The New Kapu Islands celebration lasted for three days.
Today was the first day, the first day of the “Kapu Harvest Festival.”
Mu Li and the other six woke up early, and under Charlie’s arrangements, they had breakfast on the villa’s observation deck, enjoying the unique freshness of the salty sea breeze.
“This feeling is really wonderful!” Song Ling’er couldn’t help but stretch.
Bathed in the morning light, the scenery of the New Kapu Islands was already breathtaking.
The drones naturally didn’t miss such a good opportunity and began to continuously photograph around the island.
The silhouettes of coconut trees swaying in the wind, coupled with the sound of waves crashing on the beach, felt like a deep mind-body Calm Mind.
Mu Li stood on the terrace, taking a deep breath: “Today is the first day of the celebration, we can’t be late.”
Upon hearing this, everyone stood up, their eyes filled with an unusual excitement and anticipation.
Jigglypuff had long been unable to hold back, quickly jumping onto Mu Li’s head, its pair of sparkling eyes occasionally blinking, and excitedly calling out “Boli Boli” from its mouth.
“Jigglypuff looks very happy!” Song Ling’er said with a smile.
“Of course she is?” Mu Li said irritably, “She insisted on dragging someone to give her a gift, how could she not be happy…”
Before he could finish speaking, Mu Li’s mouth was already stuffed by Jigglypuff.
Everyone couldn’t help but laugh.
“Are you ready, partners?” Zhang Ruoyun began to take on the role of tour guide, “Let’s enjoy this celebration!”
Just as everyone was about to head to the speedboat, Mrs. Charlie suddenly walked out, holding seven simple garlands woven from Sitrus Berries and colorful seashells.
“So beautiful!” Song Ling’er couldn’t help but exclaim.
“This is the symbol of ‘Enlightened Harvest,’ representing prayers for purity and abundance.”
With that, she gave one to each person. “Hurry, the Dawn Cleansing Ritual is about to begin.”
Mu Li and the others carefully took the garlands and hung them around their necks.
A fresh scent of grass and wood filled their nostrils, making them feel refreshed.
“What a special smell.” Fu Peiyao couldn’t help but praise, “Is this the smell of the Kapu Islands?”
Everyone bid farewell to Mrs. Charlie; as for Charlie, as the island manager, he had long since disappeared.
Everyone took the speedboat and quickly arrived at the central island, which was where the “Dawn Cleansing Ritual” was held.
The faint traces of morning mist had disappeared, and the morning streets gradually became lively.
“Today’s streets are so different from yesterday!” Xin Zilei couldn’t help but exclaim, “Today’s streets truly have the atmosphere of a celebration!”
Unlike yesterday’s streets, which hosted various businesses, now, every household along the way displayed bundles of grain symbolizing harvest and baskets of tropical fruits.
Under the eaves of each house hung wind chimes woven with colorful threads, emitting clear and pleasant tinkling sounds in the breeze.
To blend in with the celebration, Charlie had already prepared traditional Kapu Islands attire for everyone.
The men wore iconic printed shirts, while the women wore flowing sarong skirts, adorned with various flowers.
“So lively!” Looking at the streets full of tourists, local residents, and various Pokémon, Mu Li felt the festive atmosphere growing stronger.
“The beach where the celebration is held is just ahead!” After walking for a few minutes, Song Ling’er spotted the crowd gathered on the beach from afar.
This was the Dawn Cleansing Ritual, a ceremony exclusive to the Kapu Islands.
By the time Mu Li and the others arrived at the beach, quite a few people had already gathered.
“That’s Charlie!” Song Ling’er immediately spotted Charlie in the center of the beach, wearing dark brown traditional attire and a feathered headdress, standing at the forefront of the ritual procession.
Beside him were several elderly people and some young children, all accompanied by many different Pokémon.
As the eastern horizon was dyed with a magnificent orange-red, everyone’s expressions gradually became solemn and respectful.
Everyone’s gaze was fixed on the east; at this moment, even their breathing gradually calmed down.
Mu Li felt how quiet his surroundings were; he could even hear his own breathing and the sound of the surging seawater gradually harmonizing.
Time seemed to freeze at this moment.
Everyone almost held their breath.
They were all waiting, waiting for that moment to arrive.
It came.
A ray of golden light pierced through the clouds, scattering onto the sea, reflecting on everyone’s faces.
Mu Li was about to get a clear look at this first ray of morning light when a loud and steady voice sounded.
He subconsciously looked towards the source of the sound.
It was Charlie!
At this moment, Charlie, like a priest bathed in golden light, was murmuring prayers that Mu Li did not understand.
The words were so convoluted, yet they contained a special rhythm, as if integrated with the entire world.
At this moment, Mu Li felt as if his soul had been cleansed, becoming clear and transparent.
As the last syllable of the prayer fell, Charlie suddenly waved his hand and shouted: “Begin! By the purity of the tide, welcome the arrival of the guardian deity!”
The surrounding Araquanids trembled uncontrollably, the water bubbles on their backs began to swell, and fine streams of water began to spray outwards.
“This is Purifying Water!” Mu Li couldn’t help but exclaim.
The water sprayed from the Araquanids was a special liquid containing Life energy, a very precious material.
Meanwhile, the others, at some point, picked up large leaves from beside them and went forward to receive this natural blessing.
“Can this really be drunk?” Everyone looked at the liquid in the leaves with some surprise.
Under the sunlight, these liquids appeared exceptionally clear and transparent.
“Of course!” Mu Li explained, “This is a good thing comparable to Life Dew!”
“Really?” Song Ling’er still hesitated, “After all, it came from an Araquanid, uh…”
“There’s indeed a bit of a mental block…” Fu Peiyao also nodded in agreement.
The others also looked distraught: “It was fine until you mentioned it, but now that you say it, it does feel a bit strange.”
Mu Li couldn’t help but laugh: “I was just kidding you, look, who else is drinking it?”
After receiving these water droplets, the others walked towards the altar in the center of the beach.
It was a black altar, made of unknown material, with straw mats, some seashells, and Sitrus Berries placed on it.
Those who went to the altar sprinkled the water droplets from their leaves onto the black rock, and the rock seemed to have a temperature, as water droplets falling on it produced some steam.
Everyone glared at Mu Li, who shrugged and said, “Let’s follow them.”