Chapter 1647 - 1492: Yin Yang Inn 48
Chapter 1647: Chapter 1492: Yin Yang Inn 48
Knowing there was an issue with the theater troupe made things much easier; finding people was Luo Yao’s forte, so Shuangshuang entrusted him with tracking the theater troupe’s whereabouts.
The Yang Wuchang under Luo Yao’s command were no amateurs. It took less than half a day for Luo Yao’s orders to locate the theater troupe to be fulfilled with pinpoint accuracy.
Coincidentally, the place where the troupe was currently located was the Qionghua State where Shuangshuang had previously dealt with Taotie.
It wasn’t surprising; Qionghua State was one of the most prosperous regions in this dynasty, although it had been desolate for a while after Taotie’s rampage.
However, the Underworld’s efficiency was swift; once Shuangshuang dealt with Taotie, the Underworld quickly restored all areas affected by Taotie’s disruption.
Except for the deceased, everything was exactly as it was before the incident, and naturally, the prosperity returned swiftly as well.
At least by the time Shuangshuang and Luo Yao arrived in Qionghua Continent, the place was unrecognizable from their previous visit — once desolate cities now bustling with people.
A theater troupe like this would naturally perform in lively places, as prosperous residents had extra money to spend on luxuries, making such places more lucrative.
This theater troupe was truly large, with over forty members. When Shuangshuang and Luo Yao found them, they were setting up tents.
Due to the large number of troupe members and the space taken up by various props, a significant area was needed for setting up, so the troupe selected a spacious location after giving some money to the local thugs to settle down.
A dozen or so large tents were set around the central stage, which looked quite grand, and the troupe members were well-dressed, indicating a good standard of living.
From a distance, Shuangshuang saw several people in loose clothing practicing for their performances, some stretching their legs, vocalizing, and two practicing shadow puppet play.
Shuangshuang glanced around but didn’t see anyone performing with wooden puppets; she carefully sensed the area, detecting no malevolent presence. The troupe’s ability to conceal their aura was impressive.
The appearances and demeanor of Shuangshuang and Luo Yao were remarkably eye-catching. Luo Yao’s looks were otherworldly, and Shuangshuang’s beauty was not overshadowed in the slightest next to him.
The simultaneous appearance of such striking figures naturally drew everyone’s attention, including the theater troupe, who immediately noticed Shuangshuang and Luo Yao.
The troupe members didn’t suspect anything, merely assuming Shuangshuang and Luo Yao were there to see their performance. It wasn’t uncommon for people to scout them before they performed.
Seeing Shuangshuang and Luo Yao standing and watching, a girl dressed as a Qing Yi role approached them and kindly said, "You’re here to watch the show, right?"
Not waiting for Shuangshuang and Luo Yao’s response, she confidently continued, "You two came too early; our troupe is only performing tomorrow. You’d better come back then."
Luo Yao remained cold and silent, unwilling to speak, while Shuangshuang smiled warmly and struck up a conversation.
"Miss, does your troupe perform any puppetry? My brother and I are quite fond of puppet shows and never tire of them. Could you tell me about the puppet performances in your troupe?"
Shuangshuang’s excellent appearance and gentle speech made the girl’s face flush, and she proudly replied, "If you like puppetry, you’ve come to the right place.
Our troupe’s puppet shows are absolutely top-notch. Not only are the stories thrilling, but the puppetry skills are superbly agile and refined.
Everyone who sees our troupe’s puppet shows is always full of praise and enjoyment."
Shuangshuang continued to chat with the Qing Yi girl, asking more questions before giving her a piece of broken silver and arranging to return the next day to watch the show before leaving.
Shuangshuang and Luo Yao left early to avoid alerting the troupe but remained hidden, monitoring the troupe to prevent the target hiding among the performers from escaping.
They planned to return at night to determine whether the entire troupe or just certain members were problematic, or if the suspicious target was merely hiding within the troupe.
It wasn’t that Shuangshuang and Luo Yao insisted on visiting at night, but many dark entities are more active at night, preferring darkness over light.
Shuangshuang and Luo Yao sat within the canopy of a large tree not far away, using the Invisibility Talisman to avoid detection, allowing them to openly surveil the troupe at close range.
The performers were used to living in tents from their long years of wandering; with many people and skilled martial artists in their midst, safety wasn’t a concern.
Moreover, living in tents saved a lot on accommodations. The money saved could be used for better costumes and improved meals.
By now, it was dusk, and the troupe was preparing dinner. They cooked a large pot of meat soup, and the cook’s skills were evident from the appetizing smell.
Shuangshuang touched her stomach; busy with finding clues and traveling, she hadn’t had a proper meal in days.
Although she didn’t need to eat as a spirit, she maintained the habit and felt hungry at the smell of food.
Shuangshuang thought herself unfortunate — others were cooking, while she was merely smelling; others were eating, while she was just watching. If she’d known, she would have asked Yuan Chongyuan to pack some snacks from the Yin Yang Inn.
People from the troupe were already serving the soup and eating with great relish. Watching them, Shuangshuang couldn’t help but smack her lips and think how even just a handful of sunflower seeds would be nice to snack on.
Just as she thought this, she heard a crunching sound nearby. Turning her head, she saw Luo Yao holding a handful of sunflower seeds, happily munching away.
Shuangshuang’s eyes turned green with envy. Munching on sunflower seeds in front of her when she’s craving — the grudges were perfectly set! She decided the next time Luo Yao comes to the inn for a break, she’d have Yuan Chongyuan dock his meals.
Luo Yao didn’t know what Shuangshuang was thinking, but when he saw her looking at him with those beautiful eyes, he inexplicably sensed her resentment.
Hesitant, he offered the small pouch filled with sunflower seeds to Shuangshuang: "Sunflower seeds, would you like some?"
Shuangshuang’s expression softened immediately. She took the pouch, packed full of sunflower seeds. The pouch was a Jiezhi Space, enough to last at least half a year without running out.