White tea legend

Chapter 226 Lantern Festival Iron Branch
Raising the pavilion is also called iron branch.

It’s not a Lantern Festival if you haven’t seen Tiezhi.

This is the custom in Wanghaili.

Under the illumination of lights, three gorgeous iron branch floats made a stunning appearance. These three-story-high iron branches are like a Yaotai in the clouds. Accompanying the melody of the band, they sometimes move in a straight line and sometimes cross and rotate, just like the scenery floating in the night sky, like a dream.

Iron Branch was held for three days in a row, with three stations every night.

The theme of the iron branches is different every night. Tonight is the "Peach Club".

On the high iron branches, the young actors wore exquisite makeup and various costumes, holding props and waving frequently, as if they were immortals from another world, floating in the breeze, elegant and exquisite.

The art of iron branching integrates ingenuity, clothing, painting and other crafts into one, and it is difficult to achieve without multiple hands.

The performance team is arranged in an orderly manner. The first row of lanterns has double lanterns hanging high, with a couplet on it, which echoes the meaning of the iron branches. It is commonly known as a lantern couplet.

The second music section plays ancient Tongshan assorted pieces or southern tunes frequently.

The musicians often hide in the tents and accompany them wherever they go. This tent is called the "Third Brocade Tent".

In the four corners of the shed, there is a ball hanging from a ribbon, and opera stories are embroidered around it, which enhances its beauty.

The layman looks at the excitement and the insider looks at the doorway.

Tie Zhi is divided into two forms: "Wen Zhi" and "Wu Zhi". Tonight's performance of "Peach Club" is a classic "Wu Zhi" that highlights the martial arts performance scene. The entire iron branch is vivid and the immortals are lifelike, making it look like a paradise on earth.

Wanghaili is close to the sea and is a fishing town. Tiezhi is the "heirloom" of the people in the fishing town.

Every Lantern Festival, along with Tie Zhi's performance, there are also various fishermen's folk customs that participate in the streets, compete on the same stage, and participate in the grand event.

People from hundreds of miles around rushed to Wanghaili to watch the excitement.

It was the first time for Mrs. Yao Si from Chang'an to watch Tiezhi's performance.

I saw the "Chegu Pavilion" with a huge drum mounted on a vehicle, accompanied by drummers beating the festival with hammers, and the sound shook the alleys;
"Thread Lion" dancers manipulate fine puppet lions, pulling them with silk threads to dance gracefully;
Those who "run land boats" imitate boats going up the water and do it on land, while those who pretend to be boatmen sing and dance;
Those who "walk on stilts" tie long poles to their feet, their posture is like a swimming dragon, and they walk like the wind;
"Lian Deng" uses colored lanterns connected to form a long and bright dragon with flowing light and shadow;

"Fish lanterns" are often made in the shape of fish, which means having more than enough every year;
There are also "street tunes", slang songs and casual chants, which make the whole Wanghaili even more lively.

People of all kinds come to the streets in droves, holding musical instruments, wearing costumes, carrying lanterns, or dancing with colorful flags, walking through the streets and alleys, vying for beauty.

The crowds of spectators were busy and bustling with joy and laughter, and it was a spectacular sight. Unscrupulous people also took the opportunity to mix in the procession, steal chickens and dogs, and abduct women and children.

Lady Yao Si was one of the victims.

Zhuo Laosan went to buy candied haws, while Mrs. Yao Si was completely immersed in the excitement. Suddenly a gangster approached her quietly. Under the cover of the crowd, the gangsters successfully abducted Ms. Yao Si and took her away from the noisy festival scene.

All this happened so suddenly that no one around her noticed the disappearance of Mrs. Yao Si.

Mrs. Yao Si slowly regained consciousness, only to feel that her eyes were completely dark and she could not move her whole body. She was horrified to find that she was packed in a sack and her hands and feet were tied tightly.

"Brother, what should I do with this woman?" A rough voice sounded.

"Let's sell her and pay back the money," another voice replied.

"But... isn't this not good? What if someone discovers it?" The rough voice was hesitant.

"What are you afraid of? We are just paying off the debt, not doing anything bad. Besides, this woman is quite beautiful, so she should be able to sell it for a good price." Another voice said with a sneer.

"But...will her family come to the door?" The rough voice was still worried.

"Don't worry, let's find a place farther away to sell it, and no one will find it. Besides, she is tied up in a sack now, and we don't even know who caught her." Another voice said sinisterly.

"Okay, let's set off quickly." The rough voice finally agreed.

When Mrs. Yao Si heard this, she felt even more panicked. She tried hard to break free, but the rope tied her hands and feet tightly, preventing her from moving.

"Stop struggling, woman. The more you struggle, the more painful you will be." The sneering voice seemed to be aware of her movements.

Mrs. Yao Si's heart tightened, she knew she was in a dangerous situation. But she didn't give up hope, she decided to stay calm and wait for a chance to escape.

Two men began to move and they carried the sacks out of the house. Mrs. Yao Si could only feel the bumps and shaking, and could not tell where she was being taken.

"Brother, we have to be careful not to be discovered." A rough voice reminded.

"Don't worry, I've made it clear that no one will come to this place." Another voice answered confidently.

Mrs. Yao Si prayed silently in her heart, hoping that someone would find her traces and save her from this dangerous situation.

But no, Mrs. Yao Si was knocked unconscious again.

Mrs. Yao's consciousness emerged from the darkness again, her body trembled slightly, and she felt the moist and cold touch. The sound of water and oars came to her ears, which made her realize that she might have been taken to a small boat by gangsters.

She tried to struggle, but the sack restrained her body tightly, preventing her from moving. There was a surge of fear in her heart, not knowing where these gangsters were going to transport her and what they would do with her.

Mrs. Yao Si was not afraid, she thought that Fairy Baicha would be able to save her. She prayed silently, hoping that the White Tea Fairy would sense her plight and come to save her.

At this moment, there was a sudden sound of wind and rain outside. The wind howled and the rain poured down, as if the whole world was plunged into chaos. The ship was rocking and seemed ready to sink at any moment.

The gangsters were panicked. They did not expect to encounter such bad weather. They hurriedly untied Mrs. Yao's sack and threw her into the water.

Mrs. Yao Si felt herself surrounded by the cold river water, and she struggled to surface. However, her hands and feet were still tied and unable to move freely. She felt her breathing becoming more and more difficult, and her consciousness began to blur.

Mrs. Yao Si didn't know when she fainted.

Consciousness slowly emerged, and after a blur, she found herself lying in a dark cave. Surrounded by rough rock walls, water dripped from the roof of the cave, making a tinkling sound. She wanted to stand up, but found that her feet were floating uncontrollably. She looked down and was surprised to find that the cave was completely filled with water, and she was breathing freely in the water.

"What's going on? Have I become a water ghost?" Mrs. Yao Siniang was surprised and uncertain. Her heartbeat accelerated and she unconsciously touched her face with her hands to confirm whether all this was true.

At this moment, a man with long hair and white clothes swam in from the water outside the cave. His movements were light and graceful, like an elf in the water. He has a delicate face and deep eyes, with a hint of loneliness that does not belong to this world.

"Are you awake?" The man's voice was as soft as water waves, but there was a hint of sadness.

Madam Yao Si took a step back warily. She was not sure whether the man in front of her was a friend or an enemy.

"Don't be afraid, I won't hurt you." The man seemed to see through her thoughts, smiled slightly, took out some food from his arms and handed it to her, "You must be hungry, eat something first."

Mrs. Yao Si took the food and was indeed very hungry. She ate carefully, while the man looked at her quietly, with complicated emotions flashing in his eyes.

"My name is Liu Xiang, and I am the guardian of this water area." The man suddenly spoke, with a hint of invisible weight in his voice. "Guardian?" Mrs. Yao Si raised her head in confusion.

"Yes, I have been guarding this place for three years." Liu Xiang sighed, "Three years ago, I unfortunately drowned here and became a water ghost. Now, I need to find a new ghost to replace me, so that I can To be reincarnated as a human being.”

When Mrs. Yao Si heard this, she couldn't help but feel an inexplicable emotion in her heart. She didn't know what to do, she didn't want to be a substitute, but she also didn't want Liu Xiang to be trapped here forever.

"Don't worry, I won't force you." Liu Xiang saw her worry and comforted softly, "I will help you leave here and return to the world."

"Really?" A glimmer of hope flashed in Mrs. Yao Si's eyes.

"Of course." Liu Xiang nodded with a smile, then turned around and swam towards the entrance of the cave, "Follow me."

Lady Yao Si followed closely behind, and the two shuttled through the water, and finally came to a brightly lit exit. Liu Xiang stopped and looked back at her.

"If you get out of here, you can return to the human world." There was a trace of reluctance in his voice.

"What about you?" Lady Yao couldn't help but ask.

"I will stay here and continue to wait for my replacement." Liu Xiang smiled bitterly and prepared to turn around and dive into the water.

"In that case, why did you arrest me?" Mrs. Yao Si was really puzzled.

If he were captured, wouldn't it mean that she would replace him and become the new water ghost in this water area?

Why let her go now?

The man smiled calmly and said, "Whether you believe it or not, I didn't catch you."

"Who is that? Are there other ghosts in this water area?"

"not at all."

"That……"

"Because the one who caught you is not a ghost. In the water, ghosts are just vulnerable groups."

The man said, turning around to leave.

Mrs. Yao Si said worriedly: "In that case, if you let me go, will that person come to settle a score with you?"

"Will do."

Mrs. Yao Si was shocked and couldn't leave easily.

"Can you tell me who that person is?"

"Not a ghost, not a human being."

The ghost said and walked away.

While swimming, I looked back and saw Mrs. Yao Si following closely behind me.

ghost:"……"

Mrs. Yao Siniang explained: "How can I, a mere mortal, come and go freely in the water? I think I am also a ghost. How can I go back? It's better to face it together with you."

Gui looked at Mrs. Yao Si and thought she was upright and open-minded, which was quite cute.

"You really don't want to leave? If you really don't leave, I'm afraid you won't be able to leave..." After Gui finished speaking, a figure appeared in front of him:
The third prince of the East China Sea Dragon Palace, dressed in battle armor and holding a halberd, stood majestically in the way of Lady Yao Si. There was unquestionable majesty in his eyes, as if he was the absolute master of this sea area.

Although the water ghost Liu Xiang was once the guardian of this water area, his power seemed insignificant in front of the Third Prince. The third prince slapped the flying water ghost with one palm, and his movements were crisp and clear.

The Fourth Lady Yao was held tightly by the Third Prince, and she felt a powerful force restraining her, unable to move. Despair surged in her heart. Is this the end of her fate?

At this moment, a figure came galloping from the water, it was the White Tea Fairy. Her figure is as light as a fairy in the water.

"Let her go!" White Tea Fairy's voice was as cold as frost.

The third prince sneered and looked at the woman in front of him with disdain: "Who are you? How dare you be so presumptuous in front of me!"

The White Tea Fairy did not answer. She just waved the fairy staff gently in her hand. Rays of light flickered in the water and collided with the Third Prince's halberd, making a deafening sound.

The fight between the two was extremely fierce, and the water was churning and the waves were rough. This battle shocked the entire East China Sea Dragon Palace, and countless sea creatures avoided and did not dare to approach.

At this moment, a figure walked out of the Dragon Palace, it was the Dragon Girl. She has a beautiful face and elegant temperament. She is wearing a golden dragon scale armor and looks majestic.

"Stop!" The dragon girl's voice sounded like thunder, instantly overpowering the din of the battle.

The Third Prince and the White Tea Fairy stopped what they were doing at the same time. They turned to look at the Dragon Girl, with a hint of surprise in their eyes.

"Prince Long San, what are you doing?" There was a hint of reproach in the dragon girl's voice.

The Third Prince lowered his head, not daring to look at Long Nu: "Auntie, I just want to take this woman back for review."

"Censorship?" Dragon Girl sneered, "Do you think this is your territory? Let her go!"

The third prince reluctantly let go of Mrs. Yao Si and stepped aside.

The dragon girl turned to the White Tea Fairy, with a hint of complicated emotions flashing in her eyes: "White Tea Fairy, you are well."

The White Tea Fairy smiled slightly: "Dragon Girl, long time no see."

The dragon girl nodded: "Yes, it has been thousands of years. If you hadn't saved me, I might still be trapped in the dream of that evil dragon."

"That's all in the past." White Tea Fairy said calmly.

The Dragon Girl looked at Mrs. Yao Si, a trace of compassion flashed in her eyes: "This girl, I will personally send you away from the East China Sea."

After saying this, the dragon girl waved the dragon scale armor in her hand and turned into a golden light, wrapping Lady Yao Si and Fairy Bai Cha in it. The three of them flew out of the sea together.

On the sea, the dragon girl and the white tea fairy met each other. They recalled the past and were filled with emotion. Lady Yao Si stood aside and listened to their conversation quietly, her heart filled with gratitude and awe.

As a mortal, she listened to two gods telling ancient anecdotes, which was really thrilling and interesting.

"Now I have built a big yard on Taimu Mountain and opened a big tea factory. Would you like to go and have a look, Dragon Girl?" Bai Cha invited.

Dragon Girl agreed without hesitation: "Okay!"