Chapter 131
Winter is approaching, and darkness falls quickly, with heavy clouds pressing down on the high sky.
The ancient town sits in a scenic area with strings of red lanterns hanging down on both sides of the road, their bells swaying in the breeze, and white paper tags gently bobbing. Tourists come and go at the entrance, their laughter filling the air as they take photos with their phones.
From this angle, the entire ancient town looks perfectly normal.
However, no sound of life could be heard from the surrounding residential buildings and shops; all the lights went out without anyone noticing, plunging the place into deathly silence.
Buildings surround the ancient town, standing silently one after another, like a dark jungle lurking with unknown dangers.
The bustling sounds of people echoed like a tide, and the lanterns of the ancient town became even more vibrant and dazzling, like a flickering candle in the darkness, enticing people to come.
Xie Xubai parked his car some distance from the ancient town and quietly gazed at the orange-red lights.
His thin face was reflected in the car window, his eyebrows and eyes were deep and clear, and all the ripples that were about to rise were instantly hidden in his eyes.
"It's very gloomy today, it might rain in a while." Xie Xubai glanced at the time on his phone, it was only six o'clock, and it was already completely dark. He turned to them and said, "How about we come back in a few days?"
Pei Yuheng: "Anything is fine. I can ask for leave again anytime."
Ping An glanced indifferently at the ancient town in the distance, then looked back at Xie Xubai, wagging its tail. As long as Xie Xubai was there, it didn't care where it went.
Xie Kaile looked at Xie Xubai, then at the ancient town, and pursed his lips: "Teacher, it looks like someone is selling umbrellas at the entrance."
Xie Xubai looked over and saw a pair of smiling middle-aged women selling umbrellas next to the stone tablet. He hadn't seen them before, and wondered if they had sensed that it was about to rain and had come out to sell.
Suddenly, the woman turned her head and, through the crowded throng, looked precisely at Xie Xubai and the others, her smile growing increasingly enigmatic.
They were at least a hundred meters away from the ancient town, but the people in the car could still clearly see the old woman's face. Her features looked ordinary and simple at first glance, but upon closer inspection, they revealed an indescribable stiffness, as if they had been painted on.
Pei Yuheng frowned, stared at the old woman, and then re-examined the ancient town for a while. Finally, he looked at Xie Xubai, suddenly changed his mind, and said with a smile, "Since we're already at the entrance, why don't we go in and take a look?"
Xie Xubai said helplessly, "This place looks rather strange. You still want to go in and have fun?"
"Does it matter?" Pei Yuheng said calmly. "Apart from you, who else in this car is normal?"
Upon hearing the sound, Xie Xubai looked around the car. The three ghost kings and a bunch of vengeful spirits made the old woman's lifeless face seem lively and vivid.
He suddenly chuckled: "I just picked this random place. I don't think your son is any more normal."
Almost as soon as the car door opened, the crowd that had been walking and stopping at the entrance of the ancient town suddenly stopped and turned their heads in unison.
Dozens of pairs of clear black and white eyes stared intently at Xie Xubai as he got off the car, their eyes filled with drool, like monsters eyeing the fragrant flesh of Tang Sanzang.
But then Xie Kaile got out of the car.
Then came Pei Yuheng, Ping An, and the cats and dogs emanating black death energy.
Seeing that the cats and dogs didn't land directly, but instead floated into the air with their sharp claws and fangs exposed, flying around like a chaotic dance of demons, the faces of the umbrella-selling lady and the tourists finally changed little by little.
At this time, Pei Yuheng and the others did not reveal the aura of the Ghost King.
As Xie Xubai turned to lock the car, the people who had been waiting there casually turned their heads and glanced at the astonished crowd.
Crimson blood covered the original color of his pupils; the warmth was gone, replaced only by coldness and ferocity. An irresistible pressure rippled outwards like a tsunami.
When Xie Xubai turned around again, he found that the once "lively" entrance to the ancient town had suddenly become deserted. Everyone had scattered like birds and beasts, and he could vaguely see a few figures fleeing in panic.
Xie Xubai: "..."
Ping An yawned, snuggled up to his feet, and wagged its tail. The boy's face was full of innocent charm. Pei Yuheng said, "Let's go buy an umbrella. Do you have any change?"
The umbrella seller didn't run away, not because she didn't want to, but because she couldn't. The consciousness of the three demon kings was firmly locked onto her, as if any movement would cause her soul to be scattered.
There was no QR code next to the stall, so Xie Xubai paid in cash. Under the watchful eyes of the two people and a dog next to him, the old lady tremblingly took out her umbrella to make change.
Xie Xubai asked, "This is our first time in this town. We don't know what fun entertainment options are available. Do you have any recommendations?"
The middle-aged woman's expression stiffened, and she shrank back like a quail, stammering, "I haven't been here long, I only know..."
She suddenly paused, mechanically replying, "I know that if you follow this road further in, there's a Hongyin Grand Theater deep inside. They hire famous actors there, and the plays are quite good. Many people still remember them fondly. It's the most famous theater around here."
Xie Xubai paused abruptly, his calm gaze sharpening as he looked at the older woman and asked again, "Besides that?"
The middle-aged woman was like a puppet whose spring had been unwound; she kept her mouth shut, staring blankly into silence.
But perhaps it was the intense gazes of those around Xie Xubai that made her tremble, and she still spoke hesitantly: "Just a few steps in is the night market. The first half sells food and drinks, and the second half has cultural and creative exhibitions..."
After asking the question, Xie Xubai took a few steps away and took out the change he had just received. The blue and green coins had turned into a stack of ghost money.
Then, picking up the umbrellas he bought from the other party—various patterns of plastic umbrellas—in the blink of an eye, they transformed into white umbrellas made of paper.
Looking back at the entrance of the ancient town, the old lady had indeed disappeared without a trace.
Pei Yuheng, who was standing next to him, took the ghost umbrellas and ghost coins and examined them in his hand: "They are just some ghosts, but their forms are weak and their power is insufficient. They seem to be ownerless, and I don't know why they can continue to exist. With these things, if something happens, we won't have to worry about whether we can find her again."
“She mentioned the town’s theater earlier, and you seemed a little interested.” Pei Yuheng looked at Xie Xubai. “Go if you want.”
Upon hearing this, Xie Xubai knew that they must have noticed something, making his deliberate concealment seem somewhat naive.
—Although I didn’t really hide it.
He chuckled and sighed, "Aren't you all angry?"
"No." Xie Kaile quickly shook his head, his eyes sparkling as he looked at Xie Xubai, chuckling to himself, "Teacher, you have no idea how happy I am."
The boy recalled that last week, Xie Xubai said there was an incident at the hospital and he would have to work overtime and wouldn't be home until a day later.
It's only one day later.
But when the door opened and Xie Xubai stood in the dimly lit corridor, smiling at him as always, an indescribable feeling of palpitations and bitterness surged into the young man's heart like a tidal wave.
He couldn't help but rush up and hug Xie Xubai, who then hugged him back.
No matter how relaxed and natural Xie Xubai appeared, to his close family members, those subtle changes were enough to tell the story of all the hardships and difficulties he had endured.
The boy finally couldn't contain himself any longer and, in a tearful voice, begged Xie Xubai to take him along on his next dangerous adventure. Unexpectedly, the teacher actually took this impulsive request to heart and soon asked him with a smile if he wanted to go to Hongyin Ancient Town together.
Based on Xie Xubai's past practices, the other party would simply find an excuse and come alone at a time when no one knew about it to investigate.
The boy didn't know what his teacher had gone through, or who had changed him to be willing to reveal his situation and try to get their help. He only knew that his teacher must have struggled with the decision many times before finally giving in.
So when the other person suddenly suggested going home on the bus, the boy, who always unconditionally obeyed his teacher, suddenly mustered up the courage to suggest staying.
So he was really happy.
Xie Xubai sensed the boy's feelings, paused for a moment, then chuckled and patted the boy's head.
"Then let's go."
Pei Yuheng observed this without asking any further questions, only briefly mentioning that the formation of this place was very strange, supported by the Yin Sha power of the Ghost King's domain, yet the Ghost King's presence could not be sensed.
Normally, there are three Ghost Kings on their side. Let alone entering the other party's territory, even getting close would feel like being pricked by needles, causing the owner of this place to become irritable and disgusted.
However, after such a long time, the [rules] have not been triggered, nor has the local evil king appeared in a fit of rage to expel the outsiders.
Territoriality is innate and tied to the territory one governs; even if one temporarily leaves for other reasons, one will still be aware of it.
There was absolutely no movement; it was quite strange.
Even the well-informed Pei Yuheng had never encountered such a situation before.
The direction the umbrella-selling woman pointed to was a single road with no forks.
Walk through the alley, winding forward, and at the end is a theater.
With its white walls, vermilion tiles, and red pillars, this is an antique-style opera stage, with celebratory red lanterns hanging under the eaves.
It is magnificent and towering, with luxurious decorations. The plaque above the theater reads "Hongyin Grand Theater". Even though it is old and the paint is peeling, it can still be distinguished from the houses next to it at a glance.
Almost immediately after Xie Xubai and the others stepped into the open space in front of the theater, the dark interior of the theater was suddenly illuminated.
In less than half a second, the room went from being empty and silent to bustling with activity, and a soft and beautiful melody could be faintly heard coming from behind the screen in the hall.
Several men dressed as waiters from the Republican era rushed out and greeted them with great enthusiasm: "Distinguished guests, please come in!"
Xie Xubai stepped in front of them, glanced at them discreetly, and said with a hint of regret, "I'm sorry, we were in a hurry when we left and accidentally forgot our tickets. Do you know where the ticket office is?"
"It's alright, it's alright." One of the waiters smiled without fading. "You don't need a ticket to see the opera."
"No tickets?" Xie Xubai raised an eyebrow, seemingly joking as he asked, "But we can't just listen to this play for free, can we? And if we don't use tickets, what are they for?"
He flipped his hand and pulled out the theater tickets. He had said he'd forgotten to bring them, but he hadn't said he didn't have any; it was a bit of a word game.
Upon seeing the ticket, the smiles of the waiters deepened—no, "smile" was an understatement; their expressions were shock and ecstasy! Like drowning people spotting a lifeline amidst raging waves.
"A ticket! He has a ticket!"
They practically pounced on Xie Xubai: "Come in, come in! You have a ticket, you can hear whatever you want!"
As she spoke, she tried to forcefully pull Xie Xubai inside.
But before they could even touch anyone, the boy and the middle-aged man next to them instantly grabbed their wrists with grim faces. With a forceful pull, the men cried out in pain, their faces turning pale.
Xie Xubai gently patted Pei Yuheng and the other's hands, shaking his head to indicate that they were alright, and the two relaxed. Xie Xubai then asked, "What's the use of the tickets? Why were you so excited to see them?"
The waiter trembled in pain, yet still stared at Xie Xubai with an undisguised fanaticism: "Because only those with tickets are the real guests, able to request and comment on plays. Guest, please request my play, please—"
Before he could finish speaking, it was as if someone had grabbed his throat. His whole body stiffened, black energy filled the air, his eyes widened, and he couldn't utter a word. He looked back, his body trembling.
A beautiful woman stood before the porch, her face partially obscured by a white jade mask. A fan gently covered her lips, and her flowing robes, embroidered with exquisite patterns, swayed lightly with her steps. She walked gracefully, landing silently, and every smile and frown exuded an eerie charm.
With each step the beautiful woman took, several waiters trembled violently; when she reached them, they almost prostrated themselves on the ground, shaking.
A light, chuckling voice came from above: "A few fools who don't know their own limitations, don't they know the rules of the theater, daring to be rude to our honored guests. If these hands don't know where to put them, they might as well be chopped off and fed to the fish."
The men were terrified, tears and snot streaming down their faces. They hurriedly kowtowed and begged for mercy, but the beauty seemed too lazy to even glance at them again. She turned to Xie Xubai and the others, her watery eyes sweeping over them. She gently waved her fan and bowed, saying, "My servants have been presumptuous and have frightened our esteemed guests. Please come this way."
Xie Xubai didn't move. He glanced at the waiters and saw that their pleas for mercy were getting quieter and quieter. He could hardly sense their presence anymore.
The beautiful woman chuckled lightly, "The guest is kind-hearted, but he doesn't know that the people in this theater, including myself, are not worth pitying."
"However, your presence may allow them to prolong their lives a little longer."
As if in response to what the other party had said, the several waiters, who had been getting quieter and quieter, suddenly sprang to their feet, choked on their breath, and vomited out a lot of water!
The shock of surviving a calamity left them drenched in cold sweat, their faces pale and puffy, as if they had been soaked in water. They looked around in terror, and finally bowed deeply to Xie Xubai in gratitude, saying, "Thank you for your kindness, guest! Thank you for your kindness, guest!"
Meeting Xie Xubai's eyes, the beauty smiled slightly and gestured again, "Please come in."
When the waiters shouted the word "ticket" in a commotion, Xie Xubai heard the theater seem to quiet down for a moment, followed by a violent commotion that seemed to lift the ceiling off.
Stepping inside the theater, although it was still bustling with activity and laughter, it was nowhere near as grand as he had sensed earlier.
The guests drank tea and listened to music, and every staff member was doing their job properly. Occasionally, a few burning gazes would sweep over him, but he didn't dare to look at them for long and would leave as soon as they touched them.
Therefore, Xie Xubai did not feel uncomfortable at all.
The beautiful woman led them upstairs to a private room with a screen to shield them from the view of others. On the stage downstairs, someone was singing.
The beautiful woman raised her fan to beckon a waiter over, who asked solicitously, "What kind of tea would you like to drink? We have Songzhong, Maojian, and Milanxiang teas. Or, if you have any other preferences, please feel free to order any drinks or snacks. They are all free with your tickets."
Xie Xubai asked the others and got green tea, cola, and pet chew toys.
The green tea was fine, but the other two items, especially the latter, seemed a bit like a joke. To my surprise, the waiter didn't complain at all and went to prepare them with a smile.
Xie Xubai looked around and noticed many people secretly glancing at him. Finally, his gaze fell on the woman in the cheongsam who was singing. Her soft Wu dialect made people's hearts flutter.
He took out his ticket: "Is the play I selected with this ticket different from the one being performed on stage?"
As soon as the ticket was issued, almost all the staff members' eyes turned to it from all directions.
The beautiful woman in the shimmering dress before him, however, did not show such a strong desire; perhaps she did, but very little.
The other person laughed and said, "She sings a song, you ordered a play, so they're naturally different. But it's the same thing—a performance to please you—so what's the difference?"
Xie Xubai: "Then whose role can I request?"
As if you could hear his words, the faint breathing around you intensified.
The beautiful woman smiled and said, "Anyone working in this theater is welcome."
What benefits do the people who are chosen to perform receive?
"The benefits are enormous. After all, this is a theater. The higher the number of performances, the greater the reputation, the higher the salary and benefits, and naturally, the higher your status will be," the beauty said casually.
Xie Xubai surveyed those gazes, sharper than needles and burning hotter than fire. He asked, "Is that all?"
The beauty couldn't help but chuckle: "It's not 'just these' at all. People in this world are always in a hurry, pursuing nothing more than a few pieces of silver. To gain fame and fortune by performing a play is a blessing that many people crave but cannot obtain."
What he said made perfect sense, leaving no room for rebuttal.
"There's no time limit for requesting a show. If you don't use this ticket now, you can keep coming and going to the theater. The ticket is very valuable, so take your time to look around. If you find a show you particularly like, you can request it later."
As the other person was about to leave, Xie Xubai fiddled with the ticket in his hand, watching the other person's departing figure, and suddenly asked, "Are you also a staff member here?"
The beauty froze, remaining silently in place. After a moment, she turned back and smiled, "Yes."
Xie Xubai: "Is there a man named Lü Xiangcai in this theater?"
Beauty: "Are you asking about my real name or my stage name?"
Xie Xubai: "Ask them all."
"If it's a real name, I've never heard of it. If it's a stage name..."
The beauty chuckled: "Excuse my bluntness, but the guests here all like those who are pretentious. Although the word 'wealth' is nice, it's a bit too vulgar to use as a stage name. I'm afraid no one would use it."
Xie Xubai: "Is that so?"
The beautiful woman shook her head firmly: "No."
"There should be, think about it again."
The beautiful woman was initially puzzled, but then she seemed to suddenly realize something. Her eyes sparkled as she smiled at the other person: "So, you've come for this person, esteemed guest. It's just a pity that I know all the staff in the theater and I'm sure there's no one named Lü Xiangcai. Why don't you go back and ask again?"
Xie Xubai fell silent, looking at the other person in silence.
The beautiful woman half-covered her face with a fan, her eyes showing regret, and bowed slightly as if innocent.
"Alright then." Xie Xubai's expression remained unchanged as he raised his eyes and spoke.
In this unusually quiet atmosphere, apart from the singing, her calm and undisturbed voice was like a thunderclap.
"Anyway, the person I'm looking for isn't here, so there's no point in keeping this ticket. I might as well book your movie."
Author's Note:
Sorry, I wanted to write more, so I'm late QAQ. I'll be giving away 50 small red envelopes in the comments as compensation, first come, first served.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com