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Three days later, the long-awaited Xiang Shui Festival finally arrived. The entire Wan Qiu City was adorned with colorful decorations, bustling with excitement, resembling a grand celebration.
At this moment, on Wan Qiu Mountain outside the city, a crowd had gathered, surrounded by soldiers standing guard. In the center stood a three-foot-high altar, encircled by a group of distinguished individuals, including the Prime Minister of Chu, generals, and nobles. The two prominent figures seated at the main position were none other than the King Chu and the Queen Chu.
The significance of the Xiang Shui Festival was evident from this gathering.
“The son of the Wei State Grand Minister, Mu Qing, has arrived—” The official calling names announced loudly, drawing everyone's attention to the entrance.
Mu Qing still wore that Ink Color attire, adorned with a jade crown and no other accessories. Yet, this simple outfit on such a cold figure instantly garnered silent admiration from all around in the King Chu dom.
What a handsome man… But his complexion… It’s as dark as the bottom of a pot…
Mu Qing approached his designated seat and bowed respectfully to the King Chu and Queen Chu before elegantly taking his place.
“Ha ha, the Wei State truly has many talented individuals! Just look at Mu Qing; he is indeed strikingly beautiful!” exclaimed the King Chu.
Mu Qing did not respond; he merely raised his copper cup in a toast to the King Chu and drank it all in one go.
The King Chu had already heard about Mu Qing's peculiar temperament from an attendant and decided not to press further into conversation. He lowered his head and began whispering with the Queen Chu.
At that moment, Mu Qing wanted nothing more than to leave this place. His hands clenched tightly under the table, desperately suppressing the anger boiling within him.
It was no wonder Mu Qing felt this way; ever since that night at the night market, Chu Yunxiang had vanished without a trace. If it weren't for some small items she had bought that night still remaining with him, he would have doubted whether he had encountered a real person or an illusion conjured by spirits.
But how could a living person simply disappear? In recent days, Mu Qing and Xiao You had been inquiring everywhere but received only one consistent answer—no one had heard or seen such a woman.
Who exactly is Chu Yunxiang? What is her true identity?!
The thought of having left his heart with a woman whose background was shrouded in mystery filled Mu Qing with unprecedented frustration.
“Young Master, stop daydreaming! The main event of the Xiang Shui Festival is about to begin!”
Xiao You suddenly appeared from nowhere and gently tugged at Mu Qing's sleeve to bring him back to reality.
Sighing at his young master's state, Xiao You shook his head helplessly. It seemed he truly was infatuated with that lady Chu …
Before Xiao You could finish his thoughts, music and ceremonial sounds erupted on Wan Qiu Mountain. Everyone straightened up in their seats, creating an atmosphere of solemnity.
A group of White-Clad Women slowly emerged, each carrying a tray adorned with incense burners, feather dusters, pagodas, and other beautifully decorated sacrificial items.
The White-Clad Women reached the steps of the altar and came to a gentle halt.
The music and rituals abruptly ceased, leaving only the sounds of nature in the air.
Suddenly, a woman draped in Bai Lu Yu appeared on the altar.
"From the depths of my heart, above Wan Qiu... Truly there is affection, yet no hope..."
As the first notes of song rang out, she gracefully twisted her slender waist and began the sacrificial dance.
Mu Qing's pupils constricted sharply, nearly causing him to rise from his seat.
Chu Yunxiang! That was Chu Yunxiang!
Even Xiao You recognized the figure singing and dancing on the altar, quickly gripping Mu Qing's sleeve tightly.
At that moment, Chu Yunxiang was a different person from before. She wore a veil of white gauze that concealed all expressions, enhancing her ethereal grace.
Dressed in formal white robes with red edges typical of a priestess, her head was adorned with shimmering jewels, and her body was draped in various accessories rich in Chu cultural flair. The most dazzling of all was her Bai Lu Yu—a garment crafted from the feathers of a hundred of the world's most beautiful birds, tailored by the finest seamstress over three years; it was truly a treasure of Wei State.
Her lively dance and enchanting voice seemed to stir even the mountains and waters of Chu, evoking deep emotions.
Mu Qing's face, once darker than soot, flushed faintly at the sight of Chu Yunxiang for a brief moment before it gradually drained of color, turning pale and ashen.
A priestess… She was indeed a priestess of Chu! He had personally escorted the Bai Lu Yu here and knew well who it was meant for.
The Shaman of Chu Country represented the faith of an entire nation, bound to serve the deities with unwavering loyalty, dwelling eternally in the sacred temple, never to speak of love or marriage.
He had fallen for a woman with whom he had no hope!
"Truly there is affection, yet no hope... No winter or summer, only her egret feathers..."
Mu Qing fixed his gaze on the figure dancing gracefully on the altar. Yes, truly there is affection yet no hope; no winter or summer, only her egret feathers... He suddenly realized how perfectly these lyrics captured his current state of mind.
"The Wushan Ballad..." Mu Qing murmured to himself. "So this is the sacred song of Chu—The Wushan Ballad..."
No wonder she had such a strange expression when he asked her the name of the piece; no wonder she was so anxious to return to Wan Qiu City; no wonder almost no one knew her...
She was actually the elusive Shaman of Chu Country!
Mu Qing suddenly felt a surge of blood rise in his chest, gripping his clothing tightly at the heart, his body swaying slightly.
"Young Master, are you alright?" Xiao You hurried forward to support him, worry etched on her face.
Mu Qing weakly waved his hand, but his gaze was magnetically drawn to the altar, filled with deep pain and struggle.
As the song faded, her dance came to a halt.
"Heaven Bless Great Chu!"
These four words, spoken by Chu Yunxiang, seemed to carry the majesty and grace of the divine, echoing in the air above Wan Qiu.
Beneath Wan Qiu, all the people of Chu were moved to tears, shouting in unison: "Heaven Bless Great Chu!" The sound was like a mountain roar or a tsunami, shaking the heavens and earth. Mu Qing seemed oblivious to this deafening chorus, his eyes fixed on that figure on the altar that stirred his heart into chaos.
Chu Yunxiang seemed to sense something and slowly turned her head.
Their eyes met across a distance of a hundred meters, connecting in a silent gaze. In that instant, countless feelings and sentiments from the past intertwined and spread between the misty mountains and Xiang Shui, as if there were a thousand words to say, yet none could be spoken.
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