In her dream, she saw the snow.
Heavy snow fell from the gray sky, blanketing the world. Red lanterns swayed in the snow, their candlelight glowing warmly through thin silk paper. In the distance, firecrackers crackled and children laughed.
It's New Year.
Qian Lan stood on an ancient street, taking in everything before her. She knew it was a dream, but this one felt too real. She could feel the cold snow on her face, smell the smoke and food wafting through the air, and hear her own heartbeat.
"Qianlan."
A voice sounded from behind.
She turned around and saw a person.
Xuanlin
He stood in the snow, covered head to toe, his eyebrows and eyelashes frosted white like a snowman. Yet his eyes remained bright—two flames burning in the winter landscape. Watching them, Qianlan suddenly thought: If only this weren't a dream.
"Why are you here?" Qian Lan asked.
"I need your help," Xuan Lin said. "Someone is dying and needs a specific medicine. Only you can find it."
Qian Lan's heart sank.
What medication?
Golden Root of Ten Thousand Poisons.
Qianlan's pupils contracted.
It's the legendary herb. She'd only heard her master mention it once, long ago.
Where?
"Fuhu Dream Mountain," Xuan Lin said. "It's right where you're staying."
Qian Lan fell silent.
She's lived in the Dreamy Mountain of Taming Tigers for years and has never seen a Ten Thousand Poisons Golden Root. But she knows Xuanlin wouldn't lie to her. Not even in a dream.
"Okay," she said. "I'll go find it."
Xuan Lin took a step forward and reached out, as if to take her hand. But his hand froze in mid-air and never came down.
"I'll go with you," he said.
No.
Qian Lan's reply came so quickly that she was momentarily stunned by her own speed.
Why?
"Because..." Qianlan looked at him with a complicated expression. "I'm afraid if you come with me, I'll get distracted. The mountain is treacherous; I'll go alone and be back in two hours. Stay here and wait for me."
Xuan Lin looked at her, his gaze filled with concern, reluctance, and something she couldn't quite decipher.
Can you really do it?
Qian Lan smiled.
"I've lived this long; when have I ever been unable to get by?"
Xuan Lin fell silent.
Finally, he nodded.
"Two hours," he said. "I'll wait."
Qian Lan turned and walked into the mountains.
She didn't turn around.
If she turned back, she would see Xuan Lin standing there, watching her until her figure disappeared into the snowstorm.
But she didn't turn around.
So she didn't notice that two figures were watching from a distant high-rise. One was an elderly man dressed in traditional ancient Indian attire, the other a middle-aged man in vintage American clothing. They watched Xuanlin in the snow and Qianlan disappear into the blizzard, then exchanged a knowing smile.
That smile carried an indescribable eeriness.
"It's been fourteen years," said the ancient Indian elder. "Finally, I've found her weakness."
The ancient American nodded. "Emotion is the greatest flaw."