Chapter 122: Fiery Spirits

A group of Miao people descended from the mountain, and Ghost Li and Xiao Bai looked over. They saw seven or eight sturdy Miao warriors escorting an old man who appeared to be in his fifties.

The loud shout they had just heard came from this elder.

The surrounding Miao warriors all bowed, and the previously agitated crowd instantly fell silent, with everyone bowing their heads in respect for the old man.

As the group approached, the elder stepped forward and came before Ghost Li and Xiao Bai, scrutinizing them carefully. At the same time, Ghost Li and Xiao Bai were also sizing him up.

The elder was quite tall, and although his hair at the temples had turned white with age, he was still full of vitality. His eyes gleamed with intelligence, and now he furrowed his brow, carefully examining the two of them.

Then, the elder said, “Ji li ji li hu lu lu, gua la gua la lu lu hu?”

Ghost Li was taken aback. It sounded similar to what the soldier had asked earlier, and he guessed it was probably asking about their identity and purpose here.

But even though he guessed the meaning, he couldn’t understand the words. He tried to say, “We have an urgent matter, we want to…” He started to raise his hand, then suddenly realized, quickly putting it down, and said, “We wish to see the Great Shaman inside the altar.”

While saying this, he was inwardly troubled, as the Miao people could not understand him. But not speaking would be rude, and might anger them. He was in a state of extreme anxiety.

Unexpectedly, the elder, hearing Ghost Li’s words, frowned and once more scrutinized them carefully. Then, he spoke in halting Middle Kingdom language, “You, you are from the Middle Kingdom?”

Ghost Li and Xiao Bai were both surprised, then overjoyed. The best sound in the world at that moment was the elder’s heavily accented words. Ghost Li quickly nodded, “Yes, yes, we are from the Middle Kingdom. We have an urgent matter and wish to see your Great Shaman.”

The elder glanced at them. Although they were dressed in the clothing of the Southern Border tribes, the quality was rough, but these two carried themselves with great poise, clearly not ordinary traders. Especially the woman, who was naturally beautiful. Even the plain clothes of a common Miao girl looked striking on her.

“Who are you? What do you want with the Great Shaman?” the elder slowly asked.

Ghost Li and Xiao Bai exchanged a glance, then bowed and said, “Esteemed… Elder, I have a friend who is gravely injured. Nine out of ten of her souls have scattered, leaving only one remaining. For ten years, she has been like a person in a coma, truly…”

At this point, he recalled the image of Bi Yao, who was still lying in the cold stone room of Huqi Mountain, and his emotions were stirred, making his voice tremble. Though most of the Miao people didn’t understand his words, they could see from his expression and tone that he was begging for something, and their impression of him improved.

As for Xiao Bai, standing next to Ghost Li, her clear eyes gazed at him, and at this moment, she put away the faint, worldly-wise smile that usually graced her lips, becoming solemn.

Ghost Li composed himself and calmed his emotions, saying, “I was told by a wise person that such a condition can only be cured by a master of soul restoration. I have searched for ten years, but to no avail. Fortunately, recently,” he glanced at Xiao Bai, “we heard that your Great Shaman possesses this rare soul-restoring technique. So, we have come to beg for his help. I would be eternally grateful!”

After listening, the elder furrowed his brows, his expression complex. But seeing Ghost Li’s sincere look, he thought for a moment and said, “It’s rare for people from the Middle Kingdom to show such devotion. However, I cannot make the decision. Please wait here while I go and ask the Great Shaman. If he refuses, there is nothing I can do.”

Ghost Li was overjoyed and nodded repeatedly, saying, “Thank you, Elder.”

The elder nodded, hesitated for a moment, then turned and spoke in Miao to the nearby warriors, who all nodded. The elder then walked alone towards the mid-mountain, and the remaining Miao warriors slowly gathered around, their eyes fixed on Ghost Li and Xiao Bai, whether to monitor or protect them, it was unclear.

The other Miao people, having seen the elder speak to the outsiders in a jumble of strange sounds, whispered among themselves as the elder returned to the mountain altar.

Under the watchful eyes of many, Ghost Li was preoccupied, barely noticing the others. Xiao Bai, however, flashed a gentle smile, looking around, drawing looks of lust, jealousy, and even hatred.

Only Little Gray, perched on her shoulder, gazed around, uninterested in the people. Finally, his gaze fell on the nearby stream, where he became fascinated by the swimming fish, staring intently and occasionally grinning, his body twitching with the urge to play in the water.

The Miao altar, constructed entirely of massive stones, exuded a rugged, ancient grandeur. The elder ascended the mountain path to the altar, where a platform, made of rectangular stone slabs, lay flat and smooth. Behind the platform was the actual altar.

Two enormous stone pillars, each at least thirty feet tall, stood at the entrance, carved from single blocks of stone without a single crack. It was a wonder how the ancestors managed to find such large stones and move them here.

Passing through these pillars, the elder entered the stone-built altar. The Qili Dong Miao altar was well-known in the Southern Border. Half was built with massive stones, and the other half was carved directly from the mountain rock.

As the elder entered, the light dimmed, and the temperature seemed to drop. Clearly, the elder was of high status, familiar with this sacred place, and proceeded confidently, occasionally greeting passing Miao shamans. If Ghost Li and Xiao Bai had seen this, they would have guessed the elder’s identity.

Only the chieftain of the entire Miao tribe, besides the other shamans, could command such respect.

The elder continued deeper into the altar, eventually reaching the largest room within. Above the stone door hung decorations made of beast bones, and the walls were smeared with fresh blood, symbolizing the Miao’s reverence for their ancestors.

In the darkness, everything appeared menacing.

But for the Miao, this was the holiest place. The elder, now solemn, straightened his clothes and slowly entered.

Inside the vast, empty stone chamber, a fire burned brightly, casting a distinct glow in the gloom.

Before the fire stood a strange, life-sized stone statue, with a dog-like head, human body, sharp claws, and two pairs of wings. This was the deity the Miao believed in.

In the center of the chamber, a hunched figure sat silently before the fire, seemingly meditating or lost in thought.

This place gave an eerie sense of time standing still.

Everything was quiet and silent.

The flickering flames cast a shadowy, shifting light on the figure before them.

The elder slowly approached, stopping a few feet behind the figure, and respectfully said, “Great Shaman.”

The seated figure moved slightly, and a hoarse voice asked, “Tumaggu, why have you returned? Didn’t I already convey the will of the Canine God? Is there something else you are confused about?”

Tumaggu, the current chieftain of the Southern Border Miao, replied respectfully, “Great Shaman, I understand the will of the Canine God and will act accordingly.”

The Great Shaman did not turn around, but said, “Oh, good. But what brings you back? I sense something troubling you.”

Tumaggu hesitated, then decided to speak directly, “Great Shaman, two strangers from the Middle Kingdom have arrived at Qili Dong and wish to see you.”

The Great Shaman shifted, and his head, which had been facing the fire and the Canine God statue, turned slightly, revealing his sparse, white hair.

“Who are they? I haven’t left this altar for nearly a hundred years. Why are Middle Kingdom people seeking me out?”

Tumaggu said, “I found it very strange too, so I came to ask if they should be allowed to meet you.”

The Great Shaman was silent for a moment, then asked, “Did they say why they came?”

Tumaggu replied, “They did. A man and a woman came, and the man said he wanted you to help heal a friend.”

The Great Shaman snorted, “I must serve the Canine God and have no time for such things. Tell them I refuse.”

Tumaggu, surprised, simply said, “Very well, I will relay your message.” He turned to leave.

But before he took a few steps, the Great Shaman called out, “Wait.”

Tumaggu turned back, “Great Shaman, is there something else?”

The Great Shaman, still facing the fire, said slowly, “What kind of illness does the man need my help with?”

Tumaggu explained, “He said it’s a very strange condition, where nine out of ten of a person’s souls have scattered…”

The Great Shaman’s figure in the firelight visibly shook.

Tumaggu continued, “He said a wise man told him that this condition can only be treated with a soul-restoration technique. He believes you might possess such a technique and wants to seek your help.”

Tumaggu finished, but the Great Shaman remained silent, motionless, lost in thought.

The fire flickered, and Tumaggu waited for a long time. Finally, he asked tentatively, “Great Shaman, should I tell them to leave?”

The Great Shaman remained silent.

Tumaggu slowly turned to leave, but just as he was about to exit the chamber, the Great Shaman spoke again.

After a long, thoughtful pause, he said, “Bring them up.”

Ghost Li clenched and then slowly released his fists, realizing his palms were sweating from anxiety. How long had it been since he felt such excitement and hope? With growing unease, he kept looking towards the mid-mountain altar. But the elder had not yet returned.

Was the Great Shaman refusing to treat an outsider?

Or had he done something wrong?

These thoughts raced through Ghost Li’s mind, and his heart began to beat faster.

Xiao Bai, beside him, watched his face, seeing the worry in his eyes, and the deep affection that seemed etched on his face.

She sighed softly and turned away.

The crowd of Miao people had thinned, as the chieftain had not yet returned from the altar, and there were no orders about the two outsiders. Many had dispersed, but some young Miao men, attracted by Xiao Bai’s beauty, remained nearby, boldly looking at her and talking loudly, likely discussing her beauty.

Little Gray, at some point, had jumped from Xiao Bai’s shoulder and ran to the stream, squatting by the clear water, watching the fish swim between the rocks. Suddenly, he pounced, trying to catch a fish, but the slippery creatures darted away, splashing him with water. Undeterred, he waited, and when the water calmed, he pounced again, enjoying the game endlessly.

At the foot of the mountain, the crowd gradually dispersed, and the area became quiet.

Tumaggu still had not returned, and Ghost Li grew increasingly anxious. Several times, he almost rushed up to the altar, but thoughts of Bi Yao held him back.

The waiting was excruciating.

His worried expression was noticed by Xiao Bai, and even the Miao warriors saw it, looking at each other, equally puzzled.

Why was it taking so long? Was there something else going on between the chieftain and the Great Shaman?

The Miao, though rough and simple, felt bad for making the two visitors wait so long. After a while, the tall Miao warrior walked up, gruffly saying, “Hu lu lu, gua la la!”

Ghost Li, not understanding, watched as the Miao warrior untied a large leather bag from his waist and tossed it to him.

Ghost Li caught it, feeling its weight, and saw a wooden stopper at the top. The Miao warrior then mimed drinking, and Ghost Li, catching on, pulled out the stopper and smelled the strong alcohol. It was a bag of potent liquor.

With a bitter smile, Ghost Li, who did not like alcohol, took a forced sip. The taste was incredibly strong, with a spicy kick, and he winced, unprepared for the harshness.

The Miao warriors laughed, seeing his reaction, as they had seen this before with Middle Kingdom people. There was a hint of pride in their laughter.

Frustrated, but knowing he needed to keep the peace, Ghost Li smiled and offered the bag back. The Miao warrior, still chuckling, reached out to take it.

Suddenly, a fair hand reached out and took the bag from Ghost Li. Everyone, including Ghost Li, was surprised to see it was Xiao Bai.

She lifted the bag to her nose, inhaling deeply, and then, much to everyone’s shock, took a large swig.

The Miao warriors were astonished. In their culture, women rarely drank such potent alcohol, and this seemingly delicate woman was drinking it with relish. She savored the taste, then let out a satisfied sigh.

“Good drink!”

“Wow…”

The cries of astonishment came from the Miao warriors. The Southern Miao liquor was known for its potency, and the strongest men were those with the greatest alcohol tolerance. It was a custom for men to challenge each other to drinking contests, and now this Middle Kingdom woman was participating with ease.

Xiao Bai’s cheeks were flushed, and her spirits were heightened. She held the bag with one hand, and with the other, she snapped her fingers at the Miao warriors, inviting them to a drinking contest.

The Miao warriors, all good drinkers, were shocked but roused by the challenge. They dropped their weapons and began drinking, creating a boisterous scene.

Ghost Li, stunned, forgot about the altar. The scene was absurd and amusing, and the crowd grew, drawing more Miao people, who abandoned their tasks to watch.

The drinking contest was intense, and soon, the Miao warriors began to falter. Each one falling drew cheers from the crowd, but the excitement grew as more and more Miao men fell, faces red and eyes bleary.

Only three Miao warriors, including the leader, remained standing, barely.

Meanwhile, Xiao Bai, her face glowing, continued to drink, her eyes half-closed, her demeanor seductive. She drank with such ease that the crowd was mesmerized.

Finally, with two more loud thuds, only the leader of the Miao warriors remained, staggering. Xiao Bai, still elegant, set down the bag, took a deep breath, and smiled. Her eyes were liquid, and she leaned against Ghost Li, giggling.

“Are you alright?” Ghost Li asked, after a long silence.

Xiao Bai, holding onto his clothes, paused, her breath heavy, but her eyes and smile remained playful.

“Do you… like me?” she asked, her voice soft and seductive.

“…”

Ghost Li was speechless, his heart pounding, as Xiao Bai leaned closer, her eyes half-lidded, her face flushed, and her smile enchanting.