Chapter 66: Wu Laosi

Clang, clang, clang!

The gongs and drums sounded three times, and the grand play began.

The troupe leader, Luo Luo Shihai, was truly a drama fanatic; even this play, which used various methods to mock and ridicule, was put together with a clear beginning and end, and performed with great flair.

The story told of a wicked wretch in Xianyang City who acted tyrannically, only to have a foolish son who secretly flirted with his father's concubine, leading the wretch to fly into a rage and strangle him to death.

The foolish son's resentful spirit drifted about, possessed a monkey, and transformed into a monkey demon, wreaking havoc everywhere.

A righteous hero heard of this, got drunk, went up the mountain, beat the monkeys until they shrieked in terror, and finally slew the monkey demon.

The story was simple, even somewhat vulgar.

The performers were not famous actors; some were even apprentices who had just started.

Yet, they displayed quite a few impressive stunts.

The youth playing the foolish son, with white paint on his brow and nose and wearing a red bellyband, performed the "Lamp Balancing" stunt while singing lewd ditties, rolling and tumbling, yet the oil lamp on his head remained as steady as Mount Tai, its flame never flickering.

The foolish son's mother, driven to death by anger, stepped on a stool and hanged herself with a white silk sash; after kicking away the chair, she hung high above the stage in a stunt called "The Great Hanging"...

There was also the actor playing the monkey demon, whose three pairs of fangs flickered in and out of his mouth, his face hideous—this was the "Teeth Juggling" stunt...

"Bravo! Bravo!"

"Do another one!"

The various tricks drew continuous applause from the common folk.

This was the revenge tactic of the wandering performers.

Even if they couldn't do anything to you directly, they could devise all sorts of skits to satirize you.

If they couldn't say it openly, they would mock you in secret.

Just like this play—it never once mentioned the Zhou family by name, yet every line was aimed at them, cursing them to the high heavens.

The common folk didn't care about that; they already had a poor opinion of the Zhou family, and combined with the various stunts, they watched with great relish and would go on to spread the word everywhere.

No wonder the Bai Yuan Gang wanted to block the entrance.

This was even more unbearable than being cursed to one's face!

The common folk were all drawn in by the protagonist, while Li Yan kept his full attention on an old monkey-playing martial clown, his brows furrowed from time to time.

This man was Wu Laosi; he had an ordinary appearance and didn't stand out on stage.

More importantly, Li Yan couldn't smell even a trace of any strange odor on him!

Didn't Zhou Banzhu Wan say this man was proficient in "Crossing the Underworld"?

Wang Wang Daoxuan had once explained this profession to him: ordinary people couldn't do it; it required a lineage and the opening of the "Intent Root" to allow the soul to leave the body and step into the Netherworld.

Such people often carried a lingering yin energy that made one feel chilled just by standing near them.

Why did this man look nothing like that?

Just as Li Yan was feeling puzzled, the errand boy who had brought them tea and melon seeds respectfully placed them on their table, cupped his hands, and whispered, "Brother Li, after you finish your business, our troupe leader would like to see you."

He then raised his head and gestured.

Li Yan looked in the direction indicated.

On the second floor of the theater, an old man sat in a chair sipping tea; he had a spirited appearance and dressed modestly, yet carried an air of wealth and nobility.

It was none other than Luo Luo Shihai, leader of the Xianyang Bagua Gate.

Li Yan cupped his hands in acknowledgment.

He had vaguely guessed why the man wanted to see him—it was nothing more than taking advantage of the Zhou family's downfall to join forces and eliminate this scourge of Xianyang.

Li Yan was willing, but saving Wang Wang Daoxuan was more important right now.

He didn't have that much time to spare...

Clang!

With the sound of the drum, the grand play finally concluded.

By now, the common folk in the theater were fully immersed in the story; seeing the monkey demon pinned to the ground by the hero and beaten with fists, then pierced through the chest with a spear, they all felt vindicated and stood up to applaud and cheer.

"Bravo!"

"Slay the Zhou monkey!"

The Zhou family had committed many evils, and the Bai Yuan and Iron Blade gangs had run rampant in Xianyang; clearly, there were many victims in the crowd, who now gritted their teeth with tears in their eyes.

Upstairs, Luo Luo Shihai nodded with satisfaction.

A wild goose leaves a cry, a man leaves a name.

The Zhou family not only had to be toppled, but their evil reputation had to be spread for a hundred years to soothe the hatred in his heart.

As for Li Yan and Sha Hearing Sha Lifei, they had long since been led by the errand boy through a side door, bypassing the backstage, and arriving at a large courtyard behind the theater.

This was where the performers lived. Luo Luo Shihai was wealthy and generous to his troupe, so the courtyard was quite spacious.

In the courtyard, youths were practicing their basic skills.

In some rooms, others were still practicing their vocal exercises.

The errand boy led the two to a secluded room near the woodshed, smiled, and said, "Master Wu likes peace and quiet, and he's quite handy, often helping the troupe repair props, so he lives here alone."

Saying this, he knocked on the door, "Master Wu, the guests are here."

Being able to be visited personally by Li Yan, and carrying a letter of introduction signed by an elder of the Xianyang Craftsmanship Guild, even a fool would know that this old man, who usually kept to himself, was definitely no ordinary person, so the errand boy's tone became much more respectful.

Creak—the wooden door opened.

The person who opened the door was a gaunt, ordinary-looking old man, but he possessed a strange feature: two bumps on his forehead.

From the hairline to the brow, a long, flat ridge crossed the temples, forming an oval shape.

According to "Physiognomy," this was the "Giant Turtle Hidden Rhino Bone," a sign of great wealth and nobility; such a person had great ambition, a resolute and firm nature, and even if they didn't become a high-ranking minister, they would be a major official.

That he had fallen to such a state must have been due to some cause and effect.

"Come in."

Seeing the two, the old man sighed slightly and turned to enter the room.

Li Yan and Sha Hearing Sha Lifei exchanged a glance and followed closely behind.

The errand boy, though curious, remembered Luo Luo Shihai's instructions and the rules of the road, so he respectfully closed the door, giving them space to talk.

Just as he closed the door and turned around, he was met by a young woman in green, with a pretty face and a spirited, lively look in her eyes.

The woman asked curiously, "Zhu Zi, those two are blade-wielders, right? One of them even fought a life-or-death duel a few days ago. What are they doing looking for Uncle Wu?"

"Oh, Lady Lu."

The errand boy was startled and quickly pulled the woman away, "Don't meddle in the affairs of the martial world. The troupe leader knows about this, so stop asking."

"Fine, fine..."

The woman agreed readily, but her eyes grew even more curious...

Inside the room, the three stood in silence.

"Master Wu, is this matter difficult to handle?"

Li Yan finally couldn't help but ask.

He had already explained what happened, but the old master just kept sighing, his expression shifting, unable to speak for a long time.

"It's more than just difficult..."

Wu Laosi finally sighed, "When I fell on hard times in Xianyang, it was Zhou Banzhu Wan who saved me; I never expected that I would have to pay with my life today."

Sha Hearing Sha Lifei, anxious about Wang Wang Daoxuan's safety, grew impatient at the old man's behavior, "I say, Master, if you have any conditions, just state them clearly. We're in a hurry to save someone, we don't have time..."

Before he could finish, Li Yan pressed him down, turned his head, and said in a low voice, "If you have any difficulties, Master, please speak plainly. If you're afraid of exposing your identity or attracting enemies, I am willing to use my blade to resolve them for you."

"A blade?"

Wu Laosi smiled bitterly, "A blade is of no use here."

Saying this, he slowly stood up, picked up a small hoe from beside the bed, dug into the ground beneath it, and unearthed a wooden box.

The box was an antique, a fine piece of Qin-Han lacquerware, and though aged, it was remarkably well-preserved.

Wu Laosi's hands trembled as he wiped away the dust, then took a key from around his neck and slowly opened the box.

The moment it opened, Li Yan's expression shifted slightly.

He could smell a cold, yin energy, similar to a ghost's, yet possessing an imposing majesty.

Inside, there were red strings tightly wound around, and yellow talismans folded into triangles placed at the four corners and the center, representing the five directions.

In the center of the box lay a small wooden token, made of dark, ebony wood, black and lustrous, covered in complex, blood-red talismanic markings.

Just by looking at it, Li Yan and Sha Hearing Sha Lifei felt their hair stand on end.

"This... what is this thing?"

Sha Hearing Sha Lifei swallowed hard and asked.

Li Yan also frowned, finding it hard to believe.

According to folk legends, when a person's lifespan is exhausted but they linger in the mortal world, a ghost messenger will arrive with a summons to drag them into the Netherworld!

This summons is called a "Gou Die"!

"Gou-die (Detention Order)?!"

Sha Hearing Sha Lifei was shocked. "Does such a thing really exist? You're kidding me!"

Li Yan also frowned, feeling it was somewhat unbelievable.

Folk legends say that those whose lifespan has ended but who linger in the mortal world will be caught by Yin messengers holding a detention order and dragged into the Netherworld!

This detention order is called a *Gou-die*!

(End of chapter)