Chapter 31: The Festival

Page (1/3)

The Festival of the Golden Deity was the grandest celebration around Mount Chongdan. This region was rich in mineral resources, and the local people believed their wealth was a blessing bestowed by the heavenly deity. Thus, every midsummer, a grand festival was held to honor the “Golden Deity.” From early morning, Ningyu Town buzzed with lively activity, and by nightfall, the streets were adorned with lanterns and decorations. Crowds surged through the town, with singing and dancing performances beneath a sky illuminated by countless fireworks.

Xie Yuzhu and Ye Minwei moved through the bustling throng in Ningyu. Both wore half-face masks painted with colorful designs, purchased from street vendors. As usual, Xie Yuzhu donned her bright orange dress embroidered with butterfly patterns, while Ye Minwei shed her usual gray cloak, opting instead for a light blue garment, her long hair half pinned up.

No one could see her face, and seeing her white hair, they simply assumed she was a spry elderly woman.

But therein lay the problem: no one could see Ye Minwei’s face, and she could hardly discern anyone else's. Ye Minwei suffered from fainting spells, and in such a crowded place, she could never wear her vision stones. Thus, to her, the lively Ningyu Town was nothing more than a swirl of indistinct colors.

Xie Yuzhu carefully gripped Ye Minwei’s hand and said, “Master, you’ve never been one to enjoy the crowd. Back at the Moon Picking Pavilion, you wouldn’t go out except to buy persimmons. What made you suddenly decide to attend such a grand festival gathering?”

Ye Minwei stumbled forward, bumping into passersby as she replied, “It was Wen Ci who asked me to come. He said if I came, he would help me make spiritual tools.”

Ye Minwei had long coveted Wen Ci’s skillful hands. Previously, she had proposed various ideas, but Wen Ci had refused to craft spiritual tools for her. Just a few days ago, to quickly create a “spiritual scale,” they had stayed up discussing all night. As soon as she finished drawing the design, Wen Ci had already made the item—and fifteen others besides.

His hands moved with such dexterity that Ye Minwei was eager to entrust him with all her ideas to bring them to life.

Wen Ci’s tempting offer was thus quite effective, and Ye Minwei immediately agreed.

Xie Yuzhu understood at once and said, “Then you must hold tightly to me! Don’t let us get separated. With your eyesight as it is, and it being nighttime with so many people coming and going, don’t get knocked over. And if you get stepped on, that would be terrible.”

No sooner had she spoken than a sudden explosion rang out nearby. Countless sparkling fragments flew into the air, scattering bright sparks. Xie Yuzhu gasped excitedly. Having been confined at home for years, she had never seen such fascinating things. She grabbed Ye Minwei’s hand and dashed forward, urging, “Quick, Master, let’s go see!”

Ye Minwei stumbled a few steps ahead, then raised both empty hands in confusion—Xie Yuzhu’s grip was nowhere to be found.

She glanced around and saw only a sea of blurred figures, unable to distinguish which black head was Xie Yuzhu’s. Standing quietly for a moment, she lowered her hands calmly and said, “Ah, we’ve already gotten separated.”

Now utterly alone and helpless, the world before her eyes was a bizarre spectacle. Most people would have panicked and called for help, but Ye Minwei remained composed. Hands clasped behind her back, she shuffled slowly forward through the crowd, apologizing when she stepped on someone’s foot and sidestepping when stepped on herself, carrying a mix of awkwardness and quiet dignity.

Suddenly, several small “monsters” appeared from the crowd, pointing at her and saying, “Isn’t this the old fairy who planted trees that day?”

Ye Minwei was tugged on the sleeve by these “little monsters” until she bent over. Their faces became clearer—they were the children who had been playing under the trees that day. Whether due to the festive spirit or some other reason, their faces were powdered white, with a red dot on their foreheads and rosy cheeks, resembling auspicious figures in traditional New Year paintings.

“Grandma, why are you alone here? There’s a fire-breathing performance over there. Aren’t you going to watch?” The tallest boy asked amid the noise of firecrackers and the crowd.

“I got separated from my friend,” Ye Minwei said, pointing at her eyes. “My eyesight isn’t good; I can’t see clearly.”

Her plight immediately stirred the children’s sympathy. When people are joyful, they often feel a sense of responsibility to share their happiness with those around them. These “little monsters” patted their chests and vowed to take the old lady along to play.

Page (2/3)

They were not “little monsters” at all, but the “Fortune Children” who followed the parade during the Festival of the Golden Deity, wishing blessings upon the townsfolk. The parade had not yet begun; the children had come out early to play. Visitors to the festival carried pouches filled with candies and melon seeds, called “colorful blessings,” which they exchanged with acquaintances to share good fortune.

When one met the “Fortune Children,” it was customary to give them some of these treats.

The little fortune children formed a line, darting about the street, each chanting in turn: “Harmony and health, wealth and longevity!”

Passersby laughed and responded with the same blessings, reaching into their pockets for their “colorful blessings” to hand out. At the end of this adorable, short procession suddenly appeared an elderly woman with a mask, her white hair peeking out. Two Fortune Children held her skirt from either side, guiding her forward. Sincerely and naturally, she stretched out her hand and repeated, “Harmony and health, wealth and longevity!”

“...”

The people of Ningyu were amazed. This year’s festival featured not only little Fortune Children but an old Fortune Child as well.

Thus, this “old Fortune Child” took advantage of the situation, spreading blessings to everyone she met and gathering a full hem’s worth of “colorful blessings” alongside the little ones. The little children, confident in their charm, strutted through the various performance areas. Being short, they could not see the shows well, so they pushed Ye Minwei to the front of the crowd with just a few tugs. Soon, Ye Minwei stood at the very front.

“Grandma, can you see well?” the children called out loudly, worried that she might be too far away to see clearly.

Thanks to their help, Ye Minwei watched stilt walkers, lion dances, saber performances, and waist drum beating. Had it not been for the fireworks display requiring distance, she would have moved closer to watch.

While Ye Minwei happily played with the Fortune Children, Xie Yuzhu regretted losing her master amid the excitement and searched the crowded streets frantically. But with the mass of people pressing in from all sides, running was difficult, let alone finding someone.

Xie Yuzhu thought to herself that perhaps it was her fate to lose her master. First, a gust of wind in Liangshan had whisked her master away, and now, as soon as she let go of her hand, she was lost again. She resolved to have Mr. Cangshu cast a divination for her soon. However, Mr. Cangshu was particular about the timing of such readings, resting for fifteen days during the equinoxes and solstices as a way to preserve health.

Right now, he was in one of those rest periods, and Xie Yuzhu wondered how his health regimen had ended up so complicated. Despite going to bed early and rising early, he remained thin and frail.

Lost in her thoughts, Xie Yuzhu suddenly collided headlong into someone. The man was a head taller than her, with a broad chest. She stumbled back, stars flashing before her eyes, but the man kindly steadied her.

She apologized profusely and looked up.

Before her stood a young man wearing a colorful lion-patterned mask. Tall and imposing, he was dressed in fine black satin, the collar revealing a red birthmark extending up to his chin. Seeing the quality of his clothing, Xie Yuzhu thought to herself that this was tribute satin, the kind her family shipped to the imperial palace each year. They barely had any for themselves.

“Why are you in such a hurry, miss?” he asked calmly.

Snapping back to reality, Xie Yuzhu suppressed her surprise and asked, “Have you seen an elderly white-haired woman a bit taller than me, wearing the same mask and with poor eyesight?”

The man paused, then repeated, “Your mask?”

“Yes, my… my… where is my mask?!” She reached to touch her mask but poked her bare skin instead, realizing it must have slipped off in the crowd.

Page (3/3)

She immediately covered her face, leaving only her eyes darting anxiously around, as alert as a frightened cat.

The man followed her gaze and understandingly asked, “Are you hiding from someone?”

Seeing no sign of her elder sister nearby, Xie Yuzhu felt slightly relieved but kept her face covered, only nodding awkwardly.

The man, understanding her plight, removed his own mask and handed it to her. “Then use mine.”

Gratefully, Xie Yuzhu looked up to see a handsome face beneath the mask.

The man appeared to be nearing thirty, with broad bones and deep-set features. Unlike Wen Ci’s sharp and almost ethereal beauty, his was a blunt but commanding handsomeness, impressive in its weightiness. Though smiling, his smile was deep and unfathomable.

His appearance, stature, and bearing all struck a chord with Xie Yuzhu’s heart.

She lowered her hands from her face, brushed back a strand of hair, accepted the mask, and smiled. “Thank you for your kindness. To meet during a festive occasion is fate indeed. May I ask your honorable name?”

The man smiled faintly, nodding. “My surname is Wei, my given name is Yuan.”

Xie Yuzhu was taken aback. “Wei Yuan? You share the same name as the traitorous lord of the Celestial City from the Xiaoyao Sect? What a coincidence! Hahaha… haha… ha…”

Her laughter faltered, and a cold sweat broke out on her back.

She thought: No way, right? With all the commotion in Ningyu Town, it wouldn’t be surprising to see nobles or princes. But could he really be the lord of Celestial City? The leader of the spiritual bandits, daring to show up in Ningyu Town—that’s like a mouse walking into a cat’s den. And… these days, even the bandit leaders wear tribute satin?

The man continued to smile, neither confirming nor denying, and replied, “Yes, quite a coincidence.”

He then tried to move forward, but Xie Yuzhu stretched out her arm and returned the mask to him. The girl in orange solemnly said, “Sir… you keep it. You need it more than I do.”

Without pressing further, she bowed politely, thanked him again, and continued covering her face to search for her master.

Wei Yuan watched the girl disappear into the crowd. Lowering his head, he examined the mask in his hand and smiled. “I never expected that Fu Guangzong still harbors such a great secret.”

Following the thick, lively crowd westward along the main street, the throng gradually thinned, and the atmosphere grew solemn. At the street’s end stood the county government office.

The county magistrate paced anxiously within, brow furrowed, clearly unable to enjoy the festival. He was troubled by the spiritual sects’ request to evacuate the townsfolk. His report to the governor of Jiazhou had just been sent the previous night, and there was no telling when a reply would come.

If he evacuated the people without authorization, and the volcano did not erupt or the evacuation was poorly handled, he would lose his head and the people would be left homeless. But if the volcano did erupt and the townsfolk could not escape in time, he too would die without a grave.

Caught between a rock and a hard place.

“Long time no see, Lord Zhang. You’ve lost weight,” a voice suddenly echoed in the hall, startling the magistrate.

He looked up to see a man dressed in black seated inside. With a wave of his hand, the nearby teapot floated up and poured tea into a cup.