The celestial phenomena this year were strange indeed. By the Clear and Bright season, the lands south of the great river would already have been ringing with thunder and flashing with lightning in previous years, the paulownia trees coming into bloom. Yet now, fine snow like jade shavings still fluttered down, dancing wildly through the air. Though the sky was not especially gloomy, it never grew bright either. The spring chill bit sharply, and the whole scene lay beneath dismal clouds. Looking at it for long was truly aggravating.
The "Qingping Le" verse chanted in the void could be said to have expressed fully the people's loathing for the lingering snow and overcast skies, and their longing for warm, clear sunshine. As the verse ended, directly opposite Dragon-Tiger Mountain's gates, far beyond the end of the Crimson-Purple Rosy Cloud Bridge, watery ripples suddenly stirred in the snowy void. Rings of upright ripples spread outward, immediately drawing everyone's gaze.
Within the ripples, four great lanterns gleaming with golden light appeared first, drifting slowly out of the rippling void.
Only when the lanterns had emerged completely, free from the ripples' interference, and their golden radiance steadied and illuminated that stretch of void, did everyone see clearly: those were not golden lanterns leading a ceremonial procession, but two pairs of enormous, brilliant golden eyes.
The four golden eyes lit up the snow sweeping through that stretch of void, making it look like a swarm of fireflies glowing white. At the same time, they revealed two snowy-white lion heads, the same color as the falling snow.
Next, green lion manes like spring pines and emerald willows streamed out of the rippling void, strikingly conspicuous against the snow-filled sky. Everyone then knew that the renowned Lion Lord had arrived. Needless to say, the Lion Lord's