Spring is still cold, the leftover snow is melting.
Chang Sansi only leisurely rose from the soft jade-like body of his concubine once the sun was high above.
Although he got up a bit late, the daily "Silk Thread Puppetry" could not be neglected; it's the skill for survival, allowing him to lead such a pleasant life, all thanks to this mastery.
Bone Forging, Bone Strengthening and Marrow Cleansing, Chang Sansi meticulously performed them, slowly inhaling and exhaling the cold morning air with peculiar and challenging movements. He felt his muscles and bones stretch bit by bit, as if a warm current flowed through his flesh.
The tremendous energy spent last night gradually recovered through these unusual movements.
Until his blood surged like a tide throughout his body, making him warm all over, he then gently stopped, exhaled a mouthful of mixed white vapor.
"Extend your muscles by an inch, live ten years longer."
Chang Sansi was quite satisfied with his condition but wasn't hasty in completing his task.
He knew that some things, if dragged long enough, would present an opportunity.
The position of Vice Incense Master in the Seven-Colored Hall's Cyan Hall was actually quite good...
He had people, he had silver; but most importantly, he had exceptionally well-informed messages, which were very helpful in completing the tasks entrusted by the Lord.
After finishing his practice, he washed his hands and face, comfortably enjoyed a drink of Allium Chinense Liquor, and drank a bowl of warm milk and Rehmannia porridge.
He felt a warm sensation throughout his stomach and intestines, sighed comfortably.
Just as he was indulging in these peaceful and free days.
A servant rushed in to report, ruining his good mood for the day.
"You mean, Yat the Black is dead, and it's his own few crippled little beggars who did it, ha... truly worthless."
Chang Sansi looked up and laughed, laughing so hard that he coughed lightly, almost choking on the hot porridge.
"Yes, Master, their bodies are still laid out at the Earth God Temple on Qilin Street. Big-Beard Zhang was also there and witnessed the little beggars taking action."
The servant knew the more happily this Vice Incense Master laughed, the more he wanted to kill.
This made him speak even more cautiously.
"Interesting, very interesting."
Chang Sansi put down the porridge bowl, smilingly and softly instructed, "Bring a few people, come with me to check it out. I didn't expect that someone in our Cyan Hall Incense Hall turned out to be talented."
Yat the Black was personally promoted from the grassroots by him, naturally he was very familiar with this person's skills.
No matter how poor, he was a tough contender with achievements in Bone Forging; how could he be killed by a few little beggars who couldn't even afford a meal, it's intriguing—it heightened Chang Sansi's curiosity.
…
The Earth God Temple grew increasingly dilapidated, with waves of stench emanating.
This place was never meant to be inhabited; usually, few people entered to take a look.
Now several corpses were dragged out, amidst wild grasses, broken bricks and rubble, making it even more eerie, like a scene from a desolate graveyard.
"Explain in detail how they died?"
Chang Sansi took a couple of glances, basically understanding the cause of death of these few people, but there were still details that weren't very certain.
"Those guys were too vicious; first, they smeared their eyes with incense ash, then suddenly struck. Boss Yat was unguarded and lost his life. There was also Brother Li, who was attacked from behind by a thief with a severed hand..."
Big-Beard Zhang tried to hold back tears, face full of pity, telling it with great earnestness...
The five-finger marks were deep on his left cheek, swollen high, and he dared not delay, promptly recounted in full the scene he witnessed that night.
"You mean, a cripple, a severed hand, and a eunuch just killed off both Yat the Black?"
Chang Sansi found himself suppressing laughter again, managed to hold back, pointing at those corpses, said, "Go ahead, they shouldn't have escaped far, even if they left the city, they couldn't get into the mountains. In any case, catch all the little fellows back, and flay them one by one. Otherwise, if others find out, they'll say our Cyan Hall Incense Hall lacks hierarchy and doesn't understand rules."
Whether dead or not, whoever died, Chang Sansi actually didn't care at all.
The problem was, Yat the Black followed him, and he personally instructed him to manage the beggars and displaced people on Qilin Street, no matter how incompetent, any beating or killing should be done by oneself.
And being killed by a few little beggars under his command, what does this even count as?
Turns out, the one he promoted was just such a useless fool.
He even had to be careful not to let the Xingqing Prefecture constables know about this matter.
Too shameful!
"They haven't escaped, they didn't escape..."
Big-Beard Zhang quickly said, knowing Vice Incense Master Chang didn't intend to punish him further, thus his life was spared.
Since last night, he had been watching with a few brothers, wanted to act but didn't dare, even listened to weird sounds all night.
Until morning, he dared to report it upwards bravely.
Now wanting to redeem himself by merit, how could he miss the chance to perform?
"Didn't escape? Where?"
Chang Sansi's smile almost faltered, his voice sharp, feeling utterly absurd.
'Is it that I, Chang Sansi, can't wield a knife anymore, or have those murderous little beggars lost their minds?'
What are they relying on?
"Right there, singing a tune!"
Big-Beard Zhang blinked his eyes exaggeratedly and pointed shakily in a direction.
In the bustling crowd on Qilin Street, a hundred paces ahead, it's surprisingly congested, with a series of cheers faintly echoing.
"Great, one more song."
"Here's your reward, you sang well."
Someone shouted loudly.
Many others, however, stretched their sleeves, secretly wiping away tears, while squeezing themselves inward. Their eyes seemed glued to the inside of the circle, crying and shouting simultaneously.
"More, more, I haven't had enough listening."
"Great lyrics, great melody, this tune should exist in heaven, how many times could one hear it in the world."
This was a scholarly person, shaking his head thoughtfully.
A few crows flew overhead, Chang Sansi's gaze blank, his expression peculiar. He glanced at Big-Beard Zhang, seeing he truly wasn't speaking falsehood, he lifted his steps thoughtfully forward.
"Let's go see."
A few fearsome men followed behind.
Not far away, they quickly approached, and suddenly all around became silent...
A series of either clear or muffled, clinking and clanking sounds arose, carrying a strange rhythm, striking a soul-stirring cadence.
Chang Sansi learned music as a child, diligently practiced "Silk Thread Puppetry," played the role of "Young Scholar" for the first half of his life, and became an assassin under the Lord, taking countless lives with his hands.
Originally, he thought he had completely severed ties with his past days, playing another person's life. Hearing this strange rhythm enter his ears, he suddenly felt a blur before his eyes, almost losing control of his body, rising to dance with the music.
Before he could clear the crowd and see what instrument produced such bizarre yet beautiful music, his ears suddenly rang with mournful, moving songs that prompt tears.
"Outside the long pavilion, beside the ancient road, green grass connects to the sky..."
The voice articulated clearly with emotion, instantly drawing people into the painting, stirring heartstrings.
Chang Sansi's entire body trembled, feeling goosebumps all over his body.
An indescribable shiver surged into his soul.
This familiar feeling came whenever he heard a tune he truly loved, deeply immersed, a residue from learning opera as a child; of course, this was nothing bad.
He always felt that being human, one should have some preferences. In this bleak and unforgiving world, it would not be too desperate...
"The evening wind caresses the willow, the flute sound fades, sunset beyond the mountain. The ends of the earth, the corners of the world, half of the acquaintances drop away. A pot of unfiltered liquor finishes the remaining joy, tonight's farewell dreams are cold..."
The song echoed, full and winding.
At this moment, listening intently, one could discern three or four voices of men and women softly chanting, layer upon layer, prompting countless reveries...
Chang Sansi listened intently, his eyes slightly misty. He even recalled those forgotten farewells of yesteryears.
He no longer remembered what he had come to do, the intention to kill had vanished without a trace.
Only thinking to see clearly, who sang such good tunes and crafted such fine lyrics?
The fierce-looking men following behind, seeing their Vice Incense Master Chang in a dazed expression, were dumbstruck, wanted to say something, but dared not.
When the song finished, cheers resounded around.
As the crowd squeezed... Chang Sansi moved forward with the flow, his eyes wide open, and saw some people throwing broken silver, copper coins falling like rain on the ground.
Some people were wiping tears while shouting: "Sing another one!"
This was not the reason for Chang Sansi's astonishment...
In today's age of extremely scarce entertainment, being able to enjoy such a good tune, one should raise a glass, it deserves throwing some silver.
He was surprised that the singers were surprisingly just four little underage lads...
A Hua Lian kid's singing voice melodious, like a golden oriole's gentle chirp; the other two kids looked very similar, voices hard to distinguish gender, gentle and delicate.
Another one, with a broken hand, sang with a deep, resonant voice, occasionally harmonizing.
Most absurdly, the beautiful clinking and clanging music he initially heard...
Was originally from a lame crippled boy, using a pair of chopsticks, striking rows of broken bricks and tiles, producing the sounds.