Chapter 857: One Coin Suppresses All Performances

Chapter 857: One Coin Suppresses All Performances



"What?"

Looking at the eldest daughter of the Shengming Zhou family, Zhou Si, who was from the Zhou clan, she simply responded to the other party's call of "sister-in-law" and nonchalantly joined their camp, even looking solemn as she began to help them.

Not only was Chang Xiong Wang's side stunned, but even the Mengzhou Mended Donkey, Wu Jia Pi, Old Master Sun, and the entire Tie Jian Army, including the Bu Shi Niu disciples, were momentarily dumbfounded.

Who would do such a thing in front of the two armies?

Zhou Datong himself was a bit dazed. He stole a glance at Zhou Si and thought to himself, "This call of 'sister-in-law' is so effective?"

I was already thinking that when the critical moment came, she could save my life...

"If that's the case..."

After everyone had reacted for a while, a voice from the Tie Jian Wang's side rang out with a smile. Everyone looked over and saw a woman with a red headscarf wrapped around her head.

This person's identity was extremely mysterious, and only a few people in the entire army knew her, but the Bu Shi Niu disciples and the strange man from the rivers and lakes all respected her greatly.

She glanced at Zhou Si, who had crossed over to their camp, and then smiled at Chang Xiong Wang's side. Her voice was naturally clear, allowing the other party to hear her clearly: "Among the ten battles, we win without fighting, winning one battle."

"Speaking of which, aren't you directly defeated?"

"..."

Chang Xiong Wang's side immediately showed a difficult expression. They had just boasted about winning all ten battles, but now someone from their own side called out 'sister-in-law' and they lost one person.

This battle was not just a simple loss.

"Is there such a joke in front of the two armies?"

Before anyone else could speak, Chang Xiong Wang was already so angry that his face turned red. He shouted loudly, "How dare you! Who will go with me to capture this woman and execute her in front of the formation to boost our army's morale!"

"If anyone dares to disrespect the young miss again, I'll behead them first!"

Hearing his words, the soldiers in the army were all in disarray, their horses and spirits chaotic. But before his words could finish, a deep voice suddenly sounded from the side.

It was the great executioner of the Shou Shi Men, Tie Jun Laozi, his eyes cold as he glanced at Chang Xiong Wang: "Don't you know your own weight? The Hilltop King is just a title for someone who waves a flag and shouts orders."

"If the young miss of the Shengming Zhou family wants to help you, she will. If she wants to go to the other side, she will. When did it become your business to bark here?"

The grand Chang Xiong Wang, a Hilltop King renowned throughout the world, was scolded by Tie Jun Laozi and did not dare to retort. He lowered his head, feeling both ashamed and angry.

He tried to conceal his dissatisfaction, but in this state of shock and anger, it was impossible to hide.

However, Tie Jun Laozi did not look at him. He slowly rode his horse forward, still mounted on a strange horse with over a dozen legs.

His short stature, especially in his iron armor, made his large head appear directly perched on the armor, creating a somewhat comical appearance. But as he walked forward, he exuded a formidable presence, instantly silencing both armies, leaving everyone speechless and cautious.

"The young miss is grown up, and she will eventually marry. We of the Shou Shi Men also recognize this rule."

He looked at the Tie Jian Army with a stern gaze and shouted, "But when the young miss is in our formation, she follows our rules. When she goes to your formation, she follows your rules."

"The young miss has a marriage agreement with Master Hu, so while she is in our formation, we will consider the relationship. In front of the two armies, you only need to win one battle out of the ten, and we will consider it as your victory."

"Now that the young miss has gone to your formation, if you want to block our path, you will need to win the remaining nine battles."

"..."

"Ah?"

No one expected these words, and they all looked at Zhou Si.

Having pulled someone from the other side, the danger suddenly increased, and with this argument, it would be better to let her return to her original formation...

Zhou Si was even more confused: "Marriage agreement? Has the Hu family already sent betrothal gifts to our door?"

"How come I don't know about this?"

"..."

But Zhou Si was not someone who would be confused by such a minor matter. This was not the time to discuss betrothal gifts. Hearing Tie Jun's words, she became angry and said, "Why must we win all nine battles?"

"This is unfair. If we win five battles, we should be considered the victors."

"..."

Tie Jun did not respond to her words, but his gaze, heavy and intense, fell on the face of the Red Wine Lady. In a low voice, he said, "My master said that the Zhou family can lose, but the Zhou family must have a reason for losing."

"Three thousand Shou Shi, sweeping the world, no one can stop them except for the already destroyed Meng family."

"If you win these nine battles, then we three thousand Shou Shi will be at your disposal."

"..."

The Red Wine Lady slightly focused her mind and turned to look in one direction. In front of her, dust and wild grass swirled, thin mist covered the mountains and wilderness, and in the wilderness, a solitary figure seemed to stand alone, merging with the heavens and earth, quietly observing the battlefield.

The Red Wine Lady slowly withdrew her gaze and looked at Tie Jun, smiling: "Alright."

"But the Zhou family proposed the battle and also set the terms of victory and defeat. So, I also have a request..."

"..."

Tie Jun looked at her intently, and he heard the Red Wine Lady's voice gradually lowering: "In life and death, the first to enter the gates of hell will admit defeat."

Tie Jun's pupils shook, and after a long time, he spoke softly: "Where are your people?

At this moment, besides the Red Wine Sister who had already come forward, there was also the Iron Gate Army, Zhou Family's fourth miss, and two people on the left.

All together, there were only four of them, while the Long Hero King's side had nine, clearly not enough in numbers.

"At least you're one of the Ten Surnames, how can you lack such basic knowledge?"

The Red Wine Sister laughed and said, "Our people are everywhere."

As she spoke, she pulled on the horse's reins and returned to her formation, and the Iron Gate Hall Official also turned back. Both sides' formations began to resonate with the thunderous sound of war drums, and for a moment, the deep and powerful drumbeats echoed across the battlefield.

The horns on both sides sounded high and mighty, and the soldiers and generals on both sides roared in unison, boosting their own morale. Looking again, the Iron Gate King's side had already sent out a rider wearing golden armor, looking exceptionally handsome.

Everyone recognized him as the former Long Victory King, who had now led his troops to surrender to the Iron Gate King.

They saw that this man, who used to be the leader of a valuable army, was now acting like a general. He rode his horse into the field and smiled at the Long Hero King's side, saying, "For over a decade, I've roamed the world without losing a single battle, except for this one against the Iron Gate King."

"Today, I want to see just how capable the Shou Shi Zhou Family, who stands on their own strength, truly is. Who will dare to fight me?"

"..."

"..."

"Good performance?"

Hundred Plays Town.

In this large town, countless performers were all looking at the only audience member in the entire town, as if they had been deeply insulted by his casual and leisurely demeanor and the copper coin he casually tossed out.

"It is indeed a good performance."

But the newcomer seemed to have not felt the insult at all. He squatted down and examined the girl who was playing with the plates.

She stood on one foot on top of a box, her body as graceful as a crane. Her left hand held seven thin rods, and her right hand held nine. On each rod, a plate spun rapidly.

Her two hands controlled sixteen plates, and on top of her head, a stack of bowls was balanced. Her toes were pointed, and her body was even slowly spinning, but the sixteen plates and the bowls on her head remained steady.

He admired her performance, observing her youthful face, probably no older than sixteen or seventeen. He smiled and asked, "How old were you when you started practicing this?"

The girl slightly pursed her lips and replied, "Three."

The man sighed, then looked at the girl and said, "You've put in a lot of effort, haven't you?"

As they spoke, countless eyes from the surroundings had already turned towards them.

This girl was the young leader of the Guanzi Mountain Caixi Yuan Family, a renowned name in the jianghu. Despite her young age, she had inherited the true skills of the Yuan Family and was now a young official in the Shen Shou Zhao Sect, known for her wisdom and problem-solving abilities.

Wherever she went, no matter how intense the conflicts or how many lives were lost, the jianghu people would give her face and listen to her mediation.

Yet, this guest was treating her like a little girl, asking her questions left and right?

What was the meaning of this?

However, the audience seemed unaware of the unfriendly gazes around them. Seeing that she didn't respond, the man continued, "You've put in so much effort to practice this performance, who are you performing for?"

The young leader's expression changed, and she looked at him coldly, then suddenly said, "My performance is not just for show, it can also be used to kill."

"You've caused a slaughter and accumulated countless sins, and now you come to insult my skills..."

"Do you think I can only perform and not eliminate evil spirits?"

"..."

As his words fell, he took the initiative to make his move. The plates he was spinning in his hands suddenly flew towards the man.

The edges of the plates had somehow become incredibly sharp, and when they touched the man's body, they left cuts.

In an instant, the sixteen plates seemed to bloom like flowers around the guest, each plate like a swift blade, trapping him in a net of knives.

After all, she was a young official in charge of mediating conflicts, and she couldn't possibly lack real skills. Despite her young age, she was already a high-level expert.

But as the plates flew towards the man, he merely frowned.

Suddenly, he slapped her away with the back of his hand. A crisp 'pa' sound echoed, and the little girl flew and fell, her right cheek swelling.

The plates around her shattered into pieces.

He stood up straight and looked at all the performers in the town, shouting, "I am Shuang Zheng Jiu, here to break the Zhao Family's Hundred Plays!"

His gaze lowered, and he looked at the girl who had just been slapped, saying, "There are three reasons for this slap."

"First, I gave you a reward, so you should have finished your performance instead of trying to kill me."

"Second, in our place, you're not even considered an adult, so you shouldn't be in a place where people risk their lives."

"Third, you haven't even understood the situation, yet you're trying to reason like a wise man. You deserve a beating!"

"..."

The little troupe leader received a slap, feeling both humiliated and furious. He was about to stand up and retaliate, but before he could, a loud shout from the other person made him hesitate.

At that moment, countless people in the town became enraged.

The sword-swallower held his sword in hand, and the performer with the large jar stuck a talisman onto it.

In an instant, the atmosphere turned grim and heavy, filled with surging killing intent.

However, from the depths of the small town, a voice sounded: "The Divine Hand Zhao Family, considering themselves as part of the jianghu, should uphold the principles of the jianghu. Instead of relying on military might to bully others, they should wait here in town for a spell battle."

"We followed the rules, but you came alone, showing no respect. Your words are but a joke. You reincarnated people, are you so arrogant that you don't even consider us a threat?"

"Jianghu people?"

Shuang Zhengjiu, upon hearing this, merely scoffed: "It's laughable that you, the Zhao Family, still remember your jianghu origins."

"Otherwise, I would have thought you were some noble master."

"You, the Zhao Family, rely on your tricks and performances to survive. Running around the jianghu, setting up stalls, and living a life of deception. The most you can hope for is to entertain the nobles and earn a smile from them."

"For thousands of years, you've only been invited to dine with the nobles a few times. Now, you dare to act high and mighty, usurping positions and turning people into mice?"

"..."

His slap against the little troupe leader had already provoked anger, but his words were even harsher, instantly infuriating everyone in the town.

As for the matter of turning people into mice, it referred to the surrounding area being plagued by a mouse-related disease. The Zhao Family controlled one of the Eight Sceneries of the Netherworld, the Peiyi Pavilion, which was said to determine one's next life as a human or an animal.

The Zhao Family's ability to create animals stemmed from this, and by turning those who stole their grain into mice, they were issuing a challenge to the reincarnated individuals.

However, they never expected that only one person would come, and he immediately accused them of wrongdoing.

"They kill innocent people, neglect farming, take lives, and steal grain. Are they any different from mice?"

In response to Shuang Zhengjiu's rebuke, someone from the depths of the town also shouted: "You started this slaughter, claiming that lives have no value, but have you considered if those you deem worthless truly deserve to live as you say?"

"Under the guise of demanding grain, you act like bandits and thieves, swooping in, trampling on people's doors, killing without restraint, disrespecting women and children, and harming countless innocent lives?"

"The Zhao Family has sharp eyes, but they only see what's in front of them and lack foresight."

Shuang Zhengjiu, facing the angry townsfolk, took a deep breath and shouted: "You see the innocent being killed, but I see more people who need to live."

"With many people and varied circumstances, injustices are bound to occur. Taking action to punish is not wrong, but to blame the masses for the actions of a few is to confuse cause and effect. Is it right to let people starve to death?"

"..."

"There's no point in arguing further!"

As the argument escalated, a deep voice from the depths of the town interrupted: "If you want to start this slaughter, then so be it. But if you want to save these people from the mouse disease, come to the end of the town, to the incense table, and prove your abilities!"

"The Zhao Family's Hundred Plays are here, waiting for you to break our spells!"

"..."

With the lines drawn, the small town became a battleground. The Zhao Family members didn't even bother to say more.

But Shuang Zhengjiu, with a cold smile, swept his gaze across the angry faces in the town.

He sighed softly: "I was actually looking forward to a good spell battle with you, the Zhao Family, who are known for your illusions. Unraveling the secrets behind illusions is always fascinating..."

"Unfortunately, your spells are not as impressive as you think."

"..."

These words alone infuriated countless skilled members of the Zhao Family, who hated nothing more than being told their spells were inferior.

The Zhao Family, mostly jianghu folk, couldn't even recognize a few characters.

When in a good mood, they would smile when spat upon, but when annoyed, they would draw their swords at the slightest provocation. At this moment, someone shouted angrily: "If you're so capable, show us something more impressive..."

"No matter how good the Zhao Family is at illusions, they can't wash away the stench of sweat on their bodies and become noble masters."

Shuang Zhengjiu didn't wait for their response and continued: "It's those masters who can steal the balance of heaven and earth, causing a food shortage for the common people. They make the ordinary folk believe that their fate is sealed!"

His voice gradually lowered, and a smile appeared on his lips as he slowly raised his head.

He covered his eyes with a black cloth and smiled: "So today, I will indeed show you something more impressive."

"Not good!"

Facing the Zhao Family's dazzling array of tricks, everyone widened their eyes, feeling that two eyes weren't enough. Yet, here he was, surrounded by the Hundred Plays, with his eyes covered.

Seeing his strange behavior, the skilled members of the Zhao Family had already sensed something amiss and shouted: "Don't listen to his demonic words! Capture him quickly and bring his accomplices out!"

In an instant, the town was filled with the sound of gongs and drums.

On the stage, a performer with painted features took square steps, each stride bringing them closer. Their facial features contorted, eyes darting about, exuding an eerie and sinister aura.

Dragging a piece of green cloth, the cloth formed a human face, and beneath it, countless little ghosts seemed to be hiding.

Swallowing knives and brandishing swords, they opened their mouths, spewing out a cloud of fire, within which blades clashed.

And there was a hunchback, running swiftly, as he ran, a head emerged from his back, and another from his stomach, both glaring with murderous intent.

The Zhao family, one of the Ten Surnames, had acquired the art of deception, and now, with a myriad of performances on display, the complexity and strangeness were overwhelming. Just watching them made one dizzy and confused. If one truly wanted to defeat the Zhao family, one person would be no match, not even a hundred, a thousand, or ten thousand.

But now, as the Double-Steamed Wine performer entered the town, his face covered with black cloth, he ignored the clanging of gongs and drums, stepping forward with a firm gait. He then pointed directly ahead.

His finger aimed at a bowl on the ground, containing the copper coin he had given to the little girl when he first arrived in town, impressed by her performance.

What was the value of a single coin?

...

...

Before the Double-Steamed Wine performer entered the town, an old reincarnate named Gao Liang from Anzhou, along with his companions, had arrived at the foot of Sinister Mountain Evil Valley. This place was now known as Rat Mountain due to the spread of a disease that turned people into rats.

Countless people had transformed into rats, either driven out by others or fleeing to this mountain on their own. As a result, the entire mountain was filled with vicious and terrifying giant rats.

Countless commoners, guided by village elders or wealthy landowners, gathered at the foot of Rat Mountain, preparing to set the mountain ablaze. They believed that only by burning these rats to death could they appease the wrath of heaven and ensure their own survival.

However, there were too many rats on the mountain, and even with torches in hand, the commoners dared not light them, gazing at the mountain covered in rats.

"Burning them will serve no purpose."

At that moment, Old Gao Liang stepped forward from the crowd, smiling as he spoke, "Do you know why they turned into rats? It's because they stole grain, and only rats steal grain. That's why they transformed from humans into rats."

The crowd, out of respect for the performers and their mysterious arts, held the old man in awe. Even those who had been shouting for the rats' demise fell silent and watched.

"So, we must not steal grain, but what if we're hungry?"

Old Gao Liang smiled and turned to the crowd. A well-dressed man stepped forward, it was Nuomi Wine, carrying a bag of rice. He smiled and said, "I have grain to sell. Do you have money?"

Seeing the bag of rice, everyone felt their hunger stir, but they looked at each other, all impoverished, having lost their homes, and without money.

"I'll sell it for whatever you can offer. If you have money, I'll sell it."

It wasn't that they had no money at all, but those who did, looking at the small bag of grain, hesitated to buy it, fearing it would be snatched away by others. Just then, a skinny girl, thin as a skeleton, stepped forward from the crowd.

She reached into her dirty cotton jacket and pulled out a copper coin tied with a red string, not even enough to buy half a sweet potato. She struggled to hand it over.

Nuomi Wine smiled and took the coin, then lifted the bag of rice. "Take the grain!"

The little girl trembled, extending her hands to hold the bag.

Nuomi Wine opened the bag, pouring out the rice. The white grains seemed endless, flowing continuously, filling not only the girl's hands but also spilling onto the ground.

Soon, it formed a pile, then a mountain, and eventually, a river of rice flowed down the mountain, dazzlingly white.

The crowd erupted in astonishment and cheers. Even the 'rats' on the mountain trembled and stood up, gazing down at the town below.

...

...

At that moment, in the town, the Double-Steamed Wine performer threw a copper coin into a bowl, the very same coin that the little girl had used to buy grain at the foot of Sinister Mountain.

A single coin had saved countless lives.

This coin was worth tens of thousands of pounds of grain and countless lives.

This coin was a Money Spirit.

Grain could not appear out of thin air, and Nuomi Wine had used the Five Ghosts Transporting Wealth technique to gather it from all directions. But he had made a vow to the Pond God, using the Non-Vegetarian Sect disciples to take the grain and distribute it as disaster relief. However, none of this grain was given freely; it was all purchased with this single copper coin.

The more people they saved, the heavier this copper coin became.

This was the Art of Treasure Hoarding, but unlike others who hoarded heavenly treasures, they used it in reverse, turning it into a technique to steal the treasures of heaven.

Facing the Southwest King Fuyao, the Divine Hand Performer, the reincarnate did not involve the Non-Vegetarian Sect disciples. Instead, he had them use their abilities or sell their possessions, doing everything possible to obtain grain and save lives, all for the sake of this single copper coin.

In the town, as the Double-Steamed Wine performer pinched his fingers into a mudra, pointing at the copper coin.

Invisibly, the coin seemed to grow infinitely large, round and rolling, pressing down on the entire town.

One coin suppresses a myriad of performances!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end