Venturing into the narrow mountain pass, the path twisted and turned, with jagged rocks protruding from the solid stone walls on either side. One misstep could easily result in a nasty bump to the head.
Observing the surroundings, countless droplets of water continuously fell from the rock faces, forming small pools in some places. The dark, damp areas also hosted a variety of verdant moss, giving the air a faint, refreshing chill.
After navigating through the ancient, winding mountain passage, Gui Li and Xiao Bai finally emerged back into the sunlight, breathing a sigh of relief.
The day was just beginning, with the first rays of sunshine breaking through the previously gloomy skies, making for a rather pleasant morning.
Stepping out from the dark pass, both Gui Li and Xiao Bai instinctively squinted their eyes as the radiant sunlight, haloed by beautiful rings of light, beamed down upon them.
Once their eyes adjusted, the distant sounds of bustling life slowly reached them.
Looking ahead, they found themselves facing a sudden expanse. Surrounded by mountains, a fertile, flat, and vast land appeared before them.
Numerous houses, built with a distinctive Miao style, rose up, some nestled against the mountains, others closely connected. A clear, small stream meandered through this idyllic land, originating from the deep mountains and flowing through the area. Many Miao houses were built along the banks of the stream.
From afar, they could see that the Miao people had constructed three bridges, each unique. The simplest was a wooden bridge made of two massive logs tied together and laid across the stream.
The other two were stone bridges, each with its own charm. One was a rough, solid structure laid across the stream, with heavy stone slabs placed on top, exemplifying the simple yet practical bridge-building techniques of the southern borderlands.
The last, however, was a finely crafted stone arch bridge, made of small stones meticulously fitted together, soaring over the stream, embodying the architectural style of the central plains. It was truly a strange sight in this remote place.
Gui Li noticed these details, but his expression remained calm. He and Xiao Bai continued forward, the crowds growing thicker and livelier. Most of the conversations around them were in the Miao language, which sounded like gibberish to Gui Li.
Xiao Bai walked beside him, noting the many Miao people who looked at them curiously, intrigued by the unfamiliar faces, though without any particular hostility. After a few steps, she whispered to Gui Li, “It seems things have calmed down quite a bit in the southern borderlands over the years.”
Gui Li, taken aback, asked, “What do you mean?”
Xiao Bai explained, “When I was here before, the Miao people were extremely wary of outsiders, always on high alert. The five tribes were embroiled in fierce, brutal conflicts, and anyone who dared to come to Qili Dong would likely meet a grim fate if they lacked defensive skills. But today, it looks like the fighting has significantly decreased.”
Gui Li nodded slightly, looking around. They were now walking among the Miao people, with the road running alongside the stream. On one side were tightly packed Miao houses, and on the other, the clear, flowing river, lined with rows of green trees.
Most Miao houses were constructed of wood, with a stark, unadorned design. The corners and edges of the houses often featured gruesome animal bones, likely a Miao custom to display the bravery of the inhabitants.
Miao vendors set up stalls along the road, selling mostly animal furs and raw meat. Occasionally, there were a few stalls offering small trinkets and jewelry.
Xiao Bai smiled, “These furs are of excellent quality and very affordable. If you’re interested, buying a few would be a great deal.”
Gui Li’s lips twitched, but he remained silent, continuing to walk. As they approached the riverbank, they could see the crystal-clear water, even the stones beneath the surface, and the myriad of fish swimming and playing in the water.
In the distance, a bird flew by, flapping its wings and landing gracefully on the water’s surface, looking around before folding its wings and floating peacefully.
Everything in this place seemed to coexist in an unusually harmonious manner.
Xiao Bai walked over, and her shoulder monkey, Xiaohui, peeked curiously at the stream below.
“What now?” Gui Li asked calmly.
Xiao Bai pondered for a moment, then said, “Given that three hundred years have passed, it’s unlikely the person we seek is still alive if they didn’t have our level of cultivation. We should first find where he lived.”
Gui Li nodded, “Where is it?”
Xiao Bai pointed ahead, “There.”
Gui Li looked up, seeing a stone platform built halfway up a hill, towering above the typical Miao houses.
Gui Li frowned, muttering, “The altar.”
Xiao Bai smiled, “Exactly.”
Gui Li was silent, feeling a sense of unease. Altars in the southern borderlands held a special significance. He knew that in the borderlands, the Miao, Zhuang, Tujia, Li, and Gaoshan tribes, each had their own distinct religions and deities. However, all tribes had a sacred place for rituals and worship, the altar.
In the southern borderlands, the altars and the priests within them held a revered status. In the eyes of most tribal people, the words of the priests were often seen as equivalent to the words of the divine. During times of intense conflict, each tribe would consult the priests before engaging in war, seeking divine approval.
Thus, the altars and their priests held a lofty position in the southern borderlands, and the priests rarely met with outsiders.
Gui Li was silent for a moment, then turned to Xiao Bai, “That’s the Miao altar. You’re saying the person we’re looking for was…?”
Xiao Bai smiled, “Correct. Three hundred years ago, I saw the Miao high priest perform the Soul Retrieval Ritual, rescuing a Miao man whose soul had been captured by mountain spirits and demons.”
The high priest of the Miao…
Gui Li’s lips twitched again. If the priests were highly respected, the high priest, who was the most powerful and communicated directly with the divine, was practically a deity to the common Miao people.
If anyone dared to offend the high priest, Gui Li had no doubt that all the Miao people, or even the entire southern borderland, would rise up against the offender.
Xiao Bai, watching Gui Li with interest, smiled, “What do we do now?”
Gui Li glanced at her, the morning sun casting a warm, gentle light on her face.
He said nothing, turning and heading towards the half-mountain altar.
Qili Dong, the name of this place, indeed encompassed a large area, and it was the largest Miao settlement in the southern borderlands. As they delved deeper, they encountered more and more Miao people.
Branching paths led off the main road, like the branches of a tree. They could see the road extending directly towards the altar, so they didn’t need to ask for directions.
However, as they went deeper, more Miao people began to notice them, and whispers started to rise. After about half a cup of tea time, they reached the base of the hill where the altar was located.
They stopped, not out of hesitation, but because Miao soldiers guarding the foot of the hill blocked their way.
Gui Li felt a bit annoyed, but it was not unexpected. The sacred altar, the most important place for the Miao, naturally needed to be heavily guarded.
At least a dozen burly Miao men stood guard, armed with long spears, keeping watch over the path to the altar.
The two guards in front scrutinized Gui Li and Xiao Bai, lingering longer on Xiao Bai’s pretty face. They shouted, “Jili jili hulu, gula gula luluhu…”
Gui Li turned to Xiao Bai, who shrugged, “Don’t ask me. After being locked up for so long, I don’t remember the dialect.”
Gui Li remained silent, then said, “We have urgent business and wish to see your high priest.” He spoke with a rare politeness, hoping to be understood.
However, the Miao guards, who were not as well-versed in the central plains’ language as the innkeeper back in Tian Shui Zhai, furrowed their brows and raised their spears, shouting, “Hulu gula, luluhu jili…”
Gui Li was at a loss. He was determined to find the high priest for Bi Yao, but being stopped by these Miao guards was frustrating. He wanted to simply fight his way through, but he knew that rash actions could backfire.
Instead, he pointed to the altar and said, “We need to go to your altar to see the high priest.”
The Miao guards, unable to understand him, became even more agitated. Pointing to the altar was a grave insult in Miao culture. The surrounding Miao people, including the soldiers and onlookers, became furious, shouting and surrounding them.
Gui Li was taken aback. Xiao Bai whispered, “You might have committed a major taboo.”
Gui Li asked, “What did I do?”
Xiao Bai, looking at the angry crowd, said, “The altar is a sacred place. Even mentioning it is disrespectful, and pointing to it is the greatest insult.”
Gui Li glared at her, “Why didn’t you tell me this earlier?”
Xiao Bai smiled, “I’ve been locked up for three hundred years. How could I remember everything?”
Gui Li was once again at a loss, feeling overwhelmed.
The Miao people, seeing the calm demeanor of the intruders, grew even angrier. The woman, in particular, was smiling and laughing, further infuriating the Miao women.
Some young Miao men suggested punishing the man and taking the woman as a wife, but they were quickly beaten and thrown into the stream by the enraged Miao women.
The lead Miao soldier, who appeared to be the commander, glared at Gui Li and shouted, “Hahalu lu ji, gula ji hulu!”
Gui Li was desperate. Although he didn’t understand the Miao language, he knew that communication was crucial. He couldn’t afford to make another mistake.
Just as the situation was about to spiral out of control, a powerful voice boomed from the rear of the Miao soldiers, silencing the crowd. This person, clearly a figure of great respect among the Miao, was about to change the course of events.
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