From a carp to a dragon god

Chapter 292 Meeting the Golden Boy Again
Taiping Guild Hall, first-floor stage.

A white silk screen was pulled up on the stage, and a light was lit from behind. When the gongs and drums sounded, a shadow puppet appeared from behind.

This shadow puppetry is older than opera and originated from the Guanzhong area in the northwest. Originally, it was used to summon spirits, and people would cut skin and take pictures to capture the souls.

Later, because of the many wars and chaos in Guanzhong and the large number of dead souls and ghosts, the common people invited shadow puppetry to perform in order to seek peace and tranquility. This play was performed for the dead and was mostly used to comfort the souls and seek peace.

Over time, they gradually developed a "Xilu Laoqiang" tune, which is called Xipi in later generations. Operas are performed in two tunes, one is called Xipi Liushui and the other is called Erhuang Manban.

At this time, on the stage, behind a screen, there are three monsters. Two of them are dancing with shadow puppets to fight each other, and one is singing at the top of his voice in the back.

Normally, there should be gong and drum musicians, or the singers should play the instruments themselves, but at this time, the singing and instruments on the stage are all performed with the naked voice.

I saw a square bamboo box on a high stool with a golden cicada inside. I heard it singing as it flapped its wings, accompanied by the sound of drums.

As the gongs and drums sounded, Wan Jia followed the black-haired fox back. He had just followed it to the backstage.

"Dear guest, what do you think? I have ordered an old play for you. You can try it first. I will go upstairs to find the madam," said the black-haired fox happily.

Yu Shuyang nodded and said, "You can go now, but you must come back later. I have something to ask you."

As soon as the voice on the stage opened, he recognized it. Wasn't it Jin Ling's younger brother, Jin Tong? He had met him a few times before, perhaps in Shui City, where he was studying opera with the Baoqing troupe.

"Did you see the opera singer just now? Why does it sound like Jintong to me?" Yu Shuyang asked Wan Jia.

Wan Jia shook his head and said, "I was just staring at the black-haired fox and didn't notice anything else. But, shouldn't the Jin siblings be in Wuzhou?"

"The voice sounds similar to mine. Let's ask them later. This Baoqing troupe is an acquaintance of mine. I saw them last time at the Huaihe Water Market." Yu Shuyang explained.

There were two plates of melon seeds and a pot of jasmine tea on the table. Yu Shuyang and Qi Feng were eating melon seeds while listening to the opera.

Wan Jia was even more angry after seeing this, and complained quietly: "This black and white melon seeds cost ten talismans for a pot of tea, and we have to order a play before we can meet.

If you ask me, we shouldn't have come here earlier. We could have just found someone to tell us what the Dharma Master wants to know."

His voice was neither too loud nor too soft, just loud enough for Yu Shuyang to hear clearly. To be honest, he was also unhappy, feeling that he was being taken advantage of and had his money taken away from him.

Seeing Wan Jia mentioning it again and again, Yu Shuyang knew that he couldn't get over the grudge in his heart, so he had to go back and explain it clearly.

"You, how come you have become like your ex Li Zhen, a miser. This talisman money is useless if you keep it in your hand. It is only considered money when you spend it.

The reason we came here this time is not only to inquire about things, but also to practice the Dust Tribulation. This place is well-ventilated, so any news will spread quickly.

"At this time, how many people come to ask for Dragon and Phoenix Tea? Now the cost is very small, and you look at how stingy you are."

Yu Shuyang half explained and half scolded. He didn't expect that Wan Jia's personality had changed so much. When he was in Xiyu Fudi earlier, he just thought he was very stubborn.

At first, Li Taiping said that his fire nature was impure and he could not make elixirs. Later, when he found an opportunity, he tried to make elixirs and even learned the art of making pearl medicine from others on the treasure ship.

This time he came to Qingdao to learn alchemy, and Yu Shuyang brought him along specifically, with the idea of helping him. However, he didn't expect that he would become more and more fussy about the money for the talisman, so Yu Shuyang wanted to give him some advice.

After hearing this, Wan Jia drooped his crane neck and lowered his head, saying, "Master, it's not that I feel bad about the money for the talisman, but I just don't want to be taken advantage of and make us look really stupid."

Seeing this, Qi Feng stopped eating melon seeds and said, "Master, there is something you don't know. When the eldest brother of the Wan family was in Yatou Mountain, he encountered a man who was trying to swindle money and sex.

If it wasn't so close to our mountain, I would have been kidnapped and Cao Qing and the three Cao brothers would have talked about it for a long time."

It would have been better if he hadn't said this. As soon as he said it, Wan Jia was so angry that he wanted to hit someone. He regarded this matter as a great shame and humiliation and would not allow anyone to mention it in front of him.

"Master, please take care of him."

Qifeng saw Wanjia take out the thunder wood torch. This torch was made from the earlier thunder wood lamp. Now, after being infected by the fire magic of Shixu Army, the six-thorn Xin claw staff and the thunder wood lamp were melted into one.

When it hits the body, there is piercing pain, damage from thunder and fire, and even a stream of evil energy and weapons like a maggot attached to the bones.

"Wan Jia, please let him go this time. After all, he means well. For my sake, please don't hit him."

Seeing the two boys chasing and fighting, Yu Shuyang had no choice but to step in to mediate. He also knew that they were using the fight to ease the serious atmosphere.

The play on stage lasted for more than half an hour before it ended. Then the performer went on stage to take a bow and thank the audience who had watched the show.

The screen was pulled aside, revealing two white-haired civet cats half the height of a man and a thumb-sized golden bell, both of whom had reached the early ninth level of cultivation.

When Yu Shuyang saw Jin Lingzi, he recognized Jin Tong, but Jin Tong on the stage failed to recognize Yu Shuyang.

The main reason is that the changes are too great, especially the colorful glow of the Saoxia Fairy Clothes, which directly blocks the detection of spiritual consciousness.

"Qifeng, go backstage later and call the singer over." Yu Shuyang didn't call out Jintong's name on the spot, fearing that there might be other hidden secrets.

At this moment, he had guessed several possible outcomes, from the Huaihe Water Market to the Fox Kingdom in the East China Sea, especially performing opera in a guild hall. No matter how he thought about it, it seemed to be a big problem.

Thinking of Jintong's previous experience of being abducted, he secretly wondered if he had been abducted again this time?
After the three monsters appeared on the stage, they said a few words and then retreated to the backstage, without following the rules.

After singing a play, he would go on stage to help increase his fame, thank the person who ordered the play, and praise himself in front of the audience.

Secondly, it is also to ask for rewards, to ask the audience for their hard-earned money, and at the same time, to see if there are any other people who want to continue to order the show.

If you want to meet the top star in the brothels, you have to follow the rules. Some will drink tea and give gifts, while others will chat and give money.

In a word, you have to spend a lot of money to meet the top courtesan. If you get along well, you can meet again next time.

However, these were limited to drinking tea and chatting, or discussing poetry and songs. In short, there was no vulgarity at all, and everything was elegant.

This goes on for a year or two, until the guild hall has earned enough money and the girl is satisfied. At this point, the relationship is established and both parties will no longer see outsiders.

Generally, a guild hall does not have the time to organize a theatrical troupe. In the early stages, it is just to attract customers to spend money, so there is no need to spend so much effort.

This can be regarded as a characteristic of the Taiping Guild Hall, which has the characteristics of the Huai River. The girls in the hall are also trained according to the style of the Qinhuai skinny horses.

Each girl was chosen to be a beauty with distinctive features. She could be trained based on her bone structure and brought up like the daughters of famous Zhongzhou families.

They are well aware of this. On the one hand, they cultivate dignified ladies, and on the other hand, they specialize in selling these skinny horses to nouveau riche people, based on the principle of making up for what is lacking.

On the other hand, they were training charming and unrestrained women, specifically for the young men of prominent families to admire. This was a different kind of beauty, unfettered by etiquette. Yu Shuyang had never been to such a place before, so he naturally didn't understand the ins and outs of it. He didn't think too much about it now, just waiting for Qifeng to bring Jintong over from the backstage.

Not long after, Qifeng came over with his four deer legs, leading a white civet cat. The white civet cat kept mumbling all the way.

"Oh, Jintong, what should I do? Is this what they call a supporting role?

Wait, what if the guest wants to take you upstairs?"

Then he said, "I just saw her. She was covered in jewels and looked like someone with money. Do you think she would give you a gift as well?"

Jin Tong stayed in the bamboo box, his heart beating fast. This opera troupe was divided into the clear troupe and the red troupe, which consisted of male dan and female old actors, and they also did the business of the guild hall.

Among all kinds of operas, there is also a kind of pink opera, which sings vulgar things. This kind of opera is performed in private residences. The purpose is similar to that of the current guild halls, which is to coax customers to spend money.

"Master, I've called the people over. This raccoon demon has been saying bad things about you the whole way, asking if you want to flatter me."

Qi Feng glared at the white cat fiercely and said unhappily that he felt sick listening to everything along the way.

Yu Shuyang waved his feather fan, and a cool, natural breeze dispelled the anger in his heart. He asked, "Are you Jintong?"

Upon hearing this, Jin Lingzi in the bamboo box glanced out of the bamboo box and looked at Yu Shuyang's face, then she remembered.

The golden boy jumped out of the bamboo box, rolled to the ground and turned into a young boy. He looked three parts like a boy and seven parts like a girl, with delicate features like a beauty.

"Are you the Sword Master Yu from Xiyufudi?"

Jin Tong asked with a look of disbelief.

"It's me, Jintong. Why did you come to the East China Sea? Why didn't you go back to the blessed land with your sister?" Yu Shuyang asked hurriedly.

Yu Shuyang and Jin Tong had no friendship before, but they were very eager to meet again on the Qingqiu Islands above the East China Sea.

Jintong also recounted a story. It turned out that after the Huaihe River water market was closed, Jintong wanted to leave with his sister and brother-in-law. Coincidentally, the opera troupe also wanted to go to the north, so the two sides did not separate and traveled together again.

The accident happened on the way to the north. People from the Wenxiang Sect came and fought with the Dongfang Demon Sect, trapping them on the Huai River.

This battle was scheduled for three rounds. First, the Wenxiang Sect set up a formation to lure the Eastern Demon Sect to break it, and then the Eastern Demon Sect set up a formation to let the Wenxiang Sect break it.

In the end, the Eastern Demon Sect was more skilled and defeated the Wenxiang Sect, forcing them to flee in panic. The entire north was in chaos.

The Baoqing troupe could no longer go north, and Jintong's brother-in-law was also unable to return to Hedong. However, the road was blocked, making it impossible for them to leave.

So both parties turned around and went back to Wuzhou. When they passed by Danhuang Dongtian, Jintong met his current master and his family.

His master was also a musician. When he saw Jintong practicing the Three Sounds Method of the human race, he knew that he was ignorant and pointed out the flaws of the Three Sounds Method to him.

These three methods are the methods of human musicians, using music to comprehend and communicate with heaven and earth. In essence, they are the same as the nine schools of humanity, and are all methods of becoming a saint.

All the methods of becoming a saint are connected to humanity. If the demon race practices these methods forcefully, even if they break through to the fifth-grade demon immortal, they will have no future.

Only then did Jin Tong realize the seriousness of the consequences. He had not considered that most of the members of the troupe were human and had no idea of the differences in the methods of cultivation.

Fortunately, his cultivation was not too deep, so he could still find a way to change it. His master instructed him to come to Qingqiu to learn the rituals and music of the Fox Kingdom, so as to exchange the luck of the monster country for the luck of humanity.

"So, you came to Qingqiu to learn skills under the name of Baoqing Troupe?" Yu Shuyang asked with a smile.

"Why is it under the name of Baoqing Troupe? Our Jintong has been the owner of Baoqing Troupe since he was in Wuzhou." The white cat shouted anxiously.

It was not easy for them to settle down and develop in the Fox Country. They relied partly on the reputation of the Baoqing Troupe and partly on Jintong's good voice.

"Junior brother, don't be rude. Master Yu Jian is the savior of my sister and me." Jin Tong scolded Bai Limao with a stern face.

"Brother, it's not easy for us to gain a foothold. If this gets out, our reputation will be ruined." The white cat said with a sad face.

Seeing Jin Tong in embarrassment and Bai Limao in misery, Yu Shuyang hurriedly said, "I was reckless just now. I said the wrong thing. I didn't realize Jin Tong was already the boss."

Places like brothels are crowded with people and gossips. From what Jin Tong and the other two were saying, one could sense how difficult it was to run the business, so he naturally couldn't just destroy it with a single word.

At this time, Jin Tong turned around and asked, "Master Yu Jian, why are you here?"

Yu Shuyang saw Jin Tong's expression and knew that he had misunderstood. He quickly explained, "I came here to get information. I heard that this place is the most well-informed."

After hearing this, Jin Tong looked at Yu Shuyang with a smile, but did not ask any further questions. He wondered if Master Yu Jian was too thin-skinned.
Before the two sides could continue talking, a black-haired fox ran out, followed by an old fox woman with silver-gray hair.

"Oh, isn't this Master Jin? Why are you willing to reveal your true face today? I heard that the second son of the Shang Guozhu Mansion, Mr. Xia, wants to invite you to sing at his mansion." The black-haired fox said sarcastically.

He watched Jin Tong and Yu Shuyang chatting animatedly from afar, and he couldn't help feeling anxious. He had just agreed on the money for the talisman with the madam, and he couldn't let Jin Tong snatch it away.

"Cao Xiaoshan, don't be so ignorant. If you make me angry, you will suffer the consequences." Jin Tong opened his eyes wide and suppressed his anger.

If he wanted to learn the rituals and music of the Fox Kingdom, he had to go to the Imperial Palace or the State Pillar Mansion, because only the musicians there could master the roots of rituals and music.

When he first arrived here, he was abducted by Cao Xiaoshan and almost fell into the bed of the second son of Shang Guozhu Mansion.

"Oh, Boss Jin, don't be angry. I just said it casually. You can't take it seriously." The black-haired fox said with a smile.

This Jin Tong practices the musician's method, and his killing power is not very great. However, he has three junior brothers around him, all of whom have practiced wind and sand magic, and can blow strong winds and spread yellow sand.

"Get out of here now and stop trying to cheat me out of money." Jin Tong took the opportunity to get angry.

The black-haired fox, Cao Xiaoshan, looked discolored. Seeing the madam speaking for him, he knew that she was also trying to take advantage of the opportunity to bury the blame.

"Hey, the distinguished guest just said that he wanted to ask me something. I wonder what he wants to ask?" Cao Xiaoshan came closer with a flattering look on his face.

This time he also knew that he couldn't be dismissed with a few words, otherwise the madam would definitely refuse to pay him, as that was all the money for the talisman.

Yu Shuyang smiled and said, "Jintong, come over here with this black-haired fox. I have a favor for you."

(End of this chapter)