Dimensional Codex System: I'm really not a cultist!

”Boom boom, boom boom boom...”

This Southern Barbarian Song and Dance Troupe began with the sound of drums. Soon the screen was removed, and a group of beautiful women with varying skin tones emerged. They wore revealing outfits similar to bikinis, shaking their bodies uninhibitedly. Seeing this scene, people were excited, their eyes wide open and breathing heavily.

In contrast, Fang Zheng wasn’t surprised. Although the Great Han under his rule was not as conservative as later periods, it was only relatively open. This type of situation, where Southern Barbarian women basically equated to wearing bikinis outdoors, is unthinkable and was probably the reason many gathered here.

To put it nicely, you could say you were appreciating exotic song and dance.

This reminded Fang Zheng of when he was in school; his male classmates always liked to carry a book of human sketches or a selection of world paintings, pretending to cultivate their sentiments. But in fact, everyone knew what they were actually looking at.

Yes, everyone knew.

But Fang Zheng didn’t mind. Although these Southern Barbarian women looked wild and enticing, he was more focused on the ancient demon aura he felt earlier. However, to Fang Zheng’s surprise, since the songs and dances began, that trace of demon aura seemed to have been dispersed and completely disappeared.

It seems that the other side knows quite well how to hide?

Fang Zheng certainly wouldn’t foolishly think it was his imagination. He also understood that the other side used music and dance to stimulate the excitement in these humans behind him, causing their human aura to become dense and thus cover up that faint demon aura. Consequently, Fang Zheng could also confirm that this Yokai was indeed a ”foreigner.”

Because in the Han Territory, all ”legal” Yokai have their demon aura recorded—like fingerprints—and ordinary Yokai can even transform into human form and walk the streets. As long as you don’t cause a disturbance, there is no need to restrain your demon aura. But deliberately restraining the demon aura to such an extent, almost invisible, is like seeing someone on the street bundled up in a hat, mask, and sunglasses—wouldn’t any normal person feel you were suspicious?

If it were the police, they would surely focus on people like you.

Of course, Yokai within the Han Territory generally don’t live among humans. After all, humans and Yokai are different; Xu Xian almost got killed by Lady Bai for a reason. Yokai power and humans aren’t the same, and prolonged interaction can easily shorten one’s life.

Simply put, not everyone can covet a Yokai’s body.

That body is poisonous, I’m telling you!

If you don’t have maximum poison resistance, it’s like eating pufferfish—whether it’s poisonous or not is entirely up to luck, and one mistake could cost you your life.

Soon, a song concluded, and the surrounding crowd enthusiastically applauded. Seeing this, Fang Zheng nodded.

Perhaps it’s time to seriously consider fully popularizing theaters and the like. After all, in this era, without cinemas, public entertainment is quite scarce. But talking about cross-talk, skits, or singing opera still requires a professional stage. Currently, although there are many performing groups and entertainment troupes within the Han Territory, they are mostly traveling performers or invited by large restaurants to perform on the street, or like this situation.

However, this is too scattered and hard to manage...

After returning, this matter should also be put on the agenda.

Fang Zheng silently made a mental note, then continued to enjoy the song and dance before him.

This Southern Barbarian Song and Dance Troupe’s performance was indeed interesting. Not only was it simple singing and dancing, but it also incorporated elements of opera from later generations. At least Fang Zheng could understand that this ”large-scale song and dance” told a historical story of an ancient Savage Tribe. Of course, the story itself was nothing more than the man loving the woman, the woman loving the man, but the woman’s father disagrees, throwing difficult challenges at the man, and the man overcoming the obstacles and winning the beauty’s hand...

Not as thrilling as the previous storyteller, though.

But as a musical, it was already sufficient.

After all, many Hollywood musical films’ plots are straightforward, often relying on song and dance to fill the storyline, without any particular twists.

I’m not trying to appreciate a suspense film here and expecting the plot to take drastic turns.

However, this time, until the Troupe’s performance ended, Fang Zheng never found that mysterious Yokai, as if what he felt before was just an illusion. But Fang Zheng was sure that what he felt was definitely not an illusion.

So after the performance ended, Fang Zheng found the shopkeeper of this inn.

”Shopkeeper, this song and dance troupe’s performance is quite novel. I heard you invited them to perform?”

”Yes, sir.”

Upon hearing Fang Zheng’s inquiry, the shopkeeper quickly smiled and replied.

”You might not know, but I happened to encounter this troupe under very serendipitous circumstances. At that time, I was developing business at the Southern Barbarian Border; during my journey of sightseeing, I accidentally entered a local village, where I met this song and dance troupe. Seeing their performance was unique and interesting, I invited them to perform.”

”They agreed just like that?”

Upon hearing this, Fang Zheng raised his eyebrows, while the shopkeeper showed a proud expression.

”Of course, dear guest. Everyone knows our Great Han is where the Celestial Beings dwell, prosperous and thriving, naturally drawing the admiration of those Savage Tribes in the wilderness.”

Hmm... Although what the shopkeeper said isn’t wrong, after hearing the whole story from him, Fang Zheng couldn’t shake the feeling that this shopkeeper had been set up by someone...

Afterwards, Fang Zheng expressed to the shopkeeper that he was quite interested in the Southern Barbarian Song and Dance Troupe and wondered if they could be invited to perform in Chang’an. However, the shopkeeper, looking troubled, told him that someone else had already invited the troupe to celebrate his father’s birthday—a young master from a Noble House.

Fang Zheng could only express his regret about this.

Even under Fang Zheng’s rule in the Great Han, without the so-called official families, factional politics could not be avoided. It’s just human nature. It’s like when someone becomes a high-ranking official, he surely isn’t working alone. He has to promote his subordinates and arrange positions for them. This naturally gives rise to factions. Fang Zheng let them be, after all, as the saying goes, ”No factions within the party leads to myriad oddities.” Relationships are forged through interactions between people, aren’t they?

Fang Zheng wasn’t bothered by it. They could build connections however they liked. He only acknowledged achievements and was strongly focused on basic education, preventing the privatization of education. Besides this, he only paid attention to exam results.

Don’t give me that crap about this kid being charitable and well-regarded. I just want to know his scores in liberal arts and sciences. Spare me the talk about quality education. Rules are meant to uphold quality. Sure, there are high-scoring people with low abilities, but if you can’t even achieve high scores, how can you prove you aren’t incompetent?

At least a high scorer can prove his ability to achieve high scores!

Even in arts and sports, if you can run among the top three in the city, win gold, silver, or bronze awards, isn’t this a reflection of competence?

Fang Zheng didn’t go seeking trouble like in many novels. He just expressed some regret. After all, it wasn’t worth getting involved with a Noble House young master he had never even heard of, right?

So afterwards, Fang Zheng found a secluded corner, drinking alone while watching the night view outside. After the song and dance troupe left, most people also withdrew, leaving the inn and restaurant much quieter. Fang Zheng sipped his drink, snacked on peanuts, and watched the night view outside.

Of course, if someone hadn’t closed their window while hosting an event, he could conveniently record a restricted amateur voyeurism MP4.

For instance, right then Fang Zheng saw a lady of the house sneakily welcoming a man delivering rice into her home, and then, before they could close the window, they were already a flurry of passion...

”Sorry to disturb you, young master.”

Just as Fang Zheng was engrossed, a voice suddenly came to his ear, forcing him to reluctantly pull his gaze away. He turned and saw a beautiful young lady in white quietly standing in front of him, smiling at him.

”What’s the matter?”

Fang Zheng stared at her with irritation, and she softly murmured.

”I wonder if I might have the honor to sit with you, young master?”

”No, there are plenty of chairs. You can sit elsewhere.”

Being interrupted from the spectacle annoyed Fang Zheng, and he silently glanced at the young girl before turning his gaze back to the previous spot. At that moment, Fang Zheng saw the room’s door suddenly fling open and a brawny man rushed in, angrily charging at the couple on the bed.

Oh oh oh, this is catching them in the act!

Faced with Fang Zheng’s ungracious response, the young lady’s expression became somewhat awkward, but she still softly inquired.

”In fact, I have some questions I hoped to discuss with you...”

”Not interested, I’m busy.”

This time, Fang Zheng didn’t even turn his head, eagerly watching the distant fight.

Ah, it’s happening! It’s happening!

Now this is exciting!

The young lady looked at Fang Zheng in disbelief. She originally thought this refined-looking man would be approachable, but to her surprise, he refused to give her any courtesy...

Ultimately, the young lady bowed helplessly.

”Then I’m sorry to have disturbed you, young master. I shall take my leave.”

”Hmm.”

Fang Zheng waved a dismissive hand. He was intently focused on the scene where the brawny man and the rice delivery guy grappled, with the adulteress screaming in the background... Just hope no one gets seriously hurt... Oh no, this looks bad, may end up in jail... Ah ah ah, don’t pull out the knife, using a knife will lose reasonable justification, and the woman actually hit her own husband while yelling... Tsk tsk tsk, what a cruel world...

Fang Zheng eagerly watched the far-off battle, so much so that he didn’t even notice when the young lady had slipped away from his side.