Chapter 77: Stop 23: Opera Tones

Chapter 77: Stop 23: Opera Tones

It wasn't the first time Lin Yongjian encountered fans in this peculiar world.

He had even grown somewhat accustomed to such situations.

Despite the oddity of it all, he still tried to deny his true identity:

"You have the wrong person. I'm not that Lin Yongjian; I just happen to share the same name."

Of course, this wasn't the truth; it was a standard excuse he used to avoid confrontation.

However, as soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly realized that Yan Qiling likely wasn't truly forgetful but was deliberately lying.

Could it be that Yan Qiling was also trying to avoid further complications? Yes, they knew each other from the real world, but... shouldn't they support one another even more in this situation?

After all, someone you knew from reality was more trustworthy than these mysterious strangers.

Moreover, once they left this world... they wouldn't retain any memories of it.

He observed Ming Yiyang shining the flashlight deliberately on Yan Qiling's feet ahead of him. Their actions were open and unreserved, clearly indicating an extraordinary relationship between them.

Unconsciously, he recalled Yan Qiling's parting words back then.

"It seems to have nothing to do with Mr. Lin."

Nothing to do with him.

... Was this how he intended to distance himself so cleanly?

Because of that Ming Yiyang?

He silently gazed at the two discussing their route side by side.

Their hair colors, one black and one white, created an illusion of intimacy, yet they were inherently different.

Moreover... Yan Qiling's eyes...

He lowered his gaze, unsure why, and suddenly offered Yue Pengpeng a smile.

"I was just joking earlier. Yes, I am indeed Lin Yongjian. Nice to meet you here, it's a pleasure."

Yue Pengpeng covered her mouth in excitement, almost losing her voice completely.

Si Shuhao and Su Bo were also surprised, but not as overwhelmed. Compared to meeting a celebrity, they were more concerned about finding a way out.

The other girl, Liao Xinya, maintained a placid expression throughout, seemingly indifferent to Lin Yongjian's arrival and introduction.

Yue Pengpeng quickly slid over to stand beside Lin Yongjian.

She wanted to express her endless joy but was afraid of saying the wrong thing. After stuttering out a couple of words, she fell silent, gazing at him with shimmering, admiring eyes.

The girl wished her eyes could be glued to him, fervently conveying her affection through her body language.

While this love-struck atmosphere filled one side, the others had already decided on their route.

The aftermath of the car accident was blocked by a chaotic tangle of fallen, thick tree trunks, leaving them no choice but to move forward.

The sudden car accident left everyone present with varying degrees of injury.

Although no one was hurt in a critical area, their wounds still needed to be bandaged.

Among them, Diao Qingchang was the most severely injured. However, he remained surprisingly optimistic and even pulled out a stack of yellow talismans from his chest.

"I've got plenty of blood here, so I'll write a few charms for each of you to ward off evil spirits. When you encounter demons or ghosts, they'll automatically ignite, driving them away!"

Si Shuhao: ? There's such a move?

Diao Qingchang's speed in drawing the talismans was indeed impressive.

Creating talismans mainly involved channeling spiritual energy smoothly to inscribe incantations in one continuous motion. Apart from proficiency in the incantation, it also required control over one's own spiritual energy.

As Ming Yiyang observed the ethereal aura of the Udomelia flower converging into thin threads, flowing effortlessly into Diao Qingchang's fingertips, he instantly understood what the young man relied upon.

There were no techniques; it was all innate talent.

After finishing the talismans, Diao Qingchang handed them out to others and slapped one onto his own chest.

The talisman paper instantly ignited and turned to ashes within seconds.

Diao Qingchang: ...

Others: ...

Defying the odds, Diao Qingchang pasted another one!

The talisman caught fire in the wind and vanished without a trace.

Everyone, who initially kept a certain distance from each other, instinctively drew closer as they walked, trying to stay near their neighbors.

Si Shuhao subconsciously held onto Yan Qiling's sleeve on one side while her other hand was still gripping Su Bo's.

The three of them walked side by side.

Su Bo glanced at Ming Yiyang, who was walking ahead of them with his phone flashlight on, and couldn't help but laugh.

"Wow, it really feels safe being with Brother Yan and Brother Ming. I'm so envious, Hao."

Si Shuhao let out a bitter laugh.

"It's just the Emperor's immense financial power."

Yue Pengpeng paid no attention to others' reactions.

Ever since Lin Yongjian acknowledged his identity, she had been deliberately staying close to him, yet at the same time, she seemed wary of offending him with her touch, so despite their proximity, she made sure to avoid any physical contact.

Liao Xinya, on the other hand, stood out from the crowd.

Walking right in the center of the group, her expressionless face was framed by two cold, piercing eyes.

She didn't engage in conversation with anyone else, merely measuring each step she took.

Throughout the journey, regardless of the shifting formation, she remained at the very heart of the line.

After an indeterminate amount of time, the mist that surrounded them like a toxic fog began to dissipate, thinning until it was almost invisible.

In the distance, two faint flickers of eerie flames became discernible. Liao Xinya suddenly spoke up:

"Did you hear that?"

Yi Hongda, who had been at the rear of the group, was highly attentive and immediately responded:

"…You heard it too?"

The others were initially confused, but when Ming Yiyang paused, a purple glow flickering in his eyes, they all stopped as well.

As the one holding the light, his halt meant everyone else halted.

Mai Zeyu, following behind him, shushed everyone, gesturing for silence.

Soon, they all clearly heard the distant, ethereal singing - the voice of a dan role in a traditional opera.

Only a few fragmented words from the specific lyrics were discernible:

"…First Golden Phoenix Bud… Box of Brocade… Literature… Guan Yin…"

After this verse, the operatic tune faded away with the wind, blending into the silent air.

There was a moment of silence, and Si Shuhao broke it:

"Was she singing opera? What did she just sing?"

Shi Wenguang pushed up his golden-rimmed glasses and looked thoughtfully in the direction she had vanished:

"It should be a crucial clue, right? Otherwise, why would someone randomly sing in the middle of nowhere like this? Mr. Diao, do Taoist priests often chant and sing like that? Have you ever heard anything like it?"

Diao Qingchang was a bit speechless but still managed to flash a bright smile:

"I'm a Taoist priest, not a shaman! Even if it were a shamanic ritual, these lyrics clearly have nothing to do with it. Taoist priests don't know everything."

Yan Qiling, who had been lost in thought with his eyes lowered, suddenly looked up:

"All things are fresh for a moment, awaiting a similar joy, yet ultimately she remains a maiden. Offering a golden phoenix hairpin, and a box adorned with a pattern of a rhinoceros horn."

Everyone's attention immediately shifted to him, and Si Shuhao was surprised:

"What does that mean? I don't think I've heard of it before."

With ease, Yan Qiling explained further:

"This is a lyric from the opera 'South Dream Record,' where Princess Huai'an of Kingdom of Huai'an asks Princess Qiong Ying to find her an ideal husband."

"She gives the princess a golden hairpin and a small box as tokens of affection for her future mate."

"The latter part of the lyric is sung by Princess Qiong Ying. If I recall correctly, it goes, 'I know my sister has no other intention; if Guanyin sends this message to me, I'll bear witness and convey it. I'll ensure that on Mount Lingyan, she'll meet her fated one.'"

Everyone was impressed by his explanation, but at the same time, they were also puzzled.

Some, like Mai Zeyu, wore a blank look, clearly unfamiliar with the term "South Dream Record."

Only Liao Xinya inquired,

"Is it Tang Xianzu's 'South Dream Record'?"

As Yan Qiling nodded, Diao Qingchang chimed in,

"Mr. Yan, what hidden meaning do you see in this opera passage?"

Yan Qiling pondered for a moment:

"I'm not sure. But in the story of 'Nanke Chronicles,' the main character, Chun Yufen, after marrying the princess, becomes a prince consort, achieves great feats, and enjoys wealth and glory. Just as he reaches the peak of his success, the princess falls gravely ill and eventually passes away."

"Following her death, Chun Yufen starts spending his days and nights with the county princess, the lady, and the fairy maiden, engaging in licentious behavior that upsets societal norms. Eventually, a citizen writes to the king, warning of an impending great calamity upon the Kingdom of Huai'an, related to the constellations Ox-Her-Void."

"This prophecy is believed to apply to Chun Yufen, making him the great calamity. As a result, the king strips him of his position and orders him back to his hometown... It's at this point that Chun Yufen awakens from his dream, realizing that all his previous experiences were but a fleeting illusion in the land of Nanke."

"The rest of the story will likely revolve around this."

The taciturn Liao Xinya spoke with a somewhat detached tone:

"The 'golden hairpin' and 'brocaded box' mentioned here will likely be crucial."

"Chun Yufen kept these two items until the end of the play, only realizing their significance under the monk's guidance. The golden hairpin was a willow branch, and the brocaded box contained willow seeds. He saw through the truth, thus achieving enlightenment and understanding that all things are ultimately empty."

Yan Qiling couldn't help but glance sideways at him:

"You've seen it too?"

Liao Xinya gave him a fleeting glance, his gaze lingering on his face for a few seconds:

"I'm writing a thesis. Needed some reference, so I had a look."

As they walked and talked, the path grew increasingly narrow.

Abruptly, bottomless abysses appeared on either side, forcing them to walk in pairs rather than side by side.

Under the glow of their mobile phone flashlights, they discerned a grove of bamboo up ahead.

A misty veil rose again, layer upon layer, obscuring what lay beneath.

The night, the fog, and the veil merged into one indistinct mass.

Yet amidst the bamboo, two columns of vivid red flames flickered.

Only as they drew closer did they realize that these were silent, head-bowed servants holding lanterns.

Two scarlet wedding palanquins seemed to devour blood-red nightmares under the illumination, with a dark comedic irony inviting their occupants into a trap.

Their footsteps ceased as well.

Both parties fell into a brief silence, locked in a tense standoff.

Standing motionless in front of the bamboo grove was a middle-aged man with a fair, unbearded complexion.

Two servants stood by his side.

One held a large book-like object.

The other, though empty-handed, towered over them like a giant, resembling a lurking beast in the shadows, ready to break free from its cage and pounce on its prey at any moment.

"Gentlewomen, it's time to return home," the middle-aged man spoke in a thin, raspy voice that dragged on, sending a chill down one's spine like a cold breeze through the woods.

Before he could say more, a flame suddenly appeared beneath Su Shuhao and Su Bao's feet!

Ming Yiyang reacted swiftly, immediately reaching out to pull Su Shuhao to safety.

As he reached out, his entire arm felt as if it were being fried in hot oil, causing him to lose sensation and control over his five fingers in the pain.

Two girls let out shrill screams before vanishing from their spots.

In their place came the sounds of struggling and pounding from within two fiery red wedding palanquins.

No matter how urgent those sounds were, the thin curtains of the palanquins remained as solid as iron, not budging even under the gentle breeze.

The icy-cold touch of Qiling's fingers, as if they were submerged in water, lightly clasped Ming Yiyang's burning forearm.

The unique warmth that Yan Qiling brought with her proximity calmed the young man's agitated heart.

Yan Qiling spoke in a hushed tone:

"The Dark Rank Wujian Master can assign identities to anyone, but They still have to abide by the rules."

Upon hearing this, Ming Yiyang's thoughts gradually settled. He patiently endured the middle-aged man before him, suppressing his immediate urge to draw his sword.

The middle-aged man raised his slender, triangular eyes and asked,

"Where are the young misses' maids?"

The servant boy flipped the pages of the thick ledger automatically and respectfully presented it before the man,

"They're two newly purchased maids."

After a quick glance, the man said,

"Hmm, off you go."

Flames sprang from under Yue Pengpeng's and Liao Xinya's feet, causing them to vanish on the spot as well! But in the next moment, they both stood before this middle-aged man, dressed as maids!

Their bodies were stiff, as if controlled by something.

Ming Yiyang recalled the miasma that had infiltrated their bodies earlier, which Yan Qiling referred to as "Shape-Shifting Mist."

Seems like, apart from its shape-shifting abilities, this mist could also manipulate people's bodies...

The middle-aged man pinched Yue Pengpeng's chin with his tepid fingers, inspecting her as one would a piglet at a market.

His gesture was not affectionate but rather that of an evaluator assessing his newly acquired livestock. Satisfied, he released his grip and said indifferently, "Regardless of what you were called before, now that you're in the Bai family, you belong to us. Leave your past names behind. From this moment on, you will be called Xiao Jia, and you will be called Xiao'ou. That's settled."

Startled by their sudden new identities, the two girls stood frozen.

Yue Pengpeng, worried about her idol, turned to check if Lin Yongjian was unharmed, but a servant holding a notebook interrupted her, "What are you looking around for? Hurry and kneel down to thank Manager Xi Yi for bestowing names upon you both!"

Yue Pengpeng wore a look of disbelief, her expression practically shouting, "Are you out of your mind?"

In contrast, Liao Xinya maintained a composed demeanor. Mimicking scenes from period dramas, she slowly knelt down and performed a mysterious salute that nobody could decipher, "Xiao Jia thanks the manager for naming me."

Though her bow was far from proper, her gratitude was genuine.

Yue Pengpeng was deeply anxious, but with her teammate's cooperation, she couldn't afford to be too unconventional. Reluctantly, she squatted down and muttered halfheartedly,

"I, the little puppet, am grateful for the butler's naming gift."

Afterward, she turned her head discreetly to glance at Lin Jianxiang, seemingly fearful of his laughter.

This small action caused her squatting figure to tilt slightly.

Xi Yi gave them a cool glance,

"Xiao Jia is more astute, whereas this one is foolish. Since that's the case, Xiao Jia will accompany Second Miss, and this foolish one shall follow Lady Eldest."

Feeling rejected, Yue Pengpeng wore a face full of discontent, but considering her idol was watching nearby, she refrained from showing it, forcefully suppressing her annoyance.

However, she didn't expect even greater dissatisfaction to come her way.

As she approached the sedan chair and lifted the curtain to climb in, she was firmly grasped by the steel-like hands of the servants around her, causing her immediate displeasure.

"What are you grabbing me for? I need to attend to Miss upstairs!"

Xi Yi's gaze swept over her slowly and coldly, as if contemplating how to torture her alive. This chilling stare made Yue Pengpeng shrink back, leaving her too scared to utter another word.

"Filthy wretch."

Xi Yi spat out the harsh words without any mercy,

"You dare to entertain the notion of sharing a carriage with Miss? You were merely bought to add some color, yet you actually think of yourselves as human?"

Yue Pengpeng stared at him in shock and anger, gritting her teeth and puffing up her cheeks, but dared not retort.

"Don't defile the wedding carriage with your dirty feet. Stand aside. If you can't keep up, then stay here and await the wolves."

With that, he ignored her expression, casually flipped through a few pages of his notebook, and tapped on one.

The attendant holding the book promptly recited,

"Ming Yiyang — Lin Yongjian — Mai Zeyu — step forward."

Ming Yiyang remained still, but the hand that had been holding his arm gently nudged him.

The young man turned to look at Yan Qiling beside him. In the other's heterochromatic eyes, there was a calm composure that seemed to encompass everything.

Despite resembling a calculating machine, he stirred in Ming Yiyang an inexplicable urge to touch him with all his might.

Suppressing this somewhat inappropriate impulse for the situation, he followed the subtle push and stepped forward as instructed.

Throughout the entire process, Ming Yiyang refrained from using the power of his Yin-Yang Pupil.

The "people" in this world were different from those he had encountered in his previous few worlds.

They were too much like "living beings."

Their actions, behaviors, and thought processes resembled those of living humans, completely distinct from the puppet-like madmen in that hotel.

Those hotel staff could barely maintain the appearance of being "human," and over time, even that facade crumbled. It seemed that even the presence of a Heaven-level Seamless Master couldn't alter their fate.

Perhaps it was because that world belonged to a Human-level Seamless Master.

Even for a Celestial Rank Intermediary to enter, their capabilities within this hierarchical structure would be significantly restricted.

The power of a World Lord was inherently limited by their own strength, capping the extent of their influence.

Yet, the "person" before him had been created by an Abyssal Master of the Profound Rank.

These "people" exhibited a harmonious collaboration that was visibly more intelligent than the previous world in terms of IQ.

Ming Yiyang had never ventured into a Profound Rank Intermediary's world; he had only imagined it based on Yan Qiling's descriptions.

But nothing compared to the direct perception he gained from facing one now.

They were incredibly powerful.

This was a capability that transcended the comprehension of ordinary humans.