Terrifying Heavens: I Slay Demons by Painting Faces

"I will definitely give you enough, and the money I give will be enough to ensure you have enough to eat and wear for the rest of your lives. As long as you don't squander it, you will have no worries about food and clothing, and even your descendants will not need to work hard."

Upon hearing this, Master Li's eyes suddenly lit up. He touched his wrinkled face, seemingly trying to hide his embarrassment.

Seeing this, Chen Hengyi immediately took out his phone and started operating it.

Although Master Li seemed a little flustered, he didn't ask any further questions.

A moment later, a transfer notification popped up on Master Li's phone.

Upon seeing it, he exclaimed in surprise, his eyes widening in shock. His fingers trembled as he counted the numbers on the screen, his voice shaking as he muttered, "One, ten... hundred thousand... million... five million!" He was like an old rooster being strangled, wanting to shout but momentarily speechless.

The young men around also rushed over, craning their necks to look at the phone screen, all with the same shocked expression as Master Li.

Seeing this, Chen Hengyi smiled gently and said, "This is a deposit. I'll add a zero to it after the deal is done. If any of you encounter any problems, I can guarantee a very generous resettlement allowance."

"However, I'm not just going to perform one play; I'll need your cooperation for a while."

When he said those words, not only the members of the Li family troupe, but even Master A Long standing to the side swallowed hard.

He simply couldn't imagine that rich people were really that rich? How could spending a hundred million be as easy as spending a few dollars on breakfast?

Even now, Master Along was beginning to suspect that Chen Hengyi might be plotting something—why go to such great lengths to eliminate the Demon God Sa? Wasn't taking such a risk a thankless task?

He knew he shouldn't think that way; what wealthy person would risk their life facing demons and monsters? It was illogical. But regardless, as long as the Demon God could be sealed away, that was enough.

With Chen Hengyi's inhuman financial support, the members of the Li family troupe immediately sprang into action.

Master Li seemed fifty years younger, his energy and spirit no less than the young man beside him. He patted his withered chest and promised resolutely, "You think so highly of us! Rest assured, we will definitely get it done!"

"I, Old Li, will risk my old life to finish this show!"

In the blink of an eye, Chen Hengyi led everyone to the foot of the mountain where the Demon God Sa was sealed.

As soon as he appeared, he saw a layer of extremely eerie black mist covering the mountain—this seemed to be a change brought about by the sight of joy, and he could vaguely see the resentment roaming in the mountain.

As he tried to get a closer look at the black mist, a sharp pain suddenly shot through him. Then, a pair of large eyes, like a lake of blood, suddenly appeared in the mountains—it was the Demon God!

It spotted Chen Hengyi, but only glanced at him deeply without revealing itself—because Chen Hengyi did not step closer to the barrier at that moment.

All that comes out is impotent rage.

Behind Chen Hengyi, a stage is being set up.

He was determined to put on a good show right at the doorstep of the Demon God, right under its nose.

Although the place was eerily dark and the sounds of ghosts howling and wolves wailing could be faintly heard from the mountain, the workers were working with great enthusiasm.

There's no other reason than that Chen Hengyi's financial offensive was too terrifying.

For many people, life may not be the most important thing; as long as they can make money, that's enough.

Their family needs a lot of money.

Before long, the stage was set up.

As dusk fell, the setting sun cast its last rays, as if draping the mountains and forests in a dark blue veil.

The members of the Li family troupe stepped onto the stage and skillfully took out the props needed for "Mulian Saves His Mother"—the story of this play was already very familiar to them.

The story of "Mulian Saves His Mother" is widely circulated. It tells the story of how Mulian, a disciple of the Buddha, saved his mother from suffering in the realm of hungry ghosts.

The stories behind these events also directly influenced the creation of the Ghost Festival.

.......

The clapper sounded with a "dong—", startling even the mountain wind.

Master Li's jujube wood clapper struck three deep rumbles in the twilight, and the lanterns on the stage lit up with a "whoosh." The dim yellow light seemed to be soaked in ink, making the gold threads on the costumes gleam with a ghostly, cold light.

"The drums and gongs begin—"

Master Li's hoarse voice echoed through the mountains and forests, and the air was immediately filled with the sound of gongs and drums beating rapidly.

This is Chen Hengyi's Four Ghosts Drum Band playing in sync with Master Li's rhythm.

"The lamplight illuminates the wall as I fall asleep, the cold rain taps on the window before the quilt is warm—"

The young man dressed as Mulian shook out his black gauze theatrical robe, flicked his water sleeves, and revealed half of his pale face.

He shuffled around the stage with small, quick steps, his singing voice tinged with sobs, the last notes drawn out long, much like the whimpering of a lost child.

Chen Hengyi, sitting in the audience, squinted, his eyes widening as he watched as the joy allowed him to see things appearing from all directions.

Translucent little shadows emerge from the soil, the woods, and the darkness; some are still attached to their umbilical cords, others are missing limbs—these are the obsessions of those unborn infants.

However, the people on stage seemed not to see it and continued performing as if nothing was wrong.

"Mother—you suffer hunger and torment in the underworld, while your son weeps in the mortal realm—"

The banhu's melody suddenly rose, and Mulian's singing was infused with genuine sobs. Suddenly, a lantern on the stage crackled and sparked.

Out of the corner of his eye, Chen Hengyi caught sight of dozens of gray-green shadows rolling down the mountain road—these were the demon children who had already taken human form!

They hunched over, their claws as long as blades, yet they were pinned to the spot by the singing on the stage, making strange hoarse noises from their throats.

At that moment, everyone noticed the little demon coming down from the mountain.

They cannot see the baby's obsession, but the demon child is a physical entity.

Master Li struck the clapper even faster, the rhythmic "dong dong dong" like drumbeats striking the heart.

Even the young man playing Mother Lian on stage made a small mistake.

Fortunately, the mistake was minor because Chen Hengyi had mentioned this situation from the beginning, so we were mentally prepared.

An actor dressed as a hungry ghost, wearing a tattered sack, crawled out from the side of the stage, half a piece of raw meat in his mouth, and grinned at the demons.

It was as if they wanted to swallow these little demons whole.

With a complete stage, a drum and gong troupe, and other actors, it all seemed as if Mulian himself had been reborn to bravely venture into the underworld.

Although Chen Hengyi knew beforehand, he couldn't help but be drawn into the story.

He used to be performing a one-man show, but now the real underhanded tricks were being shown to him... It was truly breathtaking.

The group of demon children were also startled, fearing that the evil spirit would eat them.

"Offering food to the Buddha in the Ullambana Festival, saving my mother from the realm of hungry ghosts—"

"Mother—look at the red spider lilies blooming and withering, waiting for Meng Po on the Bridge of Helplessness—"

On stage, Mulian's mournful opera singing echoed through the mountains and fields, as if the real Venerable Mulian were calling out to his mother.

More and more demonic children are appearing, and more and more infantile obsessions are emerging.

Chen Hengyi moved slightly away from the stage and drew Zhong Kui's Ghost-Slaying Sword in the darkness.

He muttered to himself, "Maudgalyayana broke through hell to save his mother, his filial piety moved heaven and earth... Now, what about you? Will you break through the hell in your own hearts and escape the sea of ​​suffering as soon as possible?"

Break through hell, everyone must break through hell.

Chen Hengyi looked at the demonic figures and said, "If you don't break it, I'll break it for you..."