The public announcement stated that a Western merchant named Loga did not believe in ghosts and deities. He gambled on his courage at night and slept at the east wing of the opera house. The next day, he was found emaciated, his belly swollen like a pregnant woman, and upon dissection, his abdomen was found filled with decayed grass.
Xu Qing looked at the liquor made from muddy sludge and the delicacies crafted from rotting grass, and he understood how that Western merchant met his end.
It's said that these people from the Western Regions are not particular about their diet, willing to eat anything. Xu Qing recalled that a year ago, someone from Yu Hang opened a food shop in the Jin Sect, and the signature dish then was Yu Hang vinegar fish.
Xuan Yu was very interested in this so-called signature dish, so Xu Qing, having nothing better to do, took it to the food shop to taste the acclaimed vinegar fish.
After that, the zombie and the cat never went back to that food shop, and just the mere mention of the Yu Hang flavor would evoke a drastic change in their demeanor.
Later, as expected, the food shop closed down, and none of the Jin Sect people felt it was a pity, except for one Western merchant who incessantly inquired about where he could find Yu Hang vinegar fish.
He even said that he particularly liked this dish and claimed it was one of the most delicious foods in Dayong.
Initially, Xu Qing found it quite astonishing upon hearing this, but when he found out the person was from the Western Zhu, he wasn't surprised anymore.
Turning back to the stage, after all the actors had taken their turns, suddenly a figure dressed as a general was pushed onto the stage by the other performers.
This general had a four-sided lean banner strapped to his back and wore shining black face paint. It was uncertain which role he was performing.
Xu Qing found the general's appearance exceedingly familiar, and as the person took delicate mincing steps and delicately collided to the front of the stage, Xu Qing instantly recognized him.
Wasn't this the Boss Liu he was looking for?!
But why was Boss Liu, usually performing as a dan (female role), now dressed as a general?
While Xu Qing pondered curiously, the general-like Boss Liu suddenly uttered a sing-song chant.
"I urge my horse by the Guan Mountain ridge, rally my sons! Raise the swords and spears, we must break through—this Tiger Wolf Pass!"
Xu Qing frowned upon hearing it. Although he had not often performed last rites for singing performers, and despite not being particularly skilled, his discerning ability was on par with those seasoned opera enthusiasts and long-time audience members.
The general sung by Boss Liu, aside from being a bit hoarse compared to earlier times, demonstrated extraordinary singing skills with flaws hard to find, but Xu Qing noticed that Boss Liu sung unwillingly. After all, what kind of general comes on stage and starts to shed tears?
Xu Qing furrowed his brow and asked the Bawang, "Bawang, what's the name of this opera? Which notable performer in the theater is acting it?"
"This opera is called 'Set Guan Mountain'. The person singing is my junior disciple, not a notable figure, just a budding performer yet to graduate. You can simply call her Little Four!"
Little Four...
Xu Qing turned his head towards the Bawang. Although the other was wearing face paint, Xu Qing could still discern his identity from his tone and demeanor.
Back in the day, the Celestial Heart Sect had a Protector who defied his master and ancestors. When he was still with the theater troupe, others often called him Little Four!
Later, when Master Dan of Jinmen celebrated his birthday, the theater troupe leader organized a great opera show and gifted Little Four as a tribute to Master Dan, who often listened to Little Four sing, to accompany him for one night.
That day, Little Four put on rouge makeup, wore beautiful dresses, with a face glowing like peach blossoms, and smiled at everyone, seemingly happier than ever before.
It was precisely on that day that a major poison case occurred at Jinmen Prefecture, and more than half of the invited guests who came to watch the opera and celebrate the birthday perished, while the theater troupe leader and Little Four's fellow disciples and brothers died entirely.
After leaving Jinmen, Little Four visited a renowned master and learned the Yin Yang Reversal Technique, transforming into the feared Female Rakshasa, Lady Yama of the Celestial Heart Sect.
Xu Qing glanced back at Boss Liu on the stage. This Boss Liu was indeed a real woman; she was the master that he hired for the embroiderer, so how did she become Little Four?
The nearby troupe master spoke up, "Among my prized students, apart from Bawang, Little Four's singing is the best!"
"Now that I am old and probably cannot hold on for many years, if I cannot watch Little Four master all the skills of the opera troupe and let her revitalized Li Xiang Yuan's prestige, even if I die, I won't be content!"
Xu Qing squinted slightly, interrupting, "Even if you're unwilling, you can't expect one person to sing every part: sheng, dan, jing, chou. She doesn't have three heads and six arms; one throat can't sing the entire theater. Besides, she's a good dan performer, a daughter, yet you make her play a man's part, singing the role of a general, isn't this forcing her hand?"
"Furthermore, take a good look at her; is she really Little Four?"
"I say she's Little Four, she's Little Four!" The troupe master abruptly stood up at these words, staring intensely at Liu Su'e on the stage as if possessed, "The theater troupe cannot disperse, Li Xiang Yuan's platform cannot collapse, it absolutely cannot be ruined by my hands!"
"I don't care if she's Little Four or whoever; since she entered the theater and learned my play, she must listen to me! I say she's a lad, she's a lad!"
"If she never sings well, I'll skin her alive! Then accept new disciples to restore my theater troupe's prestige."
While the troupe master spoke, Liu Su'e on the stage suddenly shouted at Xu Qing, "Shopkeeper Xu, run away! This is a ghost garden, none of them are alive!"
Xu Qing shook his head, unhurriedly said, "You're the embroiderer's master, I must bring you out."
"This place is surrounded by Guan Mountains, filled with tigers and wolves, how can I get out? You don't have to worry about me, I've already passed on my skills to the embroiderer, even if I die, it's worth it."
After saying that, Boss Liu on the stage could no longer withstand her fatigue. She changed her singing tone and sorrowfully sang, "Fractured magnolia, unworn bonds, when will they reunite?"