Afternoon.
The scorching sun baked the earth.
Qin Luo and the others sat under the eaves to enjoy the cool air.
Hua Ying played the bamboo flute, the music so gentle that even time seemed to slow down. Qin Luo felt a little sleepy listening to it, so he yawned, leaned back in the bamboo chair, and slowly closed his eyes.
Xiao Die gently waved her palm-leaf fan.
Xuanqing sat on the steps, holding a Buddhist scripture in his hands. He liked to read when he had nothing to do. He murmured, "Body and mind know each other, because they are inseparable, they are not outside of the body..."
The flute music stopped abruptly, and the sound of cicadas filled the courtyard. Hua Ying, moved by Xuan Qing's recitation of Buddhist scriptures, followed suit and recited, "I now think, and know it is in one place."
...
Before you knew it, it was evening.
Qin Luo stood up and stretched, looking at the sunset. "I can't believe I slept for so long?"
Do I snore?
"No."
Qin Luo felt refreshed. "I slept very well. It seems tonight is destined to be a sleepless night."
A rosy glow hung in the sky.
Bright red lanterns are lit up in the village.
Qin Luo didn't see Jiang Nanxi and said softly, "Hasn't Miss Jiang returned?"
Xiao Die obediently shook her head, "Master Dao, neither of the two Miss Jiangs has returned."
"They're probably busy."
Qin Luo didn't think much of it.
Zhu Guangming walked into the courtyard. He had a handsome appearance and said warmly, "Master Qin, there will be a lively banquet after the sacrificial ceremony tonight. Please follow me."
Qin Luo and the others followed Zhu Guangming to the vicinity of the village, where a vibrant and festive scene unfolded. Zhu Yan led the clansmen in worshipping the fire god at the Pantheon Temple.
The Wu tribe people they encountered on the road all had joyful smiles on their faces. Qin Luo noticed the firelight emanating from the black cauldron, and Zhu Guangming said respectfully, "Master Qin, the ceremony here will be over soon. Let's go to the village first."
"good!"
Qin Luo nodded.
In the village, the circular square has changed. A stage more than ten feet high has been erected in the middle. The stage is surrounded by many wooden stakes, and a mask of the fire god is placed in the middle of the stage.
Qin Luo and his group arrived at the second floor of the village. A long table was set up in the wide passageway, and the table was laden with a sumptuous feast, all of which consisted of large chunks of beef and mutton, a sight rarely seen in ordinary times.
"Wow!"
Xuanqing exclaimed in surprise.
Zhu Guangming frowned slightly as he looked at the large chunk of beef. "Master Qin, do you eat beef?"
"I have no taboos."
Qin Luo replied with a smile.
Zhu Guangming had heard that Taoists didn't eat beef, so if Qin Luo didn't eat beef, he would immediately take the beef away to avoid affecting Qin Luo's mood.
"Master Qin, please sit here!"
"good."
Qin Luo and the others sat to the east, opposite the entrance to the village. It was a good location, and there was a wide variety of food in front of them. "Master Qin, isn't Nanxi with you?"
Zhu Guangming noticed that Jiang Nanxi was not there, and he was a little puzzled. Qin Luo shook his head, "After Miss Jiang went to deliver food to her sister, she has not come back."
"She is at the Temple of the Goddess."
Hua Ying found her through her divine sense.
Zhu Guangming frowned slightly and shook his head helplessly, "At such an important time, she was still at the Goddess Temple."
"I'll go and call her to come to the feast!"
Xuanqing transformed into a streak of azure light and departed.
Zhu Guangming said respectfully, "Master Qin, please have some melon seeds first, and we'll be done in a moment."
...
Temple of the Goddess.
Jiang Nanxi sat under the ginkgo tree, holding her calico cat.
Xuan Qing appeared in front of her in the blink of an eye. "Sister Nanxi, the banquet is about to begin. What are you doing here?"
Jiang Nanxi pursed her lips and said, "I want to be alone."
Who is Jingjing?
Xuanqing scratched his head.
Jiang Nanxi was initially very upset and didn't know what to do, but when Xuan Qing asked her that, she smiled instead.
Xuanqing then smiled and said, "Sister Nanxi, don't think about it for a moment, let's go eat first."
"Sorry to make you go through all that trouble!" Jiang Nanxi put down the calico cat in her arms. She decided to return to the village first so that she could warn Qin Luo and the others if there was any danger.
Night fell.
Jiang Nanxi and Xuan Qing arrived at the second floor of the village.
Qin Luo looked at the worried Jiang Nanxi and asked, "Miss Jiang, is something on your mind?"
Jiang Nanxi stood in front of Qin Luo, her head bowed like a child who had made a mistake. "Master Qin, I am very confused right now and don't know who to believe."
"Everyone has moments of confusion. If you don't know who to trust, you must trust yourself, follow your heart, and let nature take its course," Qin Luo said with a smile.
"I see!"
Jiang Nanxi's eyes gradually brightened.
The village quickly became lively. Zhu Yan led his people back to the village, where young, strong men wearing waist drums rhythmically beat them around the circular square.
Zhu Yan arrived on the second floor. Leaning on his cane, he bowed and said, "Master Qin, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."
"No"
Qin Luo smiled and shook his head. He stood up and put his hand on Zhu Yan's shoulder. "Elder Chief, I must thank you for inviting us to the Fire God Festival. It is our honor."
"Master Qin is too kind. It is our honor that you could come." Zhu Yan's face was full of smiles.
The elders in the village took their seats, and the children followed their elders. The once quiet village became lively. Mao Mao quietly ran to Xuan Qing's side.
"Mao Mao, what brings you here?"
"You have more meat here, am I smart?"
"Hahaha."
Zhu Yan raised a bowl of wine and said solemnly, "Master Qin and the others have been kind to our Wu Clan. We must remember them forever. Everyone, fill your cups and toast Master Qin and the others."
"Respect to Daoist Qin!"
The elders of the Wu tribe picked up their bowls one by one.
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