Chapter 602: Chen Ling Takes Command

Author: Sanjiu YinyuWord count: 1250

Kong Baosheng pursed his lips slightly and turned around, saying, "Sir, I need to buy medicine for my grandmother."

"What's wrong with your grandmother?"

"...I don't know, she suddenly fell ill and was writhing on the ground in pain." Kong Baosheng's voice already carried a hint of a sob. "I really have to go to a pharmacy. I'll be back soon."

A pharmacy...

Chen Ling glanced outside the opera house, then at Wang Jincheng, who was sitting by the door. An idea sparked in his mind.

"No, it's too dangerous outside now. You're just a child; you can't go out and risk it."

"I know it's dangerous outside, but Sir, I can't just watch my grandmother die..." Kong Baosheng clenched his fists, unusually clashing with Chen Ling. "Sir, don't stop me. I won't listen."

"I'm not asking you to just watch your grandmother die..." Chen Ling paused for a moment. "You stay here and take care of your grandmother. I'll go buy the medicine for you."

As soon as he said this, Kong Baosheng froze in place.

Wang Jincheng, barely clinging to life and sitting by the door, also looked at Chen Ling upon hearing this. A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes, followed by admiration and respect.

At this moment, most people in Hongchen City were terrified and utterly distraught, wishing they could pull others out of cellars just to hide themselves. Chen Ling and Kong Baosheng were supposedly only in an employer-employee relationship, yet Chen Ling was willing to risk his life for the child. This courage and spirit were truly rare.

"This Manager Lin of Jinghong Tower is truly a noble gentleman..."

"No, how can that be??" Kong Baosheng snapped back to reality and hastily refused. "You've already shown immense kindness to my grandmother and me. How can I let you risk your life again, Sir...?"

"There's no need for further discussion." Chen Ling shook his head. "Time is short now. Don't waste it on this meaningless debate... Your grandmother is ill and needs care. You stay here. We can talk about thanks later."

Having said that, Chen Ling walked past Wang Jincheng without looking back, heading out of the opera house.

"Brother Lin! Wait for me! I'll go with you!"

Upon seeing this, Li Qingshan unhesitatingly followed Chen Ling. "It's too dangerous outside. If we go together, we can look out for each other... I can definitely be of some help."

Chen Ling looked at Li Qingshan's serious gaze, hesitated slightly, then nodded: "Alright, then we'll go together. Director Wang, please rest here for now... If possible, please also look after Miss Huang and the others for me."

With that, the two headed straight out of the opera house.

Wang Jincheng: ...

Wang Jincheng himself hadn't expected that he'd merely come to the nearest opera house to stop his bleeding, only to inexplicably become a babysitter—and specifically, a babysitter for a Twilight Society stronghold... However, his injuries truly prevented him from moving outside, so staying here to guard against calamities or something wasn't a big problem.

Kong Baosheng stood dumbfounded, watching the two figures in blue and red opera robes walk out the main door, gradually disappearing into the sighing gale. His eyes immediately reddened.

His parents had died young, and his grandmother was gravely ill. Kong Baosheng had endured too much hardship and bitterness since childhood, which he had suppressed deep within his supposedly strong heart... But with the sudden deterioration of his grandmother's condition, his inner strength was faltering. After all, he was still just a child, and it was inevitable for him to feel panic and anxiety in such a situation.

Yet, Chen Ling's simple two sentences effortlessly shattered Kong Baosheng's feigned strength. His past hardships and bitterness resurfaced, and in contrast, everything he was experiencing now felt like an unreal warmth.

His body trembled slightly; he didn't know what to say... This kindness was too great for him, so great that Kong Baosheng didn't know how he could ever repay it.

Tears rolled down from the corners of his eyes, containing both his anxiety and gratitude. He faced the direction where the two had left and dropped to his knees with a thud. His forehead hit the ground heavily, making thudding 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 sounds of his forehead hitting the ground, echoed within the opera house. Unable to reach Chen Ling and Li Qingshan's ears, they were swallowed by the sighing gale outside.

Uncle Quan, inside the opera house, saw this scene and let out a long sigh. "People always say that prostitutes are heartless and actors are disloyal... Now it seems that saying is too shallow."

"That's only natural," Huang Suyue said firmly, looking at Chen Ling's receding back. "In ancient times, everyone despised the 'lower nine trades,' but professions inherently have no noble or humble status. Those who uttered such words might not have been more loyal or compassionate than the two of them."

Outside the opera house.

Two opera robes, one red and one blue, walked through the sighing gale, their hems flapping wildly.

"Brother Lin, do you know where a pharmacy is?"

"If I'm not mistaken, there's one at the end of this street, about one or two kilometers away."

"That's not far then."

"Indeed."

"Brother Lin, we were just performing. We haven't changed out of these clothes or removed our makeup... Walking on the street like this, we won't scare people, will we?"

"Who else is on the road now besides those calamities? But if we can scare those calamities, then that would naturally be even better."

"Hahahaha, that's true," Li Qingshan chuckled. "Speaking of which, the performance earlier wasn't finished... The ancestors said: 'When the opera begins, all directions listen. One part for humans, three parts for ghosts, the Western part for gods.' Although the audience fled, the gods and ghosts are still here."

Chen Ling had also heard this saying. Regardless of its truth, for this profession, stopping a performance halfway was indeed improper.

He swept his gaze across the empty street ahead, then looked back at the opera house. During the performance of "Mu Guiying Takes Command" just now, a certain emotion seemed to surge within him, subtly resonating with his current state.

He instinctively began to speak: "Since that's the case... let's finish the song."

"Sing now? Won't that attract the calamities or the Scarlet Heaven Sect?"

"We're not afraid if the calamities come. If the Scarlet Heaven Sect comes, even better," Chen Ling smiled faintly. "Earlier, which line was I singing?"

"'Suddenly hear the drums boom and the bugles blast, awakening my soaring ambition to break open the Heavenly Gate'—that part... But it should be near the end now," Li Qingshan recalled.

Near the end, huh... Chen Ling pondered the next lines of the song, suddenly realizing where the resonance in his heart came from.

The corners of his mouth curled into an unconscious smile. His large red opera robe flapped, and the exquisite blue and silver headwear, still adorning him, swayed gently in the wind... His makeup was unremoved, his accessories still on; he hadn't stepped down from the performance stage. At this moment, he was still "Mu Guiying" from the play!

Chen Ling's crimson lips parted slightly, and his melodious yet resounding singing instantly echoed through the street!

"If I don't take command, who will?If I don't lead the troops, who will lead them!Attendants, quickly bring me my battle attire,And the commander's seal, to direct the three armies on the training ground!!"

Audience expectation value 3Current expectation value: 74