clue
Jiang Yingyue's hand gripping the sword hilt was bulging with veins, her gaze sweeping across the empty backstage area with piercing intensity. A corner of a costume in the corner was lifted by the wind, revealing half a footprint stained with cinnabar. Following the footprint, she saw a jade plaque engraved with the three characters "Heavenly Alliance" rolling out of a pile of debris.
Sure enough, it must have been a Heavenly Dao Alliance disciple who participated in the massacre of the sect. Although Jiang Yingyue was angry, she still silently left the jade token.
Just then, a slight noise came from the entrance, and Jiang Yingyue immediately hid herself among the costumes. Two people walked in from outside: "These are the rules set by the head of the family. No matter what you say, it won't work. No one will listen to you."
It sounded like a man, but soon another person spoke up: "The head of the troupe? Don't forget who abandoned us without a word and ran away. If it weren't for me, this troupe would have disbanded long ago!"
This man was probably also an opera singer; his voice was high-pitched, and his speech naturally carried that style, always very loud, with occasional coughs. It seemed he was the current head of the Mirror Flower Terrace troupe.
"You all love sticking to those ridiculous rules. You've turned down so many rich and powerful people. Do you even see if the Ye family will let us perform again?" After saying that, the troupe leader suddenly coughed violently, and even his body was a little unsteady. Jiang Yingyue held her breath and hid in the pile of costumes. The unique coolness of the silk touched her skin, and the smell of old perfume filled her nostrils. Even she couldn't help but sigh through the gaps. This troupe leader was so thin that he was afraid he would be blown away by the wind.
Jiang Yingyue was listening intently when she suddenly heard the sound of fabric rubbing together. An old wooden box in the corner suddenly tipped over, and old wood shavings fell down, startling the two of them so much that they turned around abruptly.
"Who's there?" The troupe leader's voice suddenly rose, sharp as a broken suona horn. He staggered and grabbed a wooden stool beside him, his thin knuckles turning white. Jiang Yingyue had a bad feeling, but at that moment her lower back bumped into the costume rack, and the costume embroidered with gold thread collapsed with a crash, completely exposing her.
The man instantly drew a short blade from his waist, its cold gleam pressed against her throat: "Who are you? What are you doing here?"
The troupe leader approached, breathing heavily. His pale face was flushed with a sickly redness, his eyes were red at the corners, and his disheveled hair hung down. His thin figure swayed precariously in the oversized costume. Suddenly, his cloudy eyes widened and stared intently at the jade pendant peeking out from Jiang Yingyue's bosom. His Adam's apple bobbed up and down: "You're from the Heavenly Dao Alliance?"
Before Jiang Yingyue could answer, he gestured for the people beside him to put down their weapons: "Put down your knives, Qingxiao."
As Qingxiao sheathed his sword, he still kept a wary eye on Jiang Yingyue. The crisp sound of the blade going back into its sheath was particularly jarring in the quiet backstage area.
This man had messy black hair tied back casually, with a few strands hanging in front of his forehead. He was nearly 1.8 meters tall, with a sturdy build, broad shoulders and a thick back. He looked like someone who had practiced martial arts for many years, and there was a fierce look in his eyes.
It seems that the troupe leader has misunderstood my identity. However, since he made Qingxiao put down his knife, he should not be hostile to me. I might as well take this opportunity to ask the troupe leader about the "Sun Ruquan".
"But what does Alliance Leader Bai need Mirror Flower Terrace for?" The troupe leader asked directly, leaving Jiang Yingyue momentarily speechless. Qing Xiao, standing to the side, clicked his tongue in exasperation: "We have no connection with the Heavenly Dao Alliance, so why be so polite?"
Immediately afterward, Qingxiao turned to stare at Jiang Yingyue: "If Alliance Leader Bai really had something to discuss, why would he allow his subordinates to sneak into the backstage area and eavesdrop for so long? Who exactly are you, and what are your intentions?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
