Chapter 123 The Stage Catches Fire
Mu Xi returned to the East Courtyard.
Mu Xun made some more arrangements and then withdrew to go and meet Mu Chong as planned.
As soon as Mu Xi entered the inner room, Doctor Luo was already waiting there: "That was really close."
"Thanks to Doctor Luo's foresight in preventing this from happening." Mu Xi solemnly bowed and then dismissed the unrelated people. "Tao'er, Zhelan, you two go and guard outside the door. Pan'er, stay and serve."
Tao'er and Ze Lan left as instructed.
Cao Pan'er stepped forward, preparing to help Mu Xi change into the fire-resistant clothes that had been prepared in advance.
While changing her clothes, Mu Xi made a final check of the procedures: "Dr. Luo, Lord Shen has arrived, accompanied by Shen Pingting. We don't know where he'll go in a moment. Are you ready?"
"I saw him the moment he entered the manor," Doctor Luo replied cryptically, then turned to open his medicine chest and pulled out several more bottles and jars.
Mu Xi took off her outer garment and changed into a fire-resistant robe underneath. She then asked Cao Pan'er, "Are the shamans who are performing the Nuo dance on stage now the ones we hired at great expense?"
"Yes, I arranged it early this morning." After helping Mu Xi put on her fire-resistant clothes, Cao Pan'er went to fetch a set of prepared gold and red fine clothes.
Mu Xi felt a wave of heat as soon as she put on her fire-resistant clothes, but she could only endure it.
Doctor Luo stepped forward and began applying a clear ointment to all exposed skin areas, including her neck, wrists, and ankles: "Although this stuff can prevent burns, water and fire are merciless, so its effectiveness is limited. You must be very careful."
"I know." Mu Xi was also very nervous, after all, she had never played with fire before. She also picked up a bottle of ointment and applied it thickly to her face. "Isn't there Doctor Luo's fire mask? After all, my face is still important."
Doctor Luo applied the ointment meticulously, leaving no hair untouched.
Finally, Mu Xi was spat on until she was covered in fire-resistant "glue," and then, with Cao Pan'er's help, she was dressed in a dazzling gold and red gown.
Finally, Mu Xi pinned the red mask with phoenix and gold patterns to her waist, and the group returned to the birthday banquet.
When they returned to the main hall for the birthday banquet, Mu Xun was already waiting with Mu Chong on one side of the stage.
The guards beside the platform all wore swords at their waists, their eyes fixed straight ahead, forming a formidable defensive wall.
Mu Xi searched around for the figure of Marquis Shen Lun of Yong State. Doctor Luo did not appear to have followed, and Shen Lun was nowhere to be seen near the stage.
Mu Xun calmly handed a bronze sword to Mu Xi: "Don't be nervous. The sword has been coated with oil. Just follow my movements and dance around for a bit. I'll take care of the rest."
Above them stood a stage over ten feet high, with brocade curtains hanging from its top. The shamans had been performing Nuo dance for quite some time, accompanied by the sounds of drums and music.
Mu Xi said nothing more, took a deep breath, and stepped onto the stage.
She had only practiced the sword dance with Mu Xun and Mu Chong twice before. The sword dance was just a formality; the real highlight was the subsequent fire-lighting ceremony.
The drumbeats suddenly began, and the curtain on the stage was drawn back.
The guests below the stage immediately fell silent, all eyes fixed on them.
Mu Xi stood in the center, her sword flashing like a silver dragon unsheathed, her wrist flicking swiftly as she unleashed a dazzling display of swordplay.
Mu Xun followed closely on either side, their footwork light and complementary, their movements flowing smoothly like clouds and water.
Mu Chong, on the other hand, appeared somewhat sluggish, his steps unsteady, clearly indicating his rudimentary swordsmanship, and he barely managed to keep up.
The shamans who had just performed the Nuo dance automatically stepped aside and became backup dancers.
They were adorned with feathered robes and colorful masks, swirling and dancing like butterflies, surrounding us.
With her mind focused, Mu Xi danced with the sword flashing, relying solely on the original owner's memories—although she had practiced martial arts since childhood, her swordsmanship was only rudimentary, and this performance was entirely supported by her momentum.
The sword tip flicked and spun, creating a whistling sound as the shaman beside the platform shook his bell and beat his drum, the rhythm harmonizing with the sword's movements.
All the distinguished guests in the main hall held their breath.
Even if you only know the basics, the opening must be stunning.
As the sword dance reached its climax, the drumbeats intensified. One of the accompanying shamans, with his index and middle fingers together and chanting incantations, somehow ignited the sword in his hand.
Mu Xi felt a chill run down her spine and immediately became extremely alert.
The shaman whirled and danced like the wind, his long-handled fire spoon dipped in oil to ignite a ghostly blue flame. He then glided forward, and the flame hissed as it ignited Mu Xun's longsword.
As flames flickered, Mu Xun drew his sword in an arc, igniting the blade of Mu Xi's sword. He then turned and moved to Mu Chong's side, similarly setting Mu Chong's sword ablaze.
The movement was executed in one fluid motion, and the sword instantly transformed into three fire dragons.
Gasps of surprise erupted from the audience, their eyes filled with the swirling images of Naruto.
Mu Xi slid down to the front of the stage, pointed her sword at the void with one hand, and took out a mask from her waist with the other, slowly putting it on her face.
Then, with a quick turn and a light leap, he soared into the air, the flames on his sword drawing brilliant streaks across the night sky.
The guests in the audience cheered.
Mu Xi returned to the space between Mu Chong and Mu Xun, and they continued dancing together.
Just then, for some unknown reason, Mu Chong cried out "Ah!" and fell down. The fire sword in her hand was thrown out of the way and hit the brocade curtain hanging at the corner of the stage with a "thud".
As arranged beforehand, Mu Xi and Mu Xun turned around together to "rescue" Mu Chong.
Startled, Mu Chong scrambled to her feet and, ignoring Mu Xun who was helping her up, bumped into Mu Xi again.
Mu Xi stumbled and fell, her body coming into contact with the flaming sword in Mu Xun's hand, causing her golden and red robes to burst into flames instantly.
Mu Xun was unable to look after either side.
"Ah..." Mu Xi, covered in flames, ran around wildly on the stage.
In an instant, sparks flew, the cloth ignited as soon as it touched the oil, and the fire spread rapidly. Flames licked the pillars and rose into the air, billowing thick smoke.
The shaman rushed to the rescue in a panic.
The soldiers from the garrison shouted loudly, but were unable to approach due to the firewall.
The guests rose in alarm, screaming and exclaiming.
The fire raged fiercely, and in an instant the stage was transformed into a hellish inferno. The wooden beams creaked and broke, and the flames engulfed everything.
Mu Chong didn't know where he was injured, and he couldn't stand up. He could only roll around on the ground.
Mu Xun, his face covered in soot, rushed forward to help him despite the flames, and tried to put fire on Mu Xi, but couldn't catch up with him.
Amidst the raging flames, a charred rafter snapped and fell, spewing fire like rain. Immediately afterward, the stage shook violently, three main beams broke off simultaneously, and with a deafening roar, the stage collapsed, sending three people tumbling into the inferno.
Mu Chong's exclamation stopped abruptly when he was halfway down.
Mu Xi fell into the charred wood pile, flames gnawing at her bones. The shaman who jumped down with her immediately extinguished the flames on her body.
Mu Xun, who had "fallen" down, quickly came to help.
Flames roared into the sky, turning the stage into a fiery inferno, with embers flying everywhere and thick smoke obscuring the moon.
Outside, soldiers splashed water to extinguish the fire, while guests either fled or stood frozen in shock, all sighing with emotion.
Mu Xi roared at Mu Xun, "Take Mu Chong away immediately, don't worry about me."
The firelight reflected in Mu Xun's bright eyes, which were filled with deep worry.
“Don’t worry, just follow the plan. I have them with me.” Mu Xi was referring to the three shamans who had fallen with her and surrounded her.
"You..." Mu Xun seemed to have a thousand words to say but couldn't, but it wasn't the time to speak. "Take care..."
Not wanting to waste any time, Mu Xi made a gesture as if to walk towards the pre-arranged "escape route": "Take care, everyone."
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