The Fog Dissipates, Revealing Red Robes

Places like quagmires, which are difficult and dangerous, were rarely visited. This also meant that they were safer. Ning Que thought so, as did many animals. The waters exuded a faint scent of sulfur and could not support the growth of big plants. However, they could eat moss and escape the winter here because of its warmth. That was why many animals stayed in this patch of swamp throughout the year.

The staple food was moss or plankton in the water. There were no lions or tigers in the swamp, but there was a fierce beast that looked like a snake and was covered with a light dusting of fine greasy hair.

This ferocious beast was called the Capybara by herdsmen in the Golden Palace. They swam quickly and had venomous saliva. They were carnivorous, and the horses and sheep of herdsmen who got lost and entered the swamp would mostly be killed by the beast.