The Moon-Praying Ceremony was an extremely solemn affair in the Hard Tribe.
Almost every member of the Hard Tribe had turned out, gathering in the clearing at the center of the woods.
As guests whom Hardway had personally brought into the tribe, Yang Qing and his companions were naturally given seats of honor at the very front of the clearing.
From where Yang Qing and his companions were, they could see the altar ahead with perfect clarity.
What Yang Qing had learned earlier was correct: once the sacrificial rites of the Moon-Praying Ceremony ended, the matchmaking would begin.
But Yang Qing and his companions paid that no mind. Their gazes were all fixed on the altar.
The altar had been furnished very simply, with only a small wooden table.
Hardway and several elders of the Hard Tribe, however, sat around that small table.
A long, drawn-out cry rang out, and then Yang Qing and his companions heard everyone around them open their mouths in unison and begin singing an ancient sacrificial hymn.
The hymn had a lilting melody, but Yang Qing and his companions could not understand a single word.
After singing for a while, the people rose one by one and began circling the altar.
Round and round they went, solemnity written on every face.
Yang Qing and the others slowly moved forward with the circling crowd.
Just then, Bu Er leaned close and whispered in Yang Qing's ear, "Young Master, those people have gone over there again."
"Over there" naturally meant the Mass Burial Pit that Bu Er and the others had mentioned earlier.
"Did you get a clear look?"
Yang Qing glanced at Bu Er.
"There's absolutely no doubt."
Yang Qing lowered his head and considered it carefully, then quickly looked up again. "All right. Go over