The sky is dark, thunderclouds hanging low.
The entire Great Chang City has every household’s door closed shut.
Doo—!
The deep sound of a horn echoes between the mountains and waters.
Creak~
The door of one household opens, and a woman in a bamboo hat and raincoat steps out, full of devotion, holding offerings in her hands.
Subsequently, the doors of one household after another open.
Won dressed similarly step out from their hos, all carrying various offerings, converging towards the dock.
The ones coming out are all the married won of the households.
Unmarried girls and the n stay at ho.
At the sa ti, the gates of the Bai Family mansion also open.
Won of the Life Fate Association, all dressed in white, wearing bamboo hats, veiled with white gauze, hold incense and candles in their hands, with a few carrying gourds.
Li Yan and others are dressed similarly, wearing white robes, with their faces covered by bamboo hats and white gauze.
Their wide white robes make them look normal.
Only the tall and burly Sha Lifei and the savage Wu Ba are a bit too conspicuous even in the sa attire.
All the won of the Life Fate Association have gathered here.
They belong to the outer sect, adopted orphan girls from all over by the Bai Family, numbering about thirty or more.
Although few, they all are magicians, practicing the Witchcraft Technique, imnsely powerful compared to those small sects with only a handful of mbers left.
In the procession, only the old woman Bai Huan reveals her true form, wearing white robes, covered in a grass coat, a feathered crown on her head, holding a staff, face painted with oil, a typical Wizard’s attire.
Arriving at the dock, all the won of the city have gathered.
Seeing the arrival of the Bai Family mbers, they raised their offerings high and murmured prayers for the Goddess’s blessing.
The most conspicuous among the offerings is a gourd.
Li Yan sees this and is not surprised.
The Bai Family’s actions signify departing from the Life Fate Association and establishing their sect, thus ignoring so sect taboos and even agreeing to Wang Daoxuan’s request to open so of the faction’s ancient books.
Of course, these are only related to various secret histories of the Mystical Sect.
The so-called Life Fate Association originated in Xingshan County, now part of Yichang, as a folk sect.
After the fall of Chu, Qin Han recruited local Witch Sects into the capital. After the upheaval of the Fangxian Dao, the Mystical Sect rose, and the Chu Witch declined.
Life Fate Association inherited the Chu Witch’s orthodox, but in actuality, their origins are more ancient, as the primitive mother yin worship.
Mother yin worship is a remnant of Ancient Tis.
Like seeing the "touching gourd sending children" custom in Dragon Pond Village, it is a form of mother yin worship.
The gourd before them is likewise such.
Nuwa, The Queen Mother of the West, Tushan, should all be matriarchal tribes, where the chief wizards were all won, so the Life Fate Association is also entirely female.
Yu the Great once received the assistance of the Wushan Goddess in controlling the flood, and his marriage alliance with the Tushan clan likely had connections.
The old woman Bai Huan followed the custom, using a gourd to scoop water, pouring it over the won’s heads, chanting blessings.
A woman from the Life Fate Association played the flute.
The incense smoke curled, and the flute music lingered.
After completing these, the old woman Bai Huan glanced at the surrounding won, tears suddenly brimming in her eyes, and sang in a hoarse voice:
"In mother’s arms for three years rolling, strands of hair graying few roots.
Blue cloth as skirt white for waist, carrying mountains and valleys countless.
Skirt long gradually short ti flows, mountains shift those mountains never rest.
Worry for daughter’s hunger cold who knows, dowry preparation heart laboring shattered..."
This is the "Bride’s Tears," found in many places, containing words persuading the daughter, crying for brother-in-law, wailing for parents, scolding matchmakers, of varied kinds.
These won before them, many were watched growing up by Bai Huan, departing now, fearing they will never et again.
Though the surrounding won do not understand what has happened, upon hearing this song, they inevitably recall their own weddings and the old woman’s blessings, moved by the scene, tears welling up.
"Grandmother."
Wu Chaoyun and Wu Xingyu tugged at her clothes.
Bai Huan took one last look, leading them onward, her eyes full of determination.
She must protect her two granddaughters!
At the dock, a large ship already lay anchored, adorned with flowers and colorful ribbons, highly conspicuous.
And on the other side, Li Yan’s pleasure boat was docked, but it was empty inside, with all their belongings vanished.
"Fast Ship Zhang" and his disciples, under the arrangent of the Life Fate Association, had secretly gone to the Yangtze River to switch to another ship.
By then, they would assist in sending everyone away.
This pleasure boat would remain in Great Chang City to deceive others’ eyes.
The Life Fate Association gave a substantial reward, and afterwards, would also gift that excellent ship.
Though it incurred so risk, "Fast Ship Zhang" naturally would not refuse such a good deal.
Woosh!
Once everyone boarded the flower boat, they unfurled the sails and set off, gradually disappearing across the river as the won at the dock watched.
With the Bai Family’s departure, a vacancy would imdiately appear; Li Yan had secretly sent word, and the Law Enforcent Hall on the Yichang side would send people to build a City God Temple.
This position is very crucial, and it will not directly enter Wushan, also counting as a nail driven in by the Mystical Sect...
...
The flower boat was exceptionally conspicuous, passing through the Three Gorges; no ships along the way dared to not give way, so even respectfully burning incense.
The Life Fate Association is secretive, but the Bai Family in Wushan County is quite renowned, recognized by neighboring folks, knowing they are heading to Goddess Peak to pay tribute to the Wushan Goddess.
This custom has remained unchanged for thousands of years.
And when passing through Wushan County, many won also ca to the dock. Though not as devout as the won of Great Chang, they also brought offerings and scattered petals in blessing.
Legend has it that the Wushan Goddess would protect these won so that nothing untoward would happen during childbirth.
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