The Journey of Flower

After two months of difficult traveling, Hua Qian Gu reached the foot of Mount Mao. She was dressed like a boy in the dog cloak, on her hip was an old sickle. No matter how hard she tried to go up the mountain, she was hopelessly lost. It began to rain so Hua Qian Gu took shelter under a tree and ate bread to fill her stomach.

When the rain stopped, she continued walking again. Suddenly, she stepped on a human leg bone. Feeling sympathy for the dead person having to lie out in the wilderness, Hua Qian Gu gathered all the bones she could find, dug a grave to bury the bones and used a piece of wood to mark the grave.

Hua Qian Gu continued to wander around but could not find a way up the mountain. Night came so she went into a cave to rest. Nearing sleep, she saw a Taoist priest walking into the cave.

He said his name was Lin Sui Yi and thanked her for burying him. He was a disciple of Mount Lao and sent by his teacher to deliver a few things to Taoist Priest Qing Xu of Mount Mao. Unfortunately, he was attacked and killed by the demon Chun Qiu Bu Bai. There were many mystic traps on Mount Mao so Lin Sui Yi suggested for Hua Qian Gu to go to Yi Xiu Ge to ask how she could go up the mountain. It was said that the successor of Yi Xiu Ge called Yi Xiu Jun knew everything.

It took two more days, but Hua Qian Gu managed to find Yi Xiu Ge. She paid the gatekeepers with radishes and was allowed inside. After walking around and around, she discovered a room with the doors slightly opened. She peeked in and asked if anyone was inside, but no one answered. Hua Qian Gu stepped into the room and screamed out loud. She saw thousands of human tongues hanging by red threads from the ceiling.