I was forced to cultivate immortality when I just wanted to lie down

Chapter 273 A Thousand Years of Opera, Unable to Express Deepest Feelings

The proclamation to the people stated that there was a merchant named Luojia from the Western Regions who did not believe in ghosts or gods. He would gamble with others at night, and would stay up all night drunk in the east wing of the theater. The next day, his body was ashen and his belly swollen as if he were pregnant. When he was cut open, his cavity was filled with rotten grass.

Looking at the wine made from mud and the delicacies made from rotten grass, Xu Qing finally understood how the foreign merchant had died.

It must be said that the people of the Western Regions really don't discriminate between meat and vegetables, and can eat anything. Xu Qing remembered that a year ago, a person from Yuhang opened a restaurant in Tianjin, and the first signature dish was Yuhang vinegar fish.

Xuan Yu was very interested in this so-called signature dish, so Xu Qing took it to the restaurant when he had nothing else to do and tasted the so-called signature vinegar fish.

Since then, the zombie and the cat have never been to that restaurant again, and they even turn pale at the mere mention of Yuhang cuisine.

As expected, the restaurant eventually closed down. At the time, no one in Tianjin felt sorry for it, except for a man from the Western Regions who inquired everywhere about where to find Yuhang Vinegar Fish.

He even said that this was his favorite food, and that it was simply one of the most delicious foods in Dayong.

Xu Qing was quite surprised when he first heard this, but he understood when he learned that the other party was from India.

In the theater, Xu Qing looked back at the stage. After the group of actors finished performing, a man dressed as a general was suddenly pushed onto the stage by the actors.

The general had four flags planted behind him, and his face was covered in shiny black paint; it was unclear which role he was playing.

Xu Qing felt that the general looked very familiar. When the general walked slowly and weakly to the front of the stage, Xu Qing immediately recognized him.

Isn't this the Boss Liu he's been looking for?
How did Boss Liu, who sings female roles, end up dressed as a general?
Just as Xu Qing was wondering what was going on, he heard a soft "ee-yah" sound, which came from Boss Liu, who looked like a general.

"Spur your horses to the mountain pass, call out to the men! With swords and spears drawn, we shall surely break through this Tiger Wolf Pass!"

Xu Qing frowned as he listened. He was not a performer who had not passed the imperial examinations and could sing opera. Although he could not say that he was particularly good at singing opera, his ability to appreciate opera was no less than that of those old opera fans and spectators.

Aside from his voice being slightly hoarse, the general sung by Boss Liu was impeccable. However, Xu Qing could tell that Boss Liu was not singing willingly. After all, what general starts crying as soon as he appears on stage?

Xu Qing frowned and asked the turtle, "Overlord, what's the name of this play? Which big shot from the theater is performing it?"

"This play is called Dingguanshan. The actor is my junior apprentice. He's not a big shot, just a newcomer who hasn't finished his apprenticeship yet. You can just call him Xiao Si'er!"

Little Fourth.
Xu Qing looked at the fake overlord. Although the man's face was painted with greasepaint, Xu Qing could still tell his identity from his tone of voice and expression.

Back in the day, the Tianxin Sect had a protector who betrayed his master and ancestors. When he was still working in the theater, people called him Little Fourth!

Later, when Master Shan of Tianjin celebrated his birthday, the troupe leader put on a grand show and gave Xiao Si as a birthday gift to Master Shan, who often listened to Xiao Si's performances, so that Xiao Si could keep Master Shan company for one night.

On that day, Xiao Si'er put on red makeup, wore beautiful clothes, and her face was radiant with happiness. She smiled at everyone she met, as if she had never been so happy before.

On that very day, a major poisoning case occurred in Tianjin. More than half of the guests who had been invited to watch the opera and celebrate the birthday died, while the troupe leader and Xiao Si's fellow apprentices all perished.

Later, after Xiao Si'er left Tianjin, she visited a famous master and learned the Yin-Yang Reversal Method. From then on, she transformed into a fearsome female demon and female Yama in the Tianxin Sect.

Xu Qing glanced back at Boss Liu on the stage. Boss Liu was a real woman. She was the master he hired for the embroiderer. How did she become Xiao Si'er?

The troupe leader chimed in, "Among my prized students, besides Ba Wang, Xiao Si sings the best!"

"Now that I'm getting old, I'm afraid I won't last many more years. If I can't watch Xiao Si'er learn all the skills of the opera troupe and restore the glory of my Pear Fragrance Garden, I won't be at peace even if I die!"

Xu Qing narrowed his eyes and interrupted, "No matter how unwilling you are, you can't let one person sing all the roles of male, female, painted-face, and clown. She doesn't have three heads and six arms, and one voice can't sing the whole theater. Besides, she's a perfectly good girl who sings female roles, and you're making her play a man and sing a general's role. Isn't that asking the impossible?"

"Also, look closely and see if she is really Xiao Si'er!"

"I said she's Xiao Si'er, and she is Xiao Si'er!" Upon hearing this, the troupe leader suddenly stood up. He stared intently at Liu Su'e on the stage, as if possessed, and said, "The opera house cannot fall apart, the stage of Lixiangyuan cannot collapse, it must not be destroyed in my hands!"

“I don’t care if she’s Xiao Si or anyone else. Now that she’s entered the theater and learned my plays, she has to listen to me. Whatever I tell her to learn, she has to learn! If I say she’s a man, then she is a man!”

“If she still can’t sing well, I’ll skin her alive! I’ll take on new apprentices and restore the prestige of my opera house.”

As the troupe leader was speaking, Liu Su'e on the stage suddenly shouted to Xu Qing, "Manager Xu, hurry up! This is the Ghost Garden, and they are not living people!"

Xu Qing pondered for a moment, then calmly said, "You are the embroiderer's apprentice, I need to take you out."

“This place is fraught with danger and danger, and tigers and wolves roam freely. How can I possibly get out? You don’t need to worry about me. I have already taught my skills to my sister, the embroiderer. Even if I die, it will be worth it.”

After speaking, Boss Liu on the stage finally succumbed to exhaustion. She changed her singing style and sang sadly, "The water chestnut flower is broken and fallen, the knot of our hearts is untied, when will we be reunited?"

"Little Wenjun's fate was thin, she was not blessed to ride in a fragrant carriage... I return your fragrant silks and green sleeves, let bygones be bygones for your romantic life. This meeting has become our final farewell! You must go eventually, and how can I part with you!"

Xu Qing's head throbbed as he listened.

What I'm saying is, given the current situation, don't try to add more drama to your performance. There's no one else in the theater, so who are you going to sing for?
When the troupe leader heard Boss Liu, dressed as a general, start singing female roles, he couldn't sit still any longer.

What's the difference between this and osmanthus cake with fried pork intestines, or candied hawthorn skewers dipped in chili sauce? Isn't this a complete waste of good food?!

"What a stubborn brat! Today I will cleanse the sect of our ancestors!"

On stage, Liu Su'e suddenly sang in a clear voice, "I am a beautiful woman, not a man!"

Today and tomorrow, in years and months to come.

Upon hearing Boss Liu's line, the senior brother of the opera troupe playing the fake overlord suddenly trembled, straightened up abruptly, and no longer bowed his head or bent over!

"Yu Ji, do not be afraid!"

The Overlord roused himself and leaped onto the stage in three quick steps. Xu Qing, who was about to make a move, exclaimed in surprise and stopped what he was doing.

"Who dares to step forward! Who dares to hurt her!"

The fake overlord drew his sword and stood in front of Boss Liu. All around him were various opera ghosts, including male, female, painted-face, and clown characters. These people were originally his fellow disciples!

In the past, the eldest disciple of Lixiangyuan was beaten to death by the troupe leader for protecting Xiao Si'er.

Today, the past is being relived!
"Though I die today, I am still the Hegemon-King of Western Chu!"

The eldest disciple's words were like thunderclaps, and the surrounding disciples were so frightened that they dared not step forward.

At this moment, the troupe leader in the audience suddenly spoke up and cursed, "Even the true Overlord couldn't protect Yu Ji, how dare you, a fake Overlord, defy the heavens?"

"What are you all standing there for? Take down this fake tyrant!"

Upon hearing this, the ghosts immediately gained courage and pounced on their eldest brother like hungry wolves seeing lambs.

The eldest brother originally had some courage, but as soon as his master said that, his courage completely disappeared!
Just as ghostly figures appeared on the stage, and a group of little devils were about to devour their senior brother alive, a loud slap suddenly echoed across the stage.

The ghosts, who were still fighting amongst themselves, turned around and saw their troupe leader lying on his back on the ground, retreating backwards on all fours.

Xu Qing shook his hand, bent down, grabbed the troupe leader, and threw him back onto the chair.

Then, Xu Qing put one foot on the armrest of the chair, grabbed the old troupe leader's collar with one hand, turned around and scanned the stage, cursing:
"A bunch of bullies who prey on the weak! They have no ability themselves and can't even support their own theater, yet they make things difficult for others."

Xu Qing turned her head to look at the troupe leader and slapped him across the face. "If you're so capable, then dress up as a man and a woman and perform all the plays in the theater!"

Snapped! Another slap.

"If you're so talented, why don't you sing 'The Beautiful Woman'? You even call others fake tyrants, but I think you're more like a turtle!"

"You old bastard!"

After a few slaps, the troupe leader sobbed and his ghostly form faded away.

Looking back at the stage, the group of little devils remained silent for a moment before scattering like birds and beasts.

After dealing with the opera troupe leader, Xu Qing turned around and went to the front of the stage.

"Alright, stop crying with your head in your hands. You may not be a real overlord, but you still have some backbone and are worthy of playing the role of an overlord."

Huddled on the stage, the helpless senior brother finally regained his composure. He came to his senses and glanced at Liu Su'e.

"You're not Xiao Si'er, and I'm not Ba Wang."

The senior disciple, having emerged from the influence of the Necromancer's Realm, felt somewhat dejected, but mostly relieved.

He turned to face Xu Qing, bowed three times, and then, just like a tyrant, raised his sword, held it across his neck, sighed to the sky, and as the sword fell, the tyrant's figure gradually faded and disappeared from the stage.

Under the stage.

Why aren't you afraid of them?

Liu Su'e asked.

"Why be afraid?"

Xu Qing laughed and said, "When people die, they become ghosts, and ghosts are transformed from humans. What is there to be afraid of?"

"But."

“I know what you’re going to say. You’re a woman, so it’s reasonable that you’re controlled by a ghost because of your strong yin energy. But I’m different.” Xu Qing said seriously, “I’m a man, so I’m strong in yang energy. When someone like me sees a ghost, I just fight it with all my might. If I win, great. If I lose, I’m just like it.”

It seemed to make some sense, and Liu Su'e even believed it to be true for a moment.

"No wonder they targeted me; it's because I have too much yin energy."

Regardless of what Boss Liu behind him thought, Xu Qing continued chanting the sutra of salvation to guide the souls of the dead in the theater as he walked backstage to the opera troupe.

There were several red-lacquered opera boxes with peeling paint, and official seals were affixed to them.

Xu Qing opened the wooden boxes one by one. Inside, there was a wailing and sobbing sound, with ghostly mist and eerie energy floating around, as if there were all sorts of opera characters practicing their singing inside.

When the ghostly mist dissipated, all that could be seen were blood-stained theatrical robes, old facial masks, and some stage props.

Why is Manager Xu here?

“I heard that someone saw you enter the theater, and coincidentally I had something to ask you, so I decided to come and see for myself.”

"Did you need something from me?"

"This matter is not urgent. I will discuss it with Boss Liu in detail after we return to Linjiang."

Liu Su'e followed behind Xu Qing, and when she saw him shake off the blood-stained opera robe, she couldn't help but ask, "Why is there so much blood on this robe?"

"You don't know? There was a major poisoning case in Tianjin that was related to this theater. The person who poisoned her was called Xiao Si'er, and she was, well, a beautiful young woman."

Xu Qing thought of Qing Luo's practice of the Yin-Yang Reversal Technique, which meant he could no longer be considered a man, so he changed his mind halfway through.

"That Overlord"

Liu Su'e suddenly remembered the opera ghost who jumped onto the stage to protect her. This ghost had risked his life to protect Xiao Si'er; could it be that he too had been harmed by Xiao Si'er?
"I've heard about this before. That overlord was the senior disciple of the opera house. He died earlier, not from poisoning."

While they were talking, Xu Qing took advantage of Liu Su'e's inattention and put the opera box into the landscape painting.

"Hey? Was there a theatrical box here just now?"

Xu Qing glanced at it casually and said, "The notice outside says that this is the Ghost Realm, which is what you call the Ghost Garden. The things inside are a mix of real and fake. You must have been hallucinating."

"."

Liu Su'e looked around warily, her body unconsciously moving closer to Xu Qing.

"Brother Xu, let's get out of here quickly, it looks really creepy."

Xu Qing seemed not to notice the change in how Liu Su'e addressed him. After leading her out of the theater, he said, "Ms. Liu, please wait a moment. I left something in the garden. I'll be right back."

"This garden is too dangerous. Why don't we come during the day?"

"It's alright, Mr. Liu, don't worry."

"Then you'd better be careful."

Xu Qing circled back, and before he even reached the theater, he eagerly pulled out the corpse-finding compass from his hand.

The senior brother of the opera troupe, that fake overlord was beaten to death by the troupe leader. This matter could not withstand the investigation of the government or the gossip of outsiders. So in Qingluo's revolving lantern, the fake overlord died because his injuries relapsed while practicing his skills and he accidentally fell off the stage.

After the fake overlord died, the troupe leader ordered his body to be buried in the willow grove behind the theater.

Now, decades have passed, and the theater has changed drastically. It's unknown whether the willow trees behind the theater are still there.

However, this was no challenge for Xu Qing.

He took out the opera robe that the Overlord had left on the stage, used magic to urge incantations and recite the corpse-finding incantation, and soon found the location of the willow grove.

Digging pits and exhuming corpses, turning pages of scriptures to guide people to salvation.

Xu Qing relived the grudges between the senior apprentice of the opera house and the opera troupe, and finally received a top-grade reward: the Ghost Play Picture.

Unfolding the "Playing Ghosts" painting reveals scenes strikingly similar to those of Pear Fragrance Garden from decades ago. On the stages connected by the painting's corridors, the male, female, painted-face, clown, and old men each occupy their own space, their extraordinary and lifelike appearances astonishing.

But the most amazing thing is the scene in the very center of the stage where the Overlord and Consort Yu appear together.

Xu Qing activated his Yin energy, and the Overlord and Consort Yu immediately came back to life.

With a soft "ee-yah," a peerless singing voice, clear and resonant, filled the air, displaying the might of a hegemon; and there was also the melodious and lingering voice of Yu Ji, like the cry of a nightingale.

The two opera styles, accompanied by drumbeats and the sound of the erhu, carried far and wide through the deep, secluded forest.
(End of this chapter)