As Spring and Autumn Equinox stood there in a daze, the starting whistle for the competition had barely faded when the masters in the Red Lion Costume on the other side charged forward in perfect unison, as though they were a single person.
The starting point was the Plum Blossom Stakes farthest from the ladder. After rushing forward, the masters leaped up and landed steadily atop them.
Then, accompanied by the cheerful yet stirring music of drums, suonas, erhus, and other instruments, the two masters crossed the Plum Blossom Stakes in just a few steps.
Upon stepping onto the tallest stake, the lion-head master suddenly crouched and lowered his center of gravity. The lion-tail master adjusted his height in rhythm, and with their Tacit Understanding, they completed a shoulder stand—one standing on the other's shoulders—and reached the bamboo ladder in the blink of an eye.
Next, the lion-tail master braced himself in a horse stance. The lion-head master made a nimble leap, followed closely by the lion-tail master, and in an instant, the two completed the classic Cai Qing move, "Step by Step Promotion."
The stands instantly erupted. Cheers and applause blended into a dense roar, and many people shouted at the top of their lungs, "Good! Do another one!"
Almost at the same time as the red lion set off, Kitasan Black shouted "Hey!" and rushed forward.
Clutching the lion tail, Spring and Autumn Equinox staggered slightly at the start, but strangely enough, she managed to keep up with Kitasan Black's rhythm.
The two Horse Girls held up the black Lion Costume. Drawing on their experience of having just crossed the Plum Blossom Stakes, they made it through smoothly despite their unfamiliarity.
"Alright! Next, we climb up!"
Standing on the highest Plum Blossom Stake, Kitasan Black cried out excitedly: