Chapter 272

It was late at night, and the old garden ruins in the West Market, which had been abandoned for many years, should have been deserted. But when Xu Qing approached, he found candlelight and shadows inside, as well as the sound of opera singing and the applause of guests, as if this opera house were still as prosperous as it was in the early years.

At this time, the moonlight was cold. Xu Qing looked up and could vaguely see the plaque written on the dilapidated gate tower of the opera house—"Lixiang Garden."

Xu Qing withdrew his gaze, stepped on the broken bricks and tiles, walked into the gate tower, and specifically chose the liveliest places in the opera garden to wander.

Passing through the corridor and stepping over the courtyard gate, the sound of gongs, drums, and Hu Qin playing together grew louder and louder.

The scene around Xu Qing also changed constantly as he went deeper into the opera garden.

The broken bricks and rotten tiles returned to their original places, the peeling wall skin gathered and healed, and the moss at the foot of the wall and the weeds in the courtyard all shrank back into the ground. The entire opera garden was like a lantern, returning to its most prosperous time in the blink of an eye.

Xu Qing walked in the middle corridor. In the courtyard-style opera building, red lanterns lit up. In every pavilion, shadows walked back and forth in front of the windows. They walked lightly, their singing skills were superb, and even through the window gauze, one could feel the joy, anger, sorrow, and joy of the opera actors.

When he walked to a water pavilion garden, Xu Qing finally saw real human shadows.

At this time, in the opera pavilion, a young student was playing Chu Wangsun.

"What a fairyland on earth, looking at the white clouds winding around one or two feet below, facing three or four red leaves drifting, the autumn geese crying five or six times by the ear, visiting Zhuangzi and climbing the ten paths of Yue Peak, the nine-curved secluded path is not for woodcutters, it is truly a very carefree and holy place!"

Not far from the pavilion, a nun stood in front of the railing, listening with fascination.

Xu Qing asked the bhikshuni: "May I ask the nun's dharma name? Where are you cultivating in the precious temple?"

The nun didn't even look at Xu Qing. She put her index finger to her mouth, made a gesture of silence, but answered on her own: "Poor monk Miaojing, cultivating in Jing'en Temple. Donor, don't disturb..."

Xu Qing was indeed very obedient and turned around, but before leaving, he suddenly said: "Nun, your heart is moved by spring; it seems you are going to return to secular life!"

"You, what nonsense are you talking about!"

A bhikshuni is not an ordinary nun; it is a beggar who has received the full precepts, observes the strictest precepts of the temple, and participates in major Dharma assemblies such as lecturing on scriptures and Zen meditation, which is quite different from ordinary nuns.

Hearing Xu Qing's words, the bhikshuni was both ashamed and angry. This rogue was truly rude! How could he say such vulgar words to a monk?

Xu Qing turned his body, pointed at Chu Wangsun who was singing the Butterfly Dream in the water pavilion, and laughed loudly: "If the nun's heart is pure, why would you come to listen to this love-filled opera?"

Hearing this, the bhikshuni shook all over, as if struck by lightning.

Yes, why would she, a monk, be obsessed with this opera and linger here for decades, to the point that her own cultivation was delayed...

Thinking through the reasons, Master Miaojing suddenly woke up from a dream!

She performed a Buddhist ritual to Xu Qing and said gratefully: "Thank you for your guidance, fellow Daoist. If there is a next life, this poor monk will surely repay you..."

After saying this, the bhikshuni recited the Rebirth Mantra herself and walked toward the water pavilion, saving the actor Xu Yunmi who was playing Chu Wangsun!

Xu Qing shook his head helplessly, somewhat regretful.

The corpses of these people had long been collected by the government, and now their bones were rotten and their whereabouts unknown. The opera garden only left some wandering souls and remnants. Although he could also recite the Scripture of Salvation to urge them to leave, his Scripture of Salvation was of no use.

Xu Qing continued along the road. Not long after, he saw a graceful and dignified figure appearing in the rockery garden. The person had an ancient zither in front of her, and clear sounds flowed between her jumping fingers.

The woman lowered her head, and her face could not be seen, but the lyrics she sang could be heard clearly.

"... The fragrant grass is long at the end of the world, staring blankly, facing the slanting sun, facing the slanting sun. The dangerous building stops climbing the high ladder, the smoke and rain in the view are miserable. Listening to the crow crying, like drunk and confused. Remembering the distant person, waking up from a dream is hard to sleep. The taste of parting, the taste of parting, who knows..."

"... The night crow cries, the sound is clear and miserable. Analyzing doubts, there is a sign that the imperial edict will come tomorrow with purple mud, purple mud. The wind and clouds change color, bestowing grace to wash the common people, wash the common people..."

While Xu Qing was listening to the song, he took out a conch, which was called the Sound-Picking Conch.

This object was obtained from a drowned sailor at the Jinmen estuary. It can identify sounds. When you want to listen, you only need to blow a full breath into the conch mouth to hear the sounds it has identified in the past.

When the zither girl stopped her fingers and the lyrics finished, Xu Qing sighed: "This song should only be in heaven; how can it be heard in the world? Wonderful, wonderful!"

Hearing Xu Qing use the overlapping words of the lyrics to praise her, the zither girl felt both shy and happy. She raised her head, revealing her empty eyes full of blood, and asked: "Is it really that good?"

"The song is beautiful, the lyrics are beautiful, and the person is even more beautiful. It is truly as good as it can be!"

Hearing this, the woman picked up the ancient zither, stood up shyly, and wanted to avoid Xu Qing, the outsider, but after walking a few steps, she suddenly turned around and said to Xu Qing—

"Thank you for your love, young master. The little girl's wish has been fulfilled. Please leave this place quickly, young master, so as not to be confused by this realm."

After saying this, the zither girl turned to leave.

Xu Qing took the opportunity to ask: "May I ask the girl's name? What is the song you played just now?"

"The little girl is Li Mutang, and the song played just now is Night Crying Crow."

As the voice fell, the entire garden fell into complete silence. Xu Qing looked again, and in the quiet garden, besides the rockery and flowers, where was there any Li zither girl!

Leaving the garden, Xu Qing continued to go deeper into the opera garden. When he entered the second courtyard, three or five spectators were standing in front of the opera stage, watching the opera "Zhong Kui Catches Ghosts."

"After saying goodbye to the old Yama, bowing to the gods and monsters, falling into the red dust to sweep away the demons. I only see a dirty bag, not distinguishing between yin and yang..."

On the stage, Zhong Kui played three roles alone, singing madly.

The three or five spectators under the stage applauded repeatedly, watching with fascination.

Xu Qing stepped forward. A spectator dressed in Western Regions style gave up his position and said in broken official language: "Brother, you came just in time. This play is just singing to the lively part."

"I know this play, Zhong Kui catches ghosts. How do you have the courage to listen to this play?"

The Western Regions merchant, who was withered and had a belly like a pregnant woman, laughed loudly: "He, Zhong Kui, catches ghosts, and we are not ghosts!"

Xu Qing was silent for a moment and suddenly said: "A fool will never say he is a fool."

"What do you mean?"

The merchant said dissatisfiedly: "Don't try to scare me. We people of the Western Regions don't believe in your Great Yong's ghosts and gods."

"When I came, my companion also said there were ghosts here, so I bet with them to come to this opera garden for an adventure. Now I haven't seen half a ghost shadow, but your Great Yong's opera is quite good to listen to."

Xu Qing smiled and asked: "Then compared to your Western Regions' opera, which one is better to listen to?"

The merchant struggled for a moment, then stiffened his neck and said: "Compared to our Western Regions, it is naturally much worse, but it is not bad!"

"..."

Xu Qing's eyes were faint. There was no art to speak of in the Western Regions countries, let alone comparing it with the ancient dynasty with a long heritage.

"Your mouth is quite hard. No wonder you bet with people and ran here."

The merchant was quite proud and puffed out his chest, saying: "We men of the Western Regions are naturally much braver than you! Unlike you, such a fun place is actually sealed off by the timid government..."

"You don't believe there are ghosts and gods here?"

The merchant stared at Zhong Kui on the stage without turning his head: "I don't believe it!"

"Then turn your head and see if I am a human or a ghost!"

As the voice fell, the fingernails in Xu Qing's hands instantly popped out more than a foot, and the corpse teeth in his mouth flashed with cold light. His whole body's robes and long hair flew, and behind him was thick cloudy mist steaming.

"Ghost! There is a ghost!"

The merchant looked at Xu Qing in terror, then turned and crawled away, but before he ran far, his figure began to fade and finally disappeared completely.