Chapter 7, The Altar is Established

Madman! Madman! No clothes to wear, a pair of tattered shoes exposing the toes

Due to the strange phenomenon last night, Mr. Liu and his wife were particularly enthusiastic towards the theater troupe, treating them to fine tea and exquisite dishes, allowing Chen Yuan and others to indulge thoroughly. However, when it came to conversation, there was not much to say. After all, their status was a factor, and they were unaware of who the remarkable person from last night was. The discussions mainly revolved around which wooden puppet play would be performed tonight.

What if there really are ghosts? We are not experts, and wouldn't that put our lives at risk?

Come out

At the entrance, Old Zhao unexpectedly appeared, standing by the window in a thin garment with a grim expression, beckoning to the senior master.

The incense candles burned with a loud "boom" as Li Yuanshan raised his hand to sweep across the table, causing a piece of paper with the person's birth date and time to fall onto it. A black talisman appeared in his hand, which he pressed onto the paper, saying, "I summon the City God, heed my words, swiftly send forth the Yin Envoy to capture this person!"

Listening to the chirping of cicadas, Chen Yuan walked through the dappled shade of the trees, returning to the side courtyard. After offering a stick of incense to the wooden sculpture of Guan Gong, he moved the tables and chairs outside under the shade of the trees and took out his carving tools, gradually polishing the contours of the head sculpture.

Madman! Madman! A scruffy man, disliked by others and ignored, ugly and dirty, half of the sky!

Old Zhao put down his chopsticks, his face flushed with the color of wine, and he drunkenly glanced at the several disciples beside him. "Rest assured, Master Yuan, our opera troupe lacks nothing, except for yang energy. Just look at all the young and strong men we have. If a female ghost were to come, we would certainly ensure she would not return."

I know

Rest assured, sir, we are far more trustworthy and honorable than that false Taoist!

Yes, Master

The next moment

The stars revealed themselves as dark clouds hung over the night sky, and the sound of the "bang bang" of the night watch echoed through the city, as figures carrying lanterns walked through the streets, striking gongs and calling out.

Chen Yuan gazed at the dome, her abdomen gently rising and falling against the quilt, her slightly parted lips breathing in a rhythm of quick and slow, practicing the art of breath control.

The lively and boisterous children were playing and shouting, while the passersby around them glanced over, likely accustomed to such scenes, finding nothing remarkable. Some, however, were displeased and approached to scold and wave their hands, driving the group of mischievous children away

As the madman laughed foolishly with the children, on the intertwined streets, someone emerged from a courtyard marked by a lantern inscribed with the character "Dian". It was the same person who performed the ritual yesterday, Li Yuanshan, clad in a gray-black robe, stepping onto the street, his white hair and beard exuding an air of foreboding.

The night watchman walked down the long street, through the nearby alleys, when a figure descended from the courtyard wall. The altar, which had been prepared in advance, was unveiled from beneath the covering cloth and placed in the center of the alley, situated at just the right distance from the Liu residence

Chen Yuan withdrew her gaze from the wood carving and respectfully bowed to the Second Master, saying, "In this world, I can only bow to you, so please grant your blessings to me."

On the dirty and chaotic street, a group of children surrounded a figure who was looking around with a naive smile, chasing and playing. They passed by him, then turned back, jumping and bouncing.

Where is there so much money... In the past few days, I spent nearly half a month's wages buying a few chickens and ducks in Funiu Town, and as I continue to climb higher, I do not know what year or month it will be.

The sky gradually darkens

What the man said was indeed the truth, and the other two quickly coughed and burrowed into the blankets

I believe that the gentleman is overly suspicious, and it is possible that his son has contracted some strange illness. If nothing else, we could imitate that fake Taoist, deceive him a bit, and obtain one hundred taels, allowing us to enjoy a few days of good fortune

Old Zhao's kindness in taking me in is undeniable, yet he is not the type to leave without a word.

However, the path is ultimately forged by human effort, and in due time, there will always be a way to find a solution

Bang

Bang

The method imparted by the mad old man, even without the perspective of later generations, can be felt to be a form of sinister technique, not much different from the demons and monsters depicted in later films and novels, at least that is how Chen Yuan perceives it

The senior brother emerged from the bed with a苦 face, his head drooping as he followed the old man Zhao outside, where he was met with a barrage of scolding and reprimands

If you have not seen it, then you have not seen it. Why push the old man to do anything

As the words fell, I pinched the incantation and pointed towards the black talisman

It is a dilemma; Old Zhao wants to get involved. What if a misfortune truly comes? One cannot just stand by and watch without offering help

Master Zhao, it is best, as it is a play rich in yang energy. It is said that the prevalence of yang energy can dispel the gloomy atmosphere in the courtyard, and my son will be able to awaken.

The three disciples on both sides exchanged a quiet glance, stood up in unison, and raised their drinks to clink glasses with the elderly man across from them

As soon as the old man left, the eldest senior brother, who had just lain down, opened his eyes, then turned and sat up, calling for the second and third brothers to wake up, while he chose to ignore Chen Yuan

A voice thundered: "Rise up!"

The dawn light is slanting

The weather is dry, be cautious with fire, ensure doors and windows are properly closed, and take strict precautions against the neighbor, Wang Sheng

Enhance one's cultivation

On the roadside, a filthy old madman with a mournful expression approached him

But what if there are truly skilled individuals in our theater troupe? If they use their esteemed reputation to commit wrongful acts, it could very well reflect poorly on us.

Who in the troupe resembles a master? Those mud-legged fellows? Look, that fool sleeping over there? Or is it the troupe leader? Just a greedy old man; if he had any real skill, would he still be fiddling with the troupe here?

Have you seen my disciple?

Chen Yuan watched as one person after another boasted more fiercely, sighing inwardly, thinking this was nothing short of seeking death. After eating a few more bites of food and listening to their bragging for a while, he stood up to take his leave. Liu Yuanwai was in the midst of a lively discussion, and the three senior brothers were also getting into the spirit of it when they waved dismissively at Chen Yuan, indicating for him to leave on his own.

Not long after, the sun, casting its orange glow over the mountains, began to rise, and the bustling streets of Qingshan County gradually quieted down. People hurrying home passed by in a rush, while women calling for their children shouted loudly from under the eaves

The opportunity to go out to the street in search of my master has slipped away again

This is precisely the principle

San Er felt a bit worried, thinking about the incident with the Wang family, and pulled his feet into the quilt

A cool breeze blows, carrying wood shavings that fall onto the table. Summer cicadas cling to the swaying branches, emitting a series of shrill cries. Not far away, an old tree hosts birds that settle into their nests, while the hungry chicks chirp incessantly.

A large amount of blood food is required

I know

The night breeze seeped into the room, and the flame of the oil lamp standing on the ground flickered gently

Chen Yuan took a deep breath and gradually fell asleep with his eyes closed. The next morning, the three senior brothers were assigned by Old Zhao to practice drums and gongs in the front yard, while Chen Yuan was given paper and pen to write some good plays or create some head sculptures for replacements

You may notice that the gentleman is currently in a state of utter confusion, and if things go awry, our opportunity will arise

He completely ignored the scolding and cursing from outside, as his mind was occupied with thoughts of the soul-binding talisman, which he had only learned about through snippets in books. If what the books said was true, it would mean that a ghostly messenger would come to collect his life at the appointed time

At this moment, the conversation outside ceased, and Old Zhao, accompanied by the senior apprentice and others, returned to the room, advising them to rest early and to refrain from getting involved in the affairs of the Liu family

Chen Yuan blew away the powder, gazing at the lifelike wooden carving. Feeling a bit drowsy, she let out a yawn, took a sip of the tea in her hand, and pulled out a scroll from her sleeve to read a series of bizarre stories.

... ...

Yin Chai... I have heard of it in stories... What a great grudge it must be to use Yin Chai to take a life, yet the person is still alive, their lifespan not yet exhausted, how can one apprehend them

The frenzied figure approached to inquire, but was pushed back with a forceful, "Get lost!" and then walked straight across the street. The disheveled old man, who had been shoved, brushed his messy hair back.