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:
"ăBrother Lină, you also received ăInvitation Cardă?"
"En." Chen Ling slightly nodded, "You also are?"
"Right ah, I returning from Furong Bridge. Then discovering someone came sending an ăInvitation Cardă. Seemingly is a youth... however I didn't see him. Is my ăGrandmotheră who received it." Li Qingshan sat down on the seat beside Chen Ling.
Chen Ling was thoughtful.
Not only himself received ăInvitation Cardă. This to Chen Ling speaking is not unexpected. After all he is not the first time witnessing ăAncient Vault of the Drama Pathă's performance. That year when with ăChen Yană in ăDistrict Threeă time, also had quite a few people sitting watching the performance... However, at that time seemingly didn't receive ăInvitation Cardă this kind of thing. Regardless if it was him and ăChen Yană, or Porter and ăThe Beggară, all were midway only then being attracted over.
Only that ăDistrict 2ă ăTeacheră. Seemingly early knew the news of the performance, specially rushing over... Whether he received ăInvitation Cardă, Chen Ling then not clear.
"ăBrother Lină, this... this really is ăAncient Vault of the Drama Pathă's performance?" Li Qingshan holding ăInvitation Cardă, uncertainly asking.
Chen Ling turned head gazing at him for a moment, definitely nodding head,
"It is."
Can imagine, when Li Qingshan received this ăInvitation Cardă time. Necessarily is confused and struggling, but he ultimately still appeared here. Sufficient to explain he and ăTheater Daoă has affinity... Not to mention, the one giving him sending ăInvitation Cardă, still is that mysterious ăBeautiful Youthă.
Chen Ling already faintly guessed that youth's identity. If it is true. That explains ăAncient Vault of the Drama Pathă very favorably looks at Li Qingshan. He also indeed possesses the potential of stepping on ăPath of the Actoră.
Li Qingshan has seen Chen Ling's means. Also guessed he and ăAncient Vault of the Drama Pathă necessarily have some kind of connection. Chen Ling says it is ăAncient Vault of the Drama Pathă, 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 ăStageă 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 ăOrdinary Personă 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 dengââ
Depressing sound transmitted out from the crude ăStageă. The light bulb strings twined around the ăStageă. 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 ăStageă. 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 ăStageă. After a brief pause, a crisp gong sound transmitted out from backstage!
Dangââ!
The big red curtain on the ăStageă slowly pulled open.
A sonorous voice, sounded from behind the ăStageă,
"Sons! Go to the main camp!"
"Ah!" A few completely different voices overlapped together, following replying.
"I, North of the Great Wall Grand Marshal ăHa Tielongă am! Only because Fourth Highness ăWuzhuă taking ăKing Kangă besieging at ăNiutou Mountaină. Has letter returning country urging troops. Old King ordered me escorting ăIron Sliding Cartsă, 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 ăOff Stageă'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 ăStageă,
"This is a ăMartial Student Operaă. Telling is early Southern Song Dynasty, Jin troops invading Jiangnan. ăYue Feiă and Jin ăWuzhuă fiercely battled at ăNiutou Mountaină. Jin ăWuzhuă repeatedly fighting defeated battles, then mobilized ăIron Sliding Cartsă blocking ăYue Feiă. ăGao Chongă following Marshal ăYue Feiă's order. Leading numerous generals, greatly defeating Jin troops. Riding the victory pursuing to kill, straightly pressing Jin ăWuzhuă's main camp.
Jin ăWuzhuă helpless, urgently ordering pushing out ăIron Sliding Cartsă. And ăGao Chongă dashing ahead regardless of safety. One person successively picking up eleven ăIron Sliding Cartsă... Can be considered a quite wonderful ăFightingă 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 ăIron Sliding Cartsă. Moreover seemingly emphasizing martial arts... But ăAncient Vault of the Drama Pathă why choosing this play?
Chen Ling sitting at the front row, was thoughtful.
...
Three figures passed through ăEnclosure Circleă. Stepping into amidst ăWillow Townă.
"ăWillow Townă saying big not big, saying small not small... ăCrane Elderă, we should from what place start searching?" Among them one figure wearing black headscarf asked.
Among the three people, ăCrane Elderă's qualifications are oldest, strength also strongest. The other two people not daring to easily express opinions. Instead waiting for this one's answer.
ăCrane Elderă both eyes narrowed into a gap. Didn't answer. Instead lifting the ăWalking Stickă in hand. Towards the great earth lightly a knock.
Dongââ!
Along with a muffled sound. On ăWalking Stickă surface one by one white crane ăMarkingsă 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." ăCrane Elderă slowly opening mouth, "White cranes will guide direction for us."
Behind him the two ăFloating Life Paintingă 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 ăWillow Townă's sky. ăCrane Elderă both eyes closed up, like perceiving something...
A moment later, his eyes flashed a smear of faint light.
The ăWalking Stickă 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 ăFloating Life Paintingă members seeing this. Not daring to be slight. Immediately chasing with full speed behind the white crane. Deeply entering amidst ăWillow Townă.
...
...
Note 1: Selected from ăBeijing Opera: Picking Up the Chariotsă snippet