Tomb Raider: The man is in the Nine Gates, but the system insists it's the Primordial Era.

Due to the bizarre incident at Xiaowumen Railway Station where dead bodies were piled up on freight cars.

The situation in Changsha has been quite a stir these past two days.

Once night falls, people lock their doors and windows, refusing to go out no matter what.

In addition, the Hongjia Pear Garden group continued to sing the "Zhong Kui Catches Ghosts" opera on the street, creating a strange and eerie scene that made more people aware of its power.

Hongjia Pear Orchard is not short of money.

The leading actress, Er Yuehong, earned enough money by Er Ye alone to support the entire opera troupe.

But Er Yuehong couldn't perform in just any play.

For example, the Zhong Kui ghost-catching opera, which only performs for free during the Ghost Festival each year, can only be performed by other actors from his troupe.

The plays performed during the Ghost Festival are not for people.

No one was watching, but the performer still had to sing all night long no matter what.

Because there are rules in the Peking Opera world, once a play is performed, the audience is not just ordinary people who can be seen with the naked eye.

There are also various ghosts and gods.

However, some people still manage to go out and do things without any problems, relying on their good luck.

This young man named Chenpi is someone who doesn't believe in superstitions.

He was fearless in his life, and had no fear of any ghosts or gods. The only person he feared was his adoptive master, Er Yuehong.

Er Yuehong is the second-ranked master of the Nine Gates and the head of the Hong family.

They never had any desire for power struggles.

Therefore, whether for his master's sake or for Chen Pi's future, he had to make a name for himself in Changsha.

The military officer named Lu Jianxun had invited him here with the intention of bringing down Zhang Qishan, the leader of the Nine Gates, who was already vying for power.

Chen Pi's status among the Nine Gates is not high; according to seniority, he has to address the other gate masters as "Master."

However, he had no feelings for the other sect leaders besides his master, Er Yuehong.

If given the opportunity to seize power and influence, he would do it without batting an eye.

Moreover, the person who extended the cooperation invitation was Lu Jianxun, who worked in the same unit as Zhang Qishan, but whose power was different.

"If we want to take action against Zhang Qishan, we have no legitimate reason to do so, and the higher-ups won't allow us to fight amongst ourselves. It would be better if both sides suffered heavy losses than if we ended up being purged and dismissed."

Lu Jianxun pondered in his heart, thinking about the reason why he suddenly invited Chen Pi, this roadside connoisseur, to his home as a guest.

Only martial arts forces can intervene in the struggle between the Nine Gates.

"Then, in your opinion, where should we start? Only by becoming a true leader of one of the Nine Gates can you instigate a conflict and bring down Zhang Qishan. Otherwise, what about your master?"

Lu Jianxun glanced at Chen Pi and spoke quite naturally.

If Chen Pi were to seize power from Er Yuehong, it would be perfectly legitimate, since an apprentice is always meant to inherit the skills and influence of his master when the master is no longer capable.

Chen Pi slammed his teacup down: "The general might look down on us lowly scoundrels, but if you dare to mess with my master, I think even if I, Chen Pi, die, I'll still skin the general alive!"

A flash of savagery crossed Lu Jianxun's eyes, but he quickly masked it with a feigned smile: "Hahaha, just kidding. Second Master's opera skills are so impressive, I'm afraid the city's gentry and wealthy merchants wouldn't agree to mess with him. I think that Half-Li's reputation isn't very good, otherwise, he's one of the three upper sects, his status..."

Chen Pi simply thought about the name of that half-Li for a moment, and his face immediately fell: "You really are an outsider. I have only one suggestion: you might as well check within your mansion and see if you can find any spies for Third Master."

Lu Jianxun looked at the guards at the gate, a storm raging in his heart.

Is that half-cut plum really that powerful?

……

The melodious singing of opera was carried by the wind to the ears of Su Mu and the others standing outside the city gate.

The journey is slow because it requires determining the direction and finding the target.

With a clear destination and familiarity with the roads, the time spent returning was reduced by more than half.

"Don't you know what's been happening in the city these past few days? You still dare to go out 'working' in the middle of the night?"

The guard was pulled aside by the bearded man, and as he weighed the silver dollar in his hand, he subconsciously frowned.

The responsibility and authority for the city's defense fell into the hands of Zhang Qishan, the Buddha.

Zhang Qishan was the head of the Nine Gates, and apart from military affairs, he and his men were involved in all matters concerning the Nine Gates.

Therefore, the local ruffians who go out to raid tombs or engage in smuggling in the middle of the night are usually turned a blind eye.

"What happened?"

The bearded man fawned over the soldier in front of him.

"The night before last..."

"..."

Upon hearing rumors of unrest in the city, Su Mu followed the crowd and joined the others in surrounding the soldier, listening to his account of the strange train entering Xiaowumen Station the previous night.

The bearded man's eyes darted around, and he chuckled again, "Sir, you've worked hard, being assigned to duty at a time like this. Aren't you afraid something strange might happen?"

Upon hearing this, the soldier suddenly raised his head: "You people who encounter these kinds of supernatural things? We're from the Zhang family..."

"Cough cough..."

The soldier's comrade, who looked rather serious, suddenly coughed twice, signaling the other to keep quiet.

"Since you're all familiar faces, go inside. Go back and rest early, and remember to lock the doors and windows. Don't blame us if anything happens."

The serious soldier nudged the talkative soldier on the shoulder, making way for Su Mu and the others to enter the city.

A soldier surnamed Zhang...

Could it be that person's personal guard...?

People from the Zhang family of Qilin in Northeast China...

As Su Mu walked back, he thought of Zhang Qishan's forces, which were different from other sects among the Nine Gates.

Zhang Qishan's origins are mysterious. He was parachuted into Changsha to serve as a defense commander, and most of his troops were also parachuted in with him, rather than being ordinary soldiers from the local military camps.

These people, without exception, were all members of the Zhang family who betrayed the Qilin Zhang family with Zhang Qishan back then.

They all possess the unique skill of using two fingers to probe caves, find dragons, and steal gold, and more or less carry the bloodline of the immortal Qilin.

Ordinary wandering ghosts and spirits naturally cannot get close.

Call ~

Inside the city, every household had its doors and windows tightly shut, and lanterns emitting a warm red glow hung everywhere on the streets.

After entering the city gate.

The melodious singing of opera also carried on the wind to Su Mu and the others' ears.

"It's a story about Zhong Kui catching ghosts!"

"Something really bad has happened! Otherwise, this play wouldn't have gone on stage!"

"When you pass by later, hurry up and don't stop. Don't go to watch the play on that stage; it's for ghosts."

The bearded man was very experienced and kept reminding the people around him on the way.

ghost?

Su Mu's eyes, gleaming with a golden light in the darkness, quickly scanned the surrounding darkness.

He took out the "Seven Oracles from the Cloudy Bookcase" and began to peruse it.

He remembered that there was a mysterious method in the book that he had never used.

Immediately afterwards, the sound of him reciting a chapter from an ancient book could be heard in the quiet street.

"The path of humanity is boundless, the path of immortals is vast and unfathomable, the path of ghosts is joyful. At the gate of life, the path of immortals values ​​life, the path of ghosts values ​​death..."

"The heavens are in a state of great harmony, and my Way flourishes daily."