Those who can afford to invite a troupe to perform for ghosts aren't just any ordinary family. The Hu Family is considered a major clan in Wuli Hill; almost a third of the entire village shares the surname Hu.
Li Huowang had already learned from Top Scholar Lv that the one paying for the opera was not only the richest landlord in all of Wuli Hill but also the most senior by generation—Hu Qinghe.
At this moment, he was accompanying Top Scholar Lv and the others as they hurried toward the Hu Family's Ancestral Temple.
"Old Master Hu said it's nothing major. He's hired other troupes to perform ghost operas in past years, and nothing ever happened."
Li Huowang shot him a glance, unsure of who exactly that reassurance was for. He pressed a hand to the bells at his waist, and his heart settled somewhat. Even if something does happen, it doesn't matter. Having this makes me feel much more at ease.
Of course, it was best if nothing happened at all. After all, inviting Old Master You to stand guard for a night cost three months of his lifespan.
Walking down the narrow village paths, they soon arrived at the Hu Family's Ancestral Temple, which was adorned with many red lanterns.
The place was packed, and Li Huowang's group could barely squeeze inside. Peering over layers of bobbing heads, he saw many people burning incense and kowtowing before the black spirit tablets.
"That's Old Master Hu right there," Top Scholar Lv said, pointing to the elderly man in satin clothes at the very front of the bowing crowd. "He also said not to leave after the show, that he's inviting us to dinner."
As he spoke, those who were bowing rose to their feet. They reverently lifted the black ancestral tablets and placed them on the demi-immortal tables that had been prepared in advance. There were a great many tablets and tables, enough to fill the spacious, three-courtyard temple.
The tables before the tablets were not empty; they were laid with all kinds of delicious dishes. Red candles, incense, gold ingots, and yellow paper were neatly arranged on serving platters for the ancestors to enjoy. As if worried the service might be lacking, more than a dozen paper effigies stood against the temple walls, ready to be placed by the tables to serve tea and pour water.
"Heh, Old Master Hu is really generous, spending his own money to hire a troupe for the ancestors."
"Yeah, no wonder none of the branches of the Hu Family ever get sick or run into disaster. It's all thanks to the ancestors' blessings."
"Sigh, I wonder if I'll have such good fortune after I die."
"Then you'll have to wait for your descendants to get as rich as Old Master Hu! Hiring people to sing for ghosts costs a fortune, you know."
Listening to the Hu family members and observing the solemn scene, Li Huowang felt his heart calm a little. This really doesn't seem like a situation where anything would go wrong.
He edged slightly closer to Top Scholar Lv. "Band Leader Lv, you've traveled all over for so many years. Have you run into more ghosts or more of those... things that ask for investiture?"
"Huh?! What? Wait—they're not the same thing?" Top Scholar Lv stared, his eyes wide with surprise.
"How could they be? One is what people become after they die, and the other is..." Li Huowang trailed off, not quite sure how to explain.
But Li Huowang was sure of one thing: Master Danyang's "alchemy grandmother," Old Master You, and even that tiny-footed woman from the other night—none of them were ghosts. At least, not the kind of ghosts I imagine.
Just then, the Hu family finished arranging the tablets. Hu Qinghe led a large group of his kinsmen over to Top Scholar Lv's party.
"Band Leader Lv, we'll be troubling you. Ah, Jiao Liang, take the others and help Band Leader Lv set up the stage."
"Oh, my, this is too much! You're far too generous, Old Master Hu."
"Band Leader Lv, you know the rules for this kind of opera. When the ancestors come out to watch, the living descendants who invited them must leave and stay home with their doors shut. So, I'll have to leave the Ancestral Temple in your capable hands," Old Master Hu instructed with a kind and cheerful expression.
"Of course, of course. Don't you worry, Old Master. With me here, I guarantee nothing will happen in the temple," Top Scholar Lv declared, patting his chest with conviction.
Even though no one would be watching, Top Scholar Lv truly did not dare to make a single mistake. If anything happened to the Ancestral Temple, the Hu clan would bury his entire troupe alive.
"Also, once the opera begins, the living cannot speak to the performers. We don't want to displease the ancestors."
"As for the play, just pick something cheerful. The ancestors sent word in a dream that the underworld is too desolate and they want to see something festive."
"You don't need to perform all night. Once the fifth watch begins, my son will come to bring the ancestral tablets home. You can all rest then."
Top Scholar Lv bobbed his head like a chicken pecking at grain. "Yes, yes, of course. Rest assured, Old Master, we absolutely will not break the rules."
With the help of the Hu family members, the stage was quickly set up inside the Ancestral Temple. Only five people would be performing tonight; Luo Juannhua had not come, as women were forbidden from entering the Ancestral Temple.
Then, at Hu Qinghe's call, the dense crowd of onlookers quickly dispersed and headed home.
CLANG, CLANG! CLANG-A-LANG! As the members of Lv's Troupe took the stage and began to play, Li Huowang waited backstage.
Time crept by. All of Wuli Hill settled into a deep stillness, the large village swallowed by darkness, with the only light emanating from the Ancestral Temple.
The living performing for the dead—this was a first for Li Huowang. He pulled back the backstage curtain and peered out.
He had to admit, the scene was rather hair-raising. The stage was bustling and lively, but the audience area was dead silent. There was no applause, only row upon row of black tablets inscribed with names, with precious candles and yellow paper placed between them.
After everything he had witnessed at the Qingfeng Daoist Temple, a scene like this wasn't enough to scare him. The same couldn't be said for Lv's Troupe, however. A short while into the performance, Lv Elevated Man had already forgotten his lines several times, and Top Scholar Lv, who was striking the gong, looked increasingly agitated.
But as more time passed, they began to find their rhythm, and the performance started to flow more smoothly.
In the silent depths of the night, the sound of the opera carried far. With his sword on his back, Li Huowang sat backstage, closing his eyes to rest as the music washed over him. As he listened, the bored Li Huowang actually started to get a feel for it, nodding his head along with the wailing, melodious singing.
In this atmosphere, the second watch of the night passed without notice, and the third watch arrived.
By now, Li Huowang had figured it out: the third watch was from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m., the fourth was from 1 a.m. to 3 a.m., and the fifth was from 3 a.m. to 5 a.m. Usually, once the fifth watch was over, the village roosters would begin to crow.
He yawned. For some reason, he always felt sleepier than others here. He was being paid for this, so he couldn't just fall asleep. Li Huowang picked up the Heavenly Book and began to study it to ward off his drowsiness. He had been examining it during his recent night watches as well, but aside from confirming that it was merely a scripture urging people toward good deeds, he had gleaned nothing from it.
As he read, the third watch wore on. The Ancestral Temple remained entirely normal; nothing had happened at all.
Li Huowang looked up at Top Scholar Lv, who was applying makeup in front of the copper mirror. Band Leader Lv's heart must be bleeding right now, he thought. He spent six taels of silver for nothing.
Then again, it made sense that there wasn't any trouble. This was the Hu Family's Ancestral Temple. The descendants were inviting their elders to watch an opera. There was no way the ancestors would wreck their own party.
Just as Li Huowang thought the night would pass without incident, the unexpected happened. Outside, the wailing, melodious sound of the opera suddenly stopped without any warning.