Picking Up the Chariots
Seemingly hearing Li Qingshan's call, that red clothes figure slightly turned head, on face similarly surfacing surprise.
"Li Qingshan?"
In this place full of mystery sense. Suddenly seeing an acquaintance, Li Qingshan's heart instantly settled quite a bit,
He strode walking to Chen Ling's side, doubtfully asking:
"【Brother Lin】, you also received 【Invitation Card】?"
"En." Chen Ling slightly nodded, "You also are?"
"Right ah, I returning from Furong Bridge. Then discovering someone came sending an 【Invitation Card】. Seemingly is a youth... however I didn't see him. Is my 【Grandmother】 who received it." Li Qingshan sat down on the seat beside Chen Ling.
Chen Ling was thoughtful.
Only that 【District 2】 【Teacher】. Seemingly early knew the news of the performance, specially rushing over... Whether he received 【Invitation Card】, Chen Ling then not clear.
"【Brother Lin】, this... this really is 【Ancient Vault of the Drama Path】's performance?" Li Qingshan holding 【Invitation Card】, uncertainly asking.
Chen Ling turned head gazing at him for a moment, definitely nodding head,
"It is."
Can imagine, when Li Qingshan received this 【Invitation Card】 time. Necessarily is confused and struggling, but he ultimately still appeared here. Sufficient to explain he and 【Theater Dao】 has affinity... Not to mention, the one giving him sending 【Invitation Card】, still is that mysterious 【Beautiful Youth】.
Chen Ling already faintly guessed that youth's identity. If it is true. That explains 【Ancient Vault of the Drama Path】 very favorably looks at Li Qingshan. He also indeed possesses the potential of stepping on 【Path of the Actor】.
Li Qingshan has seen Chen Ling's means. Also guessed he and 【Ancient Vault of the Drama Path】 necessarily have some kind of connection. Chen Ling says it is 【Ancient Vault of the Drama Path】, that definitely then is it.
Li Qingshan instantly somewhat terrified and uneasy,
"Then what should we do?"
"Nothing need to do." Chen Ling leaned on chair back, looking at the crude 【Stage】 shrouded by misty rain, calmly opening mouth, "As long as... wait for performance to start."
"Oh... good."
Li Qingshan took a deep breath of air. As much as possible letting himself relax down. After all this time's encounter to him an 【Ordinary Person】 speaking, still too having impact force. Up to right now his body all is taut.
Torrential heavy rain fluttering with the wind, on the earth surface rising faint white fog. One red one green two figures sitting amidst it, quietly like two statues.
Time one minute one second passed. When the clock's hands pointed to afternoon 3:00 time. Change suddenly arose!
Deng deng deng deng deng——
Depressing sound transmitted out from the crude 【Stage】. The light bulb strings twined around the 【Stage】. One string following one string lighting up.
Orange yellow light tore open wind and rain. Like rounds of miniature sun hanging in the fog vapor. Illuminating the foremost row's Chen Ling and Li Qingshan's cheeks. Originally still dim dead silent 【Stage】. Suddenly as if coming alive generally, placed amidst brightness.
Chen Ling seeing this, eyes slightly narrowed; the side's Li Qingshan immediately adjusted body, sitting properly on top of the seat.
They knew, performance... about to begin.
"Looks like this time's performance, only invited we two people." Chen Ling swept a glance at the empty seats behind, softly opening mouth.
"Seemingly is." Li Qingshan licked lips, on face is hard to conceal nervousness.
Light shrouded 【Stage】. After a brief pause, a crisp gong sound transmitted out from backstage!
Dang——!
The big red curtain on the 【Stage】 slowly pulled open.
A sonorous voice, sounded from behind the 【Stage】,
"Sons! Go to the main camp!"
"Ah!" A few completely different voices overlapped together, following replying.
"I, North of the Great Wall Grand Marshal 【Ha Tielong】 am! Only because Fourth Highness 【Wuzhu】 taking 【King Kang】 besieging at 【Niutou Mountain】. Has letter returning country urging troops. Old King ordered me escorting 【Iron Sliding Carts】, name called Futu. Releasing down from above. Even if it's thousands of troops and ten thousands of horses, also taking them beating into fine powder! Look in front, already not far from main camp.
Sons!"
"Ah!"
"Quickly quickly advance!" (Note 1)
"..."
A series of dialogues, letting 【Off Stage】's Chen Ling a head of fog water. Accompanied by drum music sounding. Performance seemingly already started...
However, before performance starts, all don't have announcing the program?
The side's Li Qingshan hearing this segment of dialogue, lightly yi a sound: "Picking Up the Chariots?"
"What?"
"This play ah." Li Qingshan raised hand pointing at the 【Stage】,
"This is a 【Martial Student Opera】. Telling is early Southern Song Dynasty, Jin troops invading Jiangnan. 【Yue Fei】 and Jin 【Wuzhu】 fiercely battled at 【Niutou Mountain】. Jin 【Wuzhu】 repeatedly fighting defeated battles, then mobilized 【Iron Sliding Carts】 blocking 【Yue Fei】. 【Gao Chong】 following Marshal 【Yue Fei】's order. Leading numerous generals, greatly defeating Jin troops. Riding the victory pursuing to kill, straightly pressing Jin 【Wuzhu】's main camp.
Jin 【Wuzhu】 helpless, urgently ordering pushing out 【Iron Sliding Carts】. And 【Gao Chong】 dashing ahead regardless of safety. One person successively picking up eleven 【Iron Sliding Carts】... Can be considered a quite wonderful 【Fighting】 play."
Chen Ling towards these did not understand. Hearing Li Qingshan finish explaining after. Also then knew there is a fierce person successively picking up overturning eleven 【Iron Sliding Carts】. Moreover seemingly emphasizing martial arts... But 【Ancient Vault of the Drama Path】 why choosing this play?
Chen Ling sitting at the front row, was thoughtful.
...
Three figures passed through 【Enclosure Circle】. Stepping into amidst 【Willow Town】.
"【Willow Town】 saying big not big, saying small not small... 【Crane Elder】, we should from what place start searching?" Among them one figure wearing black headscarf asked.
Among the three people, 【Crane Elder】's qualifications are oldest, strength also strongest. The other two people not daring to easily express opinions. Instead waiting for this one's answer.
【Crane Elder】 both eyes narrowed into a gap. Didn't answer. Instead lifting the 【Walking Stick】 in hand. Towards the great earth lightly a knock.
Dong——!
Along with a muffled sound. On 【Walking Stick】 surface one by one white crane 【Markings】 like coming alive same. Flapping wings flying out from amidst the stick. Like churning white sea waves, overwhelmingly scattering towards all directions.
"Inch by inch looking, too slow." 【Crane Elder】 slowly opening mouth, "White cranes will guide direction for us."
Behind him the two 【Floating Life Painting】 members, also is first time seeing this kind of scene. In eyes full of surprise and reverence.
Along with white cranes fluttering rising in wind and rain, covering the whole 【Willow Town】's sky. 【Crane Elder】 both eyes closed up, like perceiving something...
A moment later, his eyes flashed a smear of faint light.
The 【Walking Stick】 in his hand again a knock. A white crane flew out from amidst the stick. Supporting his figure slowly rising. Following that towards a certain direction flapping wings leaving.
The other two 【Floating Life Painting】 members seeing this. Not daring to be slight. Immediately chasing with full speed behind the white crane. Deeply entering amidst 【Willow Town】.
...
...
Note 1: Selected from 【Beijing Opera: Picking Up the Chariots】 snippet