Scenario:Revised Novel Outline: "Exploring the Kingdom of Women"
Setting:Historical and Geographical Context: Set at the enchanting locales of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Lugu Lake, amidst the legacy of the ancient Naxi Kingdom.
Cultural Crossroads: The setting is a melting pot where Eastern and Western cultures converge, influenced by both matrilineal and patrilineal civilizations, providing a rich backdrop for the narrative.
Main Characters:
Lin Xuan - A historian of Chinese descent from the modern United States, driven by a quest to understand human societal developments and the secrets of matrilineal societies.
Maya - Heiress to the Kingdom of Women, battling societal and political changes threatening her heritage.
The Mosuo Elders - Keepers of ancient wisdom, with profound insights into the ecological and societal constructs of their time.
Lin Xuan fascinated by an ancient scroll depicting the Naxi Kingdom, is mysteriously transported to the past through a time portal activated by the scroll.
He arrives during a tumultuous period in the Kingdom of Women, right as he walks across the Tea Horse Road and drinks from the mystical waters of Lugu Lake
Rising Action:
Integrating into the kingdom, Lin Xuan learns about their intricate connection to nature and humanity, witnessing firsthand the spiritual and physical landscapes that define the region.
Maya, facing challenges to her rule from factions within her court desiring a shift towards patriarchal rule, allies with Lin Xuan to preserve her heritage.
Climax:
Discovering a plot to usurp the throne involving ancient and forbidden magic tied to the white sand murals and Gemu Peak, Lin Xuan and Maya must navigate a series of dangerous, supernatural trials.
These trials are designed to test their wisdom, courage, and understanding of both ancient and modern societal values.
Return to the Future Summary:As stability returns under Maya's rule, Lin Xuan confronts his own purpose in the kingdom. His profound journey through time has changed him, and he begins to feel a pull back to his original time. This chapter explores Lin Xuan's internal conflict about leaving a world he has grown to love and the impact he's had on its future. It captures his preparations to return, his heartfelt goodbyes, and the mystical process of his journey back to the modern world, where he must reintegrate and share his incredible experiences.
Reflection and Decision:
Reflective Insight: Begin with Lin Xuan reflecting on his contributions and the deep connections he has formed with Maya and the people of the kingdom. Show him wrestling with the decision to stay or return to his original time.
Consultation with Maya: Include a significant conversation between Lin Xuan and Maya, where they discuss his potential departure. Maya expresses her gratitude and understanding, acknowledging his impact on her and the kingdom.
Preparation for Departure:
Farewells: Describe Lin Xuan's farewells to those he's grown close to, highlighting emotional goodbyes with key characters like the guards he trained, scholars he worked alongside, and the sage from the murals.
Passing on Knowledge: Show Lin Xuan delegating his responsibilities and sharing his knowledge with successors, ensuring his teachings and innovations will continue to benefit the kingdom.
The Return Journey:
Activating the Scroll: Detail the ritual Lin Xuan uses to activate the scroll once more. Describe the mystical and scientific preparations involved, blending the knowledge he's gained from both worlds.
Moment of Departure: Capture the moment Lin Xuan steps through the time portal, filled with mixed emotions as he leaves the ancient kingdom behind.
Reintegration into the Modern World:
Initial Disorientation: Describe Lin Xuan's initial disorientation and the cultural shock of returning to the modern world, where life has continued without him.
Academic and Personal Challenges: Show Lin Xuan struggling to adapt to his old life, facing skepticism from peers and the challenge of proving the veracity of his experiences.
Sharing His Journey:
Documenting Experiences: Illustrate Lin Xuan’s efforts to document his journey, preparing for presentations and publications that detail his findings and the historical impact of his adventure.
Planning Future Research: Hint at Lin Xuan’s plans for further research, perhaps related to other ancient mysteries or theoretical portals through time.
Chapter Ending:
Reflective Closure: Conclude with Lin Xuan giving a lecture on his experiences, facing a mix of disbelief and fascination from his audience. Show him confident and passionate, changed forever by his journey.
Open-Ended Possibilities: End with a scene showing Lin Xuan receiving a mysterious package containing an artifact similar to the one that first sent him back in time, suggesting potential future adventures or his return to the kingdom.
Create my version of this story
Revised Novel Outline: "Exploring the Kingdom of Women"
Setting:Historical and Geographical Context: Set at the enchanting locales of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Lugu Lake, amidst the legacy of the ancient Naxi Kingdom.
Cultural Crossroads: The setting is a melting pot where Eastern and Western cultures converge, influenced by both matrilineal and patrilineal civilizations, providing a rich backdrop for the narrative.
Main Characters:
Lin Xuan - A historian of Chinese descent from the modern United States, driven by a quest to understand human societal developments and the secrets of matrilineal societies.
Maya - Heiress to the Kingdom of Women, battling societal and political changes threatening her heritage.
The Mosuo Elders - Keepers of ancient wisdom, with profound insights into the ecological and societal constructs of their time.
Lin Xuan fascinated by an ancient scroll depicting the Naxi Kingdom, is mysteriously transported to the past through a time portal activated by the scroll.
He arrives during a tumultuous period in the Kingdom of Women, right as he walks across the Tea Horse Road and drinks from the mystical waters of Lugu Lake
Rising Action:
Integrating into the kingdom, Lin Xuan learns about their intricate connection to nature and humanity, witnessing firsthand the spiritual and physical landscapes that define the region.
Maya, facing challenges to her rule from factions within her court desiring a shift towards patriarchal rule, allies with Lin Xuan to preserve her heritage.
Climax:
Discovering a plot to usurp the throne involving ancient and forbidden magic tied to the white sand murals and Gemu Peak, Lin Xuan and Maya must navigate a series of dangerous, supernatural trials.
These trials are designed to test their wisdom, courage, and understanding of both ancient and modern societal values.
Return to the Future Summary:As stability returns under Maya's rule, Lin Xuan confronts his own purpose in the kingdom. His profound journey through time has changed him, and he begins to feel a pull back to his original time. This chapter explores Lin Xuan's internal conflict about leaving a world he has grown to love and the impact he's had on its future. It captures his preparations to return, his heartfelt goodbyes, and the mystical process of his journey back to the modern world, where he must reintegrate and share his incredible experiences.
Reflection and Decision:
Reflective Insight: Begin with Lin Xuan reflecting on his contributions and the deep connections he has formed with Maya and the people of the kingdom. Show him wrestling with the decision to stay or return to his original time.
Consultation with Maya: Include a significant conversation between Lin Xuan and Maya, where they discuss his potential departure. Maya expresses her gratitude and understanding, acknowledging his impact on her and the kingdom.
Preparation for Departure:
Farewells: Describe Lin Xuan's farewells to those he's grown close to, highlighting emotional goodbyes with key characters like the guards he trained, scholars he worked alongside, and the sage from the murals.
Passing on Knowledge: Show Lin Xuan delegating his responsibilities and sharing his knowledge with successors, ensuring his teachings and innovations will continue to benefit the kingdom.
The Return Journey:
Activating the Scroll: Detail the ritual Lin Xuan uses to activate the scroll once more. Describe the mystical and scientific preparations involved, blending the knowledge he's gained from both worlds.
Moment of Departure: Capture the moment Lin Xuan steps through the time portal, filled with mixed emotions as he leaves the ancient kingdom behind.
Reintegration into the Modern World:
Initial Disorientation: Describe Lin Xuan's initial disorientation and the cultural shock of returning to the modern world, where life has continued without him.
Academic and Personal Challenges: Show Lin Xuan struggling to adapt to his old life, facing skepticism from peers and the challenge of proving the veracity of his experiences.
Sharing His Journey:
Documenting Experiences: Illustrate Lin Xuan’s efforts to document his journey, preparing for presentations and publications that detail his findings and the historical impact of his adventure.
Planning Future Research: Hint at Lin Xuan’s plans for further research, perhaps related to other ancient mysteries or theoretical portals through time.
Chapter Ending:
Reflective Closure: Conclude with Lin Xuan giving a lecture on his experiences, facing a mix of disbelief and fascination from his audience. Show him confident and passionate, changed forever by his journey.
Open-Ended Possibilities: End with a scene showing Lin Xuan receiving a mysterious package containing an artifact similar to the one that first sent him back in time, suggesting potential future adventures or his return to the kingdom.
Chapter 1: The Naxi Kingdom
Lin Xuan was a historian of Chinese descent from the modern United States.
He had always been fascinated by societal developments, particularly the evolution of human civilizations.
As a child, he had read a book on matrilineal societies and had been fascinated by the idea that there could be a society where women were at the center of everything.
Thus, when he was offered the chance to go on a research expedition to the Naxi Kingdom, he had jumped at the opportunity.
This journey would bring him closer to understanding the secrets of matrilineal societies.
The group of researchers Lin Xuan was part of was based in the United States.
They had been exploring ancient ruins in Yunnan Province, China, when they came across an ancient scroll.
The scroll provided a glimpse into the complex social structure of the Naxi Kingdom, which was a unique matriarchal civilization where women played pivotal roles.
Although not a full-on matrilineal society, like the Mosuo, the Naxi Kingdom was situated at the crossroads of matrilineal and patrilineal civilizations.
This kingdom was believed to have thrived in the vicinity of Lijiang in Yunnan Province and stretched to the area near Lugu Lake in Sichuan Province.
It had lasted for nearly 1,000 years and left behind a rich archaeological legacy.
The researchers decided to split up and explore further.
Lin Xuan chose to explore Lugu Lake on his own.
He slowly rowed his boat across the lake as he enjoyed the breathtaking scenery around him.
He watched as birds flew in the sky and fish leaped out of the water.
In that moment, it felt like time had stopped.
Lin Xuan felt he was able to truly connect with nature and could sense how people from ancient times had been able to live in harmony with nature.
As he enjoyed this moment of tranquility, Lin Xuan suddenly heard someone yelling for help.
He immediately set down his oar and looked around to see where the voice was coming from.
“Help me!”
The voice came from a woman who was struggling in the water about 20 meters away from him.
Lin Xuan’s heart raced as he saw the woman’s head sink beneath the water, and his instinct told him that he had to save her immediately.
He rowed his boat to the woman’s location as fast as he could and reached out to pull her onto the boat when he was close enough to her.
The woman coughed up water as she gasped for breath.
Lin Xuan patted her on the back to help her clear her lungs.
“Are you okay?”
The woman took a few deep breaths before turning around to face Lin Xuan.
Her eyes shined with happiness as she looked at him and said, “Thank you so much for saving me.”
Lin Xuan was mesmerized by the woman’s beauty.
He nodded his head and said with a smile, “You’re welcome.”
The woman was a little shy as she got up from the boat and said, “I really appreciate your help today.If you ever come to the Naxi Kingdom, I’ll make sure to take good care of you.”
Lin Xuan was a little confused by what the woman said but didn’t think too much of it at the time.
He nodded his head and watched as the woman walked away from him before turning around to get back into the water to retrieve his oar.
The woman disappeared before he knew it, which left Lin Xuan feeling a little bewildered by what had just happened.
He shook his head to clear his thoughts before picking up his oar to continue rowing towards the other side of the lake.
After about half an hour of rowing, Lin Xuan finally arrived at the shore of Lugu Lake.
He secured his boat before walking towards an ancient courtyard that he had seen from the lake.
The courtyard was situated at the foot of a mountain with a tiled roof made of gray tiles that gave off a sense of antiquity and mystery.
There were three bluestone paths leading to the courtyard gates from different directions with green trees planted on both sides of the paths that provided a cool shade for people who walked along them.
The ancient courtyard felt like it had been frozen in time for thousands of years, which made Lin Xuan feel as though he had traveled back in time when he entered it.
Lin Xuan suddenly saw a white sand mural on the ground when he entered the courtyard gates, which left him feeling a little baffled by it at first.
The mural was about 50 square meters in size with three black ravens perched atop the courtyard walls watching over it like guardian gods.
The courtyard walls were made of white stones with green vines growing on them with a small wooden door leading inside from one side of the walls that seemed like it hadn’t been opened for many years judging by its aged appearance.
Lin Xuan shook his head in confusion as he tried to make sense of what he had just seen before walking over to take a closer look at the mural on the ground.
The mural depicted a series of scenes that seemed to blend the ancient with the modern in a seamless manner.
There were a few elderly men in white robes standing at one end of the mural who were looking at a woman in an academic gown and black hair bun standing at the other end of it.
The woman was holding a crystal skull in one hand and a scroll in the other with a mysterious smile on her face as if she was looking at something interesting that only she could see.
Lin Xuan walked along the mural until he reached the center of it before suddenly noticing a section of it that seemed to shift and change as he looked at it.
He was taken aback when he saw what was happening and quickly walked over to take a closer look at it.
The section of the mural depicted a futuristic cityscape with flying chariots and a dozen or so 100-story tall buildings with bright lights illuminating them like stars in the sky.
The cityscape seemed to be floating in mid-air with a small mountain range visible beneath it and a few white clouds scattered around it which made it seem as though it was in another world entirely.
Lin Xuan’s gaze was instantly drawn toward a courtyard located at the center of the futuristic cityscape where there was a white sand mural located on its ground just like this one.
There were ancient buildings surrounding the courtyard along with crowds of people who were busy going about their daily lives while also taking turns to stand at its edge and look down at it.
Lin Xuan couldn’t help but feel captivated by what he was seeing as he tried to make sense of what he had just seen before suddenly noticing a white sand mural located in the center of this courtyard as well.
He felt a wave of excitement wash over him as he quickly took off his shoes and stepped onto it so he could take a closer look at it, but he suddenly realized that the sand beneath his feet seemed to be moving as if it was alive.
The sand had slowly begun to move as Lin Xuan gazed at it as if it had been roused to life by his presence.
It didn’t take long before it finally formed a three-dimensional landscape for him to see.
There were a few trees located in the courtyard that were slowly growing taller as Lin Xuan watched them while also forming a forest for him to see.
He couldn’t believe what he was seeing as he slowly walked backward to take it all in before suddenly feeling his back bump against something hard.
He immediately turned around to take a closer look at what he had bumped into and then realized that it was the mural of the ancient courtyard that he had been looking down at moments ago.
He couldn’t help but feel completely shocked by what he had just seen as he tried to gather his thoughts together.
He couldn’t believe that the white sand murals located in both courtyards were somehow connected to one another, which left him feeling somewhat terrified by the fact that they might have been made by some sort of ghostly spirit.
“You don’t need to be afraid,” a voice suddenly echoed inside of his mind which left him feeling as though he had just heard the woman in the academic gown speak to him from the white sand mural.
“Who are you?”
Lin Xuan asked nervously as he looked around the ancient courtyard to see if there was anyone else around, but he couldn’t see anyone other than the three black ravens.
“You’ll be able to see everything more clearly once you reach a higher vantage point,” the voice said to him once again before Lin Xuan suddenly saw everything around him begin to change.
He couldn’t believe what he was seeing when he looked down at his feet and realized that the ancient white sand mural had somehow turned into an ancient bluestone path.
He didn’t hesitate to start walking along it right away until he finally reached the entrance and walked outside only to find himself standing inside of a vibrant forest that seemed to stretch out for endless miles in every direction.
He couldn’t believe how seamlessly he had passed through the ancient bluestone path and entered the forest, which left him feeling completely shocked by the experience.
He couldn’t help but feel completely captivated by what he had just seen as he tried to make sense of how it had happened only for his gaze to suddenly be drawn toward a mysterious figure who was standing behind a tree while looking in his direction.
The figure didn’t hesitate to step forward so they could walk over to Lin Xuan while holding a scroll in their hand.
“This is for you,” the figure said to him before gently placing the scroll inside his hands.
“What is this?”
Lin Xuan asked nervously as he looked up at the figure who was standing in front of him, but they had already vanished without a trace.
He couldn’t help but feel shocked by what he had just seen which left him feeling completely terrified by the fact that they had somehow managed to disappear right in front of his eyes.
He quickly unrolled the scroll so he could take a closer look at it only to realize that it appeared to be a map of the Kingdom of Women which left him feeling terrified by what he had just seen.
“Was that really a dream?”
Lin Xuan couldn’t help but feel somewhat confused by the experience as he tried to figure out if it had really happened or not.
He couldn’t come up with a clear answer which left him feeling even more nervous than he had before.
He couldn’t stop thinking about the mysterious figure who had suddenly given him the scroll as he tried to figure out who they might have been and how they had managed to disappear without a trace.
He couldn’t stop thinking about the scroll that they had given him as he tried to figure out what it might have contained which made him even more curious about it.
He couldn’t resist the urge to accept the scroll from them despite his fears which left him feeling somewhat relieved as he unrolled it so he could continue looking at it while also making his way deeper into the forest.
He didn’t know how long he had been walking for when he suddenly felt somewhat dizzy before everything around him slowly started to grow darker.
He tried to hold onto the scroll tightly so he could make sure it wouldn’t get lost before everything around him eventually went dark.
Lin Xuan suddenly felt his feet hit something hard which left him feeling as though he had just been walking along a bluestone path.
He quickly opened his eyes so he could take a closer look at his surroundings but still found himself unable to see anything until he finally saw a few rays of sunlight shining down from above onto the bluestone path beneath his feet.
He couldn’t believe what he was seeing when he finally took a closer look at the bluestone path and realized that it was the same one he had been standing on before when he had been looking down at the white sand mural in the ancient courtyard, which left him feeling somewhat terrified by the fact that he had somehow managed to come back here once again.
He quickly sat up so he could take a closer look at his surroundings only to realize that he was no longer in the vibrant forest but had somehow managed to teleport to another place instead.
He couldn’t believe what he was seeing when he finally took a closer look at the surroundings and realized that there were mountains on both sides of the bluestone path, which had somehow transformed into a road that wound its way through the mountains.
He couldn’t stop himself from feeling surprised by the fact that the bluestone path had somehow ended up becoming a road that led from the western side of the mountain to the eastern side of it.
He couldn’t stop himself from feeling surprised by the fact that the place where he had just been standing had somehow ended up becoming Red Mountain County’s most famous road instead, which left him feeling even more shocked than he had before.
He couldn’t resist the urge to take a closer look at his surroundings so he could try and figure out where exactly it was that he was but still found himself unable to figure it out until he finally saw a person sitting on a rock not too far away from him.
He couldn’t stop himself from feeling completely stunned when he finally took a closer look at the person sitting on the rock and realized that it was actually a woman, who had long black hair that fell down all the way to her waist and fair skin that made her seem even more beautiful than she would have otherwise.
He couldn’t stop himself from wanting to take a closer look at her when she finally stood up so she could take a closer look at him as well.
He couldn’t stop himself from feeling even more stunned when she finally walked over to him so she could take a closer look at him, as well, until she finally reached out her hand so she could help him stand up.
“Are you all right?”
she asked with an anxious expression on her face when she finally took a closer look at him and realized that his face was covered in cold sweat.
“It seems like I’m all right,”
Lin Xuan said with an embarrassed expression on his face when he finally took a closer look at the beautiful woman who had just helped him stand up, as well, until he finally managed to think of something else to say.
“Who are you?”
he asked with a confused expression on his face when he finally took a closer look at her and realized that there was something oddly familiar about her, but still found himself unable to figure out who exactly she was until she finally opened her mouth to speak once again.
“My name is Maya,”
the beautiful woman said with an embarrassed expression on her face when Lin Xuan finally asked who she was until she finally found herself able to speak once again.
“Maya Bai,”
“Maya Bai?”
Lin Xuan asked with a confused expression on his face when he finally heard what she said, as well, until he finally realized that she must be the same person who was shown on one of the murals in the cave he had just been in.
He had never expected to meet her in person which left him feeling quite surprised as he tried to figure out what he should say to her next.
“Maya, I’ve come from far away to come see you,”
he said with an embarrassed expression on his face when he finally thought of something else to say, as well, until he finally reached out his hand to shake hers.
He couldn’t stop himself from feeling somewhat shocked by the fact that he was actually meeting her in person which left him feeling quite excited as he tried to figure out what he should say to her next.
“It’s nice to meet you,”
Maya said with an embarrassed expression on her face when she finally shook Lin Xuan’s hand, as well, until she finally thought of something else to say.
“It’s nice to meet you,”
Lin Xuan said with an embarrassed expression on his face when he finally heard what she said, as well, until he finally thought of something else to say.
“Would you like to go for a walk?”
He couldn’t stop himself from asking that question after thinking about it for a few moments, as well, until he finally realized that it might be possible for him to learn more about her and the kingdom she was ruling if they went for a walk together.
“That sounds like it could be fun,”
Maya said with an embarrassed expression on her face when she finally heard what Lin Xuan said, as well, until she finally found herself nodding in agreement.
“Let’s go for a walk, then.”
“Sure thing,”
Lin Xuan said with an excited expression on his face when he finally heard what she said until he finally found himself following her through the doors that were directly in front of him after those doors were finally opened for them.
He couldn’t stop himself from looking around at everything that was happening around him while they were walking through the city, either, which left him feeling somewhat surprised by how different everything was compared to his own world until he finally realized that it was possible for there to be a lot of differences between worlds if they were separated by several hundred years.
“Is this where you live?”
he finally asked with a surprised expression on his face when he finally looked up at the castle that was directly in front of them and realized that it must be the one shown on the mural.
“Yes, it is,”
Maya said with an excited expression on her face when she finally realized what Lin Xuan was probably thinking.
“What do you think about it?”
She couldn’t stop herself from asking that question after thinking about it for a few moments, as well, until she finally found herself staring at Lin Xuan with an anxious expression on her face.
“I think it looks amazing,”
Lin Xuan said with an excited expression on his face when he finally heard what she said, as well, until he finally found himself staring at the castle even more intently than before.
It looked like something that should be in a fairy tale instead of an actual city that people lived in, but he couldn’t deny that it looked absolutely beautiful regardless.
“Thank you,”
Maya said with a shy expression on her face when she finally heard what Lin Xuan said, as well, until she finally looked away from him so she could think about something else instead.
“Do you like this place?”
Lin Xuan asked with a confused expression on his face after seeing Maya look away from him, as well, until he finally realized that there must be something else on her mind.
“Yes, I do,”
Maya said with a shy expression on her face when Lin Xuan finally asked if she liked this place.
“This is the city my ancestors built, so I can’t help but feel proud every time I look at it.”
“That makes sense,”
Lin Xuan said with a knowing expression on his face after hearing what Maya said, as well, until he finally thought of something else to say.
“You also have a lot of people living here who are doing business with one another, so I guess that means there is a lot of trade going on here.”
“That’s right,”
Maya said with a knowing expression on her face when Lin Xuan finally mentioned all the people who were doing business in the streets.
“This place is actually the most important place for trade in our kingdom, as well, so I guess you could say that everything else revolves around this place.”
“Really?”
Lin Xuan asked with a surprised expression on his face when he finally heard what Maya said, as well, until he finally realized that he would have to ask her more about that at another time.
He was curious to learn more about the trading system that her kingdom used, as well, especially since he had never seen anything like it before.
It would definitely be interesting to see how such a thing worked, and he was sure that Maya would be able to explain it to him if he just asked.
“I’m sure someone would be happy to explain it to you if you just ask,”
Maya said with a knowing expression on his face, as well, until she finally realized that he must have been thinking something similar to what she was thinking.
“I’ll keep that in mind,”
Lin Xuan replied with an excited expression on his face when Maya finally mentioned that someone would explain how the trading system worked if he just asked.
He had obviously wanted to know more about how things worked around here, but he had no idea where he should even begin learning about them until now.
This was definitely going to help him a lot.
“Are you ready to go to the Sacred Cave?”
one of the Mosuo Elders asked when Lin Xuan finally finished thinking about what he wanted to say next, as well, until he finally realized that they were going to leave soon.
“Yes, I am,”
Lin Xuan replied with an excited expression on his face when he finally heard what the Mosuo Elder said, as well, until he finally realized that they must have been waiting for him this whole time.
He had been so preoccupied by all the things around him that he hadn’t even noticed that they were waiting for him.
“Good,”
the Mosuo Elder replied with a knowing expression on his face, as well, until he finally turned around and started walking toward the entrance of the city.
He knew they didn’t have much time left before they had to leave for the Sacred Cave, but he also knew that they didn’t have much time left before they had to leave for the Sacred Cave, either.
He wasn’t sure how long it was going to take them to get there, though, so he wasn’t sure if they were going to make it back before nightfall or not.
“Are you sure it’s okay if I go with you?”
Lin Xuan asked with a curious expression on his face when they were finally standing outside of the entrance of the city and waiting for one of the Mosuo Elders to come back outside with something.
“I’m sure,”
Maya replied with an excited expression on her face when she finally heard what Lin Xuan asked, as well.
“The Sage of the White Sand Murals is the one who decided that you should be the one who goes with him, so I’m sure everything will be fine.”
“If you say so,”
Lin Xuan replied with an embarrassed expression on his face when Maya finally told him that everything would be fine if the Sage of the White Sand Murals was the one who decided that he should go with him.
He wasn’t sure if it was a good idea for him to go with them or not, either, especially since he had only just gotten here.
They didn’t have very much time left before they had to leave for the Sacred Cave, though, so they were probably going to have to leave soon if they wanted to get there at a reasonable time.
“What are we waiting for?”
Lin Xuan asked when one of the Mosuo Elders came back outside a few minutes later and still hadn’t told them where they were going next.
“We’re waiting for Maya,”
the Mosuo Elder replied as he walked back outside with Maya right behind him, as well, until she finally walked over to Lin Xuan’s side and started talking to him.
“I’m back,”
Maya replied with a big smile on her face when she finally saw Lin Xuan standing there in front of her.
She had been so worried about him this whole time that she couldn’t wait any longer for them to go back outside with her so that she could see him again.
She wasn’t sure how long they were going to have to wait outside for them if they didn’t hurry up and get back out there soon.
“Welcome back,”
Lin Xuan replied as he looked at Maya’s beautiful face when she finally walked over to his side and started talking to him again.
Are you ready?”
Maya asked with an excited expression on her face when she finally heard what Lin Xuan said.
“Are you going somewhere?”
Lin Xuan asked when Maya turned around and started walking back toward the entrance of the city without even bothering to answer his question.
“Of course I am,”
Maya replied with an impatient expression on her face when she finally realized that Lin Xuan had no idea where they were going or why they were leaving.
“Where are we going?”
Lin Xuan asked when they were finally standing at the entrance of the city and waiting for one of the Mosuo Elders to show them where they were going.
“We’re going to see the Sage of the White Sand Murals,”
the Mosuo Elder replied with an excited expression on his face when they finally came back outside with all of their things.
“I see,”
Are you ready?”
Maya asked with an impatient expression on her face when she finally saw Lin Xuan standing there in front of her.
“Yes, I am,”
Lin Xuan replied with an excited expression on his face when he finally heard what Maya said.
“Let’s go,”
Maya said as she started walking toward the main gate and waiting for everyone else to follow after her.
Lin Xuan wasn’t sure how long it was going to take them to get there, though, so he wasn’t sure if they were going to make it back before nightfall or not.
He couldn’t wait any longer, though, so he hurried after Maya as fast as he could.
The Sage of the White Sand Murals is waiting for them at the entrance of the city.
It took them a few days to get there, but they finally made it.
I can’t believe we’re finally here,”
Lin Xuan said with an excited expression on his face when he saw that they had finally made it all the way up to the top of Gemu Peak.
“It took us long enough,”
Maya replied with an amused expression on her face when she saw that Lin Xuan was almost out of breath from how fast they were moving.
“I wish we didn’t have to run the whole way.”
“It was worth it,”
Lin Xuan replied with a gleeful expression on his face when he looked around at all of the white sand murals that were surrounding them on all sides.
“They’re so beautiful.”
“Yes, they are,”
Maya replied when she realized that Lin Xuan had never seen anything like this before.
“I hope you enjoy them.”
“I will never forget this place.”
There are many places like this in our kingdom, but this one is special because it is where our ancestors left their mark.”
As soon as Maya finished saying that, Lin Xuan realized that they had finally reached their final destination.
The rest of the trip had been a breeze in comparison to this last leg of the journey.
It was so cold up here that Lin Xuan could barely feel his fingers any more by the time they finally made it all the way to the top.
He was so tired that he could barely move at all any more.
He was so tired that he didn’t even know how much longer he was going to be able to keep going.
The Mosuo Elders had been leading them in circles for hours on end now, and it looked like they were never going to make it to their final destination any more.
“I’m sorry that I’m not in better shape,”
Lin Xuan said with an apologetic expression on his face when one of the Mosuo Elders finally came over to see what was wrong with him.
“You’re doing just fine.”
The Mosuo Elder replied with a warm smile.
“We’re almost there.”
As soon as Lin Xuan heard that they were almost there, he was so excited that he almost jumped up out of his seat.
He couldn’t wait to see what was waiting for them at the end of the trail.
Whatever it was, he was sure that it was going to be something good.
“I hope we’re finally there,”
Lin Xuan said a few minutes later when he saw that the rest of the group was starting to slow down and take their time.
“We’re almost there,”
Maya replied with a warm smile.
“Just a little bit further.”
“It had better be worth it,”
Lin Xuan replied with a smile.
They had been walking for so long now that Lin Xuan couldn’t even remember when they had started out anymore.
It felt like they had been walking forever now, and he was so tired that he could barely keep his eyes open.
“You’re almost there,”
Maya said a few moments later.
“We’re here,”
Lin Xuan said a few minutes later when he saw that there was finally a break in the trees up ahead.
As soon as he said that, he could see that there was a big tree up ahead and that it had flowers growing all over it.
It was so tall that he could barely even see the top, and it was so wide that he could barely even see the bottom.
The white flowers were so bright that they almost looked like they were glowing, and they were so beautiful that Lin Xuan couldn’t even imagine how something like this could have come into existence.
He had never seen anything like this before, and he doubted that he ever would again.
The tree was huge, and there were so many flowers growing on it that it almost looked like it was covered in snow.
It was so beautiful that Lin Xuan couldn’t even imagine what to say about it.
“It’s beautiful,”
Lin Xuan said a few minutes later as they finally made their way to the bottom of the tree.
“Isn’t it?”
Maya replied with a smile.
“It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”
“Let’s take our time and enjoy it,”
the King said after they had all stopped to admire the flowers for a few minutes.
He had been so quiet on the way up here that Lin Xuan had almost forgotten that he was even here.
“I’m in no hurry to leave.”
The King was right.
They had all been so busy climbing up here that they hadn’t even bothered to stop and look at anything.
They had just kept going and going until they had finally made it here.
Now that they were here, though, Lin Xuan thought it would be nice if they could all take a little bit of time to stop and smell the roses.
They might never get another chance to come back here again, after all.
They spent so much time looking around at all of the flowers that they almost didn’t realize how much time had passed.
There were so many of them growing here that it almost seemed impossible that there could be so many of them.
They had never seen anything like this before, and they doubted that they ever would again.
After a few hours of looking around at all of the flowers, they finally made their way down from the top of the mountain.
The sun was starting to set by then, and it was getting so cold outside that Lin Xuan thought he was going to freeze.
He was so cold that he could barely move any more, and his fingers were so numb that he could barely feel them any more.
He was so tired that he could barely keep his eyes open any more, and he was so hungry that he could barely even think straight.
It started snowing a few minutes later.
There wasn’t much snow at first, but then it started coming down harder and harder until they could hardly see where they were going anymore.
The wind was so strong that it almost knocked them over a few times, and it was so cold outside that Lin Xuan thought he might freeze to death before morning.
They had been walking for so long now that Lin Xuan thought he might never make it home again.
“What do we do?”
he asked when he finally stopped to catch his breath.
“We can’t stop now,”
Maya said when she saw how worried Lin Xuan looked.
“We have to keep moving or we’ll freeze.”
“We don’t have much of a choice,”
one of the Mosuo Elders said when she saw how worried Maya looked.
“If we don’t get out of here soon, we’re all going to die.”
The young female scholar was right behind them when she said that, and she sounded so scared that Lin Xuan almost didn’t recognize her voice.
They had all been so busy worrying about how they were going to get home that they hadn’t even stopped to think about what would happen if they didn’t get home.
They might never make it home again.
They would probably freeze to death.
Lin Xuan didn’t want to die any more than any of the rest of them did.
He was so scared that he could barely move any more.
He was so scared that he could barely even think any more.
He was so scared.
There was no way they were going to be able to leave now.
There was no way they would be able to leave now.
They were all going to die here tonight.
Lin Xuan didn’t know what they were supposed to do, but he knew they had to do something.
They had come all this way to see the valley, and they weren’t about to give up now.
They had worked too hard to get here, and they weren’t about to let anything stop them now.
They ran as fast as they could to try and get out of the storm, but it was no use.
The snow was falling so fast that they could hardly see where they were going any more, and it was getting harder and harder to keep their footing.
They didn’t have much yak dung left by then, but they didn’t have much of a choice.
They threw everything they could find on top of it and lit it as fast as they could before running into the cave to try and get warm.
The cave wasn’t very big or very deep, but it was better than nothing.
The wind was howling so loud outside that they could hardly hear themselves think any more, and it was so cold outside that they could hardly move any more.
The King was huddled up in one corner of the cave all by himself when they got there, and he was so cold and tired that he couldn’t move anymore either.
They tried to get him to come over and sit with them when they saw how cold he was, but he wouldn’t move.
He was tired and cold and hungry and scared too.
Even if they weren’t all going to die here tonight, there was no way they were ever going to be able to leave him behind like this.
“We can’t stay here,”
The young female scholar said when she saw how worried Lin Xuan looked.
“If we do, we’ll all freeze to death.”
“There’s a village not too far from here,”
she said when she saw how worried Maya looked.
“We could probably get there by morning if we tried.”
“We could probably get there by morning if we tried,”
Lin Xuan thought when he heard her say that.
They should have left a long time ago, but it was too late for them now.
The snowstorm was still raging outside the cave when they finally decided to go out and try and find the village the young female scholar was talking about.
It was a miracle they’d even made it through the night, but they’d already used up all the yak dung by then and they didn’t have anything else left for a fire either.
They’d tried to light a fire before they went out anyway, but the only thing they had left was some pieces of yak dung so small they could hardly even hold them in their hands anymore and they wouldn’t light no matter how hard they tried.
They were so cold and hungry and tired by then that they didn’t know if they could make it through another night like that one anyway, but they had to try anyway.
They didn’t have any other choice: they were going to die if they stayed in the cave and even if they did make it through the night they’d probably still die anyway if they didn’t find a village soon too.
They should have left a long time ago.
The King and the young female scholar didn’t make it very far outside the cave before they stopped and turned around to go back inside.
They could hardly even see where they were going anymore by then anyway and they could hardly even feel anything anymore either.
It was so cold outside and they were so cold and tired and hungry by then that they could hardly move anymore either.
Even if they had managed to find a village after all by some miracle there was no way they would have made it there anyway.
They’d already lost two members of their group already by then and they didn’t know if they could afford to lose any more.
The King didn’t make it very far outside the cave before he stopped and turned around to go back inside either.
He could hardly move at all anymore by then anyway.
He’d been so cold and tired and hungry all night long that he could hardly even feel himself anymore.
Even if he could somehow manage to make it through another night like this he didn’t know if he could ever be able to move again either.
He’d been so cold and tired and hungry all night long too.
He could hardly tell if he was still alive anymore or not.
Lin Xuan went back out to go look for the others after he saw how worried Maya was.
She didn’t want him to go, but she knew there was no way she could stop him now either.
She was worried about him being out there in the storm all by himself, but she was more scared about what might happen to everyone else if he weren’t there either.
The snowstorm was still raging outside when he got back outside the cave.
It was so cold out there already and the snow was coming down so hard already too, but there was no way he wasn’t going to be able to find them anyway.
He knew they couldn’t have gone very far from the cave on their own already and he knew they wouldn’t have been able to keep moving much further on their own either.
He didn’t know how much longer they would have been able to hold out on their own either: they’d already run out of yak dung by then and they didn’t have anything else left for a fire either.
He hadn’t seen a village anywhere near them after all they’d been through already either.
How much longer could they have held out on their own?
Lin Xuan had been out looking for them for a long time by the time he finally found them.
He’d seen their tracks leading away from the cave and he’d followed them as far as he could until they disappeared under the snow.
He’d seen the tracks of the horses that had run off earlier too.
He didn’t have any idea what had happened to them either.
He hadn’t seen any sign of them anywhere on his search either.
He didn’t know if they’d run off somewhere to try and find some food or if they’d gone somewhere to try and keep warm.
He didn’t have any idea if they were still alive or not either.
He didn’t know if the other members of their group were still alive or not either.
The King and the young female scholar hadn’t made it very far from the cave before they stopped moving around altogether.
There was no way they could have made it any further now either.
It looked like they’d both fallen over in the snow already.
Lin Xuan went over and checked on them first before he went looking for the others.
He wasn’t sure if they were still alive or not.
It didn’t look like they were moving at all anymore already.
They didn’t seem to be breathing either when he put his hand over their mouths.
It didn’t look like there was any way for him to be able to revive them either.
The only thing he might have been able to do to save them might have been able to get them out of the snowstorm before it got too late.
It might have been too late for that already though.
It was getting dark by then and it looked like there would be no way for him to be able to get them out of there before it got too late either.
There was no way he could take them out of there on his own anyway.
He didn’t have anything else left that they could use for a sled and there wasn’t any other way that he knew that they might have been able to get out of there on their own either.
He needed help if they had any chance of being able to get out of there anyway.
It took him a while before he finally found some help.
He wasn’t sure who it was at first either.
He hadn’t heard anyone coming up behind him and there was no one else in front of him either.
He wasn’t sure who it was at first when he saw them either.
He didn’t know who they were yet and there was no way for him to know if they could help him yet either.
He didn’t have much of a choice but to trust them anyway: they weren’t the only ones who could help him right now and he didn’t have anyone else that might have been able to help him right now either.
He didn’t know how long it would take before they made it through the storm with them or what they might do with them afterward either.
He didn’t know if they could trust them or not yet all he knew was that they might have the only chance they had left right now too.
Lin Xuan took the King and the young female scholar back outside the cave with them anyway.
He didn’t know if they could have trusted them or not yet, but there wasn’t much time before they might have been able to find out either.
The only thing that mattered right now was getting them out of the snowstorm as soon as they could anyway.
Lin Xuan took Maya back outside the cave with him too while they waited for the others to make it back through the storm with them too.
There wasn’t much else that Lin Xuan could have done for them in there either though: there wasn’t any other way that they might have been able to get them out of there without any help from someone else anyway.
Lin Xuan looked up toward the sky when he heard someone calling his name from behind him: there wasn’t anyone else around him right now and there wasn’t anything that he could have done in there without anyone else around him either.
He turned around and saw a young woman standing behind him: she looked young and had dark hair too, but there wasn’t any way for him to know who she might have been yet either.
She reached her hand out toward him and said his name again: “It’s me” she said again “I’m here” she said “I’m here with you” she said again.
Lin Xuan turned around and saw that the others had made it back outside of the cave at last: they had all made it back outside alive too.
Maya had made it outside of the cave too: she hadn’t died in there and there wasn’t any way for them to bring her back outside of the cave if she had died in there anyway.
The King’s guards made it outside of the cave with Lin Xuan too.
They hadn’t died inside of the cave either and they had made it out of the storm alive too.
They had all made it out of the storm alive too.
Lin Xuan turned back toward Maya and saw that she had not died in there.
Maya was still alive when they found her.
Maya had made it out of the storm alive too.
There was no way they could have brought her back outside of the storm alive again either.
They all went back outside of the cave and followed the young woman through the snowstorm with them.
The young woman led them back through the snowstorm with them too.
They followed her back through the snowstorm with her too.
The young woman led them back through the snowstorm as quickly as she could.
They followed her back through the snowstorm as quickly as they could as well.
The young woman led them back through the snowstorm as quickly as she could with them too.
They followed her back through the snowstorm as quickly as they could too.
The young woman led them back through the snowstorm as quickly as she could with them too.
They followed her back through the snowstorm as quickly as they could too.
The young woman led them back through the snowstorm all night long with her too.
She didn’t stop leading them through the snowstorm until they finally made it out of the storm at last.
The young woman didn’t stop leading them until they finally made it out of the storm either.
They all made it out of the storm alive and they all made it out of the storm alone either.
They all made it out of the storm on their own too.
They all followed her through the snowstorm to a small valley where there was no more snow or storms either.
The young woman disappeared into the night after that too.
She didn’t say anything to anyone else after that either.
She just disappeared into the night after that too.
There were no more storms after that either: the young woman had disappeared into the night after that too and there were no more storms after that either.
She had disappeared into thin air just like everyone else did when they were done speaking with Lin Xuan herself while he was still speaking with someone else himself too.