A master of comedy!

Chapter 11 Flower of the Other Shore

Hearing Lu Bingyuan's words, Zhou Sheng remained silent for a long time, feeling somewhat uneasy.

Having studied Yin Opera for sixteen years, he naturally knew that the other party was referring to the tragic scene in the opera "Li Ling Stele" where Yang Jiye dies after hitting the stele.

Yang Qilang went to fetch reinforcements but was pierced by a thousand arrows by Pan Renmei. In despair, the old general Yang finally smashed his head against a stone tablet and died.

When the lamb dies, the old sheep perishes.

Lu Bingyuan meant that if he failed to graduate alive, Yu Zhensheng, who had risked his life for the job, would naturally be taken by the gods.

"No wonder you are so confident that my master will definitely come out of seclusion for my sake."

"Danshan, you've already figured everything out, yet you chose to storm the palace to see me after taking the medicine. Tell me, what are your plans?"

Originally, a novice Yin Opera practitioner who had not yet completed his apprenticeship had no value in collaborating with him, but now Lu Bingyuan has developed a great interest in him.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Sheng composed himself, his gaze becoming bright and sharp.

“My master is old and has difficulty walking. His skills are not what they used to be. As his disciple, I really don’t want to see him have to travel and suffer anymore.”

A strange look appeared in Lu Bingyuan's eyes. He shook his head and smiled, "So, you're planning to help me yourself?"

Ultimately, it was youthful impetuosity; though intelligent, he was too naive.

“I know that my current cultivation level is very low and I am far from meeting Lord Lu’s requirements, but…”

Zhou Sheng's voice was like metal and stone, resounding and powerful.

"One year, please give me a year, Lord Lu. After one year, I will not only graduate from my apprenticeship, but I will also grow to a point where I can be of sufficient help to you!"

"You're so confident in yourself?"

"Yes."

Zhou Sheng made no attempt to hide his confidence; that soaring self-assurance possessed both the vigor and drive of youth, as well as an indescribable steadfastness and composure.

Looking into those young, energetic eyes, Lu Bingyuan couldn't help but smile.

This time, however, they did not take it lightly; instead, they seemed to have been touched by something.

"You're a really... strange sleight of hand."

Over the years, Lu Bingyuan had seen countless Yin-Yang practitioners, the most amazing of whom was Yu Zhensheng, and the most special of whom was this young man in front of him.

Before becoming a master of ghost plays, all practitioners prepare for the Ghost Plays of the Ghost Festival, living under immense pressure every day. Even if they don't suffer a mental breakdown, they are all extremely gloomy and depressed.

Even if they manage to graduate alive, they are often shrouded in the shadow of death and suffer greatly in their hearts.

In fact, some practitioners of occult practices commit suicide.

But this kid had a kind of confidence and charisma that made people take notice. In all his years, this was the first time he had ever seen a so...living ghost actor.
Lu Bingyuan was naturally unaware that Zhou Sheng's confidence mainly stemmed from the Luoshu.

As long as he can accumulate enough energy, he can have Luo Shu complete the mica formula for the Immortal's Robe, at which point his cultivation will surely experience a tremendous leap!

"Lord Lu, if you don't believe me, I can sign the contract—"

Lu Bingyuan shook his head. Just as Zhou Sheng was about to continue persuading him, he flicked his finger, and the yin energy condensed into yellow paper, which fell into Zhou Sheng's palm.

"A gentleman's word is as good as gold; there's no need to leave a written record."

"Take a look at this."

Zhou Sheng stared intently, his eyebrows twitching slightly.

The paper was covered with lines of blood, but the signature was not Shen Jinhua's name, but rather that of the executioner and the executioner she had murdered.

"The wronged souls of the living world weep blood and kowtow before the City God of Yangcheng, Lord Lu, the Manifest Protector..."

The content roughly states that they did not intend to harm Shen Jinhua. The executioner said that during the execution scene in "The Injustice to Dou E," he smelled a strange fragrance and became delirious.

At that moment, what he saw was not Dou E, played by Shen Jinhua, but pork on a chopping board.

His wife and children were urging him to hurry up and chop the meat and cook.

Although he sensed something was amiss, he couldn't resist the urge and slashed down with his sword.

The stage manager's appeal for justice also proved this point. The stage manager, named Wang Xuan, had worked in the Yangcheng Opera Troupe for most of his life. He was extremely patient and responsible, and had never made a mistake.

Before the performance of "The Tragedy of Dou E", he checked it three times and even stayed backstage to make sure that no one in the industry would ruin their costumes before the performance started.

Later, the fake knife turned into a real knife, and Shen Jinhua died tragically on the stage. He was filled with remorse and kept thinking back until he finally remembered that he seemed to have smelled a strange fragrance when he was backstage that day.

He then appeared to fall asleep for a moment.

The fragrance was very unique, as if I had never smelled it before. It was somewhat like a lily, but even fainter, and it made me feel dizzy and disoriented.

"It seems the key lies in this fragrance. Does Lord Lu have any clues?"

Lu Bingyuan coldly uttered three words, one by one.

"Higanbana."

Zhou Sheng was shocked and instantly understood everything.

The road to the underworld, the gates of hell, and the red spider lilies.

This is a special flower that grows in the underworld. Legend has it that the Meng Po soup, which can make people forget their memories, is made from the other shore flower.

The fragrance of the red spider lily is chilling to contemplate.

This means that the real culprit behind it all is very likely... a ghost or deity from below?

He finally understood why even the local city god was so wary and plotted to bring his master out of the mountains to help him.

Although the City God of Yangcheng is the ruler of the underworld in a region, he pales in comparison to the colossal underworld.

An existence that can move freely between the underworld and the mortal realm, and dares to violate the laws of the underworld to harm the living, must have a significant background.

"What, you were scared?"

Lu Bingyuan asked with a smile.

Zhou Sheng shook his head, returned the yellow paper and blood letter to the other party, and said frankly, "I only know a direction, but I can't lock onto the target yet."

"One year from now, I will definitely help Lord Lu thoroughly investigate this case!"

With the Luoshu in hand, as long as enough energy is accumulated, it is not difficult to either complete the prescription to improve strength or directly divine who the real culprit is.

Therefore, even knowing that the other party was of great importance and might be a ghost or deity, Zhou Sheng still had confidence.

"What a spirit!"

A hint of appreciation appeared in Lu Bingyuan's eyes. In his eyes, Zhou Sheng at this moment did not seem like a sorcerer, but rather like a true Confucian scholar.

Be filial to your master, loyal to benevolence and righteousness, upright and honest, and unafraid of power!
It's a pity. If this young man had become an official, he might have brought blessings to the people and been remembered in history.

The more he looked, the more he appreciated it, as if he saw himself when he first entered the court as an official. Time has passed and things have changed, but he could always see similar shadows in a certain generation.

"But if you want to help me, you must first graduate alive."

"Alright, come with me."

Lu Bingyuan walked out with his cane, and Zhou Sheng followed behind him. They found that they were no longer in the City God Temple, but seemed to have arrived in an unfamiliar place.

It was still Yangcheng, but the scenery was completely different. The sun and moon were nowhere to be seen, and everything around was hazy, as if shrouded in a thin mist.

He could hear the wails of ghosts along the way, as well as the shouts and whips of the underworld officials, but he could see nothing.

Zhou Sheng knew that this was not the underworld, but a special area where the yin and yang realms of Yang City met.

For the dead, perhaps this is the true Yangcheng.

"Danshan, stay close, don't look around too much, and don't turn back."

Lu Bingyuan's voice rang in his ears, and in just a moment of distraction, the other person's figure was almost out of sight.

Zhou Sheng quickly quickened his pace to catch up.

……

(End of this chapter)