Chen Ling Takes Command
Kong Baosheng pursed his lips slightly and turned his head to say:
"Mister, I'm going to buy medicine for Grandmother."
"What happened to your Grandmother?"
"...I don't know, she suddenly fell ill, rolling on the ground in pain." Kong Baosheng's voice already carried a hint of crying, "I really have to go to the pharmacy, I'll be back soon."
Pharmacy...
Chen Ling glanced outside the Theater House, then glanced at Wang Jincheng sitting by the door, his mind stirring.
"No, it's too dangerous outside right now. You're just a child, you can't go out and take risks."
"I know it's dangerous outside, but Mister, I can't just watch my Grandmother die..." Kong Baosheng clenched his fists tightly, rarely contradicting Chen Ling, "Mister, don't stop me, I won't listen."
"You stay and take care of Grandmother, I'll go buy the medicine for you."
As soon as these words came out, Kong Baosheng was instantly stunned in place.
Wang Jincheng, who was sitting weakly by the door, also looked at Chen Ling upon hearing this. A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes first, followed by appreciation and admiration...
At this time, the vast majority of people in the Red Dust Main City were frightened out of their wits, wishing they could pull others out of their cellars and hide inside themselves. Yet Chen Ling and Kong Baosheng were probably nothing more than an employment relationship, but he was willing to go out and take risks for this child. This courage and boldness were indeed rare.
This Boss Lin of the Jinghong Theater is a true gentleman...
"No, how can that be??" Kong Baosheng came back to his senses and hastily refused, "You have already been as weighty as a mountain to me and Grandmother, how can I let Mister go take risks again..."
"No need to say more."
Chen Ling shook his head. "Time is pressing right now, don't waste it on this kind of meaningless argument... Your Grandmother is having an attack now and needs someone to take care of her. You stay, say words of thanks later."
After saying that, Chen Ling didn't even look back, bypassed Wang Jincheng, and walked towards the outside of the Theater House.
"Brother Lin! Wait for me! I'll go with you!"
Seeing this, Li Qingshan followed Chen Ling without hesitation. "It's too dangerous outside. The two of us going together can also look out for each other... I can always help somewhat."
Chen Ling looked at Li Qingshan's earnest gaze. After hesitating slightly, he nodded:
"Alright, then let's go together. Bureau Chief Wang can recuperate here first... If possible, please help me take care of Miss Huang and the others."
After saying that, the two walked straight out of the Theater House.
Wang Jincheng: ...
Wang Jincheng himself also didn't expect that he just came to the nearest Theater House to stop the bleeding, and inexplicably became a nanny, and a nanny for a Dusk Society stronghold at that... However, his injuries indeed prevented him from moving outside. Staying here to guard against Calamities or something was also not a big problem.
Kong Baosheng stood blankly in place, watching those two Theatrical Robes, one green and one red, walk out the main door and gradually go far away in the sighing wild wind, his eye sockets instantly turning red.
His parents died early, and his Grandmother was seriously ill. Kong Baosheng had endured too much suffering and bitterness since childhood, yet it was suppressed in the deepest part by what he thought was a strong heart... But with the sudden deterioration of his Grandmother's condition, his inner strength was already crumbling. In the end, he was still just a child, and panic and anxiety were inevitable in this situation.
But Chen Ling's two simple sentences easily shattered Kong Baosheng's disguised strength. The past suffering and bitterness welled up in his heart, and in contrast, everything he was experiencing now had an unreal warmth...
His body trembled slightly, not knowing what to say... This kindness was too great for him, so great that Kong Baosheng didn't know how to repay it.
Drops of tears rolled down from the corners of his eyes, containing both anxiety and gratitude. Facing the direction the two left, he plopped down and knelt on the ground.
His forehead heavily kowtowed on the ground, making thud thud thud sounds!
"Thank you Mr. Lin, thank you Mr. Li... Thank you Mr. Lin, thank you Mr. Li... Thank you Mr. Lin, thank you Mr. Li..."
The boy's choked murmurs mixed with the sound of his forehead hitting the ground, echoing in the Theater House. Unable to reach the ears of Chen Ling and the other, they were swallowed by the sighing wild wind around them.
Uncle Quan inside the Theater House sighed deeply upon seeing this scene.
"The world says that Prostitute Girls are ruthless and Thespians are heartless... Looking at it now, this saying is too shallow."
"That's natural." Huang Suyue looked at Chen Ling's departing back and said firmly, "In ancient times, everyone despised the lower nine classes, but professions inherently have no noble or lowly distinctions. Those who say these words might not value affection and righteousness more than these two."
...
Outside the Theater House.
One red and one green, two Theatrical Robes walked in the sighing wild wind, the hems of the Theatrical Robes rustling.
"Brother Lin, do you know where the pharmacy is?"
"If I remember correctly, there is one at the end of this street, about one or two kilometers away."
"That's not far."
"Yeah."
"Brother Lin, we were just singing opera, we haven't changed out of these clothes, and we haven't taken off our makeup... Walking on the road, won't we scare others?"
"Right now, besides those Calamities, are there any other people on the road? But if we can scare those Calamities, that's naturally for the best."
"Hahahaha, that's true." Li Qingshan laughed heartily. "Speaking of which, that play from just now hasn't finished singing yet... The ancestors said, once the play opens its mouth, the eight directions come to listen. One direction is people, three directions are ghosts, four directions are gods. Although the audience has all run away, those gods and ghosts are still there."
Chen Ling had also heard of this saying. Regardless of whether it was true or false, for this profession, it was indeed inappropriate to stop singing halfway.
His gaze swept over the empty street before him, and he turned his head to look in the direction of the Theater House. In the Performance of "Mu Guiying Takes Command" just now, it seemed some kind of emotion welled up in his heart, resonating slightly with his state.
He subconsciously opened his mouth:
"Since that's the case... then let's finish singing it."
"Sing it now? Won't that attract those Calamities or people from the Scarlet Heaven Cult?"
"If Calamities come, I'm not afraid. If the Scarlet Heaven Cult comes, that's just right." Chen Ling smiled slightly. "Just now, which line did I sing up to?"
"The part 'Suddenly hearing the golden drum sound and the painted horn blare, arousing my lofty aspirations to break the heavenly gate'... However, it should be at the end." Li Qingshan recalled and said.
At the end... Chen Ling pondered the following lyrics for a moment, and suddenly realized where that resonance in his heart came from.
The corners of his mouth unconsciously lifted. The Great Crimson Theatrical Robe rustled loudly, and the Linglong blue and silver headdress that hadn't been taken off yet swayed slightly in the wind... The makeup hadn't been taken off, the accessories hadn't been removed, he hadn't stepped down from that performing Stage. At this time, he was still the "Mu Guiying" in the play!
Chen Ling's vermilion lips parted slightly, and the melodious and sonorous Singing tone instantly echoed on the street!
"If I don't take command, who will take command,
If I don't lead the troops, who will lead the troops!
Tell the attendants to quickly prepare my military uniform,
Holding the commander's seal to the training ground to command the three armies!!"
[Audience Expectation Value +3]
[Current Expectation Value: 74%]