Amid the towering mountains of Xinping, Yuxi, lies a mysterious region known as Ailao Mountain. Dense primeval forests blanket its slopes, making travel difficult. The weather is changeable, and on rainy, foggy nights the forest releases large amounts of carbon dioxide, which can leave people short of oxygen. Legend has it that the earth’s magnetic field is unusually strong in Ailao Mountain, potentially causing compasses to fail and increasing the risk of getting lost. This is not only the most treacherous stretch of the Tea Horse Road, but also a coveted prize fought over by tusi chieftains, bandits, soldiers, and other powers.
Hidden among these mysterious mountains is an ancient legend: the treasure of the Ailao Mountain tusi.
According to legend, Li Runzhi, the last tusi chieftain deep in Ailao Mountain during the 1930s, was a mysterious and enigmatic figure. Taking advantage of the Tea Horse Road’s strategic routes, he set up toll stations and amassed an untold fortune. He used this wealth to build a manor called the Longxi Estate, whose lavish interiors proclaimed his immense power and status.
Yet when this legendary figure passed away, his vast fortune vanished as if it had evaporated into thin air.
As time went on, the legend of the tusi treasure grew ever more mysterious. The mountain fog, dense forests, and perilous trails all stood in the way of those searching for it. As night fell, the wind in Ailao Mountain mingled with the chirping of insects and the barking of dogs in the distance, as though telling the legendary tale of the treasure.
I originally stumbled across this book because of the popularity of Ailao Mountain. I didn't expect it to get better and better as I read it, but the author is a bit slow in updating it 😄