Chapter 35: Jade Phoenix Troupe

Chen Mobai looked around and immediately understood why.

He saw many young male and female cultivators holding various styles of support signs. The names on them differed, but Chen Mobai recognized two: Meng Huanger and Jiang Yuyuan.

"The Jade Phoenix Troupe is here! They're the premier opera troupe in the Immortal Sect."

The Immortal Sect, inheriting traditions from a previous civilization, naturally had many forms of entertainment. With the added grace of cultivation, handsome men and beautiful women were countless. Those who transformed into celebrities within this culture were the grand masters of opera.

Among them, the Jade Phoenix Troupe had been the most outstanding opera group in the Immortal Sect for the past decade.

Meng Huanger, who played the 'qingyi' (principal female role), and Jiang Yuyuan, who played the 'xiaosheng' (young male role), gained instant popularity throughout the Immortal Sect with their opera "Treading the Moon" after it aired during last year's Spring Festival Gala. Centered around these two, the Jade Phoenix Troupe had toured the country in recent years, gathering waves of devoted followers.

"Nephew, have you been waiting long?"

Just as Chen Mobai was wondering if he should join the crowd of fans and see what the fuss was about, a warm, familiar voice sounded beside him.

He turned to see a middle-aged man with slightly graying temples, dressed in a gray suit, walking towards him from nearby, carrying two suitcases.

It was his uncle, Chen Baolan.

"Second Uncle, it's been two or three years since we last met, hasn't it?"

Chen Mobai immediately jogged over to help with the luggage.

"Two years, three months, and eighteen days. Your father has also finally reached the ninth layer of Qi Condensation—he's reached this stage."

Chen Baolan only allowed Chen Mobai to carry one suitcase. The uncle and nephew had a very good relationship, chatting and laughing as they walked out of the airport.

"Their flight has arrived!""Quick, quick, quick! Terminal 2!""We can finally see our real-life idol!""Meng Huanger, the eternal Lunar Immortal!"...

Just then, the young men and women waiting for the Jade Phoenix Troupe in the airport suddenly became very active, rushing towards another terminal. If the use of spells weren't prohibited inside the airport, many cultivators would likely have taken to the air.

"What, do you want to see them too?"

Chen Baolan saw Chen Mobai pause his steps and couldn't help but ask with a smile.

"Who wouldn't want to see the idols of the entire Immortal Sect?"

Facing family, Chen Mobai naturally didn't mince words and admitted it openly.

"Look what I have here?"

Chen Baolan pulled a stack of items from his suit pocket and handed them to Chen Mobai, who took them and immediately widened his eyes in surprise.

"These are tickets to the Jade Phoenix Troupe's opera! These are harder to get than the Three Treasures for Foundation Establishment. Where did you get them?"

"Manager Bian happened to be on the same flight as me. Our seats were together, and we had a pleasant chat, so he gave me these tickets."

"Who's Manager Bian?"

"Bian Yiqing, the head of the Jade Phoenix Troupe. He was the Immortal Sect's premier performer thirty years ago, and he's also Meng Huanger and Jiang Yuyuan's master."

As Chen Baolan finished speaking, Chen Mobai remembered. Wasn't Bian Yiqing the childhood idol of his parents' generation? His performance of "Startling Dream of the Wandering Dragon" even earned him an invitation to sing at the Immortal Celebration Grand Ceremony, and that video is still among the top three most-viewed online.

"Uncle, your luck is incredible!"

Chen Mobai couldn't help but exclaim. Bian Yiqing was an unparalleled national talent, a grand opera master selected for the national troupe, and also an instructor at the Dao Academy of Dance and Weapons. He was a recognized grandmaster within the Immortal Sect.

"It's not exactly luck. A while ago, some items from an ancient ruin excavated by our academy needed an expert from the Dao Academy of Dance and Weapons to identify them. Manager Bian's Jade Phoenix Troupe happened to be performing in nearby Taibai City, so he came over for a visit. That's how we met."

"Then today, we met again on the plane. We chatted for a while, had a great conversation, and he gave me ten tickets."

Chen Mobai immediately checked the ticketing platform and found that the Jade Phoenix Troupe was scheduled for twenty consecutive performances in Danxia City. The tickets he held could be redeemed at any time; one only needed to register for a seat online before attending.

"Our family has three, Auntie's family has three, and you, Uncle, make seven tickets. Can I resell the remaining three?"

Chen Mobai immediately booked a performance for that evening, as their whole family would be together. However, ten tickets were still too many, so he quickly thought of selling the extras on his personal online shop.

"Do as you wish. I've already given these ten tickets to you anyway."

Chen Baolan chuckled and led the way out of the airport.

Evening.

At the dinner table, Chen Xinglan and Chen Baolan were already drinking, while Tang Pancui was still cooking. When Chen Mobai heard the doorbell, he knew his aunt's family had arrived.

"Brother, I've reached the fourth layer of Qi Condensation!"

At the door, a twelve or thirteen-year-old girl's eyes lit up when she saw Chen Mobai. Her face was delicate and charming, her skin fair and tender. Her black hair was styled into a "Spiritual Snake Bun" atop her head, swaying lightly and adorned with a pearly purple hairpin – the most fashionable hairstyle in the Immortal Sect recently. She looked very lively and nimble.

She was Chen Mobai's cousin, Wang Xinying.

"Oh, really? That's impressive! It looks like you'll surpass your big brother soon?"

Seeing his sister standing proudly with her hands on her hips, Chen Mobai couldn't help but reach out and gently stroke her Spiritual Snake Bun.

"Doesn't it look good? My mom did it for me."

Wang Xinying's face lit up with happiness at her brother's compliment.

"Uncle, Auntie, please come in."

There were two other people at the door: Wang Xinying's parents. The man had a rough, fleshy face and a sturdy build. The woman wore a crimson long gown with a contrasting lapel and a specially styled high bun, looking plump and prosperous.

They both smiled when they saw Chen Mobai.

"Xiaobai is so polite, completely unlike your father."

When Wang Jianyuan, his uncle-in-law, was pursuing Chen Yulan, his fierce appearance led Chen Xinglan to mistakenly think he was a street thug harassing his sister. After school, Chen Xinglan ambushed him in an alley with a broom and gave him a severe beating.

Given Wang Jianyuan's character, he certainly fought back. After they had both exchanged blows and were bruised and swollen, they resorted to verbal insults.

As they cursed each other, Chen Xinglan realized he had hit the wrong person, but the deed was done. Wang Jianyuan also learned that this person was his brother-in-law and could only consider it bad luck.

Even after Chen Yulan got married, the two men still didn't get along, always squabbling a bit whenever they met.

"Alright, it's a big day for my elder brother. Go inside and try to say less."

Chen Yulan heard her husband's words and looked exasperated.

Wang Jianyuan was good in every way except for being too petty. He still brought up Chen Xinglan beating him every day, even now, and probably wouldn't forget it until the day he died.

"Hmph, isn't it good enough to be an honest Qi Condensation cultivator? Why insist on Foundation Establishment? Some people just don't know their place."