The performers stepped in unison, rhythmic and controlled, each holding a segment of bamboo pole, bending forward, craning their necks, or twisting with the beat. Beneath their coordination, the dragon seemed to come to life—its body somersaulting and undulating through the air, now spiraling, now leaping, to the beat of drums and clang of gongs.
Surrounding spectators raised their phones high, ceaseless streams of photo-takers and video recorders. At times, applause and cheers from passersby erupted; parents and children's playful laughter could be heard, turning what should have been empty pathways into rivers flowing with celebratory spirit.
Emerald Sparrow stood beside the path, merely watching quietly, occasionally joining the crowd in gentle applause.
"What's the matter? Not interested?"
Asou Haruka, who had appeared behind her without notice, suddenly asked, "The performance group this time is quite skilled, aren't you going to record a few clips?"
"It's not that I'm uninterested; they're actually dancing quite well."
Emerald Sparrow shook her head, "But it happens every year. I've seen it too many times, recorded it too many times, so naturally, the passion isn't there anymore."
"…True, you've been here in Fangting for years, you must be about ready to have had enough of it."
Asou Haruka chuckled, "Not like those girls, it's their first time seeing it."
Saying so, she gestured toward several girls from Bai'an City; they had squeezed to the very front of the crowd, visibly thrilled, and Mu Baihe, who had been the most reticent, was now reacting with fervor, her hand almost touching the dragon lantern.
Perhaps inspired by her enthusiasm, several young men and women in the dragon dance team shouted loud chants, and the writhing dragon suddenly turned a corner, weaving past Mu Baihe, the dragon's gleaming body casting her light yellow hair aglow.
The sudden improvisation in the performance drew cheers from some of the audience as well.
"That child, surprisingly fond of this kind of traditional culture?" remarked Emerald Sparrow, witnessing the scene.
"Mu Baihe. I would have thought she'd be in that phase where she's a bit rebellious, disdainful of adults, and dismissive of traditional things."
Asou Haruka nodded in understanding, "Indeed, as you say, quite rebellious. But that child has always had a preference for music and dance, that's probably why she's interested in the dragon dance."
"I see, that explains it."
"You're not going to ask about the story behind it?" asked Asou Haruka, somewhat surprised.
"I'd rather not." Read the latest on My Virtual Library Empire
Emerald Sparrow's expression was blank, "Anyway, the backstories of Magical Girls are mostly not pleasant to recount, and since she's now part of your team, I assume you can handle these issues."
"Pretty cold of you," sighed Asou Haruka.
"Still better than being able to abandon their own team, spending half the year away from the home city like some Magical Girls, don't you think?" Emerald Sparrow glanced at her.
"Ha, you have a point there."
Asou Haruka chuckled, the corners of her mouth upturned, "Anyway, you've been to Bai'an City before, so you've also been to our team's Magical Girl base, right?"
"Yeah, Mingyin Piano Shop. The elderly couple who used to run the shop are acquaintances of mine, but they had to retire early due to health issues and handed the shop down to their daughter, who is the Magical Girl 'Lamp.'"
Asou Haruka spoke with a hint of nostalgia, "And as for Mu Baihe, her parents were also known to the old shop owners; her parents were musicians, but they never married and eventually separated, leaving her father to raise her."
"Later on, her father felt he couldn't continue to chase his musical dreams with a child in tow, so one day he just left her at the piano shop and vanished."
"It's almost funny—he left behind a lengthy letter of repentance and his own guitar, tearfully expressing in the letter the inner turmoil he faced in abandoning his child and claiming to leave the guitar as child support. But in fact, he bought that guitar from Mingyin Piano Shop and even put it on credit, which he never paid off in the end."
At this, both ladies fell silent for a moment; the dragon dance procession was still moving forward, and they had to continue walking with the crowd.
"Is this why you say the child is interested in music and dance?" asked Emerald Sparrow.
"Yeah, because when her deadbeat father was still around, he made a living by doing gigs, occasionally even resorting to street busking, but he always took her with him." Asou Haruka smiled, "What can I say, hobbies do start early, don't they?"
"If possible, I'd prefer you not to describe the life of a deadbeat so detailedly to me."
After reflecting for a moment, Emerald Sparrow shared her thoughts on Asou Haruka's story, "To be honest, after hearing it, in addition to feeling sympathy for the child, I'm quite annoyed."
"Right? But luckily, the piano shop's elderly owners are good people. Once they realized there was no turning back, they adopted the child. So, nominally, Mu Baihe is actually Lamp's little sister."
Asou Haruka shrugged as they walked, "Though, no doubt, Mu Baihe's father is a scumbag, the folks at the piano shop haven't told her the harsh truth. She still thinks she's just fostered there, hoping one day her father will come to pick her up. So remember not to speak ill of her father in front of her; she wouldn't like it."