Kings, Nobles, Generals, and Ministers
Then, garments fell from the Great Void.
Upon contact, it automatically attaches itself to everyone.
Then, various mundane items used in operas fell into the hands of the crowd.
After the various items fell, rouge, powder puffs, and other cosmetics fell as well, spreading across everyone's faces to create exquisite makeup.
Then, the group's bodies moved uncontrollably, forming a procession like a theatrical troupe, and headed towards the canyon below where Su Yao and the others had previously fought.
Below the canyon lies a mine, where countless miners gather.
Some shouted angrily, while others howled in fear.
Amidst the crowd, a scene of utter devastation unfolded before their eyes.
A middle-aged man dressed in the robes of a ninth-rank official was found dead there, along with several other minor officials.
The remaining figures, a pale-faced young man and two agitated minor officials, stood in the very center.
The young man looked at the two minor officials with an arrogant expression:
"I am very pleased that you two have come to your senses and returned to the right path."
The two minor officials were filled with remorse, yet their bodies moved uncontrollably as they bowed to the young man.
"This corrupt official is wicked. The miners have already suffered, yet he still ruthlessly exploits them. He is not human. Even if we were to carry the Great Proclamation of the Taizu emperor, we could arrest this corrupt official and take him to the capital to file a complaint with the emperor."
After saying this, the young man simply nodded, paying no further attention to the two of them.
The two men were filled with unbearable bitterness. Everything was over. Earlier, in an effort to appease the miners, the officials had found a large amount of rice and grain to supply them. However, because a minor official had embezzled funds, the porridge was three-tenths thinner than usual, leading to this tragedy.
At this moment, the young man flew into the sky and, using his newly acquired Law Power, shouted loudly:
"Don't panic, everyone. I've already taken down the corrupt official. As for this matter, I Chen Hai, will take full responsibility!"
Under the bright light of day, the killing of a high-ranking official terrified the miners. But for some reason, upon hearing the young man's voice, the miners instantly fell silent and involuntarily became engrossed in it.
Upon seeing this, the young man's face lit up with joy, and he shouted:
"Rest assured, everyone. As long as I, Chen, have food to eat, you will not go hungry. The Nanzhao is tyrannical, causing us miners unbearable suffering. I will personally lead you all out of this misery!"
These words, like hot oil poured on a fire, instantly ignited the crowd present.
Then Chen Hai raised his hand to signal everyone to be quiet, and the tens of thousands of people paused. Chen Hai then said:
"Master Zhang, Brother Yang, you two, along with these two reformed clerks, will collect the grain and supplies. We'll be moving in three days."
The two minor officials and the two miners, one old and one middle-aged, immediately agreed and began to organize the group.
As dusk fell, the miners gathered once again in the center, where a bonfire blazed and its flames soared into the sky.
Just as Chen Hai was about to speak, a deafening sound of gongs and drums suddenly came from afar.
Chen Hai frowned and looked at the minor official beside him:
Go and see what's going on.
The minor official responded and immediately turned and flew away.
A moment later, the minor official returned and bowed to Chen Hai.
"Sir, there is an opera troupe that heard about the disaster that struck this area due to an earthquake. They happened to be located outside Longchuan City, not far from here, so they rushed over to offer their condolences with a performance."
"Oh?" Chen Hai was taken aback for a moment, then nodded.
"Go and welcome the opera troupe over."
"Yes." The clerk accepted the order and left again.
Chen Hai was suspended in the air:
"Gentlemen, we have the mandate of heaven. Having just restored order, a theatrical troupe has immediately come to flatter us. Our great cause is sure to succeed."
"Great!" Cheers erupted from all sides.
Soon, the crowd parted to make way, and a troupe of more than forty people walked away from a distance.
It was Su Yao and his group.
At this moment, Su Yao, Zilin, Ziheng, and Lu Yu took the lead.
The crowd followed one by one behind.
Upon seeing the visitor, Chen Hai sat down at the top and remained silent.
Su Yao was filled with fear, after all, he was about to meet the reincarnation of Proclaiming Earth True Lord, one of the most skilled at bewitching people. But at this moment, his body involuntarily stepped forward and spoke:
"I am the head of the Shebu Troupe, greetings, Your Excellency."
Chen Hai nodded upon hearing this, then waved his hand:
"No need for such formalities, Master. This place has suffered a disaster, and it's kind of you to have made the trip."
Upon hearing this, Su Yao quickly waved his hand:
"This is what we should do."
Upon hearing this, Chen Hai didn't stand on ceremony. He turned around and pointed to a high platform above:
"This place is simple and lacks a stage, but it is worthy of being used as one, and its high vantage point allows it to be seen by many miners."
Su Yao responded in a low voice.
Chen Hai asked, "I wonder what kind of plays the opera troupe can perform?"
Su Yao replied, "Your Honor, there are several plays that the troupe often performs. I wonder which one Your Honor would like to hear?"
Chen Hai pondered for a moment, his gaze sweeping over the dense crowd around him, and suddenly laughed:
"Since this is to relieve the fatigue of you brothers, let's sing three lively songs."
Upon hearing this, many miners cheered.
Su Yao cursed inwardly, but his body was beyond his control, and he could only bow and say:
"Then how about singing ' The Cinnabar Writing in the Fish's Belly ' and ' The Bronze Horse Holding a Ring in Its Mouth '?"
Chen Hai shook his head:
"Not enough!"
Su Yao replied again:
"In recent years, the imperial court has been promoting the play ' Burning Talismans at the Shaman Shrine.' How about we stage another performance of this play?"
Upon hearing this, Chen Hai glanced at Su Yao with a half-smile, then slowly sat back down in the makeshift seat and gestured for him to sit.
Su Yao turned around, his gaze meeting the eyes of everyone behind him. Fear filled their eyes. The forty-odd disciples of the immortal sects were now nothing more than puppets to be manipulated.
As the gongs and drums sounded, Su Yao turned around, flicked his sleeves, and walked towards the simple high platform.
The so-called high platform was nothing more than a huge rock protruding several feet from the ground in the mine, its surface roughened and uneven by slag. More than forty people took turns climbing onto the platform and standing in their positions, which did resemble the formation of a theatrical troupe.
Su Yao stood in the center of the stage, dressed in coarse cloth and short brown clothes, yet he deliberately retained a touch of heroic spirit between his brows.
With a snap, he unfolded his folding fan, and amidst the drumbeats, began to sing:
"In the deep autumn rains of Daze Township, nine hundred men halted their steps in the mud. Missing the appointed time meant execution under Qin law; not missing it also meant certain death. Either way, death was inevitable, so what did it matter?"
Miners below whispered among themselves, "Qin laws? What dynasty was that?"
Someone immediately replied, "It's that tyrannical Qin Dynasty! The Qin Dynasty that forced the previous emperor to his death!"
Before the whispers had subsided, Su Yao had already stepped to the front of the stage and suddenly burst into laughter:
"Are kings and nobles born with a special destiny?"
The eight words rolled across the mine like thunder. The entire place was dead silent for a moment, then erupted into a thunderous roar of cheers.
The miners didn't understand anything about Qin law or Daze Township, but the eight characters "Are kings and nobles born with a special destiny?" struck them like a hammer blow to the heart.
Su Yao's voice grew increasingly impassioned. "If a brave man doesn't die, fine; but if he dies, he should die a glorious death! Why should the Qin Emperor sit high in his golden palace while you and I are buried in desolate mountains?"
The cheers from the audience grew louder and louder.
Chen Hai sat to the side, his expression unchanged, only his right index finger tapping lightly on his knee to keep time.