Gifts from Ghosts and Gods

"An old gentleman? What old gentleman?"

Xiao Shan and the others looked at one another. Staring at the empty space below the stage, they could not help but feel a chill run through them, their scalps tingling.

Before this, they might have thought Zhou Sheng was playing tricks and talking nonsense. But after what had happened on the stage, not one of them dared doubt him again.

If Zhou Sheng said someone was there, then someone had to be there!

No... perhaps not a person...

Only now did they understand why Zhou Sheng had insisted that they cooperate and finish this Stage Breaking opera.

Once the opera opened its voice, all eight directions came to listen.

One direction for men, three directions for ghosts, four directions for gods.

They had thought it was merely a legend. Who would have imagined that there truly was some "audience member" below the stage whom they could not see?

If they had not persisted in finishing the performance just now, would they have angered that "audience member"?

At that thought, they all shuddered. Their reverence for this tiny opera stage deepened further.

At that moment, however, Zhou Sheng saw a most unusual old man sitting there.

The reason he was unusual was the clothes he wore.

He wore a Dark Green Robe Embroidered with Golden Python, its edges trimmed with a three-inch-wide border of cinnabar red. It seemed to be an official robe, yet it looked like a style from the previous dynasty.

The Great Xuan Dynasty had been founded over three hundred years ago, yet this old man wore the official robes of the previous dynasty. The implications were horrifying when one thought deeply on them.

When Zhou Sheng had first arrived at the opera troupe, he had not seen the old man. He had vaguely sensed something while playing Lord Bao, and only when he sang Marquis Huan in Unity of Person and Role had he finally confirmed it.

The opera had ended, yet the old man had not left. He had even revealed himself of his own accord so that Zhou Sheng, after removing his makeup, could see him clearly.

That meant the other party had something to say to him.

"Your Dantian energy is vigorous, your Dragon-Tiger Voice is well balanced, and your singing, speaking, acting, and martial arts are all quite good. Especially your Lord Bao—your mastery is still somewhat shallow, but you possess a rare measure of Bao Longtu's spirit."

The old man first praised him generously, then a look of reminiscence appeared in his eyes as he sighed.

"Yu Zhensheng... has taken a fine disciple. It seems his full repertoire of skills has finally found an inheritor."

Zhou Sheng stared at that seemingly ordinary face, yet his mind was taut with tension beneath the invisible pressure it exuded.

A faint glow seemed to bloom around the old man. It was not dazzling, but after staring at it for long, Zhou Sheng's eyes actually began to sting slightly.

Moreover, perhaps it was an illusion, but Zhou Sheng seemed to smell incense around the old man, like the sandalwood incense in a temple.

"You know my Master?"

"Of course."

The old man sighed. "Cloud Gate Snow Voice topples the Heavenly River; the Nine-Turn Pearl Plate scatters countless shattered jades. A Dragon-Tiger throat swallows the Three-Foot Blade; yin and yang clappers set the Fifth Watch Gong."

"Back then, Master Yu was in his glory. With a Cinnabar Brush, he painted his face and opened his voice; his Bronze Hammer Painted Face shook yin and yang. In Yin Opera, none could surpass him."

"His Lord Bao Play in particular stood alone beneath heaven. Even if the true Lord Bao himself came, he would likely struggle to tell truth from falsehood. What a pity..."

He shook his head and sighed. "Such a splendid opera will be difficult to see again."

Zhou Sheng froze, astonishment rising within him. He knew the old man had once been renowned for singing Yin Opera, but he had never expected him to be this formidable.

In truth, Zhou Sheng had already formed some guesses about the old man's identity. Yet precisely because of that, the man's praise for his Master shocked him even more.

"You are not bad. Perhaps one day, you may become the next Yu Zhensheng..."

Suddenly, as though recalling something, the old man shook his head.

"Ten Thousand Miles of Phoenix Flowers along the Danshan road; the young phoenix's cry is clearer than the Old Phoenix Sound. Danshan—he gave you this courtesy name. It seems he believes you are even more outstanding than he was in his youth."

"You flatter me. All these years, Master has never praised me."

The old man did not continue that topic. Instead, he took a small box of Golden Silk Nanmu from his robes, its surface engraved with mysterious runes.

Golden Silk Nanmu was hailed as Emperor Wood. Even an emperor would find it difficult to obtain a coffin made from Golden Silk Nanmu.

It was said that it took at least fifty years to mature, while for its grain to become like golden threads required at least several centuries.

The small Golden Silk Nanmu box alone was worth far more than those fifty taels of silver.

Not to mention whatever lay inside it.

"By the rules of your Yin Opera line, since I watched the opera, I cannot merely offer empty applause. This item... is for you."

The body Zhou Sheng had secretly kept tense finally relaxed somewhat.

He sensed goodwill from this man.

It seemed the old man truly was his Master's friend. But why had his Master not specifically mentioned him before Zhou Sheng came?

"Old gentleman, I have not yet completed my apprenticeship. By the rules, I cannot accept—"

But the old man placed the item on the table without answering further, picked up his cane, and walked away into the distance.

Watching his retreating back, Zhou Sheng hesitated for an instant. In the end, he could not restrain himself from asking a question.

"Old gentleman, Shen Jinhua died with a grievance. The murderer seemed to have wanted her head from the very beginning. This happened within your territory, so why did you not—"

Before he could finish, the old man suddenly turned around and gave him a deep look. The surrounding candle flames whooshed upward, fire-snakes twisting through the air in an exceedingly eerie sight.

Even the oppressive force Shen Jinhua had brought forth with all her strength seemed far inferior to this casual glance.

At that moment, Zhou Sheng deeply felt the vast gap between them.

What terrifying Dao cultivation!

Never mind that his mind and spirit were already greatly depleted—even at his peak, he would be no match for the old man.

"Danshan, do not forget the two most important rules of Yin Opera. Do not step out of the opera, but even more so, do not..."

"Be unable to step out of the opera."

He spoke each word slowly, as though issuing a warning, yet as though concealing some deeper meaning.

Zhou Sheng fell silent. If even the old man could not handle this matter, then the strength of the person behind the scenes had far exceeded his imagination.

"Thank you."

He bowed in salute. When he raised his head, the old man had already vanished. The distance was pitch-black, without the slightest trace of a figure.

Yet the extra box on the table proved that everything which had just happened was no illusion.

"Danshan, just now you were... speaking to whom?"

"And this box... Hiss, Golden Silk Nanmu? And it is full gold grain..."

Master Wu stepped forward to speak, his gaze fixed tightly on the Golden Silk Nanmu box. He was intensely curious about what exactly it contained.

It had to be some peerless treasure!

He had seen Zhou Sheng's actions clearly just now. The entire time, Zhou Sheng had seemed to be talking to thin air, yet this box had suddenly appeared on the table.

Clearly, it had been given by that invisible "person."

Gifts from Ghosts and Gods were all extraordinary objects.

Unfortunately, Zhou Sheng immediately put the box away and said calmly, "Master Wu, sometimes excessive curiosity may not be a good thing."

With that, he swept his gaze over everyone.

"The Stage Breaking is complete. Danshan has fortunately not failed his mission. I shall take my leave now. Farewell, everyone."

"Danshan, it is deep into the night. Why leave in such a hurry? Why not stay and rest first?"

"Yes, you saved our lives! We have not even thanked you yet!"

Yet Zhou Sheng ignored their attempts to keep him, without offering even a single extra explanation.

He picked up his Opera Box, turned, and walked toward the darkness.

There were still no footsteps. In the blink of an eye, he was swallowed by the profound night, his back straight and solitary.

A little over an hour ago, he had emerged from the darkness. Now he vanished into it again. Other than his name, the crowd knew almost nothing about him.

"Yin Opera..."

The Martial Actor Xiao Shan muttered to himself, a trace of longing seeming to fill his eyes.

"Master Wu, tell me... what exactly is Yin Opera? I have performed opera for more than ten years. How have I never heard of it?"

Master Wu shot him a glance. Seeming to guess what he was thinking, he could not help but sneer.

"Yin Opera is not as simple as you imagine. Catching ghosts and slaying demons? Punishing evil and promoting good? Heh heh."

After a pause, a flicker of fear crossed his eyes. "Every Ghost Opera Performer lives beneath the shadow of Ghosts and Gods for their entire life. It is a fate more terrifying than any curse!"

"Do you know why Old Master Yu is so famous within the Yin Opera lineage?"

"Because as a Ghost Opera Performer..."

"He actually lived past forty."