Peking Opera Cat: I Became A Zi's Brother

"Oh, this place is quite lively! I didn't expect the things they sell are a little different from other places!"

The cats of Xingluo continued to wander around Changzong City.

The street stalls are full of small items related to the Chang Zong culture, including exquisite facial masks with colorful patterns and lively eyes;

There are also clappers of various shapes, the bamboo strips are polished smooth and fine, and can make crisp sounds when tapped lightly.

"..."

But Mo Zi had no intention of appreciating these things. Her mind was completely occupied by the various strange things about Chang Zong.

"Oh, what is that? It looks pretty good!"

Bai Tang was attracted by a stall selling sugar figures, which were blown into the shapes of various opera characters, and looked lifelike.

He was about to reach out to take it, but was pulled back by Mo Zi:

"Bai Tang, don't run around, business is important."

Bai Tang reluctantly withdrew his hand, muttering:

"Sister Azi, it's rare for you to come to Changzong, so just play for a while."

Wu Song knocked Bai Tang's head:

"Maruko, what are you playing for? The Chaos Crisis hasn't been resolved yet. Wait until you're done with your work before playing."

As we walked, the sun gradually set and the sky was dyed orange-red.

"Cuckoo..."

Bai Tang touched his stomach and made a gurgling sound:

"Oh, I'm starving. How about we find an inn to stay in and have something to eat?"

The cats nodded in agreement.

They came to an inn that looked quite neat, with a sign that read "Yueyin Inn".

"How are you preparing..."

"Can I tell you this? I'm definitely here to win the championship!"

When we walked into the inn, it was bustling with activity, filled with cats that had come to participate in the Yachang Festival.

The shopkeeper was a fat orange cat, who came up to greet us enthusiastically:

"My dear guests, do you want to stay overnight or just have a meal?"

Mo Zi smiled and said:

"Boss, give us a few rooms upstairs and prepare some food."

"Several guests, please follow me!"

After arranging the rooms, the cats sat together in the lobby of the inn.

"Wow, the food is pretty good! I'm so welcome to that genius!"

After a while, the food was served. There was fragrant steamed fish with tender meat, topped with a special sauce that made people salivate; there was also refreshing and delicious cold bamboo shoots, the crisp taste of which greatly increased the cat's appetite.

"Hey, Meatball, don't eat so roughly! Eating like that isn't elegant at all!"

During the meal, Mo Zi asked the shopkeeper about the Yachang Festival:

"Boss, we heard that the Singing Sect's Elegant Singing Festival is very lively. Could you tell us in detail about the purpose and process of this festival?"

"Oh, you didn't know that?"

The shopkeeper wiped the table and spoke excitedly:

"This Yachang Festival is one of the most important festivals for our Chang Clan. Its purpose is, firstly, to inherit and promote our Chang Clan's opera culture, allowing the Chang Clan's rhythmic power to be passed down from generation to generation through beautiful singing; secondly, it gives everyone a chance to showcase themselves and select the most talented cat."

"So what is the specific process?"

Xiaoqing asked curiously.

“This process is not simple.”

The shopkeeper became interested and described it vividly,

The Yachang Festival lasts for three days. The first day is for registration and preliminary rounds. All cats who want to participate can register on this day, and then compete in preliminary rounds in various venues to show off their best singing pieces.

"The judges will score based on singing voice, charm, and expressiveness, and select the best performing cats to enter the semi-finals. The preliminary rounds will be held in different venues throughout Changzong City, and each venue has a different style."

"Some competition venues are decorated as quaint courtyards, surrounded by flowers. The contestants sing amidst the fragrance of flowers, which is a very beautiful scene. Other venues are built by the river, and the contestants' singing is accompanied by the sound of gurgling water, which is quite unique."

"The next day is the semi-finals. The shortlisted cats will perform on a larger stage, and the competition will be even more intense. The stage for the semi-finals is built in the square in the city center. It is a giant three-story stage, decorated with exquisite wood carvings and colored glaze, and it sparkles in the sunlight."

"The judges for the semi-finals include not only veteran actors from our singing sect, but also some highly respected elders. They will select the top ten contestants from the semi-finals to advance to the finals. The judging for this semi-final will be very strict. The judges will consider many aspects, including the purity of the singing voice, the use of rhythmic force, and even whether the costume is suitable for the role."

"Then the finals on the third day must be exciting, right?"

Bai Tang asked impatiently.

"Of course!"

The shopkeeper's eyes lit up.

"The finals on the third day are the highlight. The entire Chang Zong Zong Palace will be decorated with lights and colors. The top ten contestants will take the stage one by one, giving their all and going all out to compete for the championship."

"The finals stage will transform into all sorts of magical scenes. As the contestants sing, sometimes a misty wonderland appears, sometimes it becomes a battlefield, perfectly matching the content of the aria."

"The audience will also be very enthusiastic and cheer for the contestants they support. Finally, the great man himself will serve as the chief judge and select the champion of the Yachang Festival."

"Is it true that winning the championship will allow me to receive the true teachings of the sect leader?"

Mo Zi asked.

"Absolutely true!"

The shopkeeper patted his chest and promised,

"If you win the championship, you will receive personal guidance from the Lord Sect Leader, and your rhythmic abilities will surely improve dramatically. That's why countless cats strive hard for every Yachang Festival."

Wu Song frowned after hearing this:

"This Yachang Festival sounds quite formal, but I always feel like something is wrong."

Dafei also nodded in agreement:

"Yeah, along the way I always felt that the cats' behavior was a little too... consistent, as if they were being controlled by something."

Mo Zi pondered for a moment and said:

"No matter what, we can't let our guard down. This Singing Festival might hold secrets related to Chaos. We need to investigate thoroughly within these three days."

At this time, the other cats in the inn were also discussing the Yachang Festival enthusiastically.

A young gray cat said excitedly:

"I've been preparing for this for a long time. I must shine at the Yachang Festival. Maybe I can even receive the true teachings of the Sect Master!"

The other black cat poured cold water on it and said:

"Don't dream on. Those established stars are so strong, it's not even your turn."

Bai Tang listened to their conversation and felt itchy in his heart:

"Why don't I also go to the Yachang Festival? Maybe I can find some clues."

Mo Zi was about to object, but seeing Bai Tang's determined eyes, he hesitated and said:

"Okay then, but you must be careful not to reveal our purpose."

After dinner, the cats returned to their respective rooms to rest and prepare for the upcoming Yachang Festival.

At this moment, the moonlight outside the window sprinkled on the quiet streets, but what they didn't know was that in this seemingly lively and peaceful Changzong City, a huge crisis was quietly approaching. Every cat participating in the Yachang Festival might be involved in a fierce confrontation with chaos.