The elders chattered incessantly, determined not to leave without seeing the Holy Maiden.
Naturally, the Grand Elder wouldn’t allow Jiang Si to appear at this time.
A fake was, after all, a fake. If they were exposed now, they wouldn’t even make it through tomorrow’s New Fire Festival.
For the Grand Elder, appeasing the clan members and intimidating the outsiders was the top priority. Everything else could wait.
“Rest assured, elders. A’Sang will certainly appear at the New Fire Festival,” the Grand Elder remained unmoved, no matter how much the other elders pressed.
The long-faced elder persisted, “Grand Elder if the Holy Maiden has already emerged from seclusion, why can’t she come out to meet us now? Is there something amiss?”
The Grand Elder’s gaze turned cold as he stared at the long-faced elder, asking slowly, “What problem does Elder An think there might be?”
In the clan, Elder An’s disguise skills were even more exquisite than the Grand Elder’s.
The long-faced elder’s eyes flickered, and he boldly said, “Perhaps the Grand Elder hasn’t heard the recent rumors?”
The atmosphere among the group changed.
They had all heard that rumor, but no one dared to speak of it openly.
“Rumors?” The Grand Elder’s expression tightened.
The long-faced elder decided to speak frankly, “Indeed. The clan members are saying that the Holy Maiden hasn’t appeared for so long, not because she’s in secluded cultivation, but because she has already passed away—”
“Nonsense!” The Grand Elder slammed the table, his face full of anger. “Elder An, it’s one thing for the ignorant clan members to believe such gossip, but how can you, a first-generation elder of our clan, believe such baseless talk?”
Elder An didn’t back down, “If that’s the case, why doesn’t the Grand Elder invite the Holy Maiden to come out and meet us? It would put our minds at ease.”
The Grand Elder turned his back, his tone resolute, “You may all leave. You will naturally see A’Sang at tomorrow’s New Fire Festival.”
Seeing the Grand Elder’s determination, the others had no choice but to leave reluctantly.
After returning, the long-faced elder’s expression was extremely gloomy. A second-generation elder close to him advised, “Since the Grand Elder said the Holy Maiden will appear at the New Fire Festival, you shouldn’t argue with him anymore. Everything will become clear tomorrow.”
The long-faced elder’s expression fluctuated between light and dark, “I just fear the Grand Elder is deceiving the clan with his authority… Well, we’ll see tomorrow.”
The next day brought good weather.
The Wu Miao clan members’ faces were beaming with smiles, matching the good weather and the arrival of the New Fire Festival.
But beneath these smiles lay unease.
Another annual New Fire Festival had come. Would the Holy Maiden appear?
If the Holy Maiden still didn’t show up, was that rumor true?
The mere thought of this possibility filled these ordinary clan members with immense dread.
Without the Holy Maiden, how could the Wu Miao, with their broken lineage, lead over a dozen tribes? And what right would they have to live in comfort?
The village gates opened, and people from over a dozen tribes arrived.
Each tribe sent between a few to over ten people, who would participate in the New Fire Festival under the Grand Elder of Wu Miao’s presiding, taking back new fire for their respective tribes.
This was the only day of the year when they could enter the Wu Miao village.
The Wu Miao village was surrounded by countless poisonous insects and miasma. Only by wearing the special sachet given at the entrance by the Wu Miao people could one be protected from insects and miasma.
These sachets were effective for only half a day, just enough time for the outsiders to participate in the New Fire Festival.
People in various attires entered, men and women, old and young. A closer look would reveal that these people maintained a subtle distance from several blue-robed individuals.
These blue-robed people showed little expression, even the lone youth among them maintained a wooden expression, lacking the curiosity typical of his age.
The Wu Miao elders, led by the Grand Elder, greeted these people.
A middle-aged man in a white robe asked with a forced smile, “Grand Elder, who will be lighting the fire today? Surely it won’t be you personally again, like last year?”
The Grand Elder glanced at the man and said calmly, “As the Grand Elder of Wu Miao, my involvement shows more sincerity. Does the Xue Miao Clan Leader find this objectionable?”
The man laughed, “The Grand Elder jests. How could I object? It’s just that in the past, the Wu Miao Holy Maiden always lit the fire. It’s been strange these past few years with you doing it instead.”
The other tribal members exchanged glances discreetly, each with their thoughts.
Wu Miao and Xue Miao, while not openly hostile, had long been in opposition.
Xue Miao and Wu Miao were originally one clan but later split due to some conflicts. Xue Miao, being weaker, was seen by other tribes as merely an appendage of the Wu Miao clan, though they didn’t see themselves that way.
Especially with the vacancy of the previous Wu Miao Holy Maiden and the current one not having appeared for years, Xue Miao had become increasingly restless.
The Grand Elder calmly sipped his tea, “The affairs of our clan need not concern the Xue Miao Clan Leader.”
Just as he finished speaking, a horn suddenly resonated throughout the village. Everyone fell silent, with only the horn growing louder and more melodious.
Amidst the unceasing horn sound, a woman in black robes with dark hair slowly approached, step by step towards the high platform.
The quiet scene was broken after a moment, as the Wu Miao clan members began to stir.
“The Holy Maiden, it’s the Holy Maiden!”
With a thud, someone knelt, followed by countless clan members doing the same, kowtowing to the black-robed woman.
People from other tribes looked at each other in bewilderment, while the Xue Miao Clan Leader’s face changed color.
Was the Wu Miao Holy Maiden truly still alive?
His gaze intensely followed the black-robed woman. Compared to the young girl with a childish face from three years ago, the woman before them, though more mature, was undoubtedly the same person.
At this moment, the Xue Miao Clan Leader felt deeply discouraged.
Contrary to the other tribes, the Wu Miao clan members were encouraged, each with excited expressions.
Jiang Si walked to the high platform under everyone’s gaze, performing a set of rituals to worship and pray for blessings without the slightest mistake, allowing the Grand Elder and others who had been secretly anxious to breathe a sigh of relief.
“Light the fire—” the Grand Elder called out.
Jiang Si held the fire drill and began to make fire.
The specially prepared wood quickly produced a bright flame.
The scene immediately erupted in jubilation, with joyful gong and drum sounds rising as people began to sing and dance.
Jiang Si stood on the high platform, scanning towards the Grand Elder’s direction. She saw the Grand Elder nod slightly at her, revealing a smile.
Her gaze shifted lightly, casually sweeping across the surroundings, pausing briefly at a certain spot.
A youth standing behind an elderly man in blue robes looked very familiar.
Jiang Si quickly recognized who the youth was—it was Yun Chuan, the corpse-driving youth she had saved on her southern journey.
The unexpected discovery of the corpse-driving youth didn’t stir much in Jiang Si’s heart. She quietly descended from the high platform and walked towards the Grand Elder.
The dancing clan members’ gazes followed the long-unseen Holy Maiden, their faces bearing relaxed smiles as if a heavy burden had been lifted, making their dance movements even more fluid and lively.
The scene grew increasingly festive, with people of status beginning to join the dancing crowd, including members of other tribes.
The love for singing and dancing was deeply ingrained in these people’s bones, a crucial way for them to express joy.
The corpse-driving youth, Yun Chuan, also walked into the dancing crowd.
He wasn’t there to dance, but because he had spotted a familiar face.