Chapter 452

Xiao Ningyuan startled, "River?"

He craned his neck toward the direction his sister pointed, but saw nothing: "Where is it, Tuan Tuan? Why can't I see it?"

"Oh, I saw it in the mirror."

"Mirror?" Xiao Ningyuan looked up, glanced to both sides, then finally understood: "Brilliant!"

Tuan Tuan patted her big brother's head: "What's wrong, big brother?"

"This mirror happens to be at a corner; this passage isn't straight, and among all the mirrors, only this one can be seen from both sides."

"So, moving it not only brightens this place, but also lets you see the other side through the mirror."

"Tsk tsk, anyone who could think of this level is truly remarkable."

"Come down, big brother will take you to see the river!"

"Alright!"

Xiao Ningyuan set his sister down on the ground, took her small hand, and walked toward the deeper part of the passage.

Soon, the two saw the river Tuan Tuan had spoken of.

A wide, deep, still river stretched across the end of the passage.

"Impressive!" Xiao Ningyuan exclaimed.

Tuan Tuan lifted her little face to look at her brother: "Big brother, is this river impressive?"

Xiao Ningyuan shook his head and patiently explained: "It's not that the river itself is impressive; it's impressive that this river appears here."

"Since ancient times, imperial tombs have been places for the deceased emperors to reside, and the feng shui considerations are no less than those of the palaces they lived in while alive."

"Both banks of this river are stone platforms, clearly man‑made."

"On top is a sacred path; this location is excellent, intended for the dragon vein to receive water and gather vital energy, so this river is called the Jade River."

"Jade River?" Tuan Tuan stared at the barely moving river, "The name sounds nice."

Xiao Ningyuan looked around: "Where there's a Jade River, there's a Golden Well. Tuan Tuan, besides this river we'll also see the Golden Well."

Tuan Tuan asked curiously: "Big brother, why dig a well when there's a river? Are they short of water?"

Xiao Ningyuan laughed: "The Golden Well isn't really a well; never mind, I'll tell you when we see it. Let's first figure out how to cross this Jade River."

Tuan Tuan looked around: "There's no boat, how will we get across?"

Xiao Ningyuan gazed at the river, six or seven zhang wide, its surface veiled in faint white mist: "How about we just swim across? Tuan Tuan, can you?"

Tuan Tuan shook her head: "I can't. Big brother, can you? So impressive!"

"Uh…" Xiao Ningyuan's Adam's apple bobbed, "I can't either; I thought you could."

Tuan Tuan rolled her eyes at him, pointed to the opposite bank: "Big brother, this is so strange; there's no bridge on the river, but over there there is one, and look, there's a big gate beyond the bridge!"

"Hmm, that's the Yin‑Yang Bridge and the Spirit Star Gate. After we cross the Jade River and go through that gate, we'll truly enter the main body of the tomb."

Tuan Tuan tugged her brother's hand: "Big brother, I'm hungry."

Xiao Ningyuan slapped his forehead: "My fault! My fault! Come, let's eat first; you being hungry is the real problem!"

The siblings sat on the ground not far from the river.

Xiao Ningyuan took off his bundle, opened it, rummaged, picked up a piece of honey‑sesame cake and handed it to his sister: "This clearly was brought for you by Lu Qi."

"Uncle Qi is so nice!" Tuan Tuan took it, bit it, "So sweet!"

Xiao Ningyuan removed the stopper of the Water Bag and handed it to her.

Seeing his sister munching and sipping with delight, he then also took a piece himself.

After filling her stomach, Tuan Tuan looked at the sticky honey on her hand, felt uncomfortable, stood up and hurried to the riverbank to wash her hands.

"Stop!" Xiao Ningyuan shouted in alarm, but he was a step too late.

Tuan Tuan's little hand was already in the water: "So cool! Big brother, it's fine, the water feels nice!"

Xiao Ningyuan sighed: "We don't even know if the river water is clean; what if it's filthy?"

"Big brother, after you finish eating, come wash up too; it's so comfortable."

Xiao Ningyuan nodded, ate while looking toward the opposite bank, wondering how to get across.

Suddenly, Tuan Tuan shouted joyfully: "Little fish!"

Xiao Ningyuan stared in shock as fine ripples spread across the surface and several translucent white fish silently rose from the water.

Their scales glimmered with a faint white light, eyes crystal clear, staring straight at Tuan Tuan's honey‑sticky finger.

Tuan Tuan examined them: "You look so beautiful!"

Xiao Ningyuan could hardly believe his eyes; what fish could survive in this sunless Jade River?

Tuan Tuan extended a little finger, gently brushed a fish's dorsal fin: "Big brother, they're so cute, all slippery!"

The fish didn't shy away; instead it flicked its tail, approached her honey‑sticky fingertip, and gave a gentle peck.

"So itchy!" Tuan Tuan giggled, "Big brother! They like the honey on my hand!"

Xiao Ningyuan stared dumbfounded; his sister's knack for befriending animals he had heard about from his second and third brothers many times, but this was his first time seeing it.

Tuan Tuan whispered: "Little fish, little fish, do you know how to get to the other side? I want to go find the treasure here."

The fish swam in a circle, their tail fins splashing tiny droplets, as if responding to her.

Tuan Tuan's eyes lit up, she pointed a finger toward the opposite bank: "Can you help us get across?"

One fish leapt out of the water, tracing a silvery arc in the air; its supple tail fin brushed Tuan Tuan's outstretched finger.

Immediately, countless fish rose to the surface, swiftly swimming toward the center of the Jade River.

They linked head to tail, layering upon each other, scales flashing, forming on the water a floating bridge about three feet wide, shimmering brightly.

"You little fish are amazing!" Tuan Tuan clapped and cheered, turned back, waved a small hand at her brother: "Big brother! They understood! Let's hurry across!"

Xiao Ningyuan swallowed: "Tuan Tuan, can we really walk on this bridge?"

Tuan Tuan bounced eagerly: "We can! Let's go over!" She lifted her little leg, ready to step onto a fish's back.

"No!" Xiao Ningyuan hurried forward, grabbed her, "I'll try first."

He inhaled deeply, stepped onto it gingerly, and the feel was unusually solid, as if stepping on a cool‑warm jade, not moving a hair.

We can cross!

Xiao Ningyuan haphazardly tied the bundle, threw it onto his back, and lifted Tuan Tuan: "Hold tight, let's go over!"

"Alright! Little fish, little fish, be good, don't move, we'll be quick!"

Xiao Ningyuan, carrying his sister, hurried across the magical bridge.

He set his sister down on the ground, exhaled: "Finally made it."

Tuan Tuan walked to the riverbank, waved her little hand at the fish school: "Thank you, little fish! You're so kind!"

The fish gradually dispersed, and the Jade River returned to its original state.

Xiao Ningyuan was dazed for a moment, almost unsure whether everything that just happened was real.

"Hurry, big brother!" Tuan Tuan grabbed his hand, ran across the Yin‑Yang Bridge, and arrived before the Lingxing Gate.

She looked up at the nearly three zhang‑high gate: "Wow! This gate is so tall!"