Chapter 22 Xie Zhuo was stunned, a smile appearing in his eyes…

Xie Zhuo was taken aback, but the smile in his eyes deepened, and he affectionately nudged Xie Baoqiong's head against him:

"I'm fine. The smell on me is probably from when I was checking the animals that were slaughtered for the sacrifice."

Xie Baoqiong's gaze swept over Xie Zhuo from top to bottom, keenly catching a dark spot on the tip of Xie Zhuo's shoe and the hem of his clothes.

He considered himself to have a less sensitive sense of smell than a fox, and upon hearing this, he had no doubt.

"Go play by yourself first, Dad will change his clothes and then come to play with you." Xie Zhuo's gaze swept over Xie Baoqiong's face, which had been contorted since she smelled the scent, and he silently distanced himself.

...

As dawn broke on the second day...

The area where the campfire had been the previous night had been cleaned up, and a huge wooden altar had been erected in the empty space.

On the high platform, a young figure in black stood with his hands at his sides.

Xie Zhuo and his ministers stood on either side of the altar.

As the first rays of dawn broke through the horizon, a drumbeat, seemingly from the past, resounded.

The ethereal sounds of bells and chimes, accompanied by the low chanting of shamans, drifted across the fields.

After the next drumbeat, the prepared herbs were tossed into the burning flames by several masked palace servants, sending up wisps of colorful smoke that drifted into the sky.

Another drumbeat.

The sounds around the altar suddenly ceased.

The figure in black on the stage shouted:

"On the auspicious day of the second month of spring, in the nineteenth year of Tianheng, the year of Gengzi, Crown Prince Yan, by order of the Emperor, respectfully presents fine wine, delicacies, fine rice and meat offerings, and jade and silk."

This is proclaimed to the spirits of the Azure Emperor of the East, the Spring God Jumang, and all the sages and ancestors:

...

May you accept this offering! ①

After the young heir finished reciting the final prayer, he threw the eulogy into the flames below.

A wisp of smoke rose straight into the sky.

Lin Yan stepped down from the high platform, and several shamans wearing masks and shamanic robes leaped onto the altar.

The drums sounded again, and after a stirring tone, the drumbeats became more intense, resounding like thunder throughout the land.

As the drumbeats softened, the sound of the guqin quietly joined the music.

The shaman on the stage chanted prayers to the gods, turning the ancient bell in his hand in time with the music.

The music was solemn yet ethereal.

Until a flute note broke through the music, light and abrupt.

The music in the room suddenly became more relaxed and cheerful during a transition in tone, blending with the flute music.

The smoke rising from the flames gradually gathered into a cloud in the air.

"Smack!"

With a crack of a whip, the white mist was pierced.

A blue ox draped in colorful ropes emerged from the breaking fog.

A boy in blue robes with two topknots, sitting cross-legged above an ox, gradually emerged from the clouds and mist. However, his face, revealed after the clouds dispersed, was hidden behind a Fuwa mask.

The mask was slightly lifted by its owner, revealing a short flute across the exposed mouth area.

Xie Baoqiong slowly appeared before the people, playing a short flute.

The crowd below followed the sound of the flute and looked up at the "cowherd" on the ox.

But then the "shepherd boy" stepped onto the altar with the oxen, hooked the bamboo flute in his hand, and in a flash, the flute transformed into a shepherd's whip, which Xie Baoqiong held in her hand.

He cracked his whip and chanted, "The spring breeze blows, the winter snow melts, the spring god descends to earth to sow life."

As soon as he finished speaking, the ox raised its head and let out a groan.

Everyone held their breath and stared intently at the thin mist rising in the air, following the direction the blue ox was looking up.

Only one person's gaze shifted from the crowd to Xie Baoqiong, who stood on the back of the ox, looking different from usual.

Xie Zhuo's gaze shifted downwards, sweeping over the ox that looked anything but ordinary, before settling on Xie Baoqiong's naturally upturned lips.

The hand inside the sleeve clenched and then relaxed.

The music gradually became ethereal and lingering.

Xie Zhuo seemed to ignore him.

It wasn't until another voice drifted from the horizon that Xie Zhuo followed everyone's gaze and looked up.

A person with wings on their back rode in on a dragon, their voice clear and melodious:

"I am the god of spring. I am moved by your sincerity, and now I will break the ice and nourish all things."

Lin Zhechun lightly waved his sleeve, and the dragon beneath his feet roared to the sky. Thunder rumbled in the distance, and the drums of the altar sounded simultaneously.

A light drizzle fell, but it did not wet the clothes of the people below.

The flames around the altar burned even brighter in the rain.

When the rain finally falls to the ground, it turns into rice seedlings.

At this moment, Lin Zhechun raised his hand and pointed at Xie Baoqiong, his eyes filled with pity:

"Shepherd boy, take your whip and drive the oxen."

"I will obey the decree of the Spring God."

Xie Baoqiong raised her shepherd's whip high, cracking it with a crisp sound.

The blue ox beneath him weaved through the gaps in the rice seedlings and headed towards the crowd.

"Spring God bestows blessings, and oxen plow the way!"

The whip was raised high and lashed into the air, producing a hollow sound.

The green ox passed through the spiritual energy and transformed into a seedling. In an instant, a patch of green shoots sprouted behind it, bearing golden ears of grain.

Xie Baoqiong floated on a golden wave, carried by the golden waves to Xie Zhuo. The wind whipped up the wheat fields, brushing against Xie Zhuo's robes, and her blue figure disappeared into the distance.

,

The boy in green lashed out with his whip one last time, and the green ox stepped into the center of the crowd, transforming into a spring breeze that stirred up golden tassels, scattering them across the fields.

Shouts erupted from the crowd:

May the country be prosperous and the people at peace!

As the blue mist dissipated, the "God of Spring" and the boy in blue robes disappeared from everyone's sight.

May people live long and enjoy abundant harvests!

Xie Zhuo looked up and gazed into the distance at the dispersing mist; only the golden tassels remained amidst the bustling crowd.

May the weather be favorable and the harvest plentiful!

A sudden east wind swept across the fields, brushing against the low grass and rustling Xie Zhuo's clothes.

He raised his hand to shield his eyes from the blinding wind.

He lowered his hand, opened his palm, and there was a golden tassel in his hand.

Xie Zhuo tightened his fingers, but the tassels formed from spiritual energy could not leave any mark on his palm.

He spread his hands, the resentment in his eyes lingering, but eventually turned into relief, and scattered the ears of grain in his hands into the field.

—

On the other side, Xie Baoqiong, who had been taken to a secluded place by Lin Zhechun, removed the mask from her face:

"Your Excellency, how did I perform just now?"

He retracted the magically conjured wings behind Lin Zhechun and praised, "Well done."

Another strange, loud voice rang out from the side, mimicking, "Well done. Lord Lin actually has a day when he praises people."

“I remember your true form wasn’t a parrot.” Lin Zhechun smoothed his sleeves and calmly thrust back.

Xie Baoqiong was drawn to Chisong's voice and hid behind Lin Zhechun, peering at Chisong.

Chisong is a dragon, a Jiaolong, a Jiaolong missing a claw and a horn.

Although the clouds and mist obscured the view when Lin Zhechun was riding the Spring God's mount, he could clearly see when Lin Zhechun entered the clouds and mist that the dragon's horns had been completely flattened, leaving only a smooth cross-section.

"What are you looking at?" A soft shout pulled Xie Baoqiong back to reality.

Chishong noticed him at some point, and glared at him with his beast-like eyes.

Xie Baoqiong silently shrank back behind Lin Zhechun.

"Why are you taking out your resentment on him?" Lin Zhechun stood firmly in front of Xie Baoqiong.

Chishong glanced at Lin Zhechun with a cool expression and sneered, "Lin Zhechun, do you really think you're a savior?"

Immediately, Chishong's gaze shifted slightly to the left, looking at the hem of Lin Zhechun's clothes peeking out from behind him, his voice casual:

"Kid, he's not a good person. There aren't many good people among humans."

After offering his advice to Xie Baoqiong, Chisong waved his hand and said, "Alright, Lord Lin, please don't bother. I can't match your eloquence."

After saying that, he walked past the two of them and left.

Lin Zhechun turned around and met Xie Baoqiong's curious gaze: "Don't pay attention to what he said. I have other things to do. I'll have someone take you back."

Xie Baoqiong politely declined Lin Zhechun's offer and turned to leave, unaware of Lin Zhechun's slightly furrowed brow.

His thoughts were still on Akamatsu's words, and he felt puzzled.

If you hate humans, why don't you live in seclusion and instead do work for them?

Before he could figure out the problem, someone blocked his way: "Thank you, fellow Daoist!"

Xie Baoqiong lifted her eyes; the newcomers were the Sang siblings, whom she had met just yesterday.

"What brings you here today?"

Sang waved his hand and said, "My brother and I have already resolved the matter of seeking Fellow Daoist Xie yesterday. I have come today to say goodbye."

"Resolved?" Xie Baoqiong asked in confusion, as he had not yet heard the news.

"The two sides were still negotiating compensation, but for some reason, one of your people suddenly confessed to the crime and committed suicide after leaving behind evidence," Sang Wei said.

Sang frowned: "Fellow Daoist Xie, please be on your guard." Then, she relaxed her brows: "However, I believe that with Fellow Daoist Xie's strength, you should be no threat."

Xie Baoqiong thanked Sang Ji for his kindness: "I'm just waiting for them to come to me..." He suddenly stopped halfway through his sentence.

Sang chuckled softly, "It seems Fellow Daoist Xie has his own plans."

After saying that, she looked into the distance, a hint of melancholy in her eyes, and said, "The matter here is settled. My brother and I will not be going down the mountain again for some time."

But when he looked at Xie Baoqiong again, his resolve hardened.

"Thank you, fellow Daoist. We'll meet again in the cultivation world someday."

With your talent, I'm sure we'll meet again soon.

Sang Wei put his arm around his sister's shoulder and turned to look at Xie Baoqiong: "Fellow Daoist Xie, until we meet again."

"Until we meet again."

...

By the time Xie Baoqiong found Xie Zhuo, the spring festival ceremony was almost over.

When Xie Zhuo saw him, he did not go up and grab him as he usually did.

Xie Baoqiong assumed that Xie Zhuo was just being considerate of others and had a thin skin.

After all, Xie Zhuo had told him that day that if he waited until he was older to hold hands with someone, people would laugh at him.

Humans always have a strange sense of shame, and Xie Zhuo is clearly concerned about saving face.

Although he looks exactly the same as he did that day, Xie Baoqiong still stopped a step away from Xie Zhuo.

"Father!" But her hand couldn't help itself and instinctively reached out to tug at Xie Zhuo's clothes.

Xie Zhuo neither dodged away nor came to take his hand.

Are you happy today?

Xie Baoqiong, without suspecting anything, nodded emphatically: "Yes!"

Xie Zhuo touched the top of his head, but his lowered eyes lacked their usual smile.

Something's not right. Something's extremely wrong.

If it weren't for Xie Zhuo's feelings, he would have gone closer to listen to Xie Zhuo's heartbeat.

Before Xie Baoqiong could figure it out, Xie Zhuo bent down and straightened his clothes.

Then he raised his hand and touched his face, his eyes flashing but his expression serious, and said:

"Little Bao, do you want to cultivate immortality?"

A note from the author:

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Note: ① The format of the memorial text is for reference.