Related to the opera costumes?
Lu Fei was somewhat intrigued now.
Liu Chongming went downstairs to find his father and whispered something to him.
The two had an argument. The old man's face turned ashen, but under Liu Chongming's insistence, he finally nodded in agreement. Retrieving a key with a darkened expression, he headed upstairs.
'Shopkeeper Lu, my father has agreed to open the door.'
Liu Chongming cast a veiled glance at Hu Zi.
Lu Fei instructed Hu Zi to remain resting on the first floor while he followed the father and son back to the fifth floor.
Liu Chongming's father tremblingly unlocked the door.
The pungent odor of incense and candles assaulted their senses, intermingled with an indescribably strange presence.
'Shopkeeper Lu, please refrain from speaking once we enter,' Liu Chongming cautioned fearfully, his face pale with apprehension.
'Understood.'
Lu Fei followed the father and son inside with suspicion.
The entire fifth floor was open-plan, extremely spacious.
It contained many old-fashioned camphorwood chests, filled with opera costumes and paraphernalia.
From costumes and props to musical instruments, everything needed for an opera troupe was present, enough to outfit an entire company.
At the innermost area, flickering incense candles illuminated an altar.
Liu Chongming's father approached the altar, his aged face grave in the dim candlelight.
On the altar rested a camphorwood chest.
Surrounding it were offerings of fruits, snacks, and children's toys.
"What deity is being worshipped here?"
Lu Fei wondered if he was seeing things.
The elder Liu lit incense and bowed deeply, his devotion humble yet fervent.
Liu Chongming held Lu Fei back, observing from a distance as if fearing the chest itself.
Lu Fei narrowed his eyes studying it.
"It's just an ordinary costume trunk," he thought, "like any opera troupe uses."
Yet an ominous aura clung to the chest, thick with yin energy.
When the old man finished worshipping, Liu Chongming gestured for them to leave, clearly wanting to speak elsewhere.
They withdrew.
In the fifth floor's darkness, the chest lid shifted slightly. Through the crack peered crescent-shaped eyes watching their retreat... and smiling.
"Manager Lu, you must be wondering about the chest," Liu Chongming finally said downstairs. "It houses our family guardian spirit - we call him Elder Brother."
"A spirit living in a chest... Elder Brother..." Lu Fei's eyes widened as he recalled the opera costumes above. "It's a Joyful Deity!"
"Even knowing the jargon of the opera troupe, Manager Lu, though young, is remarkably erudite." Liu Chongming nodded, his eyes showing increased admiration.
Xi Shen, the special mascot worshipped by opera troupes, bears resemblance to an industry guardian deity.
Xi Shen usually appears as a young child. One explanation suggests that since traditional opera troupes primarily earned their living performing tanghui (堂会) shows for celebratory occasions like birthdays and baby full-moon ceremonies - mostly child-related events.
Those who struggled to learn opera skills would often experience sudden enlightenment and dramatic improvement if they dreamed of being taught by a child.
Therefore, opera troupes hold children in special reverence, addressing them as Xi Shen - literally meaning 'Opera Deity'.
There is another saying.
Legend has it that in ancient times, a certain prince suddenly died on the large clothing trunk in the Pear Garden. He was later enshrined as Da Shige and became the God of Joy. In all opera troupes, the most senior apprentice is addressed as "senior brother" rather than "Da Shige," as using the latter term would offend the God of Joy.
Therefore, the Dayixiang became the sacred seat of the Xishen.
In opera troupes, venerating the Xi Shen deity was an utterly commonplace affair, yet the circumstances surrounding the fifth floor of the Liu Family's residence proved most uncanny.
"President Liu, you flatter me. I've only heard that Xi Shen is the patron deity of opera troupes, but I never knew it could be enshrined at home," said Lu Fei curiously.
"That's because my family has a grandmother who was an opera performer. Only those in the Pear Garden circle can worship Dashige," Liu Chongming explained. "In truth, the opera costume was bestowed upon my grandmother by Dashige. It was only after obtaining this costume that she became a renowned performer of her generation."
"What? Didn't Master Yan say the costume was made by the troupe?" Lu Fei asked in surprise.
"That was a lie fabricated by the founding ancestor of the Chun Family Troupe to deceive later generations..." Liu Chongming sighed. "The founder of the Chun Family Troupe knew the mystical nature of the costume—they had personally borrowed it from Dashige and were fully aware of the consequences of using it..."
"So that's how it was!"
Lu Fei couldn't help but feel sorrow for Master Yan. Suddenly, he remembered what he had seen inside the costume earlier.
He hadn't mentioned it to Hu Zi at the time because it was too bizarre, and he couldn't explain it himself.
Inside the costume was painted a smiling face resembling a child's.
Now it made sense—that was the mark of Dashige!
"If he's a protective deity, why did he cause your family's foundation to fracture?"
"To keep this protector... we did some unspeakable things..." Liu Chongming replied with a bitter, ashamed smile.
Lu Fei roughly understood.
Their family had been worshipping an evil deity.
Though the malevolent god seemed to offer protection, it ultimately demanded far more in return.
The Yin dishes served at the longevity banquet were undoubtedly connected to this evil entity. The offerings from the Liu family could no longer satisfy its appetite - it now craved more human vitality.
They'd brought this calamity upon themselves.
"No wonder the opera costume claims lives. No wonder your family holds longevity banquets every few years - they're not for your grandmother, but for this 'Dashige'." Lu Fei sneered.
"Shopkeeper Lu, we know our actions were wrong! But we've compensated the townspeople - annual donations, building bridges and roads, supporting the elderly and children..."
Seeing Lu Fei's disdainful expression, he quickly changed tack.
"I know these words mean nothing now. I just want to end this cycle of sin."
"We never chose to worship Dashige! This tradition came from our grandmother. If we disobey Dashige's demands, our whole family suffers. We descendants have no choice..."
"Now grandmother's just an empty shell. Our family can't sustain this worship anymore. Keeping Dashige will endanger more people. If you can banish it, Shopkeeper Lu, you'll not only save our family but the entire town..."
He bowed deeply to Lu Fei.
"Enough with the flattery! I'm here to collect cursed artifacts - your family drama's not my concern."
Lu Fei waved dismissively.
This haunted opera costume showed fascinating properties. It would fetch a fortune on the market.
Having recently acquired several cursed artifacts for ritual use, some financial returns would be timely.
Moreover, Liu Chongming's facial features betrayed no inherent wickedness.
The family must have performed enough good deeds - otherwise, the Lius would've fallen long ago.
"But let me be clear, Director Liu. Sinisterium Pawnshop only collects cursed objects. We don't resolve feuds. Whether your family survives after Dashige's removal - that's not my business."
"Understood! We're already grateful if you'll intervene, Shopkeeper Lu!"
Liu Chongming grasped at this lifeline as if it were his salvation, profusely thanking them, not daring to utter half a word of refusal.
"Then tonight, I'll come meet this Eldest Martial Brother."
After pondering momentarily, Lu Fei instructed Hu Zi to make some preparations.
Night fell.
The Liu Family Building stood in complete silence.
Pushing open the door, Lu Fei entered the fifth floor alone and approached the old-fashioned trunk on the altar table.
The trunk sat slightly ajar, within which what appeared to be a grinning face could be glimpsed.