Chapter 429
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/PazjBDkTmW
You can buy coins here to unlock advanced chapters: https://gravitytales.com/coins-purchase-page/
Chapter 429: A Bunch of Blockheads
“No, no, be more natural, even more natural! This is an opera, do you understand? You have to sing this part.”
Inside the rehearsal venue, Luo Ji explained with a headache how to sing the lines to the theatre troupe members.
Those chosen by Luo Ji meant they could at least recite lines decently.
But the essence of opera lay in expressing oneself through singing.
For instance, in the first act of this play, as the female lead, Belle, first appeared on the town street, there was an opera performance featuring her and the passersby A, B, D, C, E, F, G.
Luo Ji, who had almost gotten sick of watching the opera and movie repeatedly to remember the plot and lines, and had memorized the script, was now surprisingly good at guiding these complete novices.
He even helped them find the tune.
Although his painting was mediocre, he sang quite well and unexpectedly had a bit of musical talent.
As for background music and sound effects, Luo Ji also managed to create a few animal hide drums, complemented by the sounds of wind whistles, horns, and striking bronze instruments.
They could just barely play some simple tunes.
After all, an opera performed without any musical accompaniment, relying solely on the actors singing acapella, could sometimes be quite awkward.
In such cases, some rhythmic music could significantly improve the performance, even helping the actors find their pitch.
Just as Luo Ji was diligently guiding the opera troupe members on how to sing their lines, a guard rushed in, sprinting the whole way.
The commotion naturally caught the attention of the theatre troupe members.
Luo Ji frowned slightly, gestured for them to continue rehearsing, and then walked outside with his guards.
“What’s the emergency?”
“R-reporting to Your Majesty, wolf smoke has risen from the direction of White River City in the Northern Territory!”
“What?!”
Luo Ji was clearly startled by the news.
His first reaction was disbelief.
His truce token had only been active for less than a week; who could invade him at such a time?
Moreover, if someone invaded him, the system wouldn’t fail to give a notification!
“Could it be barbarians? But haven’t all the barbarians in the northern mountain forest already been integrated by me?”
As thoughts raced, Luo Ji’s expression suddenly froze.
“The Bitter Cold Land? Could it be that the northern tribes residing in the Bitter Cold Land have come here?”
At this thought, Luo Ji immediately gave an order.
“Summon Jie Zichuan to see me! Then, take my military token and order Centurion Luo Cheng to lead 500 Light Cavalry to urgently reinforce White River City! Furthermore, I permit him to conscript Beastman armies along the way to accompany him!”
Luo Ji had heard some things about the northern tribes from Jie Zichuan before.
However, the five tribes in the northern mountain forest were considered very weak in the Bitter Cold Land, belonging to the lower tier of tribes.
They had fled here because they couldn’t endure the harsh living conditions of the Bitter Cold Land and couldn’t provide tribute to the two major tribes.
Therefore, the intelligence Jie Zichuan had was relatively limited.
Although, according to Jie Zichuan, the warriors of the northern tribes were all brave and skilled in combat, Luo Ji actually didn’t pay much attention to those barbarians.
They were just natives who had lived in the Bitter Cold Land for years; no matter how strong they were, could they be stronger than his well-equipped regular army?
However, the situation has clearly changed now.
The battle report had not yet arrived, so he didn’t know exactly what was happening in White River City. But if it was indeed the northern barbarians attacking, and their assault could force Liu Meng to light wolf smoke for help, this could only mean that the northern tribes were far stronger than he had imagined!
Quickly taking the military token from the messenger guard, Luo Cheng mounted his horse and gathered 500 cavalrymen within Mirror City, heading directly towards White River City.
Meanwhile, Jie Zichuan was also quickly brought before Luo Ji.
“Jie Zichuan greets Your Majesty.”
“Rise.”
Luo Ji, annoyed by the wolf smoke incident, waved his hand and spoke straightforwardly.
“Wolf smoke suddenly rose from the direction of White River City. It’s suspected that northern tribes are attacking. Do you have any insights on this matter?”
“Northern tribes attacking?”
Jie Zichuan, who had been living a peaceful life in Mirror City, was clearly stunned for a moment upon hearing the news.
He then quickly shook his head in disbelief.
“That’s unlikely.”
“What do you mean?”
Luo Ji asked, frowning deeply.
“The people of the Bitter Cold Land worship the God of Wind and Snow. After children learn to walk, they begin to undergo the trials of wind and snow. Those who can survive the trials of wind and snow will gain stronger physiques and grow into true warriors…”
Jie Zichuan spoke seriously, while Luo Ji secretly rolled his eyes and complained inwardly.
“Nonsense. All the weak ones die in the wind and snow. The ones who survive are naturally those with strong physical qualities. What kind of bizarre custom is this?”
While Luo Ji was fiercely complaining about the customs of the northern tribes, Jie Zichuan, unaware of Luo Ji’s thoughts, continued to speak.
“And those who choose to flee in the face of the wind and snow trials…”
At this point, a hint of embarrassment appeared on Jie Zichuan’s face.
“Those people will be regarded as cowards and disgraces, and then driven out by the entire northern tribe.”
Undoubtedly, this concept must have been deeply ingrained in every person of the northern tribes.
So, Jie Zichuan was still reluctant to mention this matter.
Because, in his view, it was a very dishonorable and humiliating thing.
However, Luo Ji’s expression remained calm.
In his opinion, seeking good fortune and avoiding disaster was a human instinct.
If there was a blizzard ahead, and you could turn back, would you still insist on going into the blizzard? Wouldn’t that be insane?
Therefore, Luo Ji didn’t think this was anything shameful.
On the contrary, after hearing Jie Zichuan’s explanation, he felt that the people of the northern tribes were all a bunch of blockheads.
This was a disease, and it needed to be cured!
Seeing no unusual expressions on the faces of those around him, and no scornful glances cast his way, Jie Zichuan felt a little relieved. He then continued.
“Therefore, the people of the northern tribes have lived in the Bitter Cold Land for generations. Under normal circumstances, they would not migrate…”
“Even if some occasionally fail to endure and flee, they are generally small tribes and should not pose a threat to Your Majesty.”
At this point, Jie Zichuan’s feelings were complex.
After all, he himself was originally a member of one of those small tribes.
However, ever since living in Mirror City for a period, his mindset had changed somewhat.
Living in a tidy house, covered by warm blankets, and eating hot meals, his entire perception was slowly changing.
Now, recalling his past life in the bitter cold northern lands, he would occasionally think, “Are those people stupid? They actually like living in such a dreadful place.”
