Chapter Three: Reflections of the Three Towers

The two of them spent two days in Kunming, visiting famous sites such as Dianchi Lake and the Stone Forest. They soon realized that Dianchi was also mainly a birdwatching spot, which made it somewhat dull. So they spent most of their time strolling through the Stone Forest. When the sun came out, it felt surprisingly hot. Fortunately, their itinerary here only lasted two days. On the second night, they took the train to Dali.

Dali was an intriguing place. Chen Tianyu’s impression of Dali was still stuck in the days of the ancient Dali Kingdom—the legendary Duan Yu with his Heavenly Pulse Divine Sword, the suave Prince Duan, the fairy-like Wang Yuyan, and the devoted Murong Gongzi, all memories from tales of heroes and kingdoms. When he spoke of these, Liu Zichen couldn’t help but mock him thoroughly.

Having finally avenged herself for a previous slight, Liu Zichen felt much lighter and more radiant. It could be said that their journey was just truly beginning. She had already read all the travel guides before coming, and just as they described, everyone in Dali talked about “wind, flowers, snow, and moon”: the wind of Xiaguan, the flowers of Shangguan, the snow on Cangshan, and the moon over Erhai.

In reality, the wind of Xiaguan was manifested in the countless towering wind turbines scattered across the mountains; they glimpsed this magnificent sight from the train and were truly impressed, though neither had any wish to actually experience the biting mountain winds. As for the flowers of Shangguan, nowadays they were mostly confined to the bustling flower markets—there was no chance to see the legendary “morning bloom.” Cangshan had no snow, just a dark, dense range of mountains looming even more imposing at dusk. According to a horseman at the foot of the mountains, to see snow, one had to venture into the mountains—rent a horse and trek for hours along treacherous paths. The thought of being jolted on horseback for hours, risking their bones being shaken apart, and the dangers of the rugged trails made them hesitate. Thus, for Cangshan, all they could do was look up in admiration.

They did, however, make a special trip to experience the moon over Erhai. In truth, Erhai lies at the foot of Cangshan; despite its name, it is a vast freshwater inland lake. Legend has it that every year on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Bai people living by Erhai row their wooden boats into the lake to admire the golden moon reflected on the water. Sadly, it was not the right time of year, and there were no boats on the lake. So the two settled for strolling along the shore. In winter, Erhai was calm and still, the moonlight cold and clear—a beauty all its own.

As they watched Cangshan and Erhai complement each other, merging like milk and water, both felt deeply moved. Looking back on the difficult years they had supported each other, they cherished their bond all the more.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Of course, the ancient city of Dali was a must-see. But when they arrived, they realized it was no different from any other modern pedestrian street—only the facades were wooden, lending a touch of rustic charm. Yet once inside each shop, the modern atmosphere was overwhelming and left them uninterested. In the end, they only sampled a few local snacks at the food street and didn’t buy any souvenirs.

Disappointed, Chen Tianyu said, “Is this the legendary ancient city of Dali? It looks just like a commercial street to me. So… where exactly does the Duan family of Dali live?”

Liu Zichen couldn’t help rolling her eyes at him. “Still dreaming of your martial arts fantasies? How childish can you be?”

Chen Tianyu scratched his head awkwardly. “Isn’t it a bit of a shame to come to Dali and not meet any descendants of the Duan clan? What’s childish about that?”

“Nonsense!” Liu Zichen scoffed, then thought for a moment. “If you really want to see the Duan Dynasty, let’s go to the Chongsheng Temple.”

Chen Tianyu joked, “Isn’t Chongsheng Temple the Heavenly Dragon Temple? Do they have the Six Meridian Divine Sword?”

“You wish! You’re hopeless. So, are we going or not?”

“Of course we’re going!” Chen Tianyu replied with a smile.

Laughing and chatting, they left the ancient city and headed towards Chongsheng Temple. According to the map, the Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple weren’t far, so they hired a rickshaw and set off leisurely. When the driver heard they wanted to see the Three Pagodas, he enthusiastically introduced them to the area and finally suggested, “The best place to view the Bai Three Pagodas is from the Three Pagodas Reflection Park—the tickets are cheaper too.”

Tempted, they had the driver drop them off at the park entrance and thanked him warmly. Getting out, Chen Tianyu noticed something odd—the park’s entrance sign looked rather dilapidated. But as the Three Pagodas were already in sight, he said nothing.

At the ticket booth, they waited for ages without seeing anyone. Just as they were getting confused, a woman with a frosty expression suddenly appeared and asked without enthusiasm, “How many?”

“Two,” Liu Zichen quickly replied.

“Seventy,” the woman said, expressionless.

Liu Zichen paid and waited at the window, finally asking, “Sister, what about the tickets?”

The ticket seller glanced up at her. “No tickets. Just go in.”

Liu Zichen glanced at Chen Tianyu and stuck out her tongue. Chen Tianyu smiled, “Since we’re here, let’s just enjoy it.”

“Alright,” Liu Zichen nodded.

They walked into the park side by side. Liu Zichen whispered, “Do you think this park is going out of business? I haven’t seen anyone coming or going.”

“Are you afraid there might be ghosts inside?” Chen Tianyu teased.

“Pfft!” Liu Zichen replied, unconcerned. “Even if there are, I’m not afraid. It’s broad daylight.”

She muttered to herself, “Perhaps places with fewer people are more fun…”

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Despite their doubts, they were stunned by the breathtaking scenery as soon as they entered.

It was truly a riot of mountain blossoms, rippling lake water, and shimmering light!

The slopes were blanketed with cherry trees in full bloom, their pink and red flowers vibrant and distinct, each tree swaying gently in the breeze, petals drifting, their subtle fragrance filling the air. The lake water was a vivid, clear green—perhaps because there were so few visitors, it was especially clean and transparent. The Three Pagodas were indeed reflected in the water, faint yet discernible. In the distance, pavilions and towers were scattered with exquisite grace; winding paths led to secluded corners, lending the place depth and charm.

They felt as if they had wandered into a fairyland, stunned for a long while.

At last, Liu Zichen chuckled softly, “Good thing I wasn’t scared off by you, or we’d have missed a wonderful place.”

Chen Tianyu nodded in agreement, “You’re right. If only there were a few more people around, this beauty wouldn’t go unappreciated.”

Liu Zichen covered her mouth and laughed, “What are you talking about? Aren’t there people over there? So much for your sharp eyes—look!”

“Really?” Chen Tianyu looked around, and sure enough, under a cherry tree not far away, a young man wearing glasses was engrossed in taking photos. He looked thoroughly excited, snapping shots of the cherry trees, the lake, the pavilions—completely absorbed.

Even though there was only one other person, their spirits lifted and the sense of isolation vanished. People are odd creatures—oppressed when crowded, lonely when alone; in short, hard to please.

The young man seemed to notice the two unexpected visitors as well, glancing at them from a distance, his gaze lingering a little longer on Liu Zichen—not surprising, as young men always notice pretty girls. When Liu Zichen sensed this and looked back, he had already returned to his photography, fully focused.

Such a beautiful park with only three admirers—it did seem a waste of nature’s bounty.

The White Stone Mountain Pagoda stood on a nearby hill, separated from the park by only a small rise. As the sun moved, the changing light made the pagodas’ reflections on the lake even clearer, their lines sharp and distinct. Liu Zichen couldn’t resist the urge to take photos. She glanced hesitantly at Chen Tianyu.

How could Chen Tianyu not understand? He went over and quietly spoke to the young man—the only living soul around. The young man, being young and quite approachable (especially in such an odd environment), agreed readily.

Liu Zichen and Chen Tianyu struck a few poses, and the young man seemed quite professional. He snapped a few shots with his own SLR camera, then found a good angle and took photos with her phone.

Liu Zichen was delighted—Chen Tianyu’s photography skills were terrible, and it was rare to meet someone so professional. In her excitement, she had him take several more pictures.

When he had finished, the young man made a small request in return: he wanted them to take a photo of himself with the romantic cherry blossoms. Liu Zichen agreed enthusiastically, taking charge—she knew Chen Tianyu wasn’t up to the task.

The young man happily handed her his SLR camera. Liu Zichen hesitated—she’d never used one and it looked complicated. But the young man patiently explained the basics, and she quickly got the hang of it.

So, after a bit of back-and-forth, all three became somewhat acquainted. Liu Zichen saw a few candid shots from the young man’s album that she really liked and asked if she could keep them.

The young man seemed embarrassed. “I’ll have to transfer them to my computer back at the hotel before I can send them to you.” Liu Zichen hadn’t thought of that.

Chen Tianyu smiled, “That’s easy—just add me on WeChat and send them when you have time.”

“Are you sure your WeChat still works? Do you even remember your password?” Liu Zichen teased.

“Don’t underestimate me. This is nothing.” Chen Tianyu and the young man quickly exchanged WeChat contacts.

“Is XSU you?” Chen Tianyu asked.

The young man nodded, then smiled, “This string of numbers must be yours, right?”

Liu Zichen stifled a laugh. This country bumpkin didn’t even have a WeChat nickname—his privacy was airtight.

The young man didn’t say much more. “I’ll send you the photos by tonight at the latest.”

“Thank you so much,” Liu Zichen said sincerely.

The young man didn’t reply, quietly taking his camera and walking away—he still had work to do. It was clear that, despite his good looks, he wasn’t much of a talker, perhaps even a bit shy.

Chen Tianyu had, out of habit, sized up the young man: tall and thin, glasses, tanned skin, healthy complexion, casual but well-fitted clothes, about twenty-five or twenty-six. It was especially his small, unintentional movements that left an impression—Chen Tianyu almost wanted to laugh.

“Hey, what are you daydreaming about?” Liu Zichen nudged him.

“Nothing... Want to keep exploring?” Chen Tianyu asked.

“Not really. I’ve looked around and this place is the best. Let’s go check out the inside of Chongsheng Temple. I want to touch the real Bai Three Pagodas,” Liu Zichen said eagerly.

Chen Tianyu nodded, “Sure.”

As they chatted, they walked out of the park. Suddenly Liu Zichen stopped. “Huh?”

“What’s wrong?” Chen Tianyu asked, puzzled.

Liu Zichen said strangely, “Why do I feel that young man looked familiar? Was it just my imagination?”

“You’re really slow,” Chen Tianyu said with a wry smile. “Wasn’t that Sun Dasheng just now?”

“Ah?! I think you’re right,” Liu Zichen replied, embarrassed.