Chapter 646: Won't Sing Anymore

Kong Baosheng's grandmother died before Chu Muyun arrived.

Kong Baosheng would never forget the doctor in the wool coat, who introduced himself as Mr. Lin's friend. After examining his grandmother, the doctor cast a helpless, complicated gaze. Even though Mr. Lin risked his life to bring back various medicines for her, they ultimately couldn't save his grandmother. Under such agonizing torment, all medications lost their effectiveness. Kong Baosheng could only watch as the elderly woman, who had painstakingly raised him, died in excruciating pain on her bed.

Kong Baosheng couldn't understand why this had happened. He had given his grandmother her medicine on time, and she had been fine just yesterday. How could she suddenly be like this today? Even now, Kong Baosheng had not recovered from the shock.

"Baosheng, the dead cannot return... Grandma is gone. We should arrange her funeral," Li Qingshan said with a sigh, looking at the body wrapped in a sheet. Seeing Kong Baosheng like this, Li Qingshan felt deep sorrow. Aside from how much he ordinarily liked the child, Li Qingshan had also been raised by his grandmother from a young age. Just imagining himself in Kong Baosheng's shoes made his heart feel as if it would break, filled with immense grief.

"Yes, Grandma is gone, and you are the only adult left in the family now... You need to act like an adult and see Grandma off, let her see that you can take care of yourself," Huang Suyue said, nodding repeatedly in encouragement.

Kong Baosheng blinked hard, his bloodshot eyes showing determination. He wiped away the tear stains from his cheeks and nodded firmly: "I can do it... I will do my best! Grandma loved growing flowers most. I'll make sure she leaves with dignity."

As the few of them spoke, a figure in a red robe stepped over the threshold of Jinghong Tower. Uncle Quan, who was sitting nearby, saw the familiar, translucent figure. He first froze, then a look of horror appeared in his eyes!

"You... you—"

Li Qingshan, Kong Baosheng, and Huang Suyue turned to look. They saw a figure cloaked in a large red opera robe standing silently in the main hall, frowning as he surveyed everything.

"Brother Lin!""Mr. Lin?!""Envoy!!"The three exclaimed in unison.

Kong Baosheng was stunned. He stared blankly at the translucent, ghost-like Chen Ling for a long time, then suddenly knelt down and burst into tears: "Mr. Lin... I'm sorry... I'm so sorry! If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have risked going out for medicine, and then you wouldn't have... Once I've finished Grandma's funeral, I'll come down immediately to personally apologize to you... I owe you so much in this life; I'll repay you by being your ox or horse in the next!"

Kong Baosheng desperately kowtowed to Chen Ling, hitting his head until the floor was stained with blood. Seeing this, Chen Ling immediately spoke: "What nonsense... Stand up, I'm not dead yet."

The "ghost" Chen Ling's sudden words plunged Jinghong Tower into complete silence.

"Brother Lin... you... what is this...?" When Li Qingshan first saw the translucent Chen Ling, he, like Kong Baosheng, also thought he was seeing a ghost. But upon closer thought, Chen Ling wasn't dead at all!

"It's complicated to explain this... In short, my main body isn't here; this is just a wisp of my consciousness." Chen Ling's gaze fell upon the body on the main hall floor, and his brow furrowed unconsciously. "What happened here?"

After learning that Chen Ling was not dead and that the figure was not a ghost, everyone's expressions visibly relaxed. Li Qingshan briefly recounted the news of Kong Baosheng's grandmother's death, which surprised Chen Ling. Chen Ling didn't know about the "Philosopher's Stone" and didn't connect her death to the Wuji Domain. He simply felt that human life was indeed fragile at times; a single illness could take everything away.

He remained silent for a long time before slowly uttering two words: "My condolences."

Chen Ling had not yet fully emerged from the influence of transforming into a "spectator." The fourth wall still existed, though greatly weakened, significantly reducing his capacity for empathy. He looked at Kong Baosheng, whose eyes were bloodshot, unable to truly feel his sorrow, yet he offered a reply out of courtesy and social custom.

Kong Baosheng was startled. He looked at the translucent red robe and felt that Mr. Lin seemed different from before, though he couldn't quite pinpoint how.

"I came here to tell you something," Chen Ling said, his gaze sweeping over everyone as he got straight to the point.

"...What?"

"The Domain War is about to break out. You need to leave here as soon as possible."

"Domain War??"

Huang Suyue froze. Among those present, perhaps only she could instantly grasp the meaning of that phrase. Her eyes widened in shock. "Envoy, are you serious?"

"Of course," Chen Ling said solemnly. "Currently, the Hall of Fleeting Life and its other members are heading to the domain border. It's estimated that people from the Wuji Domain will arrive soon... Once the Domain War begins, its scope will inevitably be vast, and Red Dust Main City will become the enemy's highest priority target. This place is no longer safe."

"But... if even Red Dust Main City isn't safe, where else can we go?" Uncle Quan's brow furrowed tightly.

"Go to Willow Town," Chen Ling said, looking at Li Qingshan. "Once the fires of war are ignited, Willow Town will be the safest place in the entire domain. You should depart as soon as possible."

Li Qingshan didn't understand why Chen Ling claimed Willow Town would be the safest, but he chose to trust Chen Ling immediately. Then he asked in return: "What about you, Brother Lin? Will you be safe?"

"I can protect myself."

"But, what about Jinghong Tower?" Kong Baosheng asked, bewildered. "Jinghong Tower is still here. If we leave, won't this place be empty? Where will we perform opera then? And where will our guests go to watch it?"

Kong Baosheng instinctively shook his head, muttering: "No... I have to stay. Someone needs to look after this place... We can't abandon our Jinghong Tower."

"Baosheng, this isn't about Jinghong Tower anymore," Chen Ling said, frowning slightly. "I told you, the entire Red Dust Domain is in peril. Regardless of whether Red Dust Main City even survives this war, even if it does, not many people will remain alive. Who would have the inclination to watch opera then?"

"But what if? What if people still want to watch opera later?"

"Is opera more important, or is life? Can't you tell the difference?"

"But, but the opera house... it's *our* opera house, sir!!"

"So what? It's just an opera house. It has fulfilled its purpose, and that's enough."

"Are you saying we won't perform anymore??" Kong Baosheng's emotions suddenly flared. "And Jinghong Tower, you don't want it anymore?!!"

The sudden quarrel left both Li Qingshan and Huang Suyue stunned. They had never imagined that the usually reasonable Chen Ling and Kong Baosheng, who revered him the most, would ever get into an argument.

Just as Li Qingshan was about to say something to intervene, Chen Ling fixed his gaze on Kong Baosheng and slowly said: "On the day the opera house opened, I set a rule: Jinghong Tower does not perform on rainy days."

Chen Ling raised his hand, his large red sleeve pointing to the drizzling rain falling through the open roof. "The storm facing the Red Dust Domain won't easily subside... And Jinghong Tower's performances will have no chance to be sung again."