The next day, we got up early and packed our things. Following the directions we learned yesterday, we set out to find the Fishbone Temple, crossing two ridges along the way.
While the two ridges sounded simple, the actual journey was quite challenging. We arrived here after dark the previous day, so we couldn’t see the surroundings. Now, with the dawn light, we could see the landscape filled with deep ravines, broken earth mounds, and steep slopes all around.
Although this place is not the Loess Plateau, it is affected by the yellow flood, leaving a lot of yellow hard clay on the surface. The wind has carved the once smooth hills into countless ravines and wind tunnels, with some areas having terrifyingly deep gorges.
The natural environment here is harsh, with vast open spaces and few people. The wind howls through the valleys, sounding like the wails of angry spirits. The ridges are dotted with numerous caves, some so deep that they seem bottomless. From a distance, the hills appear to be covered in dark spots.
After nearly three hours of walking, we finally found the Fishbone Temple in a valley. The temple was even more dilapidated than we had imagined. We had heard that this Dragon King Temple had not seen worship for decades, so we were somewhat prepared, but seeing it in person was shocking; the temple was on the verge of collapse.
The Fishbone Temple consisted of just one hall, with no clear front or back. The entrance was long gone, but we could finally see the skull of the Iron-Headed Dragon King Fish, with its mouth serving as the entrance.
Fatty tapped it with his shovel, and it made a solid sound; the bone was indeed very hard. As we examined it closely, we noticed that this fish skull was unlike any ordinary fish bone. Even without flesh, it looked grotesque and terrifying. We had never seen such a fish before; it was neither a whale nor a common river fish, and its size was intimidating.
Inside the hall, the statue of the Dragon King was long gone, and the floor beams were covered in dust and spider webs. However, it was hard to tell that the beams were made of fish bones, as they were likely sealed within bricks and tiles.
The walls were not completely crumbled, and we could barely make out the words “Favorable Winds and Abundant Rain” written on them. There were several nests of small mice on the ground, and they scurried away in fright when they saw us enter.
We didn’t dare linger in the Fishbone Temple for long; the structure seemed ready to collapse at any moment. A strong gust of wind could easily blow the roof away.
In front of the temple, Big Gold Tooth mentioned that this Dragon King Temple made of fish bones is found in a few coastal areas, but it’s quite rare inland. He recalled that during the Republic of China period, there was one in Jinghai, Tianjin, built with fish bones after a large fish washed ashore. It was very popular for a time, but it was destroyed in the early 1970s, and since then, no similar temple has been seen.
I looked at the terrain of the Fishbone Temple in the valley and joked, “If this place is a Feng Shui site, I might as well burn my copy of The-Secret-Art-of-Yin-Yang-Feng-Shui-in-Sixteen-Characters when I get back.”
Fatty asked, “Isn’t this place pretty good? The wind is howling, so at least we have the wind for Feng Shui. If only there was a small river nearby, it would be a perfect Feng Shui spot.”
I replied, “Choosing a site for a temple is different from selecting a place for a house or a grave. Temples are meant to benefit the community, so you can’t just build them anywhere. A temple should be on a prominent site, with clear views of the mountains. Have you ever seen a temple built in a valley like this? There’s a saying: ‘In a valley, hidden dangers lurk; standing in the heart of it brings misfortune.’”
Big Gold Tooth asked, “What does that last sentence mean? Are you saying it’s bad to build a temple in a valley?”
I nodded, “Exactly. Look at these ravines; they twist and turn like a dragon or snake. The surrounding hills are barren and offer no protection. Being deep in the mountains, the area is filled with negative energy. If the hills were lush with vegetation, it would be a bit better, as it would provide some cover. But this broken valley, according to traditional Chinese Feng Shui principles, is not suitable for a temple, let alone a burial site. So I suspect this temple was built by tomb raiders as a cover for their activities, and seeing it today confirms my suspicions.”
Fatty said, “If they wanted to hide their activities, they wouldn’t need to go to such lengths. A simple grass hut would suffice. Besides, who comes to this valley? Maybe an occasional shepherd. I’ve heard from the villagers that beyond this ridge lies the Longling Mysterious Cave, which is said to be very dangerous and rarely visited.”
I explained, “The main reason for building a temple here is likely to gain the trust of the locals. If outsiders fund the construction of a Dragon King Temple to ensure good weather and peace, the locals won’t suspect anything. But if they just built a house in the valley, it would seem odd and raise questions. By claiming it’s a Feng Shui site and building a temple, they can deceive people. In the past, some even pretended to farm the land, setting up green nets to hide their true intentions.”
Big Gold Tooth and Fatty agreed with my analysis, acknowledging that building a temple in the valley was indeed a better disguise than constructing a house.
While Fatty made a valid point, we still needed to climb the ridge to assess the situation regarding the Longling. I suspected that the ancient tomb wouldn’t be too far from the Fishbone Temple; otherwise, digging a tunnel would be too much work.
Now that we had finally reached the foot of Longling, I was most concerned about two things. The first was whether there was a large tomb in Longling, and it seemed the answer was a definite yes.
The second concern was the size of the tomb and whether the fake merchant who built the Fishbone Temple had already plundered it. Given his actions, it was likely he was determined to succeed.
Even if the ancient tomb in Longling had already been raided, I thought we could still explore it and see how other skilled tomb raiders operated. Perhaps there were still some treasures left behind.
The rules among tomb raiders are strict; when opening a tomb, one can only take one or two items. Taking more would break the rules. The person who built the Fishbone Temple must be experienced, as he managed to find a large tomb that many others could not.
The more experienced a raider is, the more they value these rules, sometimes even considering them more important than their lives. However, it seems that these traditions are no longer respected. Today’s thieves are much like those during invasion, following a policy of total destruction wherever they go.
We circled the Fishbone Temple several times but couldn’t find the location of the tunnel. It seemed to be well hidden and not easy to locate, and it was possible that the tomb raider had sealed it off completely after his work.
Big Gold Tooth asked if I could determine the exact location of the ancient tomb. I replied that it couldn’t be seen from the valley; We would need to climb up to the ridge to get a clearer view.
Big Gold Tooth, who usually indulged in drinking and gambling, wasn’t in the best shape for a long trek. He was already exhausted from the walk to the Fishbone Temple. Climbing up the ridge and then back down would be too much for him. I suggested he and Fatty stay at the Fishbone Temple to search for any nearby tunnels and reminded them to be cautious if they entered the temple hall, as the structure could collapse at any moment.
I then made my way up the slope, using my hands and feet to climb. It didn’t take long before I reached the top of the ridge. Below me, the landscape was a maze of ravines, as if the earth had been pinched, creating folds and wrinkles. The terrain was very complex, with varying heights.
The geography of Shaanxi is characterized by high mountains in the north and south, with lower areas in the center. The northern part is the Loess Plateau, while the southern part consists of the Qinba Mountains, and the central area is the Guanzhong Plain. This region, due to the extension of the Qinling Mountains, features a rare expanse of low hills. The ridges here are not very high, and from above, they resemble scars on the earth.
I shaded my eyes with my hand, carefully observing the shapes of the ridges before me. The Longling truly lived up to its reputation, with its intricate network of veins and branches. The ancient texts on dragon searching say: “In great mountains and rivers, there are countless paths; the dragon’s palace and treasure halls are beyond measure.”
In the heart of Longling lies a deeply hidden “Dragon Palace,” its formation surrounded by a series of undulating ridges. These hills create a natural setting that showcases the presence of the Dragon Palace. The “force” of the dragon here is not the kind suitable for burying emperors; the burial sites for emperors require a stable and strong presence, like towering mountains and flowing rivers that command the landscape. In contrast, the force of Longling suggests a tranquil and deep-seated energy.
This location could serve as a burial site for royal relatives, such as queens, empresses, princesses, and princes, ensuring the prosperity and stability of the imperial family and peace within the palace—essentially, it’s like securing one’s own backyard.
However, this “Shi” has been compromised by natural elements. Erosion from wind and rain, along with earthquakes, has severely damaged the area, leading to significant soil loss and a fragmented surface that no longer reflects its former glory.
Despite this, it was still evident that the Dragon Palace was located just beneath the ridge where I stood. The slope had suffered considerable environmental degradation, and all the nearby hills and valleys extended from this hill, indicating that the ancient tomb from the Tang Dynasty was likely hidden within its depths.
Standing on the ridge, I carefully noted the flow of the landscape and marked the potential location of the ancient tomb in my notebook, indicating its distance and direction. I then turned to check on Fatty and Big Gold Tooth, who were still searching for a hidden entrance to the tomb around the Fishbone Temple.
I whistled loudly to get their attention. They looked up, shrugged their shoulders to indicate they hadn’t found anything yet, and then returned to their search, thoroughly inspecting the temple inside and out.
Descending was proving to be more difficult than climbing up. I glanced back at the steep path I had taken and realized it was too steep to retrace my steps. Looking around, I noticed a section of the slope to my left that had eroded significantly due to wind and rain, making it easier to descend from there.
I carefully made my way along the ridge, stepping on the collapsed earth as I slowly descended. The slope was still treacherous, and I slipped a few times. Spotting a slightly flatter area nearby, I jumped over to it.
However, as soon as I landed, my foot suddenly sank, and I felt myself falling. I realized with alarm that I had stepped onto a crust of loose soil.
I had heard from the villagers that this area, known as Panshepo, was riddled with such sinkholes. I had thought the edges were relatively safe, but I had underestimated the danger. At this moment, my waist was already trapped in the hole, and I knew I couldn’t struggle. The geological structure here was similar to quicksand, but with less sand and more fine soil. The more I struggled, the faster I would sink. In this situation, the only option was to wait for rescue; if I were alone, I would be left to die.
I tried to remain still, not daring to even breathe heavily, fearing that any movement would cause me to sink deeper. If the soil reached my chest, I would be in serious trouble.
I gently supported myself with my hands, trying to distribute my weight evenly. After a tense fifteen seconds, I noticed I had stopped sinking further. I decided to take a risk and carefully removed the whistle from around my neck, preparing to blow it to call for Fatty’s help.
However, blowing the whistle would require some effort from my chest and abdomen, which could disturb the precarious balance I was maintaining. I was in a delicate state; if I moved too much, the slope could collapse and bury me alive. Of course, it wasn’t guaranteed that I would be completely buried; perhaps there was a large cavern below. But the worst-case scenario was being stuck halfway down, unable to see the sky or the ground, suffocating in the darkness. That would be an unbearable fate.
As this thought crossed my mind, I resolved to blow the whistle. If I waited too long for Fatty and Big Gold Tooth to remember me, it would be too late. I had faced many dangers before, and I certainly didn’t want to die here in this hole.
I blew the whistle, and as I did, my chest moved slightly, causing me to sink a bit more. The soil pressed against my chest, making it increasingly difficult to breathe. Generally, a person doesn’t need to be buried all the way to the head to suffocate; once the soil reaches the chest, it can be fatal. That was exactly my situation—my hands were outside, and I felt the pressure building, but I couldn’t struggle. This moment tested my endurance; I had to stay calm and not let the suffocation urge me to push myself out, as that would only hasten my demise.
In my current predicament, each second felt longer than a year. Damn it, why wasn’t Fatty hurrying over? If they didn’t hear my whistle, I would be done for.
Just as I was holding my breath and letting my mind wander, I spotted Fatty and Big Gold Tooth leisurely walking up, chatting and laughing.
When they saw my situation, their expressions changed in an instant, and they rushed over. Fatty was untying the rope he had brought with him, and he was also carrying a bamboo basket, which startled the two large white geese inside, causing them to squawk loudly.
Fatty and Big Gold Tooth were cautious of the surrounding area, fearing there might be more sinkholes, so they stopped a good distance away, about ten steps off. They tossed the rope over to me, and I finally grabbed onto this lifeline, wrapping it around my hands a couple of times.
With a coordinated effort, they pulled me out of the sinkhole. As I came up, my legs completely collapsed the remaining crust of soil, creating a large hole in the slope, with loose dirt continuously falling in.
I gasped for air, unscrewed my water bottle, and took a few swigs. I poured the remaining water over my head and wiped my face with my hands. Turning back to look at the collapsed hole, I couldn’t even count how many times I had narrowly escaped death. The fear was overwhelming, and I dared not dwell on it.
Fatty handed me a cigarette to calm my nerves. Still shaken, I took a couple of puffs, but I ended up coughing from the smoke. This experience was different from the past; before, life and death were decided in an instant, leaving no time for fear. This time, however, death had approached slowly, step by step, and nothing could be more torturous for the nerves.
I felt like my spirit had left my body, and it took a good twenty minutes for my senses to return to me.
Seeing my pale face, Big Gold Tooth and Fatty didn’t dare speak. After a while, when they noticed my gaze was no longer blank, they asked how I was doing.
I asked Fatty to hand me the liquor, and after taking a few swigs, I finally felt like I had fully recovered.
The three of us went to inspect the sinkhole I had just fallen into. Big Gold Tooth asked, “Could this be a tomb raider’s entrance?”
I replied, “No, the edges of a raider’s tunnel wouldn’t be this loose. This is the result of erosion from underground caves. The outer layer of the mountain has been hollowed out, leaving only a shell. Some areas are thin, while others are thick. It seems the cave system beneath Longling is quite extensive.”
I shared with them what I had observed from the ridge, explaining that there was definitely a large tomb in the mountains, about a kilometer away from the Fishbone Temple.
“If there’s a raider’s tunnel from the Fishbone Temple leading to that ancient tomb, the distance and direction make perfect sense. For a skilled raider, digging a tunnel a kilometer long isn’t a difficult task; it just takes some time.”
Fatty asked, “Isn’t that a bit excessive? If they can pinpoint the exact location of the tomb, why would they go so far to dig a tunnel?”
I said to Fatty, “The predecessor who built the Fishbone Temple is far more skilled than you. He must have his reasons. I suspect he intended to enter the underground palace from below.”
Big Gold Tooth asked, “Oh? Enter from below? Is it because the tomb is too solidly constructed around the sides, making it impossible to break in from the top? I’ve heard that this method is called ‘top palace.’”
I replied, “That’s likely the case. During the Tang Dynasty, tombs were often built within mountains, and in the prosperous era of the Tang, the state was strong and wealthy. The tombs would have been constructed very solidly, with the underground chambers made of large stones and reinforced with iron bars, making it difficult to break through the walls. However, no matter how well-built a tomb is, it’s not impenetrable. Every tomb has a void, which, from a Feng Shui perspective, is meant to gather energy. If a tomb lacks this void, even the best Feng Shui site is of no use.”
Fatty asked, “So it’s like leaving a back door?”
I clarified, “Not exactly. It’s about maintaining the shape and energy of the Feng Shui site, ensuring that the energy remains stable. The layout of the tomb cannot be too tight; it needs to allow for the gathering and merging of energy. Generally, the passageways or rear chambers of a tomb serve as places for this energy to merge, and they shouldn’t be sealed too tightly, as that would be detrimental to the occupant.”
There’s also another theory: large tombs are often constructed similarly to palaces. When sealing the tomb, to keep the secrets of the underground palace safe, the last group of workers is sometimes sealed inside. These experienced workers often leave themselves an escape route during construction, secretly building a hidden passage, which is usually located beneath the underground palace.
However, these secret escape routes built by the workers have no basis in Feng Shui; they are constructed as discreetly as possible, which can significantly impact the layout of the tomb, but it’s something that cannot be entirely prevented.
So when encountering a particularly solid tomb, skilled tomb raiders will choose to start from below after assessing the situation.
After a brief discussion, the three of us agreed that it was worth the effort to explore the Longling tomb, as its location was quite unique, and the mountain’s terrain had changed significantly from its former state. The fact that someone had discovered a tomb here indicated that they were likely a skilled tomb raider, who would adhere to the rules of the trade—taking only what was necessary. In such a large tomb, even if they took a hundred items, we could still find a couple of treasures for ourselves.
We decided to start with the raider’s tunnel from the Fishbone Temple, as it would be more convenient. First, the tunnel was only a few decades old, so it wouldn’t have changed much. Even if there were some collapses, we could dig a short detour around them. Secondly, the risk of encountering sinkholes in Longling made walking through the area dangerous; I had just narrowly escaped suffocating in one.
With our plan set, we returned to the Fishbone Temple. Fatty and Big Gold Tooth had been searching for a while but hadn’t found any raider’s tunnel. The temple was built neither against a mountain nor near water, making it difficult to determine the location of any hidden entrances from the outside. However, this raider’s tunnel was crucial for us, as all my deductions were based on the assumption that the Fishbone Temple was constructed by tomb raiders.
Suddenly, an idea struck me. I called out to Fatty and Big Gold Tooth, “Let’s check the altar where the Dragon King statue used to be. If there’s a raider’s tunnel, it’s likely hidden beneath the altar.”