On the snowy trail through the mountain ravine, the red horse trotted briskly through the snow. In the carriage behind it, Golden Toad Son held a box and peered inside at the Ginseng Spirit. "Hey, this thing's quite a rare treasure."
The thumb-thick Ginseng Spirit huddled in the corner of the box, its roots trembling slightly. Two emerald leaves atop its head shook off a few flecks of snow. Xiao Ran glanced sideways at it. "Master Dao said it knows the mountain paths. It's more reliable than a living map."
"Can it talk?" Golden Toad Son tapped the side of the box with his knuckle.
The Ginseng Spirit jolted, its roots curling tighter. Tiny beads of moisture seeped from its leaves, making it look as if it had been scared to tears.
Wu Man suddenly said coldly, "Something's watching us." Before the words had left his mouth, the snow-covered bushes beside the trail rustled apart, and three gaunt, gray-skinned wolves crawled out. Drool streaked with blood dripped onto the snow as six eyes fixed on the wooden box.
Without even looking up, Xiao Ran flicked his fingertips. Three slips of paper spun through the air and turned into three paper blades, which shot through the wolves' skulls.
Before the dirty blood could splatter, the paper blades had already crumbled into ash.
"Ginseng Spirits gather earth energy. It's only natural that evil things would hunger for them."
Xiao Ran tightened the reins, and the red horse picked up speed, leaping over the wolf carcasses. "Keep it covered. Once we're in Changbai Mountain, we'll need it to find the way."
Golden Toad Son snapped the lid shut. A faint squeak came from inside.
Ahead on the snowy trail, the gale swept up a sky full of white snow, like drool hanging from