pomegranate grove

They did not reach the summit. Instead, halfway up the mountain, my father found a rock to sit on, took out a pack of withered cigarettes from his jacket pocket.

In Duo Jie's impression, my father rarely smoked. He shook his head, indicating that he did not smoke regular cigarettes, then sat down across from him. From a small iron tobacco container he carried, my father poured out crushed tobacco leaves and rolled a cigarette for himself.

My father, holding the cigarette, gazed into the distance, lost in thought. Only after the cigarette burned nearly to its end did he snap back to reality, revealing a apologetic smile. He said, "I apologize for involving you. The number of people I can trust by my side is decreasing."

After uttering these words, he stared solemnly into Duo Jie's eyes and calmly said, "I hope that no matter what I do on the remaining journey, you will trust me. Also, please refrain from mentioning what I am about to say to anyone else."

My father emphasized the danger of their destination, not just a simple excavation of relics. The final location was shrouded in unpredictable mysteries and unexpected temptations. He hoped Duo Jie would stand firmly by his side and repeatedly advised him to avoid contact with members of the Cao family, signaling the beginning of Duo Jie's true understanding of Cao Family's Qing Mountain.

The strangeness during this period exceeded the unexpected. Recalling it in calm silence years later, Duo Jie still felt perplexed and shocked.

Finally, my father informed Duo Jie that after leaving Luan Ying Guzhai, they would truly enter the depths of Shennongjia. He instructed Duo Jie to lead the team towards areas with bear traces. Duo Jie found this puzzling, but my father merely smiled and assured him that he would understand the reasons later.

On the way down the mountain, seeing Duo Jie still troubled, my father encouraged him to speak openly. Hesitant, Duo Jie voiced his biggest concern in the past few days, sensing that my father seemed to be worried about something, exhibiting an unsettling demeanor.

Surprised, my father sighed and admitted it was indeed obvious. He gazed into the distance, a hint of tenderness in his eyes, and told Duo Jie that there was a little one waiting for him at home. Moreover, after this journey, there were some individuals who wouldn't let him off easily.

Upon returning to the village, they rested for a day before continuing their journey. Shennongjia was a convergence of Yin-Shang culture, Qin-Han culture, Ba-Shu culture, and Jing-Chu culture. The region's folklore was exceptionally rich, creating the profound and unique historical legends of Shennongjia.

Due to the harsh environment deep in the mountains and rare human presence, the area retained a strong primitive and wild appearance. This bestowed upon it a mysterious allure. Ghost Forest, Wild Boar Slope, Long Worm Cave, Poisonous Mushroom Soil Wasp, and Miasma Swamp were names that instilled deep reverence in the local residents for the depths of the mountains.

According to my father's account, after leaving Luan Ying Guzhai, Duo Jie began tracking bear traces in the forest. However, the climate in Shennongjia was much more complex than that of the Min Mountains. Tall trees, requiring two or three people to embrace, covered the deep mountains. The dense branches and leaves blocked sunlight, making the forest hot and humid. Thumb-sized mosquitoes swarmed everywhere, making it unbearable for those who ventured into the depths.

Moreover, there were no paths in the old forest, only decaying tree leaves about the thickness of a palm covering the ground. While it seemed harmless on the surface, stepping on it would result in a sticky mess, adhering to the shoes. After walking for a short distance, everyone began sweating profusely, with clothes soaked from the inside out, clinging uncomfortably to their bodies.

Not just decaying leaves, the grassy areas were also teeming with numerous insects. The air was filled with constant chirping, and occasionally, small snakes could be seen coiled on tree branches.

Before entering, they tied their trouser legs tightly. However, the mules suffered. Many ticks targeted soft areas, and after a while, the mules started kicking. When the people behind noticed something was wrong, the mule bellies were already covered with a layer of densely packed ticks, each the size of a fingernail, a disgusting sight.

Duo Jie's experience came in handy. He mentioned that all things had their balance. Ticks particularly detested the scent of a certain purple flower. Applying the flower's juice to the mules ensured they wouldn't be bothered by ticks. Since the mules were essential as pack animals, they couldn't afford to lose them. Everyone immediately followed Duo Jie's method, resolving the tick issue without incident.

They went through many strange occurrences during the journey, facing numerous dangers on the road, which is another story.

On the fifth day of their departure from the ancient village, my father finally found what he was looking for— a pile of bear dung.

Duo Jie couldn't remember how many bear dung sites they had found by then. My father looked at one and happily declared, "This is it." He pointed to undigested pomegranate seeds in the bear dung, claiming that there must be a pomegranate orchard nearby.

Bear Blind is an omnivorous animal that eats fruits, with wild pomegranates being its favorite. They shake pomegranates off the trees and swallow them whole, including the peel. When excreting, the dung still contains a large amount of pomegranate flesh. Additionally, many small animals specifically choose Bear Blind's dung to eat.

It was only then that Duo Jie realized my father wasn't looking for bear dung but for a pomegranate orchard.

The team set up camp on the spot. Some members of the Cao family formed groups of three to five and scattered to find the pomegranate orchard. To avoid getting lost, they left marks along the way. Two days later, indeed, the orchard was discovered on another hillside. Everyone was excited, packing up and heading straight there.

During this time, there was one thing that caught Duo Jie's attention. One group that went out did not return on time. Although they left marks, Duo Jie, relying on years of hunting experience, felt that those people might

 have encountered some mishap. Shennongjia's mysterious mountains were entirely different from the mountains near his home, causing unease.

The pomegranate orchard was unusually large, with the vibrant red pomegranates looking like transparent rubies hanging on the trees from a distance. The ground was covered in pitch-black, muddy soil, formed by the accumulation of pomegranates fallen over hundreds of years. Pomegranate seeds had rooted and sprouted on the ground, growing lush and creating an expanding forest.

Next to the orchard were bear dung sites, indirectly deterring other animals' coveting. However, with a large team and weapons in hand, they were not particularly afraid of Bear Blind.

Without hesitation, my father led the team into the orchard. While some guarded, others began digging on the spot. Before long, a clay box adhered with soil was presented to my father. Nested inside was a smaller jade box, unlocked. Inside the jade box lay a perfectly preserved silk scroll.

Duo Jie had not expected to find such a silk scroll hidden in the deep mountain forest. Unfamiliar with antiques, he could sense from the fervent gazes of the Cao family leaders that the silk scroll was undoubtedly priceless. Even the jade box carrying it was carefully preserved.

My father, accompanied by Zhao Sanshui and a few other Cao family leaders, entered a tent and stayed there for four days. Afterward, the team set out again, with my father directing the route from that point onwards. Although still challenging, the team marched straight ahead without detours. Duo Jie speculated that they must have obtained information like maps.

Taking another two and a half days, they arrived at their destination on the third day before noon. Two large mountains loomed not far away, and my father chose a location at the foot of the mountains. When Duo Jie asked how my father could discern the geological changes over thousands of years, my father pointed at the two mountains and explained that, according to feng shui, they were known as "Guardian Mountains." The site they stood on possessed exceptional feng shui.

Doubtful, Duo Jie asked if my father genuinely believed in feng shui. After settling the team, my father shared a legend from the Tang Dynasty. The only legitimate empress in history, Wu Zetian, was buried on Liangshan in Qian County. Legend has it that the selection of the burial site was advised by the renowned Taoists Li Chunfeng and Yuan Tiangang, who jointly deduced the timeless book "Tui Bei Tu."

Wu Zetian tasked these two with finding a burial site, and while exploring Liangshan, Yuan Tiangang discovered a Feng Shui treasure land. He buried a copper coin as a marker. Simultaneously, Li Chunfeng observed the terrain, believing Liangshan resembled a reclining woman. He identified a Feng Shui eye on the mountain and marked it with his Daoist hairpin.

Returning to report, they found they had selected the same place. When Wu Zetian sent people to investigate, they discovered that Li Chunfeng's hairpin was inserted into the copper coin's hole dug by Yuan Tiangang. This demonstrated the alignment of their destinies and indirectly confirmed the excellent Feng Shui of Wu Zetian's tomb.

My father smiled at Duo Jie, asking if he thought it was a coincidence. After speaking, he left the tent, leaving Duo Jie in contemplation.

That day, they set up camp, erected tents, dug defensive fortifications, and the atmosphere among the team members seemed joyful. In the evening, a bonfire was lit. Besides those on night watch, everyone indulged in unprecedented drinking until late at night.

The next day, Duo Jie was astonished when he left the tent. The speed at which those people advanced far exceeded his expectations.

The Cao family members needed no instructions. Some scattered white ash on the ground, measuring the area. Others assembled the equipment taken from the mules. Several agile members constantly moved within the group. Squatting on the ground, they grabbed a handful of soil, tasted it, shook their heads, moved to different spots to taste again, occasionally inserting a red cloth marker in a certain place, followed by someone using a Luoyang shovel to collect soil.

Duo Jie was taken aback by this clean and efficient military-style approach.

"How is it? Surprised, huh?" My father came to Duo Jie's side, observing the bustling crowd. In a low voice, he said, "The most primitive aspect of humans is survival. They will use any means you can't imagine to thrive and firmly root themselves in this land. During this process, the ignorant, feudal, mysterious, and bloody will all be passed down through inheritance."

While Duo Jie was pondering my father's profound words, my father had already walked away. He stared absent-mindedly at my father's departing figure, for some reason feeling that after arriving here, the oppression and anxiety emanating from my father had disappeared, replaced by a sense of relief and an inexplicable determination.