"Now it was September. Shiniang had just risen from bed and had yet to wash and comb her hair. Wearing the old clothes she had with her, she bowed twice to Madame. Young Master Li also gave a bow. The man and woman left the old hag's gate together."
"This was how it went: The carp slipped free of the golden hook, flicked its tail, shook its head, and never came back."
The entire Sacred Text Plaza echoed with Nanyuan Xi's voice. Perhaps because he had just advanced, his Righteous Qi had grown even more vigorous. Or perhaps because this was his second telling, his emotions were full but now somewhat restrained. Nanyuan Xi's narration had become more rhythmic and more richly flavored with story and Charm. Even Master Wang, who had heard it once before, had closed his eyes and was quietly savoring it.
The Sacred Text Plaza was utterly silent. Not even the slightest ripple of sound transmission could be heard. One had to know that even when a Great Scholar lectured on the classics, some students would privately exchange their insights through sound transmission. Yet now, not a single person made a sound.
They watched Nanyuan Xi on the speaking platform with rapt attention, listening to the story unfold in gentle detail, as if they could see a vivid Du Shiniang standing right before them.
This was a sensation that dry scriptural texts had never given them.
They desperately wanted to know what happened next. Would Du Shiniang truly become a pair of immortal lovers with Li Jia?
At the edge of the plaza, Zhou Hongda's face had grown increasingly flushed. He wanted to voice a few objections, but he, too, had been drawn into the emotions of the story. He glanced at Yang Ziting beside him