Accidentally dressed as an empress

In this strange forest, they really needed a place to rest temporarily.

Yunxiu nodded and decided to accept Liefeng's proposal, "Okay, Liefeng, we will go with you."

Zhou Jing grabbed Yunxiu's sleeve and said, "Sister Yun, this is inappropriate... What if others can't find us?"

Originally, she followed the advance team out to explore the way and collect herbs, but who knew that she would never be able to go back after this.

Yunxiu patted Zhou Jing's shoulder and said, "We'll leave traces, and others will follow them to find us."

Yunxiu, Su Da, Su Er and others packed their clothes and equipment, and continued along a hidden path under the leadership of Liefeng.

As Liefeng walked, he told Yunxiu and others about the situation in the forest. As they spoke, his guard against Yunxiu and others had been reduced by half.

Led by the strong wind, the group continued along the hidden path.

The trees on both sides of the path grew taller and taller, and the sunlight shone through the layers of branches and leaves, like broken gold.

The ground beneath my feet was soft and moist, covered with years of accumulated fallen leaves. With every step I took, I could hear a subtle rustling sound, as if the forest were whispering softly.

There was a light mist all around, which curled around the trees like a veil, making the figures of the towering trees look somewhat ethereal and unreal.

Occasionally, a few colorful birds flap their wings and fly overhead, chirping sweetly, breaking the silence of the forest.

A clear stream was gurgling not far away, and the water hit the rocks at the bottom of the stream, splashing white water.

The grass by the stream is dotted with unknown wild flowers, some red and some purple, swaying gently in the breeze.

Yunxiu carefully avoided the mud under her feet, scanning the surrounding environment from time to time, while listening to Liefeng describing the situation in the forest.

On the way to the tribe, Liefeng introduced the forest to Yunxiu.

"This forest is called the Blackwood Forest. Its history is even older than our tribe," Liefeng said as they walked. His fingers gently slid across the tree trunks, his eyes filled with awe. "Every tree and every leaf here has its own story."

Yunxiu followed closely behind him, her eyes following the guidance of Liefeng, and she discovered many details that she had not noticed before.

Liefeng pointed to a bunch of seemingly ordinary bushes and said, "These are 'night-glowing grasses'. They emit a soft light at night, guiding travelers."

Zhou Jing squatted down curiously, gently touched the leaves, and exclaimed, "It's amazing! We've never seen this kind of plant before."

Liefeng continued walking and pointed to a huge old tree: "That tree is the 'Soul Tree'. Our ancestors believed that it is the soul of the forest and protects the entire forest."

Yunxiu looked up at the huge tree canopy, her eyes gleaming with a different light. "Judging from the thickness of the trunk, it must be a thousand years old. It's truly magnificent, like a guardian deity."

Yunxiu discovered that Liefeng not only knew the plants in the forest very well, but was also very familiar with the animals in the forest.

He can imitate the sounds of various animals and can even communicate with some docile animals in a simple way.

"Liefeng, how come you have so much?" Yunxiu couldn't help but ask.

Liefeng smiled and replied, "I have lived in this forest since I was a child. The forest is my home. My father is the greatest hunter in the tribe. He taught me how to live in harmony with the forest."

When Yunxiu and Liefeng led their team to the tribal territory, they immediately felt an atmosphere that was completely different from the outside world.

The tribe’s buildings are built of giant trees, full of primitive wildness and natural harmony.

The members of the tribe wear simple clothes, and their faces are filled with awe of nature and satisfaction with life.

The elders of the tribe stood in the central square, looking at Yunxiu and her companions and commenting on them.

Yunxiu felt an invisible pressure, but she remained calm.

The elders gathered in a circle, and one of the oldest elders stood up. His eyes were as sharp as an eagle, and his voice was full of authority: "Outsiders, why have you come to our Blackwood Tribe?"

Yunxiu took a step forward, cleared her throat, and replied calmly, "We are merchants passing through. We have no intention of infringing upon anyone. We simply wish to seek temporary refuge."

The elders' gaze lingered on her for a moment, as if they were searching for something.

"Are you merchants? What do you sell? Where are your goods?" asked the oldest elder.

Yunxiu planned to cater to their needs. Tribes like these usually lacked essential supplies. "We sell tortoise shells, silver ore, cinnabar, everything. We also sell salt."

"Salt? We have plenty of salt here." The elder scoffed. As for those flashy things, they are not needed.

Liefeng walked over and whispered something to the elder. The elder stroked his long, gray beard and said, "However, considering your bravery and resourcefulness, and your ability to fight off the tiger, I will allow you to enter our tribe."

The elder paused, "However, to prove your sincerity, you must pass our test."

Yunxiu didn't flinch. She smiled confidently. It was just a small test. "I'd like to hear more about it."

The elder then announced the content of the test. Someone must go into the depths of the forest alone to find a rare plant called "Moonlight Flower". This flower only blooms under moonlight, and its stamens can heal serious injuries.

Yunxiu bowed to the elders to express his acceptance of the test.

Yunxiu sent Zhou Jing, who was good at identifying medicinal herbs.

A young man from the tribe stepped forward and took Zhou Jing through the dense forest and over the steep cliffs.

The young man stopped and told Zhou Jing that he was waiting for her here.

Zhou Jing searched for a long time and finally came to an open grassland.

In the moonlight, Zhou Jing saw a flower shining with mysterious light. It was the "moonlight flower" she was looking for.

Zhou Jing carefully picked the pistil and placed it in a porcelain vase.

When Zhou Jing brought the "Moonlight Flower" back to the tribe, the elders gathered around. They carefully examined the pistil in Zhou Jing's hand and then smiled with satisfaction.

The oldest elder stepped forward, his eyes gleaming with admiration. "Outsider, you have passed our test. Now, you may rest in peace in our forest. We will provide any necessary assistance."

Yun Xiu bowed slightly and said gratefully, "Thank you for accepting me, Elder. We will definitely remember your kindness."

Under the arrangement of the tribe members, Yunxiu and the others were taken to several temporary dwellings built from giant trees. The dwellings were filled with a faint wood fragrance, and the walls were hung with animal skins and simple woven fabrics, full of a primitive and rustic atmosphere.

At night, a bonfire was lit in the tribe, and the firelight shone on everyone's face.

The people of the tribe sat around the campfire and began to sing ancient songs. The songs were ethereal and distant, like the whispers of the forest.

Yunxiu and others were also invited to join them. They sat together and shared each other's stories.

Liefeng sat beside Yunxiu, gently gesturing on the ground with a wooden stick, and recounted some of the tribe's traditional customs. "Every year, our tribe holds a grand sacrificial ceremony to express our respect and gratitude to the forest god. It's tomorrow," Liefeng said.

Yunxiu listened intently. She sighed, "Your culture is truly unique and mysterious. This forest is like your mother."

Liefeng listened to Yunxiu's sigh, smiled slightly, and continued: "Yes, the forest gives us life and shelter. Every one of our tribesmen is closely connected to the forest.

During tomorrow's sacrifice, we will select the bravest young man in the tribe and have him climb to the top of the tallest tree in the forest to collect leaves illuminated by the first rays of sunlight in the morning. These leaves are considered a gift from the forest god.

Yunxiu imagined the magnificent scene and asked curiously, "That must be very dangerous, right? How tall is the tallest tree?"

Liefeng frowned and thought for a moment, then used a wooden stick to draw an approximate height on the ground and said, "That tree is so tall that it seems to reach the sky. Every young man who climbs it has to go through a long period of training, but it is also a chance for them to prove their courage and strength.

According to legend, if a young man successfully collects the leaves, he will be blessed by the forest god and will be blessed with good luck throughout his life.

Yunxiu nodded and said, "This is a very meaningful tradition. Are there any other rituals or activities during the sacrifice?"

Liefeng's eyes lit up and he said, "Of course. We will build a bonfire in a clearing in the forest, and all the tribesmen will dance around it. The dance imitates the movements of various animals in the forest, blending into the creatures of the forest.

The shaman will also perform mysterious rituals around the campfire, praying to the forest god to bless our tribe with good weather and good harvests, and for the safety and health of our people."

Yunxiu and others were deeply attracted by Liefeng's description, as if they were already in the grand sacrificial scene.

At this time, Zhong Yi asked from the side: "Then what should we outsiders pay attention to when offering sacrifices?"

Liefeng waved his hand and said, "You just need to be in awe and feel our respect for the Forest God. You can also dance and pray with us. The Forest God will welcome every sincere soul."

The next day, when the first ray of sunlight shone on the Blackwood tribe, the sacrificial ceremony officially began.

Yunxiu and others followed the tribe members into the forest with anticipation.

They saw the towering tree and a young tribal warrior preparing to climb it, his eyes firm and brave, his body covered in paint.

With a command, the warrior began to climb, his movements agile and powerful, like a nimble monkey.

The tribesmen around him were cheering for him. Yunxiu and others were also infected by the tense atmosphere and watched the warrior's every move intently.