Chapter 647: Theater Farewell

As Chen Ling's voice faded, the Resplendent Pavilion once again fell into complete silence.

Seeing this, Li Qingshan, who was standing nearby, instinctively wanted to tug at Chen Ling's sleeve to remind him to be more careful with his words, but his fingertips only met emptiness.

Li Qingshan naturally understood Chen Ling's meaning—with war approaching, the Resplendent Pavilion was definitely no longer safe. However, Chen Ling's phrasing was indeed a bit too harsh.

For Kong Baosheng, there were only two most important things in the world: his grandmother, who raised him, and the Resplendent Pavilion, which she left behind. At his most desperate, he had chosen to sell the Resplendent Pavilion to pay for his grandmother's medical treatment. It was at this time that Chen Ling entered his life.

Perhaps subtly, Chen Ling had already become as important to Kong Baosheng as his grandmother, holding a debt of gratitude that weighed heavily on him.

To Chen Ling, the Resplendent Pavilion might merely be a tool to complete a mission. But to Kong Baosheng, it was his grandmother's legacy, the place where he grew up, and the theater he and his master had established after enduring countless hardships and overcoming numerous obstacles. When the Resplendent Pavilion became incredibly popular, no one was happier than Kong Baosheng.

The spotless floors, neatly arranged seats, and a kitchen always stocked with various ingredients... This underage boy did the work of several people by himself, without a single complaint, because this place was his home.

What Chen Ling created as a pretense was, in this child's eyes, his entire world.

Now, his grandmother was gone, and Chen Ling and the Resplendent Pavilion were his only emotional anchors. Yet Chen Ling chose to abandon the Resplendent Pavilion without a hint of reluctance.

His master was gone, the performances had stopped, and the Resplendent Pavilion was no more. What did he have left?

Kong Baosheng had nothing left.

It was like a wanderer who had left home since childhood; even with a new house, "home" was no longer home. This is why so many people are unwilling to leave their native land, stubbornly remaining despite others' doubts or incomprehension. Sometimes, "emotion" outweighs everything, including reason.

Li Qingshan could empathize with Kong Baosheng, understanding why the child was so resolute, even obstinate, about staying at the Resplendent Pavilion. But Chen Ling could not.

Chen Ling looked at those red-rimmed eyes, his brows furrowed in incomprehension. A theater was just a theater; leaving this place and saving one's life was paramount. At worst, they could always spend money to build a new one later.

Chen Ling could not empathize with Kong Baosheng. From the "audience's" perspective, Kong Baosheng's argument seemed unreasonable, even foolish.

Kong Baosheng looked at Chen Ling, opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a single word.

*Drip—Drip—*

Tears rolled down his cheeks and fell to the ground, just as raindrops fell through the open roof, dripping into the buckets he had placed there. Not a single drop of rain wet the stage, but the ground beneath Kong Baosheng was stained with water.

Chen Ling was about to say more to Kong Baosheng when he suddenly seemed to sense something amiss and glanced up at the void above.

"Something's come up with my main body," Chen Ling said, his speech quickening slightly. "In short, you need to leave the Resplendent Pavilion as soon as possible. If all goes well, I'll wait for you in Willow Town."

Chen Ling's gaze swept over Li Qingshan, Kong Baosheng, and Huang Suyue in turn, his expression exceedingly solemn.

"I understand," Li Qingshan said, taking a deep breath.

"Brother Lin, you go ahead and take care of your business. We'll see you in Willow Town."

Chen Ling nodded slightly, his translucent body becoming increasingly faint until it vanished into nothingness.

"Miss, we must leave quickly!" Uncle Quan hurried to Huang Suyue's side, his eyes filled with anxiety. "If what that gentleman said is true, Red Dust Main City is absolutely no place to stay... Let's go back and pack now, and head straight to Willow Town."

Huang Suyue was silent for a moment, then turned to Li Qingshan and Kong Baosheng.

"I'm truly sorry, but I need to return and deal with matters concerning the Huang family's conglomerate before I can go to Willow Town. I won't be able to travel with you two."

"No problem," Li Qingshan said, cupping his hands in a respectful gesture. "Miss Huang, we'll see you in Willow Town."

Huang Suyue nodded, then knelt in front of Kong Baosheng and spoke gently, "Baosheng, although your Master Lin's words were a bit harsh, he still meant well... Don't be angry with him, okay?"

"I'm not angry with Master, I'm just... just a little sad," Kong Baosheng said, his head bowed, his voice choked with emotion.

"Please go ahead, I still need to see my grandmother off..."

Huang Suyue stroked his head, then exchanged a glance with Uncle Quan and walked straight out the door.

The pattering rain dripped from the eaves, like a curtain woven from crystal beads. A figure in a yellow dress stepped over the threshold of the theater, her gaze sweeping across the ravaged streets of the main city, her expression incredibly complex.

Uncle Quan hurried to catch up, opening a paper umbrella to shield her from the swaying rain. Huang Suyue looked back, casting a deep glance at the Resplendent Pavilion's signboard, then walked straight toward the end of the road.

"Uncle Quan."

"Yes, Miss?"

"In a while, send someone to deliver a cartload of flowers to the Resplendent Pavilion."

Uncle Quan paused, remembering Kong Baosheng had just mentioned that his grandmother loved to tend to flowers when she was alive. He couldn't help but ask, "Is it for that child?"

"This child truly has it hard," Huang Suyue sighed. "Before, I offered him a financial subsidy, but he wouldn't accept it... Now, this is the only way I can help him."

"Yes, Miss."

Chen Ling's consciousness returned to his body, and the previously blooming Red Dust Domain retracted back into the flower.

He had no time to check the flower's condition. Instead, he sharply looked upwards, seeing the distinct patterns of an embossed door carved into 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 minuscule Chen Ling and spoke in astonishment:

"'Guernica' has been nullified... How is this possible? What did you do?!"

Feeling the oppressive force of an eighth-tier aura bearing down, Chen Ling's face immediately turned grim. Without hesitation, he activated his Cloud Steps, attempting to flee into the distance.

However, no matter how fast Chen Ling moved, he barely budged relative to the Second Hall. He was currently inside "Guernica," and the painting itself was in the Second Hall's possession, like Sun Wukong trapped in the palm of the Buddha—no matter how many somersaults he performed, he couldn't escape.

The Second Hall watched the fleeing Chen Ling and the Plum Blossom 8 on his shoulder, a grave expression appearing on his abstract face. Just as he was about to make a move, a sudden flash of white light streaked across the void above!

"What's that...?" Chen Ling felt the fleeting white light and was momentarily stunned.

He looked up to see that the Second Hall's face had already vanished from the dark void.