Chapter 153: Four Courtyard House

When the three young men performing the Nuo ritual removed their masks, three heads wrapped in red cloth were revealed to Li Huowang. They weren't completely covered; openings had been deliberately left for their mouths and noses. After removing the masks, they immediately began to take off the red scarves from their heads. Moments later, young men about his age stood before Li Huowang. Their faces appeared perfectly normal; no features were added or missing, and their expressions were unremarkable.

"Taoist, what are you staring at? They're done performing; what else is there to see? Let's go have some fun elsewhere; who knows, we might even do some good along the way." The monk beside him grumbled impatiently, clearly eager to leave.

"Monk, there's no hurry. Wait with me a little longer." The horrifying memory of their "fang-playing" performance flashed through Li Huowang's mind, and his suspicions lingered. Li Huowang wasn't afraid of a direct confrontation; what he feared were their underhanded tactics.

Soon after Li Huowang spoke, he noticed the three men began packing their belongings more quickly. Their expressions held a hint of solemnity, and they occasionally cast furtive glances in his direction. Li Huowang's expression hardened. "Something's going on, alright," he thought to himself, "and they've hidden it extremely well." His suspicions, which had previously somewhat subsided due to Lu Zhuangyuan's words, instantly surged.

The three men, along with the other musicians, loaded all their belongings onto the camels and hurried towards a narrow path. "Monk, let's go! Follow them!" Li Huowang exclaimed, quickly setting off.

"Oh, why are you following them? Do you want to pay them for a private performance?" The monk, though complaining, reluctantly followed.

The two trailed them at a distance, following them as they wound through the town. Initially, things were calm, but gradually, Li Huowang noticed the camel carrying the boxes in the distance starting to run, being spurred on by whips.

"They've spotted us! Quick, chase them!" Li Huowang, his hand instinctively on the hilt of his sword, quickened his pace. Though the town wasn't large, the performers were locals. After a few turns through the alleys and hutongs, Li Huowang realized with a start that he had lost them. Staring at the identical grey walls around him, Li Huowang's expression soured.

"Ha… ha… Taoist, slow down! I can barely keep up!" the monk gasped from behind him, leaning against a wall. Li Huowang glanced back. It was only natural that the older man's stamina wasn't as good as his own.

"If you can't manage, go back. Don't follow me," Li Huowang said, then continued searching along the path. While the monk's suspiciousness was low, he hadn't been entirely cleared. Li Huowang didn't want the burden of an unreliable companion when confronting enemies.

"Alright… I'll head back then. You go at your own pace," the monk said resignedly, holding his waist as he shuffled into another alley.

"I hope I'm just overthinking this," Li Huowang murmured, shaking his head. He had barely walked a few steps alone when a scream suddenly echoed from behind him. "No! That's the monk!"

Li Huowang immediately rushed towards the sound. Rounding a wall, he stopped before a large, square pit. It was an earthen pit, with wooden doors and windows set into its four sides below, resembling a courtyard house dug into the earth. Several large wooden masks hung on each of the four walls; their grotesque designs were clearly the ones worn by the three Nuo ritual performers. The camel grazing in the courtyard confirmed that this was the home of the three brothers.

"Taoist!! Come down and give me a hand! Ugh, this place is really a death trap. Why would anyone build a house underground like this? It's not a grave!" Li Huowang looked down again, seeing the monk lying below, groaning softly in pain.

Li Huowang, his hand on his sword, leaped down, using a window ledge for a brief foothold, and landed steadily beside the monk. He didn't immediately reach out to help the monk. Instead, he instantly tightened his grip on his sword and cautiously scanned the surrounding closed doors and windows. Through his keen perception, he sensed gazes from behind the doors and windows; there were people inside, and quite a few of them. With the enemy's strength unknown, Li Huowang hesitated to make the first move. Strangely, the other side also refrained from acting. The atmosphere became tense and momentarily stalemated.

"Do these people share my caution?" Li Huowang wondered.

"Taoist, what are you just standing there for?" the monk asked, his face still contorted in pain as he struggled to his feet.

"Wait a moment! I don't have time to talk right now." No sooner had Li Huowang spoken than he felt several more pairs of eyes fix on him. These weren't coming from inside the rooms but from the eyes of the masks on the walls, which seemed to come alive at that moment.

Regardless of whether this place was connected to the copper coin mask from the previous night, Li Huowang had no intention of prolonging the standoff. After a moment's consideration, Li Huowang spoke: "This junior, Xuanyang, greets you all. I merely happened upon this esteemed place and had no intention of causing offense. I hope you will forgive my intrusion." Li Huowang's words met no response. After a moment, he tried a different approach to probe. "Is the Spring Ritual open?" Still, silence. "As for what happened last night, I'm willing to consider it forgotten. How about we all seek peace?"

After offering his explanation, Li Huowang didn't wait to see if they had understood him. He led the monk towards a nearby ladder. A long ladder was propped up, and Li Huowang first allowed the monk to climb out. Once the monk was back on solid ground, Li Huowang swiftly stepped onto the ladder and followed.

After Li Huowang and the monk had departed, people with tattoos on their ears emerged from the dwellings. Among them were men, women, and even small children. At that moment, every face was etched with sorrow, indignation, and fear.

One of the three Nuo ritual performers, his hands clenched and trembling, spoke to a white-haired elder: "Grandpa! What that man said is true! We can't wait any longer! We must strike first!" The old man was clearly enraged, and he struck his cane heavily against the ground with his right hand. "Go, gather all the young people in the family! Eliminate that red-robed Taoist! Don't let them think our family is easily provoked!"

After Li Huowang and the monk left the underground courtyard and returned to the bustling street, the monk still appeared disoriented. "What was that all about? What on earth happened?" he asked, his face a picture of bewilderment.

"You truly don't know what happened?" Li Huowang carefully scrutinized the monk before him. He hadn't forgotten that the monk himself was a potential problem. Last time, it was the monk who inadvertently led him to expose Zhengde Temple's conspiracy. This time, it was again because of him that they located the home of the Nuo ritual performers. Once could be a coincidence, but twice? If this was still mere chance, it was far too convenient.