[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-cursed-blade-s-walk":3,"chapter-the-cursed-blade-s-walk-the-cursed-blade-s-walk-chapter-66":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Cursed Blade's Walk",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2262371,4415,"Chapter 66: Wu Laosi","the-cursed-blade-s-walk-chapter-66",66,"\u003Cp>Clang! Clang! Clang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongs and drums thrice beaten—the grand opera begins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The troupe master, Luo Shihai, was no doubt a true opera fanatic; even this twisted, sarcastic play, meant to insult, was staged with full structure and polish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The story told of a wicked man in Xianyang who ruled with tyranny, only to sire a foolish son who secretly flirted with his father’s concubine—so the wicked man, in a rage, crushed him to death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The vengeful spirit of the fool drifted aimlessly until it entered a monkey’s body, then transformed into a monkey demon, wreaking havoc across the land.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A righteous hero heard of this, got drunk, climbed the mountain, beat the troop of monkeys into shrieking chaos, and slew the monkey demon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tale was simple, even crude.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The performers were no famed actors—some were even newly recruited apprentices.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet they displayed no shortage of extraordinary skills.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young actor portraying the fool had white paint drawn on his brow and nose, wore a red belly wrap, sang lewd tunes while performing the “Lamp on Head” feat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He balanced an oil lamp atop his head, rolling forward and backward, swaying left and right—yet the lamp remained as steady as Mount Tai, its flame unextinguished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fool’s mother, driven to death by rage, stood on a stool, hanged herself with a white silk rope, kicked over the chair, and hung high before the stage—this was called “The Great Hanging.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The actor portraying the monkey demon displayed three pairs of fangs that flitted and shifted unpredictably, his face grotesque and terrifying—this was the “Fang Play” feat…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bravo! Bravo!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do another!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These feats drew continuous cheers from the crowd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was how Jianghu artists exacted revenge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if they couldn’t strike you directly, they’d devise countless skits to mock you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they couldn’t strike openly, they’d strike in secret.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like this play—it never once named the Zhou family, yet every scene pointed to them, every line crueler than the last, drenching them in slander.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The common folk didn’t care; the Zhou family’s reputation was already rotten, and with these extraordinary acts, they watched with rapt delight, spreading word of it far and wide upon returning home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No wonder the White Ape Gang wanted to block their gates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was worse than pointing fingers and cursing to their face!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While the crowd was captivated by the protagonist, Li Yan spent the entire performance watching a Wu Chou actor portraying the old monkey, his brow often furrowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man was Wu Laosi—ordinary in appearance, unremarkable on stage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More crucially, he emitted not a trace of unnatural aura.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Wan, didn’t you say this man was skilled in passing into the underworld?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Daoxuan had once explained to him the art of “passing into the underworld”—ordinary people couldn’t do it; one needed lineage and mastery of the “Yi Gen,” to separate the spirit from the body and enter the netherworld.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such people always carried lingering yin energy; approaching them sent chills down the spine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why did he seem so ordinary?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Li Yan puzzled over this, the young servant earlier appeared, placing tea and melon seeds respectfully on their table, bowing low: “Li Shaoxia, after your business is done, our troupe master wishes to meet you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He then raised his head, gesturing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan followed his direction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the second floor of the opera house, an elderly man sat sipping tea, his face vigorous, attire modest, yet his bearing radiated wealth and nobility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was Luo Shihai, patriarch of the Xianyang Bagua Sect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan immediately bowed in greeting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He vaguely guessed why the man sought him—no doubt, taking advantage of the Zhou family’s downfall, to rally others and eliminate this Xianyang scourge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan was willing enough, but saving Wang Daoxuan came first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His time was not abundant…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>………\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a single drumbeat, the opera ended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The audience, fully immersed, watched as the demon monkey was pinned down by the hero, pounded with fists, speared through the chest—each felt vindicated, rising to applaud and cheer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bravo!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Kill the Zhou monkey!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Zhou family had committed many evils; the White Ape and Iron Knife gangs had ruled Xianyang with brutality—clearly, many in the crowd were victims, teeth clenched, eyes wet with tears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the second floor, Luo Shihai nodded in satisfaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When a goose flies by, it leaves a sound; when a man dies, he leaves a name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Zhou family must not only be toppled, but their infamy must endure for a hundred years to satisfy his hatred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, Li Yan and Sha Lifi had already been led by the young servant through a side door, past the backstage, to a large communal courtyard behind the opera house.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was where the performers lived daily. Luo Shihai was wealthy and generous to his troupe, so the courtyard was spacious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the yard, a boy practiced the Child’s Foundation Skill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In some rooms, others practiced vocal exercises, humming and warbling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The servant led them to a secluded corner room near the firewood shed, smiling: “Master Wu prefers quiet and has nimble hands—he often repairs props for the troupe, so he lives alone here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stepped forward and knocked: “Master Wu, visitors are here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be personally visited by Li Yan, bearing a letter signed by the Elder of Xianyang’s Artisan Guild, even the dumbest servant knew this quiet old man was no ordinary figure—so his tone grew respectful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wooden door creaked open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man who opened it was a thin-faced, plain-featured elder—but he bore an odd sign: his forehead was broad, with two bulges.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the Tianzhong region along the hairline down to the Huagai region, a long horizontal band stretched across the brow, forming an egg-like shape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The “Book of Physiognomy” states this is called the Giant Turtle and Rhinoceros Bone—a sign of great wealth and nobility; such a man has lofty ambition, a resolute and tenacious nature; even if he never becomes a pillar minister, he will be a regional authority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To have fallen to such a state, there must be karmic cause.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>!.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come in.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The elder, seeing them, sighed faintly, then turned and entered the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan and Sha Lifi exchanged glances and followed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though curious, the servant remembered Luo Shihai’s orders and the Jianghu code—he respectfully closed the door, granting them privacy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he turned, a woman in blue approached—her face lovely yet spirited, eyes bright with intelligence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She asked curiously, “Zhu Zi, those two are swordsmen, right? One of them fought a life-or-death match not long ago—what do they want with Uncle Wu?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh my!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The servant jumped, quickly pulling her away: “Don’t meddle in Jianghu matters. Master Luo knows—don’t ask.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, alright…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She agreed readily, yet her eyes grew even more curious…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the room, the three sat in silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master Wu, is this matter difficult?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan finally spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had recounted the events, yet Master Wu only sighed, his expression shifting between gloom and uncertainty, saying nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s not just difficult…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Laosi finally sighed: “When I fell into ruin in Xianyang, it was Master Wan who saved me—now I must repay him with my life.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Lifi, anxious for Wang Daoxuan’s safety, grew impatient: “Old Master, if you have conditions, just say them—we’re rushing to save a life, we don’t have time to—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before he finished, Li Yan seized his arm, turning sharply: “Master, if you have difficulties, speak plainly. If you fear exposure and retaliation, I’ll draw my blade and settle it for you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Blade?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Laosi chuckled bitterly: “A blade won’t help.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He rose slowly, picked up a small hoe beside him, crawled under the bed, dug frantically, then pulled out a wooden box and placed it on the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The box was an ancient artifact—a fine Qin-Han lacquer piece, aged yet remarkably preserved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Laosi’s hands trembled as he wiped away the dust, then unfastened a key from his neck and slowly opened the box.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment it opened, Li Yan’s expression changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sensed a chilling yin energy—like a ghost’s, yet stern and commanding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside, thick red cords wound tightly, and yellow talismans folded into triangles, placed at the four corners and center, representing the Five Directions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the center lay a small wooden token, rectangular, carved from yinchen wood, glossy black, inscribed with intricate crimson runes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Merely looking at it made Li Yan and Sha Lifi’s hairs stand on end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What… what is this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Lifi swallowed hard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Laosi sighed: “Since you’re of the Xuanmen, I’ll no longer hide it—this is the ‘Gou Die.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Gou Die?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Lifi gasped: “This thing actually exists? You’re joking!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan also frowned, finding it unbelievable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Folk tales say: when a mortal’s lifespan ends but their spirit lingers in the mortal world, yin officials arrive with a “summons ticket” to drag them into the netherworld!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That summons ticket is called the Gou Die!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1487,"2026-06-19T18:28:32.159Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","7d348cbc7e76d6b60a383270ab1e528d562dca9d3b44bd5fa8b4131881908b39","the-cursed-blade-s-walk-chapter-67","the-cursed-blade-s-walk-chapter-65",801,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-cursed-blade-s-walk-cover.jpg"]