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墨書 Inktalez
Excitement sparkled in his eyes, as if he could already see a pile of silver coins clattering into his money pouch. He turned and tugged at the reins of the mechanical bull, his tone lighthearted. "Alright, old bull, no slacking off! We need to hit the road!"
The mechanical bull flicked its tail gently, emitting a low hum as its steps quickened. The old man wore a broad smile and turned to Bing Lie. "Young man, what do you say? Want to take a look? The Heavenly Deity Festival is bustling; it’s sure to be an eye-opener for you!"
Bing Lie nodded slightly, his voice deep and calm. "That’s exactly what I intend to do."
The old man laughed heartily at this and began walking forward with the mechanical bull. The bull's tracks made a dull sound against the dirt, its tail occasionally swishing as if still basking in its recent revival. Bing Lie walked alongside, his steps steady, the cloak billowing gently in the breeze.
Clearly a chatterbox, the old man's mouth never stopped moving. Initially, he talked about the Heavenly Deity Festival in town, mentioning various interesting activities and the grand decorations set up for the celebration. Soon enough, however, the conversation shifted to current affairs—discussing the rise of a new power in a certain country, the disappearance of a legendary swordsman, and the latest border disputes between Wu Jing and Yang Chuan.
"These big nations just can’t stop!" The old man shook his head, his tone laced with a hint of seasoned sarcasm. "We common folks can only watch them stir things up and hope it doesn’t affect us."
Bing Lie remained silent, listening quietly with an unchanging gaze that suggested nothing around him could truly disturb him.
Noticing Bing Lie's lack of engagement, the old man didn’t mind. He jumped to another topic, suddenly discussing the art of making ramen. "Did you know, young man, that a good bowl of ramen has its soul in the broth? Whether it’s pork bone soup, chicken broth, or a mixed soup, every drop needs to simmer for hours! It’s quite a test of patience." He spoke animatedly, gesturing as if teaching.
Bing Lie cast an unobtrusive glance at him; his lips seemed to twitch slightly but quickly returned to their calm state. He didn’t interrupt but allowed the old man to continue.
The mountain path gradually flattened out, with fewer trees surrounding them, replaced by stretches of grassland and scattered small houses. The old man pulled the mechanical bull along with quickening steps and an increasingly rapid speech as they neared their destination.
Before long, they ascended a gentle slope where crowds became denser ahead. People wore various expressions—some were filled with anticipation, others hurried along, while some held children and laughed joyfully. Vendors had set up makeshift stalls along the roadside selling various snacks and handicrafts; the air began to fill with enticing food aromas and the sounds of bustling chatter.
As they traversed the final stretch of slope, a massive sign appeared ahead. Crafted from thick wood and metal, it bore three bold characters reading "Yi Yu Town," written in strong strokes that exuded a rich traditional vibe. Below it hung colorful banners that fluttered in the wind, harmonizing beautifully with the lively scene within the town in the distance.
The old man looked up at the sign and smiled broadly. Turning to Bing Lie, he said, "See? We've arrived at Yi Yu Town! This is the liveliest place in our region, and you must take a good look at the spectacle of the Heavenly Deity Festival!"
He patted the back of his mechanical ox, beaming with joy. "Young man, I need to find a good spot and set up my stall quickly! If you have time, remember to come find me; I’ll treat you to a bowl of noodles! My ramen is the best in this town!"
Bing Lie nodded slightly and cupped his hands in gratitude. "Thank you." His voice remained calm, exuding a sense of tranquility.
The old man waved cheerfully and hurriedly pulled his mechanical ox into the throng of bustling people. The sound of the ox's tracks on the ground mixed with the chatter and clamor as they gradually faded away.
Bing Lie turned around and looked up at the grand entrance of Yi Yu Town. He gently adjusted his hat and then stepped inside.
The vibrant scene within the town hit him like a wave. Various sounds rose and fell, and amidst the bustling crowd were faces from different countries, each with distinct styles of clothing and mixed languages. They moved through the streets with their own purposes—some hurried, some paused to gaze, while others stood in front of stalls selecting handcrafted items.
Along the street, several children were playfully chasing each other, waving toy swords made of colored paper and wood. Their laughter rang clear, contrasting with the chaotic hustle around them yet somehow harmonizing with it. Bing Lie's gaze briefly lingered on these running children, a fleeting softness appearing in his eyes before it vanished.
Not far away, women from a brothel stood at the entrance dressed in flamboyant attire, fanning themselves as they enthusiastically greeted passing customers. Some laughed softly while others openly flirted, all wearing similar smiles. A few drunken men stumbled past them; one laughed heartily and reached out to lift one woman's skirt, eliciting a chorus of giggles and playful shouts.
In the center of the street, vendors were energetically calling out their wares, their voices loud and urgent as if afraid to be overlooked by the throng. Their stalls overflowed with various goods—from skewered barbecue to ceramic trinkets—and even a few tattered old books. The vendors' shouts blended seamlessly with the street's clamor, intermingled with the crackling of flames and the crisp sound of coins clinking together.
At the end of the street, a group dressed in ceremonial garb stood in neat rows, marching in unison with faces reflecting an almost reverent calmness. Their clothes were embroidered with symbols of various deities, holding aloft ornate ritual vessels while softly chanting indistinguishable ancient texts. Their voices resonated like a low choir, adding an air of solemn mystery to this otherwise bustling street.
Bing Lie walked quietly through this lively scene, observing intently. His steps were light, creating a stark contrast to the surrounding noise. He neither deliberately avoided anything nor sought to blend in; he simply became part of this street like a drop of water merging into a river.
As Bing Lie slowly traversed through the town, his calm gaze swept over the vibrant streets, taking in all manner of sights before suddenly being pierced by a cacophony of shouting that broke through the din.
"Come on! The main event is about to start!"
A man shouted as he ran by, his face alight with excitement. His call acted as a signal, and the crowd in the street erupted into a frenzy. Vendors hurriedly packed up their stalls, some abandoning their goods altogether as they pushed their carts in a mad dash toward a single direction. Children sprinted away at the urging of their parents, while drunken individuals leaned on each other, stumbling along. Even the women standing at the doors of the brothels quickly closed up and joined the throng heading toward the commotion.
Bing Lie stood still, his brow slightly furrowed as he coldly observed the sudden chaos. A few passersby bumped into him, causing him to sway slightly, but he did not get angry or speak; he simply steadied his footing.
"What is going on?" Bing Lie wondered silently, and soon found himself unconsciously following the flow of people.
The crowd eventually converged in the center of a vast square, where a massive altar stood. The black stone base was intricately carved with complex patterns, and torches were lit on either side of the steps leading up to the altar's summit. The flames flickered in the gentle breeze, casting a solemn atmosphere. At the center of the altar rose a gigantic stone pillar, entwined with unknown runes and colorful ribbons that shimmered under the sunlight.
On the altar, several priests clad in white robes moved slowly around the pillar, waving banners made of white canvas that bore embroidered symbols of various deities. They chanted ancient scriptures in low voices, their tones deep and continuous, resembling an ancient and mysterious hymn. The priests swayed gently in rhythm with their chanting, their movements synchronized as if performing some ancient blessing ritual.
Above them, several drones hovered quietly, surveying the altar and crowd below. Their red camera lights blinked softly, clearly capturing every moment. Nearby, reporters held microphones and spoke softly into their cameras: "This is the core ritual of Yi Yu Town's annual Heavenly Deity Festival, symbolizing prayers for peace and prosperity through divine blessings..."
Cameramen focused intently on controlling the drones, striving to find the best angles for filming. One drone swept over the top of the stone pillar, its camera slowly panning down to capture images of the priests circling and chanting. Another drone lingered at the edge of the square, taking in the sea of people packed tightly together—chaotic yet orderly, noisy yet solemn.
Bing Lie stood at the back of the crowd, quietly observing it all. His figure appeared particularly solitary and stern amidst the thronging masses. His gaze fell upon the enormous stone pillar and the priests, his eyes deep in thought as if pondering something significant. The surrounding noise and fervor seemed irrelevant to him; his heart was calm like still water. Yet those runes on the pillar caused his attention to sharpen for just a moment.
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