Chapter 77 - 77 74 Past Events

Words : 1682 Updated : Sep 17th, 2025

77: Chapter 74 Past Events 77: Chapter 74 Past Events “If one inch is one layer of technique, then if I burn the eight incense, wouldn’t I master techniques you couldn’t even imagine?” Zhou Xuan had heard Yuan Buyu say before that in the past three hundred years, no storyteller had ever reached the eight incense. Naturally, Lao Yuan wasn’t one either. “Ahem…” *Bringing up the untouchable topics,* Yuan Buyu lightly patted the back of Zhou Xuan’s head, “You rebellious disciple, dare to mock your master… Tonight, you must perform another storytelling session. Burn your heart incense quickly to six inches. If you understand the six incense techniques right after burning, then my guess is not wrong.” Zhou Xuan nodded and said, “I just finished writing three episodes of the Liang Zhi tonight, but burning the incense to six inches will be more than enough.” “You practice first.” Yuan Buyu, hands behind his back, leisurely walked away until he reached the Ancestor Tree, confirming Zhou Xuan couldn’t see him. Only then did he take off running, sprinting towards Zhou Lingyi’s room in the inner courtyard. In front of the disciple, he had to maintain composure, even if it was an act; the image of a master was still important. But in front of Zhou Lingyi, there was no need to pretend. “Master Zhou, your brother has a problem! A big problem!” Zhou Lingyi was startled by the words, closing the notebook in her hands, and asked Yuan Buyu, “What’s wrong with my brother?” “Have you ever seen someone who burns their heart incense one inch and comprehends a layer of technique?” This question from Yuan Buyu almost caused Zhou Lingyi’s brain to crash. A Tangkou’s techniques are a maximum of nine, one incense to gain one, this is an ironclad rule. Without sufficient incense fire levels, some techniques can’t even be used. Yuan Buyu should undoubtedly understand this. Zhou Lingyi shook her head and said, “Never seen it. Have you?” “I just saw it…” “You mean my brother?” Zhou Lingyi couldn’t believe it. This completely broke her understanding. “You tell me if he doesn’t have a problem. For how many years now, what other Tangkou disciple practices like that? Just like last time when lighting incense, the God tested his temperament with the flaming dragon, and he stared it down until it went out! Sёarch* The ηovёlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This can’t be explained by Blood Well Talent.” Yuan Buyu became increasingly agitated as he spoke. Zhou Lingyi then asked, “Elder Yuan, don’t be anxious. What are the adverse consequences of comprehending a layer of technique with a one-inch incense?” “Uh…” This truly stumped Yuan Buyu. Until Zhou Xuan, he had never seen such an extraordinary person. How could he know the consequences? After thinking for a long while, Yuan Buyu finally spoke slowly, “Sigh, the only consequence I can predict now is probably just one…” “Please tell, Elder Yuan, I can handle it.” Zhou Lingyi’s tone turned low, mentally preparing herself for the worst. “Zhou Xuan in the future… I’m afraid… will be invincible among those of the same incense fire level!” “…” Zhou Lingyi, she had thought it was terrible news. Zhou Lingyi smiled, poured Yuan Buyu a cup of tea, and said, “Elder Yuan, since that’s the case, why worry? Let’s observe a bit more about my brother!” “It makes sense.” Yuan Buyu was somewhat flustered by an inexplicable situation he couldn’t explain. But after Zhou Lingyi’s words, he realized—since the disciple had such advanced techniques with no additional side effects, why worry? He should be delighted! “I should be happy. Xiao Xuanzi is undoubtedly the most promising amongst our storytellers. In the past, our storytellers before the three incense, when encountering similar levels, would dream of escaping, timid as hell! But he’s different…” When Yuan Buyu spoke of his disciple with Zhou Lingyi, he was immensely proud, recounting it with exuberance… … Finally sending off Yuan Buyu, Zhou Lingyi walked to the wardrobe and took out the human skin box that sealed the “Ten Fingers.” On the box was an Iron Lock Tattoo, crafted by the taboo Tangkou, “Tattoo,” the mysterious Tangkou that appeared and disappeared with Nuodai. With just one tattoo, it could lock an Alien Ghost, showing the exquisite techniques of its Tangkou. Zhou Lingyi gently patted the box, and the Iron Lock Tattoo made a metallic clanging sound. “Ten Fingers, you heard, one inch of incense means a layer of technique. My brother is amazing, but he needs incense fire. Today, I will sacrifice you entirely for my brother.” “Bang, bang, bang!” Inside the box, there were the sounds of collisions, Ten Fingers unwilling to meet his doom, desperately crashing against the box, but he couldn’t break through this tattoo box. “For the last sacrifice, it seems there might be trouble, I need to find a helper.” Zhou Lingyi placed the box back in the wardrobe. The time was still early, she walked to the desk, opened a notebook, and started examining the daily routes of her five brothers. The routes still showed nothing suspicious. “Who on earth seduced my brother’s soul away?” Zhou Lingyi pondered deeply again. The shadow slipped into the room’s wall, asking Zhou Lingyi, “Given your brother’s former character, wouldn’t it have been better if his soul had just died? Didn’t he harm the Zhou Family’s Troupe enough? The current brother is much better!” “Weren’t you always insisting my brother was a pretentious hypocrite out to deceive me and the Zhou Family’s Troupe? Why the sudden change of heart?” Zhou Lingyi glanced at the shadow. “Your current brother is good. The first time he went to the Dai Mansion, he thought fighting Ten Fingers wasn’t gaining anything, so he didn’t let me take risks and took me away. The second time he encountered a kidnapper, he fought desperately, eventually passing out, even knowing I was nearby, he didn’t call me for help; The third time, when faced with that Copper Coin fortune teller, he almost died but didn’t blame me. As he was leaving, he kept pondering how to deal with Money Divination in the future, If it were your old brother, he would’ve insulted everyone I hold dear, endlessly. Moreover, following Zhou Xuan daily, I notice two virtues of his. First, if something doesn’t go well for him, he never blames others, only reflects on himself. Second… he doesn’t treat the troupe’s disciples, masters, or me as slaves or inferior. He treats us as real human beings!” The shadow spoke earnestly. Zhou Lingyi nodded, “My brother is indeed sensible now. The most money he spends from the safe is on gifts for me and Elder Yuan. However, sensible as he may be, since there’s a turncoat among the brothers, we still need to root them out.” “Why do you always suspect there’s a mole among the brothers? If you ask me, every brother is a good man!” The shadow was very protective of the brothers. Zhou Lingyi sighed and said, “The day my brother’s soul was taken was coincidentally our Zhou Family’s annual Nu Festival day, the day many distinguished guests came. I had my perception out the whole day to prevent mishaps in the troupe, but only when truly entering the Silent Hall for the Nu Mask offering and performing the ritual for the Nuo God, as the Class Leader, I had to lead the incense offering and worship God, had to communicate with ancestors, so I reluctantly retracted my perception. The entire process only took fifteen minutes, My brother’s soul was drawn away during those fifteen minutes, this time point, to time it accurately, the five brothers who are deeply familiar with the Zhou Family’s rites are the most knowledgeable.” “That’s not right. Zhou Lingyi, I remember your brother’s soul wasn’t found missing until 5 PM, and you performed the Nu God offering around 2 PM, right?” “He was only discovered missing at 5 PM; it doesn’t mean his soul was taken away at that time.” Zhou Lingyi recalled that not-so-distant afternoon because it was the Nu Festival’s big day, the master, disciples, and brothers all drank heavily. After she finished leading the God worship, she came out, glimpsing the banquet from afar, seeing her brother lying on the table. At the time, she didn’t find it suspicious, assuming her brother was merely drunk. After taking over the Zhou Family’s Troupe, her brother could no longer cause much trouble, either drinking heavily or frequenting brothels, sleeping more than being awake. Moreover, back then, her relationship with her brother was more absurd than with an enemy. Coupled with the Second and Fifth Brothers who were at the same table were also drunk, creating an illusion of group intoxication. Zhou Lingyi didn’t pay much attention, went back to her room to rest until Second Master’s Wife Song Jie called her in the afternoon, saying her brother’s soul was missing. “Thinking back now, the person who drew the soul was among the brothers. Lao Shi and Lao Wu can be ruled out first, Lao Shi’s relationship with the Zhou Family’s Troupe grew colder, and during the Nu Festival, he returned to the troupe, had a couple of drinks, and left. As for Lao Wu, it’s absolutely impossible, It could only be the First, Second, or Third Brothers. Who is it?” Zhou Lingyi got up and walked into the yard. “Where are you going?” The shadow asked. “Your little dogs are loyal, but they’re not smart. I have to investigate myself.” The shadow chuckled coldly, “Investigate, investigate, investigate! Even if you do find out which brother is the mole, you won’t be able to act. If you ask me, just feign ignorance, and let bygones be bygones…” As they spoke, Zhou Lingyi had already walked far away.

Chapter 77 - 77 74 Past Events

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