Peninsula: I'm being supported by a top idol.

The "Song of Following the Stars" originated from Manchu shamanism and is actually not much different from the "Seven Stars of the Big Dipper Sacrifice" of Mongolian shamanism. Both are manifestations of celestial worship culture.

Therefore, some shamans on the peninsula also refer to the "Song of Following the Stars" as the "Song of the Seven Stars".

With the priestess's command, the atmosphere in the courtyard suddenly changed.

The previous drumbeats and gong sounds abruptly ceased, replaced by a deep, steady, and penetrating "dong...dong...dong..." sound, with a slow and solemn rhythm.

The drumming sound came from a sacred drum covered with sheepskin and adorned with copper bells, held by an assistant behind the witch.

With each strike of the drumstick, the copper bell vibrates slightly, producing a delicate and clear resonance.

The priestess took two steps back and stopped brandishing her katana.

She opened her arms and looked up at the night sky, which was cut into a dark blue canopy by the eaves. Although she could not see any stars at the moment, her posture was extremely devout.

He began to chant, a song sung in an ancient tone, with a strange and long melody, the initial syllables indistinct, gradually becoming clearer:

"The Seven Stars shine high in the sky, bringing blessings from heaven and earth..."

The priestess's voice was high-pitched, with a hint of ethereal echo, as if it were truly penetrating the roof and calling upon the beings in the darkness.

As she chanted, her steps began to move, no longer a vigorous leap, but a steady gait with a specific trajectory.

First, the left foot steps forward, the toes slightly touching the ground, and the right foot follows, the body swaying gently, as if simulating the trajectory of the stars.

This was the prototype of the shaman's "star-stepping" ritual.

"The Dipper Star Lord rides auspicious clouds, followed closely by the Five Dipper Star Officials, with the Twenty-Eight Mansions arrayed in formation, descending to the mortal realm on a gentle breeze..."

In the lyrics, the names of the star deities such as "Seven Stars Dipper Lord", "Five Dippers Star Official", and "Twenty-Eight Mansions" are sung out one by one.

The other people in the courtyard who were participating in the ceremony bowed deeply in the direction the shaman was looking up, following the chanting.

The smoke from incense sticks filling the air seemed to swirl slowly along with the singing and the specific "star-stepping" movements, creating a visible and solemn "field".

Liu Zhimin held his breath, instinctively grabbing Cui Shi'an's arm: "What...what are you doing?"

Cui Shi'an's sharp gaze swept over every detail in the courtyard, and he said in a low voice:

"They are invoking a deity, not just a household god or ancestral spirit, but directly calling upon the 'star god' to descend. This is a very high-level ritual, usually used to deal with powerful or stubborn evil spirits."

He paused here, his eyes becoming somewhat serious:

"It seems that what's attached to that girl is not simple."

As soon as she finished speaking, the priestess's chanting entered the next phase; the drumbeats quickened slightly, and the sound of the copper bells became more frequent.

"The shaman beats the drum to welcome the gods, and an incense altar is set up on the west kang (heated brick bed) in the main room to respectfully invite the star deity to descend to the mortal realm and protect the family from calamity..."

At this point in her chant, the shaman suddenly turned around to face the girl who was tied to the incense table and trapped in a rice circle.

The emptiness in her eyes seemed to lessen at this moment, replaced by a strange radiance that blended majesty and compassion.

It was as if some "being" was truly watching the world through her body.

She then walked around the girl and the rice ball, her steps becoming more fluid and powerful, while the lyrics shifted to a more specific message:

"The seven stars shine brightly upon our home; the Star Lords are merciful and heed my words. May my people be free from illness and suffering, and live in peace and tranquility year after year..."

With each verse, the shaman bowed slightly toward the girl, and the dagger in her hand had been replaced by a newly acquired peach wood branch with tender leaves.

She dipped the peach wood branch into the bowl of clean water on the incense table, and then, through the rice ring, gently brushed it towards the girl's head, as if dusting away invisible dust.

"May my family prosper...May my descendants be intelligent...May the golden rooster and silver rooster shine in the night, protecting my home and ensuring its peace..."

When the song reached the phrase "golden rooster, silver rooster," the large rooster bound on the altar seemed to sense something, suddenly struggled, and let out a short crow.

The girl's trembling seemed to ease slightly with the gentle sway of the peach wood branch and the strange singing.

But the sobbing deep in his throat and the fear in his eyes did not dissipate.

"Is this... a blessing for her?" Liu Zhimin asked softly, a hint of curiosity in his voice. "It seems to be working?"

"It's not entirely a blessing," Cui Shi'an said, his eyes fixed on the shaman's actions and the girl's reaction.

"This is 'following the stars,' which means trying to use the power of the star gods to straighten out the fortune and soul that have been disturbed by evil spirits, and create 'momentum' for the upcoming exorcism. Look at that girl, although she's quieter now, the thing possessing her shows no signs of leaving. On the contrary..."

His voice suddenly stopped.

The priestess's chanting reached a higher crescendo; she raised the peachwood branch high, pointing it towards the night sky, and the drumbeats became rapid and powerful.

"A peach branch brushes over your head, bringing blessings and dispelling evil! The Big Dipper bestows good fortune, the Southern Dipper protects your longevity, and the Twenty-Eight Mansions revolve around you, bringing peace, good health, and the elimination of calamities!"

As she sang the last line, "Bao An Kang," with almost all her might, she suddenly swung the peach wood branch downwards, pointing it at the girl!

At the same time, an assistant quickly brought a yellow paper with cinnabar writing on it to the incense and lit it.

However, at the very moment the flames ignited in the ceremonial chamber—

"puff!"

The flames were not the normal orange-red color, but instead suddenly burst into a dark, eerie green that smelled of blood!

The girl, who had been held down, suddenly opened her eyes wide, but her pupils shrank to the size of pinpoints. A look of resentment and mockery, completely out of character for her age, suddenly appeared on her face.

She opened her mouth, and what came out was no longer the girl's wail, but a rough, hoarse voice that was completely unlike her own, abruptly interrupting the witch's chanting and drumming:

"A mere... mortal... dares to... oppress me?!"

The entire courtyard fell into a deathly silence in an instant!

"Not good!" Cui Shi'an's expression suddenly changed drastically. He saw a faint shadowy figure appear behind the girl!

However, the people in the courtyard were completely unaware and were still trying to perform the ritual.

"What's wrong?" Liu Zhimin seemed unable to see the illusory figure either, his curious eyes looking around.

Before she could finish speaking, she saw the priestess suddenly seem to have been struck by a heavy hammer, spitting out a mouthful of blood, clutching her chest, and staggering to the ground.

"Quick, take out the arrow!" Cui Shi'an, without time to explain, pointed urgently at the phantom behind the girl:

"Shoot it three feet above the head!"

"Three feet?"

"It's just one meter!"

"Ah...okay..." Liu Zhimin hurriedly took out an arrow and nocked a bow!

In the ensuing chaos, the carefully wrapped arrowhead bumped against the wall and became bent.

The crisp, unusual sound produced by the collision immediately caught the attention of those inside!

The little girl, in particular, turned her neck at an odd angle, her eyes, like those of a dead fish, staring intently at the two people on the wall!

"Damn it..." Cui Shi'an cursed inwardly, and hurriedly instructed Liu Zhimin again:

"I'll go in and distract it, then you just shoot when the time is right! What?!"