Chapter Sixty-Four: The Summer Palace

In this world, there are many things that defy explanation—such as the mark on the left shoulder of Guan Wen. From as far back as he could remember, he had stared at it in the mirror countless times. It was obvious: a scar left by a woman's bite, and anyone who saw it would draw the same conclusion.

Even if you asked Baoling, she couldn't give you an answer, could she? Gu Qingcheng spread her hands and shrugged.

Guan Wen sighed deeply. "That's right."

"Then don't ask any more. We'll talk about it when we reach Nepal. I overheard Gao Xiang complaining to Little Huo—he's absolutely not going to Nepal, and he'll just wait here for our return. So, you, me, Baoling, Little Huo, and Kale—the five of us will cross the border, reach the Kanna family's summer palace within a day, stay no more than a week, and then return by the same route." Gu Qingcheng laid it out succinctly.

Guan Wen finished dressing and nodded in agreement.

Gu Qingcheng paused, then added, "Nepal is complicated. According to Kale, members of the Azure Dragon Society have been active around Kathmandu, behaving rather brazenly. Let me warn you, my conflict with the Azure Dragon Society is my own affair—it has nothing to do with you or Baoling. If things go sideways, Kale will take you and Baoling away first; Little Huo and I will cover your retreat."

"Together we go, together we return. Let's not separate so strictly. Once across the border, give me a gun. I'm a man—I can't always rely on others to protect me." Guan Wen said without hesitation.

Before descending the Executioner's Cliff, Gu Qingcheng had lent him her gun for temporary use. Once outside the country, there would be no worries about firearm regulations.

Gu Qingcheng smiled and nodded. "All right. But you're not left-handed, you do everything with your right. Make sure you put medicine on your wound soon, so you heal faster."

Her smile was layered with meaning, making Guan Wen feel a pang of guilt.

That night, the six of them reached an agreement: Gao Xiang would stay behind, while the other five would depart at dawn, aiming to reach the Zhangmu border crossing before sunrise.

Their visas, passports, IDs—all documentation was in order, so crossing the border would be no issue. Typically, cars from Xizng only went as far as the Chinese side of Zhangmu; after crossing, they'd need to hire a Nepali vehicle to reach Kathmandu.

"My station wagon is parked in the village just beyond the checkpoint," Kale said. "Driver, supplies, medicines—everything is ready. If all goes well, we'll reach the summer palace by tomorrow afternoon."

His efficiency was impressive, with every detail planned in advance, earning everyone's trust.

Seven hours later, Little Huo drove the five of them to Zhangmu.

Zhangmu is situated on the southern slope of the mid-Himalayas at an altitude of 2,400 meters, bordering Nepal to the east, south, and west. It is the throat of the Sino-Nepal Highway, 736 kilometers from Lhasa, 120 kilometers from Kathmandu, and serves as the primary channel for political, economic, and cultural exchange between China and Nepal.

Nepal is known as the Kingdom of the High Mountains, backed by the Himalayas, with numerous peaks over 6,000 meters within its borders. At dawn and dusk, the endless snowy mountains glow with a dazzling, sacred light, honored by Nepalis and mountaineers worldwide as the white thrones of the gods.

Their journey proceeded smoothly. After crossing, Kale made a call, and soon a Mercedes station wagon arrived to collect them. The five got in and headed straight for Kathmandu.

Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu, is an ancient city nestled in the Kathmandu Valley of the Bagmati Zone, the heart of the nation’s politics, economy, and culture. Surrounded by verdant hills and blooming flowers year-round, it is known as the City of Spring. Successive dynasties built countless temples, stupas, shrines, and palaces here, creating a unique landscape where temples rival houses in number, and statues match the population. The grand Brahma Temple, the Great Stupa, and other magnificent, gilded monuments attract thousands of foreign visitors each year, giving Kathmandu the title "City of Temples."

The summer palace lay at the far eastern edge of the Kathmandu Valley, embraced on three sides—south, east, and north—by lush hills. The estate housed only a two-story white stone manor, which seemed bleak and desolate amid the surrounding greenery: the lawns were bare, the avenue trees nearly dead, and within, silence prevailed—no trace of life.

This was Kanna family territory. As their host, Kale offered explanations along the way: "Family legend says the manor is haunted, and the ghosts detest strangers. Every time someone bold moved in, they were scared away by midnight noises and apparitions. Over time, the place was abandoned. Still, I have staff clean it once a month."

Stories of haunted castles exist the world over—they are hardly new. Thus, as Kale spoke, he wore a rueful smile.

The car halted before the main house. The double white oak doors were already open, and a dozen servants in white uniforms stood in two lines to welcome Kale.

Since crossing Zhangmu, Baoling had been uncharacteristically silent, eyes closed in repose. Now she suddenly opened her eyes and gazed intently at an ancient wooden plaque above the entrance.

Kale didn’t rush to open the door; everyone was watching Baoling.

"This is it," Baoling murmured with a wry smile. "Let’s go to the Meditation Room—that’s where I belong."

"Shall I open the door?" Kale’s face changed as he sought everyone’s opinion cautiously.

Guan Wen gestured, and Kale unlocked the station wagon’s doors.

"Let them go," Baoling said, pointing to the servants.

Guan Wen helped Baoling out of the car, noticing her continued frailty; she had not improved much since the days at Tashilhunpo Monastery.

"I’ll go to the Meditation Room alone. None of you should follow." Baoling spoke loudly, then ascended the stone steps and entered the silent house.

Guan Wen watched her figure disappear into the dim interior. Though the sky outside was bright and cloudless, the building was shrouded in darkness, with no lights on.

"The Meditation Room is at the easternmost end of the second floor, the first room to catch the sun’s rays each day—the very place where Princess Chao Ge once practiced deep meditation..." Kale eagerly explained.

"Should we follow to protect her?" Gu Qingcheng asked.

Guan Wen shook his head. "If Baoling insists, she has her reasons. We shouldn’t interfere—let her act freely."

He gazed up at the wooden plaque; Gu Qingcheng followed his eyes.

The plaque, about two feet square, was carved from fine purple sandalwood, bearing images of a sun, a moon, and a nine-pointed star. Curiously, the usual size order—sun, moon, star—was reversed: here, the star was largest, followed by sun and moon.

"How odd—how could the star be the biggest?" Gu Qingcheng wondered aloud. "The sun is larger than the moon, the moon is larger than the stars—everyone knows that."

Guan Wen sensed that Baoling was deeply familiar with this house; otherwise, she wouldn’t have gone straight to the Meditation Room.

Little Huo also got out, but remained silent, arms crossed as he surveyed the manor. His greatest strength was knowing when to speak and when to remain silent.

"We’re here now; let’s settle in and not rush," Guan Wen said softly.

"I’m not in a hurry. I’m just worried about Baoling—if anything happens, you’ll be more anxious than anyone." Gu Qingcheng teased, tapping Guan Wen’s right shoulder.

Guan Wen flushed in embarrassment. The spot Baoling had bitten still ached, even after medication—it would likely hurt for days yet.

"Mr. Guan, may I have a word in private?" Kale approached with the proposal.

The two of them walked off to the right, away from the others, until they reached the easternmost end of the manor.

Kale pointed upward. "That room with the multicolored glass windows is the Meditation Room."

The easternmost room on the second floor boasted a massive east-facing window, more than six times larger than a standard one, topped with a graceful arch. The entire window was divided into countless irregular panes, each set with colored glass. One could imagine the scene at sunrise, when light streamed through the glass and filled the room with a riot of color. But now, already past noon, Baoling would miss that spectacle.

Within spiritual practice, a unique living environment can greatly accelerate progress—like the Tibetan Buddhist tradition of retreat. Guan Wen understood that Princess Chao Ge had chosen this spot for deep meditation with similar intent.

"May Baoling find some spiritual awakening there, and let our journey not be in vain," Guan Wen thought, lifting his arms and inhaling deeply in silent prayer.

All was quiet behind the window, but he was certain Baoling was there.

"Mr. Guan, I’ve read about you—your artistry is renowned. They say you can capture the human soul in your paintings. I’ve met many famous artists from around the world, but none have achieved your level." Kale’s words were respectful, but his expression had grown cold.

Guan Wen keenly sensed the shift, turned, and regarded him calmly.

Kale bit his lip and pressed on. "Mr. Guan, I am a member of the Kanna family. Whatever I do, the family’s interests come first. This time, I brought Miss Baoling back to resolve the strange occurrences in the summer palace. Perhaps you don’t know—our family has a highly intricate web of communication. When Master Tianjiu died, I was the first to receive the news..."

Guan Wen politely interrupted him. "Kale, please—speak plainly."

Kale cleared his throat, his gaze sharp and icy. "Very well, Mr. Guan. According to the message Master Tianjiu sent before his death, a spy from Area 51 in America had infiltrated Tashilhunpo Monastery. He suspected you."

Such a baseless accusation did not anger Guan Wen. He maintained his smile. "Kale, I came with Baoling. Personally, I have no designs on the Kanna family’s summer palace, nor do I intend to leave any stories here. So, whether or not I’m connected to Area 51, I won’t cause you any trouble. In a week, we’ll part ways and never cross paths again."

Misunderstandings between people are inevitable, especially when major interests are at stake—deceit and suspicion are always present. Guan Wen did not blame Kale for his doubts; after all, he was Little Huo’s friend and heir to the Kanna family, and Little Huo was, in turn, Gu Qingcheng’s friend. No matter what, Guan Wen would give him his due respect.