Auspicious Tortoise and Crane
The place was bustling with noise.
The white bird hovered in mid-air, flying anxiously across the sky. It flew several miles away and landed in a secluded place, looking around nervously, its breasts heaving violently.
The scorching sun beat down, sending out streaks of fire, and even hiding in the shadows offered no respite from the heat.
The Peace Jar was filled with cool water, reflecting the intense sunlight, which shimmered and dazzled before gradually calming down as the noisy atmosphere outside the courtyard subsided.
a long time.
A ripple spreads out from the edge of the tank and converges towards the center.
They converge at the center point, rise slightly, and then spread out again.
Without hitting the cylinder wall, a second ripple arises, collides with the first ripple, and is covered and annihilated.
Immediately, the third, the fourth...
The water in the Peace Jar rippled rapidly, collapsing continuously and splashing out large sprays of water! Outside the courtyard.
The shirtless, burly man, his face flushed, pounded his Great Hammer, and the drums and music soared to the heavens!
Several miles away, the water birds, hearing this, were terrified and fled in panic.
The Oolong pounced onto the roof, but its claws missed, and it fell to the ground.
Crackling sound.
Two pieces of blue tile shattered.
"The Present Sacrifices!"
The young man's powerful shouts resounded throughout the town, echoing in everyone's minds.
The shirtless, burly man, panting heavily, lowered his Great Hammer, and the thunderous drumbeat abruptly stopped.
A buzzing sound filled the air, and before anyone could react, three ferocious beasts bound by iron chains slowly made their appearance.
The Giant Water Buffalo lay on the ground, its muscles bulging and veins throbbing, its eyes gleaming with a fierce light, making it hard to breathe.
The timid people quickly looked away, not daring to meet his gaze.
"Prick!"
Xiang Fangsu remained calm, remembering the steps of the sacrificial ceremony, and stood on the small pillar platform, shouting loudly.
The white blade enters, the red blade exits.
A sharp knife severed the Heart Meridian, a crimson waterfall cascaded down, and thick blood quickly filled the Pine Bucket.
The thick stench of blood added a touch of frenzy to the damp and stifling dock, stimulating everyone's senses.
He witnessed firsthand the death of a colossal beast several meters long.
The faces of the 100,000 villagers were flushed, their hearts pounding, and they even temporarily forgot the sweltering heat of early summer.
Whoosh!
The Pine Bucket overturned, Blood Water gushed out, staining the river surface red.
Red foam swirls as large schools of white fish leap and dart about, eagerly filtering the blood as they bathe in the Blood Water.
The shamans stood on either side of the altar, wearing short raincoats, and performed bizarre dances.
The 100,000 people were excited and thrilled, but they were also scorched by the sun, their lips were cracked, and salty sweat dripped down their foreheads, irritating their eyes.
The aroma of mung beans still lingers on the palate, but no one can ask for a bowl of their favorite drink right now.
The dance was halfway through.
Liang Qu's gaze sharpened slightly, and he stood upright with a solemn expression.
"Chief Priest, okay!"
The shadow cast by the eaves fell on the ground as sharp as a knife.
Nine gongs sounded.
Liang Qu strode out, stepping out of the shadows and into the vast white earth.
A blurry, dazzling white light climbed upwards from below.
Whoosh.
Banners fluttered in the wind.
Stepping over the interplay of light and shadow, I landed on the ground, and a light drizzle fell on the villagers.
Two or three villagers looked up at the sky.
Two steps to implementation.
The fine drizzle, stretched into thin threads, evaporated into nothingness as soon as it touched the ground.
Three steps.
Four steps...
Before even stepping onto the stage, a refreshing coolness washed over me.
The rain wasn't heavy, just enough to maintain a balance between evaporation upon landing and accumulation into pools, yet it gave people a unique sense of peace.
The scorching heat seemed to evaporate from within, seeping through every pore, bringing a sense of exhilaration, like a dried-up Big Fish returning to a river! On the small platform, Xiang Fangsu rubbed a Rain Water between her fingers, looked up at the sky,
The sky was clear and blue.
Sunny day, rainy day? The villagers couldn't help but whisper among themselves.
"It's raining! It's raining!"
"Sunny or rainy?"
"Wasn't it Carp Spots last night...?"
Rain on a sunny day is rare, but it's not too unusual in the height of summer; it's just that the timing is a bit too coincidental.
Just as Liang Qu stepped onto the stage, the discussions among the crowd gradually subsided.
After Xiang Fangsu took his place, the Old Sacrificer, who had been standing under the eaves with a group of Village Elder, took two steps out, knelt down with a thud, and prostrated himself, howling in pain.
"The River God has appeared again!"
"Again?"
Xiang Fangsu raised an eyebrow.
The local villagers of Yi Xing Town seemed to have suddenly had their memories awakened.
Yes!
If the sky Carp Spots, you won't need to turn the grain when drying it tomorrow.
Yesterday evening it was clearly Carp Spots, so why is it suddenly raining today?
Everyone immediately recalled the rising white mist last year and the perfectly timed rain this year—how could it be a coincidence! River God!
It's the River God appearing! Splash!
The villagers resonated with the sentiment, and in a moment a huge black wave rose up, with one after another kneeling on the ground.
Many first-time participants from out of town were bewildered, yet swept up in the wave, kneeling down along with them, too afraid to the Unseen.
Under the shadow of the eaves.
The two "Old Pavilion Master" of Yi Xing Town, Tang Zutao and Lin Yao, exchanged a glance and then bowed down.
The newly arrived Hall Master Xu was confused, but he didn't want to stand out, so he followed the crowd and kept a close eye on what others were doing.
Xiang Fangsu wanted to scratch his head, but then felt it was impolite.
They weren't even asked to worship yet, so why are they all worshipping now?
This wasn't mentioned in the ritual procedure...
What's the next step?
Xiang Fangsu had never presided over a meeting before. He usually did things one step at a time. When he was interrupted, he couldn't remember anything until he caught a glimpse of the incense burner in front of Liang Qu and a flash of inspiration struck him.
"Light incense!"
Incense sticks are placed in the burner, and wisps of white smoke rise.
"Chancellor!"
The wine shimmered with a soft amber light.
"Ode, Sacrificial Text!"
The paper sheets swayed in the river breeze.
"With the spirits of Jianghuai above, the people of Yixing respectfully offer sacrifices and wine before the revered spirits of Jianghuai, and present this Sacrificial Text:"
We humbly acknowledge the vastness and boundless expanse of the Yangtze and Huai Jianghuai, which nourish all things and bestow immeasurable blessings. From ancient times to the present, the people of our region have relied on divine grace to live in peace and prosperity, enjoying a life of tranquility.
"Now that it is the height of summer, I have prepared a small gift to express my respect and pray for the River God's blessing, favorable weather, and abundant harvests..."
The river is flat and wide.
The Azure Viper gazed at the person reciting the Sacrificial Text on the altar.
"So that's the Liang family's water boy?"
"There's no doubt about it; the Chief Priest is the one who recites the Sacrificial Text!"
"Who's that over there?"
"It's a priest!"
"Priest, Chief Priest ..." Azure Viper pondered for a moment, "What's the difference?"
The Red-Scaled Great Snake ignored the Azure Viper and focused intently on Liang Qu reciting the Sacrificial Text. When it reached the latter half, it urged him on repeatedly.
"Hurry, hurry, we're almost done reading! Now's the perfect time! Go deliver it!"
The Yellow Scale Great Snake kept its eyes fixed on the large tortoise in its hand and the red-crowned Red-crowned Crane, which was desperately holding its breath. After making a few threatening remarks, it released its tail.
Whoosh!
Two splashes broke the calm surface of the Jianghuai Rivers.
A Red-crowned Crane shook off the water droplets from its wings, soared into the sky, and circled endlessly.
A Great Green Turtle, over ten feet long, climbed Shang An, its limbs like pillars, displaying its plump and robust appearance.
Some of the people who were looking up suddenly cried out in surprise.
Amid the commotion, a suspicious gaze fell upon Liang Qu's back.
Liang Qu felt Xiang Fangsu's gaze from his side and behind. He was equally confused, but he remained calm and recited the Sacrificial Text.
Until the very end of the Sacrificial Text.
The circling red- Red-crowned Crane landed on the ground, its long beak carrying a precious ginseng.
The turtle opened its mouth wide and spat out a tiny, glistening blade of grass.
"?"
Xiang Fangsu's suspicious gaze grew even stronger, burning like fire.
Liang Qu almost lost his composure.
no.
What's going on? Who arranged this?
Liang Qu's heart sank, and he unconsciously sped up his speech until he finished the last sentence.
Ze Cauldron trembled.
[Sacrifice to the Huai River River's Favor by 2.0028]
Almost at the same time.
On the Great Marsh, several waves splashed up, and a hundred-foot-long serpent cleaved through the waves, riding the momentum as it came!
In the center, a large, crimson snake with Jade-Green Treasure Lotus on its head was swimming and offering itself up!
Now.
Xiang Fangsu was also stunned.