Wu Liang

"Before leaving, let us strengthen and establish our intentions to our ancestors, so I, Wu Ming Qi will lead the opening prayer for our sacred journey tonight."

Ming Qi's grandfather's figure really gave the impression and charm of a wise figure, his white set of clothes really harmonized with his stern face decorated with a white beard and mustache that was also chest-length.

So without further ado Ming Qi's grandfather began the first prayer

"Jīn yè yuè mǎn, wú děng jì bài, qiú zǔ líng tīng wǒ bèi zhī kǔ yǔ yuàn. Yuàn ěr zhì guāng cháng míng, hù yòu zǐ sūn, yǒng xù ān níng"

Which means, "Tonight, during the full moon, we perform this ritual, seeking the spirits of our ancestors to hear our sufferings and wishes. May your wisdom shine brightly, protect your descendants, and grant eternal peace."

This was taken from their very old hereditary language and only a few of the Wu tribe were truly fluent in its pronunciation and hearing.

Wang Jun who was an outsider could only be silent and amazed at this act of inherent preservation, after all the language Ming Qi's grandfather mentioned was the language of his village that had been taught by the ancestors before him and then today it had evolved according to the uses and customs of the people living until today, but still the language that their ancestors taught them would still be the formal and important language when performing ceremonies to honor the ancestors.

After the first prayer, the group soon walked leisurely and slightly closer together in order to maintain the warmth between families.

At the forefront were Ming Qi's grandfather and the three elders of the meeting hall, and behind him were the uncles from the hunting lodge except for Hong Ling's uncle, who had brought wooden planks for a huge meal of bear meat that they had caught a few days ago and prepared in such a way, along with baskets of bread brought by the aunts along with honey, not to mention cold milk from the Ning family branch, fish meat and porridge, and additional snacks to mix with the bread made from herbs that could be eaten directly.

They were all lined up neatly, like a white oval line moving slowly and leisurely towards their sacred cave.

"Ao Nan, are you really sure about your prayer? Did you forget that you are still considered a liar?" Wu Liang said.

"Tch just shut up, that matter is only me and you who arrange, it has nothing to do with tonight's activities" she snorted because she was a bit annoyed that Wu Liang still had time to bring this up.

"It's true but that doesn't change the fact that you agreed to our agreement and of course you can still be considered a liar, I wonder what the reaction of your ancestors would be if they knew you were a liar hehehe"

"Just shut up and walk quietly, but... You have a point too, so if I feel that my prayers and wishes are not true then you should come and explain it to them"

"Why should I? It's your responsibility"

"ohh my adopted sister is already able to talk about responsibility, okay okay I will admit that I am as I promised yesterday, but still if I get into trouble then you will bear it too hehe"

"It's good but..."

Instantly Shan Yu interrupted them and said, "can you guys calm down, tonight should be full of calm, my brother, please don't talk too much, let's go the right way and follow the others" said Shan Yu who was carrying a basket of bread that looked very delicious, while Su Yan who was next to him just chuckled while carrying a small basket of herbs to add flavor to their food later.

Both of them are really like beautiful angels, even though they live without adequate care, relying only on cold natural water, eating and drinking directly from nature as well but they can still grow beautiful as they are today.

Shan Yu's figure truly depicts what it means to be softness, while Su Yan truly depicts what it means to be warmth.

Each of them gives off a truly beautiful impression according to their own characteristics.

But in this village, who has the desire to marry them without really thinking it through, including Wang Jun who is not really interested in them although Jin Fei once mentioned it but in the end he was also disappointed because Wang Jun is really not interested in Shan Yu and Su Yan.

Their leisurely waves and footsteps, especially each firm step taken by Ming Qi's grandfather, truly portrayed his wise figure as the number one elder in the meeting hall.

Their white sets of clothes swayed slowly and delicately in the mountain breeze that slowly moved between the gaps in the trees and natural pathways.

The dance of the torchlight filled their journey, its shadows constantly moving across the branches of other families, under the light of the beautiful full moon, the group moved in unison, up the gentle slope towards the most sacred place to perform the ceremony of honoring the ancestors.

"They will come eventually, right?"

"No one can stop it, just create and gather them, the sooner the better, to be honest I'm also sorry for this and I can't fight it either, you certainly know the oath of agreement when entering right? Then I hope you realize clearly what it means after taking the oath."

Jin Fei and Wang Jun whispered behind and at the very edge of the group.

Jin Fei could only sigh and his face looked heavy, what could he do about this, he was unable to stop the very thing he was supposed to stop, now he could only hope that there would be a mysterious miracle that could help him.

Their journey finally left the village after shortly passing the small building for the elders of the meeting hall to conduct their meetings, the road that was originally on its edge not too lush at all was now gradually thick with bushes, but not as lush as the border forest path at that time.

It's just that this time they really need the torch they are holding as a source of lighting even though there is dim lighting coming from the full moon, but on the road they are passing now above it really almost covers the direction of view upwards towards the sky sky.

"Gosh Ao Nan, I forgot my paper, how is this, older sister Shan Yu, I want to excuse myself to go home to get my paper"

"Better not, do you really not remember what you wrote down"

"Yes, I really can't remember."

"Ouch you are Wu Liang, how could my adopted brother forget such a precious thing?"

Seeing Wu Liang who was really confused and frantic then Shan Yu could only relent, "Let's quickly grab there before we get halfway"

Then after that Wu Liang really ran by lifting his loose pants and clothes in order not to slow down his running, and people who knew that Wu Liang separated from the group were only people who were around him, including some aunts who asked why Wu Liang separated.

Wu Liang's quick footsteps finally brought him into the house after spending some time and breath, although his chest felt a bit stiff and his breathing was labored but he forced himself to walk to his room and look for the prayer notes he had made.

The bed? Bedside table? Study table?

"ah where did I keep it..., let's try to remember Wu Liang..." his eyes continued to sweep across his room and his mind tried to recall, but all that came up were his memories of playing board games earlier in the day until the afternoon.

Suddenly he finally remembered, "here it is" he said after taking out the book "Myth of Chi Ren' that he kept in the drawer of the study table and opened the pages to take out a piece of paper with his hopes and prayers written on it in the current language and writing system.

It was far different from what Ming Qi's grandfather had said, but Wu Liang should still be confident that his ancestor would still understand what he was trying to say later.

Wu Liang then ran out of his house again to regroup, hoping that his extended family group was not yet or at least not far from the halfway point he thought, his sweat turned into cold sweat and his breathing became slower and slower as his pace slowed down.

"Ah damn, they're so far away that I can't even see the firelight."

She said after resting for a while and holding his knees which were a bit stiff from running in the clothes he was wearing, "This really bothers me, I thought tonight would go smoothly but instead...."

Suddenly his vision slowly faded strangely, the longer he resisted the stronger it felt, Wu Liang really couldn't stand it, he wanted to scream but couldn't. "What is this?" said his heart.

"What is this?" his heart said.

In the end, in the last blink of an eye Wu Liang saw a shadowy black silhouette in front of him who had fallen to the ground, although his eyes were tightly closed but he could clearly still feel a little sensation when his body was lifted and taken to a mysterious place.

In the sacred cave of the Wu tribe.

"What? How could you let he go alone?" Ming Qi's grandfather angrily, his hoarse tone of voice filled the area loudly, Ming Qi's grandfather's eyes rolled around with a sense of confusion that filled his mind at this time.