Détruisez le mal

Chapitre 32

They only needed to visit the most beautiful spots, just a cursory glance. But now they don't even want to "drip" a drop of water anymore.

China is like an ancient pine tree, which needs to be slowly felt and understood—ancient yet full of vitality, as magnificent as its five thousand years of history.

Pine trees represent a natural force, a timeless, static beauty, inspiring countless writers and artists for millennia.

Temples, however, require us to experience them firsthand. Don't just stare at the murals and statues; step over the beams, bow your head in worship, and carefully savor the essence of the murals.

Imagine yourself as the worshipper of all these Buddha statues. Starting with Tibetan Buddhism, incorporating elements of Indian Buddhism, Han Buddhism, animism, and indigenous Chinese Taoist thought, it's like a vast, boundless ocean that can encompass all the world's rivers.

These temples are purely Chinese, humble and elegant like those of Confucius, and this blend gives China its endless charm. Of all the world's early civilizations, only China has continuously maintained its unique civilization. The Chinese do not casually abandon tradition, but constantly revise and perfect it—this is Chinese aesthetics, its essence, which will influence all tourists who travel to China.

The most fatal change (2)

However, if you leave too early, you will miss these exquisite details. You will only see the newly painted palaces in the brochures.

Once you set foot in the Kingdom of Lanna, you will miss out on the beauty of China, which is a huge mistake!

But a terrible ending has already arrived like a curse.

Even as a ghost, I cannot interfere.

"Nine votes in favor, three votes against."

Mr. Marseille announced loudly.

Let us raise our glasses once more: to the journey to the Kingdom of Lanna!

Just as my friends were getting ready to celebrate, the food arrived at the perfect time, served on the plates I had used.

Sadly, they were very dissatisfied with the dishes I ordered until they heard about the free "surprise."

One dish was crispy roasted sweet potato, which the chef assured would taste as good as American and British potato chips. Although its appearance resembled fried silkworm pupae, making it unappetizing, they devoured it as soon as they tasted it—just like the second free surprise, which also looked like fried silkworm pupae, and in fact, it was. Then came another appetizer called "Dragonfly."

The third surprise was mapo tofu.

“I’ve been eating Mapo Tofu my whole life,” Jumarin said, “but this tastes weird, and I can’t guarantee I’ll like it.”

“It’s almost lemon-flavored, very strong in flavor,” Berhali said.

"I don't really want to eat it." Vera pushed her portion aside.

“That’s not bad,” Mr. Marseille said. “I have a better impression of you now, really.”

What they tasted wasn't a common red chili pepper substitute in the US. The chilies from Lijiang are pod-like berries; their numbing and spicy substances irritate the oral mucosa, causing a hissing sound in the mouth. My friends ate a special type of Sichuan pepper, which is even hotter and can cause an almost numbing sensation in the internal organs, especially for those with weaker constitutions.

An hour later, after leaving the dinner they both loved and hated, Benny canceled his plans to enjoy the "Dongba Ancient Music" performance and decided to go back to the hotel to kill time.

This will be the biggest regret of their lives.