Chapter 199 Interesting Customs


    Michael happened toe over that day and overheard the conversation among his employees.


    Seeing the surprised expression written all over Eric''s face, Michael guessed that he didn''t know about


    the news.


    Since Jack asked him to take care of Eric, Michael felt that it was his duty to reassure the man.


    Plus, he liked watching dramas unfold. Although he might sympathize with Jack''s hardships in trying to


    pursue his wife, he couldn''t help but be entertained by the man''s antics.


    Michael had always disliked Celine, so when he heard that they broke up, he was ecstatic.


    He was also very pleased that Jack finally got together with Rachel.


    What he didn''t expect was for their rtionship to develop so fast. In fact, he didn''t know what Jack


    was thinking when he decided to out their rtionship under the public''s scrutiny.


    So far, the inte was still releasing bits and pieces about Rachel, and not the entire thing.


    It was not that others couldn''t take photos or find evidence of Rachel''s existence, but as long as they


    didn''t get any approval, it was as if those photos don''t even exist. No one dared to reveal her


    information.


    Michael reassured him, "Don''t worry. He won''t bully Rachel."


    He would only make her his woman.


    Eric pursed his lips. He knew that Michael was Jack''s friend, so he would put in a good word for Jack.


    Although he knew exactly what he was thinking, Michael chose to ignore him and chatted with the


    others.


    Unlike the people who couldn''t believe that Jack was finally with Rachel, Michael had expected from


    the very start that they were meant to be.


    He knew Jack well enough to know what he wanted,


    and it seemed that time would tell.


    If they weren''t right for each other, they would''ve already separated after a few years of being together,


    but it seemed the years between Jack and Rachel had only brought them closer.


    After taking a shower and eating dinner, they went out of the hotel. The air here was much cooler than


    in Ninwell City.


    Jack didn''t really have the chance to tour around the ancient city, given that he usually came here to


    watch over his project.


    Although the sightseeing areas around the ancient city weren''t as extravagant as other well-known


    monuments, there were still plenty of interesting ces that they had to see.


    Ever since the development of the resort, different kinds of livelihood conditions had been promoted


    around the area.


    Once the man-in-charge heard that they wanted to sightsee in the evening, he immediately arranged a


    guide to introduce them to all the ces they could see.


    He gave them a map and made sure to circle all the restaurants that they just had to try.


    That map saved them so much time from asking questions.


    There was something so strange and exciting in touring the city at night. Before they went out, they


    made sure to match their shirts. In fact, as they exited the hotel, they looked like one of those touristy


    couples.


    Their shirts were sewn by hand and embroidered with detailed totems.


    Rachel had studied the totems as she was going out. She pursed her lips, not really sure what animal it


    represented.


    The fabric and the embroidery were the best. In fact, under the cold weather, the fabric provided a


    sense of warmth. Although it was already night time, the streets were aze with light and the music


    thumped along to her heartbeat.


    "The party being held here is used to invite the gods," Jack exined as a smile tugged his lips.


    Crowds of people could be seen from left and right as they held onto their shopping bags and yelled at


    the top of their lungs. Everyone was brought to life with the lively drumbeat.


    Although the shops were closed, the small stalls were bustling as everyone tried to squeeze their way


    into the alleyways.


    As they followed the crowd, they found that there was a temple at the other end of the road. People


    walked all the way to offer incense sticks to the gods above.


    At the entrance of the temple were rows of offerings. There were different types of tributes as the


    candles glowed in the dark.


    A group of children ran towards them, waving their luminous sticks up in the air. Seeing theming


    towards her, Jack pulled her over, protecting her from bumping into them.


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    Suddenly, the sound of drums reverberated across the alleyway.


    Rachel leaned into Jack''s arm in shock as men''s voices echoed throughout the temple.


    She gazed nkly at the direction of the voices.


    It seemed that the ceremony had officially begun. "Come on," he whispered as he took her forward,


    protecting her as they squeezed through the crowd.


    There were stalls at both ends selling some gadgets and toys for kids.


    Without missing a beat, they swarmed towards the front. As they passed through the crowds, Jack


    made sure to keep an eye on her as he squeezed her handfortingly.


    They reached the other end of the road. Seeing all the people standing on their tiptoes and peering


    inside, Rachel followed suit.


    The crowd made a circle, giving way for the performers.


    A row of men were in ck trousers and white sweats. One of them tied a piece of red cloth around his


    head as he held two long gs in his hands. He howled to the beat. Soon enough, two men in front of


    him rushed ahead with their gs.


    The drum was in sync to their footsteps. In fact, they didn''t slow down till the two of them reached the


    finish line.


    Rachel was in awe of their performance.


    After the five lines of gs were passed, the men started to form another long line. There was changed


    in the beat as they sprinted to the crowd, chanting in their nativenguage.


    "What are they saying?" she whispered.


    "I''m not sure," Jack admitted as he kept her close to him.


    Their conversation was heard by a mid-aged woman next to them. Although they wore their local


    clothing, they still looked quite strange.


    However, given that there had been an influx of touristsing into their city,


    it was normal.


    From the way they were speaking mandarin, the woman was a hundred percent sure that they weren''t


    locals.


    Seeing this, the woman smiled


    and exined,


    "This is a traditional custom left by our ancestors. On this day, the residents of the surrounding viges


    alle together to pray for better harvest for next year."


    Rachel listened to every word she had said with relish as she stared at the performance happening


    before her.


    Suddenly, there was a huge gap formed in the circle. Four young men carried the statue of a god on


    their shoulders and rushed through the gap.


    They circled the crowd before going back in.


    The woman was attracted by the sight.


    She stopped talking and fixated her gaze at the men.


    ''I''ve never seen something like this before,'' Rachel mused. Although she had seen bits and pieces of it


    from TV, she felt that the practice was entirely more intricate up close.


    The activity would probablyst till midnight. "There will be a worship ceremony and a dragon dance


    later," the woman said. "Although the ceremony starts at night, we have more activities to partake in the


    next day."


    Rachel didn''t expect that their custom would be so lively.


    It was spectacr.


    When they were already setting off the firecrackers, Jack led her through the crowd. Although the


    streets were usually filled with the night market, it wouldn''t be as lively as the one they had just


    witnessed tonight.


    When they finally left the crowded area, the firecrackers were already roaring with delight as the crowd


    below them screamed and pped in celebration.


    The night sky brightened before them, causing them to stop and turn around.


    A kid with a fluorescent fish in his hand ran pass them.


    "I feel like it''s the Spring Festival already," Rachel said with a smile.


    Jack grinned. "It''s more lively than the Spring Festival."


    They walked along a small country road. Fortunately, everything was brightly lit because of the


    ceremony.


    "It''s a good thing everything''s so lit up," Rachel said. "Or else we wouldn''t be able to read the signs."


    A tall, traditional building stood at the center of it all, like a guard guiding its people throughout the


    night.


    There were bells hanging under the eaves. Whenever winds blew pass them, they chimed through the


    night.


    Around the building were the houses of local residents. The government made sure to preserve them


    by preventing any construction ns around the area.


    Therefore, the houses remained unchanged.


    It was to help keep the spirit of the vige that it once was.


    There was a rumor that said that the vigers here were all descendants of the royal guards. Rachel


    didn''t know if it was true or not.


    Over the past hundred years, the people here had gone through generation after generation trying to


    protect this ce. It wasn''t until times had changed and tourism had escted that this ce was lively


    again.