"Ah this... why?"
Seeing Wang Daoxuan’s adamant refusal, Sha Lifei looked puzzled.
Even Li Yan turned to the Daoist.
During this ti, he had learned a lot about the Mystical Sect from Wang Daoxuan.
"Charging" originally ca from the Buddhist sect. Every ti a Buddha statue was completed, symbolic internal organs must be added, along with various rituals, to endow the statue with more spirituality.
There were many thods of charging, with each sect having strict traditions, and the process was complex.
For example, before charging, the purification thod was used. The inside of the statue needed to be cleansed and then perfud with incense, sprinkled with red flower water, and finally fumigated with resin incense.
For example, selecting materials from the central ridian and matching five-colored gems. Even the monks performing the charging had to follow stringent regulations.
After the Buddhist path took root in the Divine State, building Buddha statues inevitably involved hiring knowledgeable craftsn from the Mystical Sect, and this thod gradually beca popular.
Because if used appropriately, this thod could more easily gather Divine Astral.
Yet it was unclear why Wang Daoxuan was so wary.
Under their gaze, Wang Daoxuan stroked his beard and shook his head, saying, "Charging and inviting the spirits isn’t a big deal; almost every theater troupe does it, with so even passing on the tradition for a hundred years, having strong incense fire and Gang, performing for spirits during the Ghost Festival without any taboo."
"But this newly arrived shadow puppet troupe undoubtedly has sothing strange about it."
"Xianyang City isn’t too big or too small, with over a dozen troupes. To establish themselves, they have to use so ans."
"Invite spirits? They probably want to invite sothing else..."
"Moreover, the shadow puppet troupe is different. Other troupes worship the Old Lang God, but shadow puppets worship Shao Weng, the notable Fangshi of the Han Dynasty."
"It is said that during the Han Dynasty, Emperor Wu missed his deceased concubine, Madam Li. Li Shaoweng then made a shadow puppet of Madam Li, painted it, and equipped it with rods on the limbs. At night, with a screen set up and lamps lit, the emperor was delighted after watching, so Shao Weng, this master from the Mystical Sect, beca the ancestor of the shadow puppetry world."
"All theater originates from entertaining the deities, especially shadow puppetry, which mostly performs wish-making plays, vow fulfilling plays, praying for rain, sacrifice plays, and exorcism plays during festivals, temple fairs, and red and white events, with nurous rules and taboos. If they invite sothing else, it would only bring more trouble."
"If sothing goes wrong, soone would surely die!"
After this explanation, the two of them were enlightened.
Sha Lifei scratched his head and cursed, "No wonder, as soon as I ntioned it, that old doughball quickly approached. It seems others dare not take over."
This thick-skinned fellow, even after slipping up, remained unfazed. His eyes rolled mischievously as he chuckled, "Master Daoist, you see, since they are inviting the spirits, we just need to do our job. As for what happens afterward, that has nothing to do with us..."
"No."
Wang Daoxuan shook his head directly, "I cannot cross this hurdle. If lives are truly lost, it would be too late for regrets."
Li Yan also spoke up, "Let’s do as the Daoist suggests."
From the first eting, he realized what kind of person Wang Daoxuan was.
The Daoist had a sincere heart. Even when eager to earn money, it must be done righteously.
He, being a mber of the Mystical Sect, had fallen into such destitution, not without reason.
Knock, knock, knock!
Just then, there was a knocking at the door outside the courtyard.
The three of them looked up to see an elderly man with white hair and black clothes standing outside the courtyard door, looking at them while knocking with his hand; beneath the oil-paper umbrella was a face full of distress.
"Dare I ask, is this Master Wang?"
"Owner Zhou?"
At first, Sha Lifei was puzzled, then his face turned unpleasant, "That ’Old White Face’ has a loose tongue. Owner Zhou, it seems I was targeted by you as soon as I stepped out, right?"
"Following all the way, and I didn’t even notice, such skill..."
"Old White Face" was an acquaintance of Sha Lifei, also the suona player of the troupe.
Sha Lifei hadn’t expected that after he had just brought it up, even before things settled, the troupe owner would follow up at his doorstep.
Even more embarrassing was that he, an old hand in the pugilistic world, didn’t notice being followed, losing face in front of Li Yan and the others.
Wang Daoxuan waved his hand to interrupt him, sincerely speaking to Owner Zhou, "This benefactor, I understand what you intend to do, but you folks traveling the pugilistic world rely on true skill. Borrowing from the power of spirits will surely incur their harm..."
"The old man knows."
Owner Zhou sighed, his face appearing even more bitter, "Still, please let the master listen to the old man’s words."
"I am Zhou Kangnian, my troupe is the Spring Breeze Class, a renowned na for a hundred years in Huayin. I made a little money and intended first to make a na in Xianyang, then head to Chang’an."
"This thing is all because of my unworthy child, unaware of the pugilistic world’s dangers. Just after arriving in Xianyang, got set up in gambling, owed a huge debt, and hanged himself in sha at midnight."
"I indulged him usually. A white-haired man sending off a black-haired one is my own fault, but the innocent old and young in the troupe bear no guilt, yet they’re being forced by the Iron Blade Association. Without paying off the debts, none can leave."
"The old man knows this is dangerous, willing to bear the whole cause and effect. If sothing indeed happens, let it be only to die, as long as the old and young in the troupe can escape this disaster..."
Hearing this, Li Yan had a glint in his eyes.
Zhou Pan, that old monkey, had many disciples, with mixed qualities.
Among them, two were originally street hooligans. After learning boxing and receiving true transmission, they gathered the rogues and the foxes in Xianyang City, each forming two gangs, the Iron Blade Gang and the White Ape Gang.
With the support of the Divine Fist Association, their power expanded continuously, becoming the dark overlords of Xianyang City, each occupying the east and west districts, monopolizing markets through ignoble ans.
Their thods were unrighteous but lucrative.
The original doctrine of the Divine Fist Association included protecting the local people, but as these two disciples continued to pay tribute, Zhou Pan’s old monkey turned a blind eye.
Sotis, when they stirred up trouble with fellow pugilists, he even personally stepped in to smooth things over.
Thus, both gangs beca increasingly rampant.
As the Spring Breeze Class entered Xianyang, it naturally caught the attention of these people.
On the other side, seeing Wang Daoxuan still hesitating, Owner Zhou abruptly knelt on the ground, tears streaming down his face, "Master Daoist, I beseech you to help."
"I know a way to gather all misfortunes onto myself. As long as the old and young in the troupe can survive this ordeal, even if I die, I have no regrets!"
This Owner Zhou being able to follow Sha Lifei without being detected surely had considerable skill, having mastered Hidden Energy. Despite being aged and his vitality declining, he was still a good combatant.
Unexpectedly, he was forced into such desperation.
"Old Master, you are righteous."
Wang Daoxuan sighed, "I understand your aning; circumstances force people, leaving them no choice. But you must think it through, as if sothing happens, it is not just about being scattered soul and spirit."
Owner Zhou was overjoyed and gritted his teeth, "I implore Master Daoist to assist."
"Not in a hurry."
Wang Daoxuan did not imdiately agree, calmly saying, "First, let’s go see your troupe. Owner Zhou can wait outside. We’ll prepare and then go."
"Alright, alright!"
Owner Zhou was experienced in reading minds and knew Wang Daoxuan ant to send him away, but the fact that soone was willing to agree was already exceedingly gracious, not daring to say more.
As he stepped out, Sha Lifei showed a bitter face, whispering, "Ah, Daoist, while spirits and the unknown are afar, the evil ones are right at hand."
"You wouldn’t agree before; why now agree?"
Wang Daoxuan embarrassedly shook his head, "This... my heart softened."
Sha Lifei was about to continue persuading when Li Yan spoke up beside him, "Since we want Xiang Man’er, there’s no reason to be afraid of troubles, we can do this job!"
Hearing this, Sha Lifei knew Li Yan probably intended to find a way against Zhou Pan through the Iron Blade Gang, and he couldn’t help but sigh in distress.
One stubborn, one crazy, he truly had bad luck.
He thought of leaving, but recalling his life of ups and downs, also in debt, he wasn’t willing to return to being the leader of the wheat hands.
"Forget it, let’s just do it!"
Thinking of this, he gritted his teeth and beca ruthless.
"Not in a hurry."
Wang Daoxuan waved his hand, his voice solemn, "I have heard in the Shadow Puppet Sect of an evil path that uses human skin as a prop. When a person is driven to the brink, Buddha and demon are but a thought apart."
"Brother Yan, watch closely. If they have already used an evil technique, we will turn and leave, directly reporting to the authorities!"
"Alright."
Having settled on their course of action, the three packed up and set out.
Owner Zhou was naturally overjoyed and led the way...
....
They exited, following Owner Zhou through the streets and alleys, unknowingly arriving at the northwest corner of Xianyang City.
They had reached the vicinity of the Horse King Temple.
The Horse King Temple enshrined the Horse King, one of the Grand Marshals among the Mystical Sect’s Spiritual Officials, present in many places with abundant incense.
Of course, this was also where the horse certification was handled and the Xianyang Mule Market was located. After the rain, the ground was muddy, combined with the sll of livestock, it was indeed unpleasant.
The wealthy families of Xianyang City naturally couldn’t stand this scent.
Thus, most residents here were poor folks.
The Spring Breeze Class settling here showed just how destitute they were.
Led by Owner Zhou, the three turned into an old alley. The dwellings on both sides were dilapidated, with sewage flowing, and the ancient bluestone slabs covered in mud.
They hadn’t walked far when a large courtyard appeared ahead.
It seed to have been a stable hotel, but it was already in ruins.
Outside, a dozen or so people stood scattered, all with fierce faces, wearing their clothes in a haphazard manner, so bare-chested showing tattoos, so with flowers in their small caps.
All carried weapons, and their words were filthy and obscene.
At this mont, however, Li Yan stopped, his expression sowhat amused.
The leader of this group of thugs was surprisingly an acquaintance.
It was ng Haicheng, who had previously suffered at his hands!
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