298: Chapter 96: The Red-Robed Elder, The Lamp Holding Rakshasa 298: Chapter 96: The Red-Robed Elder, The Lamp Holding Rakshasa The first step in opening the Incense Hall, of course, was to offer incense.
Before offering incense, a performance was required, and the specific content of the program depended on the personal talents of the incense offerer—such as performing a set of boxing moves, dancing, reciting a poem, or singing a song.
It was akin to the introductory poem from the storyteller’s lips, serving primarily to calm and command the audience’s attention.
People from the North have straightforward tempers, loud voices, and a heroic character; regardless of gender, when seated together, they could strike up a conversation with you.
Without creating some activity to attract everyone’s attention, you wouldn’t be able to perform anything afterwards.
Zuo Yan enjoyed watching this program and had even set these procedural rules herself, but she was disappointed to have missed it this time.
Of course, there was also the possibility that the situation was urgent, or rather, the person offering the incense believed the situation to be urgent and wasn’t in the mood to perform.
Contrary to the lavish decorations on the outside, the interior of the painted boat was simple, featuring only the central offering table and incense burner, and two rows of folding chairs on both sides, making it resemble the assembly hall of Water Margin Liangshan.
In those days, “Water Margin Tale” had not yet been overly scrutinized by self-media and public accounts with magnifying glasses, extracting various central ideologies and hidden agendas, and ordinary people still maintained a simple longing for the tales of heroes.
Three incense sticks, thick as fingers, had already been placed in the brass incense burner on the offering table, and three red-robed women were seated in the most prominent positions.
The women sitting in the chairs on both sides, for the most part, had their faces covered with red silk scarves.
This was the core leadership of the Red Lantern Society—the Red-Robed Elders and the Lamp Holding Rakshasas.
The other female disciples standing outside the hall could only wear a red flower in their hair or tie a red ribbon around their heads; this differentiated the disciples of the Inner Sect from those of the Outer Sect.
The incense ceremony today wasn’t very formal and not many people had come.
Even so, the whole painted boat was packed and bustling, a festive and joyous sight to behold.
Li Mumu and Wendy’s attire stood out distinctly in this setting, and if they hadn’t followed Zuo Yan here, they probably wouldn’t have been able to board the ship at all.
Zuo Yan’s arrival did not draw much attention; the disciples quietly moved aside, clearing a path for her without any kneeling or kowtowing.
This was mainly because the internal rules of the Red Lantern Society were not strict; it was an organization rooted in the core concepts of unity, mutual assistance, and resistance against external insults, without a rigid caste system.
Here, regardless of Inner or Outer Sect, or the generation of disciples, everyone addressed each other as elder or younger sisters.
Yang Youxuan, who was currently speaking in the hall, had to address Shi Yulan as Senior Sister, even though she was Shi Yulan’s daughter.
Li Mumu perked up her ears and listened for a while, only to find that Yang Youxuan was discussing the incident of Cui Xiaoying and her daughter being injured by the Great Luo Sect.
On the surface, the matter seemed simple.
They say that widows attract troubles, and for a young widow like Cui Xiaoying, it wouldn’t be surprising for some trouble to occur at her doorstep, and it might not always be someone else’s fault.
Outsiders couldn’t really intervene in such matters.
Sometimes when you think you are administering justice for her, she might actually blame you in her heart.
Moreover, even if we take a step back, Cui Xiaoying had the backing of the Qianjin Church.
The Church hadn’t said anything yet; wouldn’t it be inappropriate for us to take initiative and help out?
If we held an incense ceremony for every trivial matter, we wouldn’t have time for anything else.
So while Yang Youxuan elaborated on the causes and consequences of the incident, everyone was interested but didn’t take it seriously.
Seeing that everyone shared this attitude, Yang Youxuan paused for a moment before looking up and saying solemnly, “Honorable Elders, I am not being unreasonably provocative.
While this issue may seem trivial, it is, in fact, a setup by someone in the shadows, attempting to test and provoke our Red Lantern Society.
This incident is merely the beginning; if we ignore it, the opposition will only grow bolder!”
These words immediately drew sidelong glances from the audience.
“Your statement seems a bit too alarmist.”
Sitting in the first chair at the lower end, the Senior Sister Shi Yulan shook her head and spoke gently, “What conclusive results can be gained from a test?
What can they possibly provoke within us?
As for them growing bolder…
what’s the harm in letting them have an inch?
We are not the Imperial Government here; we can’t manage too many trivial matters.
The society was turbulent and chaotic in the past, and our tough stance was a necessity.”
“Nowadays, with the new government established and social order stable, everyone might not be living in abundance, but at least they enjoy peaceful days.
Even if some clown occasionally comes to harass us, a simple call to the police will handle it.
If the police can’t resolve the issue, it’s not too late to hold an incense ceremony and discuss.
Don’t you agree?”
If Cui Xiaoying herself had come to seek help, the Red Lantern Society would surely have championed her cause.
But now she lay in the hospital, and having Yang Youxuan raise the issue seemed somewhat improper.
Although the Five Mountains Sword Sects were related by shared qi, if a nun from the Hengshan Sect were harassed, and a senior brother from the Mount Hua Sect asked the Sect Leader to avenge their sister, what would the Sect Leader think?
What’s your relationship with her?
Are you perhaps meddling too much?
Yang Youxuan knew that her stance was indefensible, but she had another strategy in mind.
Once Shi Yulan finished speaking, she looked up sternly and said, “Senior Sister makes an excellent point.
Normally, as long as the issues do not touch our bottom line, there’s no need for us to entangle ourselves in these trifles.
But what if…
the other party is targeting our bottom line?”
Shi Yulan frowned slightly, but before she could speak, Yang Youxuan continued, “Honorable Elders, please discern the truth.
It’s not fearmongering on my part.
I believe the well-informed senior sisters here have likely already heard that the government is set to launch a new round of anti-crime operations this year, focusing on dismantling Huaidao Sect forces within Heavenly Market, with our Red Lantern Society on the surveillance list.”
At these words, an uproar spread throughout the hall.
Shi Yulan nodded and said, “It’s true that we have been listed, but that alone doesn’t prove anything.
The Red Lantern Society has always acted in accordance with conscience and the public heart, never stepping out of line…”
“If that’s the case, why are we still on the list?”
Yang Youxuan countered immediately, “Perhaps Senior Sister believes we have done nothing wrong, but can you ensure that others see us in the same light?
The moment we were listed alongside Qianjin Church, the Longevity Sect, and the Black Granny Temple, all deities and demons of sorts, you should have abandoned that naive assumption!”
“How is your current attitude of weakness any different from those officials of the Former Dynasty who faced foreigner’s oppression and faced it with resignation?”