Chapter 91: Dance of 648

Two days later.

The Flower God's Birthday has finally arrived.

Inside the Grand Bazaar, it was bustling and noisy, with crowds surging.

Actually, in Xu Mi Cheng, the Flower God's Birthday is only a minor holiday; the Academy usually leads celebrations for the Great Merciful Tree King's holiday, and regarding the Flower God's Birthday, they not only do not support it but also vaguely oppose it.

But the Academy not supporting it doesn't mean the Grand Bazaar isn't lively on that holiday.

Because the Little Auspicious Grass King's worshippers spontaneously set up stalls in the Grand Bazaar, many items rarely seen normally are put up for sale, and the prices are even more favorable.

Therefore, besides those Little Auspicious Grass King worshippers, this day also attracts many Xu Mi Cheng residents who do not believe in the Little Auspicious Grass King to come sightseeing and spending.

Moreover, the people of the Grand Bazaar themselves especially love singing and dancing.

On this occasion, they sing and dance even more, celebrating the Little Auspicious Grass King's birthday with concrete actions.

The Zu Bai Er Theatre, prepared for a long time, will also be open all day on this day, and including the Flower God's Dance as the grand finale, all performances are completely free, allowing visitors to the Grand Bazaar to watch to their heart's content.

This makes the Grand Bazaar's liveliness even greater.

Anyone who comes here won't be able to leave in just a few hours, and many people simply stay put, focusing on waiting for the evening's Flower God's Dance so as not to miss the best viewing spots.

Luo De and Dixiya naturally also arrived early.

Unlike before when they came empty-handed.

This time Luo De was also holding a square, somewhat bulky box.

A recording device.

The Tiwatedalu version of the camera can take photos, record video, and also capture sound.

Its functions are quite complete.

The downside is that it's too bulky, making it inconvenient to hold.

Moreover, the recording device is not cheap; one with such full functions is especially expensive.

Luo De would definitely be reluctant to spend money on such a thing.

This is something he specially borrowed from Sha Zha Man.

For the purpose of.

It is specifically to record the grand scene of the Flower God's Birthday Festival for Dina Ze Dai.

"Old master, really, having such a good thing and not taking it out earlier."

"Dina Ze Dai has told me several times that she has never been able to successfully participate in the Flower God's Birthday Festival; just look at her expression—no need to say how sad she is."

"Dixiya followed beside Luo De, chattering: 'If he had taken this out earlier, Dina Ze Dai wouldn't need to go out to see the Flower God's Birthday Festival!'"

"Hehe."

"It's probably because they simply don't believe in the existence of the Little Auspicious Grass King as a deity."

After fumbling with it for a while, Luo De finally figured out how to use the recording device and hehe'd: 'All right, it's ready to use.'

Upon hearing that,

Dixiya, who had been about to continue complaining about Sha Zha Man, immediately shut her mouth.

A good Flower God's Birthday Festival must not have its atmosphere ruined by such talk.

"Hmm, not bad."

"Looks troublesome, but actually operating it is still quite simple."

"The functions are also quite complete."

Luo De, accustomed to using a phone, was initially a bit unaccustomed when he first picked it up, but after trying to shoot a few segments, he roughly became familiar with the operation.

This otherworldly camera indeed doesn't look very good.

However, its design is very standard point-and-shoot; even someone just picking it up can quickly get the hang of using it.

However, after Luo De figured out how to use it, he didn't start shooting but instead swayed left and right, looking around.

Seeing that he was ready but still reluctant to shoot, Dixiya, who had been holding back her words, couldn't help but ask: 'Why aren't you starting to shoot?'

"Waiting for someone."

While speaking, Luo De's gaze did not shift; he continued to scan the surroundings.

"Waiting for someone? Who are you waiting for?"

Dixiya asked doubtfully.

Luo De, in Xu Mi Cheng, do you have any acquaintances?

"Ah, she's here."

Following Luo De's gaze, Dixiya saw the person he was waiting for.

That was a tall woman dressed in adventurer's attire.

"Kaiselin?"

"Dixiya blinked and said, 'When did you become so close with her?'"

"I invited her to help."

Luo De explained: "If it's just filming, I always feel something is missing; then I realized it was lacking a narrator."

"A narrator? What's that?"

"It's the voice that provides commentary from the side during filming; you haven't watched a movie, have you?"

"I haven't."

"No wonder; this is a commonly used technique when filming movies, making such documentary-like films more immersive."

"You speak as if you've seen it before; you haven't been in Teyvat that long, have you?"

Upon Luo De saying that, Dixiya immediately showed displeasure.

The so-called movie is the otherworldly version of films on the Tiwatedalu continent.

The nation of water Fontaine originated in Teyvat.

And it quickly became popular across Teyvat's seven nations, and the image recorders needed to film these shadow-plays also sold well in the seven nations.

But filming a shadow-play is time-consuming and laborious, and screening it also requires going to a special venue.

So although it's popular, it hasn't yet reached the point where everyone has seen it.

People like Dixiya who haven't seen a shadow-play are not few.

Luo De naturally hasn't seen one either.

"But well."

"In my hometown, there is also something similar to shadow-plays, and it is far more exquisite and delicate than Teyvat's shadow-plays."

Luo De laughed and said: "In my hometown, this thing similar to shadow-plays is called a movie; we can watch it in theaters, at home, or with special equipment we can hold in our hands anytime, which is far more convenient than watching a shadow-play on the Teyvat continent."

"Is that so."

Upon hearing that, a hint of longing appeared on Dixiya's face.

No one knows when Teyvat will have such an era where everyone can watch shadow-plays at any time.

At this moment.

Kaiselin's voice sounded beside them: "Mr. Luo De, Miss Dixiya, good morning."

Different from Kaiselin when she was standing at the Adventurers' Guild counter.

Today Kaiselin's expression is much more lively, and her smile is also much more than before.

Such a change.

Even Dixiya, who hasn't interacted much with her, can tell that she is different today from usual.

"Today's narration work is entrusted to you, Miss Kaiselin."

Luo De hoisted the recording device, greeting with a chuckle.

The Kaiselin before him was certainly not the normal Kaiselin.

As usual.

It was still Nadixa possessing Kaiselin's body.

She didn't come specially to do narration work; rather, she was invited by Luo De and specially came to participate in the Flower God's Birth Festival.

Next, Luo De stopped wasting words.

Following Nadixa's voice and steps, he kept filming along the streets of the Grand Bazaar.

"Legend has it that long ago, the Flower God's Birth Festival was once the most important festival in Xu Mi Cheng."

"On this day, people would make a huge float and parade it through Xu Mi Cheng."

"Along the way, people scattered flowers, candy, and fine wine."

"Just like that."

"The float would go all the way to Aomosi Gang."

"."

Starting from the history of the Flower God's Birth Festival, Nadixa played the role of a professional commentator, basically introducing each step as she walked.

From time to time she would also go to stalls selling Flower God's Birth Festival specialty items to give a dedicated explanation.

For example, the stall right ahead selling the Seven-Fresh table.

"In the past, on the day of the Flower God's Birth Festival, people would arrange seven dishes on the table: the Sacred Tree King Mushroom, Moon Lotus, Rose, Sunset Fruit, Calamity Wave Lotus, Spice Fruit, Dun Dun Peach, etc., symbolizing the seven virtues of the Xu Mi Cheng deities."

With the stall owner's permission, Luo De followed Nadixa's explanation and photographed each of these seven fresh fruits and vegetables, capturing their appearance and arrangement.

And Kaiselin's erudition also continually amazed Dixiya.

In her impression.

Kaiselin was the receptionist who had been stationed behind the counter for ages.

But now.

This Kaiselin, who was stiff in her actions and whose smile was as mechanically standardized as a formula, when touring the Flower God's Birth Festival, not only had a beaming smile but also had light shining in her eyes.

This was completely unlike her usual self.

Moreover, this Kaiselin knew the history of the Flower God's Birth Festival extremely well; upon seeing anything, she would immediately recount its history and origin.

Thinking of this.

Dixiya turned her head to look at Luo De again, her eyes full of doubt.

Because Kaiselin's explanation hadn't finished yet, she held back.

Until Luo De used up a roll of film.

While he was changing the film, a rare moment of free time, Dixiya stepped closer and whispered: "How do you know Kaiselin knows so much?"

This was Dixiya's greatest doubt.

Kaiselin rarely went out; she always stayed behind her doors, devoting herself to being the receptionist at the Adventurers' Guild.

The last time Luo De registered as an adventurer there, she followed the standard procedure all the way, so there should have been no chance for her to leak to Luo De that she knew so much history.

"Hehe."

"I told you, but you mustn't tell anyone else."

Luo De mysteriously leaned close to Dixiya's ear and uttered a name.

However, upon hearing that name, Dixiya raised her eyebrows and snapped angrily: "Are you asking for a beating? Still the Little Auspicious Grass King! Why don't you say it was the Great Merciful Tree King who told you?"

"What I said is really true."

Luo De nodded his head, putting on the airs of a mystic, and said: "The night before last, I was actually pondering whether to hire a student from the Yin-Lun school to do this narration work, when I suddenly heard the voice of the Little Auspicious Grass King; following her guidance, I then found Miss Kaiselin to help."

"You're just spouting nonsense here."

This kind of obviously made-up ghost story, Dixiya wouldn't believe a single word of it.

Just as she was about to follow up with a question.

Luo De clicked the film roll into place, then stood up and said, "Miss Kaiselin, continue."

Hmph—

Seeing this, Dixiya could only let out an unhappy hum, then continued following behind Luo De and Kaiselin, watching them there like ambassadors promoting the Flower God's Birth Festival as they went on to introduce the festival's various customs.

Just like that.

When they finally arrived at Zubair Theater, ready to film the climactic play, the Flower God's Dance, Luo De had already used four whole rolls of film.

Some of what they filmed were stalls and amusement items set up according to old customs, while others concerned activities that had been forgotten over the long ages, recounted by Kaiselin.

Among these.

The most time-consuming was at the stall where the Flower Knight was portrayed.

That which Dinazedai had once said.

The holy Flower Knight, Faris.

This is the most distinctive symbol of the Flower God's Birth Festival, aside from the Flower God's Dance.

The Flower Knight of old was not like today, confined to a small stall; instead, he sat on the legendary large flower cart, continuously scattering Yalta sugar along the way, and in the name of the holy Flower Knight Faris, he praised people's contributions to the Flower God's birthday.

This important custom, like the Flower God's Dance, has not been forgotten by people.

At the same time, this is also the liveliest spot of the entire Flower God's Birth Festival besides Zubair Theater; children crowd here, together with the Flower Knight loudly praising the Little Auspicious Grass King, then amid laughter and cheer they receive the Yalta sugar reward, just as Ke Lai did when she first got the milk candy reward—every child's face beams with happiness and joy, adding to the festive cheer.

Nadixa liked the atmosphere here very much.

Even after filming ended, she was reluctant to leave for a long time.

She even stepped forward herself, following the Flower Knight's custom, and received a piece of Yalta sugar as a reward.

By means of the doll's body.

When she tasted that piece of Yalta sugar, Nadixa's joyful mood could be felt even through Kaiselin's body.

Leaving the Flower Knight's stall, one arrives at Zubair Theater.

Today the stage here is decorated extremely beautifully.

Although the materials used are not exactly high-end luxuries, the care put into them is enough to make up for these minor shortcomings.

"flower".

Seeing the purple-and-white flowers arranged on both sides of the stage, Nadixa softly spoke that name.

"What a pity."

"It would be nice if there were real flowers during the Flower God's Dance."

Luo De said regretfully.

As for the history of this flower, we must start from when the Great Merciful Tree King still ruled the world.

It is said that.

On one occasion, when the Great Merciful Tree King celebrated her birthday, her friends held a grand banquet in her honor.

During the banquet.

All the gods got drunk.

Then one of them, struck by inspiration, began to play an instrument, and afterward, to the Great Merciful Tree King's singing and that deity's playing, the Flower God danced gracefully.

Wherever the Flower God stepped on the grass, splendid flowers blossomed in profusion.

From then on.

Performing a dance for the Grass God's birthday became a regular item in the Flower God's Birth Festival year after year.

This also explains why the festival celebrating the Grass God's birthday is called the Flower God's Birth, and why flowers are placed when performing the Flower God's Dance.

It's just a pity.

The true flowers had long since vanished from Sumeru with the Flower God's passing; now we can only use this artificially cultivated flower as a substitute.

After discussing the history of flowers.

The three of them waited a while longer.

Until night fell.

Amid everyone's anticipation, Nilou, clad in a specially made performance outfit, finally appeared.

This is an outfit imitating the Flower God; legend says the Flower God has a pair of beautiful horns on her head, so the costume also features a crown with black twin horns, finally matching Luo De's memory of Nilou's appearance.

"Sorry to keep you waiting; please let me offer the Flower God's Dance to the deity."

As Nilou's voice faded, dazzling, colorful hydro elemental energy once again filled the air.

In a joyful yet solemn melody, Nilou danced gracefully under the moonlight, her elegant moves, the dazzling hydro elemental effects, and the attire imitating the Flower God, just as the Flower God herself once danced in offering to the Grass God, leaving the audience dazzled.

Whether adult or child, everyone put down what they were doing and fully enjoyed this splendid dance feast.

Seeing the deity Nadixa herself immersed in the Flower God's Dance, unable to extricate herself, the filming Luo De suddenly laughed.

"The 648 Dance truly lives up to its name."

Nilou's first wish, ten draws only gave me 2+1—who understands?

(End of chapter)