Please control me, my divine being!

Zhou Qing was speechless. What else could they talk about if not the play?

Do I look like someone who talks about weird things?

How many outrageous and resentful things did the predecessor do that made people fear him like a tiger or wolf?

"I called you here to talk about opera, of course. Let's start with where the operas are performed. I heard you're from Yuyang County in the north. Do people there watch Nuo opera?"

Zhou Qing stared at Su Tangyu, his tone relaxed and casual, as if he were facing an old friend he hadn't seen for many years.

This surprised Su Tangyu quite a bit.

His Highness is not only infamous, but also notorious. A little inquiry in the brothels and theaters of Jiang'an will make it clear to everyone.

He was a womanizer and dissolute.

His current easygoing and humble demeanor was quite unexpected.

Without hesitation, Su Tangyu immediately spoke: "Nuoxi originated from the ancient 'shamanism,' a dance used to communicate with the gods, requiring the wearing of masks and sacrificial robes..."

Soon the two began talking about the operas of Yuyang County and the local customs and culture.

When the conversation turned to why they came to Jiang'an, Su Tangyu's emotions changed for the first time: "Originally, people in Yuyang County listened to Nuo opera, but after the newly established Five Immortals Sect came, they forbade us from performing it. All the opera troupes could only perform plays praising the five surnames, so we had no choice but to come to the south to make a living."

"I remember the imperial court strictly controlled associations. Is nobody doing anything about it?"

"The Five Immortals Sect is a registered association of the imperial court, backed by the five major clans of the North. No one dares to interfere..." Su Tangyu's tone was tinged with resentment as she looked at the man in front of her. "Anyone who dares to oppose them will be tortured to the point of wishing for death. Now, the banks of the upper reaches of the Zhuohe River are in turmoil, and many people have been forced to leave their homes."

"Those who cause chaos in one region have already brought disaster upon themselves." Zhou Qing suppressed the myriad thoughts in his mind and changed the subject: "However, today we're mainly talking about opera excerpts. Continue to tell me about the style of Nuo opera."

After chatting with Su Tangyu for a while, the sun gradually rose.

Zhou Qing said with lingering enthusiasm, "Master Su, let's stop here for now. I'll wait for you to bring your troupe next time."

"Thank you, Your Highness. I will take my leave now. May Your Highness enjoy good health and longevity."

Su Tangyu bowed respectfully and followed the maid out of the palace.

The bustling city of Jiang'an is teeming with people, and countless individuals are busy making a living.

Behind them, the palace was peaceful and quiet, with its two heavy vermilion gates tightly closed and lanterns hanging high.

Separated by a wall, it's like two different worlds.

Su Tangyu dared not linger and quickly left, walking into a small alley.

Splash!

As soon as she entered the alley, the Nuo mask hanging at her waist began to tremble, and the sound of wooden pieces colliding could be heard from her body.

Su Tangyu frowned and picked up the Nuo mask from her waist.

A cold wind howled past.

A faint, shrill voice rang in her ears: "I let you inherit the opera troupe so you could perform well. What do you want to do? Getting involved with these powerful people? You won't even know how you died!"

Following this roar, more noisy and shrill voices echoed.

"That's right, that's right. I went into the Prince's mansion once, and it was like being thrown into a vat of boiling oil. I didn't dare to move at all."

"Little Yu'er, why did you mention the Five Immortals Sect just now? Are you trying to provoke this nobleman into a confrontation with the immortals of the North?"

"What important person would care about the life or death of ants? Luckily, he didn't hold it against you, otherwise the Su family troupe would have to change its leader again."

"Young man, do not take risks."

"The Su family troupe still has dozens of people following you. Are you going to harm them all?"

The cacophony of voices tore at my mind, suffocating me like vengeful ghosts.

She opened the black theatrical robe that covered her body, and the dozen or so Nuo masks hanging inside trembled continuously, exuding a sinister aura.

"That's enough!"

Su Tangyu's face was icy cold, and the trembling Nuo mask stopped upon hearing the sound.

She held up the slightly newer Nuo mask in her hands, her voice trembling slightly: "Father, are you still going to try to persuade me?"

The shrill voice rang out again: "Of course, I won't watch you jump into the fire! Don't even think about avenging me, and don't try to use this nobleman's influence, or I'll disown you as my daughter. The people of the North are immortals; what do you think you have to fight them with?"

"Second sister, listen to your father and lead the opera troupe well."

"Sister, you must live well!"

Su Tangyu closed her eyes, her chest heaving.

After a long silence, she exhaled a breath of foul air: "Bullshit! A bunch of furry and horned evil spirits dare to call themselves immortals? One day, I will slaughter all these beasts."

...

After seeing Su Tangyu off, Zhou Qing hurried back to the warm pavilion, his mind still unsettled.

Really.

Everything is true!

River God, Weasel, and Liuren divination are all real things!

Everything that happened in Huangshui Town is real!

While Jiang'an was peaceful, there was a place where people were treated like dirt, and they died in droves.

It's just that it's too far away from me and difficult to reach.

"The turmoil in the north did not affect the peaceful and prosperous life in Jiang'an; the imperial court had a strong grip on this area," Zhou Qing recalled.

Regardless, as the southern capital of the Wu Dynasty, Jiang'an has never experienced any supernatural or mysterious events; there are only unfounded legends.

"Su Tangyu must be a cultivator, which is why she was able to become the head of the class. Her words have a certain degree of credibility, and she has no reason to deceive me."

Because of a blessing that was bestowed once.

Zhou Qing's heightened spiritual senses had detected that the Nuo mask at her waist was no ordinary object. It felt similar to the bronze wine cup that Qian Siliang had given her, but there were subtle differences.

However, these are all secondary; the priority now is the game.

Zhou Qing placed his hand on the book and took a deep breath.

This is a safe and extraordinary channel for me to access, and the girl struggling in that desperate situation is not just cold data!

Open the book and enter the game.

The whispering function next to the status bar is still on cooldown and will be available again after a while, while Li Qinghe has already arrived at the headquarters of the Fajiao.

...

"This used to be a wealthy family's estate, but the whole family was afflicted by a malignant sore and died tragically. There wasn't even anyone to bury them."

Zhang Tan was carried on a stretcher by two believers and walked into the earthen fort, talking incessantly.

Li Qinghe remained silent, looking at the followers on both sides.

They were dressed in tattered clothes, with yellow talismans wrapped around their wrists, and some of them looked familiar.

The entire earthen fortress had rammed earth walls, tall guard posts, and strong men and women patrolling back and forth, making it seem like a safe place.

Ten large pots were set up next to it, filled with fragrant vegetable porridge.

"Even in chaotic times, our Fa Sect will not abandon any of its followers. If the Altar Master has food, we will have food. Why not join us?" Zhang Tan still hadn't given up on his recruitment plan, seizing every opportunity.

Li Qinghe shook her head and asked, "Don't you know the origin of the evil sores?"

"Of course I know!" Zhang Tan said on the stretcher. "But you'll have to ask your senior disciples within the sect; that's their responsibility."

The hierarchy within the Liuren divination system is quite simple.

One person leads the altar, two are personally instructed, seven are ordained, and the rest are ordinary followers.

Li Qinghe was taken by Zhang Tan to the central square of the earthen fort.

There were even more people sitting here, and they were all ordinary people who did not have yellow talismans in their hands and had not joined the religion.

"Later, the senior disciple will hold an initiation ceremony for everyone."

Once he's finished with his work, you can ask him about the sores.

However, let me tell you first, these sores are related to yellow weasels; once you get them, they're incurable, so don't have too much hope.

Zhang Tan didn't ask Li Qinghe why she was concerned about the evil sores. In this world, who doesn't have a sad story in their family?

Many people come to the Fa Sect to inquire about evil sores.

Two cult members carried Zhang Tan away to recover from his injuries. Li Qinghe stood alone under a broken wall, her arms wrapped around a wood-chopping knife, coldly watching the crowd in the square who were about to join the cult.

Despite her calm demeanor, she was actually quite flustered inside.

She had never seen so many people gathered together, so quiet and solemn. She felt a sense of eeriness and wondered if the gods were watching her.

Just as she was lost in thought, a commotion suddenly broke out in the crowd, with exclamations rising one after another.

Li Qinghe looked in the direction of the crowd and saw that flames had suddenly burst into flames in the center of the square.

A female Taoist priestess in a light-colored robe emerged from the flames, her face completely obscured by a black bamboo hat.

"I, Pang Ziyue, the personal disciple of the sect leader, will today conduct the initiation ceremony for you all. The talisman hangs high, the immortal master bestows his grace; yin and yang unite, water and fire are in harmony."

With a flick of her wrists, countless talismans flew out from her sleeves and landed in front of everyone.

Then, as if they were alive, these talismans began to writhe, their sharp edges slicing through people's wrists and burrowing into their flesh, greedily sucking up their blood.

As cries of pain and wails filled the air, the stench of blood quickly spread across the square.