Nightmare Apostle

Chapter 40: Chapter 40: Wandering Performance

Shi Guanming thought over the situation and found it increasingly troubling, "Indeed, it’s as if those two had a prearranged plan."

"It’s not as if, it is a fact!" Shi Dali’s expression turned serious, "So, Brother Shi, you must be extra cautious. No matter what they say, do not believe them. Xu Su has already been eliminated, and that newcomer Su Tingting is merely a puppet in their hands. Next, they will come after us!"

"Rest assured, Brother Shi, I’ll heed your advice!" Shi Guanming immediately swore allegiance, for without Shi Dali’s help, he would have been killed by Ke Long long ago.

"Alas!" Shi Dali heaved a sigh, "The situation is perilous now. Only by depending on each other as brothers do we have a glimmer of hope for survival!"

While Yang Xiao was sleeping in a daze, the door opened. It was Steward Liu arranging for a servant to bring a food box, along with some new information.

The servant looked familiar, as he was often seen with Steward Liu, "Su Fuke, Steward Liu has asked me to inquire whether you’re willing to attend the opera tonight?"

"Okay... alright," Su Tingting agreed with a pained expression.

"Why such a look? Are you unwilling to go?" the servant frowned, "If you don’t want to go, I can ask the two Blessing Guests in the other room."

"Cough... cough..." Yang Xiao coughed feignedly. In the next second, Kuang Hongyi’s face turned gloomy as he lifted the candlestick.

Su Tingting immediately agreed, "I’m willing, I’m willing! Please be sure to entrust this honorable task to me!"

"In that case, I will report back to Steward Liu as you wished. In about an hour, someone will come to fetch you to the prepared hall. As for what you should do upon arrival, just follow the arrangements." The servant then pointed to the food box on the table, reminding, "Eat while it’s hot, and get some rest afterward. You Blessing Guests will be busy tonight."

After saying that, the servant picked up another food box and was about to leave but was intercepted by Yang Xiao, "Brother, are you going to another room to deliver food?"

The servant sized him up and then nodded.

"Then they must have received a message too. I wonder, what is their task for tonight?" Yang Xiao wanted to double-check to ease his mind.

The servant paused before speaking, "There’s no harm in telling you. They won’t be with you tonight. You will conduct the soul-calling, and they will be diving into the water, each fulfilling their assigned roles."

Hearing this, Yang Xiao and Kuang Hongyi felt somewhat relieved. However, calling souls was also a dangerous task, and although Su Tingting was leading the way, they certainly wouldn’t be idle.

In all fairness, the meal was good, but with everyone feeling oppressed, it was tasteless. Waiting and waiting, the expected visitor finally arrived.

One hour later, a somewhat hunched man appeared outside the door.

The man was older than Steward Liu, had lost his right eye, and dressed differently from the other servants of the house. He wore an old, gray, knee-length coat with a grubby cloth hanging over one shoulder.

With his only remaining left eye, the man scanned Yang Xiao and the others for a moment, then turned and walked away, "The hour has come, follow me."

The man’s sole eye was murky, filled with blood vessels and yellow patches, making Yang Xiao and the others wonder if he might be blind, and standing near him, they could smell a faint rotten stench, as if flesh was decaying.

By now, the outside was no different from the night. Along the way, many red lanterns hung throughout the estate, but there were no people to be seen—only lanterns. A gust of night wind came, causing the lanterns to sway from side to side, as if greeting them.

As he passed under a red lantern, Yang Xiao’s gaze suddenly paused—he noticed that the elderly guide’s feet were both clad in identical black cloth shoes, indistinguishable as left or right.

"Is this person also a practitioner of the Yin?" Yang Xiao was startled; the Paper Talisman Artisan had just died, and to his surprise, the Feng Family had invited another master.

Kuang Hongyi nudged Yang Xiao with his elbow and then gestured with his eyes toward the cloth on the old man’s left shoulder, mouthing three words silently.

Yang Xiao understood—Kuang Hongyi was referring to the words "Corpse Wrapping Cloth." No wonder... no wonder there was that putrid smell.

This man must also be a senior practitioner of the Yin, though it’s unclear exactly which lineage he descends from. Yet, by the looks of his effortless poise, he seemed even more skilled than the deceased Paper Talisman Artisan.

The atmosphere was rather strange; the old man did not speak a word, and neither did Yang Xiao and his companions dare to speak as they finally arrived at the daytime dwelling of Master Feng.

The place had drastically changed by now—the courtyard now featured a stage for plays, with offerings placed in front of it and then several rows of long wooden benches, upon which sat dozens of densely packed paper effigies.

The paper effigies had their backs to them, facing the empty stage as if watching a play.

Red lanterns of various sizes hung on both sides of the stage and around the courtyard, casting a dim red glow on the blank faces of the paper effigies, creating an indescribably eerie scene. fгeewebnovёl.com

To say nothing of performing a play, Su Tingting now had shaky legs.

Yang Xiao and the others held their breath, their eyes fixed upon a spot behind the stage where a large piece of white cloth had been raised, resembling a curtain. It was several yards wide and over a yard high, completely obscuring the hall behind it, and at that moment, a human shadow could be seen on the white cloth.

"The people have arrived. You, take the girl behind and help her with her makeup, and teach her the rules," the old man’s voice rasped as though his throat was filled with sand.

Upon hearing this, the figure behind the white cloth emerged. It was an older woman, holding a white lantern in her hand, her eyes coldly fixed on Yang Xiao and his party.

The group immediately recognized this woman—the old maid who had admitted them into the house, her thick rouge contrasting with her upturned, slanted eyes—extremely peculiar.

Without saying a word, the woman came over and rigidly pulled Su Tingting’s hand, dragging her behind the white curtain.

"What do you need us to do?" Kuang Hongyi felt suffocated by the old man’s imposing presence and couldn’t help but speak.

Only then did the old man turn around, his murky eyes slowly rolling, "Tonight’s ghost play requires your cooperation. The girl will perform in the play. One of you will be responsible for offering incense outside as a welcome, while the other sits below the stage, promptly changing the leftover drinks and dishes, fruits, and sweets for the guests."

Kuang Hongyi looked uneasily at the stiff paper effigies, but in the next second, the old man suddenly laughed, revealing a mouthful of ghastly white teeth, "Young lad, there’s no need to panic. The ghost play is naturally for ghosts to listen to, but as long as you follow the rules tonight, you will be assuredly safe."

The old man raised his hand, his gaunt finger pointing at Kuang Hongyi, "You are too faint-hearted, better to go outside as a greeter. Remember, when welcoming guests, hold three sticks of incense, wear a five-point smile, nod to everyone you meet, and do not speak a word."

"When the gong sounds, you will open the door to welcome guests. Anyone who comes today is a guest. You need to follow the rules; do not stare into the eyes of the guests, nor should you look down at their shoes. Change the incense before it burns out. Remember, the Welcoming Incense must not go out; the incense will mask your living aura."

"Moreover, no matter what those people do or ask you, you must remain calm and absolutely not answer them. If you reveal your living aura, no one can save you."