On the west side of Murhe City, there is a very spacious sacrificial site called the Youyin Altar.
During various celebrations every year, the Youyin Altar can accommodate thousands of people at the same time, and the altar is surrounded by high-end restaurants and hotels to provide a place for wealthy people to rest after the sacrifices.
The most eye-catching feature of the Youyin Altar is the massive, sky-high tower in its center. This ancient wooden tower, so ancient it has weathered countless dynasties, is called the Pingxiao Pagoda. Due to its wooden construction, the carved wooden fences on the outside have eroded and decayed over the years, revealing the pagoda's interior. The tower's core pillar is a towering pine tree, so tall that it's enough for three people to hug. The tower consists of seven stories, each with towering beams and pillars. The top floor soars into the clouds, seemingly soaring above them when the clouds surge. On a clear day, one can see as far as the Hun River, where it flows eastward into Guantian Gorge. It is truly the tallest building in Huozhou.
And the Zhu Ming Festival is held in this giant tower every year.
The name "Zhu Ming" comes from the vibrant red of the radiant jasmine flowers, which bloom in full bloom in late spring and early summer. On the day of the festival, priests would take a bunch of the most beautiful jasmine flowers and make a garland, which they would hang atop the highest point of the Pingxiao Pagoda. After the bells inside the pagoda ring, whoever first picks the garland and wears it on their head will become the chief priest for that year, personally offering precious offerings to the gods.
The people of Huozhou respect this tradition very much and regard being able to offer sacrifices to the gods with their own hands as the most noble thing. The enthusiasm of the participants is unprecedentedly high and the competition is quite fierce. Every year there are participants falling from the tower, and those who fall are often either dead or disabled. Even so, it still cannot stop the enthusiasm for the Zhuming Festival the following year.
This year's Zhu Ming Festival seems to be more lively than previous years.
This brings us to the story of the city's wealthy Zou family, who presented a beautiful jade they had acquired to the ceremony. The Zou family had been in a state of turmoil recently, and everyone was incredibly curious about what kind of exceptional jade could possess such magical powers.
Even before the bell rang, the flower-picking crowd had already gathered beneath the wooden pagoda, many bowing their heads in prayer, hoping the gods would grant them the strength to snatch the flowers. Several prime starting points were already packed with people, and Xiao Nanhui, standing among the well-prepared participants, felt a bit out of place.
Especially after hearing the rules, she felt a little regretful. In fact, when it comes to light work, Shrike is naturally more skilled, but she has a fatal weakness: fear of heights. Any height higher than the roof of a one-story house is a bottomless abyss for Shrike.
Xiao Nanhui's limbs were never so nimble. She had been raised in the military, where wrestling was a favorite sport. As a woman, Xiao Nanhui wasn't much of an advantage in height or weight, but her long experience in wrestling had honed her lower body to a very stable and reliable form, which proved helpful this time.
Apart from that, it depends on the level of this year's participants.
What a shame! The Zhuming Festival doesn't allow participants to bring any weapons or tools; they must climb barehanded. If she could bring her own weapons, even if they really came to blows at that height, few would be able to defeat her.
But how many people in the martial arts world use guns? Most of them use swords and hidden weapons. Shrike's worry is not entirely unreasonable. She didn't reveal her true identity when she was on the Dusk River. Now, with so many people watching, she can't be too conspicuous.
Never mind, it's just a matter of forcing her to do something. How could she be afraid when she's been to the battlefield?
Following a sharp whistle, the burly man guarding the huge bronze bell pushed the bell pestle.
The sound of bells echoed melodiously from the center of the Youyin Altar. Countless figures that were ready to go leaped up and headed towards the tall tower, and the crowd watching also became excited.
At the very beginning, Xiao Nanhui realized that what she had thought before was too simple. This was her first time participating. Although she had good physical fitness, she had no practical experience at all. Many people around her were obviously veterans. They knew exactly which beams could be stepped on and which ones could not bear the weight, let alone the skills of climbing the tower.
After a cup of tea, Xiao Nan fell behind quite a bit, but he gradually mastered some tricks and climbed faster and faster. After another half an incense stick of time, those who had taken the lead at the beginning began to lose some strength and their speed slowed down significantly. Xiao Nan, with his outstanding endurance, gradually caught up.
However, the closer you get to the top of the tower, the stronger the wind becomes, and the beams surrounding the tower's core become increasingly sparse. Climbers have to slow down their pace and step carefully, because starting from the fifth floor, if you fall down accidentally, you will be in great danger.
The wind blew the sweat from Xiao Nanhui's face into her eyes. She paused for a moment to catch her breath, observing the others around her who were also approaching the top of the tower. A figure not far to her left caught her eye. The figure, though short, was surprisingly agile. But that wasn't what caught Xiao Nanhui's attention; it was the cloth covering their face that caught her eye.
Most people who attend the Zhuming Festival do so to show their faces. If someone risks their life to attend but deliberately hides their true face, that would be extremely suspicious. This person likely has the same purpose as her, and to avoid being recognized later, he has already begun preparations.
The man had his hair tied into a ponytail, revealing his forehead and sideburns. Xiao Nanhui looked at him from a distance and felt that he might not be very old, but his eyes showed experience and ruthlessness. His bony hands tightly grasped a mortise and nail. He saw the opportunity and kicked another participant beside him down. The kick was so fierce that Xiao Nanhui thought he heard the sound of the man's sternum breaking.
Although it was obviously not the time to watch the fun, Xiao Nanhui was still shocked by the first tragedy he witnessed.
This Zhu Ming Sacrifice was even more violent and bloody than she had imagined. She really regretted agreeing to those bastards outside. Now she was neither superior nor inferior.
My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!
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