Snow's Embrace: Chapter 7

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Retranslation

Twilight gathers from all four directions. Upon the altar, banners flutter. Special incense has been placed in the brazier, which burns with dazzling firelight and gives off a rich fragrance.

People don masks representing the and Fangxiangshi the Exorcist, and dance a bold and mighty dance amidst the flying sparks.

Their impassioned singing seems to have the power to pierce through the , while the rosy glow of sunset casts a crimson light upon every face.

MC: It’s so lively. So, ritual dances are like this, a little different from other dances.

Zayne: Ritual dances are used by humans to please the gods, in order for gods to satisfy their wishes, so naturally they have their own

I close my eyes and sense a kind of strange yet reverent stirring in my heart.

MC: It seems like I can sense their wishes… Is this how humans talk to the gods?

Zayne: Mm.

Zayne: Welcoming luck and fortune, warding off pestilence and plagues, praying for —these are some of the most basic, yet also the most difficult wishes to fulfill.

MC: Why do so many people want immortality?

Zayne: Because they have never had it before.

Zayne: But each person’s . If altered at will, one must bear Heavenly Punishment.

Critical Cultural Note: Heavenly Punishment (天罚 tian fa) is carried out by the Will of Heaven (天意 tian yi) to punish those who have violated either cosmic or moral order, the balance of yin/yang, or a violation of karma. This was originally mistranslated as "you'll only be punished," but the reality is the punishment is carried out by Heaven itself and it is specifically a Heavenly Punishment, not any other kind of punishment.

Zayne: —how could it be easy?

Even though he’s clearly standing amongst the crowd like I am, Zayne’s figure always seems separate from it, as if it might disappear from sight at any moment.

I can’t resist pulling on his sleeve. He turns his face, and in the light cast by the fire, his gaze seems to grow even deeper, more unfathomable.

Zayne: Do you want to be immortal?

I shake my head, but then grow uncertain and also nod.

MC: I just want to live a little bit longer, and that would be enough.

MC: I still haven’t finished learning skills from you, still haven’t seen Little Bai grow up. In the future, I still need to help you transcribe bamboo slips—

MC: In any case, I still have so many, many things I want to do.

MC: And I heard that after you die, you have to go to the , where it’s dark and cold. Just the thought is very unappealing.

Zayne: …I understand now.

His gaze is like a cold pond that has frozen over, yet there is also an emotion I don’t understand rising in its dark depths.

I feel a little at a loss and also a little puzzled as I look at his back. The dancers have now given way to a single splendidly dressed shamanness.

Her movements are graceful, the rise and fall of her singing is also deeply emotional and full of lingering sorrow, completely unlike the power I had felt earlier.

MC: What is she doing?

Zayne: Begging for love.

MC: Oh… Huh?!

Zayne: Humans will pick the most outstanding girl to become the shamanness and dress her in the likeness of a god, then invite the god to descend.

Zayne: The shamaness sings of her adoration for the god, then uses her dance to entice him to And then, while listening to his prophecy—

He looks towards me and his voice pauses for a brief second.

Zayne: —.

MC: Okay, I understand, you don’t need to explain!

The seductiveness of the dance movements is conveyed openly without any subterfuge, causing me to not dare to take another glance.

Without thinking, I immediately cover Zayne’s eyes.

Zayne: What are you doing?

MC: You, didn’t you descend the mountain because you have serious things to do? I feel like if you only care about having fun like this, that isn’t too good.

Zayne: As I recall, you were the one who said you wanted to come watch the ceremonial ritual?

MC: Indeed, I too went wrong somewhere, so I’m presently reflecting upon it and trying to make amends.

MC: If you want to watch a dance, I can also dance for you in the future!

Zayne: Mm, I want to watch.

MC: ?

Seeing my dumbstruck expression, like snow upon frost, he adds one more phrase—

Zayne: Right now.

MC: ….

A Fine, !

The ritual ends, and Zayne and I are the only ones left remaining in the surrounding area. I cast a visual concealment spell, then hesitantly walk over to the center of the ceremonial altar.

MC: First, let me say that the dance I’m about to perform is unique to the mountain. If you feel like it’s strange, that’s perfectly normal.

Zayne: I see. I’ve been enlightened.

MC: I’m saying this for real! In the past when I used to dance, so many birds and beasts used to surround me and watch.

I recall the dance steps from long ago, my fingers shaping themselves into the shape of a flower that I hold before my forehead.

Initially, the first part of the dance is performed smoothly, but very quickly, my steps grow messy and disordered.

Zayne: …

MC: This dance is very hard to dance. Don’t distract me.

I shoot a glare at Zayne, and he lightly coughs.

Zayne: Without , it’s indeed very difficult to dance.

As he says this, his right hand conjures up a jade guqin. The tail end of the guqin scatters a lustrous snow-like light.

MC: You know how to play guqin? How come I’ve never heard you say this?

Zayne: You also have never said that you know how to dance. We’re even.

He plucks two notes, enticing me to dance to his beat.

Zayne: Let’s continue.

The full moon hangs high on the edge of the clouds, pouring out a splash of moonlight that brightly shimmers upon the young woman’s hair.

Amidst the music flowing like gurgling spring water from the guqin, her dance steps gradually grow light and graceful, as if she is a mountain nymph that has gracefully arrived.

Flowers that have been in a deep sleep gracefully blossom once more, following her dance steps. Several birds and sparrows have been enticed over, fluttering lightly around the altar, the sound of their chirping rising and falling along with the guqin.

As she dances with growing enthusiasm, she extends a finger to catch a beautiful sparrow, and gives him a radiant smile.

He had never known that once she blossomed to the fullest, she would possess such colors that would stir his heart and

At the end of the song, I stand before Zayne and do a little spin, a little pleased with myself.

MC: So, I didn’t lie, wasn’t it good?

The floral hairpin pinned near my temple sways, on the verge of falling. He steadies it, his hand coming to rest along my cheek.

Zayne: Very beautiful.

I can’t help but hold my breath, gazing into the deep, dark depths of his eyes, but in the end, he only pins the floral hairpin back in place.

Zayne: Next year on this day…

Zayne: I’ll play the guqin to accompany you as you dance again.

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