"He says once we pass through the waterfall, we'll arrive."
Xia Ling stroked Hundun's fluffy body, and it hummed contentedly.
"The cars are done. We'll have to go on foot."
Steve glanced back at the two off-road vehicles. One had its engine compartment smoking from fire damage; the other was badly dented from the collision—there was no way either could still run.
With no other choice, the group prepared to walk through the waterfall. They were ready to be drenched, but the ever-practical Tony and Peter immediately deployed their nanotech suits. Carl glanced at them, then simply spread his cloak, shielding everyone's heads—no one ended up soaked.
---
As they entered the waterfall, time seemed to freeze.
All the water—the cascading flow, the mist, the droplets—hung suspended in midair. The cave walls shimmered like a starry sky, as if embedded with some unknown mineral that glowed faintly in the darkness.
Peter retracted the nanotech from his hand and curiously touched the suspended water. A cool, damp sensation spread across his fingertips.
They continued deeper into the cave, but it remained pitch-black, with no sign of an exit. Carl conjured several small fireballs to light the way, yet still, nothing appeared.
Suddenly, the surrounding water began to move, drawn together by some unseen force, eventually forming a vortex made entirely of flowing water.
"Through here—that's the way."
Xia Ling said, relaying Hundun's guidance.
Without hesitation, the group stepped through. The moment they passed, the water collapsed to the ground, and the cave instantly lost all its dampness, becoming dry and fresh, without a trace of moisture.
Soon, a blinding light appeared ahead—the exit.
As they stepped out, the true world of Ta Lo unfolded before them.
---
"This… this place is unbelievably beautiful!!"
Peter couldn't help but exclaim.
Ta Lo was breathtaking. Even Carl couldn't help but admire it. It was like the hidden utopia described by Tao Yuanming—lush green mountains contrasted vividly against a clear blue sky. The colors alone were enough to stir the senses.
In the sky, phoenixes wreathed in flames soared gracefully. The ground beneath their feet was covered in soft vegetation, springy with each step. Grass and colorful flowers intertwined, while along the rocky banks lay all kinds of creatures—including Hundun's kin.
The little Hundun in Xia Ling's arms immediately leapt out and ran toward its own kind, chirping excitedly as if chatting away.
"Carl, those birds up there… why do they look so much like the one you transform into?"
Tony asked, looking up.
"They're similar, but not the same. What I turn into is a phoenix-like immortal bird, while those are true phoenixes. They may look alike, but they're entirely different species."
As someone who had grown up in Huaxia, Carl was deeply familiar with these creatures. Though their appearances differed slightly—likely due to cultural interpretations—their essence was the same.
At that moment, Natasha suddenly gasped. Everyone followed her gaze.
On a massive rock, a snow-white nine-tailed fox slowly unfurled its nine tails, each as pristine as the last. Its elegance and allure were mesmerizing. Not just Natasha—even Xia Ling was captivated. Creatures that were both adorable and fluffy had a universal appeal.
Beside it, a smaller three-tailed fox chased its own tail in circles, utterly endearing—until the nine-tailed fox pinned it down with a paw. The little fox let out a couple of pitiful cries, instantly melting Natasha and Xia Ling's hearts.
They practically wanted to rush over and scoop it up.
---
Suddenly, a massive creature stepped onto the path ahead.
It was as large as a horse, with two horns on its head and a body covered in green scales. Two long whiskers extended from its snout, swaying in the wind, and its blue eyes fixed steadily on the group.
Everyone froze.
Tony immediately raised his hands, repulsors charging, while the others drew their weapons.
Carl reacted at once, sweeping his cloak forward to shield the creature.
"Stand down. It's not dangerous. Tony, Peter—retract your suits."
Trusting Carl, the group lowered their weapons. Tony and Peter complied.
Carl stepped forward and looked at the creature—it was a Qilin, a symbol of auspiciousness.
"That's… a pretty unique-looking horse."
Tony joked lightly, unaware of what it truly was.
"That's not a horse. It's a Qilin. In Huaxian mythology, it's a sacred beast of good fortune—one of the Five Auspicious Beasts alongside the dragon, phoenix, tortoise, and Pixiu."
Carl gently stroked the Qilin. It merely glanced at him with curiosity and allowed the touch, perhaps sensing the familiarity of his Huaxian soul.
"May I ride you?"
Carl asked in fluent Chinese. The Qilin, known to understand human speech, listened quietly.
Before it could respond, the others were already stunned—especially Shang-Chi and Xia Ling.
"You speak Chinese?!"
Shang-Chi blurted out in Mandarin.
"Of course. I speak it better than the two of you."
Carl nodded. Having lived over thirty years in Huaxia in his previous life, Chinese was his native tongue—far beyond the level of Shang-Chi and Xia Ling.
Ignoring their shock, Carl focused entirely on the Qilin.
In legends, Qilin were rare divine mounts—like the ink Qilin ridden by Wen Zhong in The Investiture of the Gods. But those were only myths. Who had ever truly seen one, let alone ridden it?
Now, Carl had the chance.
The Qilin seemed to sense his longing—and to his surprise, it nodded.
Carl's heart surged with excitement. He began pacing around it, hands raised, muttering in exhilaration.
"Has Carl lost it?"
Tony asked, bewildered. To them, Carl looked like a lunatic circling the creature, babbling incomprehensibly—though Shang-Chi and Xia Ling understood every word.
Carl swallowed, rubbed his hands together, then carefully lifted himself into the air and slowly settled onto the Qilin's back.
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