Starting as pearl divers, they have endless jobs.

Chapter 105 The Divine Performance (Seeking Subscriptions - 10,000 Words)

Soon, the news that Lingxian Chen Ye would be performing a religious opera at the General's Temple on the Mid-Autumn Festival spread like wildfire throughout Zhenhaiwei.

Teahouses, restaurants, streets, and alleys were filled with people discussing this matter.

"Have you heard? Boss Chen is going to put on a performance to appease the gods!"

"How is this possible? The performances at the General's Temple to thank the gods are always the highlight for martial arts and old male roles. Boss Chen sings female roles, this... this won't do?"

In an instant, astonishment, doubt, curiosity... all sorts of emotions fermented among the people.

At the same time, the atmosphere in Qingchun Class was more somber than ever before.

Guan Sihai valued this performance more than anything else. He knew that this was not just a play, but the key to whether Qingchun Troupe could truly gain a foothold in Zhenhaiwei, or even go further.

If the performance goes wrong, not only will Chen Ye's reputation be damaged, but the entire Qingchun Troupe will become a laughing stock in the Peking Opera world.

Therefore, he personally supervised the rehearsals every day, scrutinizing the singing and movements of every supporting actor to the extreme, and would be severely scolded for the slightest mistake.

The entire troupe of apprentices were on edge, both excited and nervous.

Just as the entire city of Zhenhaiwei was eagerly anticipating the upcoming performance to thank the gods.

A train from Pingjing slowly pulled into the Zhenhaiwei station, accompanied by a long whistle.

The doors to the first-class carriage opened, and a young man stepped out, surrounded by several bodyguards in black.

The young man wore a well-tailored, expensive suit. He had a handsome face and skin that was almost sickly pale. However, his narrow, phoenix-shaped eyes revealed an inescapable effeminate and cold demeanor.

He was Yan Xun, a member of the Yan family, a top-tier noble family in Pingjing, who was Li Kang's true backer.

One of his men quickly stepped forward and whispered something in his ear.

"Li Kang went insane on the spot after watching a play at Guang Le Lou. He died seven days later with his body covered in sores. His death was extremely gruesome. We investigated and found that the Lu family and Qi Shihao of the Six Doors had both tried to suppress Li Kang, but there seems to be something else going on with Li Kang's death."

Yan Xun listened to the report without showing any anger or sadness on his face. Instead, a playful smile appeared on his lips.

"It's funny how a dog that I've raised for three years can just die like that."

He wiped his fingers with a silk handkerchief, his voice soft yet chilling, "I want to see who in this little Zhenhai Guard has the audacity to touch my people, Yan Xun's men."

"Young Master, all the clues point to an actor named Chen Ye at Guang Le Lou, nicknamed 'Ling Xian'."

"Lingxian?" Yan Xun scoffed, his eyes full of disdain.

He was a seasoned amateur opera enthusiast, and in Beijing he listened to the most top-notch actors, such as the "Thirteen Great Actors" and the "Four Great Dan Actors," all of whom were famous throughout the country.

How dare someone from such a remote and impoverished place presume to call themselves an immortal?
They are truly arrogant and ignorant of their own limitations.

Yan Xun and his entourage checked directly into the most luxurious inn in Zhenhaiwei.

What annoyed him was that, whether in the lobby or the restaurant, everyone from the hotel manager to the waiters and even the guests at the next table was repeating the same name.

Lingxian Chen Ye.

And the performance of the religious ceremony that will soon be staged at the General's Temple.

This pervasive enthusiasm offended his sense of superiority from the capital, while also arousing a sense of provocation and curiosity within him.

He wanted to see just how this country actor possessed extraordinary abilities.

Soon, the Mid-Autumn Festival night would arrive.

The area in front of the General's Temple was already packed with people, but it was different from the usual hustle and bustle, with a solemn and dignified atmosphere.

The area in front of the temple was packed with people from Zhenhaiwei, beneath the tall stage that had been temporarily erected.

The surrounding restaurants and teahouses, wherever there was a view of the stage, were packed to capacity.

Lu Dahu, Qi Shihao and other celebrities from Zhenhaiwei had all arrived. Lu Jinghong sat next to her father, her delicate hands tightly gripping the hem of her clothes, her palms sweaty, looking at the stage with worry.

In a private room with the best view directly opposite the stage, Yan Xun was idly waving an ivory folding fan, his eyes full of scrutiny and criticism, waiting to see a joke. "Thump—! Clang!"

A gong rang out, piercing the night sky.

The curtain suddenly rose.

There was no elaborate setting, only a somber, dim yellow hue.

Chen Ye, who plays General Qin, stands quietly in the center of the stage, dressed in plain armor.

He didn't wear heavy makeup; his handsome face had only a few symbolic lines. But when he raised his eyes and looked down at the audience, everyone felt their hearts skip a beat.

What kind of eyes were those!
It contains the resolute determination of soldiers fighting on the battlefield, the unwavering resolve to defend one's homeland, and a deep-seated sorrow that is not understood by the world.

An aura of loyalty, fortitude, and tragedy, like an invisible mountain, instantly weighed on everyone's hearts.

The entire square, and the breaths of thousands of people, seemed to freeze at that moment.

Inside the private room, Yan Xun's frivolous smile froze slightly.

The ivory folding fan in his hand also stopped in mid-air.

"Back then, with swords flying and horses galloping, our might was as fierce as a tiger swallowing up ten thousand miles..."

When Chen Ye opened his mouth, his singing was not high-pitched, but it seemed to have a strange magic that penetrated everyone's eardrums and resonated deep in their souls.

hum!
All the audience members present, including Yan Xun on the second floor, only felt the scene before their eyes suddenly blur, and the ivory folding fan in their hands fell to the ground with a thud, but they were completely unaware of it.

They were no longer spectators sitting in front of the General's Temple.

The sharp whistling of arrows cutting through the sky rang in my ears, and the thick smell of blood and gunpowder filled my nostrils.

They felt as if they were on a desert battlefield, watching with their own eyes how General Qin led his weary army to defeat the surging waves of pirates time and time again.

The scene changes again.

In the oppressive and stifling court, they once again became bystanders, witnessing the treacherous schemes of the wicked ministers and the suspicious and cold gaze of the emperor on the dragon throne.

Everyone was drawn into this incredibly realistic illusion constructed from traditional opera.

They were thrilled by the general's illustrious military achievements, heartbroken by his unjust treatment, and devastated by the slander against his loyalty.

People forgot who they were and where they were, completely immersed in the general's magnificent yet tragic life.

Chen Ye on the stage is the wronged general.

The audience below the stage are the silent masses of people.

Finally, the plot reached its climax—the execution at the execution ground.

Chen Ye's portrayal of General Qin, shackled and covered in blood, still shows him standing tall and proud. He offers no explanation, but simply raises his head and stares intently at the ethereal direction that represents the capital, his eyes burning with endless resentment and bitterness.

"Heaven and earth bear witness, the sun and moon are my witness! I, Qin Lie, have loyally protected the country, what crime have I committed!"

"If the ruler commands the subject to die, the subject has no choice but to die..."

"I...am not...will...accept...this...!"

The last three words seemed to burst forth one by one from Chen Ye's chest, his voice hoarse and sorrowful, filled with an ultimate questioning of the injustice of heaven and earth.

In the very instant that roar resounded through the night sky!

Boom——!
A bolt of lightning suddenly streaked across the night sky, followed by a deafening thunderclap that resounded across the heavens!

Immediately afterwards, the icy autumn rain, accompanied by a fierce wind, poured down.

(End of this chapter)