The author of this article

Chapter 299 The Night Watch's Trail

The cultivators were all on the mountain for the funeral, while only eight disciples stood on the hillside to watch over the people as they knelt in worship.

But as a burst of energy suddenly shot out from the night, the eight disciples were instantly plunged to the ground, their vision going black.

At this moment, Ji You landed in a dark corner in front of the stage and looked up at the high platform.

The painted-face performer on stage had already completed his opening appearance, then picked up his bundle from the table on the stage, while a melodious singing voice drifted over.

"Preparing for battle in the dark, my heart is as hard as iron—"

"Tighten your clothes, fasten your bag, and sharpen your longsword!"

"I have long ago vowed to save all living beings, and to cultivate myself into an immortal—"

Wu Hualian tightened his longsword and turned around: "Protect the four directions!"

At this moment, an older student stepped onto the stage, took a few quick steps, lifted his robe, and said, "Junior brother, wait a moment!"

"Senior brother, my mind is made up. Do not worry about me now."

Even cats and dogs living under the same roof feel a deep connection, let alone those who have been fellow students for many years!

After hearing this, Wu Hualian pointed diagonally at the audience below: "The ghost fires of the mortal world blaze brightly in the night, while the immortals close their eyes and pretend to be deaf and blind! I would rather be a sword to suppress evil spirits in a wild grave than a wooden beam carved in a golden palace!"

The old man's hands trembled: "This journey... is fraught with monsters and demons, junior brother."

Below the platform, Ji You stood leaning to one side, listening to a chanting performance on the platform, a faint golden light shimmering in his eyes…

The Lang family's play is called "The Ancestor of the Lang Family Saves the World," and it is said to be performed for nine long nights, starting at dusk each day and ending at dawn when the rooster crows.

The daytime hours were reserved for the opera troupes to rest, while ordinary people could return to their farms and come back to kneel before dusk.

The first night's play was called "Farewell to the Mountain," which tells the story of Lang Kun, who, after achieving enlightenment in his early years, saw the suffering of the people and descended the mountain to protect the four directions. He brought rain during droughts and moved mountains during floods.

At dawn, the final act of the song "Farewell to the Mountain and Wandering the Clouds" was performed, and the performers on the stage began to leave one by one.

Under the makeshift shed, the young troupe leader stepped out, cupped his hands, and thanked the main performers for their hard work.

He had overseen half the performance the night before, and after confirming that everything was going smoothly, he went to sleep for two hours. Now, still feeling exhausted, he saw off the performers and began directing his men to come to the front of the stage to change the set.

Last night, the backdrop for the farewell song was mountains and clouds; the next scene will be a small town and lake.

The sets already showed signs of wear and tear, and didn't look like they were new. In particular, the character of Lang in the play "The Ancestor of the Lang Family Saves the World" was also hastily sewn on with fabric of different colors.

Ji You had already determined that this was indeed an old play that had been performed countless times, rather than something that had been newly written for Lang Kun.

He traveled from north to south, then changed course to the west, making a large detour and listening to various forms of singing and performing.

The stories I've heard, from shadow puppetry, drums, and sanxian (a three-stringed plucked instrument), are mostly about immortals who slay demons and are worshipped by the people. But this is the first time I've heard someone sing about their origins.

Ji You knew that this opera troupe must know more about their repertoire.

So he drifted away at dawn, found a secluded place to train his body, and then returned to the stage at the foot of Wangyang Mountain at dusk.

The first night was spent leaving the mountain, the second night was spent wandering the clouds, and then came the task of saving the world and slaying demons.

This play was originally intended to mourn the death of the Lang family patriarch and to be revered by all people, so the focus of the performance was still on praising and honoring him.

Compared to the shadow puppetry, sanxian (a three-stringed instrument), and drum storytelling he had heard before, there wasn't much difference, but Ji You still noticed something different.

For example, when the demon-slaying began later, many performers with painted blue faces and fangs came on stage wearing black cloths.

Before the opening ceremony, they had to hold up this black cloth and walk around the stage once.

Ji You used to suffer from insomnia every night. She had taken a lot of sleeping pills, listened to sleep-aid music on video websites, and even listened to crosstalk and storytelling.

There's a line in storytelling and crosstalk that he remembers very clearly: "The storyteller's mouth, the actor's legs."

This means that a storyteller can travel 108,000 miles with just a few words, while an opera singer can travel all over the world by walking around the stage.

In Ji You's eyes, if the black cloth represented the night, then the circle around the field represented the night enveloping the world.

This bears a striking resemblance to the story told in the book "The Night Watchman".

His arrogant son has a saying: "If there are too many coincidences, then they must not be coincidences."

"That's a bit unnecessary."

"This newly added character..."

On the fifth night, Ji You saw another difference besides the darkness.

In the same story of slaying demons and evil spirits, a boy suddenly appears beside a character similar to the Night Watchman.

The boy's introduction was simple: he was rescued by a guardian deity in traditional opera when passing by a village. Since the boy had no parents, he stayed by the deity's side.

However, the boy's lyrics were few, mostly about eating and sleeping, and didn't have much meaning, making Ji You feel that this specially arranged role seemed dispensable.

In all the plays he had heard before, there was no such little boy, and even the night represented by the cloth was rarely seen.

This may be because other operas, when drawing inspiration from it, also realized that the character and setting were unnecessary, and thus removed them.

But Ji You knew that both the boy and the black cloth must have a reason for existing in this opera.

Otherwise, these wouldn't have been left behind.

Singing is the most troublesome of all performance forms. It requires not only makeup but also practice of movements. Adding another role would make things much more complicated, so there's no need to keep it.

On the eighth day, the sky was clear and bright.

Last night's song was still a scene similar to the one in Old Zhao's shadow puppet show where he slays evil spirits. In the story, Lang Kun is like a savior, guarding the four directions with just one sword.

Ji You listened patiently, then went to find a place to train her body, preparing to wait for this final battle.

For a grand opera that needs to be performed for several nights in a row, the middle part may be filled with exciting and heroic demon-slaying scenes, but the final performance must explain something different.

However, when he returned from his practice in the afternoon, he found that Mount Wangyue was in a bit of a mess.

From a distance, it appeared that some minor families who had come to offer their condolences were blocked outside the gate, seemingly not allowed to enter.

Before long, countless cultivators flew out from Wangyue Mountain in the distant sky, drifting away in all directions with surprise and bewilderment.

Looking up, the sky was densely covered with ants, like ants carrying their nest.

Locals had already arrived at the foot of the mountain in fear, but upon seeing this scene, they immediately prostrated themselves, their trembling bodies conveying their terror and unease.

In fact, they discovered from the very first night that the immortals guarding them would fall asleep right at the start.

So they weren't actually kneeling, but rather squatting or sitting.

Because if they really kneel, it won't take nine days, just one night, for them to ruin their legs.

So when they saw the immortals flying down from the mountains, they thought their "disrespectful" behavior had been discovered, and they were all anxiously waiting to die.

But after waiting for a long time, they discovered that the immortals had left.

Ji You also looked at the huge immortal residence on Wangyue Mountain, and couldn't help but frown slightly.

Just moments ago, he sensed a magical aura blooming in the courtyard, only to vanish just as quickly.

This was the grand funeral of the Lang family patriarch, and in principle, no one should have resorted to violence. Moreover, it was quite strange that the mourners left in a hurry before the nine-day mourning period was over.

Nine has always been considered an auspicious number for achieving great success.

Humanity is divided into nine provinces, and cultivation is divided into nine realms. Leaving on the eighth day seems somewhat illogical.

However, Ji You was waiting to watch the last show, and seeing that the rested artists had gathered in front of the stage, she turned her attention away and did not pay much attention.

"There are a few new characters..."

"She looks quite expensive..."

Ji You looked around the side of the stage, her gaze falling on the few unfamiliar characters, and she couldn't help but mutter to herself.

Because this play was intended to praise some achievements that even Lang Kun himself was unaware of, apart from Lang Kun himself being misattributed, the characters appearing were either demons or people waiting to be saved.

The people were dressed very simply, all wearing gray clothes and gray trousers.

But the attire of these characters today clearly indicates they are not ordinary people, which makes Ji You think there might be other relationships between them.

However, as soon as the performance began, a group of solemn-looking cultivators suddenly appeared on the mountain.

The young troupe leader, the young actress who was about to go on stage, and the old actor who played many minor roles were all called over. After a few reprimands, the three of them immediately looked flustered and started telling people to pack their things when they returned.

Meanwhile, the senior student also hurriedly left with several other people, returning half an hour later with four carts.

Immediately afterwards, the troupe members began to frantically load the vehicles: one vehicle with costumes, one with props, and two with people. By noon, they were ready to set off.

Not singing anymore?
Ji You paused for a moment, then walked towards the first carriage where the troupe leader was.

"Boss."

"Ah, it's you, young master. I am Mo, and I have met you before?"

The people in the opera troupe had actually noticed him long ago. They knew he would listen to the opera every day from the audience, and they could tell from his clothes that he was no ordinary person. His reply was tinged with humility.

Ji You glanced at the house on the mountain and said, "I've been listening to operas these past few days and I've seen you sing exceptionally well. Why aren't you performing the last act?"

Upon hearing the question, the old troupe leader swallowed hard: "We don't know either. We just know that we offended the heavens and were told to pack our things and leave immediately."

"Offending the emperor's authority?" "They probably think our performance is inappropriate."

Ji You turned his head and glanced at the mansion on the top of Wangyue Mountain, and found that, at some point, cultivators had already been guarding the mountain path.

However, judging from their clothing, these guards outside were not members of the Lang family, but members of the Shan Hai Pavilion.

Seeing Ji You deep in thought, the troupe leader cupped his hands and said, "May I ask if you have anything else to do, young master? If not, we still need to continue our journey."

After regaining his senses, Ji You cupped his hands in greeting and asked, "May I ask where you all are headed?"

"We need to go back to our hometown. This performance was extremely tiring. We need to rest. It would be a good thing if we could skip one performance."

Upon hearing this, Ji You took out a silver coin: "I have some questions I'd like to ask you. May I travel with you all?"

The troupe leader didn't dare to make a move easily, but looked at him warily: "What does the young master want to ask?"

"Nothing special, it's just that I didn't finish listening to the play you sang. I really want to know what happened next, otherwise I'll always feel uneasy about it."

"This……"

Seeing his hesitation, Ji You took out another silver coin: "You're just idling around anyway, and besides, your carriage doesn't look too crowded."

After thinking for a while, the old troupe leader reached out and took one of the smaller ones: "These are enough."

"Thank you for your kindness, Master."

"Young master, please get in the carriage. There's always trouble around the immortals' gate. We should leave as soon as possible."

Ji You nodded and then got into the carriage.

Then the coachman cracked his whip, and the carriage began to move slowly.

The members of this opera troupe, though mortals, eat the food of immortals. They have always been very cautious as they travel around, never saying anything when asked.

This was not because they had secrets to keep, but because they were afraid that if what they said was inappropriate, it would be considered an offense against the immortals, and they would be killed.

Ji You didn't directly state her purpose, but instead chatted casually with the troupe leader for a few minutes.

All the members of their opera troupe came from Pingxi, a county town in the southeast of Yunzhou. They had traveled all over the country for many years and were quite well-off because their signature pieces were very popular with the immortals.

This is why their lineage, unlike shadow puppetry, did not experience a break in its transmission, and even the identity of their master remains unclear.

On the contrary, their lineage has a very clear history, which makes Ji You feel fortunate.

As for the play that was performed during those eight days, it was indeed as Ji You had expected.

According to the old troupe leader, this play is indeed an old one that their troupe has been performing for decades.

Whenever an immortal passes away, and the aristocratic families are to mourn with all the people, those immortals would specifically request this play, and they would also ask their families to replace the protagonist in the story with the name of their own ancestor, in order to enhance the family's glory.

What do ordinary people know?
They didn't even know what cultivating immortality was.

Some people do believe it after hearing it, thinking that although the immortal god collects money and grain every year, he is really protecting them.

In other words, the original story of this play was very likely about the Night's Watch.

Ji You seized the opportunity to get to the point: "And what about the last play? What was the last play about?"

Upon hearing this, the troupe leader opened the box behind him and took out a scroll: "This is the content of the final play. Please take a look, young master..."

"This notebook is quite new."

"Yes."

Ji You reached out and unwrapped the cover, her gaze immediately falling on the book.

The carriage had now left the territory of Wangyue Mountain and was slowly making its way onto a dilapidated official road covered with dense forest.

Sunlight filtered through the trees, casting dappled patterns on the ground, which were then scattered by passing carriages.

In the last carriage, two carriages away from the troupe leader, sat side by side the female lead, the young female lead, the old male lead, and the martial arts actor, among others.

Ever since leaving Wangyue Mountain, the young actress has been restless. When she could no longer see Wangyue Mountain, she finally couldn't help but open her mouth.

"That Lang family's ancestor might have risen from the dead..."

The old man's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this: "Nonsense! Only mortals can rise from the dead, how could immortals?"

The young actress, her lips pale, said, "If it wasn't a case of the dead coming back to life, why did they question us about whether we performed any plays about the dead being brought back to life, and why did those immortals suddenly leave?"

The martial arts performer sitting next to him hadn't spoken since getting into the car, but seeing the two talking about this, he finally couldn't help but speak up: "Last night I saw a shadow sit up in the mourning hall..."

The Lang family's plays are divided into an indoor scene and an outdoor scene.

The songs of praise performed outside were for the common people, while the performances inside were for the immortals.

Yesterday, there was a martial arts performance. The actor was taken to the mountain, and after returning, he was restless and only then did he blurt out what had happened.

The young actress's face paled even more: "Is this really true?"

"I only caught a blurry glimpse, I couldn't see clearly, maybe it was just a filial son attending to us..."

"Alright, don't forget the class motto: keep your ears closed, your eyes covered, guard your words, and keep your heart calm."

The older student was extremely timid and couldn't help but stop their discussion.

The young actress and the martial arts actor knew that this was no small matter, so they finally shut their mouths and fell silent on the bumpy carriage.

Meanwhile, Ji You had finished reading the script for the final scene, and his expression was somewhat speechless.

He thought the final episode would be packed with information, since it introduced new character relationships.

In his view, even if the Night's Watchman himself could not be found, clarifying the relationships around him would still be a valuable gain.

But he was hasty, or rather, he overlooked the purpose of the play.

The original script for this final scene wasn't about the Night's Watch at all; it was changed to be about Langkun.

In the story, after saving the world, Lang Kun went to the Mountain and Sea Pavilion to cultivate Taoist magic. He eventually died peacefully in his old age, and was buried by the wailing of the people. He then ascended to immortality in a radiant light.

Upon entering the celestial realm, the great virtuous man Kun recited a poem to the mortal world.

A thousand years of cultivation culminated in a single day; looking back at the mountains and rivers, tears well up in my eyes.

Before even setting foot on the heavenly steps, my heart grows weary; I cannot bear the sound of human sorrow.

Ji You had no idea what law he had broken to have to watch this kind of thing. He handed the script to the troupe leader and asked, "Is this play a new one written after an old play?"

The troupe leader nodded: "The first eight performances are fixed, while the last one is based on the biography provided by the host family."

"No wonder there are so many people in fancy clothes; they're from the Lang family. What a disgrace..."

"Does the young master hold this patriarch of the Lang family in high esteem?"

Ji You looked up at the troupe leader: "No, I just have great respect for the original person in the story."

Upon hearing this, the troupe leader was taken aback.

Seeing this, Ji You asked again, "Could the troupe leader tell me the uncut version of the story?"

"Uncut?"

"It's the one that hasn't been adapted."

The troupe leader shook his head upon hearing this: "Actually, let alone the original story, I have never even heard of the original ninth performance. Our troupe has a rule that the elders will only pass on this last performance before they die."

After listening, Ji You pondered for a long time: "What about that night? In the play you performed, what did the night filled with demons represent?"

"This... hasn't been passed down yet either."

"It's only the older generation in your lineage who know this, right?"

The troupe leader did not answer directly, but suddenly asked, "Does the young master perhaps think this story is true?"

Ji You was slightly taken aback: "Does even the troupe leader himself not believe it?"

"There's no such immortal being. If there really were, how could the world have become like this? But it's not just Young Master who believes, our Grand Master has always believed too..."

"Grand Master?"

The troupe leader nodded: "My great-grandmaster was the oldest in our lineage, but he is now too old to make a living."

After hearing this, Ji You asked with some curiosity, "May I ask how old Grand Master is this year?"

"Over seventy."

"Such a longevity is truly rare."

Ji You felt that she had found the right person. After a long silence, she spoke again: "Master, could you take me to see your grandmaster?"

At first, the troupe leader did not believe that Ji You was interested in his opera performances, thinking that he had ulterior motives. However, after chatting along the way, he found that the man really only asked questions related to opera.

A play is meant to be performed for others to hear; there's nothing to hide.

However, judging from Ji You's words and actions, he felt that Ji You was not a bad person. So the troupe leader remained silent for a while, and then nodded hesitantly.

(End of this chapter)