Die Schönheiten der Song-Dynastie

Kapitel 20

We've finally arrived at the sacred mountain again!

The Finale

We followed the path opened up by Ayan and entered this cursed forbidden land.

The moonlight poured down, casting a thin layer of frost over the open wasteland and the high earthen platform. We stepped onto the slope and walked up the platform.

The plant ash was washed into the river by the rain, and the soil became unusually soft after being soaked by the rain.

Yesterday, the ancient tree with its lush branches and leaves on the high platform was gone, leaving only a huge pit.

Through the woods below the mountain, the surface of the Jinsha River shimmered, and the water crashed against the mountain walls, producing a deep and powerful roar, stirring up clusters of waves.

Autumn has arrived, and this feeling is especially strong on nights like this, in the desolate wilderness. The autumn wind sweeps across the mountains, and the distant forest echoes with the sound of waves, like surging tides, or like thousands of people gathering in a faraway place, or like shouts rising and falling from ancient times.

The moon rose higher and higher over the massive mountains in the east, gradually approaching the very center of the sky.

Unidentified insects chirped incessantly, like a grand concert. They certainly didn't have as many worries as humans. Summer insects don't know the cold of winter snow; isn't that a kind of happiness? In the distance, the long cries of wild beasts occasionally drifted over, seemingly containing boundless sorrow and resentment.

In the vastness of nature, we are like a tiny speck of dust in the ocean, and we must remain silent and still, lest we disturb the gods in the shadows or in the void.

I recalled the lines from the poet Li Bai: "I dare not speak loudly, lest I startle the celestial beings." I suddenly understood why people living in mountainous areas and grasslands and deserts have more reverence for the gods than those living on plains—because no one can arrogantly believe that humans are the masters of all things in the face of the power of nature.

Tian Juan held my hand tightly; her hand was icy cold. I withdrew my gaze and saw her eyes, as clear as blue jade, with two round, bright moons reflected in her large, watery eyes.

Jiang Ping opened his backpack and took out several large candles, which Mr. Bian lit for him.

He squatted down, placed the incense sticks around the pit, and then lit another incense stick, placing it next to the incense sticks.

He took out a thick wad of paper money and distributed it to us. He lit a handful of the paper money and scattered it in the middle of the pit, where a faint flame flickered. We circled the pit, silently burning the paper money, offering sacrifices to the countless souls buried under the hillside for many years.

Dark red fragments of paper money fluttered in the air above the pit, as if countless gods and ghosts were vying for them in the void.

I quietly took out my phone; the blue screen showed it was almost nine o'clock.

Mr. Bian dialed his nephew's cell phone and handed it to Jiang Ping.

Jiang Ping asked softly, "How's the situation on your end?"

Old Man Bian's voice was clearly audible: "Fortunately, nothing unexpected happened. As you instructed, we have already burned paper money and incense to pay our respects."

"Oh, that's good. No matter what happens, you must stay up past midnight."

"good!"

"Okay, I'll contact you again later."

"Where are the other three gods? I haven't seen them." I asked softly.

Jiang Ping shook his head.

We stood on the high platform, gazing up at the bright moon in the sky. Time seemed to stand still, and we forgot ourselves, merging into the boundless universe.

In my confusion, I seemed to hear the lament of the ancients:

In the beginning of time, who passed on the teachings?

Before the top and bottom were formed, how could we investigate them?

The darkness and confusion are beyond comprehension; who can fathom its depths?

How can one recognize Feng Yiwei's portrait?

Whether it's light or darkness, what is the purpose of this?

What is the origin and transformation of the Yin-Yang triad?

If it were a circle with nine layers, who would have planned and measured it?

What merit is this? Who first created it?

Where is the celestial pole located?

What is the proper order of the eight pillars, and what is the deficiency in the southeast?

Where shall we place this object in the heavens?

There are many corners and hidden chambers, but who knows their exact number?

......

A nameless sadness welled up in my heart again. I turned my head to wipe away the tears on my face, only to find that Mr. Bian was also in tears.

Mother Tian gazed at her beloved with a captivating expression, completely mesmerized.

"It's ten o'clock, they probably won't come tonight!" Tian Juan said softly.

Suddenly, military songs came from the side of the mountain; this time it wasn't a hallucination.

The singing grew clearer and louder.

The orderly footsteps drew closer, and a line of dark figures, singing a song, marched in unison along the path we had just taken into the sacred mountain.

Their singing broke the silence that had just been there.

"The sun sets in the west, its glow a fiery red; the soldiers return to camp after target practice, return to camp..."

The originally cheerful and bright song sounded so absurd and terrifying in the desolate wilderness at night!

They're college students undergoing military training! Does the clan chief intend to use them as sacrificial offerings?

Jiang Ping and I exchanged a glance and saw the extreme fear in each other's eyes!

More than two hundred people filed into the barren mountain and gathered around the high platform from a distance.

A flash of memory of that ancient sacrificial ceremony appeared in my mind like lightning. On that day, a dense crowd surrounded the high altar, and the moon that night was just as bright as it is tonight.

Has the clan chief already escaped?

Apart from Jiang Ping and me, the other three were completely baffled by the sudden appearance of over a hundred young people, but they were equally shocked.

The group of students suddenly stopped singing the target-shooting song, remained silent for a moment, and stood as still as statues.

I looked at the girl who was closest to me. She had soft features, but her eyes were vacant, and she stood like a statue.

Jiang Ping took the phone from Mr. Bian and dialed a number. The dial tone rang for a long time, but no one answered.

My heart sank; he still managed to escape!

The students suddenly sang a song they had never heard before in a language they couldn't understand.

It was a song with the flavor of ethnic minorities, its melody melodious and lingering, filled with sorrow and lament. I seemed to see the defeated Miao ancestors, dejected, riding their wounded warhorses along mountain paths, carrying tattered battle flags on their backs, escorting the coffin of their chieftain, moving slowly forward, singing this sorrowful song as they went.

Jiang Ping suddenly looked towards the river and calmly said, "You still managed to escape!"

Two dark figures emerged from the water in the middle of the river and quickly reached the high platform. Sure enough, it was the clan chief and Bian Jizhong. The latter had a blank expression and lifeless eyes, probably hypnotized, and stood there woodenly without moving.

The clan chief's face was gloomy. He didn't look at us, but stared at the bright moon and let out a long sigh.

Just as Jiang Ping was about to turn his hand over, Bian Jizhong suddenly kicked his hand away, sending a small piece of paper flying into the air. The sneak attack had failed.

The chieftain said softly, "We've finally waited for this day. I'm exhausted, please don't make me waste my breath."

Bian Jizhong suddenly grabbed Tian Juan beside him and threw her into the air, sending her flying seven or eight meters high. Jiang Ping was unable to make a move; he had been forced into a corner by the clan chief, and his face turned pale.

Tian Juan screamed in fright. As she fell, Bian Jizhong easily caught her and brought her into my arms. I quickly hugged her, and thankfully, she was incredibly brave and calmed down immediately. Tian's mother was pale with fright and could only barely stand with Mr. Bian's support.

The clan chief chanted in a low voice. Suddenly, an autumn wind arose, and three huge orbs of light, emitting a faint yellow glow, flew swiftly from three directions of the wasteland.

The orbs of light hovered above the earthen platform for a while, then each attached itself to a student and disappeared into their body.

The clan chief said loudly, "Thank you for the presence of the deities. Please return to your places!"

Several dark figures shifted their positions slightly. I looked at the one facing the moonlight; it was a tall, thin boy with eyes as bright as stars in the night.

The clan chief pointed in a direction and said to Jiang Ping, "Please, of the five elements: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. Earth is the foundation of the five elements. I hope you will not disappoint me."

Jiang Ping closed his eyes in pain and did not respond.

The chieftain raised his voice, "I assure you, even if you don't cooperate, I will still kill all these children. If you delay any longer, I will make sure your companions die right in front of you!"

Bian Jizhong pulled out a dagger from his pocket, ran his hand along the blade, and a cold glint flashed.

Jiang Ping asked, "Did you kill the people who were suppressing you?"

The clan chief laughed heartily: "How could that be? I'm so grateful. If they hadn't been so curious and hadn't used iron spikes to pierce the grave again, creating a crack, how would we have had the chance to get out? It was just to make them unconscious. But if you don't cooperate, then it's not just unconsciousness."

Could it be that Heaven is granting the clan leader's wish? Why would they use iron spikes to probe him out of the blue? Human curiosity can be terrifying sometimes!

Jiang Ping looked around at the students standing around the earthen platform. They looked almost like adults, but they were still children with immature innocence. Their lives were like flowers, just about to bloom, but perhaps they would never have the chance to bloom. How many families would suffer great grief!

Jiang Ping said in a hoarse voice, "Do you want their blood, or their lives? Can you spare their lives and just take their blood?"

The clan chief sighed deeply, and two lines of clear tears suddenly streamed down his face!

"Alas! I received education from you Han people. How could I not know that one should not do to others what one would not have them do to you, and how could I not know that everyone has a heart that loves their children!"

But what's done is done, and I don't want to dwell on whether it was right or wrong to imprison them under this desolate mountain. I can only keep going! I hope you won't pressure me anymore!

"You've killed so many innocent children, how can you hide it from the world? Someone will definitely come looking for you. How can your people still live here in peace?" Jiang Ping made one last effort.

"You don't need to worry, please stand over there. In a moment, you and the other gods will use your magic to allow the souls of my people to return to their bodies, preventing them from being scattered and waking them from their slumber. I will teach you how to do it."

As you've probably guessed, this is the legendary altar. The rest of you, retreat behind those students; it's getting late!

Jiang Ping knew there was no way to salvage the situation. He glanced at us sadly and walked heavily off the altar.

"Jiang Ping, this is not your fault, you have no other choice!" Tian Juan suddenly shouted.

Jiang Ping glanced back at her gratefully, then turned and strode away.

The four of us walked towards the Jinsha River. I passed between two girls who were wearing military uniforms, expressionless, and exuding a faint fragrance.

At this moment, the moon was high in the sky, its clear light shining on more than two hundred fair and jade-like faces. Even the insects seemed to sense the chilling atmosphere and stopped chirping, and all around was silent.

Suddenly, a strong wind blew up, and Bian Jizhong's ghostly figure was lifted off the ground, suspended in mid-air. He held a gleaming dagger horizontally in his right hand and a large ceramic bowl in his left. He moved through the crowd with astonishing speed. Wherever he went, his right hand flashed cold light against the neck, and a spurt of blood gushed out. His left hand collected the blood in the ceramic bowl, and the people he slaughtered silently collapsed to the ground.

This is a truly rare and cruel scene, with one vibrant life after another falling down!

Mother Tian fainted in Mr. Bian's arms. I couldn't see Jiang Ping's expression clearly in the distance, but I imagined he felt the same grief and helplessness!

Soon, everyone except those possessed by the gods collapsed. Bian Jizhong's ghost, carrying the blood, returned to the altar and stood beside the clan leader.

A chilling scene unfolded.

The soil on the hillside seemed to undergo a magical transformation, with a dense mass of things arching upwards like bamboo shoots after a spring rain. In the blink of an eye, countless dark figures struggled to rise from the soil. Some had round heads popping out first, some stretched out their hands to support themselves on the ground and push upwards, and some kicked wildly with their feet pointing skywards.

The closest one was only a dozen meters away from us. It was a thin, dark figure covered in dirt and mud. We couldn't tell if it was male or female, or even its age. After standing up, it walked straight toward the altar like a zombie.