Chapter 80 - 80 77 The Empress's Devotees

Words : 1797 Updated : Sep 17th, 2025

80: Chapter 77: The Empress’s Devotees 80: Chapter 77: The Empress’s Devotees Yuan Buyu closed his eyes, waiting for the Dream Generation. Zhou Xuan recalled the portrait of the ancestral deity Bi Fang once more, ensuring that every feature of the visage was flawless before he began to conceive the dream in his mind, clashing wooden fans together. A sound of wood echoed in the ears, Yuan Buyu felt a pressure descending from the sky, enveloping him and causing his hair to stand on end, as if it were the harbinger of divine thunder striking. “It’s the aura of a God!” Yuan Buyu opened his eyes and looked ahead, only to see the ancestral deity Bi Fang with hands clasped behind his back, standing a few meters in front of him. However, the flame mark between Bi Fang’s brows was still, lacking the vitality of agitation, and although he bore the semblance of immortal grace, it was just a façade, devoid of true divinity, not a trace of celestial bone to be found. This deity, upon a single glance, was riddled with flaws. “Tap! Tap! Tap!” Having discovered the flaws, cracks appeared in the dream, which then fragmented into pieces, slowly dissolving into the air. “It truly is ‘one incense [stick], one layer of technique’.” Yuan Buyu, having spent an afternoon’s time, had gradually come to accept Zhou Xuan as a “monster,” so now, although his guess was confirmed, he did not show much delight since he had enough mental preparation. “Xuanzi, you are a prodigy, but as your teacher, I must warn you, techniques are techniques, incense is incense! Just take the technique of the sixth incense you just employed; a deity enters the dream, the deity has its form but lacks its bones, its marrow, I could debunk it with one glance, all because your Incense Fire Level isn’t high enough.” “Techniques are transformations, incense is the foundation?” “You do have some insight.” Yuan Buyu praised: “But if the manipulation of techniques is thorough, it can compensate for the Incense Fire Level to a certain extent. Now one incense brings little comprehension; once you light the second incense, you will start to grasp it. It’s still the old saying, the key to the storyteller’s success is timing!” Zhou Xuan listened attentively, committing it all to memory. “Alright, your teacher will go have some fun, you busy yourself,” Yuan Buyu said with a serious expression. “Lao Yuan, just leaving? Won’t you play a couple rounds of chess?” Zhou Xuan called out to Yuan Buyu. “No playing, I’m going to drink with the old fellows.” … As soon as Yuan Buyu left the house and headed towards the boiler room, he walked feeling envious: “The disciple is too awesome, it’s really enviable, ‘one incense, one layer of technique’, if I had this skill, what Day Patrol Deity, Night Patrol Deity, I would beat them until they blossom with flowers on their faces, they wouldn’t know what a storyteller is!” “Was I too harsh just now? Didn’t hurt Xuanzi, did I? Ah, this is what it’s like to walk the path of worshipping gods in secrecy; relying too much on techniques always leaves one weary from accumulating incense. The fire is internal, the techniques external, one must cultivate both inside and outside.” “Suddenly I’m looking forward to Xuanzi burning through the eight incenses. Even if a storyteller’s eight techniques were only superficial, if I could witness it with my own eyes, I might gain something… Eight incenses! Eight! Xuanzi, you must work hard, is it easy for your teacher? Waiting for effortless success, waiting anxiously.” Thinking of this, Yuan Buyu couldn’t help laughing out loud, his expression brilliant. “Master Yuan, what’s so delightful?” Yu Zhengyuan came to find Zhou Xuan and bumped into Yuan Buyu. He greeted him with a hello. Yuan Buyu immediately suppressed his smile and put on a serious face, coughing once and gesturing with his hand, “Nothing, nothing, just thought of a little something happy…” “You don’t look just a little happy! You look very happy.” Yu Zhengyuan was very close to Yuan Buyu, resting an arm on his shoulder, he said: “You haven’t visited my house lately, how about we have a couple of drinks tonight? Let’s enjoy ourselves?” “I’ve made plans to drink with Lao Ma, gambling for cigarettes… I’ll come to your house another day.” Humming a cheerful tune, Yuan Buyu walked away, his steps light with the thought of soon witnessing the eight incense technique, unseen for three hundred years. “Don’t forget then, I’ll get Xiao Li to stew pig’s trotters to nourish you,” Yu Zhengyuan waved goodbye and after seeing Yuan Buyu off, turned towards Zhou Xuan’s place. … Zhou Xuan spread out a book, holding a pen in hand, racking his brain for the plot of a new story. “What would Lady Lianhua like to hear in a story?” Zhou Xuan’s mind raced, feeling as though his hair roots were burning, yet he still couldn’t grasp an idea. If he went by the preferences of elderly people from his previous life, their favorite thing to watch, the favorite thing to look at, would probably be the various godly dramas on television. Let’s not even talk about whether it can scratch Lady Lianhua’s itch, even if it could, he lack the exposure. He hadn’t seen many episodes of those divine dramas anyway. “Xuanzi, are you busy?” Yu Zhengyuan, with a smile plastered on his face, knocked on the open door. “Big senior brother, what brings you here?” Zhou Xuan got up to pour water for Yu Zhengyuan. “No need, no need, I’ll do it myself… Ah, you are now the troupe’s treasure. I’ve been thinking of suggesting to the Class Leader about making a poster of you and putting it up on the front door, so everyone who passes by can see—This is our Young Master! Handsome, talented, and accomplished at a young age…” Yu Zhengyuan used a set of flattering words, and his hands were swift, praising while making tea, all done in one go. “Big senior brother, we’re all family here, just speak frankly, don’t keep buttering me up.” Zhou Xuan understood his senior brother too well; whenever he began to sweet talk, it was a sign that he had something up his sleeve. “It’s nothing big, but you see, the day Lady Lianhua set has already passed, and you even performed storytelling this evening. I’m afraid your energy might not keep up. I think you should prioritize your health and not wear yourself out. In the next few days, think over your show’s storyline thoroughly, and aim to delight her on Lady Lianhua’s birthday celebration.” Sёarᴄh the nôᴠel Fire.nёt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. People judge by appearances, but listen to tones. Zhou Xuan heard the unsaid in Yu Zhengyuan’s voice. “Big senior brother, you keep circling back to Lady Lianhua. Is she really that important to Zhou Family’s Troupe’s business?” Yu Zhengyuan was a workaholic, his mind always on the business of Zhou Family’s Troupe. His sudden mention of Lady Lianhua was sure to be business-related. “Xuanzi, you’re smart. Lady Lianhua has a huge following in the four surrounding prefectures, heads and leaders of many wealthy families are her devotees. If you make her happy and content, wouldn’t her followers favor inviting our Netherworld Play Troupe first when needed? Wealthy families, as you know, don’t look at price when choosing performances; they pick the most expensive ones. Just a few deals a month from them would be enough to pay the troupe’s salaries for several months.” Zhou Xuan wasn’t too concerned with the business of Zhou Family’s Troupe and was a bit unfamiliar with some aspects. He asked, “But big senior brother, isn’t our Netherworld Play, the hallmark of Ping Shui Prefecture, do we really need to advertise further?” “The environment has changed, the rich in Ping Shui Prefecture are replaced too quickly. Now, many bosses are not locals; there’s Mingjiang Prefecture, Guangyuan Prefecture, and Jingchuan Prefecture. Their custom of holding Netherworld Plays at funerals is not strong, but there are many devout followers of Lady Lianhua in these three prefectures…” “I see now.” Zhou Xuan understood, Yu Zhengyuan was looking to expand the customer base into these visiting rich folks, but hadn’t found the means yet. Now, he could make use of this storytelling opportunity to connect with Lady Lianhua. I’m just telling a story, and now it’s become tied to the whole Zhou Family’s business. “Big senior brother, I will try my best to please Lady Lianhua.” Just as Zhou Xuan agreed, the sound of bells came from outside the door. Zhou Lingyi, carrying the Cow Bell, stepped into the room. “Class Leader.” Yu Zhengyuan stood up to greet her. “Big senior brother, let my brother rest properly.” “Ah.” Yu Zhengyuan complied and retreated first. “Sister.” Zhou Xuan greeted Zhou Lingyi, “It’s so late, you’re not asleep yet?” “There’s a ghost in Zhou Family’s Troupe, so I came out to look for it. I happened to bump into big senior brother chatting with you and thought I’d come in.” Zhou Lingyi placed the Cow Bell on the table and patted off some dust on Zhou Xuan’s shoulder, saying, “You’ve been working hard these days, the troupe hasn’t been this lively in years… Look at you, even though you’ve been at home, you appear like a weary traveler.” “Everyone’s happy, so it’s only right that I tell more stories… well, it’s also to accumulate incense. I’ve already burned through six inches of heart-incense.” Zhou Xuan spoke frankly. “Souping incense is important, and so is making sure everyone’s happy, but your own health is the most important. Don’t worry too much about Lady Lianhua’s matter; if it works out, great, if not, it’s fine. Don’t feel pressured.” A warm feeling suddenly filled Zhou Xuan’s heart; indeed, only his sister would care if he was tired. “Get some rest early. A person can’t keep going on like this…” After advising him, Zhou Lingyi left with the Cow Bell. “Sister, you mentioned there’s a ghost in Zhou Family’s Troupe, what do you mean?” “There’s a harmful spirit, good at hiding its presence. I’ve searched inside and out for quite a few turns, even let the dogs out, but still can’t find it.” Zhou Lingyi explained. “Sister, I just remembered, when I was taking a bath this afternoon, I felt something was off near the boiler room.”

Chapter 80 - 80 77 The Empress's Devotees

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