The dharma vessel rode the wind, returning to its homeland.
The barrier between heaven and earth gently opened a—no, it did not open. Rather, like sunlight piercing the water's surface, the dharma vessel passed naturally through the barrier, entered the Dragon Palace through the water eye, and then slowly rose upward.
At last, it stopped at the edge of a gentle, picturesque hill rising from the water. Flowers bloomed all along the shore, lush trees covered the hill, and the sweet fragrance of oranges and pomelos drifted on the wind—
Dragon Lord, Lady Xiang, and Shen Le disembarked in turn. With a light wave of the girl's hand, water caltrops became garments and lotuses became skirts. Beautiful young men and women surged onto the deck and carried down the crystal.
They reverently bore the enormous crystal in their hands, their bare feet stepping over the grass as they drifted lightly forward. They carried it to a particularly lush patch of grass at the center of the hill.
Then, with Lady Xiang in front and the young men and women around her, their wide sleeves fluttered as they sang and danced: "Why do you linger and not go? Who keeps you upon the island? So lovely and fair, so fittingly adorned—let me ride my cassia boat—"
The soft melody, filled with yearning and remembrance, encircled the crystal. Even the trees, flowers, and grass upon the hill seemed to sway along with it.
White clouds drifted leisurely overhead, sunlight scattered like shattered gold, and the lake waters on every side gently lapped against the shore, as though singing in chorus.
Shen Le stood solemnly to one side. Listening to the music, so full of hope and sorrow, he lightly kept time and joined their chant: "The daughter of the Emperor descends upon