Wandering Gods of Day and Night-Chapter 931 - 376: Mingjiang Fire Record_2

"Why did the great master stop talking? I thought it was quite good."

"What was the great master talking about?"

"..."

"Didn’t you come to listen to the story? You didn’t hear anything?"

"I didn’t want to come, and besides, I’m thinking about my dead child at home. How can I have the mind to listen to this?"

"Is the story over? If it’s over, can we leave now? It’s quite crowded here."

"Just wait patiently, why the rush?"

Among the audience, impatience had started to emerge, and this emotion was only getting stronger.

The people from the God Traveling Department also felt the pressure as they had the responsibility to maintain order among the disaster victims.

But Zhou Xuan suddenly lying down to write something instead of telling the story made some disaster victims unable to sit still, wanting to sneak back to their tents.

It’s crowded, stuffy, and boring here; it’s better to go back to the tent, have a little drink, and rest.

Those who sneaked away were mostly sent back by the patrol personnel of the God Traveling Department.

"Old Hua, what exactly is the great master doing? The common people can hardly be controlled anymore."

The Music Master asked the Painter.

Initially, there were only a few dozen people thinking of sneaking away, but now hundreds wanted to leave. If there wasn’t any performance, thousands would want to leave.

As public opinion grows, if the God Traveling Department keeps enforcing control, it’s feared there will be conflicts.

The Painter also had a troubled expression and said, "I’m not quite sure, but the response to tonight’s story is truly lacking in enthusiasm."

"Lacking in enthusiasm? It’s completely without any echo."

The Music Master, being straightforward, disliked beating around the bush.

As the two talked, they suddenly looked at each other.

"Could it be?"

"Is the great master going to change the story on stage?" The Music Master and the Painter said in disbelief.

...

"Changing the story on stage is a big taboo for a storyteller."

Under the Zhou Family’s Troupe and Ancestor Tree, Yuan Buyu, for the first time, was nervous about Zhou Xuan telling the story.

As for his disciple, how he was in other areas would not be mentioned, but when it came to storytelling, Zhou Xuan was undoubtedly proficient.

Whether in Ping Shui Prefecture or Mingjiang Prefecture, his stories were never unpopular. However, the sudden cold reception today caught Yuan Buyu by surprise.

Not only was Yuan Buyu watching Zhou Xuan from under the Zhou Family Ancestor Tree, but so were Zhou Lingyi and Sister Cui.

When Zhou Xuan first took the stage, all three wore smiles, confident in Zhou Xuan’s storytelling.

"No way my brother can’t handle the situation." Zhou Lingyi had this much trust in Zhou Xuan.

But as the storytelling began, the three each had their own thoughts.

Zhou Lingyi didn’t understand or wasn’t fascinated by storytelling, nor could she gauge Zhou Xuan’s performance on stage.

Yet, even from an outsider’s perspective, she could see the audience’s reaction was dropping to a freezing point.

Immediately, she became anxious for Zhou Xuan.

And Sister Cui, because Zhou Xuan’s posture while storytelling was exactly like Hua Zi’s, couldn’t help but think of Hua Zi. As she listened, she couldn’t continue, with images of Hua Zi filling her mind.

Sister Cui receiving guests, Hua Zi washing dishes; Sister Cui cooking, Hua Zi serving dishes; when Sister Cui had some free time and chatted with neighbors in the shop, Hua Zi and Little Fuzi would play nearby, all these scenes lingered in her mind.

"I wish life were a dream; Hua Zi being dead, Mingjiang being destroyed, it’s all a dream. When I wake up, I’m in the shop cooking noodles, and Hua Zi is right next to me helping with the kitchen."

Sister Cui sighed.

As for Yuan Buyu, among the three, he understood the ways of storytellers the best. From the audience’s applause at the beginning of the story, he sensed something was wrong.

But he didn’t expect it to be this disastrous, that a single story couldn’t gather much collective wish power.

He also didn’t expect Zhou Xuan to break the storyteller’s rule, stopping the story without explaining to the audience.

Stopping is one thing, but Zhou Xuan then lay on the table writing a story framework to change the story mid-performance.

"That’s not how it’s done."

"A storyteller should finish the performance, regardless of how good or bad it is. Changing the story midway, no matter how good the new story is, will have a poor effect."

Yuan Buyu had only one thought now, to have the Ancestor Tree send him to Mingjiang Prefecture. If his disciple couldn’t finish the story, as a master, he would continue it, come what may, to keep the show going.

Thinking of this, Yuan Buyu immediately said to Zhou Lingyi, "Master Zhou, send me to Mingjiang Prefecture. The situation can’t be allowed to cool down; I’ll make some humorous remarks, at any rate, to help my disciple stabilize the situation."

"Elder Yuan, you’ve just recovered from a serious illness, what if..."

"No what ifs, just send me over. A master has to share hardships with his disciple."

Yuan Buyu had already picked up the folded fan and gavel, standing before the Ancestor Tree.

"Alas."

With a sigh, Zhou Lingyi drew a Blood Talisman in the air, and the Ancestor Tree dropped a branch, entwining Yuan Buyu and sending him to Mingjiang Prefecture.

...

A story framework outlines the rough structure of a story, not extensive in word count but mentally demanding to write.

Currently, Zhou Xuan was overflowing with inspiration, his thoughts gushing like a spring, but writing out a comprehensive story framework still required some time.

However, during this interval, the mass of spectators was getting impatient.

The person on stage is revered in Mingjiang as a great master, they had the patience to wait, but even such patience had its limits.

Gradually, many were thinking of leaving,

Just then, behind Zhou Xuan, there stood an elderly gentleman.