The morning after the Golden Koi turned into a Flood Dragon something strange happened in Peach Blossom Village.
It started with the mist.
Usually the mist around the mountain goes away by 9 AM.. Today it stuck around feeling sweet and thick.
"Why is the grass so tall?"
Little Liu, the cameraman rubbed his eyes as he stepped out of his tent.
The grass was knee- now and the wildflowers were blooming in crazy colors.
"Director! Wake up!" Little Liu shouted.
Director Wang crawled out still sleepy. "What is it? Did the old man kick us out?"
"No... Look at the villagers."
Uncle Li, the 80-year- village chief was jogging. He was carrying baskets of corn on a shoulder pole.
"I feel great!" Uncle Li shouted. "My back doesn't hurt! My legs are strong! I feel eighteen again!"
Other elderly villagers were coming out of their homes looking energetic. A grandmother threw away her walker. A man with a cough took a breath and laughed.
"Is there a gas leak?" Lin Feng asked. "Mass hysteria?"
"Its the air " Su Ye said. "Take a breath. Can't you feel it? The air from the Masters courtyard... It's thicker today."
They looked up at the compound on the mountain. The mist was rolling down like a waterfall.
The Juvenile Flood Dragon in the pond was gathering energy. The extra was spilling out turning the village into a special place.
[Livestream Comments]
· "Why does the village look... Today?"
· "Is Uncle Li, on steroids? Hes running fast!"
· "Look at the trees! Did they grow overnight? This place is weird."
Little Lius hands were shaking,. He kept the livestream going. The 5G signal in the village was strong. Stronger than in the city. The Spirit Qi seemed to be making the air a better conductor.
The viewer count was over 30 million. The whole internet was watching the Village of Longevity live.
[ Livestream Comments ]
* "Look at the background. Are those trees growing? Check out that oak tree by the well!"
* "I'm a botanist. That oak tree grows 2 inches a year. It just grew a branch in 10 minutes."
* "Why does the village look so clear today? Is it the camera or the air?"
* "Is Uncle Li on steroids? Hes running faster than delivery guys in Shanghai!"
* "I'm booking a trip to that village. I don't care about the Grandmaster Ban."
* "You'll be stopped at the border. The military just moved three divisions to the mountain pass. Check the news!"
The Weight of the Secret
Director Wang checked his phone. He had private messages from important people. They wanted samples of the soil, audio of the Dragon Roar and information about the villagers food.
Wang looked at his phone. Then at the villagers laughing and running in the valley. He saw the courtyard of the Master.
He felt a sense of clarity.
"Everyone listen to me " Wang said firmly. The crew turned to him. "We're not reporters anymore. We're witnesses. If we try to sell this or exploit it we'll disrespect the Master. Get in trouble."
He pointed to the mist. "This isn't a gas leak or a fluke. This is the world changing.. That man up there is in control."
The Masters Morning
Inside the courtyard Chen Qing was annoyed.
He woke up to find the mist thick he couldn't see his porch. He stepped out in his robe and frowned at the Dragon Pond.
"Little Gold " he called out.
The water. The golden-scaled head of the Flood Dragon appeared. It looked guilty.
"You're leaking " Chen Qing said, gesturing to the mist. "The neighbors will think I'm running a dry-ice factory. If you can't control your energy go sleep at the bottom of the pond."
The Dragon whimpered. A sound that sounded like thunder to the film crew. It submerged itself. The mist slowed to a trickle.
Chen Qing looked at the village. He could hear Uncle Lis shouting and Old Lady Zhangs laughter.
"Well " Chen Qing muttered, sweeping the colorful leaves. "At least they'll have a harvest this year.. If they ask for workout tips I'm moving to the moon."
He swept rhythmically a man tidying his yard. To the 30 million people watching he was the Center of the Universe.
In the capital the Grandmaster Ban was upgraded to a National Security Lockdown. Peach Blossom Village was no longer a dot on a map; it was the most valuable place, on Earth.