Starting as pearl divers, they have endless jobs.

Chapter 90: A Play of Ghosts and Gods, Opening the Yin Mountain!! (Three chapters, 10,000 words each, please subscribe and vote!)

[Skill: Subtle Perception - You have a more acute perception of the essence of traditional opera and can integrate it into your own performance, making your singing, recitation, acting, and acrobatics more captivating. This can even influence the minds of ordinary beings and has a slight suppressive effect on certain special entities.]

Chen Ye was overjoyed and immediately opened the system panel.

Name: Chen Ye

[Occupation: Extra Level 4 (The last vestige of the Peking Opera world, the foundation of a towering stage; every frown and smile possesses charm, every tone can move even ghosts and gods. This is the beginning of the path of theatrical art, and also the path to divine connection)]

[Talent: A born actor – possessing an extraordinary understanding of traditional opera, easily discerning the essence of singing, movements, and spirit, and internalizing it for his own use.]

[Skill: Microscopic Insight Lv1]

Next, the improvement brought by the "Microscopic Insight" skill far exceeded Chen Ye's expectations.

It was as if it had given Chen Ye a third eye.

In the past, learning opera involved imitation; it was about learning every move, every tone, and every note taught by the master.

Now he can directly see the spirit and charm contained in traditional opera.

It was a mysterious and mysterious feeling.

With a flick of his sleeve, he could see the resolute determination and sorrow contained within; with a glance, he could read the affection and shyness flowing within.

These intangible things, with their subtle enhancement, become clearly visible and within reach.

Thus, Chen Ye's singing, recitation, acting, and fighting were no longer mere imitations, but had acquired their own soul.

Such progress can no longer be described as astonishing.

Guan Sihai was stunned several times when he watched Chen Ye practice his skills.

He even began to suspect that Chen Ye might be the reincarnation of some famous actor, who had come to their small Qingchun Troupe to experience life.

In the blink of an eye, winter has passed and spring has arrived, and the New Year is here.

The city of Zhenhaiwei was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, exuding a festive atmosphere. Even the usually strict Qingchun Troupe had relaxed its rules considerably.

Guan Sihai was exceptionally lenient, not only giving each apprentice a small sum of New Year's money, but also granting them a ten-day holiday.

Some apprentices whose families lived in the city happily went home for the New Year after receiving their money.

But most of the remaining people were either orphans like Chen Ye, or their homes were in remote rural areas where travel was inconvenient, so they stayed in the opera troupe.

Chen Ye also received a sum of money, and Guan Sihai gave him several times more than others, wrapped in red paper, which was quite heavy.

"Where are we going for Chinese New Year?" Tie Dan came over, clutching his lucky money in his hand, his face full of excitement.

Chen Ye smiled and said, "I haven't decided yet."

As soon as he finished speaking, Chunyan and several other girls who usually liked to hang around Chen Ye also came over, their eyes full of anticipation, all wanting to invite him out to play.

"How about we go out for a walk together?" Chen Ye suggested, looking at the group of teenagers.

"Great! Great!" the crowd cheered immediately.

The New Year in Zhenhaiwei was very lively, with bustling traffic and crowds on the streets.

The grand shopping malls along the street, with their splendidly decorated windows and sparkling clean displays, showcase all sorts of novelties, attracting the attention of passersby.

However, Tie Dan and Chun Yan only dared to glance at it from afar.

Because those entering and leaving the mall are either gentlemen in suits or ladies wearing cheongsams and with curly hair.

Looking at their own faded coarse cloth clothes, the group of teenagers felt ashamed and dared not approach any further.

Chen Ye didn't care about these things, but since everyone was uncomfortable, he wouldn't force them.

The group bypassed the shopping mall and arrived at a large market in the town center.

The place was bustling with people, shoulder to shoulder.

Vendors hawking their wares, people pushing wheelbarrows, and carrying loads on shoulder poles—all sorts of people from different walks of life gathered here, creating a vibrant and lively atmosphere.

After walking around for a short while, everyone's stomachs started to rumble.

"I'm hungry, let's find a place to get something to eat!" Tie Dan said in a muffled voice, rubbing his stomach.

There are even more food stalls at the market.

The aromas of fried cakes, candied hawthorns, and sliced ​​pears mingled together, making one's mouth water.

By this time, Tie Dan was starving. He spotted a fried dough stick stall and quickly squeezed through to buy three large, golden-brown, crispy fried dough sticks.

Then he peeled a steaming hot flatbread from the griddle next to him, rolled the fried dough stick inside, rolled it up like a rolling pin, and devoured it in a few bites.

Even so, he felt only half full after finishing the meal.

Chunyan and the other girls naturally looked down on this rough way of eating.

They found a clean shed, sat down, and ordered several steamers of freshly steamed buns and several bowls of tofu pudding.

Zhenhaiwei's steamed buns are extremely famous. They are made with fresh pork with a ratio of three parts fat to seven parts lean meat, filled with pork rib soup, and seasoned with sesame oil and high-quality soy sauce. The bun skin is made with semi-fermented dough, and the pleats are even and beautiful, resembling a white chrysanthemum.

The ingredients used at these market stalls are naturally not extravagant, but they are quite authentic.

One bite, and the rich, fragrant juice bursts in your mouth, incredibly delicious. Paired with a bowl of smooth, white tofu pudding, topped with vibrant green chive blossoms and bright red chili oil, the flavor is simply indescribable.

Chen Ye didn't eat the steamed buns. He walked to a stall selling fried dough sticks and ordered two. He also got a bowl of steaming hot mutton soup from a stall next to him.

This dish gets its name from its resemblance to the cloth pouches that were once carried on the shoulder. The outer skin is fried until golden brown and fragrant, and the inside is filled with meat filling. When you take a bite, the oil juice bursts out, making it very satisfying.

And that bowl of mutton soup is the favorite of the dockworkers at Zhenhaiwei.

These people who do heavy physical labor are the most lacking in oil and fat in their stomachs, but they can't afford to eat large pieces of meat, so someone came up with the idea of ​​making soup with sheep offal.

This is the origin of mutton soup.

Chen Ye's soup contained tender lamb intestines, crisp lamb tripe, and several pieces of bright red lamb blood.

The soup is milky white, without any fishy or gamey smell. It doesn't need many seasonings, just a sprinkle of pepper and salt. After taking a sip, a warm current instantly flows from the throat into the stomach and then spreads to the limbs, making it extremely comfortable on this cold winter day.

Having eaten and drunk their fill, everyone was satisfied and ready to head home.

Just then, they suddenly noticed that the crowd in front of them was all surging in one direction, making a lot of noise, as if something exciting was going on.

"Hey buddy, what's going on up ahead?" Tie Dan asked, pulling a passerby aside.

"Hey! The City God Temple has invited the Mingfeng Opera Troupe to perform for three days straight, and it's free! Come and see the show!"

Upon hearing that there was a show to watch, and that it was performed by a famous troupe from the city, everyone became excited and, forgetting about going home, squeezed forward with the flow of people.

When we arrived at the square in front of the City God Temple, wow, it was absolutely packed with people.

Because there was no entrance fee and the performers were famous, people from all around came to visit.

It took Chen Ye and his group a lot of effort to find a decent corner to stand in the crowd.

Not long after, a loud gong rang out, followed by rapid drumbeats, and the grand opera began.

The first play was "Havoc in Heaven," in which the Monkey King was born and fought a great battle against 100,000 heavenly soldiers and generals. The battle was so exciting that the audience cheered.

Immediately afterwards, the scene changed, and the sound of gongs and drums became melodious and gentle.

The announcer stepped forward and shouted, "Next act, The Peach Blossom Fan!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a commotion arose from the audience.

A young female lead, dressed in a pink theatrical costume, slowly made her way onto the stage with graceful steps.

Her figure was graceful, her sleeves fluttering lightly, her face lightly powdered, her eyebrows and eyes exquisitely beautiful. With just a single appearance, a single glance, she perfectly captured the charm and elegance of the famous courtesan of Qinhuai.

"it is good!!!"

The audience erupted in thunderous cheers.

Tie Dan, Chun Yan, and the others around Chen Ye were also mesmerized, their mouths agape and their eyes fixed on the figure on the stage.

After a long while, Tie Dan wiped his drool and couldn't help but exclaim, "My God... He sang so well, how many beatings must he have gotten!"

Chen Ye was equally shocked, experiencing for the first time the charm of this world-class star.

After the performance of "The Peach Blossom Fan," the audience was completely captivated. After a long while, they erupted in cheers that were more intense than ever before.

The opera ended, but people did not leave because the City God Temple was offering free vegetarian meals that day.

So the crowd surged toward the temple.

Upon hearing that there was food, Tie Dan's stomach immediately started rumbling, and he pulled Chen Ye along to squeeze inside.

Once inside, Chen Ye observed the City God Temple and found that its blue bricks, red walls, flying eaves, and brackets made it very grand.

Chen Ye wasn't interested in the vegetarian food, so while Tie Dan and the others were queuing for their meals, he wandered around the main halls by himself.

The main hall enshrines the City God, whose statue is sculpted in gold with fierce eyes, exuding an imposing aura. The civil and military judges and underworld generals such as Ox-Head and Horse-Face on both sides are even more ferocious and lifelike, inspiring awe in those who behold them.

There is also a couplet in front of the palace gate.

The first line reads: "If you are wicked and corrupt, burning incense will be of no use." The second line reads: "If you are upright and honest, why should I bow to you?"

interesting!
Chen Ye had been looking around for a long time, hoping to see if he could run into the young Taoist named Ge Kun again, but unfortunately he returned empty-handed after searching for a while.

After finishing their vegetarian meal, it was already late, so everyone headed back home.

For the next two days, Chen Ye and the others came to the City God Temple to listen to the opera every day.

And the Mingfeng Troupe truly lived up to its reputation, putting on a fantastic show for two consecutive days, captivating the audience and leaving them thoroughly entertained.

Before we knew it, it was the last day of the performance.

But when the opening drums sounded, Chen Ye's brows furrowed slightly.

Not right.

The drumbeats today are completely different from the ones of the previous two days.

The previous two days' performances were filled with the sounds of gongs and drums, exuding a festive and lively atmosphere. But today's drumbeats sounded dull and oppressive, and the gongs were sharp and piercing, as if clearing a path for something, conveying an indescribable eeriness.

Ordinary people might not understand the underlying meaning and would only find it strange, but Chen Ye, being there, could naturally sense the chilling and murderous aura contained within.

The announcer stepped forward and shouted, "The final act, Opening Yin Mountain!"

Upon hearing this, many elderly people in the audience changed their expressions.

Because opening Yin Mountain is not some romantic drama about talented scholars and beautiful women, but a proper ghost story about Mulian rescuing his mother, opening a passage to the underworld, and delivering the souls of wandering ghosts.

This kind of performance is not usually staged; it is only performed during religious ceremonies or when there are special occasions.

At this moment, the opera began, and the atmosphere of the entire square instantly changed.

On the stage, ghostly figures with blue faces and fangs, and disheveled, wronged souls appeared one by one.

The singing style was no longer melodious and gentle, but became high-pitched and shrill, as if it could penetrate people's eardrums and pierce their souls.

The audience had never seen anything like this before, and they were all terrified and fell silent. The more timid children were even brought to tears.

Tie Dan, Chun Yan, and the others also turned pale and subconsciously moved closer to Chen Ye.

Chen Ye's expression was serious, his eyes fixed on the stage. He could feel that as the opera progressed, invisible energies were gathering from all directions and surging into the depths of the City God Temple.

Finally, the ghost story came to an end.

Just as the last syllable fell.

"Boom!"

A deep, resounding boom, like a giant drum, suddenly came from the direction of the rear hall of the City God Temple.

Immediately afterwards, an extremely terrifying surge of Yin energy erupted like a flood bursting its banks!
Chen Ye froze, feeling even his soul tremble. The resentment and violence contained in this yin energy were unlike anything he had ever seen in his life!

But this yin energy came quickly and went quickly.

In just a moment, it vanished without a trace, as if it had been forcibly erased by some more powerful force.

Just then, a dazzling firework suddenly exploded in the night sky, followed by hundreds and thousands of fireworks that rose into the air, illuminating the entire City God Temple as bright as day.

The crowd, who were quite frightened by the ghost play, were stunned for a moment, then burst into thunderous cheers, instantly washing away the eerie atmosphere. Everyone thought it was a surprise specially prepared by the temple.

Only Chen Ye looked up at the fireworks filling the sky, his eyes filled with a solemn expression.

He already understood.

The Mingfeng Troupe performed for three days, gathering crowds for the first two days, all for this final performance.

This song is not meant for the living at all.

This is... a real ghost and spirit play!
Meanwhile, on a small building behind the City God Temple.

Ge Kun watched the fireworks bloom in the night sky, breathed a long sigh of relief, and turned around to respectfully bow to an old Taoist priest with white hair and beard behind him.

"Master, the mission is accomplished."

The white-haired Taoist nodded slightly, a hint of satisfaction appearing on his usually calm face.

"Indeed, it's all thanks to the power of opera. Otherwise, we wouldn't have been able to safely convert this century-old ghost king. You've done a great service this time."

It turns out that a fierce ghost, hundreds of years old, was being suppressed in this City God Temple. It was sealed away by the previous abbot himself and was extremely ferocious.

But now, as time goes by, the seal has begun to loosen, and there is a risk that it will break at any time.

The people at the City God Temple were now in a dilemma, because forcibly suppressing the enemy would inevitably cause a huge upheaval, and might even affect innocent people.

There's no chance to seal it again.

Therefore, the only way is to invite an opera troupe to exorcise the ghost king. However, opera troupes capable of exorcising this hundred-year-old ghost king are extremely rare, and even if one were to find one, the price would probably be prohibitive.

In desperation, Ge Kun came up with this idea.

First, a performance is held to gather a crowd, and then, using this overwhelming momentum as a starting point, a play titled "Opening the Yin Mountain" is performed, borrowing the divine power in the play to perform acts of salvation.

In retrospect, although it was a desperate measure, it had a miraculous effect.

Of course, Chen Ye, who was far away, was unaware of all this.

He simply gazed silently at the City God Temple illuminated by the fireworks, his heart unable to find peace for a long time.

Because this was the first time he had experienced the divine power of traditional opera, he was naturally very shocked, and at the same time, it aroused a sense of anticipation in him.

If I continue to cultivate along this path, will I be able to master this power?

"Chen Ye, are you alright?" Chunyan asked softly, feeling uneasy as she noticed Chen Ye's fluctuating expression.

"I'm fine!" Chen Ye exhaled slowly and then said.

"Let's go, it's time to go back."

(End of this chapter)