Dark Sand: My Players Are All Actors
Chapter 61 - 57 Endless Night

Chapter 61: Chapter 57 Endless Night

Evening.

The lanterns were hung high in the theater, casting brilliant light throughout.

What was once a tidy and orderly theater had been occupied by the Eastern Barbarian invaders, with tables laden with wine and meat. The Eastern Barbarians were drinking and creating a ruckus, enshrouding the entire theater in a suffocating and murky atmosphere.

At that moment, the scholar who had stopped the Wandering Warrior was also holding a jug of wine, drunkenly writing and reciting poetry on the theater’s white walls.

"Morning mist opens and closes along the sea; spring winds turn again to chill.

Faded cheer seeks shallow drinks; aging eyes defy the stream’s thrill.

Distant markets beyond residential scope; wide sands accompany traveler’s will.

Clearer skies await on the morrow’s hope, as jade splashes on the warhorse’s quill!"

After reciting his poem, he threw down his brush and turned to a man dressed in magnificent attire, about thirty years old with handsome features, and asked with evident pride, "Mr. Wang, how would you say I fared with this poem?"

Zhao Haiping was also in the theater at the time, moonlighting as a servant in the tavern, serving wine and dishes to the Eastern Barbarian invaders.

Even though he very much wanted to snatch a blade from one of these drunken Eastern Barbarians and try to assassinate the General, after an inner surge of impulsive desire, he ultimately suppressed such an urge.

He was well aware that the chances of success with such an act were far too low.

The Eastern Barbarians had been drinking, and though their faces were flushed and their expressions excited, they were still quite alert. Especially since their barbarian blades were never far from their grasp, making any attempt to seize them highly difficult.

Even if he managed to grab one, the other barbarians would swiftly cut him down.

So, Zhao Haiping quelled the surge within, constantly reminding himself that he was merely playing a role in a theatrical troupe this time, lacking any combative talents, and it was inappropriate to act recklessly. It would be better to fully experience the entire instance from beginning to end first.

Of course, while he was assuming the identity of a theatrical troupe member, Zhao Haiping found that the physical condition of this body was not bad at all.

It was weaker in strength compared to the average laborer, but its coordination was far superior, and it even seemed to possess some form of martial technique and foundation.

Zhao Haiping speculated that this might be because theatrical troupe members, who perform on stage, have certain demands similar to those of martial arts, hence they trained from a young age. Though they may lack strength, they were not entirely devoid of combat capabilities.

The scholar writing poetry on the theater wall was indeed the person who had earlier intercepted the Wandering Warrior, indirectly saving Zhao Haiping’s life.

However, Zhao Haiping obviously held no gratitude towards him, as this man was clearly an insider!

An insider of the Great Sheng Dynasty, often referred to as a betrayer, right?

His status among this group of Eastern Barbarian invaders should be considered that of a leading strategist. Although the invaders, including the Wandering Warrior, had some contempt for him, the Eastern Barbarian General seemed to highly value his opinions.

As for "Mr. Wang," who was forced to watch the scholar inscribe poetry on the white wall, he was clearly the Wang Jinhui previously mentioned at the theater’s entrance.

This person named Wang Jinhui must be a well-known talent in the area, with quite a prominent status. However, with the invaders taking over the theater, he had naturally been detained as well.

Wang Jinhui, watching the poetry being inscribed on the wall, calmly said, "This poem, it seems to be adapted from a Qi Dynasty poet’s ’Song of the Forest Path.’ While structurally similar to the original, the use of language and phrasing in your poem is indeed superior."

The scholar burst into laughter, "I never imagined my poetry could receive Mr. Wang’s approval, such a fortuitous honor!"

Wang Jinhui paused before continuing, "Don’t be hasty, I have yet to finish.

"While the poem is commendable, the sentiment it conveys is completely wrong.

"You conspire with invaders, slaughtering the people of our Great Sheng Dynasty; an old man who is not dead is indeed a villain! What face do you have to write lines like ’aging eyes defy the stream’s thrill’ and ’as jade splashes on the warhorse’s quill!’"

The scholar’s complexion turned grim in an instant. The two barbarian invaders next to him did not understand what Wang Jinhui was saying, but they could roughly tell from his tone that something was amiss, and their own expressions darkened as they reached for the handles of their barbarian blades.

But the scholar waved his hand, calming the two invaders.

"Victors become kings, losers become bandits; such is the way since ancient times! I have studied the sages’ books for more than twenty years, full of nothing but fervor, yet how has the court treated me!

"Mr. Wang, you have achieved success and are full of spirit, naturally unable to comprehend these feelings.

"But no matter, Mr. Wang, now I am the esteemed guest, while you are the prisoner. I’m curious to see how long your scholar’s righteous spirit will last!"

"Lock him up in the cellar! Every hour, break one of his fingers! When he’s willing to persuade Su Xianjun to take the stage, only then can he be released!"

A bandit took Wang Jinhui away.

A tall, sturdy man, whose face paint wasn’t completely washed off, hurried forward with a forced smile, "Please calm your anger, strategist. This Wang Jinhui doesn’t know what’s good for him. Please, stay your hand. I believe he and Su Xianjun will come around soon enough."

After another sip of wine, the scholar said, "Good, Boss Yang, you really understand the times, a true hero. But please go and persuade Boss Su once more. If we don’t hear the opera tonight, by tomorrow morning, I’m afraid not even a chicken or dog will be left in this small county!"

The man known as Boss Yang quickly nodded, "Yes, yes, I’ll persuade him right away, rest assured, strategist."

Boss Yang left the theater and went backstage. At the same occasion, Zhao Haiping also took the chance to bring some freshly prepared wine and dishes to join him backstage.

Compared to the noisy revelry of the Eastern Barbarian bandits in the theater, backstage was silent as the grave, and the expressions on everyone’s faces were a mix of panic and grief.

Boss Yang went straight to the door of a room and knocked softly.

"Xianjun! The scholar said if we don’t hear the opera tonight, by tomorrow morning, the entire county will be annihilated!

"Now that County Magistrate Tang has died in battle, and Gao Ze, who led the local militia, is missing, the fate of the townspeople’s lives rests in your hands!

"You could choose to end it all, but what about the innocent townsfolk?"

Before he could finish, he was met with curses from someone inside the room.

"Yang Xinyan! Don’t try to scare me with the townspeople! In the end, you’re just too scared to die!

"I can’t believe it, on stage, you play the unyielding King of Chu, but when faced with a real test of principle, you’re the first to kneel!

"Go tell those thieves, those lowly curs, they’re not worthy to hear me sing!"

Boss Yang sighed silently and shook his head.

As for the rest of the troupe, they were so terrified that they couldn’t find the words to speak, feeling utterly helpless.

After several trips, Zhao Haiping was also getting a clear picture of the situation.

The Eastern Barbarian bandits hadn’t immediately started widespread looting and killing after entering the city; instead, they took over the theater first because the scholar and the Eastern Barbarian General wanted to hear the two famous actors perform.

Yang Xinyan and Su Xianjun were the leading members of this troupe, famous throughout Jiangnan for their rendition of "Farewell My Concubine."

"Farewell My Concubine" tells the story of the fall of the Chu Dynasty. With many heroic acts at the brink of chaos between the Chu and Great Wei Dynasties, and with the Great Wei eventually disappointing the masses, many felt a sense of regret, making this opera famous.

Yet it was unthinkable that the Eastern Barbarian bandits would come knocking, and the overlord would be the first to kneel.

He had also learned the name of the skilled militia member who fought street battles with County Magistrate Tang, a man named Gao Ze, whose whereabouts were now unknown after fighting with the bandits.

At this moment, the troupe members were all a bundle of nerves, facing a long night with their hearts stuck in their throats.

While these Eastern Barbarian bandits now occupied the theater without starting a massacre, seemingly indicating that the townspeople could be saved as long as Yang Xinyan and Su Xianjun performed for them, who could guarantee it?

Perhaps by the next morning, these bandits would start their slaughter and leave the county a desolate void after their departure.

Zhao Haiping also couldn’t help feeling a bit anxious.

Having taken on a new identity, he was still utterly clueless on how to get through this instance!

In the breaks between serving drinks, he had also covertly observed the bandits who occupied the theater. After their battle with County Magistrate Tang’s guards and the local militia, the originally over a hundred bandits had lost about thirty men, leaving seventy or eighty, with nearly half of them wounded.

Moreover, their combat effectiveness had declined after the previous fight.

So these bandits occupying the theater, not immediately looting and killing, might indeed be in part because the General and the scholar wanted to enjoy the opera, but it could also be that they were looking to seize this opportunity to recuperate and make the county’s townspeople complacent, thus preventing them from fighting a desperate battle to the death.

Yet even so, annihilating these bandits remained a challenge.

Because now, Zhao Haiping had even lost the support of County Magistrate Tang’s guards!

How could he possibly fight them off?

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