Ning Nings eyes shed, she asked, Can I still trust you?


    Of course, why would I lie to you? The vige chief frantically took an oath and said a bunch of words to cate her, but Ning Ning was not waiting for his answer.


    Her vision went over his shoulders as she looked at the green-clothed young man behind him.


    Of course you can trust me. A gentleughter rang out under the ferocious mask. After all, you are my only granddaughter.


    Although she had long guessed it, when she heard the answer, Ning Ning still could not help but feel surprised.


    In the first ce, I should have doted on you more, taught you how to walk with my own hands, brought you to look at the can flower field on my shouldersits a pity I turned into a masked person too early. The green-clothed young manughed. But even after I turn into a masked person, I cant let you all go.


    As he finished speaking, he walked to the front of the vige chief.


    The vige chief was still none the wiser, Ning Qing suddenly held his beardtugging it.


    Ah! The vige chief cried out in pain. The door behind him suddenly opened, his two sons rushed in. Dad, what happened?


    Its fine, its fine. The vige chief pinched his own beard, then fell into a momentary daze.


    Air blew on him. He didnt know if it was the wind, or if someone had breathed on him.


    A small tuft of facial hair was blown at his face, it was also blown at his sons faces. The two sons wiped their faces and thought that it was ridiculous, the vige chief on the other hand had turned green.


    He suddenly turned around and ran. His two sons behind him exchanged doubtful looks before frantically chasing after him, thest one to leave did not forget to lock the door.


    They chased him to the living room and saw the vige chief holding a fat teapot as he poured tea out.


    The cup barely had a few drops of tea, the water was flowing onto the table instead, tea dripping down continuously from the corner of the table.


    Dad, whats the matter? His elder son took the teapot out of his hand and poured the tea for him.


    The vige chief was helped to a seat by his other son. He received the teacup with trembling hands, took two sips and said, Theres an extra person in this house.


    The two sons exchanged looks, one of themughed. Dad, have you been too exhaustedtely?


    The vige chief wiped his face, then he looked down at the few strands of white beard in his palm, murmuring, In the house just now, as I was speaking, someone suddenly plucked a handful of my beard


    Ning Ning did that? The elder son frowned. Isnt that too much? You are her senior.


    Its not her. The vige chief continued to look at his palm, saying quietly, But if it was not her, who else could it be?


    He suddenly looked up at his two sons, his eyes sparkled in a strange manner. Its Ning Qing.


    Just as his voice faded out, a cat outside the house cried out, the three of them shuddered at the same time, under the light, each of them turned pale.


    How can it be? He has been dead for so long, hahahaha The younger son forced out aughter, trying to liven up the atmosphere.


    The elder son interrupted hisughter with a sentence, What if he has turned into a masked person?


    Theughter ceased abruptly, all of them fell silent.


    Its not possible, the vige chief suddenly said, with a doorman around, the masked people cannote out, moreover


    He held the hand of his younger son as he stood up, trembling. He walked slowly to the window, pushed it open and looked out.


    It waste at night, but it was not quiet. At this time, the vige would usually be so quiet that even the dogs would not be barking. Today was different. Every house had their lights on, the streets were also full of people, it caused the dogs who smelt the scent of strangers to bark repeatedly. It was all because people couldnt sleep due to the excitement of the ancestor worship ceremony tomorrow.


    Even if he were toe back here as a masked person, do we not hold the ancestor worship ceremony? The vige chief murmured, Then he wouldnt even need to do anything, the crowd below would eat us alive


    A night passed.


    The next day, the weather was clear, there was neither wind nor cloud, it was a good day for the ancestor worship ceremony.


    There were people from the door of the vige chiefs house, there was no space to stand on the street at all. Everyone looked excited. A mother was touching her childs head. Dont worry. This time, you will definitely be able to be admitted into Beijing University.


    A former-grand-lottery-winner-turned-poor-man was calling his ex-girlfriend, Little Mei, if I were to win the grand lotto again, can youe back to me?


    A famous person who always appeared on television sat in the car alone. He took the time before the ancestor worship ceremony started to flip open a small book, in it was his life experiences for the past ten years. He flipped to a page and recited it.


    He longed for change, longed to bounce back, longed for improvement Countless people entrusted their hopes here, they entrusted it to what was behind the door in front of them.


    The door opened with a creak.


    The vige chief walked out while holding his walking cane. He wore a new top with the word bliss sewn on and a mask of the longevity monkey. A wood-carven beard hung at the bottom of the mask, a white beard also hung below his chin. He looked at the people at the doorway slowly, suddenly turning his body sideways, revealing the mask behind him.


    Fangs on all sides, ferocious and terrifying.


    Wee, Owner! The vige chief shouted loudly.


    Wee, Owner! A mother held his son and shouted.


    Wee, Owner! The former grand lotto winner shouted.


    Shes finally here. The famous person sighed, closed the book and got out of the car.


    The mask that was hanging down slowly looked up and revealed a pair of ice cold eyes.


    That pair of eyes slowly looked at its surroundings from the left to the right, looking at the fanatical faces, then let out an exmationt.


    Lets go, Owner. The vige chief gestured for her to go ahead. Two masked women immediately walked up behind Ning Ning, holding her left and right hands. Ning Ning shook her shoulders and shook off their hands, she said, Ill walk by myself.


    She walked over the threshold, the golden bell on her ankle ringing, her scarlet dress dragging on the floor behind her. Step by step, she walked towards the direction of the ancestral hall like a prisoner.


    The stage in front of the ancestral hall had long been ready.


    The stage was empty, wood carved chairs were neatly ced in front of the stage.


    The masked people were walking around in between the chairs, it looked surprisingly simr to Life Theater at a nce.


    There was still some time before the y began. A group of people had arrived early at the ancestral hall to worship. Behind the ethereal white smoke were ancestral tablets, there were names on each, the vige chief introduced them one by one from the side.


    This is the ancestor from my family, he was a third ss official in the Qing dynasty, his daughter became a concubine in the pce.


    This is the old master of the Wu family, he was a wealthy person in the Republic era.


    This is


    After they offered their joss sticks, the vige chief led the people as they knelt down and prayed. Ancestors, bless us. We, of the Ning Vige, will never stop worshipping you. Bless us with talented people in every generation


    Everyone prayed, Ning Ning was the only one who didnt. The crowd looked at her strangely. She looked at her surroundings and asked, Why dont I see my ancestors?


    Its here, its here. The vige chief led her to a corner. At a ce full of dust stood a few lonely tablets. The other tablets had incense in front of them, only these few tablets had empty censers.


    What did they do? Ning Ning asked, Were they an official or a concubine?


    They didnt. The vige chief said, The people of the Ning family were indifferent and notpetitive, every generation had stayed in the vige till old age


    Thats strange. Ning Ning interrupted him. She looked at the ill-fitting ancestor tablets beside her. Everyones ancestors went out to the world before finally returning in glory, only my ancestors died in their hometown?


    Everyone has their own ambitions. The vige chief exined, Not everyone likes to go out to the world to make a living.


    Ning Ning looked at him for a moment before she ndly said, They are all dead, you can say whatever you want.


    The vige chief did not react to that on the spot. He waited for Ning Ning to leave before he signaled to his elder son, saying quietly to him, Tell Ning Yu Ren, tell her to get prepared.


    The elder son said in surprise, Ning Yu Ren? She is not qualified to be the owner at all, didnt the person from the Li family say so? She has entered Life Theater long ago, besides, her body had already shown signs of deterioration. She would most probably be going to be a masked person soon. A person like hercant even be considered a living person, shes already half dead.


    At least shes obedient. The vige chief said as he stared at Ning Nings back. I have a bad premonition. It would be good if nothing goes wrong, if something does go wrongat least we have a backup.


    The beat of drums and gongs, the sound of pipa and suona1.


    After the ancestor worship was a banquet. It had long been ready, the best table was the one Ning Ning at. She did not even need to move her chopsticks, the people by her side were fighting to give her food, they even wanted to feed her.


    Ning Ning waved her hand indicating that she did not need it, she shouted at one of the people instead, smiling, Youre being so familiar with them, is it possible that your ancestor is a person from this vige?


    Li Bo Yue looked back and smiled at her. They might really be.


    A group of masked childrenughed as they walked past him. Upon hearing their conversation, one of them stopped, looked up and said, You are! I heard my father say that you are of the Li family, you are the exorcist.


    The other children shouted for the child. They left the two of them and ran away.


    Ning Ning stared at Li Bo Yue. Li Bo Yue shrugged. My dad seems to be a person from this vige. He has a friend named Pei Xuan. The two of them have been researching supernatural things all this timethings about Life Theater, Life Opera House, the doorman, masked people At the end of the research, Pei Xuan stole a mask from my dad, came back to his hometown and impersonated him.


    This was when Ning Ning noticed that he was not wearing a mask.


    In the midst of the masked people, he was sticking out like a sore thumb. asionally, someone woulde over and remind him. He was so annoyed that he unwillingly took the mask out of his briefcase. He wore it askew, sticking out even more among the masked people who wore their masks properly.


    Do you believe that Life Theater exists? Ning Ning asked.


    Only my dad and Pei Xuan would believe in such a thing. Li Bo Yue downyed it. Oh, thats not right. It seems like there are quite a number of people who believe it nowincluding your mother.


    Ning Ning looked down, her eyes sparkled.


    Dont you believe it? She looked up and asked.


    I dont. Li Bo Yue flipped down the mask on his head, it covered his face as he mocked, On the contrary, I want to see where the ghosts are. If they really exist, I, the ghost yer, will take responsibility and y them.


    Ning Ning looked away. She looked at the singing and dancing vigers, thinking, Arent the ghosts here?


    Arent the ghosts in the heart of these people?


    Its gettingte. The vige chief raised his wine cup and stood up. Everyone drink up, then let us go to the stage together!


    Oh!!!


    The crowd had been waiting for him to say this for a very long time. Those who were seated all stood up, finishing up the wine in their cups. Some of them put their cups down, some smashed their cups boldly. They left the leftover soup and wine behind as they walked towards the stage in front of them.


    Wearing yin yang masks and holding musical instruments were the musicians for this y. They were standing and sitting around the sides of the stage.


    Without masks were the patrons below the stage. One by one they were seated down, filling up all the seats. They turned their heads together.


    A group of people wearing masks of various shapes and white clothes formed a long line, walked neatly by the sides of the seated people. One by one they went on stage.Dong. The drummer waved his hands and hit the drum with the pace of their footsteps. It sounded out like thunderdong, dong, dong.


    <<life opera="" house="">> had begun.</life>


    Dong, dong, dong.


    Ning Ning looked up at the sky, Hey, it looks like it really is about to thunder.


    The weather was so good just now. But there were rising winds and scudding clouds now, big dark clouds swept over, covering up the sky. The elder son came up to the vige chiefs ear and asked, What do we do?


    The vige chief looked up at the sky and shook his head. Continue.


    Thus, amidst the raging winds, the drummer continued to hit the drum.Dong, dong, dong. Dong, dong, dong.Apanied by the sound of the drum, twelve dancers knelt towards Ning Ning, slowly raising their hands to the air and slowly cing their foreheads to the ground. It was as if they were begging for their lives from Heaven, seeking mercy from Earth.


    Ah A woman suddenly straightened her head and looked up, singing an ancient and savage song from her throat.


    Apanied by the song, the twelve dancers were about to get up from the ground, but they were stunned when they finally looked up.


    Clop, clop, clop


    A pair of feet walked towards them.


    A mask looked down at them.


    Fangs on all sides, ferocious and terrifying.


    It was Ning Ning!


    The singing stopped, the dancers looked at each other, whispers were murmured among the audience. The vige chief had his brows interlocked, he told his elder son that was beside him, Whats going on? They cant even keep an eye on her! Quickly get her off the stage Wait a minute.


    Ning Ning did not ruin the ancestor worship ceremony. She only stood on stage, one arm behind her back, the other hand making a gesture for the twelve dancers toe to her. She then turned around and left, not caring if they followed her or not, leaving the stage on her own and returning to her seat. She ced one hand on the cheek of her mask and continued to act again.


    The elder son breathed a sigh of relief. Ill go get someone to keep an eye on her so that she wont go anywhere.


    A hand gripped his wrist firmly. He looked down and saw the vige chief with his gaze fixed on stage.


    Who taught her that? The vige chiefs voice held a trace of fear. How did she know this segment of the Nuo dance?


    The elder son was taken aback for a moment, he cast his eyes on Ning Ning.


    Besides him, there were a lot of people who were not paying attention to the stage, but at Ning Ning instead, especially the old vigers. The younger vigers had never seen theplete version of the Nuo dance, they had at most only heard of it through their elders They heard that the Ning family was still in that version of the Nuo dancethe country disintegrated, the people were forced to leave their homes, the twelve surnames begged the heavens and earth to no avail, only a young man who had walked past them pitied them, asking if they wanted to follow him.


    This young man called himself the owner, the owner of Life Opera House.


    At first, he did not care about the lives of these people. He was just casually extending a helping hand, just like tossing a piece of wood to the ants in the water or giving a mantou2to a starving puppy.


    Paying no care, just like Ning Ning at the moment.


    Only appearing on stage for an instant before returning to her seat, supporting her cheek with a single hand, looking superior.


    But she did not (actually) leave the stage.


    The masked people on stage, the masked people off stagethe people on stage were part of the y, the people offstage were also part of the y. The outsiders didnt know that the Nuo dance titled <<life opera="" house="">> actually included everyone on and off stage.</life>


    The entire vige was the stage.


    Who told her to act like that? An old man looked at Ning Nings direction and asked quietly.


    Ning Ning sat silently on the chair.


    Come. An invisible man stood beside her. He smiled and told her, told the audience, It started with the Ning family, it will end with the Ning family Let us end <<life opera="" house="">>.</life>


    1The suona , also calledba or haidi, is a Chinese sorna (double-reeded horn). Soon as is originally from current Iran, called Surna. It appears in China around 3rd Century. It has a distinctively loud and high-pitched sound, and is used frequently in Chinese traditional music ensembles, particrly those that perform outdoors.Wiki article


    2Mantou, often referred to as Chinese steamed bun, is a white and soft type of steamed bread or bun popr in Northern China.Wiki article


    E/N: Hey, guys, apologies for thete release, all my fault Enjoy this one and next chapter tomorrow.