"Shanyue should have been separated into four parts, why strive for a forced unity? The Demon Lord stands high upon Cloud Peak... making him... have no grave to lie in."
The narrator banging the gong and drum stretched his voice and howled, the actor playing Ganixi, dressed in a black robe, looked imposing. With a flick of his robe, he shouted:
"Ha! Grandfather does this deed, whether you or I know, heaven and earth also know, ah, even if I die and beco a ghost spirit, I will remain guilt-free at heart."
The audience below stretched their necks and sighed in unison, so even stood up to cheer. Ganixi held a high status in the hearts of the Shanyue people. Among the Shanyue who migrated eastward, many were refugees from the Great Jue Court, bringing with them the stories of Ganixi before his death. The Shanyue people's reverence mixed with the original inhabitants of Lijing Town's fear of Ganixi, giving birth to the monarch on stage who was both righteous and evil.
The old man kept sighing; behind him, that warm voice ca through, still clear among many other noises.
"Old man, why such sighs?"
The old man shook his head with a look full of emotion and said softly:
"That year I was only thirty, I followed Xiangping in the military through the Shanyue Region and saw many things, Ganixi... was a heroic figure."
He turned his head to look at the person behind him, it was a middle-aged man with broad shoulders, gentle and long eyebrows, noble temperant, standing with his hands behind his back. He looked extraordinary, and the old man's attitude imdiately beca much more respectful.
The narrator on stage started to sing in highs and lows, beating the gong and drum:
"You, you, you——don't harm your own subjects!"
"Pah! The commoners form my carriage, the horses and spears my weapons, ah, what can you do about it?!"
The actor in the black robe shouted loudly, and the crowd below retracted their heads, all silent. The middle-aged man listened and nodded slightly, saying softly:
"Such words should co from figures like Ganixi, indeed there is a certain grandeur."
"Indeed!"
The old man slapped his thigh and laughed:
"The next act is called 'Xiangping's Spirit Returns Ho, Mu Jiaoman's Great Drought Takes Control'—that will really make people heave long sighs and shout in anger, quite a spectacle to see!"
"Great Drought..."
Li Tongya muttered to himself and said softly:
"There indeed was a great drought that year."
"The master was so young at the ti, to rember this, quite impressive."
The old man complinted him. The more he looked at Li Tongya, the more familiar he seed, but he couldn't recall where he'd seen him, so he ventured to ask:
"Master... could it be that your surna is Li?"
Li Tongya shook his head gently, not responding to him, just smiling and saying:
"This actor in the black robe is quite good, only his eye color is different, Ganixi had brown eyes of a kite hawk."
"Master, brown eyes of a kite hawk are those of an owl, not easy to find!"
The old man smiled as he responded. Seeing that Li Tongya looked sophisticated and amiable, respectful in speech, he leaned in and whispered:
"Master, people often say 'wolf's brow, kite's eyes,' knowing the kite's brown eyes, do you also know of another ominous appearance?"
"Oh?"
Li Tongya showed interest imdiately, smiling:
"Old man, please do tell?"
The old man coughed, his voice growing even quieter. If Li Tongya didn't have exceptional hearing, he would struggle to hear the old man's words amidst the noise.
"Kite's brown eyes, wolf's prominent grey pupils, one with wolf's prominent grey pupils is like the so-called Wolf Lord, with grey and white pupils, cautious and suspicious, harboring ill intentions, constantly watching his surroundings when moving, also having the nature to devour and conquer foes."
"I see!"
Li Tongya laughed heartily, suddenly understanding the old man's point, and said:
"Indeed, those with the appearance of kite's brown eyes are hard to find, but those with wolf's prominent grey pupils are plentiful in Lijing Town!"
"Ah!"
The old man jumped in surprise and chuckled bitterly, whispering:
"It's good that the master knows! Speaking it aloud brings up unpleasant things..."
Li Tongya chuckled softly, knowing the old man was hinting at his own Li Family. He straightened up and asked:
"Since the old man knows physiognomy, why not take a look at ?"
The old man laughed and after observing for a while replied:
"You have the appearance of being influential in all directions, guarding a region, destined for great wealth and auspiciousness beyond words."
Li Tongya let out a laugh. The theatre was in an uproar as the play reached its climax; Ganixi's actor fell onstage. The old man hurriedly looked up, and by the ti he turned his head back, the person behind him had vanished.
————
Lijing Mountain.
Chen Donghe, clad in white, stood in the courtyard as the light rain slipped past him, kept at bay by his mana. He slowly drew his sword, its pale gray Sword Radiance lighting up. Opposite him, Li Xuanling was already holding his sword, with the sa gray radiance shining on his Dharma Sword. Chen Donghe nodded slightly and thrust his sword forward.
"Please forgive !"
Li Xuanling didn't unsheathe his sword, only watching him with a smile. Only when Chen Donghe approached did he draw his sword quickly, bringing about a bright white Sword Arc. Chen Donghe's pupils dilated, and he quickly changed from offense to defense, exclaiming:
"The Moon Que Sword Arc!"
The Sword Arc struck Chen Donghe's sword, forcing him back several steps, his hands tensing as he caught his breath. Taking another step back, he finally recovered, while Li Xuanling followed up on the drawing of his sword, pressing his attacks onto him.
Chen Donghe didn't know Li Xuanling had mastered the Moon Que Sword Arc and found himself at a disadvantage montarily, falling into a defensive position. Fortunately, they both cultivated the 'River Qi Decision' and 'Mysterious Water Sword Technique,' knowing each other's moves well. Leveraging his deeper foundation, Chen Donghe quickly turned the tide, switching from defense to offense and pressing Li Xuanling back.
"Still, brother-in-law has the upper hand."
After dueling for half an hour, Li Xuanling was slightly out of breath and stepped back with his sword sheathed. Chen Donghe did the sa, then laughed and said:
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