A master of comedy!

Chapter 55 Shooting the Halberd at the Gate
“Master Guan, I’m not afraid. As long as I can perform on stage, what does it matter if I can’t be reincarnated?”

Zhou Sheng knew that opportunities sometimes had to be earned and couldn't be relied on just by his master, so he took the initiative to say, "And from what you're saying, it's because of a mistake that they suffered on stage. I don't think they'll find another chance."

His gaze was steady, his voice firm, and his eyes radiated confidence.

This confidence comes from his daily hard work and solid basic skills.

Guan, the troupe leader, suddenly brightened up, revealing an expression of appreciation, but he still hesitated and couldn't make up his mind.

At this moment, Yao Tai Feng spoke.

"Master, I just sparred with Boss Zhou. He has a solid foundation and his skills are excellent. How about we have him perform a solo today so you can judge for yourself?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Sheng showed a hint of gratitude.

The term "hanging scene" refers to a transitional scene between the end of one play and the beginning of the next. Actors are usually given the opportunity to improvise, so that the audience doesn't get too impatient while waiting.

Generally speaking, those who sing the stilts are newcomers in the opera troupe, the kind who don't have much fame, because this kind of opera is difficult to sing.

The audience is eagerly anticipating the main event, and if they get impatient, they tend to become emotional and more likely to nitpick.

Zhou Sheng wasn't afraid of being criticized. If he didn't practice on stage here, he would have to go to the underworld to perform ghost plays during the Ghost Festival two months later.

He was afraid he wouldn't have a chance to go on stage.

Yao Taifeng asked him to sing the hanging song, which seemed like setting a difficult challenge, but in reality, it gave him an opportunity to prove himself with his true abilities.

For opera singers, no matter how well they speak offstage, it's useless. Only when they step onto the stage, show their faces, and sing can their true skills be revealed.

Master Guan raised his eyebrows, slightly surprised.

I never expected that after only a short time together, my proud and arrogant precious disciple would actually speak up for the other party.

When it comes to matters of the play, Xiao Feng never speaks up for others easily. She is the type who values ​​the play above all else. The fact that she spoke up like this shows that she greatly appreciates Fifth Master's apprentice.

"Feng Jiao—"

"Ru Yunlong! My name is Ru Yunlong!"

Zhou Sheng interrupted him directly.

Boss Guan and Yu Zhensheng exchanged a glance, then laughed and said, "A golden carp is no ordinary fish; it will transform into a dragon once it encounters wind and clouds."

"A fine name. Mr. Long, would you be so kind as to sing a few lines tonight?"

Zhou Sheng nodded and said, "Of course I'm willing, thank you very much, Master Guan!"

"So what do you plan to sing? I'll have the musicians accompany you."

"Shooting the halberd at the gate".

He slowly uttered those four words, a scene he had already planned.

To command respect on stage, one must showcase exceptional talent. Zhou Sheng not only needs to sing, but he must sing beautifully, earning thunderous applause from the audience!
Yao Taifeng's eyes lit up, and she laughed, "This play is not easy to perform. I see that Boss Long did not bring his opera box. The equipment here is complete, but there is a lack of good bows. I will lend you this iron-rimmed bow."

As instructed by his master, he did not bring his opera box this time, because it contained people who performed shamanic plays, and it would be easy to give himself away.

"Thank you, Boss Feng!"

"You're welcome. As long as I can watch a good show, that's fine."

Yao Tai Feng Xi took out a heavy bow from the box and casually tossed it to Zhou Sheng.

He reached out and grabbed it, feeling a slight weight in his palm, which surprised him.

This was not a prop, but a real iron-framed bow, only it looked flashy and impractical because it was decorated with gilded cloud patterns on the outside.

In reality, it's a fine bow capable of drawing three stones!
Its weight is almost as much as the precious carved bow that his master gave him. The opponent is a woman, yet she can wield this bow. She is truly a woman who is not inferior to men.

Zhou Sheng looked at the bow and suddenly frowned.

"What, are you not satisfied?"

Yao Tai Feng asked aloud.

"It's not that I'm dissatisfied, but Mr. Feng, do you have any arrows?"

As soon as this statement came out, everyone was shocked.

Because in most scenes on stage involving archery, the bowstring is left unstrung, and the feeling of an arrow being shot is created through stylized movements, sound effects, and props.

For example, in the song "Shooting the Halberd at the Gate" that Zhou Sheng is going to sing, it is about Lü Bu shooting the halberd with an empty string. The soldiers push the halberd to the side of the stage, and when the string is rang, the red tassel on the halberd will automatically fall off by a mechanism.

In the words of the opera world, it means that the arrow must be shot with seven-tenths of its shape, and the remaining three-tenths depends on one's heart.

Using real arrows is a sign of unparalleled skill; a slight misstep could ruin the event or even cause danger.

Master Guan immediately waved his hand and said, "No, besides, we don't have any—"

"Okay, I'll lend it to you."

He choked on his words and saw his apprentice take out an arrow from the opera box, which made his beard stand on end in anger.

Where did this girl hide such a large bunch of arrows?

Yao Taifeng handed the arrow in her hand to Zhou Sheng with a smile, as if she had met a kindred spirit.

She had always loved to use real weapons on stage, but her master always objected. Zhou Sheng looked at the arrow in her fair palm, smiled slightly, and reached out to take one.

Is one enough?

"enough."

He twirled his hand, and the black feathered arrow tumbled and rolled between his fingers, finally resting perfectly on the tiger's mouth and nocked on the string. He was calm and composed, his voice serene.

"Since it's a song called 'Shooting the Halberd at the Gate,' how could Marquis Wen, Lü Bu, draw his bow a second time?"

At this moment, he seemed to have already begun to get into character. His eyes suddenly became sharp, his eyebrows were like swords, his eyes were like eagles, and his handsome features became tough and domineering.

Arrogant, domineering, and full of swagger!
"it is good!"

Yao Tai's phoenix eyes shone even brighter, whether she was applauding Zhou Sheng's keen eyesight or his indomitable spirit.

People protect the play, and the play protects the people.

With just a change in Zhou Sheng's eyes, she sensed his extraordinary nature and her anticipation grew even stronger.

Seeing this, Master Guan could only smile helplessly, knowing that he couldn't stop it tonight, so he waved his hand and said, "Alright, everyone hurry up and get ready. Boss Long, you should get ready too, don't keep the show waiting."

"it is good."

Zhou Sheng nodded, and then left with Yao Tai Feng. Hong Xian, with candied fruit in her mouth, skipped and hopped out like a little shadow, calling him "Junior Brother" all the time.

After the two left, Master Guan sighed softly.

"Fifth Master, your disciple is probably no ordinary person."

Yu Zhensheng shook his head and laughed, "If it were just an ordinary person, would I have brought him to your Juxianlou?"

The two looked at each other and smiled, but halfway through their laughter, Master Guan suddenly stopped smiling, his eyes becoming deep and thoughtful.

"Fifth Master, what if he really dies on stage—"

Yu Zhensheng raised his hand to stop him, and said, word by word, "That's the child. He's not destined to perform on stage. You can't blame Juxianlou."

……

A purple-gold crown presses down on a jade dragon, a painted halberd points at the stars, chilling the heart.

Eyebrows furrowed like beacon fires, phoenix tails soaring, feathers fluttering like snow waves splitting the clouds.

Before the bronze mirror, Zhou Sheng was already dressed in his costume and had his makeup done. Although there was a crimson color, it was based on a pure white background, which highlighted his youthful handsomeness.

His raised eyebrows and the corners of his eyes added a touch of arrogance.

Just then, a gong sounded.

clang! !

The lingering, trembling sound at the end of the note startled everyone backstage.

The play is about to begin!

Through a corner of the curtain, you could see that both the regular seats and the private rooms were already full of people.

Or rather, it was filled with charred corpses, countless pairs of bloodshot eyes staring straight at the stage, constantly crying out in pain.

Their skin was slowly festering, and crimson flames would occasionally burn through it, distorting their faces.

Even so, their eyes remained fixed on the stage, as if the moment the play began, they could forget the pain all over their bodies.

This eerie scene creates a strong sense of oppression.

Many people backstage looked uneasy.

Just then, an angry shout rang out, making the entire backstage area seem to tremble slightly.

"Bah!!!"

Zhou Sheng practiced his singing, and his roar was like thunder.

Wearing ill-fitting armor, Xiao Hongxian was undoubtedly playing the role of a lowly soldier, kneeling down before Zhou Sheng.

She held the halberd, which was much taller than herself, and handed it to Zhou Sheng, reciting the lines in a theatrical style.

"General Lü, it's time to set out on the campaign!"

Zhou Sheng picked up his halberd and casually swung it, creating a whistling sound. The banners on his back billowed like waves, and the feathers on his purple-gold crown fluttered in the wind, displaying his arrogance.

"Then let us—go to war!"

His voice was like metal and stone, powerful and resonant, carrying the air of battle and the clash of swords.

As everyone looked at him, they were all infected by his soaring heroic spirit, and the tension in their hearts instantly eased.

Seriously:
The white robe was suddenly stained with rouge, and the red hare swiftly broke the saddle that held the sun and moon.

With a smile, the world seems small at Hulao Pass; what hero can compare to this man in his crown?

……

(End of this chapter)