The [K]s
Chen Ling understood.
From the very beginning, his master had already pointed out his predicament... He was too invested in being an "Audience", to the point that he forgot he was not the "Audience", but a "person" On Stage!
He didn't know when it started, but he had already substituted himself into the perspective of the "Audience", looking at things with a "scrutinizing" gaze that stayed out of the matter.
He only cared about the "ending", only cared about Rebooting the World. As long as this ending could be achieved, all the twists and turns or unexpected things experienced in between disgusted him... With an almost paranoid mindset, he pursued high efficiency and Rationality. He only cared whether things could progress smoothly and couldn't empathize with the roles in them.
Why did this person have to do this? If he didn't do that stupid thing, wouldn't they be able to push forward faster?
That person was really fucking annoying. Letting him go east, he insisted on going west. If he honestly obediently listened, wouldn't it be a peaceful ending?
Chen Ling held his head in pain. He realized where the problem lay... Since he substituted himself into the "Audience", he would naturally distance himself from the world. He was walking step by step from On Stage to Off Stage, becoming an onlooker in front of the screen. Therefore, when the "Roles" saw him, his face was also blurred...
What isolated him from the "Stage" was exactly The Fourth Wall!
He abruptly stood up, and a smear of apricot blush gradually surfaced from the corner of his eye!
"[Paint the Vermilion Countenance]!!"
Since he was gradually losing his characteristics and becoming a cookie-cutter "Audience", then he just needed to find back that face that belonged to him. As long as he found back his face, he would naturally change back into a "Role" and could break free from the state of the "Audience"!
The apricot eye makeup was gradually solidifying, but closely following, that wisp of dimness shrouding the corner of his eye rapidly spread, actually forcefully suppressing the Vermilion Countenance!
In the void surrounding Chen Ling, The Fourth Wall began to tremble, as if shaken by the wrestling between the two!
But ultimately, Chen Ling's Vermilion Countenance was still suppressed, fading away and disappearing...
He had already fallen too deeply into the state of the "Audience" and found it hard to extricate himself. The Vermilion Countenance was also unable to retrieve him... Chen Ling failed to cross "The Fourth Wall" and return to himself.
"Damn it..."
Chen Ling's eyes were full of bloodshot streaks.
"Hey, hey, hey, Hearts! Are you alright?!" Jian Changsheng hurriedly ran forward. Just now, he saw Chen Ling looking at the water's surface, tearing at his face, and going crazy. For a moment, he was scared silly. "You... Are you possessed? We didn't see any Path of the Witch God around either... Have they become this wicked?!"
"...I'm fine."
Chen Ling took a deep breath and calmed his mood down.
He already knew his own problem, it was just that he hadn't found a way to solve it... Relying solely on 'Paint the Vermilion Countenance' seemed insufficient. He needed something that could better distance himself from the "Audience" and return him to the "Stage."
He seemed to have thought of something, slowly raised his head, and looked at the Red Dust Main City shrouded in firelight in the distance.
"Perhaps... I should go back."
"Go back? Aren't we already at the door of the resting place?" Jian Changsheng pointed at the Twilight Society's temporary stronghold at the side and said.
"Not going back there, but going back into my own role."
"You? What role?"
"Six of Hearts, Chen Ling." Chen Ling paused for a moment. "And... Jinghong Theater Thespian, Lin Yan."
Jian Changsheng froze for a moment, raising his eyebrows in surprise.
"You discovered your conscience? You want to go back and save them?"
"Not yet... However, I want to try and find my 'heart' back."
To break free from the state of the "Audience", apart from "Paint the Vermilion Countenance", the most effective method was of course returning to the "Role". As long as Chen Ling could re-substitute into the Role and retrieve the emotions belonging to the Role again, he would naturally be able to contend with The Fourth Wall.
"You want to go back and take risks, of course I have no objections. It's not like I'm the one going to die anyway."
Jian Changsheng shrugged and looked back at the house with the Twilight Society group.
Then he spoke sneakily,
"But the other seniors might not agree... One Eight of Clubs, one Nine of Hearts, they have already ignored the Twilight Society's principle of neutrality to intervene in the Realm War. If you leave again, our funeral procession will be missing more than half. When the higher-ups ask about it then, it'll be hard to explain..."
"The situation is serious this time, I must go." Chen Ling answered firmly.
To Chen Ling, this might be his only chance to find himself back. If he missed this time, he might unconsciously walk further and further down the path of the "Audience", ultimately completely separating from this world and becoming a member of the "Audience".
"You... Sigh."
Jian Changsheng was conflicted for a long time before steeling his heart. "Forget it, who told you to help me so many times in Red Dust! You go. If they ask, I'll say you went to take a shit... Don't worry, I'll definitely help you stall them."
Chen Ling: ...
"Thanks."
Chen Ling took a deep look at the direction of the Twilight Society's house, finally turned around, and rushed straight in the direction of the Red Dust Main City.
The Great Crimson Theatrical Robe swayed lightly under the dim sky. The last Thespian of the Jinghong Theater was rushing to the war-torn Stage... He didn't know if taking the stage at this time was too late, but at the very least, he wanted to go up one more time with the identity of a "person".
It was still raining, like the curtain of a grand curtain call performance slowly pulling open amidst the flames of war...
Perhaps, the Jinghong Theater's performance wasn't over yet.
...
Twilight Society, resting place.
Chu Muyun, Bai Ye, Jack of Clubs, and 10 of Diamonds sat scattered in the courtyard. No one spoke, and the air was dead silent.
"...Another one left." 10 of Diamonds' brows furrowed slightly. "Leaving one after another, wouldn't that be not too good?"
"I actually don't think it's anything."
The White Baseball Cap hung low, hiding most of his face. Bai Ye's lazy voice sounded. "Anyway, relying on just the few of us, we can still complete the Realm Funeral the same."
"Then how do we explain it when the higher-ups ask?"
"If you don't say anything and I don't say anything, how would the higher-ups know... They aren't truly Omniscient and Omnivision anyway."
"Hehe, maybe the Grey King is looking at you right now."
"Then what do you say we do."
10 of Diamonds pondered for a moment, then still slowly stood up. "Since none of you are willing to be the bad guy, I'll go... I'll go talk to Six of Hearts."
After saying that, he didn't wait for the other few to answer, and walked straight outside the main gate.
At the same time, Jian Changsheng was also muttering something, opening the door and walking back.
"Where's Six of Hearts?"
"He, he went to take a shit!"
"...Go stay to the side."
10 of Diamonds walked past him and continued advancing.
Jian Changsheng saw this, instantly became a bit anxious. Just as he was about to grab 10 of Diamonds, four afterimages suddenly tore through the void, accompanied by a sharp sonic boom, and heavily smashed down in front of 10 of Diamonds!
Thud——!!
Faint dust and smoke spread to the surroundings.
10 of Diamonds was stunned. Not just him, even the faces of Bai Ye and Jack of Clubs surfaced with astonishment. They quickly walked to the door, fixing their eyes on the place where the dust and smoke surged...
On the thick bluestone road, four Playing Cards had been embedded at some point;
These four cards were like sharp gates, stopping 10 of Diamonds in his tracks. The moment they saw the Card Faces of these four cards, everyone's pupils contracted unconsciously!
——[Spade King], [Heart King], [Diamond King], [King of Clubs].
These four cards represented the higher-ups of the Twilight Society, representing the peak Combat Power second only to the Red King and Grey King... Even J and Q normally had no chance to come into contact with any of them.
But now, these four cards appeared at the same time;
The four "K" cards, supported Chen Ling!
...
...
(Author's Note: Recommending You Ziyin's 'The Little Confucian Immortal of the Nether Realm' ~ An Immortal Cultivation tragedy (crossed out) a highly acclaimed Immortal Cultivation masterpiece!! If you're interested, you can go take a look.)