In the afternoon on Mount Longhu, sunlight filtered through gaps in the bamboo leaves, scattering flecks of gold across the ground.
Cho Chang walked ahead with light steps, her ponytail swaying behind her as she hummed a tune Su Yu had never heard before. Kurama lay on Su Yu's shoulder, his tail dangling over Su Yu's chest and swaying gently. His eyes were half-closed, as if he were about to fall asleep.
"We're almost there." Cho Chang glanced back at him with a smile. "Walk faster. The Magical Beast Garden is really fun."
Su Yu caught up. "What makes it so fun?"
"You'll find out when you get there." Cho Chang kept him guessing, then turned around and continued on.
The Magical Beast Garden lay in a valley west of the Taoist temple, surrounded by a wall of blue bricks.
The old Taoist priest at the entrance was dozing against the doorframe, his hat covering his face. Cho Chang crept over and lifted the hat from his face. The old priest opened one eye, looked at her, then closed it again.
"The Zhang family girl, here again." The old priest muttered as he pulled his hat back over his face. "Go on in."
Cho Chang stuck out her tongue at him, pushed open the wooden gate, and waved Su Yu over.
Su Yu followed her around a patch of bamboo, and the view before him suddenly opened up. It was a vast valley, enclosed by mountains on three sides and bordered by a shallow stream on the fourth. The stream flowed down from the mountain, crystal clear to the bottom, its waters babbling softly. Large boulders lay scattered across the grass by the stream, covered in moss, while dozens of white cranes stood in the water drinking.
Something leaped between