Chapter 652 Jumping Down

“Not only that, the Miao people can also have the same rights as the Hua people, including education, literacy, taking imperial examinations, and becoming top scholars. They can enter the court as officials and be granted noble titles.” He nodded with a smile: “Who knows, one day, many officials in Xuzhou Prefecture might be from the Miao community. Perhaps even the Prefect of Xuzhou Prefecture will be of Miao origin!”

While everyone was still excited about the Elder Council idea, he dropped another bombshell, stating that Miao people could also become top scholars and high officials, leaving everyone utterly shocked.

The most composed among them, Elder Buyi, was stunned: “Is what you’re saying true? Can our Miao people really become officials?”

Lin Wanrong spoke earnestly: “In our Great Hua Empire, numerous ethnic groups coexist. For generations, we have been as close as flesh and blood, brothers and sisters regardless of status or ethnicity. Everyone is equal! The Miao people, like the Hua people, are hardworking, simple, smart, and kind. Of course, they too can become officials!”

His suggestions were audacious and innovative, exciting the elders immensely, prompting a flurry of discussions.

After a long while, one elder spoke loudly: “Who are you to say such things? These ideas are good, but they are wishful thinking. They require the Emperor’s approval in the capital! How can your mere words as a young person hold any weight?!”

‘Who am I?’ He glanced at An Biru, who was watching him with tender eyes, shaking her head with a smile, yet remaining silent.

“Empty words indeed hold no weight,” he said with a mischievous wink. “But, I’m full of bad ideas and have many friends in the capital. If we all work together, we might just make this happen. If you don’t believe me, ask the Holy Maiden!”

This playful young Red Miao man wasn’t entirely trustworthy, but the Holy Maiden, the spiritual leader of the Miao village, had nodded her approval. Surely, there was truth to his words!

The room erupted in excitement. If they could implement these ideas from the Hua man, with the Elder Council working alongside the local government, the status of the Miao people in Xuzhou would change dramatically. A future where Hua and Miao lived as equals was a tantalizing prospect, allowing everyone in Xuzhou to hold their heads high.

Amidst the hopeful atmosphere, a few remained clear-headed. Following Hannong, an old man, apparently the second-ranked elder in the Miao community, looked at him skeptically and asked loudly, “You’re a Hua man. Why would you want to help our Miao community?”

“Why can’t I help the Miao community?!” he retorted. “The Hua and Miao people are like life-and-death siblings. It’s the common wish of every conscientious person to ensure a good life for all people. I’m no exception!”

“Is that all there is to it?!” The second elder, seeing his evasive eyes, was not entirely convinced.

At this, Lin Wanrong glanced at An Biru, who blushed and lowered her head. Inspired and overjoyed, he said, “Actually, my visit to the Miao village is to accomplish a matter of great importance to my life. I hope the elders will support me in this endeavor!”

He clasped his hands together and bowed continuously to everyone with great respect. The suggestions he had just made had clearly won the approval of the elders, and their perception of him was gradually changing. One of the elders, with a pleasant expression, asked, “Mi duo, what brings you here?”

“Uncle, I’ve come to the Miao village to ask for the most beautiful treasure!”

The most beautiful treasure? What could that be? The elders looked at each other, puzzled. An Biru stole a glance at him, her eyes filled with tenderness. Hannong wrinkled his brow and said, “Speak directly, why beat around the bush?!”

“Yes, yes,” Lin Wanrong replied with a shy and bashful smile, “I wish to marry the Holy Maiden!”

“What?!” Apart from Hannong, the other elders were shocked and exclaimed in unison, “You want to marry the Holy Maiden?! That’s impossible!”

“Why not?” Lin Wanrong asked, blinking in confusion.

“The Holy Maiden is our Miao village’s most beautiful phoenix, admired and loved by countless mi duo. How can she marry a Hua man?” the second elder huffed.

“What’s wrong with a Hua man?” Lin Wanrong chuckled, “There have been many marriages between the Hua and Miao throughout history. If the Holy Maiden and I are in love, why can’t I marry her?”

“The Holy Maiden is the leader of our Miao village. If she marries a Hua man, what will become of our village?” the second elder retorted stubbornly.

In Xuzhou, where the Hua and Miao coexist, intermarriage between the two groups is not uncommon. However, An Biru, with her special status as the spiritual pillar of the Miao village, revered by many, marrying her to a young Hua man was not something the Miao people could easily agree to.

Hannong, the chief elder, knew some of the context beforehand. Seeing that neither side was willing to budge, and the situation had reached a stalemate, he intervened, “Whether to marry and whom to marry should be decided by the Holy Maiden herself. Let’s listen to her opinion.”

An Biru, usually unrestrained, blushed at these words. On a matter concerning her life, how could she remain calm? She lowered her head, her face flushed, and said softly, “This Lin San, full of tricks and mischief. When I was outside, he often bullied me–”

Lin Wanrong was taken aback, ‘What? Sister, why are you turning things around? Who’s more cunning, who’s worse, and who bullies whom, the heavens know best! With you saying this, how could your family dare to marry you to me?!’

He scratched his head in anxiety, winking secretly at the Holy Maiden. An Biru, with her head lowered and her face red as her ears, softly said, “–He bullied me so much, I got used to it. Sometimes we would fight and argue. When we’re not fighting or arguing, I actually miss it–”

Hearing this, the elders understood the situation and couldn’t help but stare wide-eyed at the young Red Miao man.

Lin Wanrong was overjoyed, wishing he could clap and laugh. His Master Sister indeed had a unique way of expressing her feelings!

Hannong grunted, “According to our Miao customs, even if you wish to propose to the Holy Maiden, you must first win at the Flower Mountain Festival. Only by winning with true skill can you convince everyone. It’s too early to propose marriage now!”

“Understood, understood!” Lin Wanrong was grateful for the chief elder’s timely support and nodded eagerly.

“What do you understand?” Uncle Hannong chuckled, “You, a Hua man, just blundered into our Flower Mountain Festival. If this gets out, how can the Miao people accept you?”

What should he do? He was relying on his genuine skills! Lin Wanrong anxiously stamped his foot.

The chief elder showed a sly smile, sending chills down the spine. He gathered the other elders for a quiet discussion. Then, standing up, he asked with a smile, “Mi duo from the capital, do you truly love the Holy Maiden?”

“Of course!” Lin Wanrong nodded eagerly.

“Would you be willing to lose your life for her?”

Such an embarrassing question. He glanced at his Master Sister and said lightly, “Life can reincarnate, but missed feelings never return. I like Sister An. Even if it means dying a hundred times for her, why not?”

His words were light but carried an undeniable determination. An Biru stared at him, suddenly giggling. Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked down tenderly, “If you dare to deceive me, I won’t forgive you!”

“Okay, you’ve heard it yourself!” The chief elder had been waiting for his response. Upon hearing it, he clapped his hands: “Considering your arduous journey and your wholehearted devotion to the Holy Maiden, we, the elders, have decided to give you a chance!”

“What chance?” Lin Wanrong’s eyes widened in surprise.

Hannong slowly moved to a rock wall and pressed some mechanism. Suddenly, a cold wind whooshed in, and a massive stone door appeared in the wall, leading to the clouds and a bottomless abyss.

“As long as you have the courage to jump from here, we won’t obstruct your participation in the Flower Mountain Festival any longer!” the chief elder declared triumphantly.

“Uncle–” As soon as Hannong finished speaking, An Biru cried out anxiously.

‘Jump from here?’ Lin Wanrong was stunned. The Miao village, perched atop the highest peak of Wulian Mountain, was shrouded in clouds and gusty winds. One could easily tell that beyond this cliff lay a sheer drop. Jumping from here would likely leave nothing of him to be found.

“Uh, Uncle,” he said, his face pale, “I have a fear of height. Can we do something else? I’m fine with climbing a mountain of knives or plunging into a pot of boiling oil!”

“Scared, are you?” The elders laughed together, some with a hint of contempt, “Don’t say we didn’t give you a chance. If you’re too scared to jump, then just return to the capital honestly!”

“Who says I’m afraid to jump?” Lin Wanrong, provoked and furious, his face flushing red, sneered, “Is there anything in this world that Lin San dares not do?!”

He strode towards the stone door, cautiously extending his arm out a bit, only to feel the wind cutting like a knife, numbing his arm in an instant.

Facing the mocking eyes of the elders, he snorted, stomped hard on the threshold, and was about to step forward when he felt someone tugging at his sleeve. Sister An stood behind him, urgently and angrily saying, “Are you crazy? There’s a sheer cliff below!”

“I’m not afraid of cliffs,” he chuckled, “If I really die, I’ll turn into a fierce ghost and haunt you every day!”

An Biru chuckled lightly, her eyes reddening slightly, and murmured, “You used to be a clever little brother, but now you’ve become a silly fool. I don’t know if you’ve become dumber or I’ve become smarter!”

“They’re the same!” he laughed heartily and blinked, saying, “Sister, I want to hold your hand!”

Even his demeanor had become more honest. An Biru hummed softly, glanced at him coquettishly, and suddenly felt a warm hand grasp her delicate one, extremely comforting.

Sister An’s hands were white and tender, soft to the touch, like a piece of fine jade. Lin Wanrong clicked his tongue in admiration several times, then asked, “Sister, may I kiss you?”

What kind of request was this? An Biru’s cheeks heated up. Known as the Holy Maiden in Miao village, holding hands secretly in front of the esteemed elders was already her limit. She hadn’t expected this youngster to be so presumptuous, asking for such an inappropriate favor. She huffed and turned her head away, ignoring him.

Lin Wanrong sighed in resignation. “I’m about to jump down, and it seems my last wish in life will also be unfulfilled. Well, I accept my fate. After all, I used to bully you every day; this is my retribution!”

He had already stepped one foot onto the stone gate. An Biru panicked, “What are you doing?! Come down!”

“I’d rather die than come down!” he said stubbornly, like a petulant child.

An Biru, finding the situation both funny and frustrating, whispered in his ear, “Come down, be good, listen to me, and I’ll let you kiss me.”

Lin Wanrong’s heart raced. He scoffed, “I won’t come down, what can you do about it?!”

“The consequences will be severe–” Sister An smiled seductively, and while unnoticed, quickly pecked his cheek, her own cheeks blazing red, giggling, “That’s it. Isn’t it severe?”

Too severe! The warm, soft sensation made him tremble with comfort.

“Cough, cough!” Their sneaky actions were eventually noticed. An elder behind them coughed, and An Biru, her face as red as blood, hastily stepped back, glaring half-embarrassedly, half-annoyedly at her little brother, huffing, “Happy now?! See how I deal with you!”

Lin Wanrong suddenly stood up, excitedly took off his Red Miao warrior robe, and stuffed it into An Biru’s hands, looking seriously at the chief elder, “Uncle Hannong, I’ve decided. I’m jumping down from here right now, and none of you are allowed to stop me!”

“Still jumping?!” Sister An was so angry she almost kicked him: “You’ll die!”

“I don’t care if I live or die, I must marry my Master Sister!” He huffed indignantly, facing the people, and shouted, “Everyone, pay attention, I’m jumping!”

“Hmm!” The chief elder nodded.

“Don’t pull me, I’m really jumping!” He peered out cautiously, his legs trembling.

“Don’t worry, we won’t pull you!” Uncle Buyi chuckled.

“I, I’m really jumping–”

“Go ahead, you!” Elder Hannong, impatient, kicked him squarely in the backside.

“Ah–” Amidst a pig-like scream, he plummeted like a falling rock into the mist below.

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