```html
Rumors change faces with every mouth they pass through.
The outer courtyard was vast, and the people on the east and south sides were all talking about Zhou Xuan, but the Zhou Xuan they each described was completely different.
Those on the east side believed that Zhou Xuan was the Little Silver Spear Tyrant, with a fierce and steady gun technique, exorcising the female ghost with just a few strikes.
Those on the south side, however, thought that Zhou Xuan's survival from Luoying Hall wasn't due to his gun, but rather his "true form."
"That female ghost picked the wrong person to mess with, thinking the Young Master was an easy target. In reality, the Young Master has another identity."
The person saying this had a demeanor of "speaking in a hushed, mysterious tone," as if touching upon some forbidden topic.
They worried that if they spoke too freely, some organization or force might take notice, bringing unnecessary trouble upon themselves.
But in reality, they wished more people would hear their brilliant insights, speaking even louder than usual.
"What's the Young Master's other identity?"
"Haven't you heard? The Young Master didn't really die some time ago; his soul was summoned back by the Ancestor Tree and the Old Master... The one who came back isn't the Young Master; it's a wandering soul, a fierce one."
"The female ghost wanted to harm the Young Master, but guess what? The Young Master suddenly transformed, growing a blue face and tusks, long nails, and devoured the female ghost alive in no time."
"That's the Young Master's true form; he's a fierce ghost wrapped in human skin."
For a moment, fear filled the hearts of those engaged in conversation on the south side, and a few show-off apprentices stomped their feet on the ground and lamented with great anguish, saying:
"Alas, the Young Master harbors a ghostly heart, and the Class Leader doesn't manage this. If it continues like this, I'm afraid the Zhou Family's Troupe is doomed! We need to reflect, truly reflect."
The voices of the two groups chatting grew louder, and eventually, the "Silver Spear Sect" on the east overheard the "True Form Sect" on the south, initiating the confrontation.
The True Form Sect was not to be outdone and began arguing as well.
The people from the south and east were not in agreement, each holding their ground, unable to convince one another.
It felt quite like a fan club dispute.
The argument between the two sides grew more intense, with several hot-tempered individuals even showing signs of getting physical.
Fortunately, someone with sharp eyes reminded, "First Master's Wife is here."
Immediately,
the sounds of the argument subsided.
Xu Li was particularly protective of Zhou Xuan. Everyone in the Zhou Family's Troupe knew that if she heard anyone talking about Zhou Xuan, at the very least, they would get a scolding.
For a moment, everyone present reached a tacit understanding, shifting the conversation to other topics, talking about food or about which recent guest was difficult to please, hardly anyone mentioned Zhou Xuan.
Yet there was someone who, insensitively, brought up the controversial topic.
The insensitive person was Han Jianshan, the driver of the Zhou Family's Troupe.
When doing business, the Zhou Family's Troupe relied on ox carts and horse carts to transport coffins and goods and prepared rickshaws for guests, but the business was significant, attracting wealthy and influential clients.
These wealthy and powerful individuals would consider it beneath them to ride a horse-drawn carriage or rickshaw.
So, a couple of years ago, the Zhou Family's Troupe invested a large sum to purchase a Meite Car and paid to send Han Jianshan to a driving school in the prefecture.
The Meite Car at the troupe became Han Jianshan's pride and joy, whether he had spare time or not, he would always have a cloth to polish the car until it shone.
If any unruly child came close enough to pee near the car, Han Jianshan would chase them away, trying to kick their backsides.
The car became Han's self-esteem, and being the driver inflated his ego.
His salary was already fifty to a hundred bucks higher than the average master, and some discerning clients would even give a tip.
Sometimes, when taking clients to visit relatives and friends along the way, they would add some extra fare, all of which ended up in Han's pocket.
All these odds and ends added up, and Han's take-home pay was significantly higher than that of the other masters.
With money, his stance became firm, but what truly boosted his ego was the status of the clients.
Those who were picked up and dropped off by the Zhou Family's Troupe's car were well-known in Ping Shui Prefecture.
The people who rode in Han's car were either high-ranking officials or directors, and the conversations were high-end, discussing finance, policy, mistresses, receptions, gentlemen, and famous courtesans of the nightlife.
Over time, Han felt that he had also become upper-class, and when hearing others talk about popsicles, tea stalls, or brothels during evening conversations at the venue, he would definitely stand up and mock them.
"What good have you eaten or played with? The nightclub is truly indulgent, the foreign wine that foreigners drink, one sip, and you'll be intoxicated with sweetness. Do you know chocolate? It's so sweet, you can't afford a piece with your day's earnings!"
"Stop thinking only of food and play every day. Look further ahead. Mr. Dai from Ping Shui Prefecture has already hinted to me that policy benefits will arrive in two months..."
He never missed a moment to boast about his so-called knowledge, and after boasting for long enough, he believed it himself.
He felt he could stand equal with the senior masters in the troupe, seeing those apprentices and senior masters as beneath his notice.
Just now, as the True Form and Silver Spear sects were having a heated argument, Xu Li's appearance abruptly stopped it all.
In Han Jianshan's eyes, this was a loss of face.
"I haven't even spoken yet, and you stop it? Why? Because you're the First Master's Wife? Did you ask for my opinion?"
If he didn't step up to say a few words, he wouldn't feel right.
So, he walked directly toward Xu Li.
Xu Li came to the venue at night to listen to the radio with a few of her friends.
Recently, the radio broadcast was playing the "Plum Blossom Drum" titled "Lin Daiyu Burying Flowers," and they eagerly listened every night.
At that moment, it was playing excitingly, the drumbeats growing more and more frequent, just as the climax was about to come, when
"Click!"
The radio switch was turned off by Han Jianshan, and the sound abruptly stopped.
"Old Han, what are you up to?"
Xu Li complained, rushing to turn on the radio, but was blocked by Han Jianshan's outstretched arm.
"Mrs. Xu, you're the elder sister-in-law in the Zhou Family's Troupe. There are some things you can't just stand back and watch..."
"What am I watching?"
Usually, Xu Li found Han Jianshan rather irritating, always feeling he was too full of himself. Now, he had turned off her radio and was in a posture of giving a lecture, and given her leniency, if it were the hot-tempered Second Master's Wife, Song Jie, she would have cursed him out already.
"It's about the Young Master! You can't pretend to be deaf. The entire troupe is spreading that Zhou Xuan is not the real Zhou Xuan, that the soul brought back was a fake... and not even a person, but an Evil Ghost..."
"Han Jianshan, have you drunk too much? Go sober up, what nonsense are you babbling here?"
Xu Li was already protective of Zhou Xuan, and after the incident in the afternoon, she felt even more guilty, thinking that Zhou Xuan's run-in with the Ghost Baby was due to her carelessness.
Now, watching Han Jianshan badmouth Zhou Xuan in her presence really angered her, and she snapped back.
Han Jianshan, unconvinced, said, "I haven't drunk too much; Zhou Xuan is a fake Zhou Xuan! Let everyone judge, hasn't the Young Master changed since the soul was summoned back?
In the past, the Young Master would either fight or curse everyone he saw, and he would flirt with the pretty girls in the troupe. Now, he's gentle, not causing trouble..."
"Isn't that good? Xuanzi has died once, gaining great enlightenment, becoming gentle and kind,
which is good for everyone and an even greater good for the troupe. Why, in your words, does it sound like a heinous crime?"
Xu Li replied, "Are you saying kindness is wrong?"
"Ha! The more evil is the true Young Master, and the kinder is a fake! Xu Li, don't play dumb; in our troupe, pure bloodlines overwhelm everything..."
"Shh..."
Just as Han Jianshan was halfway through his words, Xu Li had organized her thoughts, ready to really scold him, but seeing Zhou Xuan approaching the willow tree, she didn't want the rumors in the venue to affect Zhou Xuan.
Therefore, she temporarily suppressed her anger, raising her index finger to her lips to signal silence.
It mimicked a compassionate elder's behavior—arguing was fine, but don't argue in front of the young, especially when the topic concerns them.
In reality,
Xu Li was a bit too worried, as Zhou Xuan wasn't foolish.
Even though, up until now, no one tactless enough had pointed at Zhou Xuan's nose to accuse him to his face as "you fake."
Yet Zhou Xuan always happened to overhear little whispers about himself while walking around the courtyard.
*He simply didn't care.*
*What evidence do you have to prove I'm a fake?*
*Without evidence, just bottle it up.*
*He was not stupid enough to try to prove to others that he was the real Zhou Xuan.*
*In such matters, if he didn't involve himself, the rumors would eventually die down. But if he did, it was like a stone stirring up endless waves, and nefarious individuals would seize the opportunity, leaving countless traps for him to fall into.*
*Better to stay silent than to speak, better to remain still than to act.*
*Some wrongful accusations, no matter the era, have never changed.*
Zhou Xuan understood this clearly.
He was at that moment carrying a notebook, heading towards the inner courtyard.
He was on his way to the "Silent Hall" in the inner courtyard.
The Silent Hall was where they prepared the bodies for the dead.
The Netherworld Play Troupe performed for the dead, and the deceased in Ping Shui Prefecture who listened to the play had to be dressed vividly, placed in the main seat of the audience.
Dressing the bodies was a critical part of the Netherworld play performance.
This work was generally done at night.
The Class Leader, Zhou Lingyi, had to be present while the work was done.
Zhou Xuan had adapted "Love Story of Mount Lu" into a novel, though not completely written, having around six thousand words, he planned to show it to Zhou Lingyi as a sample.
If Zhou Lingyi liked it, he would continue with the rest.
The sample was tucked inside his notebook.
In the notebook itself was the adapted draft of "Love Story of Mount Lu," not for Zhou Lingyi's enjoyment but for her to review and critique...
Whether Zhou Lingyi critiqued books didn't matter; Zhou Xuan mainly used this opportunity to cultivate the sibling's relationship.
As Zhou Xuan approached the willow tree, he noticed Xu Li, raising a hand to greet her with a wave, then continued on towards the inner courtyard.
Suddenly, his sleeve was grabbed by Han Jianshan.
"Don't go, Zhou Xuan, there are some things you need to explain to everyone."
Normally, no matter how arrogant Han Jianshan got, he wouldn't dare to this extent.
But tonight, he had purely lost all reason, commonly referred to as being "out of his mind."
Firstly, he wanted to garner attention, but ended up being harshly rebutted by Xu Li, feeling humiliated.
Secondly, he was blind to his own status, and Zhou Xuan's greeting to Xu Li while ignoring him angered him even further.
Events collided, piling up one after another, leaving him devoid of reason, surprisingly grabbing Zhou Xuan's arm.
"Is he really speaking so arrogantly now?"
Zhou Xuan pointed at Han Jianshan and asked Xu Li.
Xu Li retorted loudly, "Old Han, let go, show some respect."
"I, Old Han, have respect and decency, but Zhou Xuan, today you have to prove you're the real Zhou Xuan, not a ghost in human skin. If you prove it, I'll kowtow to you three times!"
"Get lost! Who you kowtow to is your business, what does it have to do with me?"
"You can't prove it, you're just feeling guilty."
"Guilty? More than your weakness? Look at that cold sweat on your forehead, old man!"
Zhou Xuan didn't mind others gossiping about him and was kind to people not because he was easy to bully but because he was civilized and polite.
Civility and politeness had their times and contexts, it depended on who he was dealing with.
To handle someone like Han Jianshan, who casually grabbed people's sleeves and overbearingly postured, there was no need for civility.
After snapping at Han Jianshan, Zhou Xuan continued walking towards the inner courtyard, while Han Jianshan became even more bold, this time not just grabbing, but yanking.
While pulling the sleeve, he even grabbed the flesh on Zhou Xuan's arm.
"Damn it!"
Zhou Xuan responded decisively, turning around to slap Han Jianshan across the face.
"Slap!"
```