Li Ping'an looked troubled.
The more the other man said this, the stronger that premonition grew in his heart.
So Li Ping'an changed the subject.
"Let's eat first."
But the more unwilling he was to go, the more determined the old Daoist was to drag him over.
"You have to take a look today! I refuse to believe anything could happen just from you going over there."
With no other choice, Li Ping'an comforted himself that perhaps he was overthinking it.
They crossed past the stone stele and approached the White Jade Capital.
"See? Nothing happened," the old Daoist said smugly. "Relax, this White Jade Capital..."
The next instant, crack!!
The stone stele shattered.
Immediately afterward, the earth let out a rumbling roar and rapidly split apart.
Layer after layer of soil exploded across the ground, as though set off by cannon shells.
The White Jade Capital trembled slightly, radiating an aura that made hearts quail, like a primordial beast opening its enormous, blood-filled maw to swallow someone whole.
"Holy shit!!"
An elegant piece of national heritage slipped out of the old Daoist's mouth.
Li Ping'an smiled bitterly. "Something did happen, just as I thought!"
Qin Shi's expression changed. "M-Master, wh-what do we do now?"
"Run!!" the old Daoist roared.
The three men and one ox took to their heels.
"Master, Master, that White Jade... C-Capital is flying!"
The old Daoist turned to look.
The enormous White Jade Capital had risen out of the ground, shimmering with silver light like a bolt of silver lightning.
Rocks shattered, and dust flew.
In an instant, stone chips scattered through the air like falling snow.
The whole of Dragon-Tiger Mountain was rapidly collapsing, and the tremendous commotion drew the attention of everyone in the county town.
"An earth ox is turning over!?"
"Run!"