Chapter 64: The River God Sacrifice

At five ke of the mao hour, as dawn barely broke, the main gate of Liang Qu's home was pounded with loud bangs.

It was not someone coming to cause trouble.

Everyone in Yixing Market now knew Liang Qu's status; no one dared to provoke him. The person knocking was Chen Tongming, grandson of Chen Chen Zhaoan.

Chen Tongming cupped his hands and said, "Brother Shui, my grandfather sent me to ask if you are familiar with the sacrificial procedure. As for the sacrificial text, you need not memorize it, but you must read it as fluently as possible; there cannot be any stumbles."

"Shall I read it once for you so you can hear how it sounds?"

"This..." Chen Tongming hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Then I trouble you, Brother Shui; let me listen."

Regarding the sacrifice to the River God, even though Liang Qu was the direct disciple of Yang Shi, he could not be careless.

If done poorly, he would still suffer the scorn of the villagers; of course, if done well, he would naturally receive widespread praise, becoming a notable figure in Yixing Market. There were benefits and drawbacks to both.

After returning home last night, though exhausted, he had forced himself to recite the text over ten times and believed there were no issues.

Liang Qu and Chen Tongming faced each other, and Liang Qu began reciting the sacrificial text.

"River God above, I, resting upon the land of Yixing Market, facing the waters of the Jiang and Huai rivers, bearing the trust of the multitude, gathering the hopes of the people, lead the masses today in reverent worship before your honored presence, presenting this sacrificial text..."

After a quarter of an hour, Liang Qu stopped.

Chen Tongming nodded. "Brother Shui truly handles matters in a reassuring way; with such ability, the villagers will surely sing your praises."

"I cannot compare to Elder Chen," Liang Qu said modestly.

"The sacrificial text is fine, but have you gone through the procedure?"

"I grew up in Yixing Market; I've come here twice every year. Even if I haven't eaten pork, I've seen pigs run. Ask me anything."

Chen Tongming did not stand on ceremony. "After the officiant calls for presenting the sacrificial animals, what should the main officiant do?"

"First offer incense, then pour sacrificial wine, finally recite the sacrificial text. After reciting, have the villagers kneel and bow, set off firecrackers, and then descend from the sacrificial platform."

Chen Tongming nodded. With the text and procedure both familiar, there were no issues; as long as the general flow was correct, it was sufficient.

"Good. The sacrifice begins at one ke of the wu hour. I will come to fetch you, Brother Shui, at three ke of the si hour. By then, you must wear clean and tidy clothes. If you do not have any, I will find a set for you."

"That is unnecessary; I have a set."

"Good, then we shall meet at three ke of the si hour."

Watching Chen Tongming leave, Liang Qu felt a trace of excitement in his heart.

Over a thousand people; offering incense, pouring wine, and reciting the sacrificial text before so many villagers was his first time facing such a grand occasion. Nervousness was inevitable; he hoped there would be no problems when the time came.

First, a bath.

Liang Qu closed the door, boiled water, and prepared soap.

Having not personally caught fish for many consecutive days, the fishy odor on his body had largely dissipated; an ordinary person could not smell it at all.

After washing and grooming, tying up his long hair, and changing into the clothes and treasures given by his senior brothers and sisters, he even felt himself quite handsome.

Walking to the table, Liang Qu tapped his fingers rhythmically upon it.

The blue bead on the table trembled, unfolded, and transformed into a six-inch-long great centipede. Its blue armor shimmered, flowing with iridescent light under the morning sun.

The Tianshui Centipede crawled along Liang Qu's palm to his wrist, connected head to tail, its hundred legs drawing together inch by inch, tightening seamlessly until it transformed into a blue jade bracelet.

Liang Qu hid it beneath his arm guard, pushed open the door, and stepped out.

As the sacrifice approached, Blue Stone Street was far livelier than usual.

A great cloak was not a cape; it was a loose, wide robe with sleeves. Liang Qu, tall and straight, wore it draped over his shoulders. As he walked, he exuded a naturally elegant air, markedly different from the common folk in hemp clothes, drawing many eyes.

Many villagers seeing this harbored complex, twisting thoughts.

The crowd that had gathered yesterday was only a small portion of Yixing Market; many others had learned of it later through word of mouth. Now seeing him with their own eyes, everyone thought different things.

There was envy, jealousy, happiness, and also regret—regret for not having earlier formed a marriage alliance with Liang Qu, letting a golden son-in-law slip away for nothing.

"I initially wanted to form a marriage alliance with Liang Ashui too. If it had succeeded, wouldn't I be just as glorious now? Perhaps today it would be me carrying the sacrificial animal?"

"Your daughter matching Liang Ashui? Even if you aren't ashamed, I am. Why don't you take a piss and look at your reflection?"

"How can you speak like that? What's wrong with my daughter? Ah, what's wrong with my daughter?"

"What are you quarreling about? With Liang Qu being so promising, I'd say only the county magistrate's daughter is worthy of him!"

"That is true."

Someone shouted loudly, raising a thumb. "Liang Ashui, you are righteous! The blue bricks and tiles are ready; I'll come to your house another day to build the wall!"

Liang Qu cupped his hands and smiled. "Many thanks, Uncle Hu!"

"Why so polite? I have plenty of strength. Exerting a bit of effort earns a hundred wen; one doesn't know where to find such a good deal."

"Exactly, Uncle doesn't have much of anything else, just plenty of strength! Use me as you wish!"

In the countryside, labor was the cheapest commodity, especially in winter when money was even harder to earn; merely providing a meal would have plenty of people scrambling for work.

Now, helping for two days in exchange for a hundred wen was a coveted job that people would break their heads to get.

At the wu hour, Chen Tongming came to fetch Liang Qu, and the two went together to the wharf.

Villagers emerged one after another from the alleys on both sides of Blue Stone Street, converging at the wharf.

A tall trapezoidal sacrificial platform was erected on the blue stone brick platform, consisting of thirteen wooden steps. At the top stood a large square table, laden with melons, fruits, and vegetables.

At each of the eight directions around the platform stood a person holding a large banner facing outward. Nearby was a team beating gongs.

Liang Qu also saw Chen Jie and Li Li Libo.

The three had practiced martial arts together at the martial hall, so naturally, Chen Chen Zhaoan had arranged for them as well, assigning them as the strong men to slaughter the animals before presenting them.

One of them held a sheep, the other an ox, waiting for the presentation of the sacrificial animals.

One ke of the wu hour.

Everyone had arrived.

The village elders and Liang Qu stood on the left side of the sacrificial platform, under the eaves of a large gate and grand courtyard. Stone lions squatted on both sides, making the group appear majestic and extraordinary.

Over a thousand villagers stood before the sacrificial platform, all waiting in silence.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Boom, boom, boom!

Three sounds of the gong.

The elderly officiant advanced one step with each drumbeat, walking along the central axis of the sacrificial platform to its front. He then turned left, stationed himself at the quarter mark of the platform, turned his back to the altar, faced the crowd, and shouted in a loud, clear voice.

"Present the sacrificial animals!"

Chen Jie took the lead, grabbing the ox's nose ring and stepping forward. Li Li Libo followed closely behind, and finally, Chen Tongming led a pig.

The three arrived at the right side of the sacrificial platform, where someone immediately stepped forward to hang up the three sacrificial animals.

The three animals struggled desperately, but bound by chains, their efforts were futile. The three men each took a sharp knife and aimed it at the animals' necks.

"Stab!"

At the officiant's command, the sharp knives pierced the necks in unison, severing the arteries.

Bright red blood sprayed out, falling into wooden buckets, rising with steaming heat.

A thick scent of blood shot into the sky, spreading with the cold wind across the entire wharf.

"Lift!"

The three lifted the wooden buckets and, following the drumbeats, moved to the water's edge.

"Pour!"

The buckets tipped over; the blood gushed out, splashing into the water and spreading like a patch of pitch-black ink.

Only the thick scent of blood remained in the wind.

"Shamans, return to position!"

Five sounds of the gong.

Liang Qu saw two shamans walk out from beside him, standing on both sides of the sacrificial platform, singing and dancing. Unconsciously, he tightened his grip on the manuscript in his hand.

Once the shamans appeared, it would be his turn to take the stage.

"Main officiant, proceed!"

Nine sounds of the gong.

The gong sounds were deafening.

Liang Qu froze.

He saw a black shadow crawl across the tiled roof, flash briefly from the eaves ahead, and vanish behind the fire-sealing gable wall.

Withered and emaciated, its skin brown like an old tree.