novellaaa Chapter 221 The "Opera Troupe" of Yeren Valley
Chapter 221 The "Opera Troupe" of Yeren Valley
Chapter 221 The "Opera Troupe" in Savage Valley (4600)
Lu Yuan felt a sudden jolt in his heart as Gu Qingwan's cool jade pendant pressed against his chest.
But before he could say anything more, the fingers that were hooked around his collar loosened.
"----knew."
Lu Yuan responded in a low voice, then turned and pushed open the door to leave.
The door closed gently behind him, shutting out the side hall filled with the scents of sandalwood and dragonwood.
It was already late at night, around midnight.
Inside Zhenlong Temple, all was quiet except for the whistling of the mountain wind through the pine forest and the occasional hooting of owls in the distance.
The moonlight was obscured by thick clouds, allowing only a faint, dim glow to cast shadowy shadows over the buildings inside the Taoist temple.
The square, which had been bustling after its expansion, was now deserted.
The mountains of timber and the unfinished foundations cast menacing shadows in the night.
They looked like giant beasts lying on the ground, their mouths wide open, waiting to devour something.
Lu Yuanshen walked slowly on the bluestone path, his steps uneven. He used to be always in a hurry, but today he walked exceptionally slowly.
The final destination, naturally, is the old man's place.
Lu Yuan had walked this road countless times.
In the past, every time I came here, even from a distance, I could hear the old man's deafening snoring or smell the cheap liquor wafting from the cracks in the window.
Back then, Lu Yuan would always frown in disgust while secretly planning how to wake the old man up.
But today, an unprecedented sense of gloom gripped his chest.
Since I transmigrated to this world more than a year ago, I followed the old man all over the country, and then to the True Dragon Temple.
Lu Yuan had never seen the old man like this before.
In Lu Yuan's memory, although this cheap master was unreliable and lived a life of debauchery, he was always a ruthless character who had the final say in the Daoist sects outside the Great Wall.
Even when he's completely drunk, if something really happens, he can always manage to stand up unsteadily and resolve the problem.
That was Lu Yuan's greatest source of confidence.
Just like when I was a child, even if the sky were to fall, as long as I looked up and saw that my parents were still there, I felt that it wasn't a big deal.
But now, that always drunk old man is lying motionless on that hard bed.
This feeling is strange and unsettling.
It's like a child who's grown up enjoying the shade under a big tree, only to suddenly discover one day that the old tree that sheltered them from the wind and rain has fallen.
Since I haven't grown into a tree that can stand on its own yet, I have to grit my teeth and face the storms.
Lu Yuan unknowingly walked to the old man's door.
The door was tightly shut; there was no snoring, no smell of alcohol, only a deathly silence.
Several disciples were guarding outside the door, and at that moment they were sitting on small stools with their knees drawn up to their sides, taking a nap.
The group was startled awake by Lu Yuan's footsteps. Upon seeing that it was Lu Yuan, they quickly stood up and bowed.
"Brother Lu!"
Lu Yuan nodded slightly, then waved his hand, indicating that the others didn't need to be so polite: "Thank you for your hard work."
"I'll go in and see my master."
The group hesitated for a moment, then simply nodded: "The abbot's condition is stable, but he has not yet woken up."
Lu Yuan responded and gently pushed open the door.
There were no lights on inside, only the faint moonlight filtering in from the window.
The room was filled with a strong medicinal smell, mixed with a faint scent of alcohol.
Li Xiuye lay quietly on the earthen bed, covered with a thick cotton quilt, his face sallow and his lips chapped.
His breathing was so faint that the rise and fall of his chest was barely visible.
He was like a piece of dried-out wood, quietly waiting to rot or be reborn.
Lu Yuan stood by the bed and watched quietly for a long time.
Lu Yuan showed no expression.
Anyway, I didn't cry, and I didn't lose any little pearls.
The old man isn't dead.
He's just unconscious.
And his condition is still quite stable now; he will wake up sooner or later.
So, what's the point of crying?
Lu Yuan didn't bother with those sentimental words; the old man was unconscious, so who would he be talking to?
That's just pure mental illness!
Even if I do have some thoughts, I'll just keep them to myself and let them go.
Lu Yuan stood by the kang (a heated brick bed) for a long time, without saying a word or making any movement. He just stood there quietly, like a piece of wood.
After an unknown amount of time, Lu Yuan reached out and wiped his face.
He then reached out and gently tucked the blanket around Li Xiuye, his fingertips touching the old man's withered hand, which was icy cold.
"I'm gone."
Lu Yuan took a deep breath, suppressing the inexplicable bitterness in his heart, and took one last look at the old man on the sickbed.
He turned around and quietly left the room.
The door closed again, locking the smell of medicine and the silence back inside.
Lu Yuan pushed open the door and disappeared back into the darkness of the night. He had only taken a few steps when he saw two figures waiting for him under the shadow of the eaves not far away.
It was Xu Erxiao and Wang Chengan.
The two were clearly prepared for a long journey, no longer dressed as casually as they usually were when working at the temple.
They were each dressed in a coarse indigo robe, with a wide leather belt around their waist and their trousers rolled up high, making them look neat and energetic.
Xu Erxiao was sturdy and carried a long peach wood sword with a scabbard wrapped in red silk on his back.
Although the sword was made of peach wood, it had been rubbed until it shone with a glossy sheen, exuding a sense of patina accumulated over the years.
He had a palm-sized brass compass hanging from his waist, and the compass needle was trembling slightly with his breathing.
What's most eye-catching is the large wooden box he's carrying on his back, which is almost half a person tall.
It was tightly bound with thick hemp rope, and it must have been filled with cinnabar, talisman paper, ink lines, copper bells, and various odds and ends necessary for the job.
Wang Cheng'an appeared much thinner. His peach wood sword was slightly shorter than Xu Erxiao's, and it was slung across his back, also tied with a red ribbon.
The compass hanging from his waist was newer than Xu Erxiao's, with a smooth surface.
He also carried a similar wooden box, but by comparison, his box seemed to be more focused on storing some delicate tools.
For example, those probes of varying lengths were peeking out from the cracks in the box.
Upon seeing Lu Yuan emerge, the two immediately came to greet him, their usual playful expressions replaced by a composure and solemnity beyond their years.
"Brother Lu".
Xu Erxiao lowered his voice, his throat feeling a little tight.
Everything is ready.
Wang Chengan nodded and added, "Master Zhou has prepared three fast horses, which are tied up on the back mountain path, so they can leave at any time."
Looking at the two teenagers in front of him who seemed to have grown up a lot overnight, Lu Yuan felt a strange bitterness in his heart, which was somewhat diluted by a sense of security.
He nodded, said nothing more, and simply said in a deep voice, "Let's go."
The three of them said no more and walked one after the other across the silent square toward the back gate of Zhenlong Temple.
Zhou Shouzhou was already waiting at the back door.
In the darkness, three strong horses were pawing the ground and snorting nervously, as if they too sensed the long journey that was about to begin.
The horse carried heavy packs, with water bags and food sacks hanging beside the saddle.
Zhou Shouzhou handed the reins to Lu Yuan and whispered, "Senior brother, the journey is long, please be careful."
"Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on things at the temple."
"7
Lu Yuan took the reins, mounted the horse, reined in the restless horse, and took one last look at the Zhenlong Temple that stood silently in the night behind him.
He glanced again at the side hall where the light was still on, and at the pitch-black bedroom.
"I'm gone."
With a low shout, Lu Yuan spurred his horse, and the black-maned steed shot into the night like an arrow.
The hoofbeats shattered the silence behind Zhenlong Temple. Three swift horses galloped north along the rugged mountain path, heading towards Yeren Gully.
Although it was late at night, the solar term "Awakening of Insects" had passed, and although the spring chill outside the pass was still biting, it could not stop the signs of all things starting to stir.
Amidst the withered branches and fallen leaves on both sides of the mountain road, glimpses of green began to appear.
Lu Yuan sat on his horse, his gaze sweeping over the roadside.
In a sheltered, sunny ravine near the stream, several old willow trees stood quietly.
That is the most common drought-resistant willow in the area outside the Great Wall, with a thick, gnarled trunk and bark that is cracked like an old man's hand.
On those grayish-brown branches, tiny buds the size of rice grains have appeared without anyone noticing.
The tender buds were an extremely fresh, pale yellow color. Under the dim moonlight, they looked like translucent jade beads, timidly clinging to the stiff branches.
They are neither as lush and green as in the height of summer, nor as desolate and withered as in late autumn.
Instead, it exists in a state that is between life and death, extremely fragile yet incredibly tenacious.
A mountain breeze swept by, causing the branches to tremble slightly, and the tender buds to sway as if testing the still not fully warm air.
As Lu Yuan watched this scene, the heavy sense of oppression that had been weighing on his heart suddenly eased slightly.
Lu Yuan recalled the winter when he first transmigrated.
It was also on this mountain path that the old man, drunk, rode a lame donkey, singing off-key folk songs as he went.
At that time, the willow trees were left with only bare, withered branches, whistling in the biting north wind.
He looked just like the old man lying on his sickbed at this moment, aged, withered, as if he could be broken by the wind and snow at any moment.
Lu Yuan suddenly reined in his horse and stopped in front of the willow tree.
Lu Yuan reached out and gently touched a drooping willow branch by the roadside.
The bark of the branch was rough and cold, but the cluster of tender buds that my fingertips touched carried a faint but real vitality.
The sprouting of willow buds may seem ordinary, but it holds a profound meaning of the cycle of nature.
Although the winter is long and the frozen soil is hard, as long as the roots are still alive and as long as that little bit of yang energy returns, life will break through the constraints in an unstoppable manner and shine again.
This refers not only to the old man, but also to Lu Yuan.
He embarked on a journey with Xu Erxiao and Wang Chengan to clean up the remaining influence of the Liu family and restore order outside the Great Wall.
Isn't it the first new bud that struggles to sprout in this chilly spring?
Lu Yuan is no longer the naive boy who only needs to hide under his master's wing to make a living.
Lu Yuan is now the backbone of Zhenlong Temple.
Even if his master falls and this great tree withers temporarily, Lu Yuan must take up the baton and support this world.
"Brother Lu, what's wrong?"
Xu Erxiao turned around and called out, somewhat puzzled as to why Lu Yuan had suddenly stopped his horse.
Lu Yuan withdrew his hand, took a deep breath, and suppressed the surging emotions in his heart.
"It's nothing."
Lu Yuan suddenly pulled on the reins, and the black-maned horse reared up and let out a neigh.
"Let's go! Speed up!"
Before he finished speaking, Lu Yuan spurred his horse's flanks and once again transformed into a streak of light, rushing into the deeper darkness of the night ahead.
Xu Erxiao and Wang Chengan exchanged a glance behind them. Although they didn't understand why, they urged their mounts to follow closely.
The sound of horses' hooves startled several crows perched on the branches of willow trees.
The newly sprouted willow branches swayed violently in the strong wind stirred up by the horses' hooves.
That touch of pale yellow-green flashed by in the darkness, stubbornly proclaiming vitality.
Spring has finally arrived.
Three days later, at night.
The famous "Black Wind Town" outside the pass was shrouded in a dim yellow light.
This town is located at a transportation hub, and caravans, hunters, and wandering travelers come and go in an endless stream.
Even late at night, the sounds of mules and horses neighing and drunkards shouting could still be heard on the streets.
Lu Yuan and his two companions reined in their horses and stopped in front of a place called "Lao Bian Inn".
The three swift Mongolian horses were now panting heavily, their bodies soaked in sweat.
The fur under the saddle was soaked with sweat and turned a dark color; if we continued running, we would surely collapse.
"This is fine."
Lu Yuan dismounted, patted the black-maned horse's sweaty neck, and pulled out a large bill from his pocket, tossing it to the waiter who came to greet him.
"Feed them some good feed, brush their fur, don't mistreat them."
-
The waiter nodded repeatedly and quickly led the horse to the stable to feed it.
Xu Erxiao rubbed his sore buttocks from the saddle, grimacing as he said, "Finally here. If we had run for another two days, my butt would have been bleeding."
Although Wang Chengan didn't say anything, he silently stretched his stiff waist and legs, clearly exhausted as well.
The three of them entered the lobby of the inn. Although it was past mealtime, the lobby was still filled with smoke and noise.
Several greasy square tables were filled with people, and the air was filled with the smells of cheap liquor, stewed meat, and sweat.
Lu Yuan found a corner to sit in against the wall and ordered three bowls of beef noodles and a plate of braised pork ribs.
The food and drinks were served, and the three of them were engrossed in eating, trying to replenish the energy they had expended over the past three days.
At the next table, several men wearing sheepskin coats were playing a drinking game and chatting animatedly.
At first, Lu Yuan didn't pay attention, but one sentence made him prick up his ears.
"—Hey bro, you absolutely mustn't go to Savage Valley these days."
An old hunter, missing a front tooth, lowered his voice and said mysteriously, "It's very strange!"
A young horse trader across from him, clearly skeptical, took a swig of his drink and shouted, "What's so supernatural about it?"
"It's just a mass grave. There are plenty of places like that outside the Great Wall. How could it be scarier than a mass grave?"
The old hunter glared at the horse trader, then stuffed another piece of beef into his mouth, mumbling, "Hey, you have no idea!"
"The other day, you know Zhao the butcher's son from town, right?!"
"He was bold and didn't believe in superstitions, so he insisted on going to the Savage Gully to collect some unclaimed corpses, strip them of their clothes and shoes, and sell them—and what was the result?"
The horse trader's curiosity was piqued: "What's wrong?"
The old hunter let out a burp, squinted, and lowered his voice even further: "It was broad daylight when we went in; the three of us went in together."
"By nightfall, only two people were left to climb out!"
"Butcher Zhao's son has disappeared!"
"When those two came back, they were completely stunned. They could only cry and wouldn't say anything when asked. Later, they had a high fever for three days and had someone call back their souls."
"Once the fever finally broke, she would sit in the corner every day, muttering strange things—"
Another gaunt man who had been silent until now chimed in, his voice sinister: "That's not all."
"My second maternal uncle lives by Yerengou. He said that recently, every night around midnight, people in the gully start banging gongs and drums and playing music, like a grand opera performance."
"But if you follow the sound, you won't see a single person, or even a will-o'-the-wisp."
"and----"
The gaunt man paused, looked around to make sure no one was paying attention to their table, and then continued, "Besides, wild boars and bears don't dare to go into the ditch anymore, like they're avoiding a plague."
"On the night Zhao the butcher's son went missing, someone saw—saw a green light floating in the ditch, like a lantern, but not a lantern."
"Hanging in mid-air, it blinks like a human eye—"
After the skinny man finished speaking, the horse trader next to him couldn't help but curse, "Damn it, that gave me the creeps."
After cursing, the horse trader poured himself another glass of wine, trying to calm his nerves.
"That's why they've put up notices recently, telling people to stay away from Savage Valley —"
The chatter at the next table was gradually drowned out by the sounds of drinking games. Xu Erxiao leaned closer and whispered, "Brother Lu, is that thing in Yerengou about to collapse?"
Although Wang Chengan didn't speak, his eyes showed a hint of seriousness.
Logically speaking, the place where the evil god was worshipped should have collapsed because Liu Xuanyin died and no one was maintaining it.
but----
Can't it be this fast?
Lu Yuan didn't say anything. He quickly picked up a big bone and gnawed all the meat off it before tossing the bone onto the table with satisfaction.
Then, rubbing his stomach and burping contentedly, he said with a satisfied look, "I'm full and ready to rest early."
"Tomorrow at daybreak, we'll go to this Savage Gully to find the opera troupe."
"Do it!"