Puppet Monkey, Soul Shocking Drum

Chapter 43: Puppet Monkey, Soul Shocking Drum

The Daoist temples and monasteries of the Divine Land have very particular site selections.

Building them on the peaks of famous mountains, in the depths of great rivers, or in places rarely frequented by humans usually signifies a dedication to studying the Great Dao, far from the mortal world...

Building them halfway up a mountain implies being half in the mortal world and half in the immortal realm...

While building them at the foot of a mountain means cultivating in the mortal world and forging good karma widely...

If built within a city, it would undoubtedly attract a steady stream of worshippers and emphasize personal popularity.

Therefore, areas around city temples are usually commercially developed and bustling with people.

West City, the old street near NiangNiang Temple.

Here, the streets were also lined with shops on both sides, but unlike the City God Temple area, which was filled with shops selling incense and items for weddings and funerals, this place was mostly occupied by various artisan shops.

Leatherworkers, goldsmiths, carpenters, stonemasons – these were just the trades, and the types of shops derived from them were even more numerous, such as those specializing in horse tack, making shadow puppets, crafting furniture, or even making various musical instruments for performers.

Several burly men from the White Ape Gang hurried along.

Unlike the Iron Saber Gang, Yuan Qu had grown up in brothels and was accustomed to all sorts of scenes. He valued grandeur, so his subordinates were uniformly dressed in black tunics, warrior boots, and wide leather belts as thick as a palm.

Each of them was powerfully built, and their presence together exuded a fierce aura.

As they passed, the common folk would tremble with fear and quickly make way.

Soon, they arrived in front of a secluded shop.

Outside the shop, many wooden puppets were displayed, all dressed in theatrical costumes and painted with facial masks – Sheng, Dan, Jing, Mo, Chou – each lifelike.

This was a shop that made wooden puppets and automatons.

Puppet shows, also known as "small plays," originated in the Han Dynasty and flourished in the Tang Dynasty. Emperor Taizong of Tang even wrote a poem: "Carving wood and pulling strings to make an old man, with wrinkled skin and white hair, as if real."

They were called "small plays" because they were performed on a small stage, with a curtain concealing the puppeteers below. The artists, hidden beneath, would use their skillful hands and singing to portray the joys and sorrows of life within a confined space.

The puppet shows in Xianyang were also famous.

With just two or three people, they could perform at various village temple fairs, so there were quite a few people engaged in this line of work, and there were also specialized shops for making puppets.

Inside the old shop, a middle-aged man was carving a puppet.

He wore white clothing, with black hair cascading over his shoulders. His eyes were narrow and his expression was cold. His fingers were slender yet powerful, and as the carving knife glided, wood shavings fell.

For some reason, he seemed out of place in the old shop.

Even when he heard footsteps, he remained completely focused, as if no one else was there.

The men from the White Ape Gang didn't dare to enter the shop. They stood outside the door, bowed in unison, and respectfully cupped their fists, saying:

"Master Chen, our gang leader wishes to request your assistance."

The man in white continued carving without looking up.

"Where is what I asked for?"

"Don't worry, Mr. Chen, we're only missing one item. The gang leader said there are too many people around during the day, so we'll deliver it to your residence tonight..."

Two hours later, Yuan Family Mansion.

Unlike Zheng HeiBei of the Iron Saber Gang, Yuan Qu had a completely different demeanor after becoming wealthy. He bought a large mansion, built courtyards, and adopted the airs of a wealthy gentleman.

Perhaps because he had been poor for so long, he now indulged in every luxury.

"Young Master Zhou, please!"

Outside the main gate, a man respectfully led the way.

Behind him followed a young man, tall and straight, with thick eyebrows, large eyes, and a square face. He was dressed in a brocade robe and long tunic, and wore a jade thumb ring.

His eyes shone with spirit, possessing a rather heroic air.

As they entered the mansion, Yuan Qu came forward with a smile and said, "Zhou Bai, you're truly hard to invite. Have you become so proud after receiving your master's true teachings that you look down on your Uncle Yuan?"

The visitor was none other than Zhou Bai, the talented scion of the Zhou Family.

"Martial Uncle jokes too much."

The young man, Zhou Bai, was clearly impatient. He gave a slight bow and then looked around, shaking his head. "Martial Uncle, your garden has become even more beautiful. My uncle once said that if you weren't so obsessed with these external possessions, your martial arts would surely be even greater."

"Hahaha..."

Yuan Qu showed no anger upon hearing this. Instead, he laughed. "I'm old now. I can't compare to the vigorous progress of you young people. I'll be content if I hear of your fame in the Jianghu in the future."

Zhou Bai remained noncommittal. "Why did you ask me to come, Uncle Yuan?"

"You'll know when we go inside."

Yuan Qu smiled mysteriously and led Zhou Bai into the main hall.

Inside the hall, a large macaque was squatting on a chair, its neck bound by an iron chain. It was tearing at a live chicken in its hands, its mouth covered in blood.

It looked somewhat human, but its eyes glinted with ferocity.

On another chair, a middle-aged man in white sat with his black hair cascading over his shoulders. His expression was cold, and he was playing with a string of prayer beads, his eyes closed in meditation.

He merely cast a casual glance at their arrival.

Yuan Qu quickly introduced, "Zhou Bai, let me introduce you. This is Master Chen FaKui, a distinguished figure from the Nine Yuan Sect's Dharma Vein."

"Greetings, Master Chen."

Zhou Bai was startled and bowed respectfully.

Among the various sects in the Jianghu, the Golden Gate Sect was the foremost, while the Mystic Sect remained aloof.

The Tai Xuan Orthodox Sect served as the state religion, and its dealings were primarily with high officials and nobles. For those in the Jianghu like them, the Dharma Veins of various regions were the closest they could get to such power.

The Nine Yuan Sect originated from Li Mountain and was an ancient sect. Legend had it that they were descendants of the artisans who built the First Emperor's Mausoleum and had inherited the knowledge of the alchemists of that era, holding significant influence throughout Guanzhong.

The hallmark of a Dharma Vein was that its true disciples' names contained the character "Fa".

This Chen FaKui was undoubtedly a genuine Dharma Vein practitioner!

Why would he want to meet a sorcerer?

Zhou Bai's heart was filled with confusion. He then looked at the large macaque, frowning, "Uncle Yuan, why is my uncle's 'Fist Beast' here?"

Monkey Fist encompassed a wide variety of styles. The Red Fist system also had a branch, though it was considered ungraceful and referred to as "Child Fist."

Zhou Pan was a master of this art. He also studied Through-the-Back Monkey Fist, and by integrating the two, he painstakingly researched and finally entered the Transformed Strength realm.

He captured two large macaques near Zhongnan Mountain, which possessed remarkable intelligence. Observing their forms while practicing his boxing, he actually taught the two macaques martial arts.

Zhou Pan was quite fond of them and called them his "Fist Beasts."

Since becoming the president of the Divine Fist Society, his fame had spread far and wide, and people often came to challenge him to duels. Zhou Pan, weary of this, established a rule: if one could defeat the large macaque, they could then fight him.

This was also one of the sources of his notorious reputation.

Normally, these two large macaques stayed by Zhou Pan's side. Their presence here inevitably made Zhou Bai question why.

"Naturally, I asked my master to send them,"

Yuan Qu smiled faintly. "Isn't the martial arts competition imminent? Although you've adopted the monkey's form, you lack its agility and ferocity. Therefore, I paid a great price to ask Master Chen to help you comprehend it through a secret technique. Master has also agreed."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Bai felt a surge of displeasure and shook his head, "He's just some country bumpkin. Uncle Yuan, do you lack confidence in me?"

Yuan Qu chuckled, "I certainly have confidence in you."

"But you also know that old fellow Zhang YuanShang has always been at odds with Master. If that kid were easily defeated, why would he actively arrange this?"

"So, you not only have to win, but you have to win decisively!"

"If you can easily defeat the son of that Li Hu, perhaps Master will be pleased and allow you to leave and make a name for yourself in the Jianghu."

Hearing this, Zhou Bai's eyes lit up, "Really?"

"As if I'd lie!"

Yuan Qu's smile was very sincere.

The術士 Chen FaKui had been observing coldly. Seeing Zhou Bai agree, he stepped forward and took a tuft of hair from both Zhou Bai and the macaque. He wrapped them in yellow talismans and placed them alternately into the mouths of the man and the monkey.

Zhou Bai watched all this, inevitably feeling apprehensive.

Sorcerers were insidious and difficult to guard against. Therefore, there was a saying in the Jianghu: when dealing with such individuals, one must never carelessly hand over their birth year, fingernails, or hair.

If Zhou Pan hadn't agreed, he would never have allowed the man to get close.

Sensing Zhou Bai's wariness, Chen FaKui remained unconcerned.

He then took out a pellet drum painted with Bagua symbols, shook it, and began Pacing the Gang and Stepping the Dipper. He swung his head, his black hair flying wildly, and his eyes gradually rolled back, revealing only the whites.

He chanted incantations, but his speed was so rapid that they were utterly unintelligible.

As the pellet drum sounded, Zhou Bai began to exhibit strange symptoms.

He could feel the presence of the large macaque's aura all around him.

This aura surged into his body, causing him to involuntarily twitch and convulse. His knees gradually bent, and he reflexively scratched his head, contorting his face in a manner identical to the macaque's.

Subsequently, the man and the monkey began practicing Monkey Fist in the hall.

Every move was fierce, every punch brutal.

Zhou Bai's eyes now held a trace of bestial ferocity.

Crack!

With a swipe of his hand, he tore deep gouges into the thick wooden beams.

The youth let out a whoop of joy, scrambling on all fours like a monkey, baring his teeth at Yuan Qu, his entire being exuding wildness.

"Good!"

Yuan Qu clapped his hands in approval, but his eyes were filled with mockery...

Unknowingly, night had fallen.

Dong! Dong! Dong!

In an old alley near the City God Temple, the sound of drums continued to echo.

Intermittent, each sound like thunder.

On the bluestone street, Wang Dao Xuan walked by with a lantern, stepped into the Asking Dao Pavilion, and couldn't help but shake his head as he looked at Li Yan, who was acting like a madman in the courtyard.

Sha Li Fei was squatting on the steps, holding a jar of old wine, with a packet of oiled paper spread open beside him, filled with boiled peanuts and braised beef.

"Daoist, want a sip?"

Seeing Wang Dao Xuan enter, he raised the jar and asked in a low voice.

Wang Dao Xuan shook his head and refused, "No, it's Hai Shi (9-11 PM) and all is settled. Drinking alcohol makes one's Blood Essence agitated, which goes against the natural order. If I drank, I fear I wouldn't be able to cultivate later."

"Cultivate what the hell..."

Sha Li Fei mumbled, "This drumming, how could anyone sleep!"

Wang Dao Xuan was also a bit helpless, "I just spoke with the neighbors, and they don't mind. Why must you complain."

"How dare I complain, I'm just worried."

Sha Li Fei quickly retorted, shaking his head, "They've been drumming all day without eating or drinking. The arena match is the day after tomorrow. Aren't you afraid of problems?"

Wang Dao Xuan looked at Li Yan in the courtyard, who was oblivious to his surroundings, and said thoughtfully, "This is a state of self-forgetfulness. Yan Xiao Ge gave instructions long ago, indicating he has things under control."

"We just need to wait with peace of mind."

This night, the common folk of the old street suffered.

But what they found strange was that the drumming, which had seemed annoying before, became somewhat pleasant in the latter half of the night.

And that night, they slept exceptionally peacefully