Parting Ways at the Theater House
As Chen Ling's words fell, the Jinghong Theater once again fell into dead silence.
Li Qingshan, standing at the side, subconsciously wanted to tug at Chen Ling's sleeve upon seeing this, to remind him to pay attention to his way of speaking, but his fingertips only touched a patch of void.
Of course, Li Qingshan could understand Chen Ling's meaning. With war imminent, they definitely couldn't stay in the Jinghong Theater anymore, but his expression was indeed a bit too forceful.
To Kong Baosheng, there were only two most important things in the world. One was his Grandmother who raised him single-handedly, and the other was the Jinghong Theater left behind by his Grandmother... When he was at his wit's end, he chose to sell the Jinghong Theater to treat his Grandmother's illness, and it was also at this time that Chen Ling walked into his life.
Perhaps imperceptibly, Chen Ling's status in Kong Baosheng's heart had become as important as his Grandmother, showing him immense grace.
To Chen Ling, the Jinghong Theater might just be a tool to complete a task; but to Kong Baosheng, it was his Grandmother's legacy, the place where he grew up since childhood, and the Theater House that he and Mister went through untold hardships and overcame all kinds of obstacles to open... When the Jinghong Theater became wildly popular, no one was happier than Kong Baosheng.
The spotless floor, the orderly seats, the Kitchen always filled with various ingredients... This underaged child did the work of several people alone, yet didn't have the slightest complaint, because this was his home to begin with.
The product of Chen Ling's playacting was the entire world in this child's eyes.
Mister left, operas wouldn't be sung anymore, the Jinghong Theater was gone. Then what did he have left?
Kong Baosheng had nothing left.
Just like a wanderer who left home since childhood, even if he had a brand new house, "home" was no longer home... This was also why so many people were unwilling to leave their homeland, stubbornly staying where they were amidst the questioning or uncomprehending voices of others. Sometimes, "sentimentality" triumphed over everything, including rationality.
Li Qingshan could put himself in Kong Baosheng's shoes and know why this child was so determined, or rather stubborn, to stay in the Jinghong Theater, but Chen Ling couldn't do it.
Chen Ling looked at those red eyes, frowning tightly, finding it incomprehensible... A Theater House was just a Theater House. Leaving here and preserving one's life was the most important thing. At worst, they could just spend money to build a new one later.
Chen Ling couldn't empathize with Kong Baosheng. From the perspective of an "Audience", Kong Baosheng's argument was unreasonable, even somewhat intellectually degrading.
Kong Baosheng looked at Chen Ling, opened his mouth, but couldn't say a single word.
Pitter-patter— Pitter-patter—
Tears rolled down his cheeks to the ground, just like the rainwater sliding through the hollowed-out roof and dripping into the wooden buckets he personally placed. Not a single drop of rain wet the stage, but the ground beneath Kong Baosheng was mottled with water stains.
Chen Ling originally wanted to say something more to Kong Baosheng, but right at this moment, he seemed to notice something unusual and glanced at the void overhead...
"I have some matters to attend to with my main body." Chen Ling's speaking speed quickened slightly. "In short, you guys must leave the Jinghong Theater as soon as possible. If nothing unexpected happens, I will wait for you in Willow Town."
Chen Ling's gaze swept over Li Qingshan, Kong Baosheng, and Huang Suyue in turn, his expression incomparably solemn.
"I understand," Li Qingshan took a deep breath.
"Brother Lin, go attend to your matters first, we will meet in Willow Town."
Chen Ling nodded slightly, his translucent body fading further and finally vanishing into the void.
"Miss, let's set off quickly!" Uncle Quan walked quickly to Huang Suyue's side, his eyes full of anxiety. "If what that Lord said is true, we absolutely cannot stay in the Red Dust main city... Let's go back and pack up now, we'll head to Willow Town immediately."
Huang Suyue was silent for a moment, then turned to look at Li Qingshan and Kong Baosheng:
"I'm truly sorry, I need to go back and handle the Huang Consortium's affairs before I can go to Willow Town... I won't be traveling with you two."
"No problem," Li Qingshan raised his hands in a salute. "Miss Huang, we'll meet again in Willow Town."
"Mm."
Huang Suyue nodded, walked over to Kong Baosheng, and crouched down, speaking softly, "Baosheng, although your Mr. Lin's words were a bit harsh, it's still for your own good... Don't be angry with him, alright?"
"I'm not angry with Mister, I'm just... just a bit sad." Kong Baosheng lowered his head, his voice somewhat choked with sobs.
"You guys go first, I still have to see Grandmother off..."
Huang Suyue patted his head, exchanged a glance with Uncle Quan, and walked straight out the door.
Pattering rainwater dripped from the eaves, like a curtain woven from crystal beads. The yellow dress stepped over the threshold of the Theater House, her gaze sweeping over the devastated streets of the main city, her expression incomparably complex...
Uncle Quan hurried to catch up and opened an Oiled Paper Umbrella to block the swaying rain for her. Huang Suyue looked back deeply at the Jinghong Theater signboard, then walked straight towards the end of the road.
"Uncle Quan."
"What is it, Miss?"
"In a while, send someone to deliver a cart of flowers to the Jinghong Theater."
Uncle Quan was startled, remembering what Kong Baosheng said just now about his grandmother loving to grow flowers when she was alive, and couldn't help asking, "Are you doing this for that child?"
"It really hasn't been easy for this child," Huang Suyue sighed longingly. "Before, I wanted to give him a fund subsidy, but he didn't accept it... Now, I can only help him like this."
"Yes, Miss."
...
Chen Ling's consciousness returned to his body, and the originally blooming Red Dust Domain also retracted into the flower.
He didn't have time to check the state of the flower again, but suddenly looked up, only to see the patterns of the Grand Relief Gate clearly depicted in the void. Above it, an abstract giant face was being outlined!
The Second Hall!
A pair of triangular eyes hung in the air, like the sun and moon. He looked down at the incomparably tiny Chen Ling and spoke in shock:
"'Guernica' has become ineffective... How is this possible? What did you do?!"
Feeling the Rank 8 Oppressive Aura pressing down horizontally, Chen Ling's expression instantly became extremely unsightly. He didn't hesitate to activate Cloud Steps, attempting to flee into the distance!
However, no matter how Chen Ling accelerated, relative to the Second Hall, he almost hadn't moved. Right now he was in "Guernica", and this scroll was in the hands of the Second Hall, just like Sun Wukong trapped in the palm of Buddha. No matter how many somersaults he flipped, he couldn't escape.
The Second Hall looked at the fleeing Chen Ling and Eight of Clubs on his shoulder. A solemn expression surfaced on his abstract face. Just as he was about to make a move, a sudden flash of white light flashed across the void above!
"This is..." Chen Ling felt the fleeting white light and was slightly stunned.
He looked up, only to see that in the pitch-black void, the face of the Second Hall had already disappeared without a trace...