Chapter 194: Play

Chapter 194 Play

With Li Huowang's flurry of explanations, and with the help of others, the fire in Jin Shanzhao's heart finally subsided.

As for the so-called reasons Li Huowang had fabricated on the spot, whether Jin Shanzhao believed them was known only to Jin Shanzhao himself.

"Old sir, since we are heading the same way, why not travel together? If we encounter any trouble on the road, we can look out for each other, yes?"

Hearing Li Huowang's words, and recalling the corpses of those bandits from earlier, Jin Shanzhao hesitated for a moment before finally nodding.

"Very well, this old man traveling alone truly feared being snatched away by a tiger someday; with more people walking together, it is safer."

"But True Man, as the saying goes, respect the aged of others as you respect your own; this old man is already past the age of no confusion, if you strike me a few more times, I shall be entering my coffin."

"Naturally not, just now I was indeed rash."

Seeing the other party finally agree, Li Huowang immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

He did not intend to stick to this strange old man deliberately, but feared this person had already recognized him and would report him to others when asked along the way.

Now as long as he stayed by his side, he could keep an eye on everything.

The whole town was bustling with people coming and going; walking among them, their painted faces immediately drew the attention of others.

Many people stopped standing, curiously pointing and chatting about Li Huowang and the others.

"They wouldn't, also recognize us as being from Si Qi, would they?"

This thought had just arisen in Li Huowang's mind before it was extinguished.

Lu Zhuangyuan and the others were not from Si Qi to begin with, nor did they sing Si Qi opera, so suspicion would never fall on that.

However, these people also reminded Li Huowang.

Compared to suspecting they were soldiers from Si Qi, if an opera troupe did not sing opera, it would instead be easier to arouse suspicion.

After pondering for a moment, Li Huowang immediately thought of a countermeasure. "Master Lu, since we are an opera troupe, let us set up a stage and begin singing, look, so many people are waiting."

Acting naturally required acting the whole set.

Hearing Li Huowang's words, the hunchbacked Lu Zhuangyuan nodded repeatedly.

"Quick, quick, quick, did you not hear what the Little Daoist Master said? Find a place to set up the stage." He walked over to the others of the Lu Family Troupe and said.

"Ah... Father, I am exhausted, we just came out of a bandit's den, did we not sing enough in there, let us rest a while before singing..."

Lu Zhuangyuan stole a glance at Li Huowang not far away, picked up his tobacco pipe stem and knocked forcefully on his son's head.

"If I tell you to sing, you sing! Where do you get so much nonsense! When you are my father, then say such words!"

There were no trees or bamboo poles here, unable to set up a proper opera stage.

They could only find a broken wall, drape the big red stage cloth over it, and call it done.

The carriage was led behind the broken wall, serving as the backstage.

Although simple, fortunately the people in the town were not picky, seeing there was opera to watch, they all surrounded it.

Li Huowang naturally could not sit and wait for death. "All go over and help, remember our identity, we are now an opera troupe."

"After the performance, we will go to the inn and rest well."

Li Huowang's words made everyone except Jin Shanzhao move into action.

Playing instruments and singing, these laymen truly could not help much, only able to assist, but even so, it made Lu Zhuangyuan and the others much more relaxed.

Lu Juren, dressed in black clothes, holding a knife, made his entrance on the stage, and the buzzing crowd gradually quieted down.

Others did not applaud, but their eyes were filled with curiosity.

Although Nuo opera was popular in Later Shu, from this point one could see, they did not seem to reject other operas either.

"Dong qiang~ Dong qiang qiang~"

Accompanied by the Lu Family Troupe's opera music, Lu Juren began to sing.

"Now~ ordered~ dispatched~ down~ mountain~ ridge~ Dong qiang~ for~ injustice~ draw~ knife~ assist!!"

Li Huowang constantly scanned among those spectators, using his keen perception, searching for possible risks.

But fortunately, after searching for a while, except for finding a thief stealing money in the crowd, there was nothing else worth noting.

He also saw Jin Shanzhao watching there together, watching very intently.

"Senior Brother Li, before I did not want to give you that scroll of bamboo slips, I just..."

That hesitant voice sounded from behind, it was Chun Xiaoman's voice, Li Huowang raised a hand and interrupted his words.

"I know because you were sold by your family, you always feel uneasy in your heart, but the 'Great Thousand Record' will not do, this thing is very evil."

"If you do not use it well, you will pay with your life."

"Then Senior Brother Li, how can you use it?"

"I..." Li Huowang's hand touched the smooth surface of the 'Great Thousand Record', a trace of bitter smile appeared on his face. "I am used to it."

"Before my words were somewhat heavy, do not blame me, I just have this bad temper, bear with me."

Li Huowang reached out and took out that Daoist Bell, handing it to Chun Xiaoman.

"You take this and use it, although each use requires yang lifespan, at least it is safer than the 'Great Thousand Record'."

Chun Xiaoman reached out and took it, looking at the Daoist Bell in hand, expression surprised looking at Li Huowang.

Having stayed together for so long, she naturally understood the power of this Daoist Bell, that the other party would actually give this thing to herself.

That little unhappiness in her heart, instantly disappeared without a trace.

She wanted to say something, but ultimately it condensed into one sentence. "Thank you Senior Brother Li."

Li Huowang sighed a breath, actually these things, he did not want to give a single one.

It was not selfishness, just these things were one more dangerous than the other.

In this gone-mad world, if one wants to obtain something, one must always pay something.

Just as Li Huowang was teaching Chun Xiaoman the method of using the Daoist Bell, an accident occurred outside.

It was not that some enemy came, but on the stage, Lu Juren's emotion was not right.

Looking at his excited appearance, obviously he had entered the play.

Even though Li Huowang did not understand opera much, he also perceived the opera words in his mouth were obviously not right.

"Rouge powder compares to that enchanting drug!!"

"Hibiscus face is this hook-death spirit!"

"Little golden lotus compares to this vicious demon!"

"Willow waist like is the hobble-horse rope!"

"Romantic eye forces me to wear the green moss hat!"

"A pair of jade wrists thousand people pillow!"

"Half point vermilion lips ten thousand guests chew!"

"Care not he Zhang Wang and Li Zhao!"

"Upon the mandarin-duck pillow, I call~ Jiao Jiao!!"

As he concluded the final verse, Luo Juanhua, wife of Scholar Lu, who had been striking the gong, lifted her copper instrument in grief and rage, smashed it fiercely upon the stage, and rushed toward the wings through her tears.

With a resonant "Clang~," silence fell instantly upon both the stage and the audience below.

After a stunned pause, the crowd below erupted like a boiling pot, applause and cheers merging into a single roar.

"Superb~ This is superb!!"

"Another verse, another verse, ay!!"

"This far outstrips the Nuo opera in spirit! Where does this troupe hail from?"

"Let that young lady who just struck the gong come on stage too, and this young master shall reward her handsomely!"

Copper coins, fragments of silver, and various treats gradually carpeted the ground.

In all the years the Lu Family Troupe had performed, this was the most generous offering of rewards they had ever received.

(End of Chapter)