Chapter 404
Traitor
Upon hearing Zhou Sheng's words, Yao Taifeng's beautiful face trembled slightly. Before she could ask any further questions, Zhou Sheng's words rang out again.
"Don't worry, what I mean is, after we finish singing this 'Exploring the Underworld Mountain,' we'll be free. We won't need to take on any more roles, and we won't have to worry about anyone else."
“We can sing whenever we want, and rest when we don’t. Don’t you like traveling? I’ll accompany you on your travels around the world first.”
Zhou Sheng smiled warmly and calmly put away his fishing rod. His gentle voice had a reassuring quality.
Yao Taifeng glared at him and said, "The older you get, the more you talk big."
Zhou Sheng didn't mind at all, and just smiled nonchalantly.
She paused for a moment, then looked down at the Juxianlou restaurant, her gaze seemingly piercing through the backstage area to see the group of young men.
They were all aspiring Yin Opera masters, both men and women, their eyes still brimming with youthful vigor, enthusiastically discussing Zhou Sheng with expressions of adoration.
"You are now the most popular person in the Yinxi lineage, especially these younger generation, they practically worship you like a god. I think that as long as you, Boss Zhou, just beckon with your finger, there will be plenty of young girls throwing themselves at you."
She was all too familiar with that look in her eyes—the way those inexperienced young girls looked at Zhou Sheng, just like she had looked back then.
"Cough cough."
Having already survived four heavenly tribulations, wielded a portion of the Great Dao of Time, and won the title of the King of Yin Plays, Zhou Sheng now showed a rare hint of unease.
"I didn't mean anything by it, I just wanted to help these junior brothers and sisters avoid some detours..."
He quickly explained, taking the fair and slender hand in his, and said with a smile, "I'm not like that lewd old man, Master. Of all the waters in the world, one drop is enough."
"is it?"
Yao Taifeng said with a half-smile, "Then why does someone often wake up in the middle of the night and stare blankly at the zither?"
Zhou Sheng was taken aback, then urged the Great Dao, stepped out of that River of Time, and traced back time. A fleeting illusion flashed before his eyes, and he returned to a moment earlier.
Given his current level of cultivation, returning to a very short period in the past, without involving too much karma, would not be too taxing for him.
"The older you get, the more likely you are to make empty promises."
Yao Taifeng glared at him and teased him. Just as she looked at the young shamans backstage, about to say something, Zhou Sheng quickly interrupted her.
“Hongying, when do you think Hongxian will come back? It’s been three years, I really miss her.”
Yao Taifeng was indeed drawn to the topic, a hint of nostalgia in her eyes, and said, "Yes, people are strange. When she was around, I thought she was clumsy and noisy, but now that she's been gone for so long, I really miss her..."
"Could this be what it feels like to be a mother?"
She paused, then turned her gaze to Zhou Sheng with a smile, her voice becoming much softer and more alluring.
"It's been three years. I wonder when someone will let me experience... what it's really like to be a mother?"
Zhou Sheng was immediately embarrassed, and suddenly felt that it was not as good as the previous topic.
……
The next day, early morning.
There is only one day left until the Ghost Festival.
He dressed, feeling refreshed, and walked out of the room to Juxianlou.
The young actors who were about to graduate all lived here. The closer it got to the Ghost Festival, the more nervous they became. Many of them started practicing their roles early in the morning.
When they saw Zhou Sheng appear, their eyes lit up with excitement, and they greeted him repeatedly.
Looking at those still-childish faces, Zhou Sheng couldn't help but feel a pang of emotion, as if he were seeing his younger self in them.
Only three years had passed since he completed his apprenticeship, but it felt as if thirty years had gone by.
“Jiulang, when you pronounce the words ‘Zhangguan’, your throat is too tight. Tightness makes you look cowardly. Note that Lin Chong’s tone at this moment is one of grief and indignation, not sorrow.”
"Brother Mu, your Meridian Stance is very standard, but your sword technique is too soft, and the force is not penetrating enough..."
"Stop, this move 'Pearl Curtain Rolls Back' is the White Crane Boy's specialty. Your movements are fluid, but your breath is disordered, and there's no immortal energy in your sword..." Zhou Sheng casually pointed out their moves, his words concise yet always hitting the nail on the head, and then personally demonstrated it.
His voice was as clear as metal and stone, his movements were superb, especially his sword dance, which was ethereal and harmonious, as beautiful as a painting.
These novice ghost performers were so engrossed in watching that they seemed to have temporarily forgotten about the Ghost Festival performance the following day.
This is the charm of traditional Chinese opera.
After teaching them, Zhou Sheng casually tossed the borrowed sword, and with a clang, it pierced the man's sheath like a rainbow, his movements swift as lightning and graceful as a ball.
Although he had already transcended the tribulation and become a human immortal, and was even only one step away from becoming an earth immortal, in Zhou Sheng's heart, Yin Xi had always been his root.
He was happiest and most carefree when he was performing opera, which gave him a sense of exhilarating pleasure.
That was a passion that had been deeply ingrained in my bones through countless days and nights of hard work since I was a child.
Therefore, he was unwilling to watch the dark arts he loved gradually disappear.
Even without the dragon vein, he still wanted to do something for Yinxi.
"Tomorrow, you will face the most severe test in your careers as Yin Opera performers. With a major battle imminent, it is better to relax than to be tense. There will be no performance tonight. You are all given a break to relax and recharge."
Zhou Sheng looked at them one by one, as if trying to memorize each of their faces.
"Mr. Zhou, I wonder where Senior Yu and the others are these days? It seems like it's been a long time since I've seen them?"
A young sorcerer suddenly spoke up and asked.
Zhou Sheng smiled faintly and said, "They...have their own things to do."
The young sorcerer's eyes flickered slightly, and he lowered his head.
That night.
The Yin Opera masters, who had been cooped up in Juxianlou for two months, decided to go out together, knowing that this might very well be their last feast.
It wasn't until late at night that the young sorcerer, whom he had questioned during the day, excused himself to go to the restroom and quietly went to the crossroads outside, where he burned a piece of yellow paper.
The yellow paper quickly turned to ashes and swirled away.
After doing all this, he quietly breathed a sigh of relief, returned to his seat, and continued to drink heartily.
……
The underworld, the palace of Yama.
King Yama sat on his throne, sixteen feet tall, wearing a twelve-chapter Netherworld robe woven from the Xuanqiong cloak and a nine-tasseled crown, his divine might as well besieged, looking down upon all the ghosts and gods.
The newly promoted judge of the Investigation Division trembled with fear below the stage, while the Ten Underworld Marshals, the Day and Night Wanderers, the Black and White Impermanence, the Ox-Head and Horse-Face, and others all bowed their heads in obedience.
"Reporting to King Yama, Yu Zhensheng, after recovering his cultivation, still harbors evil intentions. Together with Yu Tianheng, he killed many underworld officials, the number of whom is exactly the same as the number of underworld performers who died at last year's Ghost Festival. This is a show of force against us!"
"Heh, a bunch of actors, just because a strongman has appeared, they dare to be so arrogant?"
"We won't miss a single ghost play from this year's Ghost Festival!"
Of course, there were also dissenting voices.
Judge Wei stepped forward, looked at the assembled officials, and spoke in a righteous voice.
"Aren't you all afraid that Yu Zhensheng will sing 'Exploring Yin Mountain' again if you act this way?"
The entire room fell silent, eyes darting around.
At this moment, Yama finally spoke.
"The 'Exploring Yin Mountain' song will be sung tomorrow... on the Ghost Festival."
...(End of this chapter)