Chapter 51 Ghost Mask
While pregnant Qiao was practicing behind closed doors, riots continued in the city of Fengdu. Not long after the case of the headless corpse passed, the ghost epidemic came out to cause trouble again.
This ghost plague is also strange. It often appears in small groups, but it comes and goes without a trace. Its whereabouts are unpredictable and elusive. Moreover, wherever the ghost plague goes, disasters and plagues will occur.
The ghost epidemic in Fengdu City has been fierce recently. Not only have disasters occurred one after another, but the epidemic has also increased day by day. Throughout Fengdu City, there are miserable scenes of moaning, howling, and crying.
Jiang Yanwang was already very worried, so he waved his sleeves and announced that he would hold a Nuo ceremony in the near future to ward off evil spirits!
Pregnant Qiao has almost recovered from her injuries in recent days, so Huan Shu invited her to watch the disaster relief ceremony. Pregnant Qiao thought that she had never visited Fengdu City carefully before, so she thought about it and agreed.
Although there was an epidemic in Fengdu City, on the day of the Nuo Ceremony, the streets and alleys were still packed with people.
Vermilion incense tables are placed on both sides of the street. Nearly a hundred kinds of food, fruits and sacrificial supplies are offered on the incense tables. They are red, green and very fancy.
The peddlers and lackeys were carrying the bags and shouting loudly, and the shops in the shops even set up their stalls directly in front of the door.
There are many shops and shops on the street, and there is a dazzling array of goods in various categories.
Not only are there all kinds of military uniforms and armors, but there are also all kinds of weapons and protective equipment. However, only the most common weapons and protective equipment are sold on the street, and there are not any spiritual-level and mysterious-level weapons and protective equipment.
The most popular ones are undoubtedly the ones selling women's products, from light gauze robes, all kinds of underskirts, to rouge, gouache, and all kinds of beaded hairpin rings, all kinds of things are dizzying. Nowadays, the front of the stall is overcrowded, and there are many people.
surrounded.
Today, Pregnant Qiao wore a hibiscus-colored flowered high-waisted undershirt, covered with an open white gauze gown, and had her hair styled into a bun with a few strands of green silk hanging from her temples.
At this moment, he was standing in the crowd and looking around. At a glance, he looked more and more handsome.
Xiaoqing was wearing a green skirt and a double bun. She also looked pretty and followed closely behind Pregnant Qiao.
Huanshu was still wearing a white brocade robe, holding a peach blossom fan in his hand, standing side by side with Pregnancy Qiao. His eyes stayed on Pregnancy Qiao and never moved away for a moment.
Suddenly, the crowd on the street began to get restless.
With a twist of his lips, Huan Shu picked up Pregnant Qiao and walked through the crowd. He rushed to the front of the crowd of onlookers in three or two steps and stood on the street.
Pregnant Qiao's face turned red and she felt a little embarrassed.
In order to watch the ceremony up close, these onlookers came here early in the morning and waited in line. They came late, so it was okay to stand at the back, just to watch the excitement.
Nai Qiao looked at Huanshu slightly angrily, and when she saw that he was taking it for granted, she pursed her lips angrily.
Huanshu Yile gently grabbed Pregnancy Qiao's sleeves and said: "This ceremony is still a bit interesting. Standing at the back, but you can't see anything clearly. If you want to stand at the back, you can let me hold you.
Look, it’s doable.”
Pregnant Qiao spat at Huanshu, thinking that this guy was getting thicker and thicker.
The sound of drums could be heard in the distance, and Pregnant Qiao didn't care to vent her anger with Huanshu, and quickly looked up.
The sound of drums came from far away, and a group of twelve or thirteen-year-old boys were seen walking over. The boy had a big red square handkerchief on his head, a red shirt on his upper body, and green silk on his lower body. He was holding a big drum in his hand. At this moment
, he was beating the big drum loudly "dong dong dong".
Huan Shu whispered in Xia Qiao's ear: "This is Nuo Cui, advocated by hundreds of famous disciples!"
Pregnant Qiao nodded and looked towards the children's team, and sure enough she saw the children starting to read:
The epidemic ghosts and demons should not be rampant;
Twelve great beasts, brave and unstoppable;
Remove your limbs and remove your liver and intestines;
Leave no trace behind, sweep away in one go...
The children advocated and performed at the same time, their sleeves flicked and their drumsticks flew.
Along with the rhythm of the drums and dance steps, the children read louder and louder, while everyone watching the ceremony also sang loudly and shouted in unison!
After this wave of boys passed, a person came over. The person was tall, with black energy lingering around his body. He was wearing black clothes and red clothes. He held a gun in his right hand and a shield in his left hand. His long silver hair was scattered around his face.
There was a green ghost-headed mask covering it.
The ghost head mask has a ferocious face, a wide mouth and sharp teeth, and a sinister air. The four eyes made of platinum on the mask are emitting sparkling golden light.
Pregnant Qiao couldn't help but be stunned for a moment. This person... this mask, she seemed to have seen it somewhere before...
The man wearing the mask with a ghost head glanced at Yuqiao through the mask. Yuqiao suddenly felt as if someone was strangling her throat, unable to move her whole body. Yuqiao was so nervous that she forgot to breathe, and her forehead began to bleed.
sweat.
Fortunately, the man wearing the ghost mask quickly turned around and left.
Huanshu noticed something strange about Nai Qiao, and immediately lowered his head to look at her, and said softly: "What's wrong with you? But the crowd is too crowded?"
Pregnant Qiao shook her head and said slowly: "Who passed by just now?"
"That person is pretending to be Fang Xiangshi, who drives Nuo to clear the way during the Nuo exorcism ceremony."
After the man left, Nai Qiao's discomfort disappeared and she nodded gently to Huanshu.
At this moment, the crowd began to become restless again.
Huanshu shook his head and chuckled: "The twelve great beasts have appeared. However, the twelve great beasts in this ceremony were dressed up by humans and were not the real ancient ferocious beasts."
Seeing that Yuqiao seemed confused, he explained: "These twelve beasts, namely Jiazuo, Xiongbo, Jianteng, Qiongqi, etc., can drive away evil spirits such as ghost epidemics, unknown diseases, parasites, etc.
Legend has it that Xiong Bo specializes in eating ghosts, while Qiongqi, who has a tiger body, specializes in ghost plagues!"
Sure enough, twelve people appeared on the street, wearing fur and horns, pretending to be twelve strange monsters.
Immediately after the twelve beasts, two groups of people wearing masks, embroidered clothes, and holding golden spears and dragon flags appeared. Behind them were the city defenders in full golden armor, and the Ghost Emperor.
, the King of Hell, the Ghost General, the Judge, Zhong Kui and others, totaling more than a thousand people.
Nai Qiao glanced sideways at Huan Shu and said, "Don't you need to go to the parade?"
Huanshu laughed loudly, pinched Pregnancy Qiao's little face gently, and said: "Young fool, these people are all pretending. The Ghost Emperor and the King of Hell are so busy, how can they have time to participate in the parade? This sacrifice is not enough
It’s just a way to appease the people!”
Pregnant Qiao raised her hand and slapped Huan Shu's hand away, giving him a fierce look.
Huan Shu was stared at by her, and her soul drifted to nowhere. He grabbed the corner of her clothes again and said softly: "Okay, don't be angry anymore..."
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(Author's statement: The scene of Da Nuo refers to the relevant records in "Book of the Later Han Dynasty. Etiquette". There are different opinions about Qiongqi, including the theory of cow body and tiger body. Here, refer to the statement in "Shen Yi Jing. Northwest Wilderness Classic":
Chapter completed!