Chapter 121: The Ceremony
Chapter 121: The Ceremony
As Chen Chuan stepped outside, he noticed Luo Kaiyuan also emerging from the dormitory. Both of them had been selected to participate in this activity from the two rows of dormitories in the seventh floor's first zone.
Speaking of strength, Feng Xiaoqi was not lacking either. He was always enthusiastic and eager to take part in such activities. However, Chen Chuan suspected that there might be an additional criterion for this foreign affairs activity, which was appearance. Feng Xiaoqi had a rather ordinary look, and his height might have been slightly shorter, so he was left out this time.
At the same time, Zhuang Zhi and Feng Sheng, who lived in the opposite dormitory, also came out, but none of them showed any intention of striking up a conversation. They entered the elevator in silence and maintained a distance from each other.
Upon exiting the elevator and leaving the dormitory building, they saw that several students had already gathered below.
As time passed, students from the other dormitory zones gradually arrived one after another, totaling around twenty in all. Most of them were freshmen, with a few senior students among them. Generally, they had decent looks and well-proportioned bodies, with no extreme cases.
This time, there were also female students joining the group.
Among the female students, Chen Chuan recognized Guan Xinyin, who also noticed him and waved. He nodded in response.
The Maka students, led by Teacher Duoma, also emerged from the dormitory building.
Chen Chuan hadn't interacted much with these students in the past few days, so this was his first time seeing all of them together.
When judging a person's strength, a martial artist could often form a preliminary impression based on their physique and gait. Chen Chuan only glanced at most of the Maka students, but he paused briefly on Nali and Shani before quickly moving on.
Chen Chuan thought to himself that these students were slightly inferior to those at Wu Yi Academy. Considering that these were elite students from Maka, it was evident that the country's martial arts level was not very high.
Only Teacher Duoma, being a teacher, kept her true abilities hidden. However, it was certain that her level had surpassed the First Limit.
After a while, the female Maka students, led by a female teacher from Wu Yi, joined them.
The number of female students matched that of the male students. They wore vibrant Maka shoulder cloaks, resembling half-length capes that reached just below their knees, with a slight slant, revealing only a section of their muscular and slender calves.
All the students were led by a group of teachers, with Teacher Han, a man in his late forties with a square face, taking the lead. He was not one for small talk and maintained a serious demeanor.
As the students gathered, Teacher Han began calling out names from a roster, and those called responded. Once the roll call was complete, two buses arrived and parked in front of the dormitory building.
Teacher Han briefly outlined the rules to be followed and then instructed everyone to board the buses.
The Maka students and teachers boarded one bus, while the Wu Yi students took the other. As the buses started moving, the teachers accompanying them repeatedly emphasized the rules to be followed.
The Foreign Affairs Bureau was located in the southern part of the city, quite a distance from the central administrative buildings in the city center. This reflected its low ranking among the various government departments, as it only handled a few international affairs throughout the year.
The Bureau was located next to an old-era museum, which also had a large square in front. However, it was usually closed to the public, only opening for a few days during holidays. Chen Chuan, a local, had only visited it a handful of times.
The buses came to a stop in the open space in front of the museum square. By then, some staff from the Foreign Affairs Bureau had already arrived and set up the venue using barricades. Symbolically, they had laid out some carpets on the ground and hung balloons and ribbons around the square.
A band was also waiting, playing traditional Maka instruments like drums, whistles, flutes, and mouth harps.
Around the square, security personnel from the Foreign Affairs Bureau stood guard, all armed with pistols and batons. They seemed relaxed, as they were accustomed to hosting Maka exchange students every year.
In addition to the Foreign Affairs Bureau officials, a member of the Consultative Council was also expected to attend. The two countries had a long history of friendly exchanges, and this was an opportunity to maintain good relations without any significant risks.
The students disembarked, and the Maka students were directed to waiting areas on both sides, with barricades behind them and security personnel beyond that.
The Wu Yi students were arranged in two rows facing the podium.
Chen Chuan was positioned closest to the Maka students, and coincidentally, the student he faced was the one who had previously introduced himself as Qiu Cheng. They exchanged nods, but Chen Chuan noticed a hint of tension in his eyes.
Chen Chuan didn't think much of it, assuming the student was still adjusting to the new environment.
Looking up, he noticed the bright sunlight, which was a bit glaring. According to the schedule, the ceremony would start at 10 am, leaving them with some time.
Teacher Duoma and the Maka students waited silently, maintaining a serious atmosphere despite the friendly nature of the event.
Although the atmosphere was a bit stifling, no one seemed to mind, understanding that this was the first time these students were in Dushun, and they were in an unfamiliar environment.
As the square was adjacent to a main road, there was a lot of traffic and pedestrians outside. The gathering of so many people naturally attracted a crowd of onlookers.
As time passed, more officials arrived, including the member of the Consultative Council. The crowd around the square grew, forming several layers, but the barricades and security personnel kept them at a distance. The more they were kept away, the more curious they became, and the crowd continued to swell.
At around 9:30 PM, three black sedans and an armored vehicle arrived in the square. Several security personnel emerged from the armored vehicle, scanning the surroundings before approaching and opening the door of the middle car.
Liu Jingli, the director of the Foreign Affairs Bureau, stepped out of the vehicle. He was in his fifties, with a plump figure, but his straight nose and square jaw gave him a refined and scholarly air.
Escorted by security personnel, he first shook hands with the Maka officials who had come for the exchange, warmly exchanging a few words. He then greeted the Consultative Council member and other officials from the Government Hall who were present for the ceremony. After that, he ascended the central platform and delivered a speech, praising the friendship and cultural exchange between the two countries.
His voice was loud and clear, and the audience outside could hear every word. With the Foreign Affairs Bureau staff on both sides leading the applause, cheers erupted from time to time.
The speech lasted for about twenty minutes, and Director Liu seemed reluctant to end it.
And then, the highlight of the day began.
The museum director personally led several ushers, bringing out the gift that the Maka people had given to Dashun and kept in the museum for safekeeping.
The Wu Yi Academy students also felt a surge of excitement, knowing that the ceremony was almost over.
Despite the pleasant weather, standing there as mere spectators, they saw only officials speaking, and even whispering was not allowed. No one would find this interesting.
Chen Chuan glanced at the box held by the museum director. He had learned from Cheng Zitong that inside was the "Evergreen Oak Leaf" that never withered.
It was a gift from the Maka people to Dashun, symbolizing the friendship between the two countries. This leaf was said to have the power to heal the body and uplift the spirit, but it could only be effective when used with the incense brought by the Maka people and through a special ceremony.
Every time the officials of Wu Yi City attended such events, they could feel the power of this object, though they couldn't quite explain it. But after the ceremony, they would feel more energized than usual. Many people came to witness the ceremony, hoping to benefit from it. The citizens in the crowd craned their necks, trying to get a better view of the object.
The museum director instructed a female usher to hold the box while he took out a key, opened it, and slowly removed the lid. Revealed was a cypress-colored oak leaf with distinct veins, and as the lid was lifted, a natural and refreshing aura seemed to spread.
Chen Chuan took a quick glance; the leaf was about ten centimeters in size, and apart from its unique color, there wasn't much else to see. However, the fact that this gift had been presented to Dashun over fifty years ago and had been preserved for so long indicated its extraordinary nature.
Duoma Teacher's gaze fixed on the oak leaf, and he couldn't help but clench his fists, trying to control his excitement. But his students couldn't contain themselves and edged closer, for their purpose in Dashun was to retrieve this very object, even if it meant risking their lives.
Their reaction might have been excessive, but the gift held a special significance for the Maka people, and those around them understood this.
Director Liu was surprised by the Maka people's reaction and waved his hand generously, allowing the female usher to display the object to the crowd. He then stepped back and gestured for the Maka official to take his place, inviting him with a welcoming gesture.
The Maka official returned a traditional salute from his country and then reached out, carefully holding the sacred object in his hands.
Next came the Maka ceremony. The Maka official signaled for Duoma Teacher and the selected students to come forward.
At this moment, Duoma Teacher remained calm. He stepped forward, took the oak leaf from the Maka official, turned around, and raised it high. In that instant, he seemed filled with a lofty emotion, as if he had transcended, and the Maka students' eyes shone with excitement.
Duoma Teacher stared determinedly ahead and took a step forward, his throat emitting a prolonged tone. Simultaneously, the Maka drummers and musicians began to play, their music ancient and primitive, with a raw and rustic charm.
The Maka students joined in, their voices full of emotion and their eyes fixed, as if embarking on a sacred and significant mission.
Even the onlookers on both sides were captivated by their enthusiasm and couldn't help but focus on the ceremony.
But just then, amidst the drumming, a barely noticeable gunshot rang out. The security personnel beside Director Liu reacted instantly, shielding him. A second shot followed, hitting one of the security personnel.
The Consultative Council member was pulled to safety by his security detail, stumbling to the side, while a bullet hole appeared where he had been standing.
Almost simultaneously, several canisters were thrown into the square, releasing thick black smoke. Many people started coughing and tearing up from the pungent smell.
Seeing Director Liu shot, Duoma Teacher's eyes narrowed. Although the local resistance had promised to create an opportunity, they hadn't mentioned assassinating the Government Hall officials. But there was no time to think; amidst the chaos, he closed the box and sprinted out.
The Maka students beside him followed suit, and the Maka students on both sides, regardless of gender, seemed to receive an order and rushed forward, charging at the Wu Yi Academy students blocking their path.
...
(End of Chapter)
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