The Blade-Wielding Legend
Chapter 247 - 172 The Night of Shangyuan in Weiyang

Chapter 247: Chapter 172 The Night of Shangyuan in Weiyang

At dusk, the news finally arrived.

"Our team is arranged in Daozheng Square."

Manager Wan looked somewhat excited, "Daozheng Square is next to the Prince Mansion, where there is a three-story building right beside Xingqing Lake."

"Because we performed well during the day, we were specifically arranged to be there. By then, everyone from Prince Chang’an’s mansion will watch from above and will bestow fine wine on each team as a token of encouragement."

"Great!"

The men immediately cheered in unison, their faces full of excitement.

Although they were also from the pugilistic world, the professions they engaged in were really the lowest of the low. Normally they would say that nobility was like dirt to them, but receiving praise from royals and nobles still delighted their hearts.

No matter the outcome, they could use this as a talking point in the future.

Li Yan, who naturally had no interest in encouragement from any prince, asked sternly, "Which teams are nearby, and where did they come from?"

Manager Wan understood his implication and said gravely, "One team comes from Jinzhou, located in Shengye Square. They are guests as well as backed by significant merchant associations, and the Prince will meet them beforehand."

"Another is in Changle Square, composed of magicians from Yulin; they have a decent reputation, I know most of them."

"The team from Jinzhou will likely use the advantage of their swift drum carts to depart first, bolster their presence along the way, gather incense through Magic Flags, and secure a spot early."

"The team from Yulin will encounter us in East Market; it will be our first confrontation. Either we keep to our separate paths or we’ll have to fight it out."

"I want to conserve strength since carrying the Divine Tower across Chang’an City takes a significant toll, and it’s not worth fighting right from the start."

"I reckon they think the same, so if they move first, we won’t cross paths."

"But the decision ultimately rests with them..."

Finally, night fell and the city was lit with brilliant lights.

They knew the real test was about to begin...

...

During the Lantern Festival of Chang’an, there was always significant activity.

In the glorious days of the Tang Dynasty, people believed that the gods appeared at midnight. Thus, besides the daytime rituals, there were even more activities at night.

Like welcoming the Goddess Zigu in the Tang Dynasty, which would only start at midnight. Also, during this period Buddhism was prevalent, and since the Han Dynasty, there would be lamp lighting to worship Buddha on the fifteenth day of the first month.

Of course, another reason was that Chang’an had a curfew system which was lifted on the day of the Lantern Festival. Even the Imperial Palace opened its gates, allowing the Emperor to join the common folks in celebration.

Dancing girls were dressed up, wandering under the moon and among the sea of lanterns.

A poet once described the magnificent scene: "Fire trees and silver flowers merge, star bridges and iron locks open. Dust follows the horses, bright moon chases the people. All performers are lushly adorned, songs spread as plums drop. Guards of the night restrain not, no urging from the hourglass."

To this day, Chang’an no longer boasted its former splendor.

The heroes of the Five Barrows and the romantics of the flourishing Tang had all turned to dust.

Yet the liveliness of the Lantern Festival had been passed down.

Every household hung lanterns and streamers, the streets lined endlessly with decorative lanterns. Some merchants hired people to perform dragon and lion dances, stilt-walking, and dry-boating.

The crowd was dense, with children holding fish lanterns, laughing and chasing each other. Even if they accidentally broke a nearby decorative lantern, the adults didn’t get angry; instead, they took it as a blessing.

Of course, the highlight was the parade of the Divine Tower.

Daozheng Square was close to one corner of the city wall, and Manager Wan’s team was already waiting there. The men who carried the Divine Tower were rubbing their hands together, spurring each other on, and even thumping their chests, emitting loud roars to boost their morale.

Tonight, they were about to get serious.

If they encountered other teams, upon a narrow path confrontation, they would directly collide, attempting to overturn the opposing Divine Tower.

This was not disrespect to the gods but rather a ceremony to entertain them.

In front of the Divine Tower, a Daoist from the Taixuan Orthodox Sect held a Magic Flag in one hand, changing hand signs with the other, placing the Magic Flag atop the Divine Tower, and then burning incense to worship.

This Daoist had a round face and was a familiar figure.

His Daoist name was Gu Chenzi, and he was the one who had followed Luo Mingzi and Li Yan at the Xianyang Chaotic Burial Mound to help free the Mountain God.

When the others finished their rituals, Li Yan stepped forward to meet him.

"Daoist Li, it’s been a long time."

Gu Chenzi was lively as ever, still smiling.

Li Yan exchanged courtesies, then asked, "Has Daoist Luo Mingzi returned?"

"No."

Gu Chenzi was puzzled, "The elder brother left in a hurry, and we don’t know what urgent matter he had. The elder master also forbade us from asking too much, but news from the Capital suggests that Elder Brother Luo Mingzi might be transferred to the Capital."

"Oh."

Li Yan pondered thoughtfully, it seemed Zhao Changsheng’s matter had garnered the attention of the court and the Taixuan Orthodox Sect.

Thinking this, he didn’t ask further and instead looked at the Divine Tower’s Magic Flag, asking, "Why the sudden change, arranging such a grand event?"

Gu Chenzi hesitated, glanced around, and spoke in a low voice, "You’re not an outsider, so I’ll tell you, but don’t spread it around."

"This winter was snowy, which should mean abundant rainfall next year, but multiple divinations have all pointed to a drought approaching from the Qinling area. Taibai Mountain Doumu Palace sensed something was wrong, so a high-achieving practitioner performed a ritual to observe Qi on the mountain and discovered the misfortune stemmed from Qinling."

"Natural disasters can be dealt with by ritual petitions for blessings, but human-caused disasters must be resolved by ourselves. Thus, the Law Enforcement Hall sent people to investigate and found activities of the Maitreya Sect..."

"Is it the Drought Demon?" Li Yan asked.

Gu Chenzi was surprised, "You know quite a lot."

"That thing is not simple. Let me put it this way... There were records during the Tang Dynasty, but after it was suppressed, its calamitous energy wasn’t eliminated and was secretly taken out, purely due to malicious human intentions."

"Tonight’s ceremony is modeled after the Ancient Shang’s ’Yu Dance’ to entertain the gods, using the power to suppress and stabilize the demon, after which it will leave Chang’an and be safely transported to Hua Mountain