Chapter 152: The Xiao Wind Arrives
Under the starry night sky, the square of the bustling town was lit up with brilliant lights, and an unprecedentedly enthusiastic cheer erupted from both inside and outside.
Miss Meser took the stage.
Step by step, she slowly walked to the center of the stage. The bonfires around were burning brightly, and a white silk carpet was laid out under her feet. Under the light of the fire, her red dress contrasted beautifully with the white carpet. The long hem of the dress trailed on the white carpet, like the graceful fins of a swimming fish, gently swaying.
After a moment, as the cheers gradually subsided, Miss Meser raised her hands. Her fingers formed an orchid shape, held above her head. She stood on her tiptoes with her right foot, drawing an elegant arc in front of her.
Thump…
The intense drumbeats sounded from the back of the stage.
Once.
Boom—
As the drumbeats fell, figures holding torches spewed flames towards the bonfires. The crimson glow burst forth again around the stage, dazzling like fireworks. The crowd’s cheers once again filled the sky, echoing throughout the town. Countless people looked up and stood on their tiptoes, and those drinking beer on the rooftops stood up, clinking their glasses and raising their arms in shouts. In this热烈 atmosphere, the second drumbeat echoed—
Thump!
Behind the stage, four large drums were lined up in a row. Four burly men stood bare-armed, braving the cold wind. Their muscular arms bulged as they swung their drumsticks and struck the drums hard.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
After three drumbeats, the next sound that followed was the melodious string music.
Boom—
Tall flames burst from all sides of the stage, lighting up the night sky. Thick black smoke rose into the air, and the central square was filled with shouts. At the center of the stage, under the watchful eyes of thousands, Miss Meser took a step forward—dancing gracefully.
Thump! Thump! Thump—
Her waist was supple and graceful, her arms flexible like snakes. Her body leaped with the beat of the drums, her skirt fluttering. The light steps were like swallows nesting, flying swiftly and soaring high. The thunderous drumbeats behind her, the bright flames surrounding her, the breathtaking beauty of a woman under the night sky was fully presented before everyone.
Swoosh—
On the field, the volume of the shouts soared again.
“Miss Meser—”
“Miss Meser, I love you—”
The crowd seemed to be in a frenzy, shouting the woman’s name loudly. The boiling clamor, along with the string music and drumbeats, reached the bell tower. Standing atop the platform, I took a sip of juice, picked up a sweet cookie, blew on it, and took a small bite. Looking down at the tumultuous crowd below and the solo performance on the stage, I remained expressionless.
Black smoke rose into the night sky from the square. Bonfires burned fiercely on all sides of the stage, their intense light reflected in my pupils. My mind recalled the blazing fires of Aletheon City and the agonized roars of the southern battlefield.
“Turn around—back—”
“We lost… we died…”
“It doesn’t matter…”
“Don’t be afraid…”
“Let’s… charge one more time…”
“F*ck, I wish I could eat them…”
“Haha, hahaha…”
“The First Knight Order—”
“Leave these demons… here… on this land…”
“Charge!”
Blood mixed with red flames, screams and entrails burst. A stench-laden wind blew across the prairie. The sky was thick with smoke, countless bodies turned to ashes in the flames.
In exchange for this scene of peace and prosperity.
The excited crowd below, illuminated by the firelight, shouted loudly for the woman on the stage using her assumed name.
“Mmm…”
I raised my hand to cover half of my face.
Headache…
…Stop thinking about those things.
Don’t act impulsively; don’t let the enemy deceive you; control your emotions; focus on the present…
The night breeze blew gently.
The woman known as Meser, with her delicate hands flipping gracefully, moved with a softness like clouds, her arms weak and boneless. Her light dance was like a butterfly dancing among flowers, or a bright moon hanging in the deep mountains. Soon, as the drumbeats quickened and the string music tightened, someone threw a sword onto the stage.
Miss Meser performed a somersault, catching the sword amidst the swirling red dress. Then, four or five men wielding long knives rushed onto the stage. They too were performers, stepping in rhythm to the dance,
The man brandishing a long saber charged at the woman. Miss Messe met him with her sword, her body swift like lightning yet graceful, and the square erupted once again in waves of cheers.
People were lost in her beauty; to them, this night was one they would never forget.
In some unnoticed corners, the knights clad in golden armor had solemn expressions as they patrolled secretly. A man named Daniel leaned against his chair, closing his eyes, hiding in the dim old house, as if an experienced hunter, waiting quietly for his prey.
On the south side of the town, in the alley between two walls separating from the church, Karl took off his gold and white clerical robe and shouted to Olivia not far away, “Hey, throw me my cloak.”
“I’m not ‘hey.'”
The woman said calmly, holding a small, pale-golden orb in her hand that emitted shifting light. Several clergy stood behind her, their faces hidden in the shadow of the high wall, unrecognizable.
“Also, don’t wear your cloak tonight,” she added.
“It’s fine! She won’t remember anything anyway, she won’t recognize us…” Karl shrugged nonchalantly, “Do you want me to work in a shiny clerical robe so the clown can spot me right away? Give it to me quickly.”
“No means no.”
“But this robe doesn’t suit us, it makes us feel uncomfortable… Shall we switch to the choir’s cloak? It’s waterproof and fireproof…”
“Endure it,” the woman seemed somewhat impatient.
“But…”
“Shut up, you’re annoying.”
“Uh…”
A man named Karl rubbed his nose, “Olivia, do you not love me anymore?”
“Go away and love Miss Silvija.”
“Hey… Are you jealous?”
“Heh heh.”
“Don’t be like that! You know I just think she’s cute and couldn’t help but have some thoughts… It’s just a joke, how could I really do something with that monster? You’re the only one for me… Olivia, let’s get married after this job, okay?”
“…Annoying.”
Although she spoke coldly, her voice seemed less so.
“Focus on what we need to do.”
She turned to look at the clergy behind her, “Are you all ready?”
In the darkness, someone nodded slightly.
“Mm.”
She softly responded, took a deep breath, then looked back at Karl with a somewhat bored expression and frowned, “Put on the robe, we’re leaving.”
…
Outside the Town of Stag, on the mountainside.
Thin moonlight shone down.
“…Hey, listen to that sound.”
A man named J rode on a beast, leaning against a tall hill, slowly advancing under the moonlight. After a while, he saw the town’s lights shining like stars, tilted his head to listen, and heard the commotion coming from there, smiling broadly, “It seems they’re having a lot of fun.”
“Yes.”
“They look very happy.”
Someone echoed behind J, then laughed softly, “Hehehe.”
“Did we come too early? Going over now might disturb Miss Elina’s fun, right?”
J continued, still smiling. Although he casually asked whether it would disturb the other party, his expression clearly showed he didn’t care much, “Should we wait a bit before going? I remember Miss said to find her after the performance ends… Hey, do you guys want to sit down first and eat something? I still have half a grilled fish left…”
“The grilled fish was already eaten this morning,” someone said.
J paused for a moment, then realized, “…Right, I seem to have eaten it.”
“Yes, eaten it.”
“There’s nothing we can do about it,” J spread his hands, “Without grilled fish to eat, how can we wait?”
“We’ve lost two people here…”
“Tsk…”
“Without even fish to eat, and you tell us to wait, what are we supposed to wait for?”
Fragmented, slightly neurotic voices echoed through the empty valley. Soon, under the cover of night, several figures riding horned beasts emerged from the valley and galloped towards the town.
