Chapter Fifty-Eight: Iron Flowers Offer Auspiciousness, Flowing Fire Reflects...
After a brief commotion, a group of people poured into the flower shed that had been set up in front of the open space. The crowd immediately fell silent, holding their breath and craning their necks in anticipation. In the quiet night, only a few sparks crackled.
A powerful and long-lasting horn sound slowly rose, its deep and steady tone resonating through the heavens and earth. In the flower shed, a torch was raised high, and a man in a thin jacket stood at the head of the procession, shouting as if making a declaration: "Open the furnace!"
The scene instantly erupted in excitement. Molten iron, glowing red, flowed from the clay furnace. A group of shirtless young men, carrying willow sticks, ran past the furnace in quick succession to the beat of a drum. The dragon dance had already taken flight in the field, its head held high, seemingly anticipating something.
"With a victory, the government is in good order and the people are at peace; iron flowers bring good fortune!"
With a loud "bang," the craftsman raised the willow wood high into the air, and in an instant, the world was brightened. Countless scorching golden iron sparks rained down like crushed stars, shattering the sun and scattering golden scales across the ground. The sparks of stars were scattered throughout the Milky Way, igniting the heavens and the earth.
Sparks of intense golden light shimmered in everyone's eyes. Everyone was so stunned by the magnificent scene before them that they were speechless, simply sitting there holding their cups, as if they had melted their hearts into the dazzling brilliance of the world, unable to move an inch.
"Two strikes bring a hundred blessings from heaven, and the whole nation rejoices!"
"Great!" Yang Xiao seemed unable to contain her emotions either. She slammed her hand on the table, stood up, and clapped and cheered. Her eyes reflected the sparkling stars, as if she had shattered the stars in the Milky Way. The warm light that followed shone on her smiling face, resonating with the ambition in her heart.
My heart pounded with the drumbeats, and my emotions surged with every rise and fall of the sparks from the iron. My lofty ambitions were long forgotten, overshadowed by the magnificent scenery before me, or perhaps they merged with the rising and falling sparks of metal, scattering across the earth, stirring endlessly in the vast天地 (heaven and earth).
Everyone stood up, cheering for the magnificent scene before them. The sky full of sparks seemed to respond to everyone's longing for a so-called prosperous era, transforming into the most dazzling fireworks that overwhelmed everyone's eyes, like a jar of strong liquor igniting someone's taste buds, and then enveloping their heart with its rich and mellow flavor.
With each rise and fall of the iron sparks, the fire dragon waved its tail and coiled up in the flower shed, seemingly possessing the inexhaustible vitality of a wildfire, or the unstoppable and indomitable momentum of a righteous army conquering the Central Plains.
The interplay of firelight spilled onto Zhong Li'an, casting patches of warmth and heat onto his white robe. He looked up, his eyes drawn to the dazzling display of fire, and involuntarily took two steps forward. "If only it could be like this every year..." he murmured involuntarily, "how wonderful that would be."
Qi Kun also stepped forward, standing beside Zhong Li'an, and said, "It will definitely happen."
"May our land be forever secure, and our peace last for ten generations!"
As the drumbeats reached their peak, the sparks surged upwards like a raging torrent, spreading across the heavens and earth like stars falling from the Milky Way. Time seemed to stand still at that moment, as countless sparks, reflecting the stars, all fell into the wine jar that Zhong Lishuo had lifted.
Looking at the magnificent spectacle, he couldn't help but laugh heartily. He downed a jug of strong liquor, looked up at the fireworks, and exclaimed, "With such a magnificent sight, how can we worry that this golden age will never end! Men!" He smiled and turned to the soldiers behind him, "Bring me your swords!"
Before long, the soldier presented the seven-foot-long sword with both hands. The ancient wooden hilt and scabbard appeared unparalleled in their steadiness under the smoke and fire, yet they also seemed to radiate a fierce fighting spirit, questioning the nature of the contest.
Zhong Lishuo gripped the hilt of the sword with satisfaction, then looked up at the soldier with a smile, "Here you go." His starry eyes revealed sharpness and boldness. With a clang, the long sword was drawn from its sheath. The cool moonlight and the heat of the firelight reflected each other on the blade, then flashed by and merged into one.
He raised his wrist and held the knife horizontally, pouring the remaining half-jar of wine onto the blade. Then, he picked up the dagger and strode towards the flower shed.
With just a flick of his wrist, the tip of his blade shot into the brazier, and in the next instant, flames leaped up the blade like a dragon. The seven-foot-long sword burst into flames, the arrogant firelight reflecting off Zhong Lishuo's unrestrained and haughty smile, its aura no less impressive than the dazzling display of firework earlier.
"Where is the glorious age of a thousand years now? We must look to the future! May Chang'an be established!"
With a shout, war drums thundered, fire dragons danced in the peaceful world, and long blades cleaved through towering mountains. Today we raise our cups in celebration, tomorrow we'll traverse mountains and rivers together. Why worry about treacherous villains stirring up chaos? They will all turn into lamps, fire, and smoke.
Long blades danced, their tips sparkling, their power overwhelming the vast land. Stars fell from the trees, auspicious flames surged like waves, transforming into phoenixes carrying good fortune to the heavens. The bright river flowed, lanterns lit the sky, all together heading towards a grand and prosperous Chang'an.
"Good!" The flaming saber swirled and emitted smoke, its rainbow-like momentum sweeping across the flower shed. The flames flowing from the blade's tip burned fiercely in everyone's hearts like strong liquor. With each swing, the fiery waterfalls that swept out gradually blurred everyone's vision, making it hard to tell whether this was an illusion or reality.
Looking at the magnificent and prosperous scene, Bai Ming unconsciously let out a soft sigh of relief. He turned around and looked at Yang Xiao behind him, only to see her eyes filled with misty haze, but she still had a smile on her face as she leaned comfortably against the back of the chair.
"Lingyu?" Bai Ming frowned slightly, his eyes filled with concern as he quietly walked around to Yang Xiao's side and softly asked, "Are you alright?"
Yang Xiao, her face flushed, seemed completely unaware of Bai Ming's arrival. She looked up at Zhong Lishuo's blazing blade, which in her eyes resembled fiery dragons piercing the curtain of night, riding the wind and dispelling all evil spirits in the city.
"How wonderful..." she murmured unconsciously, picking up the teacup on the table and taking a sip. The slightly cool tea seemed to bring her back to her senses, and she looked up and realized that someone seemed to be missing from the crowd.
"Something's not right," she sat up, rubbing her groggy forehead. "Where did Bai Ming go?" she asked, looking around. She then patted the "real Bai Ming" standing beside her and looked up to ask, "Have you seen Bai Ming?"
Bai Ming stared at Yang Xiao's dazed expression, then pointed at himself in disbelief before laughing. He gently took Yang Xiao's arm, which was pointing erratically, and pointed to his collar. "Xiao, look again. Who am I?"
Yang Xiao winked at Bai Ming, then yawned deeply, rubbed her eyes, and leaned closer to Bai Ming's face to examine him closely.
"Ah Xiao, you..." Bai Ming was startled by the sudden closeness, and his cheeks immediately burned. He released Yang Xiao's hand, involuntarily looked away, and gently pressed the back of his hand against his burning cheek. He looked back at Yang Xiao, whose eyes were full of drunkenness, and couldn't help but frown. "It's so cold, get some rest and don't catch a cold."
Before she could finish speaking, Cen Xun walked over with a cup of hot tea, smiling lightly. "Why don't you take advantage of this beautiful day and have a heart-to-heart talk with our Lingyu?"
Seeing this, Bai Ming also stood up and smiled at Cen Xun, cupping his fists in greeting. "I've thought about that too, but..." He turned to look at Yang Xiao, shook his head with a light laugh, "I'm afraid there won't be a chance today."
Zhong Lishuo had long since extinguished the flame at the tip of the blade and was leaning against the side wiping the blade. Cen Xun looked back at the faded ashes and lingering smoke and couldn't help but smile as he placed the tea on the table, "Next time, you should come earlier."
The dust has settled, and the splendor of the moment seems like a dream, yet it is imprinted in everyone's mind, and the passion and joy in their hearts still linger.
Bai Ming looked back at the gray night sky, let out a sigh of relief, glanced deeply at Yang Xiao, and then nodded with a light smile at Cen Xun, "If there is an opportunity next time, I will definitely give myself to her completely."
“Opportunities don’t just come by waiting, Zhaoqing,” Cen Xun said with a smile, shaking his head at Bai Ming. “For things like this, let’s not wait for Lingyu to take the initiative, shall we?”
Bai Ming nodded slightly, but before he could reply, Yang Xiao suddenly mumbled as if she had just woken up, "Who called me? What do I want?"
Seeing this, Cen Xun couldn't help but smile and shake her head. She leaned down and gently tapped Yang Xiao's head, "You, you can't drink but you still insist on drinking. Now, you're drunk after just one cup?"
“Who said I was drunk?” Yang Xiao brushed Cen Xun’s hand away and yawned, “I’m not drunk.”
Cen Xun looked up and met Bai Ming's gaze, then chuckled and shook his head. "You, still saying you're not drunk? You can't even see Bai Zhaoqing standing there like that."
Before she could finish speaking, Zhong Lishuo, who had finished tidying up, came around the table and entered. "What's going on?" His voice and the sound of his boots clattering in the snow came from afar. He walked behind Cen Xun, gently put his arm around her shoulder, looked ahead, and couldn't help but laugh. "Drunk again?"
“Who says otherwise?” Cen Xun turned around and smiled at Zhong Lishuo. “She got so drunk after just one drink. I’ll have to carry her back later.”
Zhong Lishuo couldn't help but laugh upon hearing this. "She's just being stubborn," he patted Cen Xun's shoulder and then nodded at Bai Ming. "How was my sword dance just now?"
Bai Ming chuckled and nodded at him, "Lighting a fire to slay the horse/knife, you really came up with that idea. Fire wards off evil spirits, it's a perfect New Year's scene."
Cen Xun also turned around and gently brushed away the dust from Zhong Lishuo's face, "You have already shown your compassion for the common people. You are truly worthy of this."
"Beautiful!" Yang Xiao seemed to have just heard Zhong Lishuo's question and exclaimed in a half-awake state, startling the three people beside her.
Zhong Lishuo was taken aback when he saw this. He glanced at Yang Xiao with a hint of disbelief, then shook his head with a smile, "Why don't you argue with me anymore when you're drunk?"
“It’s rare for Lingyu not to tease you,” Cen Xun said with a smile, tapping Zhong Lishuo’s nose. “Alright, it’s getting late. You go and keep the lord and the strategist company. I’ll take Lingyu back.”
“I’ll go with you,” Bai Ming stopped Cen Xun with a slight frown before Zhong Lishuo could say anything. “It’s so late, I’m worried about Lingyu.”
Seeing this, Zhong Lishuo raised his hand and patted Bai Ming's shoulder, "Don't worry, she and Tong Xi won't fight."
"Yude, you..."
"Alright, alright," Zhong Lishuo couldn't help but laugh, interrupting Bai Ming's unfinished teasing, "I'm relieved that you're going with her. I won't go with you then. I'll go with my brother to arrange some things."
Bai Mingsai's words turned into a helpless smile. He shook his head helplessly, looked up at Zhong Lishuo, and said, "Then we'll take our leave first."
“Okay,” Zhong Lishuo said, waving to the people behind him with a smile as he walked forward. “When I see Lingyu tomorrow, I’ll definitely tell her how she was dragged back tonight.”
After everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, they departed in high spirits. Meanwhile, during this joyous New Year's Eve, an envoy once again picked up his backpack, shook the snow off his head, and set off eastward from Nanyang once more.
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