Chapter Six, The Shaman Boy of the Southern Frontier

He felt a slight fear, but he could not show it, as there were still Aji Lai and the others behind him, along with the soldiers of his enemies watching; he could not lose face for his clan

From the southern frontier to the Central Plains, it took him several months to realize that the legendary Central Plains actually encompassed such a vast area and had so many people

The Central Plains dazzled him, and Wu Xi felt a sense of curiosity in his heart. As he passed through each place, he wished he could grow an extra pair of eyes to observe everything closely. However, amidst his curiosity, there was also a tinge of anxiety and unease. Every night before sleeping, he would silently repeat the great wizard's instructions in his mind. Yet, among so many places, none were as bustling as the capital, so vibrant that it made him feel as if it were unreal

Eunuch Xi immediately turned to the side, indicating that he did not dare to accept the courtesy: "This would truly overwhelm this old servant, I absolutely cannot!"

Wu Xi slowly stood up, and Lu Baichuan, with a flattering demeanor, reached out to assist him, only to be slapped on the hand by A Qilai.

Wuxi's face was covered with a black cloth, revealing only a pair of extremely dark eyes that swept over Lu Baichuan. The smile on Lu Baichuan's face stiffened for a moment; he always felt that the child's eyes were not like those of a child, so dark, so wild, resembling the old, mysterious wizard who seemed to have been carved from the same mold. The cold gaze that looked over made one feel a chill in their heart

He vaguely remembered that in his previous life, it was only said that the Southern Barbarians bowed their heads in submission, and the Emperor, having satisfied his vanity, did not have any other complications, nor was there any matter of hostages being sent to the capital. Indeed, having lived again, some things were still different.

Once again, this lively Emperor leaned slightly forward, curiously observing the young shaman from the Southern Frontier like a child, and asked, "Young shaman from the Southern Frontier, I ask you, since you are called a shaman, do you possess any extraordinary abilities?"

As the vehicle entered the city gate of the capital, Wu Xi could not help but secretly lift the curtain

Wu Xi raised his eyes and glanced at the shrill and piercing voice of the joyful official. After a moment of hesitation, he recalled the great wizard's admonition to him that upon arriving in the Central Plains, he should restrain himself, considering it a means to protect his entire clan. Thus, he ultimately lowered his head slightly.

The Minister of Rites, with a stern expression and a clear voice, angrily said: "Boldly, you all have submitted to our Great Qing, and should regard His Majesty with the utmost respect. Upon seeing the sovereign, you are to perform the rites of three kneelings and nine prostrations. Why do you not kneel?"

The military officials of Daqing knelt down, shouting "Long live, long live, long live!" The southern barbarian warriors exchanged glances and also knelt down in unison, leaving only the shaman in the black robe standing there, appearing solitary.

Wu Xi grasped the long robe of the Grand Sorcerer tightly, pressing his lips together in silence. The Grand Sorcerer sighed: "The Central Plains is like a trap, filled with bustling activity and wealth beyond your imagination, home to the most beautiful people and the most exquisite things. You may feel that, compared to the Central Plains, the Southern Frontier is a desolate place isolated by mountains, and you will be reluctant to leave there, forgetting who you are."

It is estimated that many people's feelings are similar to Jing Qi's, wanting to cover their faces with long sleeves and pretend they do not exist, or like the old Minister Jian, although he does not speak, his mustache is twitching, and it seems he is about to lose his temper on the spot

Wuxi looked into his eyes and suddenly felt a deep sadness. The Grand Wizard patted his head and said, "You are already ten years old, beginning to have your own thoughts and ideas. There are many things I have taught you, but you may not necessarily remember them. It is time for you to go out and see the world."

The dense forests in the southern frontier, perpetually shrouded in mist and obscured from the sun, along with the villages nestled in the mountains, appear so insignificant against the backdrop of such vast and beautiful landscapes, to the point of seeming somewhat shabby. What, then, could possibly attract the armies from the Central Plains to insist on attacking their own kin?

He looked up, and the sides of the road were filled with people, some carrying birdcages, others holding baskets. Everyone seemed to be watching with great interest as if they were observing some peculiar animal, attentively seeing off their group.

Aqilai glared at him with eyes as sharp as bronze, yet Minister Jian was not the kind of person who could be easily intimidated like Lu Baichuan. Although the old man appeared frail in his ceremonial robes, and despite being in the Ministry of Rites, which emphasized propriety, he was indeed a stubborn old mule. Throughout his life, he excelled in two things: one was cursing at people, and the other was competing in glaring contests after cursing. Even Helian Pei would avoid him to some extent. With Aqilai, the old and the young engaged in a fierce stare-down, neither willing to back down.

When the great wizard spoke these words, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes were drawn up, and his gaze calmly looked towards the distant, misty mountains, dark and still, resembling a pool of stagnant water.

Lu Baichuan is a Han person from the southern border. During the war, he was one of the guides conscripted by Feng Yuanji. He is proficient in both Mandarin and the local dialect, and he is clever and ambitious, having become somewhat of a favored figure in the army. The guests from the southern border have only a basic understanding of Chinese, and when conversations become slightly more complex, they are only half-comprehending. Therefore, he was specifically assigned to serve as a translator for the shaman.

Jing Qi squinted his eyes and looked over. This person appeared to be robust and strong, but judging by the tone of his voice, he was likely still a child, possessing that kind of fearless vigor of a young calf that knows no fear of tigers.

Aqilai's voice was very loud; with a single shout, his voice echoed throughout the entire hall

The imperial city is located at the center of the capital, with palaces connected to palaces. One could easily get lost in such resplendent splendor, as if one had been transported into the clouds. Wu Xi looked up and thought to himself, how lofty it truly is

The great wizard smiled, and his smile did not resemble that of a lofty divine messenger, nor did it reflect the demeanor of an authoritative leader. Instead, it resembled that of an ordinary old man, imbued with a touch of kindness and weariness, gazing at the child who grew day by day, filled with unutterable anticipation. Yet, as this anticipation became increasingly fervent, a sense of worry gradually emerged: "Remember the words you spoke today, remember your hometown, no matter how far you go, keep in mind that your kin are still waiting for you."

I cannot help but feel a sense of curiosity; from a distance, I want to see what the formidable Southern Barbarians, who have incorporated all 400,000 elite troops from Daqing, truly look like.

When people kneel and bow their heads, then blame the old minister, turning him into a complete villain to highlight their own compassion, Jing Qi feels that their emperor is truly remarkable

Wu Xi asked the Great Wizard, who is the most authoritative and wise person in the tribe. What he says represents the will of the God Jiaxi. Wu Xi will also become the Great Wizard in the future, but he is still a child and has much to learn.

The vehicle gradually stabilized as it traversed the large, flat bluestone road. In the city, it passed by a winding river, where several particularly large and ornate boats were quietly docked. The flowing water made a gentle sound as it passed by, and the willow branches on the riverbank hung down like ribbons, seemingly reaching out to the surface of the Wu River. He reached out to grasp them, but was unable to catch them.

The accompanying Lu Baichuan quickly explained to him in the Southern Frontier dialect: "This is Master Xi, a favored eunuch by the Emperor, a person of utmost importance. The Emperor specifically sent Master Xi to greet you outside the Xuande Gate, and there will be a banquet in the palace to welcome you, which is a tremendous honor"

The great wizard told him: "This is the trial of the deity Jiaxi. The deity Jiaxi is omnipresent, observing everything that everyone does in the unseen realm. Today, the cause is sown, and in the future, the result will be reaped. However, the lifespan of mortals is too short, akin to the small insects that emerge from the ground and die almost immediately, wandering aimlessly and failing to comprehend the will of the divine. Only when you grow up, when you have encountered many people and learned many things, will you begin to vaguely understand a little.

The cities are interconnected, bustling with traffic, and the roads seem as if they could never be traversed in a lifetime

Yet, at a glance, I saw a child surrounded by those warriors. The small body was wrapped in a dark robe, obscuring even the face, revealing only a pair of eyes that appeared ghostly and eerie. The child stood very straight, seemingly unafraid of the scrutiny from everyone.

Agarai shouted loudly: "Emperor of Daqing, we have suffered defeat and it is only right that we pay our respects to you by kneeling. However, the shaman child is destined to become the great shaman and is the messenger of the God of Jiaxi; he will not kneel to anyone!"

The hall fell silent for a moment, as the esteemed sovereign of the Nine-Five rank received the surrendering minister. The first words spoken were neither comforting nor threatening, and certainly not a display of national pride suggesting that the opponent's defeat was just and that they should behave in the future. Instead, the question posed was whether the other party could perform the art of passing through walls.

He has not yet reached the age of voice change, yet his voice is clear and bright, devoid of any childishness. With both hands pressed against the ground, his somewhat pale fingertips are revealed. He then bows down and respectfully performs a kowtow. Jing Qi noticed that in that instant, the fists of the southern barbarian warriors behind him all clenched tightly. The young man who had just challenged Minister Jian appeared as if he had been struck by frost, his eyes reddening.

"I will not. " Wu Xi turned her face to look at him, solemnly raising a delicate white hand, "I swear to the gods that I will definitely return. I will never forget my people for the rest of my life. I will bring my people back, and I will remember who has bullied us, making sure that those people will not have a good end!"

Jian Shangshu's expression turned cold, and he huffed and glared: "Our Emperor is the true Son of Heaven, the revered one of Nine-Five. Even if your barbarian tribe's deity were to personally descend upon the borders, it would be unwise to act recklessly, let alone a mere three-foot child bearing some title!"

Wu Xi suddenly extended his hand, pressing down on A Jialai's shoulder, then took a step forward and knelt down properly: "Wu Xi, the shaman of the Southern Frontier, pays his respects to Your Majesty, the Great Celebration Emperor"

Jing Qi, enjoying the grace of His Majesty Emperor Helian Pei, sat beside this great Buddha statue. Just as he was yawning stealthily when no one was paying attention, he had only completed half of it when he heard a report, and he quickly stifled it back. He then made an effort to blink away the tears that had welled up in his eyes.

Wu Xi quietly took a deep breath, straightened her clothes, and walked in with Master Xi.

Through the lifted curtain of the carriage, a peculiar scent wafted in, which Wu Xi carefully discerned. It was the odor emitted by the throngs of people and horse-drawn carriages, thick and sticky, intermingled with a very faint hint of fragrance, carrying a certain allure.

When the warriors from the southern frontier arrived at the grand hall, the civil and military officials, who had been whispering among themselves, fell silent, watching this imposing group of southern barbarians march in. Their years of living in the wild had given them particularly broad shoulders, and the men bore tattoo-like totems on their shoulders, their honey-colored skin exposed, with hair cascading down.

Jing Qi slightly lowered her head, pressing down the corners of her mouth that had curled up.

Lu Baichuan was filled with rage, but when he turned his head, he saw the fierce southern man glaring at him with anger. The brightly colored tattoos on his bare upper body made the young warrior appear somewhat menacing. In an instant, Lu Baichuan's anger cooled in his stomach, and he awkwardly stepped aside, watching as Ayalai bent down and, with a very humble gesture, allowed Wuxi to grasp his forearm and carefully assist him down from the carriage

At this moment, the vehicle came to a stop, and footsteps approached. Wu Xi lowered the curtain and straightened his posture. The car door opened from the front, and he saw his accompanying clansman, A Qilai, standing straight like himself, making an effort to appear taller. Behind him stood an old man with a beaming smile, wearing a peculiar tall hat, and his wide sleeves hung down to near his knees, concealing his hands. When he spoke, his voice was sharp and thin: "Oh, is this the esteemed shaman? I am honored to meet you."

However, Jing Qi did not know why, but felt that this child was somewhat pitiable

Helian Pei let out a "tch" and waved his hand: "Quick, all of you, stand at ease." He then turned his head and glared at Minister Jian, "Minister Jian, I am not speaking of you. My Great Qing is a celestial empire and should possess the capacity to accommodate others. He is just a child, having traveled a long distance to arrive here, how old can he be? Why make things difficult for him? Someone, grant the shaman boy a seat."

He extended his hand and gestured: "Having practiced your sorcery, can one attain immortality and become an immortal? Are you capable of riding the wind and burrowing into the earth? Oh... yes, can you pass through walls?"