Shore Flower

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

Having studied Ghost Opera for sixteen years, he naturally knew the opponent was referring to the dramatic performance of Li Ling Stele, where Yang Jiye died by smashing his head against a stele.

Yang Qilang went to fetch reinforcements but was shot to death by Pan Renmei's arrows. In despair, Old Master Yang finally dashed his head against the stone tablet, dying.

The little sheep dies, the old sheep perishes.

Lu Bingyuan meant that if he couldn't graduate alive, Yu Zhensheng, who had staked his life as a guarantee, would naturally be claimed by Ghosts and Gods.

"No wonder you're so confident. My master will definitely come out of seclusion for me."

"Danshan, you understood everything long ago, yet you chose to take medicine and barge in to see me. Tell me, what are your plans?"

Originally, an un-graduated Ghost Opera Performer held no value for cooperation, but now Lu Bingyuan was very interested in him.

Zhou Sheng heard this, collected his thoughts, and his gaze became bright and sharp.

"My master is old, his legs and feet are not convenient, and his martial arts are long past their prime. As his disciple, I truly do not wish to see him toil and suffer anymore."

A strange look flashed in Lu Bingyuan's eyes, and he shook his head with a laugh. "So, you plan to help me yourself?"

After all, he was still a young man, intelligent but too naive.

"I know my current cultivation is meager and far from meeting Duke Lu's requirements, but..."

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

"One year. Please give me one year, Duke Lu. After one year, I will not only graduate but also grow to a level sufficient to help Duke Lu!"

"You have such confidence in yourself?"

"Yes."

Zhou Sheng did not hide his confidence at all. That soaring self-assurance held both the passion and drive of youth, as well as an indescribable firmness and composure.

Lu Bingyuan looked at those young, vibrant eyes and couldn't help but smile.

But this time, it wasn't condescension, but rather a sense of being touched.

"You truly are a... strange Ghost Opera Performer."

Over the years, Lu Bingyuan had seen countless Ghost Opera Performers. The most astonishing was Yu Zhensheng, and the most peculiar was this young man before him.

All Ghost Opera Performers, before graduating, were preparing for the Ghost Opera of the Ghost Festival, living under immense pressure every day. Even if their minds didn't break, they were all gloomy and suppressed.

Even if they managed to graduate alive, they were often shrouded in the shadow of death, their hearts tormented.

In fact, some Ghost Opera Performers committed suicide.

But this young man possessed a confidence and spirit that commanded attention. In all his years, this was the first time he had seen such a... living Ghost Opera Performer?

Lu Bingyuan, of course, didn't know that Zhou Sheng's confidence primarily came from Luoshu.

As long as he could accumulate enough energy, he could have Luoshu complete the Immortal's Cloud Mica Pill, and his cultivation would surely soar!

"Duke Lu, if you don't believe me, I can sign a contract—"

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

"A gentleman's word is his bond. Why bother with written documents."

"Take a look at this."

Zhou Sheng gazed intently, his eyebrows twitching slightly.

Written on this paper were lines of bloody script, but the signatory was not Shen Jinhua's name, but rather the executioner and stagehand she had harmed.

"The wronged souls of the mortal world weep blood and kowtow before the City God of Yangcheng, Duke Lu, for divine intervention..."

The content roughly stated that they did not intend to harm Shen Jinhua. The executioner said that during the beheading scene in The Injustice to Dou E, where Dou E makes a vow, he smelled a peculiar fragrance and became dazed.

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

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

Although he felt something was a bit off, he couldn't resist the urging and brought down the knife.

The stagehand's plea for justice also proved this.

The stagehand's name was Wang Xuan. He had worked in the Yangcheng opera troupe for most of his life, was extremely patient and responsible, and had never made a mistake.

Before that performance of The Injustice to Dou E, he had inspected everything three times. In the end, he specifically guarded the backstage, fearing that a peer might damage the props before the show.

Later, when the fake knife turned real and Shen Jinhua tragically died on stage, he was filled with self-reproach. Constantly recalling the events, he finally remembered that he had also smelled a peculiar fragrance that day while guarding backstage.

Afterward, he seemed to have fallen asleep for a moment.

That fragrance was very special, unlike anything he had smelled before. It was somewhat like a lily, but fainter, and it caused mental confusion upon inhalation.

"It seems the key is this fragrance. Does Duke Lu have any leads?"

Lu Bingyuan's eyes turned cold, and he uttered three words, one by one.

"Shore Flower."

Zhou Sheng's heart trembled, and in an instant, he understood everything.

The road to the Yellow Springs, the Ghost Gate Pass, the Shore Flower.

This is a special flower that grows in the Underworld. Legend has it that Meng Po's Soup, which makes people forget their memories, is brewed from Shore Flowers.

The scent of Shore Flowers is terrifying when you think about it.

This means the real culprit behind the scenes could very well be... the Ghosts and Gods below?

He finally understood why even the City God of this region was so wary, plotting to enlist his master's help.

Although the City God of Yangcheng is the ruler of the underworld in this area, he pales in comparison to the colossal Underworld.

And any existence that can move freely between the Underworld and the mortal realm, daring to violate underworld laws to harm the living, must have a significant background.

"What, scared?"

Lu Bingyuan asked with a smile.

Zhou Sheng shook his head, returning the yellow paper blood letter to him, and said calmly, "I've only found a direction, but I can't pinpoint the target yet."

"In one year, I will definitely help Duke Lu thoroughly investigate this case!"

With Luoshu in hand, as long as enough energy is accumulated, it will be easy to either complete the prescription to increase strength or directly divine the identity of the real culprit.

Therefore, even knowing that the other party had a great background, possibly Ghosts and Gods from the Underworld, Zhou Sheng was still confident.

"What spirit!"

A hint of admiration flickered in Lu Bingyuan's eyes. In his view, Zhou Sheng at this moment didn't look like a Ghost Opera Performer, but rather like a true scholar.

Filial to his master, loyal to righteousness, upright and incorruptible, and unafraid of powerful authority!

What a pity, if this young man were to become an official, he might be able to benefit the common people and leave a good name in history.

The more he looked, the more he admired him, as if he saw himself when he first entered officialdom. Time had passed, and things had changed, but he could always see similar shadows in certain generations.

"However, to help me, you must first survive your apprenticeship."

"Enough, follow me."

Lu Bingyuan walked out, leaning on his cane. Zhou Sheng followed behind him and found that after stepping outside, they were no longer in the City God Temple, but seemed to have arrived in an unfamiliar territory.

It was still Yangcheng, but the scenery was completely different. There were no sun or moon to be seen, and the surroundings were hazy, as if shrouded in mist.

Along the way, he could hear the cries of ghosts and the scolding and whipping of Underworld Messengers, but he couldn't see anything.

Zhou Sheng knew that this was not the Underworld, but a special region at the boundary between the Yin and Yang of Yangcheng.

For the dead, perhaps this was the true Yangcheng.

"Danshan, keep up, don't look around too much, and definitely don't look back."

Lu Bingyuan's voice echoed in his ear. In just a moment of distraction, the other person's figure was almost invisible.

Zhou Sheng quickly quickened his pace to catch up.