Chapter 69: I'll Take the Stage! Play the Stark, Table‑Flipping Jing!

Su Ming forced his excitement down, his eyes focused.

Eye of Truth, open!

In an instant, the stage under the moonlight shed its disguise, becoming ever clearer.

Indeed, three altars!

The left altar is piled from broken spears and shattered armor, rust‑stained.

Killing aura and resentment intertwine!

Altar Number: 1001

Connection Marker: Zhutian Drama Workshop·White Tiger Hall

Karma Overview: Forge swords for the nation, the sword points at oneself! Worship generals and confer marquis titles, the marquis gates are like the sea! All his life he only knows battlefield drunkenness, does not recognize the ruler's heart as a deep abyss! Seeking an answer: Why does a loyal bone not receive a good ending?

The central altar is stacked from phoenix‑crowned jeweled hairpins, the jewels covered in dust.

The aura of grief is so dense it cannot be dispelled!

Altar Number: 1003

Connection Marker: Zhutian Drama Workshop·Changmen Palace

Karma Overview: Golden hairpins as vows, vows flutter like fluff! Red makeup as marriage, married to scheming! A piece of infatuated heart emptily faces the moon, half a life of glory plotted for whom! Seeking a glimpse: What is true love, unwavering through life and death?

The right altar is stacked from hundreds of masks with varied expressions.

Between laughter and scolding, a void that sees through worldly dust seeps through!

Altar Number: 1004

Connection Marker: Zhutian Drama Workshop·All-Beings' Countenance

Karma Overview: Painting eyebrows and eyes, not to discern loyalty or treachery! Silver tongue like a reed, only stirs up turmoil! Laugh at his building rising and falling, then realize one's own body is also within! Seeking a flavor: What is truth, capable of breaking illusion?

"Zhutian Drama Workshop…"

Su Ming's heartbeat missed a beat.

All three numbers are top‑tier sequences!

"These three, one unwilling, one resentful, one void…"

Context…

Clear!

Loyal ministers and fine generals are Sheng, the infatuated noble lady is Dan, the scheming clown is Clown!

Sheng, Dan, Clown…

Su Ming squinted slightly.

The story's backbone, the emotional thread, the worldly embellishments…

All are present!

But a play must be sung fiercely, sung ruthlessly, sung with clear black and white…

It absolutely cannot lack that role—

One Sheng, two Dan, three Jing, four Clown!

That one whose face bears the heaviest oil paint, whose temperament is the most fierce and irascible.

From the moment they appear, they must set the rules and discern loyalty from treachery…

Jing!

"So that's it…"

The fog in Su Ming's eyes suddenly cleared.

Indeed, these are not three independent altars!

But a unfinished, broken play!

The General, after a hundred battles, ultimately has his birds exhausted and his bow stored away!

The noble lady's infatuation is nothing but Mirror Flower Water Moon!

The clown watches the play, yet discovers he himself is also a character, sinking in illusion!

They are trapped in the play, repeating their tragedies over and over.

Thus, addressing all the audience below the stage, they issue a question!

"The key to breaking the deadlock…"

Su Ming clenches his fists tightly.

"It's not about giving applause or odd curiosities."

"But rather the Jing role that has been missing from start to finish!"

Only he can put a period on this play, a perfect curtain call.

So…

Complete the Jing role!

But…

Where should this Jing be found?

Su Ming fell silent, thoughts swirling.

When he was a child, the radio at home played the most Overlord Farewell to the Concubine and General and Prime Minister.

The singing was bleak, the drumbeats vigorous.

His idiot father, usually stern and unsmiling, did not understand expression.

But he only loved listening to these few short pieces!

At the drinking table, the two elders' faces were flushed bright red.

Dad, why do you always like listening to that "yi yi ya ya" stuff?

Yi yi ya ya? Can you even speak!

Your old man, me, am I that shallow kind of person?!

I tell you! On the stage, whatever Emperor and ministers, whatever talented scholars and beautiful ladies, it's all just a spectacle!

Only that flower‑faced Jingjiao, with its multicolored mask, when it appears, represents Rule! Represents heavenly justice!

Their love and hate are clear, loyalty and treachery are judged, they are the truly towering characters!

You brat, this is teaching you how to be a person, you must be like that Jingjiao!

Black is black, white is white, you must have a scale in your heart, and your spine must stand straight!

Heh…

Under the moonlight, Su Ming shook his head and gave a wry smile.

You, huh, speak so well.

But what about yourself?

He earned illustrious battle merits.

Yet he ended up with a wrecked carriage and dead people.

Your loyal bones, have they ever met a good end?!

Su Ming's eyes warmed, and his vision instantly blurred.

Tsk, is it fogging up?

Mom, that woman who softened the years and dazzled the ages.

A heart of benevolence, saving the dying and aiding the wounded.

What he got in return was a blood‑stained white robe!

True love unchanging even unto death?

But he would rather have her alive!

So…

General's hatred!

Lady's sorrow!

Like…

Truly like…

But!

Not the same!

Grief and madness, like a volcano accumulated for billions of years.

Suddenly erupted completely from the deepest part of Su Ming's soul!

Heh!

What a ruined play!

What a fate without a good ending!

What an unyielding life and death!

Su Ming stood in the shadow among overgrown weeds, first chuckling, then laughing wildly.

His mad laughter, tears within the laugh, shook the surrounding weeds so they trembled for him!

He no longer hides.

One step, stepping out of the shadow!

The cool moonlight poured onto him, casting his face a ghastly pallor.

Sheng, Dan, Clown (Opera Role) are all present, but without Judge, black and white cannot be formed!

On the stage, those three intertwining vocal lines.

At this moment, they abruptly stopped!

Dead silence!

Su Ming stepped toward the stage step by step.

The aura on his body, with each step, surged wildly!

Rise again!

Your loyalty, your grievances, your void, are all just rootless duckweed!

Your play has been performed for hundreds, even thousands of years!

Is it still not enough?!

His voice grew louder, each word like thunder, each sound weeping blood!

What you lack is not a few spectators shedding a few tears!

What you lack even more is not the mortals who would enlighten you!

Su Ming walked to the edge of the stage.

He slowly lowered his head and extended both hands.

Meticulously he tidied the collar of the cheap sportswear on his body.

Now, this is no longer a stall‑sale item costing a few dozen yuan.

It is a splendid stage costume about to debut!

He raised his hand again, using his finger as a comb.

He gently smoothed the few stray strands blown by the night wind across his forehead, pulling them back.

Attire, that is respect!

The respectable one is not this stage!

Nor is it those three altars.

But the role he is about to play—

According to his father, that towering, black‑and‑white…

Pure!

"I say…"

"Your play lacks one…"

"Dare to flip this table—"

"Pure!!!"

The words fall!

Su Ming lifts his right foot and stomps down heavily.

In one step, he steps onto this dilapidated stage that has borne countless years of joy and sorrow!

"Dong!!!"

The entire stage shakes violently.

The war drums that had slept for centuries were suddenly sounded.

He turns.

Facing the empty, tombstone‑like Audience seats below the stage.

He bows slowly and properly with a single salute.

No one?

Nonsense!

Clearly it's packed to the brim!

In the dark, deathly silence, countless gazes seem to converge.

There is Pao Ze, who once lay drunk on the battlefield with the General.

There is a palace maid who once wept in the deep palace with the noble lady.

There are common folk who, in that Clown's grotesque laugh, have witnessed the world's harshness.

And also…

Dad and Mom!

"Everyone, please!"