The morning mist had yet to disperse. The brushwood gate closed softly, and Xu Jin shouldered his bundle and set out on his journey.
The yellow dog ran ahead, its tail wagging merrily, stopping now and then to look back and wait for him. The winding path skirted the field ridges and led toward the River.
At a bend, he turned and waved toward the mountain.
Upon reaching the River, he saw a flock of ducks swimming leisurely near the opposite bank, occasionally diving for food or rising to flap their wings. He could not help recalling an old friend and sighed softly.
The yellow dog raced and sniffed about the riverbank in wild delight, leaving a crooked trail of paw prints.
Xu Jin waited patiently. He had already divined that a boat would come today.
Sure enough, a small boat passed through from outside the valley. A burly man rowed with practiced ease, while a scholar looked around, apparently a traveler who had heard the legends and come seeking a dragon. After exchanging a few words, Xu Jin boarded with the yellow dog.
The Small Wooden Boat drifted slowly along. Clouds and mist wound around the green mountains on both banks, and egrets swept past on outstretched wings.
The scholar searched the river surface intently. Whenever a fish flicked its tail and stirred a ring of ripples, he hurriedly stood to look, only to sit down dejectedly once he realized it was merely an ordinary fish.
This happened again and again, all his eager hopes turning into sighs on the wind, yet he still refused to give up.
"Old sir, is there really a Flood Dragon in this River?"
"Well... perhaps."
Xu Jin smiled. Neither the boatman nor the scholar noticed the enormous dark shadow swimming silently through the