her eyes looked misty and distant. She muttered without moving her lips,
"
It's a dragon."
A dragon? That was ridiculous. Dragon was only a mythological creature. Although there were legends about
dragons in the ancient China, but I still didn't believe it.
"
Celeste, follow the dragon, then you will know what I have been talking about," the old woman smiled at me,
bitterly. "There lies the truth behind the Great Wall. Farewell."
Without any hesitation, I ran after the dragon. My legs were so sore but I kept running, I was so curious to
know the legend behind the famous Great Wall.
I didn't know how many hours I had run. But when I couldn't walk anymore, the dragon stopped. I looked up,
and found an gigantic wall in construction in front of me. Workers were passing blocks on the mountain and
some almost fell from the mountain. Luckily, the dragon caught them and placed them safely back to the
ground.
The people then began to notice the dragon. They put down the blocks, and knelt on the enormous wall, to
show respect for the dragon.
The dragon looked pleased. It examined the place around, catching me still standing up straight instead of
kneeling. It looked pointedly at me, and then I realised everyone was kneeling except me. I immediately knelt,
of course, I didn't want the dragon to kill me alive.
When it was finally satisfied, it roared, "Stand up people! Listen to me carefully!"
The people obeyed without saying a word.
It continued,
"
I am touched by all of your sacrifice. And I decided to help you people with the construction of
the Great Wall. But only for one condition: everyone here must worship me more," it paused and glared at me. It
was satisfied when it saw me shivering. "Tell your emperor, Qin Shi Huang to build more temples for me and
that you must worship me as your god. But do not tell your offspring about my help. All of you must obey or
you will be punished."
People bowed together.
I blurted out without seriously thinking, "Why?"
"
You're not allowed to ask me anything, do not ask me why, young lady!" it boomed. There were impatience
and anger in his eyes. His nostrils flared, like there would be smoke puffed out from them any moment. I learnt
my lesson, I did not want to get killed, so I just quietly nodded.
Just then, the dragon tangled itself and wrapped its body around the mountain, without making anyone fall
from it. When it had finished tangling up itself, the whole dragon turned into stone and became the Great Wall. I
was shocked. The dragon actually sacrificed itself for the people in the Qin Dynasty?
People were still crying with joy. But I didn't move. Is this the real story all along? was the only question in
my head.
"
Yes, it is." The old woman appeared again next to me with a bitter smile, "we will never forget the sacrifice
of the dragon."
I wanted to ask more questions about the Great Wall but my vision blurred. Everything was dark again, but I
wasn't scared since I knew it was time for me to get back to the 21st century.
*****
I opened my eyes again, finding myself really in a hospital, with my brother and parents sitting beside me.
They looked stressful than ever.
When they saw me awake, the frowns on the faces disappeared replaced with relief and joy. They
immediately called the nurses and the doctor to check if I was alright.
"
I am better than okay. Stop panicking," I sighed, remembering the magical journey.
A nurse came into the room. She was an old woman, with wrinkles on her face. She grinned at me warmly
and I was certain that I had seen her just a moment ago.
After examination, she did not say a word. Instead, she winked at me and went out of my room, closing the
door without making any sound.
I knew it was real. I knew I had been to the Qin Dynasty. And I knew I had found out the real story behind
the Great Wall and, I believed it.
* * *