After bidding farewell to Yu Lumin, Yan Shouyi and the others returned to their lodging and had dinner.
Indeed, thinking about how the former young Daoist priest Zhu Feifeng turned out to be the actor Li Genmiao, everyone felt a sense of melancholy.
However, there was also a greater sense of lingering fear.
An actor was truly an actor; if he wished to perform, no one could see through him.
After dinner, Yan Shouyi and Lin Zitong were talking in the courtyard when they suddenly heard a strange song.
The melody was melodious and ethereal, filled with immense sorrow. It would sometimes sing, sometimes softly weep, sometimes rise like war drums, and sometimes fall like a gentle drizzle.
But what was strange was that the lyrics the person sang seemed not to be in a modern language, but in a tongue Yan Shouyi had never heard before.
Yet, even though no one understood what was being sung, they could still feel the sorrow in the melody and the grief the singer poured into the song.
"It's Li Genmiao's mother, Zhang Qingsu. She's singing the Nuogui opera," Yan Shouyi said in a low voice.
Lin Zitong's eyes reddened. "She's singing for the fallen disciples of Longhu Mountain."
Listening to the song, Wen Yuxian also floated out from the house.
Lin Zitong couldn't help but ask, "Grandma, is Li Genmiao really trying to kill Grandma Zhang just to 'follow the heavenly way'?"
Wen Yuxian sighed softly. "Of course, it's not that simple."
"There's a hidden reason behind this?" Yan Shouyi looked at Wen Yuxian in surprise.
He remembered that his grandmother and Zhang Qingsu were old acquaintances and should know something.
Wen Yuxian said softly, "Shouyi, you should know how difficult it is to become a successor of Nuogui opera."
Yan Shouyi was stunned for a moment, then recalled the stringent conditions for becoming a Nuogui opera successor, and suddenly understood something. (The specific conditions are in Chapter 449).
The life of a Nuogui opera successor was tragic, more so than that of any other folk sect's successor.
Wen Yuxian said:
"When I first met Zhang Qingsu, her husband had just passed away. This immense blow had made her mental state quite unstable. Li Genmiao, following her, was truly a torment. When I first met Li Genmiao, he was only five years old. At that time, he wanted to become a lawyer, but Zhang Qingsu forced him to inherit Nuogui opera, ruined his voice, and compelled him to sing for lonely spirits. Li Genmiao was very resistant, but eventually, he somehow succumbed."
"The second time I saw Li Genmiao, he was already ten years old. By then, Li Genmiao was like a walking corpse. He would do whatever Zhang Qingsu told him to do. However, I often noticed that Li Genmiao would occasionally cast cold glares at Zhang Qingsu. Li Genmiao actually didn't love his mother at all, and even hated her deeply. Perhaps this is why he was so heartless about killing Zhang Qingsu."
"Later, I was trapped in the Jianwang Tomb and knew nothing of the outside world. Not long ago, when I came to Longhu Mountain, I saw Zhang Qingsu again. For some reason, her mind had become much clearer. It is said that she voluntarily entered the Longhu Mountain dungeon over a decade ago and had not stepped out of it for years... She only left the dungeon seven days ago."
After listening to Wen Yuxian's explanation, Yan Shouyi couldn't help but sigh.
If Zhang Qingsu hadn't forced Li Genmiao back then, the world would have been spared a great calamity.
Li Genmiao was different from others. He never wanted to inherit Nuogui opera from the start, but he had no choice.
Now that he had escaped Zhang Qingsu's control, he had become even more extreme, wanting to forge a different path.
Regrettably, the path Li Genmiao chose was contrary to the righteous way. Even though he was a pitiable person, it could not absolve him of the heinous sins he had committed.
If he had the chance, Yan Shouyi would still kill Li Genmiao without hesitation.
Listening to Zhang Qingsu's Nuogui opera, Longhu Mountain fell into an eerie silence. Even the birds in the mountains closed their mouths. Only Zhang Qingsu's voice echoed in the heavens and earth...
...
The next morning.
Led by Zhang Shanli, Yan Shouyi and Lin Zitong arrived at the entrance of the Guanshen Platform.
The Guanshen Platform was located in a hidden spot, fronted by a grove of phoenix-tail bamboo. One needed a special token from Longhu Mountain for the bamboo grove to part and reveal the entrance.
Before coming to the Guanshen Platform, Yan Chou had already informed Yan Shouyi of the true purpose of their visit.
Within the Guanshen Platform, people could meditate and cultivate, gain clarity on perplexing issues, and even see their past and present lives.
The Guanshen Platform had numerous miraculous uses, but it could be summarized in two words: "Enlightenment of Reason."
Through contemplation, one could understand the great principles.
Through thinking, one could clarify difficult problems.
Through reviewing past lives, one could understand the present life.
Yan Shouyi had once obtained an ancient book from Bai Muyu, the Ghost King of the Bai family from Fengfeng Mountain in Rongcheng. It was later confirmed that this ancient book was written by Lian He, the maidservant from his past life who resided within Lin Zitong. It clearly stated a method to break through the mortal calamity of short-lived death.
Therefore, Yan Chou had asked Yan Shouyi to come to the Guanshen Platform, hoping that he and Lin Zitong could try to review their past lives and see if they could discover any clues.
After all, the only clue from that ancient book currently was a star chart, and it couldn't yet be connected to the Shouxin Jade from Li Qinger's side. To continue the investigation, they could only try their luck at the Guanshen Platform.
Passing through the bamboo grove, they found a stretch of mist ahead. After moving forward barely three meters, they could see nothing.
Even Yan Shouyi feared that taking another step forward might lead them to a bottomless abyss.
"The Guanshen Platform is just ahead. I haven't received permission to enter on my own, so I can only escort you this far," Zhang Shanli said, stopping.
Lin Zitong peered inside but couldn't see anything, asking, "Is there anyone else inside?"
"There is only one guardian elder from Longhu Mountain. You don't need to worry. The Young Heavenly Master has already spoken to this elder, and he won't make things difficult for you," Zhang Shanli reassured them.
Yan Shouyi nodded, cupped his fists to thank Zhang Shanli, then took Lin Zitong's hand, and the two walked side-by-side into the white mist.
Entering the mist, their vision was further obstructed. They walked cautiously with every step, constantly checking their sides to ensure they were still on the path.
After walking for a while, Lin Zitong suddenly noticed a figure ahead, sitting by the roadside like a statue.
The person held a long staff, and as the two approached, they blocked their path.
"Name." the elder asked in a cold voice.
Yan Shouyi quickly replied, "Yan Shouyi, Lin Zitong!" Da Feng Novel Network.
The elder silently put away his staff and cleared the way, which was considered their permission to enter.
As Yan Shouyi passed the elder, he secretly tried to examine him. However, even though they were close, the mist still obscured the elder's face.
Yet, vaguely, Yan Shouyi could sense that this guardian elder possessed profound cultivation, even giving him a feeling akin to the Old Heavenly Master.
He must be an extraordinary master!
Perhaps all the mist covering the mountain was his doing.
Yan Shouyi couldn't help but marvel: Longhu Mountain truly was a place where dragons and tigers lay hidden! How many more powerhouses were secluded here...