Chapter 15 The chaos of the Qu clan, the mist swirling in the mountains and forests, and the sunlight...
The sunlight dispelled the mist that lingered in the mountains and forests, and the sounds of looms being spun from the spacious and bright houses built under the trees, interspersed with whispers and laughter.
Chirp, chirp, chirp, Mulan weaves at her door.
Lin Fengzhi watched the women of her clan weaving cloth from under the eaves.
Compared to their initial awkwardness using the slant loom, they are now adept at separating the warp and weft threads. With a flick of the shuttle, cloth is born from their hands with effortless grace. Their movements are fluid and graceful, and the sounds emanating from the loom create a unique and captivating charm.
Perhaps it was because she hadn't woven cloth in a long time, or perhaps it was the novelty of the slanted loom, but among the many weavers, An Ye stepped on the pedal, pressing the weft threads tightly. Because of her skill, while other weavers were still weaving plain cloth, she had already begun to study how to weave more complex patterns.
She has figured out how to incorporate patterns such as diamonds and meanders into fabrics during weaving.
Watching her weave cloth was like a thoroughly enjoyable visual experience for Lin Fengzhi.
Seeing that she was engrossed in watching, An raised her hand and invited her, "Want to give it a try?"
Lin Fengzhi sat down and began working diligently, separating the warp and weft threads and pressing the pedals. The key to mastering the slant loom technique lies in hand-foot coordination; skilled weavers require training to independently operate complex patterns. Lin Fengzhi possessed ample theoretical knowledge and knew when to add the warp-separating rods most appropriately.
But even though the eyes have learned and the brain has caught up, the hands and feet are far from being able to operate skillfully.
Lin Fengzhi tried for a while, then decisively gave up on adding patterns to the fabric. When she tried to manipulate the warp separator to separate the different colored warp threads, the separator would spin incorrectly in her hand.
They were nothing like the obedient children they were in An's hands.
By the time Lin Fengzhi had finished sorting the colors, Xiao Shui, who was sitting next to her, had already woven a piece of plain cloth that was about the width of a finger joint.
Seeing this, Xiao Shui chuckled and said, "The witch is going to fight with the scripture-splitting stick!"
"Everyone has their own expertise," Lin Fengzhi said, trying to save face. Then she gave Xiaoshui and the women present a thumbs up: "You're good at weaving. When the Zhao family arrives, we'll have to ask you older sisters to train them."
"I know, don't worry about it, Wu." An was amused by Lin Fengzhi. She touched Lin Fengzhi's head with her rough but warm hand and patted her shoulder. "The phoenix perched in the forest that I wove for you is quite complicated, so it's normal that you can't finish it. Yong has already returned from the Qu family. Wu, go and play with him."
Such an intricate pattern, it turns out it was woven for her. Lin Fengzhi opened her eyes wide to look at the pattern on the fabric, barely recognizing the phoenix's head.
"Go play." Xiao Shui laughed and pushed Lin Fengzhi away.
If this place doesn't want you, there are plenty of other places that will.
Lin Fengzhi walked away with her hands behind her back, swinging the braids that Shi An had braided for her that morning.
Everyone burst into laughter.
When she arrived at the meeting place of the Keluo people, Yong was seeing off the people sent by the county magistrate and the Zhao clan chief to accompany him to the Qu clan the day before.
Yong looked relieved and grateful: "Thank you all for your help. Once my clan's affairs are settled, I will definitely host a banquet to invite you all."
After waving goodbye and exchanging some pleasantries, the group returned to report.
Lin Fengzhi's jade pendants jingled, and her voice preceded her arrival.
Yong circled around her twice in surprise and said, "The witch is now very much like a great witch."
Her attire was predominantly black, accented with red, blue, and gold, with the phoenix motif still adorning the back. Several lustrous jade pendants hung from her red belt, tinkling softly as she moved. Silver ornaments and gemstones were woven into her hair.
It looks very agile and graceful, which is very much in line with the tradition of "using dance to invoke the gods".
“An, Qi, and Xiao Shui all said so.” Lin Fengzhi crossed her arms; An had arranged her entire outfit. An Fei said that she was now a high-ranking shaman, times had changed, and clothes made the man, so she dressed Lin Fengzhi rather flamboyantly. Lin Fengzhi waved her hand, the silver bells on her wrists jingling: “Let’s not talk about that. What were you talking to them about just now?”
Yong still felt lingering fear when he recalled what happened last night. He said with lingering fear, "A major incident occurred within the Qu family last night!"
While examining the spoils of war sent by the Qu family, Lin Fengzhi asked He Yong, "What is it?"
The spoils of a great shaman's challenge filled the Kolo people's reception hall, which was filled with chests bearing the Qu clan's insignia. Opening any chest revealed it overflowing with gold, silver, and cloth. The gold they presented was far superior in craftsmanship, purity, and refinement to the gold the Kolo people had risked their lives to mine in the gold rush river.
“Yesterday, the Great Shaman lost the challenge against the Qu family, and they started fighting amongst themselves on the way back from Xiangshan. At first, we could still hear them arguing. Later, perhaps because it was a family scandal that shouldn't be aired in public, the Qu family sent people to guard us and prevent us from getting close.” Yong recalled the rain yesterday, sighing and still feeling scared, “Later, when we arrived in the Qu family's territory, everything started to get out of control. Even I had a brush with death.”
Lin Fengzhi closed the box, not expecting Yong's situation to be so perilous, bordering on life-or-death. She looked up, her expression now focused and serious.
Last night, news of Qu He's defeat reached the Qu clan, shocking everyone. They were initially stunned and incredulous. They repeatedly questioned those who participated in the sacrifice, ultimately arriving at the same answer.
Qu He, the great shaman who had dominated the Xiangjiang River basin for over a decade, was defeated by the shamans of the Keluo people, who had once depended on them for survival.
This result was unacceptable to the Qu family, who were proud to the point of arrogance. In fact, when they first received the challenge from the Keluo people, they were quite dismissive, thinking that they were just about to have another defeated opponent and vassal.
When Qu He faced the Qu clan and painfully announced her defeat, some people began to hurl insults at her. Among the Qu clan, there were those who opposed her, and naturally, there were those who supported her.
Those who supported her praised Lin Fengzhi to the extreme, describing her divine intervention during the sacrifice as if she were a god descending to earth. Everyone who participated in the sacrifice spoke with absolute certainty, and the anger of the people began to return to reason.
But some people just can't accept the huge psychological gap.
As the crowd dispersed and everyone composed themselves, they quietly gathered in the darkness.
That night, a violent clash broke out within the Qu family.
The Qu clan, as expected of a powerful and established family, launched an attack on Qu He after the rebels, led by the three Bai, gathered bronze weapons from their clan's collection.
Qu He, who had dominated the Qu family for many years, was no pushover. She not only organized a counterattack but also used extremely inflammatory language to turn some of the rebels against her.
At this point, Lin Fengzhi asked curiously, "What did she say?"
Qu He was on the high platform when someone in the crowd lit a torch, illuminating Qu He's clear, cold eyes.
She said, “Gentlemen, I have served as the High Priest for twelve years, and during these twelve years, I have worked diligently to benefit the Qu clan. It is through our efforts that our faith has spread throughout the Xiang River region. Although I have lost now, I ask you all to think about everything I have done for the Qu clan over the years. Qu Yan is a narrow-minded, cunning, and intolerant man. Do you really want to follow him and split the Qu clan in two? I am a shaman recognized by our ancestors, and I will earn back the treasures lost to the Keluo people within three years. I know some people do not want to acknowledge this debt, but the most important thing for our Qu clan to establish itself in the Xiang River basin is its reputation!”
"Without credibility, the Qu clan will truly have no chance of recovery. Everyone, trust me one more time! Did the ancestors of the Qu clan really want to watch the Qu clan be split in two? Have you all forgotten the admonition that those who divide the clan will die? Qu Yan and I grew up in the clan since childhood. Don't you all know what kind of people I am and what kind of people Qu Yan is? Can you really trust Qu Yan, who can suddenly become violent and divide the clan at the slightest disagreement? Can he really lead the Qu clan to a better and stronger tomorrow?"
"Today, he dares to point a knife at his own people; tomorrow, he'll dare to betray the Qu family for personal gain. Who would want to follow such a selfish and self-serving person? Those who follow Qu Yan, listen up! Put down your weapons immediately, and I will forgive you!"
Finally, in full view of everyone, she shot an arrow from the high platform at Xia Sanbai, hitting Xia Sanbai in the shoulder.
Yong scratched his head. Even he, an outsider who was not present and only heard the story from a relay, felt his blood boil. Not to mention the people in the Qu clan who trusted and followed her.
"Qu Yan didn't interrupt her when she was giving her speech?" Lin Fengzhi's focus was unusual, and she was genuinely curious.
Yong chuckled twice: "Qu He is agile and has a loud voice. And the audience below is full of Qu clan members. I'm afraid Qu Yan will be hesitant to act rashly."
Lin Fengzhi imagined the scene and thought Qu Yan was a fool. He had completely diverted the internal conflicts between the Qu family and Qu He. The people he had turned against him weren't ungrateful fugitives; how could they possibly harm their own grandmother/father/mother/siblings?
At most, I would support him when he seizes power. Who would have thought that my brother would take the unconventional path and resort to armed coup?
Qu He appealed to their emotions and reasoned with them, and also used a little bit of force. He promised not to punish those who followed Qu Yan. After this series of moves, most of those who were still following Qu Yan were people who had killed members of their clan and could not turn back.
Seeing that the situation was not good, Qu Yan immediately changed locations.
This exchange took him directly to Yong's lodgings. Fueled by both old and new grudges, he charged forward with his bronze sword.
Yong, a purchasing agent and carpenter, had never seen anything like this before.
The magistrate's men kicked the terrified Yong to the ground and immediately drew their swords to fight Qu Yan.
Yong felt a chill run down his spine when he thought of the intense malice in Qu Yan's eyes, which were filled with white on the bottom, and the sword that almost struck him: "Qu Yan is too crazy. Fortunately, I was a soldier under the magistrate and had some strength and skills, otherwise I would really be dead there."
Lin Fengzhi suddenly realized why she had heard Yong thanking them when she came in.
“You really should thank them properly.” Lin Fengzhi thought for a moment: “A slanted loom, gold and silver, cloth—anything we have and can afford to give, anything they want, you can take as a thank-you gift.”
"Oh dear, I was just wondering how to thank them. Thank you so much, Wu!" Yong continued talking about the Qu family: "Later, Qu Yan was arrested by Qu He who came after him. The next day, Qu He gave us a lot of extra money, and we who were implicated were compensated."
Lin Fengzhi nodded, about to say something.
Suddenly someone outside announced, "Wu, the Qu family has arrived. They specifically want to see you and Yong."
Lin Fengzhi and Yong exchanged a glance and saw doubt in each other's eyes.
At this moment, shouldn't the Qu family be busy integrating internal affairs? Why would they have time to come looking for them?
Soon, a slender figure entered the hall.
It is Qu He.
Qu He's usually cold face broke into a smile: "The internal conflict within the Qu family has disturbed our distinguished guest. I have come here to apologize to the Great Shaman."
She clapped her hands, and a servant presented her with a box of bamboo slips.
“Gold and silver are worldly things. This is the prayer and ritual of the chief priest of the Xiangjun Temple in July. Please accept it with a smile, Great Shaman,” Qu He said.
The chief officiant of the Xiangjun Temple in July has always been the Qu family. By offering the prayer, she has completely relinquished the Qu family's voice in the Xiang River basin.
Knowing the importance of this thing, Lin Fengzhi couldn't help but ask, "You really gave it to me?"
"You have won, it should have been yours. But yesterday there was chaos in the clan, and this morning when we were comforting our ancestors we discovered that the chief priest's prayer was still with the Qu family. So we had to send it to you as soon as possible." Qu He lowered his eyes and could not be seen at all as the person Yong described who had incited and attacked Qu Yan.
Lin Fengzhi exclaimed "Ah!" and asked, "Where is Qu Yan?"
Qu He's eyes were cold and indifferent, like a piece of jade, and her tone was completely flat: "Dead."
A note from the author:
----------------------
I'd also like to ask for nutrient solution.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
