The Legend of Gourd Islet, Part 2

At first, the Dredger's crew had been wary and awestruck by Tang Changsheng, hardly daring to go near him. But the boat was small, and many of them could clearly hear the two men talking about old tales. One crewman could not help but cut in.

"Oh? Let's hear it!" Tang Changsheng was intrigued.

The Shop Assistant's face lit up. "Years ago, a monk passed through here and stopped to rest. He slept in the grass that night, but woke at midnight to hear immortals talking as they passed by."

"They said Gourd Islet was formed from an immortal's treasured gourd. Inside were countless riches of gold and silver, and even an Immortal Elixir that could turn a person into an immortal.

"The monk then schemed his way into Gourd Islet, where he found an entirely different world.

"Then he stole the treasures inside the gourd. A great flood followed, drowning the county town and many surrounding villages. Tens of thousands died!

"And somehow, every body of those who drowned drifted to Gourd Islet...

"None could rest in peace. They wanted to find the monk and take back what he had stolen.

"That was why Gourd Islet became such an uncanny place. Come nightfall, ghostly flames flew everywhere...

"And once Three-Course Dam was built, river traffic was cut off. After that, hardly anyone came to Gourd Islet!"

Some had heard the story before; others had not. Tang Changsheng had, of course, but he kept his expression neutral. "I seem to remember a key being crucial to the story. Didn't the monk find the key before he went in...?"

"Right, right, there was a key..." Reminded by Tang Changsheng, the Shop Assistant recalled it too. "The monk heard the immortals say the key was in a temple. I think it was