Chapter 390: Senior Brother

The figure behind the walkie-talkie fell completely silent.

Only at this moment did he realize how ridiculous his attempt to threaten the other party with Red Heart 6 had been. Regardless of whether Red Heart 6 had truly destroyed the Aurora Realm, the mere mention of the "Twilight Society" already positioned them against all human realms!

A threat from a single, isolated Mortal Realm was, in their eyes, no different from a wisp of fine silk carried by the wind.

But at this moment, what concerned him more was the very fact that the "Twilight Society" had appeared in the Mortal Realm.

His voice was a little hoarse:

“So, you intend to turn the Mortal Realm into the next Aurora Realm?”

It was well known that the appearance of the Twilight Society usually signified the imminent destruction of a realm. And Red King's personal presence here was akin to the King of Hell himself arriving, ready to pre-register their names in the Book of Life and Death. If this news spread, the entire Mortal Main City would likely plunge into chaos.

The handsome young man chuckled, responding casually with just two words:

“Guess?”

Snap—

The walkie-talkie in his hand was instantly crushed to pieces!

The voice on the other end of the walkie-talkie ceased abruptly amidst a burst of static. Communication between the Twilight Society and the Mortal Realm had ended.

The Eldest Disciple, standing nearby, smiled helplessly. “Master, isn’t it a bit much to scare them like that?”

“Indeed, those artists must be terrified… They probably won’t get a good night’s sleep for months,” Mo Jiao chimed in. “They might even be patrolling in the middle of the night.”

The handsome young man spread his hands, feigning innocence:

“What does that have to do with me?”

As the rain clouds gradually dispersed, the twilight glow illuminated the stage, and Chen Ling finally got a clear look at the other three figures.

Mo Jiao, as before, seemed utterly unremarkable, lacking any distinguishing features;

The person to his left was still dressed in white, the very Eldest Disciple who had played Gao Chong. Although he had removed his makeup, he exuded an ethereal purity, like clear water, his white robes and sashes dancing lightly in the wind;

The person to his right was tall but not bulky, emanating a subtle aura of dominance that made him seem unapproachable just by standing there;

“It’s better if the Mortal Realm is a bit chaotic,” the Third Disciple said in a deep voice. “The more confused they are, the easier it will be for us to act… Master’s move is quite profound.”

“See? Only Third understands me!” The handsome young man clapped his hands and laughed.

The Eldest Disciple pondered:

“However, our presence is now exposed. If we don’t leave soon, the major realms will likely send people… Master, should we fight?”

“Fight? Why fight? Do you have energy with nowhere to use it? What if you damage the stage chairs?”

The handsome young man scoffed, waving his hand grandly, “Quickly pack up and leave! Be nimble; not a single stool can be left behind!”

At his words, the other three immediately sprang into action, skillfully dismantling the stage and gathering props. The stage, perfectly set just minutes before, now seemed to be swept away by a storm, quickly folding up and disappearing.

As for the handsome young man himself, he leisurely walked to the side, reclined in a rocking chair, and began to rest with his eyes closed.

Everyone was busy, except for Chen Ling, who stood alone below the stage in his red robes, feeling utterly bewildered.

Chen Ling was still reeling from shock, finding everything before him surreal. Watching his senior disciples skillfully pack things on stage, he didn't know what to do, feeling like an out-of-place outsider.

Just then, a figure carrying props walked over to Chen Ling.

“Junior Disciple,” a gentle voice spoke.

Chen Ling turned his head to see Mo Jiao, whom he had met before. His gaze towards Chen Ling was as gentle and understanding as it had been at the Starlight Merchant Guild.

“Mo Jiao senior…” Before the last syllable of "senior" could be uttered, Chen Ling paused, then continued,

“Fourth Disciple.”

Mo Jiao’s smile widened. He patted Chen Ling on the shoulder. “Junior Disciple, go help put away the chairs.”

Chen Ling was momentarily startled, then his eyes brightened, and he immediately nodded:

“Okay.”

Chen Ling immediately moved, collecting all two rows of chairs from below the stage. Fortunately, these chairs were foldable, and with his strength, he could easily pack them all away in one go.

As he was collecting the last chair, he saw Li Qingshan still sitting motionless on it, and his expression became a little nuanced.

“What about him?”

“Don’t worry about him,” a leisurely voice drifted from nearby. It was the handsome young man in the rocking chair. “This kid has good talent. The longer he stays in this state of enlightenment, the more beneficial it will be for him later… Just let him be.”

“Aren’t you taking him back to the Ancient Art Treasury as well?” Chen Ling asked, puzzled. He had thought Li Qingshan also received an invitation, implying the Ancient Art Treasury valued him highly.

The handsome young man glanced at him, saying indifferently:

“If I were to take every promising talent as a disciple, I would be too casual. Besides, the Ancient Art Treasury can’t accommodate so many people. Unless something unforeseen happens, you will be my last disciple.

Let him gain experience in the mortal world… That will be good for him too.”

A flicker of surprise crossed Chen Ling’s eyes, but he nodded nonetheless. Without disturbing Li Qingshan, he carried the chair and walked away.

“Wait!”

The Master’s voice sounded again.

Chen Ling instinctively stopped and looked back.

“Sixth, what did I say?” The handsome young man pointed at Li Qingshan, his expression utterly serious. “Not a single stool can be left behind!”

Chen Ling: …

Chen Ling walked back to Li Qingshan, silently apologized in his mind, and then forcefully pulled the chair out from under him!

Li Qingshan landed on the ground with a thump, seemingly dazed, but he still hadn't fully emerged from his meditative state.

Meanwhile, the other disciples had mostly finished packing, each carrying large piles of items, ready to depart.

The handsome young man’s gaze swept around, and after confirming nothing was left behind, he waved his hand contentedly:

“Home!”

The group, carrying their various bags and bundles, walked straight towards the edge of Willow Town.

As the invisible curtain dissipated, only Li Qingshan remained in a small dirt hollow on the empty wasteland, gradually disappearing from view.

It wasn't until Chen Ling and the others had gone far away that Li Qingshan seemed to awaken from a deep dream, suddenly coming to his senses!

He stared blankly at his palms for a moment, then looked around… A deep confusion appeared in his eyes.

“Where’s the stage? Where’s that huge stage?”

Li Qingshan was bewildered. He clearly remembered watching the play with Chen Ling just moments ago. How had he ended up alone in the blink of an eye? Not even a chair was left!

Shaking his head, he stumbled to his feet from the hollow, muttering to himself:

“What happened… Was it a dream?”

“No, that’s not right…”

Li Qingshan reached into his pocket again, and when he pulled his hand out, an invitation lay quietly in his palm… Seeing the invitation, a strange glint flashed in Li Qingshan’s eyes.

“Brother Lin… We will meet again.”

After who knew how long, he smiled, turned, and walked in the opposite direction.

His green robes gradually disappeared into the misty Willow Town…