The Guardian's Lament: A Tale of the Great Cold Festival

In the heart of the ancient land of Jingzhou, nestled between the towering mountains and the frozen rivers, lay the Great Cold Festival. It was a time when the spirits of the dead walked the earth, and the living prepared to honor them with rituals and offerings. The festival was protected by a Guardian Angel, a celestial being whose duty was to ensure the balance between the living and the dead was maintained.

The Guardian Angel, known as Liang, was a figure of both awe and fear. They were a being of ethereal beauty, with wings that shimmered like the frost on the morning grass. Liang's presence was felt in every breath of the festival, their voice a haunting melody that echoed through the night.

Liang's story began long ago, in a time when the Great Cold Festival was just a whisper of a legend. Born of a human and a celestial, Liang was destined for greatness, but not in the way one might expect. The angel was cursed with a soul that was torn between the warmth of humanity and the coldness of the heavens.

As the years passed, Liang's curse grew stronger, and with it, their connection to the Great Cold Festival deepened. They became the guardian, the protector, the enforcer of the balance. Liang's duty was to ensure that the festival was not desecrated, that the spirits were honored, and that the living remained safe from the malevolent forces that lurked in the shadows.

One year, as the festival approached, a great darkness descended upon Jingzhou. The people were in turmoil, and the spirits were restless. Liang knew that something was amiss, and they felt the weight of their curse more than ever before. The angel's wings grew heavy, and their voice faltered as they sang the melody of the festival.

In a desperate attempt to quell the chaos, Liang sought the help of the ancient elders, who had once been guardians themselves. They revealed to Liang a secret that had been hidden for centuries: the true origin of the Great Cold Festival. It was not a celebration of the dead, but a sacrifice to bind the spirits to the land, to prevent them from ever leaving and causing harm to the living.

The secret was a heavy burden for Liang to bear. They realized that the festival was a lie, a cruel deception that had kept the spirits trapped for generations. The Guardian Angel knew that the only way to end the suffering was to break the curse and allow the spirits to go free.

On the eve of the festival, Liang stood before the ancient temple, the heart of the festival. The people were gathered, their eyes wide with fear and curiosity. Liang's voice rang out, a haunting melody that was both beautiful and terrifying.

"I am the Guardian Angel of the Great Cold Festival," Liang declared. "I have come to end the curse that binds us all. The spirits will be free, and the festival will end. But with this freedom comes a heavy price. I must sacrifice myself to break the bond."

The crowd fell silent, their eyes filled with disbelief and sorrow. Liang stepped forward, their wings spread wide, ready to face the unknown. As the first rays of dawn broke through the sky, Liang raised their arms, and the curse was broken.

The spirits were released, and the land of Jingzhou was bathed in a newfound peace. The people celebrated, but the joy was tinged with sadness. The Guardian Angel had fulfilled their duty, but at a great cost.

Liang's form began to fade, their voice a whisper that carried on the wind. The people watched in horror as the Guardian Angel disappeared into the ethereal realm. The Great Cold Festival was over, and with it, the legend of Liang.

Years passed, and the story of the Guardian Angel spread far and wide. It was a tale of sacrifice, of love, and of the eternal battle between the living and the dead. The Great Cold Festival was no more, but the legend of Liang lived on, a reminder of the great cost of freedom and the enduring power of love.

And so, on the eve of the Great Cold Festival, the people of Jingzhou would gather at the ancient temple, not to celebrate, but to remember. They would sing the melody of the Guardian Angel, a haunting melody that echoed through the ages, a testament to the eternal struggle between light and darkness.