Chapter Forty-Three: The Bizarre

After changing into a brand-new set of clothes, Xie Peiling left the mansion. He wanted to see what kind of capability the young master of the Li family actually possessed and what he intended to do.

Unbeknownst to him, just as the majority of the crowd was walking away from the high platform, the old immortal stepped out in bright, splendid attire, wearing fine boots.

With a wave of his hand, the four paper figures materialized once more. The old immortal grinned and said, "Just now, this poor Taoist pondered upon this: such a grand spectacle, coupled with the fact that all of you have waited here for so long, deserves a special treat just for you."

The prefect's son gave a slight nod, projecting an air of "as expected."

The Taoist priest and the martial artist standing beside him hurriedly asked whether this matter had anything to do with him.

"Need you ask? Others are others; how could they possibly compare to my abilities? If that weren't the case, why would I stay instead of leaving? Did you really think I was just wasting time here? Of course it was because I knew the true performance is only just beginning now. Come... let us go to the very front."

Upon reaching the front, they discovered that the paper figures were no longer dancing like fluttering bees; instead, each of them held a scholar's instrument in their hands.

The old immortal smiled and said, "Dancing is certainly fine, but it serves mere aesthetic appreciation. Today, I wish to invite all of you to join this grand banquet, and I hope you will not put this poor daoist to shame."

True to his word, the old immortal meant for them to step forward and perform alongside these paper figures, or rather...

"These paper figures of mine have been meticulously tutored. Even if they haven't reached the level of a national grandmaster, their skills are easily worth a thousand pieces of gold. If any of you are willing, you may spar with them a bit or two; who knows, you might even glean some techniques from the experience!"

Although he put it that way, very few people present had their minds set on musical performance, calligraphy, chess, or painting. Almost everyone's gaze was locked onto the paper figures themselves.

Naturally aware of their hidden thoughts, the old immortal coughed twice and said with a beaming smile,

"How could a friendly match lack some stakes? As an immortal master, I certainly won't treat you all unfairly. How about this: if you win, I will gift that person a paper figure of their choice. If you lose, you need only fork out a single copper coin, which this poor daoist will keep as a memento."

A single copper coin?

Could there truly be such a good bargain under heaven?

Not everyone felt it was as simple as it appeared on the surface. One person muttered this to his companion, only to be abruptly interrupted.

"What? Are you doubting the immortal master? Well, well... everyone come and look, this fellow actually distrusts the immortal master! He thinks all of this is fake, and believes the immortal master is a fraud!"

The man turned pale with fright, never expecting his companion to pull such a stunt. He hurriedly waved his hands to explain,

"No... no, I didn't!"

"Throw him out! Drag him off to the prefect's yamen! Parade him through the streets! You've shamed us all! The immortal master has graced us with his presence, and yet with your petty background of a minor noble family, how could you ever hope to witness such grandeur normally?"

"You ungrateful ingrate! Setting aside the immortal master's arduous efforts, even if I had to spend a hundred pieces of gold and silver just to gain entry, this old man would not hesitate! You ignorant bristle-beak, spouting absolute nonsense! Where are the guards? Drag him down at once!"

The people present were utterly infuriated, pointing at the man's nose and cursing him fiercely.

The man's pupils constricted in disbelief. Not a single person he knew came to his aid. In a panic, he reached out to grab a close friend from a family allied with his own for centuries.

Before he could even speak, the other man slapped his hand away and kicked him flat onto the ground.

With an icy expression, the friend said, "I must have been blind to ever know you. Ptui... you've dirtied my hands and shoes."

Repulsed, the man spat a glob of phlegm onto the familiar face beneath him. He looked at his "friend" as if gazing at a common flower-picker, his expression dripping with profound contempt, his entire demeanor radiating self-righteous disgust.

After falling to the ground, the man lay there for a while, feeling utterly dazed. The curses of the surrounding crowd seemed to come to an abrupt halt.

The old immortal broke into a smile and said,

"Ever since the day I retired into seclusion to cultivate, I have understood the diversity of species. I know that not everything in this world will be appreciated by everyone, not even the primordial ancestors of heaven and earth—let alone this poor daoist. You good people need not trouble him any further."

"Not only is the immortal master's Daoist magic profound, but even his heart is so magnanimous!"

"人心惶惶... Hearts are in turmoil, yet this wretch knew no better. Under ordinary circumstances, I would have already sent him off to meet his ancestors long ago. But since the immortal master has spoken, and we know that such a heart must be charitable and let nature take its course, then let him leave!"

Lying on the ground, the young man swept his gaze across the exaggerated expressions of everyone around him. He muttered to himself, "They've gone mad... they've all gone mad..."

He looked up at the old immortal, only to see him possessing a fierce blue face and sharp fangs, with tiny human figures flowing ceaselessly within the palms of his hands—each and every figure identical to every single person present.

And those four paper maidens? Were they peerless beauties capable of toppling cities?

At that moment, they revealed their true forms. Without a shred of flesh on their entire bodies, they were nothing more than skeletal frames pieced together from bare bones.

The instruments in their hands seemed to emit faint, echoing wails of human agony ringing in his ears.

The young man opened his mouth, feeling his hands and feet turn icy cold, utterly drained of any remaining strength. Suddenly, his eyes locked with the old immortal's gaze.

And then he died. A thin trace of blood seeped from the center of his brow, ultimately shrouding his wide-open eyes.

"He knew his crimes were too grave to forgive, so he slit his own throat here to make amends before the heavens!"

The old Taoist priest wore a sorrowful expression. After finishing his proclamation, he closed his eyes slightly and began to pray in silence.

Upon seeing this, the people present imitated the old Taoist priest and struck the same pose.

After a long while, one of the four paper maidens walked forward holding a chessboard. Her gaze seemed to pierce through the autumn waters and read the depths of men's hearts. Though her stature was petite, the chessboard was almost as large as her entire body. She softly said,

"Though this concubine is transformed from paper, I have cultivated the art of chess-playing for a long time, traveling far and wide to match wits with numerous experts. Now that I have arrived at Douyuan County, I am reluctant to leave just yet. My dancing may please you all, but I wonder if you can provide me with a satisfying game?"

The martial artist stroked his chin, itching for a try. Just as he took a step forward, he was yanked back by the Taoist priest.

Before he could demand why his companion had stopped him, he followed the direction the priest was pointing.

He saw an elderly man being carefully supported by two youths. The newcomer had arrived from outside the high platform, and it was obvious that his status was exceedingly noble, entitling him to a viewing area exclusively his own.

"In his youth, that man was the tutor to the previous emperor, and the supreme authority on chess in our realm, with no peer capable of surpassing him. However, when the reigning emperor—who was then a mere prince—rebelled and slew the former monarch, this man mysteriously vanished beforehand and thus survived. Ever since, he has made a living by teaching chess. I never expected him to come here. It seems the immortal master's prestige is truly extraordinary indeed."