In the deepening night, the pleasure boats on the lake resembled nimble, giant fish, while the tourists, carrying colorful fish-shaped lanterns, looked like schools of small, vibrant fish that had leaped from the quiet, dark depths of the lake onto the shore. The two scenes reflected one another, creating a lively and charming spectacle.
Suddenly, a thunderous chant of Buddhist scripture drowned out the music drifting across the lake.
The tourists on the shore paused, and those aboard the boats curiously poked their heads out, eager to see what excitement was unfolding. A sophisticated "Dragon-Drawing" pleasure boat, crafted by the Mohist School—which required at least one Rank Six Mohist disciple to pilot—pushed aside the lake water and slowly drew toward the bank. The price of such a boat alone was enough to reach one hundred thousand taels of silver; this served as a clear testament to the wealth of Tianjing.
Chapter 96