2052, Thirty Years Of Sleep

In the afternoon, a sacrifice was about to be held, and the atmosphere in the village became a lot more lively.

In an open space on the east side of the village, red lanterns were hung high, and large and small white cloth strips were tied to the treetops, floating in the air with the breeze.

A somewhat crude shrine was erected in the center of the open space, covered with gauze, and the white stone goddess statue sitting inside could be vaguely seen.

In front of the shrine, large bundles of firewood and hay were piled upright, as tall as a person. You can imagine how spectacular it would be to light a bonfire after dark.

At the edge of the open space, more than a dozen long wooden tables were placed in two circles, with food brought by the villagers from their homes on them. Braised chicken, duck and fish, boiled eggs and corn, slightly turbid rice wine in a large earthen vat, steaming noodles and steamed buns, etc.

"Tsk, tsk, it doesn't look like a sacrifice, but more like a white cloth." Looking at the white cloth floating on the treetops, Yan Muyun awed.

Xing Xiuxian's eyelids drooped, he glanced around the crowd and said calmly: "What you have to do today is to protect all the villagers present and don't be careless. You can eat something, but you can't drink alcohol."

Chang An complained in a low voice: "It's just that kind of rice wine with one or two degrees of alcohol. I can drink a tank of it and it'll be fine..."

However, Xing Xiuxian just glanced over and shut up and stood at attention.

"Okay, now spread out and patrol according to the areas divided yesterday." Xing Xiuxian clapped his hands, and the heavily armed people dispersed.

...

As the sun sets and the night gets darker, the bonfire in the center of the clearing is lit and the sacrifice begins.

Yan Muyun was stunned when a familiar figure wearing white cloth and a triangular white turban appeared on the high platform with the shrine. It was clearly Old Man Liu.

Why would a Chinese appear as a host at a sacrificial ceremony in a South Vietnamese village?

Before he could think about it, the ceremony had already begun.

Old Man Liu held two wooden sticks, one black and one white, in both hands and walked around the shrine with small steps. Then he looked up to the sky and shouted: "Kneel down!"

All the villagers present put their hands together and knelt on the ground.

"Boom!"

Old Man Liu used a black wooden stick to beat the leather drum hanging on his waistband. All the villagers fell to the ground and pressed their foreheads to the ground.

"Boom!"

Old man Liu beat the waist drum with a white wooden stick, and all the villagers stood up together, put their hands together in the middle of their foreheads, closed their eyes and looked up to the sky.

"Boom."

Black wooden sticks beat the drums, and everyone bowed again.

"Boom."

White wooden sticks beat the waist drum.

...

This cycle was carried out nine times in total. As Old Man Liu opened his hands, he shouted in a hoarse voice: "Get up!" All the villagers slowly stood up.

In this somewhat strange ceremony, Yan Muyun and other people from the Special Bureau naturally did not participate. In addition, some people who had returned from the city, including Ruan Yuanzhong and his bodyguards in the corner, just stood aside and watched, with either sarcastic or curious expressions on their faces.

After three bows and nine kowtows to the statue of the goddess, the villagers stood up together, held hands, and began to circle around the bonfire, singing South Vietnamese songs of unknown meaning.

After this series of rituals were completed, the villagers sat down one after another, began to enjoy the food and chatted loudly.

"It's quite interesting...but something feels weird." Yan Muyun commented on this sacrificial ceremony.

During the patrol, he was enthusiastically fed by the villagers several times. On two occasions, he couldn't resist and ate a chicken leg and a bowl of porridge.

As for other people, they naturally received the same treatment.

"Drink a bowl of rice wine to moisten your throat." Mrs. Liu held a bowl of rice wine in one hand and handed it to Wei Min and Yan Long respectively.

The two looked at each other, then waved their hands in polite refusal.

"No, thank you." Yan Long said.

Wei Min was curious about another thing: "Grandma, are you from China? Your Chinese is so fluent."

"Yes, I am from China, and I have lived in this village with my husband for more than ten years." Mrs. Liu smiled gently and handed the rice wine in her hand forward: "Are you really not going to drink some? Don't worry, This wine has no alcohol content.”

Yan Long was a little tempted at first, but Wei Min still refused with a smile: "No, thank you, we are not thirsty."

He couldn't help but glance at the other person. He didn't expect that this guy, who was usually jovial and jovial, was so strict about following the rules and regulations.

Mrs. Liu looked a little disappointed, but she didn't force herself any further. She placed two bowls of rice wine on the table next to her, took out a red cloth parcel from her pocket, opened it and pinched two candies from inside: "Here, it's okay to eat a candy."

Even Wei Min couldn't say anything this time, so he had to take the candies and Yan Long and stuff them into their mouths one by one: "Thank you."

"I should thank you for your hard work." Mrs. Liu waved her hands, turned and left.

The two continued to patrol the area, chatting for a while and then separated.

When Yan Long walked near the sacrificial platform, through the light of the lanterns on the trees, he saw the familiar figure not far away carrying two bowls of rice wine and approaching Chang'an again.

Chang'an obviously didn't take Xing Xiuxian's words to heart. He chuckled and chatted with the old lady for a few words, then took a bowl of rice wine and drank it down in one gulp.

Yantaki was naturally not a boring person who would tell a story. He just took a few glances and left, but he was stopped after taking a few steps.

"Hey, Junior Xiaotaki." Chang An trotted up to him, holding a piece of candy in his mouth, and said in a low voice with a smile: "Don't tell the captain."

"Yeah." Yan Long nodded and pointed to the candy in his mouth.

Chang'an chuckled: "So you drank too."

Yan Taki didn't bother to explain, turned around and left with the gun in hand.

...

The children in the village were laughing and playing around, while the old people were sitting around in twos and threes chatting. Occasionally they would shout at the children to tell them not to get too close to the bonfire. Generally speaking, this sacrificial banquet was carried out in an orderly manner in a peaceful atmosphere.

While patrolling, Yan Muyun's headset suddenly heard Xing Xiuxian's voice:

"Chang'an, Wei Min, Yan Long, the drone has detected some suspicious movements in the east outside the village. You guys go over and have a look. Yan Muyun and Ye Buyu stay in the village and continue to patrol around the sacrificial venue."

Then came the replies from several people.

"yes."

"receive."

"receive."

Although Yan Muyun wanted to follow him and take a look outside the village, he could only obey the order at the moment. He had just had a conflict with Xing Xiuxian before. Although it was temporarily relieved, it did not mean that the matter had been completely resolved. It's easy to guess why the other party didn't send him to search. Most likely, they were afraid that he would get emotional and do something outrageous.

"Only when I am completely alienated can I lose control of my personality. Normally I am quite rational..."

Yan Muyun kicked a stone away from the ground. Although he was a little depressed, he had to admit that Xing Xiuxian's worries were legitimate and reasonable. When he realized this, his depression doubled.

At this moment, he heard the man's voice coming from the headset again:

"Yan Muyun, Ye Buyu, come to the east side of the venue and follow the path. The view here is good."

"receive."

"receive."