At midnight, the West Market's abandoned old theater ruins were supposed to be uninhabited. But as Xu Qing approached, he discovered flickering candlelight and human shadows inside, along with the singing of opera and calls of approval from the audience, as if the theater was still as bustling as it had been in its early years.
At this moment, under the cold moonlight, Xu Qing raised his head and vaguely saw the plaque inscribed with the name on the theater's broken gate tower—'Fragrant Pear Garden'.
Xu Qing withdrew his gaze, stepped over broken bricks and tiles, entered through the gate tower, and followed the most lively path in the theater.
Walking through the corridor and stepping past the courtyard gate, the sounds of gongs, drums, and fiddles grew louder and louder.
The scenery around Xu Qing kept changing as he ventured deeper into the theater.
Broken bricks and tiles returned to their original positions, peeling wall skins reconnected and healed, while moss at the wall roots and weeds in the courtyard withdrew underground. The whole theater seemed like a revolving lantern, instantly returning to its most prosperous times.
Xu Qing walked in the middle corridor, in the circular opera building, crimson lanterns lit up, every pavilion had shadows moving back and forth before the windows. Their steps were light, their singing superb, even separated by window screens, one could feel the joys, anger, sadness, and happiness of the performers.
When he reached a water pavilion garden, Xu Qing finally saw real human silhouettes.
At that moment, in the opera pavilion, a young performer was playing King Chu's grandson.
"What a piece of paradise on earth, clouds meandering below one's feet, three or four red leaves drifting over, six fall geese crying sharply beside the ear, visiting Zhuangzi to ascend Yue peak mist seven or eight ways, nine winding paths do not lead to woodsmen, truly a place of serene sanctity tenfold."
Not far from the pavilion, a nun stood at the railing, engrossed in the performance.
Xu Qing asked the nun, "May I ask the Master's Dharma title? In which temple do you practice?"
The nun did not look at Xu Qing, she put her index finger to her lips, made a hushing gesture, but then answered herself, "This poor monk is Miaojing, practicing at Jing'en Temple, please do not disturb..."
Xu Qing obliged and turned away, but before leaving, he suddenly said, "It seems the Master's heart is stirred, ready to return to lay life!"
"What, what nonsense are you speaking!"
A fully ordained nun observes strict precepts in the temple and participates in major Dharma events like preaching and meditation, quite different from ordinary nuns.
Upon hearing Xu Qing's words, the nun was both embarrassed and annoyed at the audacity of this scoundrel! How could he speak such crude words to a monastic like her?
Xu Qing twirled around and pointed at the water pavilion where King Chu's grandson was performing Butterfly Dream, laughing, "If the Master's heart were truly tranquil, why come to listen to this drama of love and affection?"
The nun trembled all over as if struck by lightning.
Indeed, why was she infatuated with this drama as a monastic, dwelling here for decades, delaying her own practice...
Having thought it through, Master Miaojing suddenly woke from the dream!
She gave Xu Qing a Buddhist salute, gratefully saying, "Thank you, kind friend, for your guidance. In another life, this poor monk will surely repay..."
Upon saying this, the nun recited the Buddha's rebirth mantra, heading towards the water pavilion, guiding the player performing King Chu's grandson, Xu Yunmi, together into salvation!
Xu Qing shook his head helplessly, feeling somewhat regrettable.
The bodies of these people had long been collected by the authorities, now decayed and unknown where to find. What was left in the theater were merely wandering souls and residual spirits. Although he could also recite the Sutra of Salvation to help them go away, his Sutra of Salvation was of no practical use.
Xu Qing continued along the road, not walking far before he saw an elegant and serene silhouette appearing in the rockery garden, in front of whom lay an ancient zither, creating flowing melodies as her fingers danced.
The woman had her delicate head bowed, her face unclear, but could hear the lyrics she sang clearly.
"...The endless fragrant grass reaching the horizon, gazing emptily at the slanting sun, the slanting sun. The perilous tower halting ascents of high ladders, amidst distant rains dreary. Moon crow cries, as if drunk in dreamy. Remembering distant people, awakening from dreams hard to turn sleep. The taste of departure, the taste of departure, who knows it?"
"Night crow cries, sound clear and desolate. Cutting through doubt, manifesting signs of tomorrow's decree with purple clay, purple clay. The color of wind and clouds changing, granting grace to cleanse the people, cleanse the people..."
While hearing the tune, Xu Qing casually took out a conch shell, named Sound Collecting Conch, which he acquired from a drowned sailor at the Jin Sect's estuary.
As the zither girl ceased her strings and the song concluded, Xu Qing sighed, "This tune only heaven possesses, how many times can it be heard in the human world, marvelous, marvelous!"
Upon hearing Xu Qing adopting the repetitive tone of the lyrics to praise her, the zither girl felt both embarrassed and joyous, she raised her delicate head, revealing hollow, bloodstained eyes, asking, "Is it really that good?"
"The tune is beautiful, the lyrics are beautiful, the person is more beautiful, it truly can't be better!"
The girl hugged the ancient zither, shyly stood up, wanting to avoid Xu Qing's presence, but after a few steps, she suddenly turned around to say to Xu Qing—
"Thank you for your kindness, my heart's wish is fulfilled, I ask you to quickly leave this place, lest be enchanted by the Ghost Realm."
After speaking, the zither girl was about to turn and leave.
Xu Qing seized the opportunity to ask, "May I ask the lady's name? What were the lyrics and song you just played?"
"I am Li Mutang, what I just played was Night Crying Crow."
As the words settled, the entire garden fell completely silent. Xu Qing cast another gaze, in the quiet garden, besides rockery and flowers, where was there any Li-surnamed zither girl!
Leaving the garden behind, Xu Qing continued deeper into the theater, upon entering the second courtyard, there were three or five spectators standing before the opera stage, watching the performance of 'Zhong Kui Catching Ghosts'.
"Having bid farewell to old King Yan, saying goodbye to gods and monsters, sweeping the demonic haze of the mortal world with pain. Only seeing a dark-bagged universe, unable to discern the realm of yin and yang..."