socalfunplaces Chapter 107 Listening to Books
Chapter 107 Listening to Books
After saying that, he raised his droopy eyelids and glanced at the others, "You guys go too. I'll stay here and keep an eye on the people outside. Go quickly and come back soon."
Upon hearing this, everyone thanked them in hushed tones and left the medicine shop through the back door.
After all five people had left, the old doctor shakily stood up.
His legs were stiff, and he moved slowly, step by step, toward the wooden cabinet by the wall.
"Boom!"
A clap of thunder boomed, and a flash of lightning illuminated the deep and shallow wrinkles on the old man's face with exceptional clarity.
If you look closely, you'll notice that the old man's eyes are very clear, and he doesn't look his age.
The raindrops pattered down outside, their soft patter sounding like someone sobbing quietly.
The old man opened the drawer and took out a roll of old paintings.
Withered hands gently brushed away the accumulated dust from the scroll and slowly unrolled it.
The background of the painting is this medicine shop, and the people in the painting are an old woman and a young man.
The old woman sat in the middle chair, and the young man stood beside her.
The old doctor ran his fingertips along the drawing paper, murmuring softly:
"Back then, it was also a rainy day like this."
The soldiers of the whole city are after you, so you rush to the pharmacy and beg for my help.
All the elders in my family have passed away, and I can't just watch you die too, so I'm lending you my lifespan.
Aunt, people from the Lu family have come again. I can't be mistaken, those clothes must be theirs.
Perhaps... this visitor will finally bring this old matter to a close...
"Bang!"
A thunderclap rang out overhead, making Su Zixu's eardrums ache.
The five people were rushing towards Jinghongfang at full speed. It was pouring rain, and by the time they arrived, their clothes were soaked through.
The gatekeeper looked at the five people suspiciously, and Zhao Hu smiled and took out some copper coins and put them in the man's hand.
The moment the gatekeeper saw the money, his expression changed, and he greeted everyone with a smile as he ushered them inside.
As soon as the group stepped through the door, a loud storyteller's voice greeted them, echoing throughout the entire hall.
The group was led up to the second floor and found an empty table at the back to sit down. Le Zheng Feng Ye casually ordered two pots of tea, which served as payment for the seats.
The hall was packed, with all the guests sitting attentively, their eyes fixed on the old storyteller on the stage.
The surroundings were quiet, with only the storyteller's clear voice remaining.
On the stage, an old man waved a folding fan, tapped the wooden table, and spoke slowly and deliberately, his voice rising and falling:
Today, let's talk about the mysterious and unpredictable Jiyu Village!
This village has inherited ancient rituals for generations, and there are ten great sacrifices in the village. The sacrificers are of high seniority and have profound Taoist knowledge.
Among them, the most renowned and prestigious were Master Shi, Wei Xuansi, and the Divine Granny, Yu Mizhen!
As soon as he finished speaking, a murmur of discussion arose from the audience.
The storyteller leaned forward slightly, his tone suddenly becoming deeper and more mysterious:
"But strange things happened with these ten high priests!"
Several years ago, during one of the ten major sacrificial rites in Jiyu Village, within a mere seven days, everyone had the same bizarre nightmare, with identical repetitions!
These words caused an uproar in the hall, and the guests stared wide-eyed in astonishment.
The previously subtle murmurs suddenly amplified, leaving everyone bewildered.
After the crowd's discussion subsided, the storyteller gently shook his folding fan, his expression growing increasingly solemn:
"The ten chief priests sensed something amiss, knowing this dream was no good omen. They immediately gathered at the ancestral hall, set up a grand formation, and performed rituals to try and discern the omen and avert disaster!"
He paused, deliberately building up everyone's curiosity, his gaze sweeping across the entire room:
"After this grand array ritual came to a close, all ten priests wore solemn expressions, having discovered a shocking secret."
"The city of Mingsha, within its radius, will soon face a catastrophe, a destruction that will annihilate the city!"
These words struck like a thunderbolt, and the area downstairs fell into an instant of deathly silence, all the previous noise vanishing.
Upon seeing this, the storyteller smiled slightly, and his tone suddenly changed:
"But misfortune never comes singly, strange things keep happening one after another!"
The very next day after the ten high priests finished their rituals, Lord Lu of the Chongxun Mansion in the city personally sent someone to Jiyu Village to invite the ten high priests to his mansion for a meeting!
He leaned forward, raised his voice, and smiled at the audience, deliberately engaging them in conversation:
"Gentlemen, why do you think Lord Lu, who wields immense power, suddenly summoned the Ten High Priests?"
The audience looked at each other, shaking their heads. Some whispered guesses, but they couldn't figure it out.
The storyteller clapped his hands with his folding fan and revealed the cause of events:
"A messenger from the Lu residence delivered a message, saying that they have invited the ten high priests to the residence to chant sutras and pray for the souls of the soldiers who died on the frontier!"
He paused slightly, then his tone turned serious as he revealed the mystery:
"But that's the strange thing!"
For ordinary prayers and rituals to pray for the deceased, one or two priests are enough. Why go to the trouble of inviting all ten of the top priests from Jiyu Village?
This seemingly ordinary act of praying for blessings must surely conceal untold stories and secrets!
He slowly closed his folding fan, then slammed his gavel down heavily, his voice ringing out clearly and forcefully:
"To know what happened to the Ten Great Priests after they entered the palace, whether the calamity of Mingsha City could be resolved, and what secrets and entanglements were hidden within it."
—Dear readers, please stay tuned for the next installment!
As soon as he finished speaking, a collective sigh of regret rippled through the audience. The crowd, still wanting more, clamored for the rest of the story.
Amidst the commotion, the storyteller packed up his things and went upstairs.
Su Zixu still looked like he hadn't had enough. He felt the trip was worthwhile. Although he hadn't heard the first half, he hadn't missed any important information.
Le Zheng Fengye yanked him up from his seat. "What are you staring at? Come on, let's follow them."
The five people followed the storyteller to the third floor. When he entered the room on the far left of the corridor, they followed him to the door.
As he walked into the room on the far left of the corridor, the group followed closely behind, their steps light and slow, and stopped outside the door.
The door was ajar, not closed properly.
Inside the room, the storyteller poured himself a cup of tea, then took several white porcelain teacups and arranged them neatly on the tea table, filling them one by one with warm tea.
His movements were calm and composed, showing no sign of surprise.
After the tea was poured, he looked up at the door, as if he had already noticed their presence. He raised his hand in a gesture of politeness and said in a calm and even voice, "Five guests, please take a seat."
The group exchanged glances, then stepped into the room one by one, gently closing the door behind them.
The room was filled with the delicate aroma of tea, which isolated the hustle and bustle of the teahouse downstairs, creating a tranquil atmosphere where only the breathing of a few people could be heard.
The storyteller put down his teapot and slowly glanced at the five people.
His expression was calm, unlike the flamboyant and lively storytelling he had been on stage earlier; instead, he appeared more composed and cautious.