Chapter 18: China: Pangu's Axe, A Vacation Home, and Visa Level 3From the Journal of Mercury Galaxian:
Just got back from China! That was a lot of fun! Lets see:
I decided to go on the longest vacation that I was allowed: 11 days. The cab driver was nice enough to give me a ride to the airport, but I guess that's kinda his job.
When I got there, I was immediately approached by a strange man who seemed like he hadn't slept in days.
He first asked me if I was indeed Mercury Galaxian.
"Yes" I said.
"Then I have a proposition for you," said the man. "Go to The Temple of Heaven. There is an axe inside, but not just any axe, it is the axe of the great Pangu."
"Pang who?" I asked.
"Pangu. It is not easy to get to it, but if you can, it is yours to keep. After retrieving it, go to The Hot Springs. There you may claim ownership of it."
"And I must give it to you after all this?" I asked. "I hope you are giving me something good in return."
"You are incorrect in assuming that I want it. It is for you, and you alone."
"And what are you getting out of this deal?" I asked.
"I want nothing. But, I want you to remember my name, Chen Hong, and my family, while you live forever"
"How do you know of what I am doing?" I asked. Nobody knew, not Ayesha, not Venus.
"I know." And with that, he slipped away, and I never saw him again.
I went to The Temple of Heaven like he had instructed me to.
It was hard work, but in the end it was worth it. That sounds dumb. How about: I like smashing stuff.
And then I went to Hot Springs.
I wish that I had known before I entered that there was gonna be nowhere to put my tent.
But it turned out okay. I was just super-duper sleep deprived when I exited.
But I had it! Pangu's Axe!
And a level three visa in my pocket.
Now that I could, I bought a vacation home here. And not just any place. A palace. Palace in the Clouds.
What the guy that sold it to me didn't say was that it's a 2 hour walk to anything else. I hate language barriers.
I renovated it a bit, just put in stuff in the top story. My family is almost flat broke now, only §5,000 left.
My trip was over, so I came home. It was a fun trip, but I'm glad to see my family again.