Tina-san, ni hao! And I would also like to welcome all other anonymous readers here (pointless, but I know what the heck, you can't let your illusions be taken away ^^). Well, I'm really stressed at the moment, I wrote the story so far before the summer holidays and only recently revised it. But when I get to my last chapter so far, it may still take a while before I get further. But I'll try, I promise. Maybe I can do two lines in the evening before going to bed as a bedtime treat ^^

Well, don't want to torture you any longer, it's only gotten very long this time because I didn't know where I can best interrupt, but hopefully that doesn't matter.



Chapter 8

They got back into the boat that had been waiting for them all day and they continued to follow the narrow river. It wasn't difficult to get ahead as the current was heading again. Wind looked at the water in amazement and then said with a laugh: "Now I really believe in water spirits, they seem to be kind to us."It was Zhang who had to steer the boat." Well possible. As it stands, they want to help us because the fire spirits are their enemies and they are not granting them a new sacrifice in this desert. Who knows? "Wind looked up at the sky and admired the constellation that stretched over him. The moon stood in the form of a thin crescent above them, the new moon was no longer far away. But soon the moon will increase again and grow until it is full again .

Zhang was very worried because the full moon meant that the demons were gaining strength and he had no control over that. That is precisely why it was important that they found Cloud as quickly as possible. He could lean back a little as the water spirits drove the boat and he didn't have to row against the current. So they sat, in a small nutshell that was floating on the water, a thin trickle in a huge desert that seemed to be infinitely large, and was getting closer and closer to the end of the chaos to be one step closer to paradise.The apparent paradise, because nobody knew what to expect there.



Both had dozed off a little and were then woken up by the first rays of sunshine. They were still surrounded by sand, but there were more and more tufts of grass and small shrubs, which meant that they were soon out of the desert. A cool wind was still blowing, but they knew that with the rise of the sun the temperature would rise quickly and by noon it would be in an almost unbearable heat over them. They both hoped to reach the third and final lake before the midday heat reached them. “What is this area actually called, it must be known that these three lakes were connected by the rivers.” Zhang asked Wind, who had just bitten off his cornbread, that they had found in the great healer's bag. "Yes, it is known, but you avoid this area as best you can. It has something to do with ghosts again.It's called the Three Lakes Area, not exactly imaginative, but some also call it the Three Lakes to Hell. In the past, stories were told about it, because many fishermen drowned in these lakes. Alleged eyewitnesses claim to have seen the victims being hugged by ghosts and dragged into the water. These areas are not harmless, everyone knows that, but that is not due to the ghosts but because there are many sandbanks and rocks that are close under the surface of the water. But common folk love stories that have nothing to do with true events. "Zhang also took a piece of corn bread, took a bite, and tried to make it clear to Wind that the ghost story wasn't as far-fetched as he thought." There are ghosts here, I can feel it, but they become us do nothing until we intend to catch their children. "Wind stopped chewing for a moment and just looked at Zhang in amazement.Did he really believe this nonsense? But of course, after all, he thanked the water spirits for guiding us safely. "Friend, I think you're taking this a little too seriously. Did your master teach you that?" Zhang shook his head. "My master was of the opinion that only Buddha guides us and has very little to do with spirits, but when I was a little boy I was confronted with nature spirits many times, don't ask me how it is possible, but I do can talk to them and feel them, you don't have to believe me, but it's true. "This time it was up to the wind to shake his head. He believed in magic, but ghosts were too absurd for him. He was taught that spirits have no influence on the living because they existed in another astral plane. He did not broach the subject further, but took over the rowing, as far as it was necessary. The boat drifted in the desired direction on its own. However, he did not trust the peace and found it necessary to correct the course a few times.Basically, this turned out to be unnecessary, because the boat seemed to avoid the rocks and sandbanks all by itself. Zhang leaned back and watched the few tufts of grass and bushes turn into ever thicker meadows. Here and there he saw a hare or two, deer and birds that called the desert edge their home. Their presence indicated that there must be a wooded area nearby as well. But the animals knew that early in the morning the grass was particularly lush because of the morning dew that had settled on the leaves. Every now and then a small lizard scurried through the grass, which must have quenched its thirst from the dew drops and was now returning to the desert to soak up warmth under a stone or cactus. Zhang couldn't get enough of the morning turmoil. He loved the spectacle of nature. But wind tore him from his thoughts.

"I think we'll be there soon, the river is getting wider!"Zhang hadn't noticed that he had got up. He put his hand to his forehead so as not to be blinded by the rising sun." It won't be long. I think we'll be there before noon, or at least pretty close. "-" Very good, I will soon no longer be able to sit. The constant boating still makes me very sluggish. "Zhang stretched himself and dozed a little. The wind stayed for a while. Now he noticed the busyness of the wild animals. He wondered all the time what Zhang had meant by the children of the water spirits. Well, he could ask him later too. They drifted on for more hours without having to correct their course. Still the boat just avoided all rocks and soon the river bed got wider and wider and suddenly they were no longer on the river, no, you could really call it a lake.

"Friend, wake up, we're here!"Wind stood again and pointed forward, where a huge island rose up. In the center of the island stood a large mountain, which was bordered by a large area of ​​jungle. They heard the voices of seemingly huge birds, judging by the screams. None of them Both of them had ever heard such noises before. It should not turn out to be easy to get to the island, as huge rock walls protruded from the water in front of it and were supposed to protect the island from external influences like a protective wall Country come? "Zhang took a close look at everything, but he couldn't see any gap where they could slip through." I would say we circle around them first, and the cloud must have come ashore somehow. "-" If he's there anytime soon. "Added Zhang. Wind wanted to take the oar in hand again, but a wave tore them both from his hand. Immediately they were swallowed and did not appear again. He looked puzzled into the water and hoped that they would still be." want to come up.But nothing happened. Understanding that the wood just disappeared into the water, he looked Zhang in the eye. But he just shrugged his shoulders. "It seems to me that the water spirits want to take the helm in their hands. Let's hope they find the way for us!" Wind sank backwards and sighed. "Now it starts again, you are worse than the superstitious people. But for all I care, let's wait and see what your little friends have in store for us." And indeed, the boat did not drift against the rocks, no, it went around them . Since the island wasn't exactly small, it also took a while for the boat to go around it. But suddenly the boat deviated from its current course and headed straight for the rocks. Wind and Zhang felt a little uncomfortable when they saw how fast the boat was suddenly going. But as they got closer, they saw a gap that could not be seen from a long way off. It was just big enough for a small boat like hers to fit right through.The water spirits led it through carefully without even touching the cold rock. What then lay in front of them was a beautiful sandy beach. The boat landed and wind got out first to bring it all the way ashore. Zhang followed him with the bags. He handed one to wind, and kept the other himself.

"Well, I guess we're on target!" said Wind, pointing with his hand at the mountain that stretched behind them. "Not quite, we're only there when we find cloud, you know that." Wind sighed. “Yes, I know that, but it can't be far, you see?” He pointed to a small stream that came out of the forest and flowed into the lake. "Let's follow this stream and it will lead us to the waterfall that Cloud told me about earlier." Zhang agreed and they immediately set off. They plunged into the jungle, untouched piece of nature, everywhere small and large shadows flitted past them. Curious pairs of eyes flashed at them from the bushes, which disappeared again as soon as they approached them.It turned out to be far more difficult to follow the stream, because they had to avoid large trees and rocks over and over again, move low-hanging branches and lianas to one side and be careful not to catch any snakes. Once the stream continued underground, so they could only guess where to go. But they found it again and this time it was a little wider than before. "It can't be far anymore. It is getting wider and wider, soon we will find something like a small lake. If we continue walking we will soon be able to hear the rushing of the waterfall." Wind quickened his