The Creatures That We Are

Gao Yang picked up Chen Ying’s call and didn’t say a word but quietly listened. Two minutes later, he said a quick “got it” and then hung up.

“How is it?” Officer Huang asked urgently.

Gao Yang glanced at Officer Huang. “We’re heading to Mount Tamaougi[1]. Let’s talk on the way.”

Mount Tamaougi was the most well-known active volcano in the Island Nation. The vibrantly green mountain range soared through the clouds with a snowy peak. From a distance, it looked like a fan hanging upside down from the sky, hence the name.

There were two official channels linking Zone D and Mount Tamaougi: the subway, and the bus.

The bus line ran twenty-four seven every three hours. The four of them headed to the bus station after leaving the internet cafe. They booked the tickets at three in the morning for a bus departing at four.

It was midnight, so the bus was almost empty. Gao Yang and the other three took the seats at the very back of the bus, conversing quietly in their native tongue.

Chen Ying had found a disorganized mess of information on the Island Nation in their archive. There was so little order that even though she had spent the night looking through it, she didn’t find clues about an altar similar to the one in West Nation.

However, there were records of the tradition of worshiping gods for those who lived near Mount Tamaougi, similar to the Aurora Town in Snow Nation. If there was an altar for the white phoenix in the nation, Mount Tamaougi and its surrounding area were a good place to start.

While it was a little too wide a scope, it was their only lead before Vermilion Bird could question Edmond’s body.

Seven in the morning, the four of them got off the bus at a small town near Mount Tamaougi. They checked into a hot spring hotel first. The owner was a petite local woman in her fifties. She was dressed in a blue and white yukata with her black hair put into a bun, her smile friendly in a way a business woman’s would be.

Heavenly Dog knew the language of the Island Nation, and he conversed with the owner without issue.

They reserved two rooms for two as tourists. The interior of the hotel was mainly done with wooden materials, and the place looked quaint in a classy way.

After having the local specialty ramen as breakfast, the four returned to their rooms to discuss their next move.

During breakfast, Heavenly Dog had found out what he could from the owner.

“She said that there are a lot of single-day tours in the area, led by many part-time tour guides. The tour guides take the individual tourists to have delicious food, enjoy hot springs, and go camping in the mountains. Starting from nine, a group can be formed with five people or above.”

“There are tours for visiting the shrines around Mount Tamaougi, as well as tours for climbing the mountain.”

Gao Yang thought for a moment. Then he took off his red crystal necklace and threw it to Officer Huang. “Let’s split up. You and Heavenly Dog should go up the mountain, and Qing Ling and I will visit the shrines in the area. If you find anything, contact me at any time.”

“Okay.” Officer Huang wore the necklace, the red crystal resting on his chest.

Gao Yang checked his phone. “There’s still some time until the tours start. Let’s have a short rest.”

...

At half past eight, the four of them left the hotel and went to the plaza at the town. Indeed, there were many local part-time tour guides looking for customers. They each raised a sign with the itinerary of the single-day tour they offered.

Heavenly Dog and Officer Huang joined a tour to climb Mount Tamaougi. The group set out after gathering seven people.

Gao Yang and Qing Ling joined a tour to visit the shrines as a couple. The tour guide was a young chubby woman. It turned out that she was an international student from Li City, and she was working part-time here.

Soon, another two pairs of couples from Li City joined, and the six of them set out.

They had udon together before catching a train going around Mount Tamaougi.

At ten o’clock in the morning, the train rumbled and shook as it ran. Gao Yang and Qing Ling sat shoulder-to-shoulder, listening to the tour guide giving them an enthusiastic introduction to the place while enjoying the scenery outside.

The closest were the pretty residential buildings at different heights, surrounded by rivers, bridges, and plants. In the backdrop was Mount Tamaougi. It slowly drew closer as the train moved. With the clear sunlight and the clean sky, the colors were so vibrant that the scene looked like a painting.

Without him realizing, Gao Yang became relaxed and started enjoying his time.

If he wasn’t on an important mission, it would be a good trip.

The tour guide explained where the name of the mountain came from, and she chuckled in the end with dimples on her chubby face. “Every time I look at it though, it seems more like ice cream to me.”

The others all laughed. Gao Yang noticed that even Qing Ling was nodding in agreement earnestly.

After getting off the train, the tour guide took them to the shrines in the area. Gao Yang took pictures of the scenery with his phone, as well as snapping shots of his fake girlfriend, Qing Ling, playing his role to the fullest.

The tour guide told them story after story with ease. The shrines worshiped a great variety of deities, some from mythological stories, some were their ancestors, and some were nature, animals, or plants. Anything could become gods here.

The shrine they were visiting now worshiped a fox deity, located on a small hill.

At the bottom of the hill was a scarlet torii[2]. Before walking through it, the tour guide bowed slightly. She explained that it was proper etiquette.

Then they walked along the pebbled road and soon reached the shrine on the top of the hill. It was a small one built with wood, at the center of which was the stone sculpture of a fox. A short pine tree grew on the side of the shrine, hung with many ribbons for good wishes.

Gao Yang and the rest of the group followed the tour guide to a pond built with stones, the water clear. A wooden ladle was placed beside it.

The tour guide took the ladle to clean both her hands, explaining, “To pray at a shrine, you must be earnest. Thus, we first use the divine water to wash away the grimes of the mortal world here...”

Gao Yang and Qing Ling followed the process along with the rest of the group. Then they followed the tour guide to the fox sculpture. Before it was a donation box with wood grids.

“In the Island Nation, foxes are said to be messengers of the gods, and they’re referred to as Master Fox. You may pay tribute to Master Fox to please them. Then they will carry your messages to the gods, and the gods will fulfill your wishes.”

They all voluntarily took out their wallets and put some money into the donation box.

Gao Yang grumbled inwardly, Isn’t that just bribery? One can never escape from such under the table dealings.

1. Since the Island Nation is obviously based on Japan, I opt for the Japanese pronunciation of the kanji rather than the Mandarin pronunciation of the words. The characters, 玉扇, meant jade and fan respectively. ☜

2. Traditional Japanese gates found at the entrance of a shrine or inside a shrine. It’s said to connect the world of the mortal and the world of the deities. ☜

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