Devouring Evil Martial Arts, Eliminating Demons from All Heavens

Chapter 21 Liu Siniang returns to the evil spirit, Zhong Jinqiu listens to the wind

Even though the person wasn't right, it still felt good to go to the banquet together.

The mayor's own chef's cooking skills are different from the delicacies he had eaten in the town before.

The large chunks of braised beef are so tender and tasty that even the tendons can be easily bitten off.

One-pot braised chicken mushroom and pork, pickled pork trotters, bamboo tube chicken, cold mint salad, pineapple glutinous rice, and red bean sour soup.

After Chu Tianshu came to this world, he mainly ate meat. It had been a long time since he had eaten a meal with such a good balance of meat and vegetables.

Especially the pineapple sticky rice.

I don’t know what variety it is, but compared to modern pineapples, it is less sweet, but also less sour, and is sweet, fragrant and smooth.

The mayor seemed to have inquired about Chu Tianshu's appetite, and the main table was full of dishes.

The front hall and front yard were filled with tables, and the bright sun outside could not dampen the enthusiasm for this feast.

After noon, everyone put down their chopsticks one after another, but they did not leave the table and just started chatting.

The mayor always wanted to talk to Adjutant Zhou, but Adjutant Zhou always talked to Chu Tianshu about what he saw and heard in the city.

The masters of the Zhu and Tan families were also nearby, and they finally found an opportunity to talk to the shopkeeper Ma, whose identity as a wizard had been exposed.

Meng Lianfa and Zhong Jinqiu talked about tea.

"...Yizhou Military Academy?"

Chu Tianshu nodded. "I read in the newspaper that it's a place for training new-style officers, learning military tactics and focusing on the training of new recruits."

Adjutant Zhou had taken off his tattered clothes and changed into a black coat with centipede-shaped buttons from the mayor's house. He sat sideways at the table, talking in high spirits.

"That place isn't just a place to learn military tactics, it might also be the most profound boxing gym in all of Yizhou."

Adjutant Zhou said, "Although it's only been established a short time ago, the various boxing secrets and weapon techniques collected there are so numerous that even one or two rooms can't hold them all. I heard there are also quite a few unique manuals of magic techniques stored there."

"There haven't been any particularly famous masters there yet, but once the students graduate and hone their skills for a few years, maybe one day they will become one."

Chu Tianshu listened with great interest, and it showed on his face.

"Brother, you have such a lot of skills at your age. It's really a waste of your skills to stay in this small town."

Adjutant Zhou said, "Our regiment commander and I are good brothers. He can recommend a junior college student to the Military Academy. If you're interested, I'll ask him to write a letter of recommendation when I get back."

Chu Tianshu quickly said: "I won't accept rewards without merit, I dare not do this."

Adjutant Zhou said, "In this current situation, everyone is living in unrest, but having the ability and command of the army gives me peace of mind, rather than being helpless."

"Brother, at your age and with your skills, if you return from the Military Academy and work for our regimental commander, securing a battalion-level position is a piece of cake. I'm not helping you out for nothing. After all, it's a matter of brothers helping each other. I'm optimistic about your future."

"How wonderful it will be for us to achieve great things together and rise to prominence together in the future!"

Shopkeeper Ma suddenly said, "If you join the army and make a career, that would be a good idea."

Chu Tianshu couldn't help but glance at the old man.

From the perspective of Shopkeeper Ma, considering Chu Tianshu's determination, martial arts skills, and various other factors, joining the army in the future should be the best choice.

If it weren’t for the token screen, it would show the hope of returning home.

Chu Tianshu would probably find a way to enter the Military Academy. Even if he didn't follow Captain Xu's path, he could try it himself.

But, at least for now, he was not ready to send himself to a military academy to be detained in this unfamiliar Republic of China.

"I still feel that I can't stand the military rules and mundane affairs. Maybe in a year or two, my thoughts will change."

Chu Tianshu smiled and raised his glass, "Let's not talk about that, let's drink first."

Adjutant Zhou looked a little regretful and took a sip from the wine glass.

Everyone was chatting until the afternoon. The sun was still about an hour away from setting, but it wasn't as strong anymore.

An old man came in from outside. He was wearing a black hat with a shining emerald on his forehead. He had a fair and rosy face, a soft goatee, and a snuff bottle in his hand. He came to look for Adjutant Zhou.

"Master Chen!"

Adjutant Zhou called out, "Is the old man settled?"

Even before entering the house, troupe leader Chen had already smiled: "The old man has retired, and the troupe has recovered their spirits. After all, there are no bright lights in the city. If we want to set up a stage for a big show, we'll probably have to go out in the wild, so we might as well start it early."

Adjutant Zhou thought about it and agreed: "To have fun with the people, we really need to find a spacious place."

"I've found a place," said Chen. "There's a river to the west of the town, and a large grassy area in front of the riverbank. I'm just setting up a platform, and I need help."

Adjutant Zhou laughed and said, "So you're borrowing someone."

"you!"

He waved his hand casually and shouted to the soldiers who were resting after eating and drinking, "All of you follow Master Chen to set up the stage."

The soldiers responded in unison and followed Master Chen out.

No one paid much attention to the time. It seemed that not long after, someone came from outside to announce that the stage had been set up.

Chu Tianshu and others went to the west of the town to take a look.

The stage is more than three feet high and about ten steps square. Large bamboos are placed on the edge to support thick canvas as a roof.

The front of the shed is open for people to watch, and there is a canvas hanging at the back, which also prevents people from seeing what is happening behind the stage.

Many townspeople had already gathered on the grass, waiting to watch the show. No one was sitting in the empty seats in the front row, as they were obviously prepared for the mayor, Adjutant Zhou and others.

Adjutant Zhou pulled Chu Tianshu to sit in the front.

At this time, you can still see someone carrying things from a carriage not far away to the back of the stage. They are very serious about it, especially the last thing.

Before moving, the boss bowed three times to the carriage, then solemnly brought it out, taking each step as if measuring with a ruler, and walked to the back of the stage.

It turned out to be a colorful porcelain statue about a foot tall, dressed like a military commander in a drama, with a dignified face, a big horse and a golden sword, sitting on a throne.

"It's the statue of Huaguang," the mayor praised. "Although Huaguang Emperor is also known as Wuxian Emperor and is regarded as the troupe's God of Wealth and the ancestor of opera, it's rare to set up a stage in the wild and worship the statue. Such respect for etiquette is rare."

"It's truly worthy of being the troupe raised by the old man!"

Adjutant Zhou laughed and said, "That's right. Even though this troupe only has a little over twenty people, each of them has unique skills. They can sing all the Five Robes, Four Pillars, and Eighteen Stories of Jianghu."

He raised his voice and asked, "Master Chen, what are you singing today?"

The troupe leader, Chen, peeked out from behind the curtain and said, "Since the performance starts at sunset, let's sing the Mulian opera."

The mayor clapped his hands and said, "Mulian Opera, both ends are red, good."

The Mulian Opera tells the story of Mulian saving his mother, but it is very different from the original story of Mulian, the Buddha's disciple, and has been interpreted, added to, and deleted by local folk.

The so-called "red at both ends" means that the performers of this opera often sing from sunset to sunrise the next day, and the red sun can be seen at the beginning and end of the show.

Chu Tianshu was not interested in singing opera. Whenever he didn't practice enough, he would feel unsatisfied. It was fine when he was eating, but now it was almost dark, and he was still staying here. It was a waste of time.

But he found that not only Adjutant Zhou and the mayor, but also Shopkeeper Ma, Zhong Jinqiu, and Meng Lianfa who were sitting next to him, all looked very excited.

Turning around again, I could clearly see the restaurant's chefs and waiters among the crowd.

Okay, let’s take a look.

The Mulian opera is too long to be completed in one night, so the opera usually starts with a wonderful part, which becomes more and more exciting as it goes on.

Today's show opened with the sound of gongs, drums and clappers. A woman came onto the stage from behind the scenes. She wore a black dress with long sleeves, walked with small steps and had a ghost face makeup with eyebrows drawn with a green brush. She spoke a few lines and briefly described the previous events.

This person is Mulian’s mother “Liu Si Niang”, and the performance that begins is a Liu Si Niang’s return to the evil spirit.

It is said that Liu Si Niang swore to worship Buddha, but broke the oath and started killing and eating meat, breaking the Five Precepts and was sent to hell. Today, she took advantage of the fact that the gates of hell were wide open and went home to visit her relatives with two ghost officials.

Another gong sounded behind the scenes, and a faint melody was played on the side of the stage. Two ghost messengers on stilts staggered onto the stage.

Chu Tianshu saw something interesting in it. The two ghost officials were walking on stilts, using wooden sticks about a foot high as a kick under their feet. Their bodies were swaying back and forth, which was very dangerous, but they never fell, showing the ghosts' elusiveness.

I've heard that in the old society's opera troupes, the singers also had real skills.

Although today's troupe is not large in scale, it is actually quite impressive.

But compared to Liu Si Niang, these two ghost officials are much worse.

According to the opera, the two ghost officials enjoyed a table full of offerings, but Liu Si Niang was so hungry that she picked up two incense sticks and gnawed on them.

Originally, this part was just about biting the candle from the side, with a little fire-swallowing and fire-breathing performance at the end.

But this Liu Si Niang first bit off the candle end in one bite, and her tongue seemed to be wrapped in flames. She then spat it out, lighting the remaining candle, and then bit it off and spit it out again.

The flames flickered, the candles flickered, and the drumbeats grew more and more rapid.

Chu Tianshu saw clearly that from the first bite, Liu Si Niang did not take a breath. With just one breath, she bit off two long candles, inhaling and exhaling the flame dozens of times.

This skill is much more powerful than that of the two ghost officials.

Soon, Liu Siniang's son appeared. Liu Siniang didn't want her ghostly appearance to be seen by her son, so she raised her sleeves to cover her face and dodged left and right.

She did not bind her feet, but instead wore wooden footwear on the soles of her feet, which was very inconvenient. However, with this gait, she was able to leap freely between the tables and chairs on the stage.

With one foot on the back of the chair, the whole chair was spinning, and she could slowly raise her other leg above her head. She half covered her face with her sleeve and glanced at the audience.

There was a burst of enthusiastic cheers and applause from the audience.

Chu Tianshu met that look.

The woman's eyes were mournful, but then they curved up and suddenly changed, like a ghost that had suffered seven points of resentment, and her voice was melodious.

"awesome!"

Chu Tianshu couldn't help but clap his hands. There was no evil aura on the other person, but his eyes really looked like a ghost. He knew this.

Most of the opera troupe members also serve as the old man's bodyguards, so they have so many talented people.

Looking at this Liu Si Niang, she must be proficient in cold, vicious and cruel fighting styles such as upskirt kick and foot poking.

A night passed, while others watched the play, he also watched the play, and everyone enjoyed it very much.

Perhaps only Chu Tianshu himself knew what he had been thinking about all night.

After the show ended at sunrise, Adjutant Zhou made an appointment to watch another show seven days later, and then everyone went home.

Chu Tianshu returned to the restaurant and was still a little distracted as he walked towards his room.

Shopkeeper Ma and Zhong Jinqiu, who were behind, walked into the courtyard and stopped.

The wind blew through the small trees in the yard. Shopkeeper Ma looked at the yellow leaves on the branches and sighed.

"I'm really old, and my spirits aren't as strong anymore. After a night of fun, I feel uneasy and a little uneasy."

"With your physique, it's normal to feel anxious after staying up late. My physique isn't that bad, but I feel the same way."

Zhong Jinqiu reached out to catch a leaf and suddenly changed the subject, "When you mentioned yesterday, were you planning to give the Lingyang Gallbladder to Chu Tianshu?"

Shopkeeper Ma was stunned for a moment: "Wait for you to get together..."

Zhong Jinqiu said decisively, "You've always been better at judging people than I am. Just make up your mind. When we were in the martial arts world, you were my brain and I was my hands."

Shopkeeper Ma said with a smile, "I am at most the eyes, but you shoulder the ears, hands, feet, and weapons all at once. This matter requires your effort, so I'd like to wait and see."

"Well...then listen to me. I'll go to sleep for four hours and then bring the things back."

Zhong Jinqiu looked thoughtful as he raised his palm and gently shook it like a wave. The narrow, dry yellow leaves quietly landed on the tip of his middle finger. Just a slight breeze blew them and they began to spin uncontrollably.

If he had ears, he would have vaguely heard the disturbing wind during this half day and night.

It’s hard to say how disturbing it will be.

When you see your old friend has an idea, do it before it gets too late!

(End of this chapter)