Shadows by the Black Gate

“Thirdie, quit dawdling! If we waste any more time, the fog will roll in over the mountains, and the three of us will end up as wolf bait.” Old Chen's voice sounded like sandpaper scraping across a surface. He wiped the sweat from his face, revealing the bronze talisman plaque hanging around his neck. He'd dug it out of a Song Dynasty tomb in northern Shaanxi three years ago. They said it was part of a tomb guardian beast, and Old Chen treasured it so much he even kept it tucked against his chest while he slept.