Chapter 38 Lanterns

This Azure Dragon Mountain was clearly artificially elevated, as the trees upon it revealed themselves to be newly planted saplings from recent years.

In the art of feng shui, there is a saying: “Better let the Azure Dragon soar ten thousand feet than allow the White Tiger to raise its head.” We often speak of the Azure Dragon to the left and the White Tiger to the right, meaning that the left side of Duhe City is likened to the Azure Dragon, and the right to the White Tiger. The position of Azure Dragon Mountain happens to be on the left, so it has been raised significantly by human hands.

With this arrangement, Azure Dragon Mountain shields the city from ill fortune, greatly offsetting the effects of soil erosion brought by the upper reaches of the Yellow River, and simultaneously gathers vital energy, ensuring the city’s prosperity. If this feng shui layout is maintained, the city will surely flourish. Those who understand the city's feng shui and invest in its future ahead of others are certain to reap enormous rewards.

After surveying the distance from Azure Dragon Mountain to this spot, I formed a general plan in my mind and prepared to find a riverboat to take me to the mountain.

Yet, when the captains heard I wished to go to Azure Dragon Mountain, they all waved their hands in refusal, unwilling to take me no matter how much I offered.

I found a fishing boat and asked what had happened—why was everyone so reluctant?

An elderly fisherman told me, “There’s a river god there. You mustn’t go.”

“A river god? Why do you say that?” His face was filled with reverence, which only fueled my curiosity.

He drew deeply on his long-stemmed pipe, his cataract-clouded eyes wide with fear through the pale smoke. “Azure Dragon Mountain was once our money tree. The fish there were large and plentiful; a single net would cover nearly half a month’s expenses. But recently, several groups of fishermen went to net fish there, and their boats all sank. Not one returned…” He took another trembling pull on his pipe, his voice quivering. “That must be the river god’s dwelling. Otherwise, how could there be so many fish, don’t you think?”

I said nothing, and the fisherman continued, “We must have fished too much and angered the river god. Now, the river god won’t let us go there. Young man, you’re still so young—take my advice and don’t go to that place. If you anger the river god, it will not end well.”

Azure Dragon Mountain was some distance away, upstream. Swimming there would be exhausting, and I needed to reserve strength to deal with the corpse of the woman rumored to be there. So I negotiated with the fisherman, asking him to drop me at the bay near Azure Dragon Mountain, and in return, I offered him double the usual fare.

The Yellow River twists and turns eighteen times, and the spot where Azure Dragon Mountain stands is at a great bend. Before we even reached the bend, the fisherman knelt on the boat, bowing toward Azure Dragon Mountain and muttering, “River god, bless us. River god, bless us.” After finishing his prayers, he refused to go any further, insisting on landing to let me off.

I paid him, and before he could dock, under his astonished gaze, I leapt into the Yellow River, kicking through the water toward Azure Dragon Mountain.

Though it was midday, the river’s water was chilling to the bone. If not for my years of winter swimming, I would not have endured the cold. Arriving at the foot of Azure Dragon Mountain, I climbed ashore and glanced toward the direction of the “Dragon Head Canal.” The forested mountains loomed, blocking the view of the canal; only the distant, blade-like peaks allowed me to vaguely judge its location.

After memorizing the position of the Dragon Head Canal, I began to examine Azure Dragon Mountain. It towered over the surrounding peaks, and at first glance, truly resembled a great azure dragon ascending to the heavens.

Situated upstream, Azure Dragon Mountain intercepted much of the Yellow River’s sediment. Its back faced west, gathering an abundance of yin energy, attracting shade-loving fish. No wonder the fisherman claimed there were so many fish here.

Following the scene shown in the water map from my memory, I arrived at the western foot of Azure Dragon Mountain and began to inspect the area. On either side of the riverbank, two dead willow trees stood out, each with a white lantern hanging from its branches. It felt as if this place was a gate, and beneath the water, something like a dwelling waited below.