Immortality begins in Goose City

Chapter 65 Plenty of Opportunities

It was none other than Sun Liang, who had just been beheaded!

His face still bore the excitement and slight fatigue of the performance, but on his neck, there was an extremely realistic decapitation mark!

After he stood still, he deliberately raised his head and twisted his neck so that the audience could clearly see the scar.

The entire apricot orchard fell into a deathly silence that lasted for several seconds.

immediately!

"boom--!"

The cheers, applause, and shouts were more intense and longer than ever before, erupting like a tsunami!

"My God! This can't be real!"

"That's amazing! That's amazing!"

"That magic trick! Absolutely amazing!"

Copper coins, broken silver, and even whole silver dollars were poured onto the stage like a torrential rain!

The audience was completely captivated by this masterful beheading scene and were incredibly generous with their tips!

Sun Liang and the troupe leader were all smiles, bowing and thanking each other repeatedly on stage, and hurriedly picking up the money.

Second floor, private room number one.

Murong Xue stared in disbelief at the living Sun Liang below the stage, then glanced at Huang Shujian beside her, who remained calm as if he had expected this.

After a long while, she slowly exhaled, her expression revealing a hint of something.

She turned her head to look at Huang Shujian, and pursed her lips:

"You've won the bet."

……

The acrobatic troupe's performance came to a close amidst thunderous cheers.

Copper coins rained down on the stage, and silver dollars jingled.

Leader Xie and his troupe bowed repeatedly, their faces beaming with joy.

This trip to Goose City was incredibly profitable.

The crowd gradually dispersed, and the street returned to silence.

Huang Shujian walked backstage alone. The head of Xingliyuan Troupe greeted him from afar with a big smile: "Young Master Huang, why did you come in person? If you have any instructions, you can just send someone to let me know."

"I'm interested in that crane," Huang Shujian said bluntly.

The troupe leader's eyes lit up: "A crane for fortune telling? Young Master Huang wants a private reading? Sure, sure!"

He immediately led Huang Shujian to the temporary residence of the acrobatic troupe.

Although he knew that most of these tricks were just charlatans, he naturally wouldn't expose his fellow practitioners' secrets at this moment.

The backstage area was a mess, with prop boxes open and costumes hanging in a row.

Master Xie was removing his makeup, and had only applied half of the paint when he saw Master Xingliyuan leading Huang Shujian in. He hurriedly got up.

"This is Young Master Huang, the son of the richest family in Goose City, the Huang family," the head of Xingliyuan Opera Troupe introduced. "Young Master Huang is interested in crane divination and would like to have his fortune told privately."

Master Xie's face immediately broke into a smile: "Young Master Huang, you've honored me! No problem at all, I'll arrange it right away!"

He wiped his face clean and led Huang Shujian to a small cubicle in the corner backstage.

The red-crowned crane was standing on the wooden frame, slowly pecking at the fruits.

Seeing someone approaching, it tilted its head, its bright black eyes fixed on Huang Shujian.

"Master Crane, this is Young Master Huang. Please tell his fortune." Master Xie bowed respectfully to the crane.

The crane made a gurgling sound in its throat and actually nodded.

Just then, a voice came from behind: "I want my number calculated too!"

Huang Shujian turned around and saw Ba Qing striding towards him.

The son of the county magistrate of Goose City didn't look too good, especially after seeing Huang Shujian, his brows furrowed even more.

Huang Shujian smiled, waved his hand, and gestured for Ba Qing to go first.

Ba Qing snorted and, without any ceremony, followed Master Xie into the small room next door, separated by a curtain.

Huang Shujian stayed outside and chatted with the head of the Xingliyuan Troupe.

"What's the background of this acrobatic troupe?" Huang Shujian asked casually.

The troupe leader lowered his voice: "I got in touch with him through someone. He travels all over the country and has quite a reputation in the acrobatic circle."

"There are several capable people in the team. In these chaotic times, you wouldn't dare to run around without real skills."

A short while later, the curtain was lifted.

Ba Qing walked out with a smug look on his face, glanced at Huang Shujian, snorted, and then turned and left.

"Young Master Huang, please." Master Xie lifted the curtain.

Huang Shujian entered the small room, which was cramped and contained only a low table and two cushions.

The crane sat upright on the opposite futon, its posture resembling that of an old monk in deep meditation.

Its eyes were exceptionally large, with pupils so dark they seemed bottomless, staring intently at Huang Shujian.

A voice rang out, ethereal and clear: "What does the benefactor wish to ask?"

Huang Shujian sat down opposite the crane, looking directly at it: "I don't do fortune telling, I want something."

The crane tilted its head: "Everything in our destiny is predetermined. What we seek is only a matter of chance."

Huang Shujian took out a silver dollar from his pocket and placed it on the table: "Plenty of opportunities."

The crane's eyes lit up noticeably, and it stretched its neck: "What do you want?"

"Extraordinary items from cranes. If that's not available, then the essence of a celestial crane is required."

The room suddenly fell silent.

The crane's voice paused: "You jest, benefactor. This humble Taoist has never heard of any extraordinary items, much less possess the essence of a crane."

Huang Shujian leaned forward: "You're a crane who can tell fortunes, how could you not have any essence blood?"

"donor……"

"I'm losing patience."

Huang Shujian suddenly stood up and kicked the wooden wall next to him!

With a "crack," the wooden plank shattered, revealing the figure crouching behind it—the triangular-eyed man named Ma Da.

He was clutching his stomach, his lips moving slightly.

Huang Shujian laughed: "You're quite skilled in ventriloquism."

The man with the triangular eyes stood up awkwardly, cupped his hands in a respectful bow, and said, "Young Master Huang, please forgive me. I'm just trying to make a living."

"We will be leaving Goose City tomorrow, so please be lenient, Young Master Huang."

"I'm not interested in your ventriloquism fortune-telling." Huang Shujian sat down again. "I want extraordinary items made from cranes."

The man said with a bitter face, "I really don't have any! I only know a little ventriloquism, just trying to make a living."

Huang Shujian shook his head: "Ventriloquism is really nothing special."

"But to make this ordinary red-crowned crane sit upright like a human, make various expressions, and act like a hermit... you must have a way to control the crane."

He paused, then added, "That beautiful snake was probably controlled using similar methods as well."

The man with the triangular eyes turned cold: "Young Master Huang is all-powerful in Goose City. We're just passing through to make a living. We'll keep to ourselves."

"You're going too far by asking me to eat right off the bat."

Huang Shujian placed his hand on the sword at his waist: "So what if it is?"

The triangular-eyed man's aura suddenly surged, and his gaze sharpened.

The temperature in the room seemed to have dropped a few degrees.

However, the next second, Huang Shujian pulled out a Mauser pistol from his lower back with his other hand and slammed it on the table.

The dark muzzle of the gun was pointed at the triangular-eyed man.

The man with the triangular eyes froze, too afraid to move.

Upon hearing the commotion, Master Xie rushed in and quickly tried to smooth things over: "Misunderstanding! It's all a misunderstanding! Young Master Huang, these are truly our livelihood..."

Huang Shujian said directly, "One hundred silver dollars."

Xie, the troupe leader, couldn't finish his sentence.

One hundred silver dollars!

The acrobatic troupe traveled all over the country, and each performance earned them only copper coins and small amounts of silver.

One silver dollar is equal to seven mace and two candareens of silver, and one hundred silver dollars is seventy-two taels of silver!

Master Xie looked troubled.

Huang Shujian spoke again: "One thousand silver dollars."

Seven hundred and twenty taels!

Without further hesitation, Xie, the troupe leader, grabbed the man with his hand before he could say anything more.

"Deal!" Master Xie said through gritted teeth.