Chapter Seven: Songs of Joy and Abundant Drinks

  "Haha, of course I'm not." Zhu Yongxing also smiled and said, "There's no god in this world either."

  "If there is no god, then how did you come?" The old man casually pointed to Zhu Yongxing's body with his hand and smiled: "No, you should be the messenger of God, coming to help our Miao Mountain Ke clan. Because of you, Mengzhu was saved, the Golden Hair Bear King was killed, and...and you will continue to help us through difficulties."

  Zhu Yongxing listened with difficulty, but he still understood the meaning. He hesitated and said: "Old man, if there's trouble, I'd be happy to help you out, but my abilities are limited, and I have to leave."

  The old man lowered his eyelids and arms, and a bright red scorpion crawled down from his body and stayed in the palm of his hand.

  "That's just your idea." The old man raised his head and said slowly, "Since God sent you here, he will not let you go easily, something must happen, I can be sure of that."

  "How can you be so sure? Is there really nothing divine in this world?" Zhu Yongxing retorted.

  The old man shook his head and said, "You still don't understand now, and I don't want to say more to you. When the time comes, you will know what God wants you to do, this doesn't need to be taught. You are different from others, I could see that as soon as you came in."

  "Because I am a Han Chinese, so I am different from you." Zhu Yongxing explained.

  "Why are they afraid of you?" The old man pointed with his hand and said meaningfully.

  Zhu Yongxing looked in the direction his hand was pointing and was startled to see a string of six or seven, three-inch-long scorpions that had somehow gotten within a foot or so of him without his noticing, but they seemed to have encountered some obstacle and weren't advancing any further, their tails drooping down.

  Zhu Yongxing restrained himself from cutting down with his sword and stood up straight, on guard.

  The old man stretched out his hand from behind and took a small box, pushed it in front of Zhu Yongxing, looking at him with a gentle smile.

  "Given to me?" Zhu Yongxing asked.

  The old man nodded and raised his chin, indicating for Zhu Yongxing to open it.

  This is a box woven with bamboo silk, exquisitely crafted, about one inch high and two inches in diameter. The bamboo silk has turned red, with blue patterns on it. Zhu Yongxing opened it gently with curiosity, inside was a ring-like thing, seemingly made of white silver, with a piece of purple hard material inlaid on top.

  "Put it on." The old man said briefly.

  Zhu Yongxing fiddled with it for a bit, and in order not to be impolite, he put it on the middle finger of his left hand, which was quite suitable.

  The old man nodded in satisfaction, lowered his eyelids, as if he had accomplished a great task, and said in a low voice: "You go now, when the time comes, God will tell you what to do and how to do it."

  Zhu Yongxing stood up and found that the few scorpions had disappeared without a trace. He was somewhat afraid of this mysterious old man, well, not exactly afraid, just didn't want to get too close to him. After bowing again, Zhu Yongxing said his farewell words, but the old man remained still like an old monk in meditation, not even lifting his head. He then turned around and pushed the door out.

  As soon as the door closed, the old man raised his head and muttered to himself: "It's actually a Han person, God, your arrangement is really incomprehensible. My Ahzhu... Alas, everything is up to God to decide!"

  Zhu Yongxing walked out of the grass gate, and Mengzhu hurried over, asking repeatedly: "Brother Zhu, Clan Leader, what did my father do to you?"

  "Nothing much, just casual chat." Zhu Yongxing smiled and stretched out his left hand, saying: "By the way, the clan leader gave me this."

  Mengzhu lowered her head and took a look, couldn't help but let out a cheer, grabbed Zhu Yongxing's hand and raised it high, so that everyone could see.

  After a brief silence, the crowd erupted into enthusiastic cheers. Zhu Yongxing didn't know why they were so happy.

  At this time, Mengzhu said to him: "This is a very precious purple gold ring, our clan only has two, the patriarch gave it to you, indicating that you have been recognized as one of us. This is something that has never happened before, which means..."

  Mengzhu smiled silently, and at this time, the young tribal leader walked over with a big stride, revealing a sincere and friendly smile. He patted Zhu Yongxing's shoulder forcefully and said a lot of things in a language that sounded like "ji li wu lu".

  "My brother says, please go to his place and change your clothes, then attend the welcoming ceremony for you." Mengzhu translated.

  "Welcome ceremony, is there anything to eat?" Zhu Yongxing's stomach was a bit hungry, looking at his own clothes, dirty and broken enough, indeed affected the view, so he rushed to the young patriarch and nodded with a smile.

  ……

  The bonfire crackled to life, and everything around it seemed to vibrate. The damp branches in the fire pit let out a series of sharp cracks, as if complaining, while the lively flames danced and played, embracing each other, their red tongues curling upwards, scattering sparks everywhere. The stars in the sky seemed to be smiling at the sparks, beckoning them.

  Zhu Yongxing wore a Miao-style outfit, consisting of an embroidered shirt and a jacket with a double row of buttons down the front. The shoulders and sleeves of the shirt were adorned with intricate embroidery in various colors, and the cuffs of the jacket were also decorated with embroidery. On his back was a small plaque. He took the horn-shaped cup from Mengzhu's hands and drank the sweet, potent liquor inside, watching as the men and women around the bonfire sang and danced with passion. He felt infected by their enthusiasm, a smile spreading across his face as he relaxed. The doubts that had plagued him earlier seemed to have dissipated after a few cups of wine, and he thought it was just a harmless joke.

  Roasted bear meat, huh, not bad. The key is that I've never had it before, this thing is a protected animal, didn't expect to have the luck to try it now. Zhu Yongxing was eating with great relish, his mouth full of oil. This wine is sweet and weak, can't hold a candle to my usual two catties of Erguotou.

  The tribal leader was called Meng He, and now Zhu Yongxing was also a member of the tribe. He also showed his generous and hospitable nature, clinking cups with Zhu Yongxing and laughing heartily. Meng Zhu sat quietly on the side, smiling at Zhu Yongxing as she poured wine and sliced meat, being very attentive and occasionally asking him questions.

  After a while, several Miao girls ran over, staring at them with big smiles. A round-faced Miao girl was pushed forward and began to sing: "Golden mountains, silver mountains, and mountains of treasure, every family has an orchard; others' orchards are full of fruit, why is yours still barren?"

  Zhu Yongxing couldn't understand, and with three more cups of wine, he simply smiled foolishly.

  Several Miao girls looked at Zhu Yongxing's silly appearance, laughing with their heads thrown back, and a round-faced Miao girl sang: "Brother is good at both literature and martial arts, but he is a stupid big goose, laughing at you for being thirsty and sighing, coming to the water's edge and afraid of going down the river."

  "What did they say?" Zhu Yongxing asked Mengzhu curiously, turning his head sideways.

  "Oh, they're praising your bravery!" Mengzhu laughed happily and translated randomly.

  "Thank you, thank you." Zhu Yongxing believed it was true, and with his hands clasped together, he moved them up and down to express gratitude.

  The Miao girls teased Zhu Yongxing, pulling out the pearl and singing in unison: "In our village, Ahzhu is the most beautiful, like a fairy descending to the mortal world; her mind and hands are cleverer than anyone else's, if you're pleased, respond with a sentence."