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墨書 Inktalez
The tea leaves have been placed in the pot, the water is hot, and a stream of water flows into the pot like a silver thread. A faint aroma of tea instantly rises, as if it cannot be resisted, penetrating the nose and then emanating from the pores, invigorating the spirit.
Good tea, this is definitely good tea!
Even before tasting it, the experience is already overwhelming; what will it be like once I drink it?
"Please enjoy the tea."
Zhong Wenxin placed a thumb-sized teacup in front of Ancient Sorcerer and Kong Ying, patiently waiting for both to finish their tea before speaking:
"Ancient Sorcerer, you may begin."
Gently placing the teacup back on the tea tray, Ancient Sorcerer thought for a moment and said, "Witchcraft is something that I believe you may not fully understand, but you've probably heard of it and have a general idea of what it entails?"
Zhong Wenxin and Kong Ying nodded. They indeed did not know much about witchcraft but were aware that it has a long history and is mysterious and strange. Of course, in their impression, those who understood witchcraft were often evil.
Looking at Kong Ying and then at Zhong Wenxin, Ancient Sorcerer shook his head and said, "I know you don't have a good impression of witchcraft. Let's set that aside for now and discuss the relationship between witchcraft and dance."
"In fact, the dances we are familiar with today emerged alongside witchcraft. Some wall paintings discovered today show that dances centered around witchcraft appeared as far back as the Paleolithic era. These dances are called Witch Dance, where dancers wear beast masks and sing while performing Witch Dance."
"So, what is the significance of combining dance with witchcraft?"
Kong Ying was extremely curious; she was familiar with dance but had never considered its connection to witchcraft.
Zhong Wenxin remained silent, but her expression clearly showed her eagerness to know the answer.
"Rain-seeking rituals, sacrifices, etc., these were originally the functions of shamans. During rain-seeking rituals, shamans often performed certain ceremonies that gradually evolved into dances."
Ancient Sorcerer was not speaking nonsense; the relationship between witchcraft and dance is documented in many texts. For example, in Zhuangzi's "Theft of Zhi," it states: "In the time of Shennong... people knew their mother but not their father." At that time, shamanic dances were prevalent during rain-seeking rituals. In Volume Four of the Chronicles' "Shennong's Rain Seeking Book," it mentions: "In spring and summer when it does not rain, Jia commands to be called Qinglong (Green Dragon), and a young boy from the east dances; Bing Ding does not rain, commands to be called Chilong (Red Dragon), and a strong man from the south dances... Geng Xin does not rain, commands to be called Bailong (White Dragon), and an Elder Fang from the west dances. Ren Gui does not rain, commands to be called Heilong (Black Dragon), and an Elder Fang from the north dances. If it still does not rain, one should hide at the southern gate with water outside and dig up human bones to bury them... If it still does not rain, deities gather firewood to beat drums and burn them."
This passage describes how shamans seek rain. For instance, Jia commanding to be called Qinglong refers to the eastern Jia Yi wood belonging to the position of Qinglong; during rain-seeking rituals, children should dance in that eastern position. The same applies to Elder Fang dancing from the west. Additionally, there are rituals involving burying human bones, beating drums, burning firewood, etc., all related to witchcraft. Thus, witchcraft initially connected with significant matters such as rain-seeking.
"But what does this have to do with Wenxin's body?"
Kong Ying looked at Ancient Sorcerer in confusion. Even if what Ancient Sorcerer said was true, that dance was indeed related to sorcery, what did that have to do with Zhong Wenxin?
"Yeah, even if dance originated from sorcery, what does that have to do with me?"
Zhong Wenxin stared at Ancient Sorcerer, trying to understand the connection between dance, fainting, and sorcery. She couldn't grasp the logic behind it all.
"Sorcery can summon rain; making you faint is not difficult at all."
This statement from Ancient Sorcerer made Zhong Wenxin's expression darken instantly, like a sky filled with ominous clouds. She was a smart person and quickly understood the implication of those words. Summoning rain was a challenging feat, something that required moving heaven and earth; if sorcery could achieve that, then making her faint was indeed a piece of cake. In simple terms, Zhang Qi had used sorcery under the guise of choreographing for her, which explained why she had fainted. She finally understood why her dance included so many gestures of kneeling and other movements—those actions symbolized offering everything to some "entity."
"So... what exactly is Zhang Qi trying to accomplish?"
"To steal your soul, or rather, your spiritual energy."
Initially, Ancient Sorcerer was unsure about Zhang Qi's purpose in choreographing these dances for Zhong Wenxin, but upon seeing those crawling before the portrait of Supreme Ancestor, he immediately understood: Zhang Qi was using various means to steal or absorb people's souls.
Upon hearing this, Kong Ying gasped in shock and exclaimed, "What? Absorb people's souls?"
Zhong Wenxin nodded grimly and said, "Sister Kong Ying, I think there's a high chance that's true."
"Why do you say that?"
Kong Ying looked at Zhong Wenxin in confusion.
"Every time I perform those dances choreographed by Zhang Qi, the ones that make me faint, I notice my focus intensifying throughout the process until it coalesces into a single point. Just before I fainted, it felt as if my spirit was being drawn away!"
Kong Ying opened her mouth to say something but ultimately closed it again. At first, she thought what Zhong Wenxin said was absurd, but upon reflection, it made a disturbing kind of sense:
Zhong Wenxin's spirit had been harmed while her body showed no signs of illness. That was why she couldn't find out what was wrong during her hospital check-up.
After all, the spirit is an ethereal thing; how could it be examined?
“Ancient Sorcerer, what is Zhang Qi's purpose in absorbing my soul and even the souls of others?”
Zhong Wenxin furrowed her brows tightly. The effort Zhang Qi put into this, going so far as to approach her slowly through a choreographed method to gradually "steal" her soul, indicated that his intentions were certainly sinister.
“Yeah! Ancient Sorcerer, what the hell is that bastard Zhang Qi's purpose?”
Kong Ying also became anxious.
Ancient Sorcerer shook his head and said, “We currently understand too little to make a judgment; it definitely isn't anything good.”
“Ah!”
Kong Ying gasped softly and said, “What should we do now?”
Zhong Wenxin's heart sank slowly. The most troublesome thing in the world is “ignorance”—the fact that Ancient Sorcerer doesn't know means the problem is serious!
“What should we do now?”
Zhong Wenxin asked the same question as Kong Ying, but it reflected her deep concern beneath her calm exterior; this was a matter of life and death!
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