by La Mi Tu
After knowing that Feng Cang and the others were noble guests from the far away Bei Zhou, the people of Qiang tribe took out fine wine and delicious fruits to treat them. This simple ethnic minority set up a bonfire on the empty ground beneath the house. Men, women, children and elders dressed in clothes of their tribe, danced and sang to welcome these noble guests.
“Have a taste of our specialty, grilled pine mushroom!” In front of Gu De was a grill. Various kind of foods were pierced through a thin hook and giving of an enticing scent.
The food of the Qiang tribe were based on barbecue. During the barbecue, a special sesame oil and honey was brushed over the food. After the food was grilled, it was prepared according to the different tastes of the individual. The original sauce preserved the original taste of the food.
“Have a taste!” Gu De handed a string of pine mushroom to Feng Cang. “See if it’s to your taste!”
While Gu De was speaking, the people of the Qiang tribe looked at Feng Cang. They wanted to know what this person would do. Feng Cang took over the pine mushrooms from Gu De. He dipped it in the sauce and brought it to his mouth.
“How is it?”
“Very delicious! I like it very much!”
After hearing Feng Cang, Gu De laughed out loudly. Those people of Qiang tribe also followed him with laughter.
“You have been accepted!” Ming Yue Cheng carefully explained to Feng Qi Qi. It turned out that the worship Qiang tribe’s people had for food was far greater than everything. They thought that food was a gift from the nature. Only those who accepted the food of Qiang tribe would be regarded as friend. Just now, Feng Cang liked the pine mushroom. This was the biggest affirmation of Qiang tribe’s food. Those simple and honest people of the Qiang tribe accepted Feng Cang for such a simple reason.
“Have a drink!” Gu De poured a cup of wine made from grapes to Feng Cang. “Let’s make a night of it!”
“Let’s make a night of it!”
The people of Qiang tribe raised their cups made from horns and cheered. The lively atmosphere affected Feng Qi Qi and the others. Wanyan Kang also raised his cup made from horns. “Cheers! Let’s make a night of it!”
Wanyan Kang’s spirit was to the people of Qiang tribe’s taste. There were some girls of the Qiang tribe who pulled Gu Yun Yao and Su Mei to let them go dance. “I don’t know how to dance, ah!” Gu Yun Yao wanted to be modest but was dragged by Gu Yun Wan to the crowd. “Come, let’s dance together. Just follow the beat!”
Su Mei was easy-mannered. Although, she couldn’t dance, but only after seeing it for a few times, she could follow these people. Feng Qi Qi held Feng Xiao. So, she only sat and looked at Su Mei and the others laughingly.
“Mistress, go dance!” A girl with small braids came to Feng Qi Qi and invited her.
“I need to take care of the baby!” Feng Qi Qi declined politely, but that girl refused to give up. “Mistress, you can give the baby to your husband! It was hard that you come be a guest at ours, come! Mistress is so beautiful. Your dance must also be very beautiful!”
Feng Qi Qi still wanted to refuse, but Feng Cang took Feng Xiao from her arms. “Go, I will take care of the child!”
“Alright!” Feng Cang was so considerate. Feng Qi Qi smiled and walked to the crowd.
When Gu Yun Wan saw that Feng Qi Qi came over, she immediately shouted a slogan. Then, she said a large number of words that Feng Qi Qi couldn’t understand. Presumably, it was the dialect of the Qiang tribe. After listening to Gu Yun Wan, every one of the Qiang tribe cheered. Everyone made an empty spot in the middle. They clapped their hands and looked smilingly at Feng Qi Qi. There were also people who began to cheer.
“Little Wan, what did you say?” Feng Qi Qi was a bit puzzled. Gu Yun Wan smilingly went forward and took Feng Qi Qi’s hand. “I told them that you’re a very beautiful and talented girl and was very good at dancing! So, everyone was welcoming your performance!”
“Eh…” Feng Qi Qi went blank. She had been ‘sold’ by Gu Yun Wan.
“Qi Qi, dance! I heard from Jin Mo that you can dance beautifully! The women of our Qiang tribe likes to dance very much. If you dance beautifully, everyone would like you!”
Gu Yun Wan pulled Feng Qi Qi to a side and quietly added, “The people’s heart, ah. Qi Qi, if you want to get rid of the gu for Feng Xiao, you need to let everyone like you. Did you see? Everyone who sat at that side are elders! Even if you can pass the three tests, if the elders oppose, we still can’t cure the gu for Feng Xiao. At Qiang tribe, it’s not my father who has the final say. Everything should be voted on! Don’t underestimate these people. They all have voting rights!”
Gu Yun Wan’s explanation let Feng Qi Qi began to understand that this tribe wasn’t as terrifying as the rumors made it to be. The Qiang tribe was good at using gu. Gu was a horrible creature in people’s heart. So, Qiang tribe was also a mysterious existence which makes people feel fear.
However, after coming to White Bird mountain and getting to know the Qiang tribe in this short time, Feng Qi Qi discovered that the people of Qiang tribe were very warm and hospitable. Their hospitality was direct and simple. They were a simple ethnic group.
Feng Qi Qi knew that Gu Yun Wan was helping her. She’s the great miss of Qiang tribe and was familiar with the characteristic of the Qiang tribe. She knew that in order to get the people of Qiang tribe’s recognition and support, they must use a way that the Qiang tribe liked.
“If this is the case, then I will not be modest!” Feng Qi Qi whispered a few words in Gu Yun Wan’s ear. Gu Yun Wan nodded.
Feng Qi Qi was dressed in red. Her hand held a red muslin. Gu Yun Wan retreated and took a drumstick from a man. She beat two times on the big drum that was as big as two people hugging each other, “Boom…boom, boom, boom…boom…”
When the drums sounded, the field went quiet. All eyes were on the woman in red on the field.
The bright moonlight shrouded Feng Qi Qi and plated her red dress with a silver layer.
“Boom…boom, boom, boom…boom…” Feng Qi Qi followed the beat of the drums and waved the red muslin in her hand. She rose up in one bound like a fairy under the moon. Gu Yun Wan’s beat of drum was fierce like the drums on the battlefield. The rhythm was intense, sonorous and stirred the will of the people.
The whole dance was without any assistance of music. There were only the fierce sounds of the drum. Feng Qi Qi was like a goddess of war and displayed that kind of passion and enthusiasm. Originally, women used flexibility as being beautiful, but Feng Qi Qi could couple strength and gentleness, adding a feminine factor to the fierce drum sounds.
Ming Yue Cheng looked at Feng Qi Qi. He didn’t know what language he should use to express his current mood.
This dance was probably Feng Qi Qi’s inner world! There was gentleness through her firmness without losing all the good qualities of a woman like her character. Such a dance, such a woman, how could people not love and not like?
Like Ming Yue Cheng, the people of the Qiang tribe had also been attracted by Feng Qi Qi’s dance. This person was very beautiful. The soul of her dance was like the character of the Qiang tribe.
They’ve lived on this land for generations. They used their way to fight against nature. They rooted here and strongly survived. Many people had sympathetic response from Feng Qi Qi’s dance. Many people began to beat the drums in their hands. They followed Gu Yun Wan’s rhythm to give background music to Feng Qi Qi.
Shocking was the feeling Feng Qi Qi brought to Gu De. This whole way, the feeling Feng Qi Qi gave Gu De was that of a gentle and virtuous woman. He didn’t expect Feng Qi Qi to have a valiant, proud and wild side.
Feng Qi Qi danced in the sky like an elf. When she flew up, her toes stepped on the fallen bamboo leaves. Using their strength, she rotated into a beautiful ‘flower’. The postures were splendid and let people feel that it was refreshing to look at.
Seeing the appearance of his people, Gu De knew that this woman had conquered his peop
le. Using a dance to conquer the hearts of people was indeed a good idea. It seemed that Gu Yun Wan really saw Feng Qi Qi as a very good friend. That was why she (GYW) helped her (FQQ) so much out.
However, Feng Qi Qi indeed did have the ability to attract people. From the moment she began to dance till now, the atmosphere was brought to the highest level by her. Those people had obviously been moved by Feng Qi Qi’s dance. Even the elders nodded repeatedly. It seemed that they also had good feelings for Feng Qi Qi.
Elder Teng Yuan sat among the elders. From the moment Gu De returned, he had been looking at Feng Cang’s group. As one of the elders who had the most right to speak, elder Teng Yuan had long got to know from Longze Jing Tian the purpose that Feng Cang came here for. He reached an agreement with them. As and exchange for the Immortal cream, he wouldn’t let Feng Cang’s wish be fulfilled.
Chapter 199: Indispensable
* * *
“Oh…” Contrary to the lively atmosphere on the field, elder Teng Yuan yawned. There were a few tears on the corners of his eyes. He blinked and took out the Immortal cream from his sleeve. He carefully scooped out a little bit and stuffed it in the tobacco.
“Bada, bada!” Not waiting for the tobacco to burn, elder Teng Yuan already took two smokes. Tasting the familiar taste, elder Teng Yuan had a face of satisfaction. A thick smoke came out of his mouth. They turned into circles and faded in the sky.
Smoking the Immortal cream, watching Feng Qi Qi dance and the drums sounds that stirred people’s hearts rang in his ears, elder Teng Yuan had his legs crossed, swayed his head and closed his eyes. From time to time, he would also tip his right fingers on the table following the beat of the drums. He had a very enjoyable look.
In all fairness, he liked Feng Qi Qi’s dance very much. Her dance interpreted a positive and uplifting soul like the ancient people of the Qiang tribe. They had lived at White Bird mountain for generations and had struggled with various environments. Finally, they became the owner here. The dance of Feng Qi Qi expressed the spirit of the people of the Qiang tribe. Elder Teng Yuan liked it very much.
However, he made a promise to Longze Jing Tian. Moreover, the Immortal cream was indeed a good thing. If he could get the prescription of the Immortal cream, in the future he would then have endless Immortal cream.
At this side, Wanyan Kang took Feng Xiao from Feng Cang’s arms and also pushed him (FC) to the crowd.
Everyone of the Qiang tribe could sing and dance. Now, seeing that Feng Cang also joined in, everyone started to cheer. Feng Qi Qi landed in front of Feng Cang and handed a bamboo stick to him. The two had a tacit understand and did a ‘double martial arts dance’. Feng Cang couldn’t dance. He used the bamboo stick as a sword and did a sword dance around the campfire.
The white Feng Cang was cold as snow. The red Feng Qi Qi was passionate as fire. The two pushed the atmosphere to the highest level which were met with a warm cheer. They coordinated very well. The woman was like a fire phoenix, dancing in the sky. The man was like the snow on the ground and contrasted the fiery red phoenix. They sketched a perfect picture.
“So beautiful!” Gu De stroked his beard. The elders who sat at the other side also nodded frequently. They were all experts in dance. Of course they could understand the meaning of the dance of this pair. They were also impressed by them.
“Good…” At the end, everyone stood up and cheered for Feng Cang and Feng Qi Qi. this couple landed on the ground from the sky. Everyone went to them and surrounded them. The music began again. Everyone began to sing and dance, using their way to welcome Feng Cang and Feng Qi Qi.
“It’s so great here!” Feng Qi Qi returned to her seat and smiled at Gu De.
“Since wangfei1 likes it here, wangfei can live here. Our Qiang tribe is very hospitable. Unfortunately, there are too few people who wants to be friends with us.”
There was some helplessness inside Gu De’s words.
Indeed, to others, Qiang tribe was a weird existence that associated with the gu. Not only were they repelled by the Nan Feng, when other countries heard about the gu, their faces would also change color. In the memory of Gu De, it had been a long time since White Bird mountain had been so lively.
“Good!” Just when Gu De was immersed in the memories of the past, Feng Cang’s voice reached over, “Since chief invited us, naturally we will accept the invitation as long as chief doesn’t get tired of us.”
Feng Cang’s words surprised Gu De. That he agreed so readily was beyond Gu De’s expectations. “Could it be that wangye2 isn’t afraid of the gu?”
“Could it be that chief would put gu on us?” Feng Qi Qi used a rhetoric question to answer Gu De, making Gu De laugh out loudly. These two people were indeed a match. They were really a wonderful pair.
“Regent and wangfei can rest assured. We have our principles. Not to mention that you are noble guests who came from far away. I can assure you that no one would put gu on you.”
Gu De really appreciated Feng Cang’s character. Although the two didn’t talk much while on the road. However, now they were being a chatterbox and talked non-stop with each other.
It was lively on the scene. No one noticed that in the shadow not far away, someone was staring infatuatedly at Feng Qi Qi.
Knowing that Feng Qi Qi would arrive today, Longze Jing tian used the night to hide here. The dance of Feng Qi Qi just now deeply stunned him. Longze Jing Tian finally understood what kind of beautiful scenery he had missed.
If he hadn’t written the “Break Off Engagement Letter”, the one who would dance with her and receive the blessings of the people would be him. Longze Jing Tian always wondered about why Feng Qi Qi didn’t choose him. He was also handsome. This question had puzzled Longze Jing Tian for a long time. He hoped that he could get the answer one day from Feng Qi Qi.
“Slut!” A voice came from Longze Jing Tian’s side. Only now did he discovered that Taji Guli also came here. Obviously, Taji Guli saw Feng Cang and Feng Qi Qi coordinated flawlessly in a dance. She hated it so much that she gnashed her teeth. Her right hand was clenched into a fist.
“Don’t be impulsive!” Longze Jing Tian grabbed the iron hook on Taji Guli’s left hand. “Don’t forget the agreement between us! If you dare to touch Feng Qi Qi, I won’t let Feng Cang off!”
Longze Jing Tian’s threat let Taji Guli humph coldly. “I know! You can’t bear to see your beauty suffer! Don’t worry, I’m not an idiot!”
Taji Guli pulled her hook fiercely, turned and left here.
“Bastard! Bastard!” While Taji Guli walked, she waved with the iron hook on her left hand. Why would every man view Feng Qi Qi in a new light? Her looks were only a bit more beautiful. She had nothing else that was special.
Recalling the scene of the deep affection between Feng Cang and Feng Qi Qi, Taji Guli’s heart felt uncomfortable like it had eaten a fat fly. Before, she thought to abide to the agreement between her and Longze Jing Tian. As long as she could get Feng Cang, she didn’t want anything else. However now, after seeing the deep and sweet love between Feng Cang and Feng Qi Qi, Taji Guli changed her mind.
Feng Qi Qi must die. Feng Cang’s heart was already fully filled with this woman. Even if she gets Feng Cang’s person, she wouldn’t be able to enter his heart. She didn’t want it like that! She wanted to let Feng Cang look at her deeply in love like the way he looked at Feng Qi Qi. She also wanted Feng Cang to love her!
Taji Guli didn’t know that her ally, Longze Jing Tian had the same thoughts as her at this time.
Longze Jing Tian had long wanted to get rid of Feng Cang. He is a man. A man’s possessiveness was stronger. He could ignore Feng Qi Qi’s past, but in Feng Qi Qi’s future, there could only be one person; that is him, Longze Jing Tian.
After Taji Guli left, Longze Jing Tian looked once deeply at Feng Qi Qi before he turned and left.
No matter what, he had to get rid of Feng Cang! Longze Jing Tian gritted his teeth. Feng Cang’s existence would be a forever nightmare for Longze
Jing Tian.
The campfire was busy until late at night. Gu De let Feng Cang’s group live in his own bamboo building. Gu De’s bamboo building was at the east. The bamboo building was small and exquisite. It was not big but very heartwarming.
Qiang tribe village was build houses after houses. There was no barrier between the houses. Just like how the people of the Qiang tribe wouldn’t set up their defenses against each other. The people of the village were like one big family.
Gu De planned to let Feng Cang and Feng Qi Qi see the elders on the second day. Today was their dust-washing feast. Gu De didn’t mention the matter of curing the gu to the elders. However, looking back at Feng Cang and Feng Qi Qi’s performance, it seemed that they left a good impression on the people. He hoped that they could solve the gu smoothly!
The next day, Feng Qi Qi was woken up by the sounds of the birds outside.
Those birds sang happily in the woods. When the wind blew through the wood, it made ‘shua, shua…’ sounds. The air was filled with a freshness. The greetings in their language by the farmers of the Qiang tribe could be faintly heard. Lying on the bamboo bed and feeling the nature, such a state was really wonderful!
After Feng Cang and Feng Qi Qi got up, cleaned up and had breakfast, Gu De let Gu Yun Wan led Wanyan Kang and the others to take a look around the village. He led Feng Cang, Feng Qi Qi and Ming Yue Cheng to elders.
The five elders had been invited to the ancestral temple of the Qiang tribe. This ancestral temple was a house built from stones. It seemed a bit out of place among these bamboo houses.