Chapter 98 The Great Sacrifice (2)
Ji Zhuang nodded, took the hairpin, and used it to secure the ends of Gu Qingqing's hair.
With the adornment of the jewelry, Gu Qingqing instantly became more elegant.
Ji Rong kept looking at Gu Qingqing, feeling that something was still missing.
Unable to figure it out, she simply left the cave and watched as the people of the ancient shaman lineage busied themselves with preparations for the grand ceremony.
A group of people were pounding grain outside. The large stone mortar contained some grain, and several strong men were pounding it down with their arms around a large log. The log went into the stone mortar, and the wind made the strong men's hemp clothes flutter.
Ji Rong looked at it for a while and then had an idea.
She spread her wings and flew to Huofeng Island, found the witch who was directing the cleaning of the ancestral temple, and asked her for a large bundle of low-grade spiritual herbs.
The witch didn't know what Ji Rong was going to do, but since she had enough of these things, she went back to Xifeng Island with Ji Rong and brought her all the substandard items that had been sorted out.
Ji Rong gave all the slightly yellow spiritual herbs to Ji Zhuang, saying, "Brother, now that you know how to tailor, it shouldn't be difficult for you to weave a new garment for the fox with these spiritual herbs, right?"
Ji Zhuang's eyes lit up as he listened, and he replied, "It's not difficult, but it's definitely not as comfortable as the hemp we combed for days last time."
Ji Rong curled her lip and said nonchalantly, "We have plenty of fur, so we don't usually need to wear clothes."
"A little roughness is fine. Most of this grass is yellow, which is perfect for covering up a fox's spotted fur."
Ji Zhuang nodded and began weaving, while Ji Rong then escorted Yan Wu back.
When Ji Rong returned, the two birds started beaking together and, following the weaving method of the Qingxin grass mat, soon wove a close-fitting, seamless grass garment for Gu Qingqing.
After tidying up Gu Qingqing, Er Niao decided to tidy up himself as well.
Ji Rong is easy to deal with. Her original form was beautiful, and although her celestial body was not bad, she was still childish. Therefore, she can be transformed into a bird.
Ji Zhuang wanted to transform into a celestial being and go there, but Gu Qingqing thought it was too ugly. She shouted, "Look at your face, which is as sharp as a reef? What's so good about it?"
Besides, if you use your celestial form, while your sister uses her true form, it doesn't seem like you're siblings at all. You should just use your true form like Ji Rong."
She spat out her storage ring and found the feathers left by Qing Shi, saying, "If you stick these on your body, you'll look good."
Ji Zhuang had no choice but to nod and let Gu Qingqing insert the feathers into his hair.
After the feathers were inserted, Ji Zhuang used his beak to arrange them, transforming the bird into a gray-brown bird with bluish-green tail feathers. It was quite pleasing to the eye, and the more you looked at it, the more beautiful it became.
After the two birds and the fox finished preparing, they headed together to Huofeng Island. Tomorrow was the grand ceremony, and they would stay with the golden dragon to await the start of the ritual.
On Huofeng Island, the wind-proof formation has been activated, and the island is full of spiritual energy, with gentle breezes and bright sunshine, just like the abode of gods.
Nine large ceramic tripods were set up in the square, with raging fires burning beneath them, and various foods were already being cooked inside.
This place contains grains grown by the Wu tribe, fish caught by Jiaojue, and meat from spirit beasts that Wuyue bought from the Desolate Sea City after going ashore.
Beside one of the cauldrons were baskets of tender wild vegetables washed by the Wu tribe, presumably to be cooked after the banquet tomorrow.
In the middle of the square is a large iron cage containing three cows, five sheep, and nine pigs.
This is a live animal sacrificed during the grand ceremony. After it is slaughtered and offered to the ancestors, it will be cooked on the spot and shared with the clan members.
Ji Rong, Ji Zhuang, and Gu Qingqing stopped in the square, watching the busy people coming and going. They walked to the cage and curiously examined the creatures inside.
A burly ox, seemingly still immature, used its head to push aside the pigs beside the iron fence. With all its might, it squeezed to the front of the pen and, incredibly, knelt down before Ji Rong and his group.
It kept mooing, its eyes were full of pleading, and two lines of clear tears slowly flowed down its cheeks.
Looking into those tearful eyes, Ji Rong's heart skipped a beat.
Ji Rong carefully observed the other pigs, cattle, and sheep and discovered that only this cow possessed such intelligence.
So she turned to Ji Zhuang and Gu Qingqing and said, "Are we really going to need three cows for tomorrow's sacrifice?"
I think this cow is quite nice. I'll go ask the old man if I can keep it... I could use it to till the land.
Ji Zhuang pointed to his leg with his wing, puzzled, and said, "Sister, what do we need it for turning the ground? It's too slow. You can turn the ground quickly and well by just waving your claws at me."
Gu Qingqing waved her tail and sneered, "Can't you tell? Your sister's overflowing with sympathy."
Once Gu Qingqing exposed her, Ji Rong stopped pretending.
She put her wings on her hips, raised her head, and struck a quarrelsome pose, saying, "Fox, so what if I'm overly compassionate? If I hadn't taken pity on you back then and not abandoned you, whether you'd still be here or not is another matter."
“I’m going to find the old man. It’s not an unreasonable request. Not only will I make the ox plow the field, but I could even ask the ox to keep me company. They would agree to that.”
The more Ji Rong spoke, the clearer her thoughts became. She spread her wings and circled once, then asked, "Are you going or not?"
Gu Qingqing's tail had already fallen to the ground when Ji Rong finished speaking.
She let them drag behind her like brooms, jumped onto Ji Zhuang's back and said, "If you want us to go with you, then we will. Ji Rong, I'm already so old. In the future, can you give me some face when we're out in public?"
After saying that, she looked left and right, and seeing that no one was watching, she continued, "I am, after all, an auspicious omen. If someone hears this, I will lose face."
Ji Rong replied, "You are Lord Xiangrui Gu, but I am still Lord Ji. Who would dare to laugh at you?"
I'll go alone. You all stay with Brother Jinlong and make sure your accessories don't get lost; it won't look good tomorrow.
The four side rooms inside the ancestral hall were packed full, and Jiao Jue was sitting in front of the door, accompanying Wu Yue to make a final check on the sacrificial items.
Neatly arranged on the floor of the side room were rows of spotless jade artifacts, small tripods, ceramic plates, wooden bowls...
Ji Rong saw Wu Yue busy outside the side room next to the ancestral hall. She didn't go in, but waited outside.
Jiao Jue, who had been sitting to the side, had already seen Ji Rong, but he didn't want to pay attention to her and just left her there. Only when Wu Yue finished his work did he speak up and ask, "You've been squatting there for half a day. What do you want from us?"
Ji Rong raised his head and walked in, not even glancing at Jiao Jue, and shouted at Wu Yue, "Great Wu Yue, are you really going to require three cows, five sheep, and nine pigs for tomorrow's sacrifice?"
Wu Yue was now examining the pigments, which were made from gemstones and minerals and were extremely precious.
If it weren't for the grand clan ceremony, Wu Yue might never have seen such a complete set of colors before he died, so he was reluctant to leave and took it out to look at it one more time.
Upon hearing this, Wu Yue looked up and replied, "We only got three oxen, so we have to kill them all. For the sheep and pigs, we'll select the strongest ones and kill three of each. The rest we'll raise."
Ji Rong asked, puzzled, "Why kill so many? Wouldn't it be enough to just kill one of each?"
Wu Yue laughed and said, "Lord Ji, after the sacrificial ceremony, the whole clan will share the sacrificial meat. If only one animal is killed, there will be no meat to share."
"But I saw a cow inside that could shed tears. I felt it was different from others and wanted to save it."
I won't let it live in vain. The ox can plow the fields; from now on, let it plow the fields for you.
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