Temple of Truth

Chapter 111

"They have many different meanings" Qiling said, not turning around at all – instead he kept walking leading them towards what would hopefully be their entrance point into the underground temple. Always going straight just like Wu Xie had told him.

"In the past different knots were often used as decoration, charm or to send hidden messages." Qiling seemed to be contemplating something. Wu Xie could tell, his voice seemed more drawn out and quieter then he would normally speak.

"What –" Qiling stopped for just a moment. "There is too much to explain and it'd be easier to show."

"If you tell me what you whant to know right now – I can answer you." Wu Xie noticed, that Qiling had chosen to say more. Use more words, just so he could avoid a direct question – spearing him from having to answer, if he chose not to.

Something he had not done himself when asking Fatty just now. Something he had forgotten to do too trapped with his own thoughts again. He had to try to be more careful.

"The labyrinth pattern, it's like a knot", Wu Xie said, not asking Qiling if or what he knew about it. Where Qiling had opted to use more words – Wu Xie chose it was saver to use less.

Qiling nodded, looking back over his shoulder for just that instance. "A lover's knot", he said – after a moment. "used as a wish to connect and strengthen the relationship over a greater distance. Wives used to send them to their husbands when they spend a greater amount of time away from the house."

"Wait!" Fatty jumped right into the expiation Qiling was giving. "You said someone carved a gigantic lovers knot right here into the stone? Like bigger than a house gigantic."

"Yes" Qiling gave Fatty a short look, frowning slightly.

"A lovers knot" Wu Xie thought out loud. Wondering why someone would do something like this. It must have been a powerful persona. But then, it just might be that his was the oldest part of the temple – or even older than the temple itself?

It wasn't unheard of that men just already existing structures to rebuild something even completely different. But then again. This part looked too much like it belonged here – the snakes, the birds and all the different landscapes they were walking past, the hidden tunnels the drainage system that was perfectly integrated. It wasn't like some patchwork done to the existing structure like he had seen in pretty much every tomb that had been rebuild like that.

No, thinking about it he remembered the female statue that was at the entrance – holding something in her hand. When they reached the exit, would there be a male statue?

What shocked him out of his head was a sudden metallic clang. Something hiding the ground. Wu Xie almost stumbled, reaching for thereby wall carving on instinct to find his balance again. Shit.

The white bandage was in a stark contrast to the stone of the wall, but that was everything Wu Xie saw – no Qiling in front of him anymore. The rope including the carabineer laying on the stone floor right in front of him.