The first day of the festival began with a high spirit. Sancheng's main square had transformed into a sea of colors and sounds—colorful fabrics fluttered in the morning breeze, the aroma of food from three traditions mixed in the air, and preparation music flowed from various corners.
Li Yuan stood beside the main stage, helping Marcus arrange the positions of musical instruments for the first fusion performance. Over the past three hours, he had witnessed how the collaborative plan they had made yesterday was starting to come to life. Musicians from all three communities gathered, trying to blend their traditional melodies, and the result was... promising.
But there was something in the air that was starting to make Li Yuan feel uncomfortable.
Through the small radius of his Wenjing Realm, he began to pick up intentions that were not in line with the festival's spirit. Whispers among the crowd, cynical glances, even veiled but venomous comments.
Something is not right, Li Yuan thought, glancing around the increasingly crowded square.
"Li Yuan," Marcus approached, wiping sweat from his forehead, "do you feel anything strange?"
Li Yuan looked at the old Zuwa man with attention. Marcus had good intuition—perhaps a result of decades of living amidst Sancheng's complex social dynamics.
"What do you mean?" Li Yuan asked, though he already suspected what Marcus was feeling.
Marcus subtly pointed toward a corner of the square. "Look at that group. And that one over there. They came to the festival, but they are not... participating. They are observing. As if they are waiting for something."
Li Yuan followed Marcus's gaze. Indeed, there were several small groups standing apart from the main crowd—mostly consisting of people from only one race, with expressions that were hard to read.
They didn't come to celebrate, Li Yuan realized with a growing sense of unease. They came for... what?
"It's always the same every year," Marcus continued in a lower tone. "Those who don't like the idea of unity. Those who feel their traditions are being 'diluted' or 'compromised'."
Before Li Yuan could respond, Astrid approached with a somewhat hurried step. Her face was pale and there was clear worry in her eyes.
"Marcus, Li Yuan," she said in a slightly trembling voice, "we have a problem."
"What problem?" Marcus asked.
Astrid glanced around to make sure no one was listening, then spoke in an almost whisper. "I just got a report from some vendors. There are people going around, spreading... propaganda."
Li Yuan felt something cold seep into his chest. "What kind of propaganda?"
"That this festival is a 'betrayal of cultural purity.' That by mixing traditions, we are 'destroying' the identity of each race. Some even said..." Astrid stopped, looking reluctant to continue.
"Said what?" Marcus urged in a tone that was starting to get hard.
"That mixed marriages like Kesi and Liu Ming are 'genetic pollution' that must be stopped."
Silence fell between the three of them. Li Yuan felt a rage beginning to burn in his chest—not an explosive rage, but a cold and controlled one. A rage born from seeing hatred directed at good, innocent people.
This is what the water meant when it said some take advantage of differences for power, Li Yuan thought. Someone is intentionally sowing division.
"Who is spreading this?" Marcus asked with a clenched jaw.
"A mix from all three communities," Astrid answered bitterly. "It's not one group against the other two. It's extremists from all sides who are uniting to oppose... moderation."
The most dangerous kind, Li Yuan reflected. Not conflict between races, but an alliance of extremists who oppose harmony itself.
"What should we do?" Astrid asked. "Chen Wei is panicking, some performers are starting to have doubts about performing together."
Li Yuan looked toward the stage where musicians from the three communities were still rehearsing enthusiastically, unaware of the storm that was beginning to gather around them.
They are creating something beautiful, Li Yuan thought. They should not lose this opportunity out of fear of hateful voices.
"We continue the festival," Li Yuan said in a calm but firm voice.
Marcus and Astrid looked at him with surprised expressions.
"We can't pretend there's no problem," Astrid said.
"I'm not suggesting we pretend," Li Yuan replied. "I'm suggesting we face it in the right way. Hatred thrives in darkness and fear. The best way to fight it is with light and courage."
Marcus frowned. "What do you mean?"
Li Yuan pointed toward the stage. "That fusion music—is it beautiful?"
"Very," Marcus answered without hesitation.
"Does it destroy each tradition, or does it show the richness that can be achieved when those traditions collaborate?"
Astrid began to understand the direction of Li Yuan's thinking. "It shows richness..."
"Exactly," Li Yuan continued. "Propaganda can be defeated with tangible proof. When people see the beauty born from collaboration, they will find it hard to believe words that say collaboration is destructive."
But this is risky, Li Yuan realized inwardly. If the propaganda succeeds in poisoning the atmosphere, this festival could turn into an open confrontation.
As they were still discussing, Chen Wei approached with a tense and sweaty face.
"The situation is getting worse," he said without preamble. "Some parents are forbidding their children from joining the performances. Some are threatening to boycott businesses of anyone who participates in this 'cultural mixing'."
Astrid sighed deeply. "Maybe we should cancel the new concept and go back to the old format. Three separate performances."
"No," Li Yuan said with a firmness that surprised them all. "That would validate their propaganda. It would show that hatred and fear are stronger than creativity and cooperation."
Marcus looked at Li Yuan with eyes that began to light up. "You're right. I'm too old to back down from people who spread poison."
"But how do we protect the performers who want to participate?" Chen Wei asked. "How do we ensure they are safe from social or economic consequences?"
Li Yuan contemplated the question. He could feel through his Wenjing Realm that Chen Wei's fear was genuine—not a fear for himself, but for the people who would be impacted by this decision.
This is the moment where idealism meets reality, Li Yuan thought. It's easy to stand by a principle when the risks are abstract. It's much harder when there are concrete people who can suffer.
"There is one way," Li Yuan said slowly. "We make this festival not just about a performance, but about a statement. A statement that Sancheng chooses love over hatred, creativity over destruction, the future over the past."
"How?" Astrid asked.
Li Yuan gestured toward the entire square. "We invite everyone—including those who are spreading propaganda—to see for themselves what actually happens when people collaborate. We make it transparent. Nothing is hidden, nothing is exclusive."
"And if they try to disrupt the performance?" Chen Wei asked.
Li Yuan smiled faintly, and for a moment, there was something in his eyes that was reminiscent of the depth of the sea and the wisdom of thousands of years.
"Then we will see the true character of each person. And I believe that when push comes to shove, there are more good people in Sancheng than there are filled with hatred."
Marcus patted Li Yuan's shoulder. "I like your courage, young man. But I hope you're not misjudging."
I hope so too, Li Yuan thought inwardly, looking at the growing crowd in the square. But sometimes, the only way to defeat darkness is to bravely light a candle, even if there's a risk the wind will extinguish it.
From a distance, Li Yuan saw Henrik and Elsa helping to set up the craft display. They seemed unaware of the tension that was beginning to build. He also saw the mixed family who had dinner with them yesterday—the father, mother, and sweet daughter—enjoying food from one of the stands.
Innocent people who just want to celebrate diversity, Li Yuan thought. They don't deserve to be a target of hatred.
"Alright," Marcus said with a determined tone, "we continue according to the plan. But we prepare for all possibilities."
Astrid nodded, although her face was still full of worry. "I'll coordinate with security and make sure there's an evacuation plan if the situation becomes... uncontrollable."
Chen Wei sighed. "I will talk to the performers, make sure they know the risks but also the importance of what we are trying to do."
As they prepared to split up to execute their respective plans, Li Yuan felt a heavy burden of responsibility on his shoulders. The decision to continue the festival with the collaborative concept was not just an artistic one—it was a moral and political decision that could impact many lives.
The water taught me to flow and adapt, Li Yuan reflected. But there are times when water must choose its own path, even if it means facing a rock that blocks the way.
On the horizon, dark clouds were beginning to gather, as if nature was also sensing the tension building in Sancheng's square. The first day of the festival was set to begin in an hour, and Li Yuan did not know if the day would end with a celebration or a tragedy.