The great river was shrouded in thick fog, obscuring both its end and its source.
“Have you been here before?” Quentin asked the boy.
“Sir, this is the mother river of our Miao Tribe, but I don’t know which part of the river this is,” the boy replied.
“The map shows that once we cross this river, we should be close to Miao Village.”
“Let’s make a raft to cross the river,” Quentin suggested. He and Eileen began searching for wood and vines nearby, and the boy joined in to help.
Soon, Eileen and Quentin returned carrying several freshly cut logs, and the boy had gathered plenty of vines to use as ropes.
“How did you manage to cut so much wood without an axe? And carry so much back…” The boy was astonished to see them return with so much wood using only their hands.
Quentin secured the logs with vines and fashioned three long, sturdy sticks into paddles. A simple raft was quickly assembled.
Quentin pushed the raft into the river, and it floated steadily on the water. The three of them boarded the raft and began their journey.
The thick fog made it impossible to see ahead, and they blindly paddled forward, unsure of when they would reach the other side.
The water was calm, but its depth was unfathomable, creating an eerie stillness that made their hearts race.
As they moved along, the raft started to wobble slightly. A massive shadow passed beneath them in the water.
From above, the shadow seemed to cover the entire river surface, making their raft appear as insignificant as an ant.
Quentin and his companions steadied themselves to avoid falling into the water.
Suddenly, a colossal figure broke through the water’s surface beside them. It was a gigantic fish.
The fish was about 30 to 40 meters long and as tall as a three or four-story building. Its golden scales were as hard as steel armor, gleaming with a radiant light.
The golden fish leapt into the air in a graceful arc, spraying a stream of golden water from its mouth before plunging back into the river.
“Has it become a spirit?!” The three were stunned.
The golden water scattered around them like a shower of golden light, gradually dissipating the thick fog.
The tremendous impact sent waves splashing around them, creating an incredibly dramatic scene.
The raft shook violently, and Quentin and Eileen used their inner strength to stabilize it while the boy nearly fell into the water several times.
Finally, the waves subsided, the water calmed, and the golden fish disappeared from sight.
“Could that have been the legendary Golden River God that protects our Miao Tribe?” the boy wondered aloud.
“Thank you, River God!” The boy knelt on the raft, praying in the direction where the Golden River God had appeared.
Quentin remained silent and continued paddling, not dwelling too much on what had just happened.
As they traveled further, the fog on the river began to thin, revealing glimpses of their surroundings. It seemed they were nearing the opposite shore.
They paddled with renewed vigor, and after a few moments, they broke through the fog to see a vast grassy plain before them.
“Sir, this is the grassland near my home,” the boy said excitedly.
They anchored the raft and disembarked.
Miao Village was primitive and rustic.
It was fresh and serene, exuding a tranquil beauty that made one feel at peace, like a paradise hidden from the world.
“Sir, Miss, please follow me.”
Quentin and Eileen followed the boy across the grassland and along a short mountain path until they reached his Miao Village.
Nestled by mountains and rivers, with terraced fields and various sizes of green-tiled wooden houses, many men and women of all ages dressed in colorful Miao clothes were diligently working in the fields alongside their livestock.
This was White Miao Village.
“Sir, Miss, please rest at my home first.”
Quentin nodded, and the boy led them into the village.
Seeing Quentin and Eileen dressed in long pants and military boots with wolf pelts draped over their shoulders, the villagers curiously gathered around them.
“They don’t look like people from our Miao Tribe. Could they have come from beyond the mountains?”
“It’s been many years since outsiders have come here. How did Harry bring them back through such dangerous mountains?”
“I’ve heard from the chief that outsiders can be very deceitful.”
The villagers whispered among themselves, curious about Quentin and Eileen. Some even harbored hostility towards them.
Harry greeted each villager politely as he led Quentin and Eileen to an old wooden house that bore signs of age and wear.
“Sir, Miss, this is my home,” Harry said as he invited them inside.
“Dad, Sis, I’m back! We have guests!” Harry called out as he ushered Quentin and Eileen to sit down.
The interior was spacious and bright, with all furniture made of fragrant wood, giving it a simple yet comfortable feel.
Footsteps sounded from upstairs as a young woman descended the wooden stairs.
She wore a colorful and elegant Miao dress. Her graceful figure and pure eyes were captivating. Her nose was perfectly shaped, and her lips were as delicate as cherry blossoms.
Her long black hair flowed like a waterfall, her skin was fair, and she wore silver bracelets and anklets that jingled pleasantly with her movements.
Her smile was so enchanting that even flowers paled in comparison!
“This is my sister Cerys!” Harry introduced.