"What should I be worried about? Doesn't the Second Master know that Boss Liu has been missing for half a year?"
"Well, I have heard about it, but wasn't it because Boss Liu was unwell and took leave to recuperate?"
Xu Qing laughed, "Boss Liu went to apprentice and master new skills; he went to further his training!"
"The current Boss Liu is now a completely different person."
Xu Qing was telling the truth. Although the opera spirits from the Western Market Theatre weren't particularly kind, they indeed imparted their true skills to Liu Su'e.
With the influence of the theatre's gloomy air and the virtual spirit upon Liu Su'e, her voice now sounds significantly different than before.
If you don't look at her and only listen to the singing, it truly sounds as though she's performing for the spirits and deities.
If you want to find another actress in Jin Sect who could rival Boss Liu, perhaps only the embroiderer from Shuimen Bridge comes close.
But the embroiderer is a real ghost.
"Boss Liu, no one can match her now."
Before the rehearsals for the charity performance, Xu Qing heard Boss Liu practice her singing by the Tanggu riverbank; it was truly extraordinary!
"Is she really that incredible?"
Second Master Feng was skeptical until the opening warm-up act ended; only then, when it was Liu Su'e's turn to come on stage, did he fully acknowledge her prowess.
As the curtain rose, there was only one female lead left on stage. She gracefully shook her water sleeves, stood tall and poised. Her complexion was rosy, her eyes lively, her breath warm—even before she began to sing, her every move and smile could capture one's heart.
"Yee-yaah!" As the good show started, with just one vocal note from Boss Liu, the Second Master's goosebumps immediately rose!
Beside him, Chen Liu'Er's towering braid stood straight up!
Xuan Yu's hair was all bristled, and Shiyue was completely captivated.
Singing for the spirits and deities turned out not to be mere words.
The chaotic crowd immediately quieted down.
"I am the Primordial Lord who safeguards birth and protects life,
Overseeing human births and ensuring the eternal health of both mother and child.
Now witnessing the sincere devotion, auspicious light guards the virtuous door!
Observe the pious worshiper burning incense to seek offspring,
Holding a talisman to ensure a successful birth when the auspicious time arrives.
Ensuring a stable ten-month pregnancy,
With the glorious birth of a child, celebrating heavenly grace!"
After Liu Su'e's solo performance, she officially entered the first act of 'Blessing the Infant' story.
This act focused on praying for children, which was the opening scene.
Xu Qing listened engrossedly; as the act ended, Xuan Yu quickly asked, returning to his senses, "When will they sing about me?"
"You're talking about the Cat Deity, which will be in the evening show. With this act, the evening audience is sure to be even larger. After tonight, Xuan Yu will certainly become famous!"
"I'm already quite famous; Pingtang Zhuang and Sanshan Town even have special shrines for me, inviting me annually to capture mice..."
This cat was easily satisfied, and Xu Qing replied with a smile, "Once these plays circulate, not just villages, even a thousand miles away there might be people offering your plaques."
The one spirit and one cat took advantage of the intermission to chat; Second Master Feng returned from buying candied hawthorn for his grandson, bringing extra strings to share with Xu Qing and the others.
"What plaques are you talking about?" Second Master Feng casually asked.
Xu Qing replied offhand, "Plaques sold by the funeral shop—it's their anniversary after all, half-sold, half-gifted, everything at half price."
"..."
Xu Qing's comment reminded Second Master Feng of what today's opera troupe charity performance was all about!
The old man instinctively glanced up at the stage; the dark green backdrop had a noticeable red banner stretched across from left to right, reading: Jin Sect Underground Street Funeral Shop's Six-Year Anniversary Celebration.
Nearby, on poles over three zhang long, hung two vertical banners, each reading: 'Thin profits reflect courtesy, sincerity aids citizens and benefits last forever.'
Below each vertical banner, there was a bulletin board containing various funeral services available, even including an added value - Underworld Opera Service.
At night, the Vegetable Market was brilliantly lit, and on stage, they sang:
Golden eyes and jade claws break disasters, mice flee, pests disappear, and the granary is full.
Do not dismiss the mystical as mere fantasy, for blessings will always protect the virtuous door.
On the eighth day, Xu Qing was nowhere to be seen at the Vegetable Market, yet on the stage at the City God Temple, stood a magnificent bearded marshal with flags inserted on his back.
"Iron steeds break through mountain passes and moons, carved bows shoot down the Big Dipper stars—"
The general with a flag on his back spoke, like a tiger's roar or a dragon's chant, straight into the sky.
Looking at that demeanor, without immersing for a dozen or twenty years, there's no way to portray such an imposing presence!
As if he were a real general, a true commander!
Chen Guangrui didn't know that the painted face on the stage was Xu Qing, so he asked the Opera Troupe Leader beside him, "Who is this person? To sing so divinely."
The old leader awkwardly replied, "This person is a friend of Boss Liu, not usually in the troupe, I'm not familiar with him."
On stage, Xu Qing continued with power:
"Soldiers, heed my command—
The blade's brilliance shall trample the barbarian dust, quelling the smoke of war!
Conquer the universe, secure the mountains and rivers, a man's life stands without regret!"
The resonant, soul-stirring voice spread far, and at the edge of the crowd, Zuo Zixiong, who rode by the City God Temple with double swords strapped to his back, couldn't help but sit upright, his tiger-like eyes intensely focusing on the performer on stage.
"We men should die wrapped in horse hides, never live craven lives! Otherwise, how are we different from cowards, and those traitors who sell our country?"
Zuo Zixiong felt invigorated hearing it, this play was truly to his taste!
"Good! Excellent show!" After the act ended, Zuo Zixiong reached into his bosom to take out a piece of silver, but he felt giving vulgar silver would insult the performance.
After much thought, this straight-backed military man unbuckled his sword and sheath from his waist and tossed them to the stage.
Xu Qing, just about to exit the stage, sensed something unusual behind him. He turned and caught the treasure sword that fell into his hand.
Xu Qing looked up to see a lone figure riding a horse with double swords and a sword on his back, gradually fading into the distance.
Soon, the person disappeared in the sea of people.
Xu Qing returned to the Government Office, and once backstage, he took out the sword again, seeing a 'Zuo' character carved on the hilt.
On the fifth day, the number of people gathered in Linjiang County had more than doubled.
Linjiang County's unique geography made it a crucial water and land hub, with innumerable official grain ships and private merchant vessels passing through daily.
And the ongoing bustling scene of Linjiang County attracted these people to stay.
In just five days, Linjiang County boasted many 'temple fairs'.
It was even more lively than the New Year.
During this time, only the Government Officials patrolling and the City Defense Soldiers suffered.
Zhao Zhonghe changed appearances after just a few days.
Not just him, the three shifts of constables in the Government Office had sunken eyes, scraggly beards, looking like beggars in official garb under the Tianqiao Bridge.
"That Xu really has no conscience! A funeral shop insists on having an anniversary celebration, causing us all to suffer."
Zhao Zhonghe hadn't cursed for long before his subordinate rushed in saying, "There's an arsonist and thief on East Street, that person is quite skilled, we couldn't catch up..."
Insert refers to the thief or pickpocket, Zhao Zhonghe spat, grabbed his blade, and headed to East Street.
On East Street, he didn't see the nimble-handed pickpocket but saw a man scratching his head, holding a fire poker.
Beside the slender man, another was frothing at the mouth, convulsing on the ground.
"Is this the pickpocket, what happened to him?"
Zhao Zhonghe glanced at the thief and then immediately turned to the previously poker-holding slim man.
"This man..."
Yet, just as Zhao Zhonghe turned his head, the slim man's figure vanished. He scanned around and saw several lean figures in long gowns jumping down a rooftop.
Looking at their agility, they were unlike ordinary people, rather like a group of monkeys.
"Truly strange affairs."
Zhao Zhonghe frowned deeply.
In recent days, every thug or villain they've encountered was either gnawing their fingers muttering madness or struck unconscious, caught in bizarre states.
As Zhao Zhonghe pondered, a figure with double swords and a pair of identical twin-like Daoists walked past him.
The two Daoists wore attire from the Celestial Master's Mansion, while the middle-aged man with swords had a military token at his waist, clearly of military origin.
After they left, Zhao Zhonghe was about to head to the next street when he suddenly felt something unusual beneath his feet.
He lifted his leather boot, only to see a piece of silver shining bright on the ground.
Like unraveling silk, its sharpness pierced the marrow, with lingering resentment imperishable in the water sleeves (data 1). A verse lamented thrice, ending with a trembling sustained note, suddenly bending low into a flustered sob (data 11: "Crying blood with every word filled with emotion"/"Actors' low murmurs"). After the "ah" sound, there often leaked a faint sigh, as if the singer was heartbroken, unable to continue (data 11: "Tears wet the blue gown, heartbroken beyond measure, who understands the taste within?").
...