Chapter 103 Ritual and Sacrifice
At the breakfast stall.
The old man forgot to put down his chopsticks and walked straight to the pretty young girl holding a blue paper butterfly flower. He lowered his head and suddenly asked:
"What's this?"
Aqing was taken aback. She looked up at the old man in front of her, whom she had only spoken to three times, and asked timidly, "Is this what you're asking about?"
The old swordsmith stared intently at the unusual blue butterfly flower, pointing at it and asking repeatedly:
"What's this?"
Aqing whispered, "A butterfly flower, folded from paper."
"Of course I know it's a butterfly flower... How did you come up with the idea of using a Pythagorean theorem to create an arc?"
Aqing shook her head: "I didn't fold it. It was a gift from the master. He said it's called iris folding."
"Iris folds..."
The old swordsmith muttered something, then suddenly raised his hand and pulled a handful of copper coins from his pocket:
"Let me take a look. Here's the money. How much do you want?"
Aqing immediately shook her head.
The old swordsmith frowned, about to raise the price, but the pretty young girl handed him a blue butterfly origami: "Aqing doesn't need money, old man, just remember to return it to Aqing... This was given to Aqing by a very important person."
The old swordsmith accepted the sword without a word and silently returned to his original seat.
The old man held a clean blue origami butterfly flower in his rough, blackened hands. He lowered his head, furrowed his brows, and stretched out a withered finger to slowly trace the curve of the butterfly flower petals, as if outlining them. His face was lost in thought.
Many of the female workers around Aqing shook their heads at the rude and eccentric old man, but Aqing seemed to be used to his personality and showed no reproach on her face.
A pretty young girl in a cloth skirt picked up a half-woven sword tassel and busied herself with it.
As the morning sun gradually rises higher and approaches midnight, the number of diners in the open-air stalls gradually decreases.
In front of the table in the corner, the strange old man was still engrossed in a childish origami piece that only a child would be interested in.
Aqing and her fellow female workers from Suigong packed their cloth bags, preparing to go to work at the workshop.
Just then, a thin-lipped female worker arrived late. As soon as she entered the shop, she went straight to Aqing and stretched out her hand:
Where is the stuff?
Aqing bent down and took out one of the two exquisite sword tassels she had woven that morning, and handed it to her.
The thin-lipped woman snatched both of them from Aqing's hands, looked them over, and seemed to be choosing the prettier one.
Aqing lowered her head and remained silent.
Every day at the sword tassel workshop, the female workers have to hand in a sword tassel. Ah Qing has to prepare two tassels every day, one for the thin-lipped female tassel worker in front of her who is much older than her.
The thin-lipped female worker suddenly asked, "Where did you go yesterday afternoon? Were you slacking off at work?"
Aqing waved her hand: "No...no, I asked the workshop for leave and celebrated my birthday at home yesterday..."
The thin-lipped female craftswoman flipped her hands, collecting both sword tassels, and left without looking back, coldly uttering a sentence:
"They're all mine. You didn't offer tribute yesterday, so don't even think about making excuses to be lazy. What kind of birthday celebration does a poor girl like you have?"
Aqing stood there, frozen in place, at a loss for what to do.
The female workers from Guangzhou nearby all looked away, pretending not to see anything, and packed up their things to leave.
This thin-lipped female worker who extorts protection money and bullies others has some connections in the workshop. She's not someone ordinary female workers like us who just want to make a living can afford to mess with. If we meddle, we'll get in trouble.
As for this companion named Aqing, she was simply unlucky. She had just started working at the workshop when she was disliked and bullied... Sometimes it's not good for poor women to be pretty and delicate, as they are easily envied by other women, especially if they are also gentle and weak.
The pretty young girl twisted her fingers together, her face anxiously looking around. Clearly, she was going to be punished by the workshop manager for not being able to hand in the sword tassel this morning.
But no one helped her.
Aqing hurriedly grabbed the cloth bag from the ground, ran away from the breakfast stall, and before leaving, she remembered something. In her haste, she glanced at the old man who was studying the origami of blue butterfly flowers not far away. She hesitated for a moment, then called out to him. The strange old man ignored her, so she gave him a helpless reminder and left.
The old swordsmith remained completely oblivious to all the commotion outside, his mind wandering far away even though he was in the middle of the bustling city.
After the female workers left, no customers came for a long time. The breakfast shop was about to close, and the old man was urged by others to stop before he finally looked away.
Coming to his senses, he silently looked up, but didn't see the pretty young girl. He didn't care. The old man, carrying a wine pot and holding origami, left the morning market and returned to Jianlu.
The old swordsmith was no longer tired at this moment.
My footsteps were quick on the mountain path.
It seemed as if he was in a hurry to go back and jot down a fleeting thought.
Soon, the old man arrived at the Jia Yi Sword Furnace halfway up the mountain.
"Old sir, how are the swords from Jia San Sword Forge?"
In front of the thatched hut, a sickly-looking young man in brocade robes, who seemed to have been waiting for a long time, immediately stepped forward to greet him.
He looked with considerable curiosity at the old man's strange combination of carrying a wine jug and holding paper flowers.
The old swordsmith didn't even glance at him, pushing the door open and disappearing inside. But before the door slammed shut, the old man's hoarse voice could still be heard:
"That little thing from the Jia San Sword Furnace is done. He'll be in seclusion for the next few days, so don't bother me."
Liu Zian was taken aback, then delighted, and immediately replied, "Yes!"
However, the old man behind the door probably couldn't hear this reply anymore.
Liu Zian didn't care about this, as if he had long been used to the old swordsmith's eccentric nature.
He, who had been looking gloomy lately, breathed a sigh of relief. The young man in brocade robes paced back and forth twice, as if pondering something, then turned his head and waved to someone in the distance.
A steward dressed in blue tiptoed to Liu Zian's side.
The latter pondered, "Didn't the old man go to buy wine? Why did he bring back... a paper flower?"
The steward in blue immediately recounted everything he had seen and heard.
Not long after.
"Alright, I understand. Thank you for your hard work. You can go now."
Liu Zian waved his hand, and the steward in blue respectfully withdrew.
"Blue paper butterfly flowers... Is this a memory that has been stirred up for the old gentleman, or... is it related to the sword...?"
He stood there, his expression thoughtful.
After a moment, the young man in brocade shook his head, gave up his investigation, and turned to leave.
However, he did not immediately descend the mountain.
Liu Zian turned a corner and walked up a mountain along a secluded mountain path.
The mountain where the Jia Yi Sword Furnace is located is called Xiao Gu Shan, which has a similar name to Da Gu Shan, which has Donglin Temple in the suburbs. It is located on the west bank of the Butterfly Creek, facing Penglang Ferry across the river.
The Liu family mansion was also built on this mountain, but it was located in the belly of the mountain, near the foot of the mountain, and on the west side.
To the east of Xiaogushan, the ancient Yue sword shops' forges occupy the area.
Liu Zian followed the path along the ridge, watching the howling wind, all the way to the top of the mountain.
There is a solitary temple at the top of the mountain.
Judging from the worn-out plaque at the entrance, this is a Dragon King Temple.
However, it was not among the deities officially included in the sacrificial rites of the Great Zhou Dynasty.
In other words, this was what the government called a lewd cult.
However, if there are elderly people who have lived in Longcheng County for a long time here, they will definitely tremble with fear upon seeing it.
This Dragon King Temple was once a well-known place in Longcheng County.
That was before Master Di was demoted to magistrate of Longcheng County.
As is well known, the Wu and Yue regions are rife with licentious rituals, where illnesses are left untreated and people rely on shamans; some even kill people to sacrifice to ghosts.
In many remote towns and villages of Jiangnan Circuit, there were such illicit cults.
The same was true of Longcheng County, which was once frequently plagued by floods. In fact, according to the Longcheng County Annals, the name of Longcheng County came from this. In the past, the people believed that the annual floods in Longcheng were the wrath of the Dragon King, and that regular sacrifices and offerings were necessary.
So back then in Longcheng County, the people worshipped the Dragon King, and a group of priests, using the Dragon King's name, gained the trust of the people and built the Dragon King Temple.
Furthermore, all matters, large and small, in the city required orders to be issued by the priests in the name of the Dragon King. Even officials of all ranks in the city had to bow down and pay homage to the Dragon King and the priests before they could take office and gain the trust of the people.
All of this continued until Master Di took office as the magistrate of Longcheng County. After a fierce struggle, he finally eliminated the group of seductive priests, burned down all the wicked shrines within Longcheng, and swept away the perverse customs and evil practices.
Few people remember what happened back then.
Only dilapidated temples remained within the territory.
However, some superstition about the Dragon King still lingers in the hearts of the people of Longcheng. The young county magistrate had previously heard such stories when he inquired among the people about the destruction of the Di Gong Gate.
There was even a rumor that a young county magistrate had fallen into the water at Longshou Bridge shortly after taking office, which led to the speculation that he had angered the Dragon King…
Liu Zian arrived at the lonely temple on the mountaintop, looked up at the plaque on the door, knocked on the door, then stepped back and waited quietly in front of the door.
This Dragon King Temple is considered the best-preserved one in Longcheng County.
If we're talking about superstition, there's another group in Longcheng County who are even more superstitious about ghosts and gods than ordinary people.
That is the craftsman.
Back then, Liu Ziwen and Liu Zian inherited the family business and worked to integrate the many sword shops and craftsmen on the west bank of Butterfly Creek.
So they rebuilt a Dragon King Temple and hired some priests who pretended to be gods and ghosts... This is one of the sources of the nickname "Dragon King Liu Family". The fear of the people of Longcheng County towards them was not unfounded.
Currently, the Liu family is able to firmly control this "independent kingdom" like a monarch in the ancient Yue sword shop on the west bank of Butterfly Creek, and their influence among craftsmen is even greater than that of the Longcheng County Government, all thanks to the Dragon King Temple on Xiaogushan Mountain.
However, the Liu family now possesses unparalleled wealth in Dragon City and has found a powerful patron outside, so they no longer need to resort to underhanded methods like bewitching craftsmen.
This Dragon King Temple is no longer of much use.
However, the Liu family still retained a few idle positions in the temple to maintain its basic operation. Occasionally, on important occasions or when a famous sword was forged, the priest would go down the mountain to preside over some simple ceremonies as a formality.
At least the craftsmen still believed in this.
It's just that it won't be as flamboyant as it used to be.
After all, Master Di, who once eradicated illicit worship in Longcheng, is now the prime minister of the current dynasty. Although it is unlikely that such an important figure would turn his attention to this small county in Jiangnan Circuit, it is still his achievement in the local area back then, so it is best to keep a low profile.
As Liu Zian pondered.
The gates of the Dragon King Temple were pushed open from the inside, and a female priestess dressed in a long black robe walked out.
The priestess was somewhat obese, around thirty or forty years old, with her face covered in colorful paint, giving her a rather sinister appearance. Her hair was tied into dreadlocks with colorful ribbons, and she wore an elaborate priestess robe that jingled as she walked. Combined with the howling mountain winds around her, she looked somewhat mysterious and intimidating.
The two met, exchanged a glance, turned around simultaneously, and began their tacit descent down the mountain. It was Liu Zi'an who spoke first:
"The swords from Jia San Sword Furnace are ready."
"Everything is ready; we can begin the ceremony," the priestess said, her voice somewhat chilling.
"Should we inform my older brother in advance?"
"Don't bother," the obese priestess shook her head. "Didn't you say your older brother really dislikes me?"
“Alright then.” Liu Zian hesitated for a moment, then nodded: “But we have to choose an inconspicuous sacrifice, the kind that dies quietly.”
"Yes, but they should be young women, with a strong spiritual quality. Also, besides the offerings, you should select some discreet audience members; this is also part of the ritual."
"no problem."
The two walked and talked on the mountain.
As if he had thought of something, Liu Zian asked calmly, "What if we fail again?"
The priestess frowned: "If you listen to me honestly, you'll succeed. This time, we can use the forging of the famous sword as a cover. Even if your brother finds out, we'll have an explanation. Opportunities like this don't come often. Besides..."
She paused, her face showing some irritation, and said, "I'll say it again, I didn't fail last time at Dragon Head Bridge! You saw it yourself, I advanced to the eighth-rank Immortal Seeker after the Immortal Arts Ceremony, how could that be fake!?"
Liu Zian glanced sideways: "But that county magistrate surnamed Ouyang is still alive and kicking, and has even caused a lot of trouble for our Liu family."
The priestess remained silent for a long while.
"I will prove it to you." She sneered.
"Do as you please." Liu Zian frowned and said seriously, "I don't care whether you succeeded last time or not. This is the last time I will believe in you, and this is the last chance."
"snort."
The two remained silent for a moment, each lost in their own thoughts. After descending the mountain, they passed through the bustling streets of the morning and headed towards the Jia San Sword Furnace by the river.
The craftsmen and servants they encountered along the way all respectfully made way for Liu Zian and the priestess.
The pedestrians all looked somewhat fearful.
As the two passed a workshop, the priestess, in a bad mood, caught a glimpse of a thin figure standing outside the workshop gate, seemingly being punished. Turning to look more closely, she casually pointed:
"Let's go with that one, it looks very spiritual."
Liu Zian turned his head and glanced at it.
It was a pretty young girl, standing dejectedly outside the door, who looked like a female worker in the sword tassel workshop behind.
Those who would enter such low-level workshops were all servants in the Liu family, no different from goods; anyone of even slightly importance would not be assigned there.
To the priestess's surprise, Liu Zian glanced at it and decisively said:
"This won't work."
"Why?" The priestess thought for a moment, then asked, "Aren't these government slaves belonging to the sword shop?"
"He is a slave, and hasn't been redeemed yet. He's registered with the sword shop."
"Then what are you afraid of? No one will notice if there are fewer of these lowly female workers."
Liu Zian glanced at the rather familiar, petite female worker's figure, without even lifting his eyelids, and said softly:
"Let's choose another one. There are plenty of female workers in the Sword Tassel Workshop. This one is a bit special; she can't be moved, and it's not easy to move her."
(End of this chapter)
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