Chapter 365
A Battle of Two Hearts
"In that case, we will do our utmost to live up to the Bodhisattva's high expectations."
Zhou Sheng smiled slightly, gazing at the Seven Treasures Stage, a hint of fervor flashing in his eyes.
The Dragon Girl was satisfied with his reaction, but her voice suddenly turned cold as she said indifferently, "Boss Zhou, let's get this straight: if this monkey show goes wrong, the Bodhisattva will be furious, and even your lover won't be able to protect you, let alone the Zhou Family Troupe."
She didn't say this telepathically, but rather to everyone in the Zhou family troupe, implying a threat.
Although the specific punishment for a bad performance wasn't mentioned, it's easy to imagine that the more generous the reward, the more severe the punishment.
Upon hearing this, the members of the Zhou family troupe felt a chill in their hearts, and the glittering stage suddenly seemed less attractive.
Zhou Sheng gazed quietly at the Dragon Girl and smiled faintly.
"My Zhou family troupe has never messed up a play."
His voice exuded undisguised confidence, his gaze was calm yet firm, and every word he uttered was neither humble nor arrogant, showing no sign of being intimidated.
"That would be best, Mr. Zhou, please come up on stage."
Zhou Sheng and the others went backstage, waiting for the gong to sound the start of the performance, while they practiced their singing or stretched their limbs.
Before long, Zhou Sheng, who was reciting his words, suddenly stopped, and his gaze instantly sharpened.
The others quickly noticed the anomaly, feeling an invisible pressure as if they were being watched by some terrifying gaze, with nothing left to hide.
That Bodhisattva has arrived.
Through a gap in the backstage curtain, Zhou Sheng met those radiant eyes shrouded in boundless Buddhist light.
Zhou Sheng, who possessed three hundred years of cultivation and had already broken through six levels, suddenly felt a stinging sensation in his eyes, as if they were on fire, and a faint, aching feeling that made him want to cry.
Unfathomable!
He lowered his head and quickly turned his gaze away, his heart heavy, before giving this assessment.
As expected of a great demon who was once suppressed under Mount Ling by Guanyin Bodhisattva, even though his strength has declined and is no longer at its peak, he is still an existence that Guanyin Bodhisattva cannot see clearly.
It probably has at least a thousand years of cultivation!
The vast Buddhist light, the profound Buddhist intent, and the sacred aura—if Zhou Sheng hadn't known the other party's background beforehand, he probably would have mistaken him for a true Bodhisattva.
……
"You have a good eye. Zhou Sheng is no ordinary person; he can be described as a genius."
The Bodhisattva's voice rang out, causing Nian Nu Jiao to beam with joy, a hint of smugness on her face, and she even gave the Dragon Girl a provocative glance.
The Dragon Girl ignored her, but she was still somewhat surprised, not expecting that Zhou Sheng could receive such high praise from the Bodhisattva.
She had followed the Bodhisattva for a long time and knew a bit about the Bodhisattva's origins. The Bodhisattva had made a name for himself in an era when gods and Buddhas filled the sky, so one can imagine how high his vision was.
"After this performance, if he truly submits, I may... take him as my disciple."
Clearly, Zhou Sheng's talent was so exceptional that even the highest Bodhisattva was moved by it.
"On behalf of Zhou Lang, I thank you, Your Majesty!"
Nian Nu Jiao bowed in respect, but was stopped by the Bodhisattva waving her hand.
"Let's watch this play to the end."
Whether it succeeds or fails, whether it is accepted or not, all depends on today's monkey show.
Nian Nu Jiao nodded, sat down, and stared intently at the stage, revealing a strange expression that was a mixture of trepidation, expectation, and a complex mix of emotions that were hard to define.
"Zhou Lang, what will you choose..."
She silently recited a phrase in her heart, her fingers constantly stroking her sleeve. ...
clang!
The gong sounds, and the show begins.
As the gongs and drums resounded, along with the stirring sounds of the banhu and clappers, a powerful and melodious operatic chorus suddenly rang out from the Jiulongkou (Nine Dragons Mouth) of the stage.
"His fame spread far and wide after causing havoc in the Heavenly Palace; he entered the Buddhist order at the foot of the Five Elements Mountain."
"On the journey to the West, we will eliminate demons and ensure that Tang Sanzang obtains the true scriptures."
"The Six-Eared Macaque, consumed by jealousy, causes chaos in the world with the true and false Monkey Kings!"
With concise and powerful language, the background of the play is quickly explained, and the main characters are introduced.
The next moment, Tan Sheng, dressed in black with six gray gold paint on his ears, took a running start and jumped, flipping over four tables in the air, and then flipping dozens of times on the fifth table. His movements were as fast as lightning and swift and clean.
When the final flip landed, the foot landed steadily on the octagonal table without the slightest deviation.
This single display of skill alone would be enough to win applause even in the most discerning theater.
Unfortunately, there were only three spectators present. Apart from Nian Nu Jiao nodding, the Bodhisattva and the Dragon Girl remained unmoved.
Tan Sheng immediately sensed that the two people in the audience didn't seem to be interested in opera.
It's a kind of telepathic connection between veteran actors and the audience. The feeling of performing for laymen is completely different from performing for experts.
He couldn't help but wonder, if this Bodhisattva didn't like listening to opera, why go to all the trouble of inviting the Zhou family troupe?
His mind raced. Although he was a little nervous, he had, after all, inherited the true essence of the Southern School and continued to sing in an orderly manner.
"You say I, the Six-Eared Macaque, am an evil spirit—"
I am also a piece of Nuwa's stone for mending the sky!
You fell to the Eastern Continent of Sheng Shenzhou, absorbing the essence of the sun; I fell to the Western Continent of Hezhou, drinking in the moonlight. We are of the same spiritual origin, so why should you become a Buddha while I am a thief?!
Because it is a six-eared macaque, in addition to its sorrowful and angry tone, it also has a demonic tone. Its face also imitates the expression of a wild beast, baring its teeth from time to time, and its eyes reveal a fierce light, which makes it appear somewhat demonic.
This section is a one-man show by the Six-Eared Macaque, revealing his inner dissatisfaction and his intention to compete with Sun Wukong and seize his position as the pilgrim.
After the Six-Eared Macaque left the stage, Zhou Sheng, playing the Great Sage, took the stage. Holding the Golden Cudgel, he kicked the Purple Gold Crown backwards, and the moment he landed, he supported himself with one hand on the ground and twisted twice with his waist strength. His agility revealed an indescribable arrogance.
Kick the purple-gold crown backwards to catch the dry water.
When Nian Nu Jiao saw the same amazing skill being displayed, her eyes lit up. The reason was simple: even with the face painted with an upside-down peach, it couldn't hide his handsome aura.
This is a very handsome monkey.
Do we even need to distinguish between real and fake?
She secretly shook her head; the true Great Sage understood at a glance.
Next comes the story of "The True and False Monkey King," also known as "The Battle of Two Hearts" in opera. The Great Sage was banished for disobeying his master's orders and killing a bandit. The Six-Eared Macaque impersonated Sun Wukong and stole his baggage. Sha Wujing went to find him but was no match for him and sought help from Guanyin. Guanyin then ordered Sun Wukong to subdue him.
The two saints met and immediately began fighting.
The shadow of the staff blotted out the sky, and golden light fell to the ground. Zhou Sheng and Tan Sheng were locked in a fierce battle, their movements and moves exactly the same.
Tang Sanzang recited the Tightening-Headband Mantra, and both of them fell to the ground crying out in pain. Even Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva could not tell the difference, and even Guanyin of the South Sea could not distinguish between the real and the fake. In the end, the incident reached the Great Thunder Temple on Mount Ling, in front of the Buddha.
At this point, the play "The True and False Monkey King" is nearing its end. With Buddha pointing out the Six-Eared Macaque, Zhou Sheng only needs to strike with his staff to complete the task.
But at that moment, the Bodhisattva, who had been quietly watching the show, smiled slightly, and an invisible phantom quietly flew out from the jade bottle in her palm.
The Dragon Girl was slightly excited upon seeing this.
She knew the time was right; the Bodhisattva had finally made her move.
...(End of this chapter)