When Vice General Wang gestured for them to stand on the left side of the street, the priest understood what these Chinese people were waiting for.
While they were chatting, they kept looking at the other side of the street, as if something was coming towards them.
"I'm coming!"
The crowd suddenly became restless, and the continuous sound of explosions in the distance slowly approached. Seeing the joy on the faces of the surrounding Chinese people, the indigenous people headed by the priest began to look forward to what was about to appear on the other side of the street. The noisy sound gradually got closer, and the curious natives couldn't help but poke their heads out to take a look, only to see many figures emerging from the street corner, followed by something that made all the natives change their looks.
"Ah, Quetzalcoatl!"
Looking at the long figure flying above the crowd, the faces of the natives were shocked. For a moment, they almost thought they had seen the true form of Quetzalcoatl, and they all knelt down in fear and shock. When the Chinese people around looked at them strangely and funny, and Vice General Wang pulled him up with a smile, the priest discovered that what he saw in front of him was not the real body of Quetzalcoatl, but one made of wood and cloth. Several Chinese people held up wooden sticks to coordinate the movements, the Chinese totem called "dragon".
"Don't be afraid, don't be afraid. This is called 'Dragon Dance'. It can't really move." Vice General Wang laughed loudly and patted the priest on the shoulder. "Even if it is a real dragon, there is no need to be afraid. We Chinese people are dragons." Heir, even if there is a dragon, it won’t harm us.”
"Descendant of the dragon?" The priest was a little surprised. "Are you born from a 'dragon'?"
"That's not true..." This question stunned Vice General Wang. After scratching his head, he choked out: "But our Majesty is a dragon. He is the real Dragon Emperor."
"The True Dragon Emperor..." The priest chewed on these four words with some embarrassment, and the look in his eyes became more and more horrified.
After a while, the dragon dance team passed by, and the immigrants began to get busy. The busy work this time was not to build the city, but to set up pots and a stage in the large open space next to it. Vice General Wang smiled and explained: "Today we are eating on a flowing table. Everyone gathers here to eat. You are welcome, Old Ma, and let your brothers in the tribe join in the fun."
"The formal ancestor worship will not be held until noon. Then, you and your brothers in the tribe will be invited to watch the ceremony!"
The priest seemed to understand this long words, but he could only nod his head in confusion. Being exposed to the joy of the Chinese people made this indigenous priest who was used to living in the primitive jungle very overwhelmed. But his attention was quickly attracted by those erected platforms. He saw a few Chinese people with strange face paintings and strangely dressed people. Some of them had two long beautiful feathers on their heads. Along with the music of "Jiang Jiang Jiang Jiang", he walked onto the stage and started singing babblingly.
"Um, what?" the priest asked Deputy General Wang. Looking at the paint on those people's faces and the feathers on their heads, the priest actually felt a little friendly.
"Oh, that one is called 'Singing a Drama', it's really interesting!" Deputy General Wang said. Although he is a general in the army, he is not very tall. He is standing on tiptoes while answering the questions of the indigenous priests. "I never expected that I could listen to a play in such a quiet place... Today's play is a new one, it's called 'The Battle of Zhuolu', but Master Tie wrote it himself!"
"Master Tie is a direct disciple of His Highness the Fifth Prince. I think this play will be as interesting as "Three Kingdoms". You natives are lucky to hear this play!"
Seeing the babble of singing coming from the simple stage, the melancholy of leaving home in Vice General Wang's heart seemed to be dispelled by the excitement.
"A big show?" The priest was confused. The reason why he was able to communicate relatively smoothly with Vice General Wang actually relied mostly on Vice General Wang's rather "rich" body language. As a tribal priest who communicates with gods, expressing through body and tone is also his strength. But Vice General Wang, who was listening intently to the opera, did not focus on the "signs", so the priest naturally began to fail to understand.
However, the expressive nature of drama can actually easily transcend language barriers. He soon saw that the Chinese people on the stage were retelling a great story. Through music and performance, they told the myth of a great Lord of the Gods who defeated the hostile evil gods.
This battle is very exciting. The enemy evil god has the help of gods named "Wind Uncle" and "Rain Master", who can summon wind, rain and Daiwu. The Lord of the Gods is upright and wise. He is protected by a "dragon" and can also create a magical car that breaks through the terrible fog and wind and rain.
This wonderful way of expression was an eye-opener for the priest. In their tradition, there are also behaviors in which priests wear feathers and masks and imitate the gods, but it is far from such intuitive and shocking.
"Is the big show a sacrifice? Don't you Chinese people have no gods?" The priest conveyed his question with gestures.
"Who said that's a god? That's the ancestor of us Chinese people!" Vice General Wang, who was still immersed in the drama of the Yellow Emperor's victory, answered confidently. "...But it's not wrong to say they are gods. The gods of us Chinese people are our ancestors!"
As he spoke, he continued to focus on the next play.
The priest finally understood what Deputy General Wang said, but he was even more surprised. Is the man called "Yellow Emperor" a god? Are these Chinese people all descendants of gods?
However, when these people watched the "big show", they were not as solemn and pious as those in their tribe who worshiped the gods. Instead, they looked cheerful. In the priest's opinion, this is definitely not the attitude that one should have when offering sacrifices to gods. And as far as he is concerned, he has never seen Chinese people engage in activities similar to sacrificial rituals. Aren’t the Chinese afraid of offending the gods?
He became more and more confused.
But soon, he saw the Chinese sacrifices with his own eyes.
After watching the theater and having lunch, these Chinese people walked to the center of the city in unison. Under the hospitality of Lieutenant General Wang, the priests and people from the tribe also followed. The priest soon discovered that the expressions of those people who were originally smiling became more solemn and solemn as they got closer to the center of the city.
As a priest, he quickly felt the solemnity and a familiar feeling.
This is the solemn feeling unique to worshiping gods.
He followed Vice General Wang and soon arrived at an extremely wide building in the center of the city. He had never seen this building before. He only knew that the Chinese people valued this place very much. There were always many people working hard here, but they, the indigenous people, could not get close to it easily.
"You guys stay here to watch the ceremony, I have to go back to the team." Vice General Wang told him.
The open space in the center of this building is large, and it is more than enough for hundreds of Chinese people to stand on it plus them. The natives were placed in a corner, watching these solemn-looking Chinese people. I saw these Chinese people holding thin "twigs" with light smoke floating in their hands, and each of them faced the two extremely complicated palaces on the stairs. There are two tall statues in the temple, covered with precious silk.
"The time has come for the memorial service to be proclaimed!" a majestic voice sang.
(End of chapter)
