[-] I see it... I'm at the parade.
[-] While people play the gongs and suona, the tall and majestic deity puppets move slowly through the noisy crowd. At the end of the lion dance and dragon dance teams is a four-to-five-story high tower made out of special long swords.
[-] A-Yuan climbs nimbly up the rocks amid the crowd's cheering and sits on the blade at the top, then she throws millet, which is a symbol of auspiciousness, to the crowd below to bestow auspiciousness on them.
[player] So this is the famous Mountain of Blades and Sea of Fire of the Nanxiang parade.
[-] While I watch with great interest, A-Yuan suddenly appears next to me and points at a blazing fire in front of us.
[A-Yuan] PLAYER... you're up now...
[player] ?
[player] No! I don't want to jump over a fire pit!
[player] Phew! I was just dreaming. I knew I shouldn't have read so many articles written by Chihori Terasaki.
[player] Oh, A-Yuan is calling me. It's still so early--could something have happened?
[player] Hello?
[A-Yuan] Hehe, I had a feeling you would be awake. Did you have a good dream? Did it have anything to do with me?
[player] ...I guess you can say that.
[-] That dream was neither good nor bad. Although it gave me a fright, I find myself looking forward to the real parade even more than before.
[A-Yuan] Wow, my prediction was right. I sure am amazing. The ancestors must have secretly given me some hints.
[A-Yuan] Anyway, let's talk about your dream after we meet up. I'm calling you to tell you about some things you need to look out for today.
[player] Things to look out for?
[A-Yuan] I have a strong premonition about this today, so you must remember three things when you come.
[A-Yuan] First, dress lightly. Second, don't wear new clothes. Third, don't wear flip-flops.
[A-Yuan] Oh! The delivery person is here. I'm going to hang up now. Don't forget what I said.
[-] Although I don't understand why she told me those things, I should be okay if I follow the Nanxiang customs, right?
[-] Ancestral Hall
[-] The ritual will be held again today, and I come to the Ancestral Hall early with Hua Yubai and Hua Yuqing.
[A-Yuan] Auspicious hour of fortunate day! With deep respect, we humbly pray... In fair array, our ancestors appear; Their fragrance fills the hall, far and near--
[-] In front of the crowd, A-Yuan sings an ancient song while wearing a simple and primitive mask, communicating with the ancestors with her unique dance. The raw, untamed energy of her movements still leaves me in awe, even though this isn't my first time seeing it...
[Hua Yubai] So this is the Nuo dance.
[player] Nuo?
[Hua Yubai] Yes, the parade culture of Nanxiang originated from Nuo, the earliest worship of deities in the east.
[Hua Yubai] This is an ancient culture of believing in the power of nature, which is manifested in the form of shamanic rituals. Later it developed into special Nuo operas and Nuo dances. Essentially, traces of the Nuo culture can be found in all folk cultures of the entire eastern land.
[Hua Yubai] Our local opera culture, Nanxiang's unique parade culture, and the puppet show culture of the southeast all originated from Nuo culture, which means their culture, knowledge, and skills all share commonalities.
[Hua Yubai] (whisper) Aha... I think I know how to adapt the opera now.
[-] While we converse, A-Yuan stops dancing in front of me and speaks to me in a slow and ethereal voice from behind the mask.
[A-Yuan] Please follow me.
[player] ...?!
[Hua Yuqing] Wow, you're so lucky, PLAYER! What are you waiting for? You've been selected to invite the ancestors!
[-] Hua Yuqing looks at me with undisguised envy, while Hua Yubai smiles at me and nods encouragingly.
[-] Under the scorching gaze of the crowd, I step out of the crowd despite the pressure and follow A-Yuan to the altar. After worshiping deities of heaven, earth, and the four cardinal directions, A-Yuan takes the Jiaobei from a wooden box and holds them in front of me with both hands.
[A-Yuan] PLAYER, this is the Jiaobei, a medium used to communicate with the ancestors. Please hold them and sincerely invite the ancestors to visit One Han City during Bamboo Cloud's anniversary celebration in your heart before throwing them into the air.
[A-Yuan] If one lands with the flat side up and the other lands with the round side up, this is the Sheng, which means the ancestors have accepted your invitation.
[A-Yuan] If both land with the flat side up, this is the Xiao, which means the ancestors are still considering your invitation and you can ask them again.
[A-Yuan] If both land with the round side up, this is the Yin, which means the ancestors have rejected your invitation. The ritual will fail if this happens three times.
[A-Yuan] Do you understand?
