements.”
Curious, Maria asked, “If we manage to trace Morgana’s whereabouts here, what’s your next plan?”
Confidently, Nori responded, “There’s still a thousand kilometers to cover from here to the Hundred Thousand
Mountains. Morgana wouldn’t walk that distance and she’s unlikely to sneak in using public transport like airplanes
or trains. The most probable option is driving. Once we trace her movements and her vehicle, we can keep track of
her in real-time.”
Nori continued, “Road monitoring is extensive now. Any paved road that allows motor vehicles will have traffic
cameras. The traffic department has a vast database, and most of their monitoring probes across the country can
recognize license plate numbers. With that data, we can track the time and specific location of any car that passed
under the surveillance cameras. This information will help us outline Morgana’s real-time actions and discover
where she vanished in the end. I suspect it won’t be far from where Gideon once practiced.”
Maria nodded, cautioning him, “My Jasmine, before Morgana leaves China, please do not venture into the
Mountains. You are not yet her match and it’s best to avoid her at all costs.”
Nori smiled, assuring her, “Don’t worry, I’m not reckless. I know my limitations.”
Relieved, Maria replied, “That’s good…”
After climbing the first mountain on foot, they made their way to the turtle-shaped mountain.
As it was the second peak on the hiking route, it saw almost as many visitors as the first.
Maria explained to Rowan, “This mountain is called Turtle Back Mountain due to its resemblance to a turtle’s shell.
There is an extraordinary treasure of geometric marvels in this region. When my grandfather was a chieftain, he
carefully chose this mountain as our ancestral burial ground.”
Curiously, Nori inquired, “Is the entire mountain the burial ground for your grandfather’s lineage?”
Maria confirmed, “Yes, the Feng Shui here has auspicious dragon-like qualities, making it an excellent choice for an
ancestral grave. It was believed that burying our ancestors here would bless future generations with prosperity and
wealth. Unfortunately, the Dragon Veins of the Ming Dynasty were disrupted, altering the nation’s fate and
rendering the once sacred land less effective.”
As she spoke, Maria led Nori away from the mountain path paved with stone steps, taking him to a halfway point on
the mountainside.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmAt this spot, camping traces were evident, with tent holes scattered around, hinting at its popularity as an outdoor
camping base.
Maria’s eyes sparkled with delight when she noticed a magnificent Diannan pine flourishing nearby. She said with
excitement, “Young Master, that Diannan pine is the ancestral grave of my father’s family. My father’s tomb lies at
the northwest corner of the Diannan pine.”
Searching the area, Nori couldn’t see any grave near the massive tree. He inquired, “Did your grandfather and
others not leave any tombstones?”
Maria replied softly, “Originally, there were tombstones and I even carved one for my parents. However, later on,
they were all forcibly smashed into powder. Even my parents graves were dug up. I strongly
believe that Morgana is the culprit. She held a deep grudge against my parents and took out her anger on the rest
of my grandfather’s family.”
Nori couldn’t help but sigh, “This woman is full of temper. Although she inflicted severe harm on your father, he
should have resented her. Yet, she persists.”
Maria added with a sigh, “Morgana is incredibly vengeful. I suspect part of her motivation for coming to South
Yunnan this time is her deep-seated hatred towards me. She’s here to vent her anger.”
With a sad expression, she continued, “I wonder if she’ll spare this tree.”
Nori surveyed the surroundings and sighed, “Miss Clark, if I could hide a few close-defense guns on those boulders
up there, we might be able to put an end to Morgana once and for all.”
About The Charismatic Charlie Wade -