The ethereal sound of the watch came from the distant streets, and a thin mist appeared on the long street. Under the door plaque with the name "Liu's Mansion", one after another wealthy households in the city were warmly invited by the steward of the mansion.
When we went in, there were people we knew well, so we greeted each other and walked in together.
Turning around the Feng Shui wall of "Spring Water Birds Song", the bricks and stones of the aisle are inlaid with tight joints. At the end of the extension is a two-story front yard building. The lanterns are hung high, shining a warm red light and covering the ten-foot-high stage below.
The musicians who arrived plucked the strings and played the suona, and on the hollow stage, several wooden dolls about one foot tall sang the music.
Directly in front of the stage, a dozen or so tables were filled with guests and friends, noisy and noisy. There were elegant maids, dragging their long skirts and carrying dishes, coming from both sides of the stage in a long queue and placing them on the wine tables one by one.
In the empty space of the stage, the senior brothers were dancing with puppets and reciting lines. Occasionally, they looked through the cracks at the lively banquet and whispered: "There are so many rich people in the city."
After the above line, the puppet in San'er's hand stepped off the table and took a look.
"You don't know us, so it doesn't matter how many more people you have. Junior brother, don't you think so?"
After saying that, he looked at Chen Yuan on the other side of the stage, who smiled: "It really has nothing to do with us. If other people have money, they either earned it through the hard work of their parents, or they rely on their own abilities."
The senior brother curled his lips and looked outside again, his eyes filled with envy.
During the noisy banquet in front of the stage, Old Man Zhao was invited for the first time. Sitting with so many wealthy gentry in the city, he couldn't help but straighten his back. He was so happy that he was swaying around toasting and drinking, and excitedly pulled everyone along.
Member Liu from another table came over to offer a toast and thanked him.
"You are very kind to me, please let me take a seat. I have made friends with many wealthy people, and I just talked with several of them. I am grateful to you for your support this time."
Some people were drunk, and Old Zhao's words were incoherent, but he was still sane. He pulled Liu Yuanwai aside and asked softly: "Did Yuanwai not tell them what happened last night?"
Liu Yuanwai looked at the lively banquet and narrowed his eyes, then suddenly smiled and patted the old man on the shoulder.
"It's a wedding, so naturally there will be a lot of people. If I tell them, no one will dare to come."
Hiccup~~
Old man Zhao quickly covered his mouth and let out a wine burp. Looking at Mr. Liu who turned around and continued to greet the guests, he suddenly felt that it was a mistake to continue to perform the wood carving show.
"Should we discuss it with Chen Yuan and the others... we will move out after the performance tonight."
.......
Outside the courtyard gate, two nurses listened to the excitement inside and yawned long. The mist on the long street spread and gradually became thicker, filling the sight of the nurses.
"The fog seems to be getting a little thicker."
"It's strange. I could see clearly just now, but now I can't even see the other side."
The two of them talked in a low voice, but their eyes did not leave the surging mist. The vast whiteness made people a little scared. For a moment, while the two were talking, the sound of gold and iron colliding sounded in the mist.
Ding ding ding... the sound like an iron chain echoed in the fog.
The lantern hanging on the courtyard door also swayed at this time, and the flames flickered out. One of the guards looked at his companions, walked carefully to the stone steps, and tried hard to see the source of the sound. The next moment, his expression froze.
, moved his steps cautiously, and his companions came over to help him and asked him what was going on.
The former pointed tremblingly at the heavy fog behind him, with his mouth open but unable to speak. The nurse tilted her head in the direction he pointed, and her pupils instantly shrank.
In the white fog, a figure nearly two feet tall was seen walking slowly step by step in the fog with the sound of clanging iron chains.
.......
In the courtyard of the Liu Mansion, the lively atmosphere was still going on. The drunken guests no longer had much interest in watching the wood carving show on the stage. Instead, they gathered in small circles with acquaintances to chat about household affairs or which brothel in the city.
The prostitute is very good at kung fu. She is going to ask for advice tomorrow, which makes everyone laugh.
No one watched the woodcarving show. Chen Yuan also took a break after finishing the performance in his hand, and was arranged by Liu Yuanwai to eat at a table where his chopsticks were not used.
"After dinner, tonight, I have to trouble the theater troupe to arrange a night in front of my son's room. The price will be a little extra. I have already discussed it with Leader Zhao."
"It doesn't matter, I won't sleep anywhere. Don't worry, members, there is no one else in our troupe. We are full of yang energy." The senior brother took a piece of fat meat and stuffed it into his mouth, and patted his chest generously as he assured.
Chen Yuan picked up the vegetables gracefully with chopsticks, and put the wooden sculpture of Guan Gong on his lap close to him. Both parties had their own plans. Liu Yuanwai entertained the troupe like this just because he wanted to tie up the master and help his son.
Wake up. Old man Zhao, senior brother and the others want to get more money from it.
"If I really encounter a ghost, I won't die unjustly."
Thinking about it, as soon as I put down my chopsticks, a stammering voice called out from the hanging flower door: "Master...Master..."
The sound was not obvious in the noise here, but someone still heard it, and saw a nurse with a face as white as paper, staggering over, and when he went down the steps, his feet were unsteady, and he stumbled to the ground. A guest passed by
After helping him up, he found that the nurse's whole body was cold and he was shaking like a sieve.
"Commissioner, what happened to your nursing home?"
Liu Yuanwai, who was talking to the troupe here, came over with a frown on his face. Chen Yuan and three senior brothers followed him to see what was going on. In the field of vision, the nurse's face was pale and his lips were trembling. When he saw Liu Yuanwai, he
I just managed to squeeze out a little sound.
"Sir...there's someone outside...there's someone out there looking for the young master."
"Looking for Boyuan?" Liu Yuanwai was stunned for a moment, but he felt something was wrong. How could anyone come to visit at this time? Besides, the nursing home was so scared.
Just as he was about to ask "Who is coming at the door?", at the same time, a violent knock on the door suddenly came from the front.
Bang!
Bang!
The knocking sound can be heard here, which shows how strong the strength is. The group of guests who were drunk suddenly woke up from the alcohol. You looked at me, I looked at you, no one dared to speak for a while.
Bang bang bang...
There were several more knocks on the door, and Liu Yuanwai couldn't sit still. Thinking that there were experts in the troupe, he gritted his teeth and called out to the guests present, as well as Leader Zhao, and a group of people came over to see what was going on.
More than thirty people gathered together to gain some courage. They surrounded Mr. Liu and walked around the Feng Shui wall to the courtyard gate. There was a guard guarding the courtyard, but his whole body was paralyzed against the door leaf.
Sitting on the ground, with his eyes open and tears on his face, he had obviously been frightened and cried.
He saw a group of people coming over, pouting and finally making a sound.
"Master, there's one coming from outside...it's looking for the young master."
As soon as he finished speaking, the door behind him banged again, and the courtyard door was pushed inwards with force. Chen Yuan stood in the crowd, with a chill in his heart. There must be some element of fear.
, more than that, a coldness was spreading in from the outside. She raised her head subconsciously, and Chen Yuan's expression suddenly changed wildly.
At this time, Liu Yuanwai walked to the front, took a breath and asked:
"Who is out there and why are they looking for my son?"
A gloomy voice sounded from behind the courtyard gate opposite.
"Open the door."
Liu Yuanwai's heart was pounding and he was a little panicked, but he had lived for such a long time and had never experienced anything. After calming down, he motioned to the old servant beside him, who was also scared, but how could the master speak?
Not listening, he walked carefully into the eaves, lay down behind the door and looked out through the gap.
In the sight of everyone, the old servant stiffened, then started to tremble. He turned around tremblingly, with cold sweat on his face, and shook his head towards Yuan Liu, but was speechless.
The voice sounded outside the door again.
"...According to the order of the City God, arrest Liu Mansion Liu Boyuan!"
"Don't drive——"
Suddenly, a voice rang out from the crowd. Everyone's nerves were tense, and they were startled. They followed the sound nervously and saw the young man in the theater troupe, who had a very bad expression on his face and was staring at the door of the courtyard.
Chen Yuan clenched his fists hard. He stared at the high door without blinking, and his face was covered with cold sweat. He said these words not only because of Liu Yuanwai's son, but what he was afraid of was that this seductress
Will Fu hook up all the people in the courtyard who see the evil deeds?
"It's a sinister thing outside...If you open this door, your son will really be gone."
Liu Yuanwai and others turned around and looked back. Between the beam ridge and the owl kiss on the raised courtyard gate, a huge long gray face looked down gloomily at the people in the courtyard in the fog.
It turned out that when they were talking here, the other party was looking at them from above.
Everyone under the eaves almost collapsed and sat on the ground.
...
at the same time.
Standing near the Liu Mansion in the mist, there were altars set up in the streets, with mantras chanting loudly. Li Yuanshan twisted his two fingers, pinched out the spells, and stared at the black talisman paper with all his concentration.
After a moment, he vaguely heard the sound of footsteps, and his eyes flickered out of the corner of his eyes. In the corner of his eye, a figure in tattered robes and a smelly figure walked past him, stood beside the altar with his hands behind his back, glanced at the table, and looked towards
Then he brushed his hair and looked at the man who kept his technique motionless.
"Brother, what do you do? This old man is familiar with you, let me do it!"
"Don't come over here!"
Li Yuanshan's eyes wildly gestured, but the crazy old man still squeezed towards him, as if he was hit by a speeding carriage, his whole body was pushed out diagonally, and hit the wall hard. When he fell to the ground, he said 'Wow'