Chapter 694: Redemption

A red butterfly danced in the rain, leaving traces as if a gentle breeze had passed.

A silver monstrous figure, with immense force, strode through the ruins. Its body, covered in spikes, resembled an unstoppable war chariot, tearing a gap through the rain curtain.

The moment the two figures converged, the red butterfly moved with instantaneous, ethereal grace. A single slash, like a crescent silver moon, drifted lightly across the surface of the silver war chariot, and the figure of the chariot suddenly froze in place.

The red butterfly did not pause. Instead, it unhurriedly slowed its steps, casually plunged its long silver blade into the earth, and strolled leisurely through the veil of rain.

A Dance of Slaughter.

CRACK—

Cracks erupted crisply from the silver war chariot. Its intimidating long spikes snapped and fell away simultaneously, as a distinct slash mark pierced clean through its towering body, severing it in two with a single strike.

The two halves of the silver monstrous figure toppled in opposite directions, crashing into the exploded ruins and raising plumes of dust.

"S-sir...?"

Not far away, a thoroughly drenched Kong Baosheng watched the scene, as if he hadn't yet woken from a profound dream.

Kong Baosheng hadn't expected Chen Ling to return. After all, Chen Ling had previously stated clearly that they would rendezvous in Liuzhen, and Jinghong Tower was merely a creation for his act. The moment the red-clad figure truly appeared, Kong Baosheng was stunned, followed by a surge of excitement and wild elation!

Sir had neither abandoned Jinghong Tower nor them... He was still the Sir they knew.

Chen Ling spotted Kong Baosheng in the distance, but at that moment, he had no time to speak with him. Instead, with a slight frown, he went to the side of the bloodied girl.

"Your Excellency..."

Huang Suyue lay amidst the ruins, her gaze fixed blankly on the figure... The relentlessly gloomy sky, the swirling dust, and the agonizing pain from her body all seemed to vanish in that moment. In her world, only that splash of red remained.

"Your Excellency... why have you come?"

"I've come to reclaim myself."

Chen Ling knelt down slightly, his gaze sweeping over the indistinct form in the pool of blood. His brows furrowed deeper and deeper. "You're gravely injured."

Huang Suyue showed no sorrow, nor did she weep bitterly from grievance. She simply gazed at the red-clad figure in the rain, her eyes seemingly holding stars, and whispered softly:

"Mmm... I'm dying."

"You won't die," Chen Ling paused for a moment. "I know a very skilled doctor. I'll take you to him."

Without waiting for Huang Suyue's answer, he reached out and lifted her soft body. Then, stepping onto thin air, he ascended, moving step by step towards the city outskirts.

Cloud Steps.

Huang Suyue lay in Chen Ling's arms.

The ground receded beneath her, and the clouds drew steadily closer. At that moment, with just a slight turn of her head, she could have gazed down from high above at a significant part of Hongchen Main City – a view most ordinary people would never witness in their entire lives... Yet, she did not.

She simply lay there quietly, her eyes fixed on Chen Ling's face. Her pale lips unconsciously curved upwards, then, as if embarrassed, she struggled to suppress it.

But a young girl's feelings cannot be concealed. Chen Ling merely lowered his head slightly and saw a subtly flushed cheek, attempting to avoid his gaze.

"What's wrong?" Chen Ling asked.

"Nothing... Your Excellency, I'm fine."

"You don't need to call me Your Excellency; that's just a fabricated identity. My name is Chen Ling."

Since Chen Ling intended to reclaim himself, he had no desire to continue wearing a false guise. Moreover, Huang Suyue was no longer a stranger; she had already assisted him greatly in Hongchen Main City and was considered a companion.

"Chen Ling," Huang Suyue murmured, "Is it the 'ling' from 'performer'?"

"Yes."

"Sir, your name is truly lovely."

Chen Ling did not reply. He felt the palm of his hand, cradling Huang Suyue, gradually grow damp. Large patches of crimson spread over his arm and the hem of his robe, slowly merging with his performance attire.

Huang Suyue was too gravely injured; her blood was flowing away uncontrollably. Drops of crimson mingled with the rain, drifting down onto the ruined earth.

"Speak less and stay conscious," Chen Ling said with a frown.

Huang Suyue's lips were lightly pursed. She looked at Chen Ling's face, at those eyes as calm as a lake, and then suddenly spoke:

"Sir, are you saddened by my state?"

Chen Ling stiffened.

He cradled Huang Suyue, rushing headlong towards the city outskirts. Hearing the question, he did not lower his gaze to meet Huang Suyue's eyes... or rather, he dared not.

He remained silent for a long moment, then could only reply:

"I don't know."

"...You don't know?" Huang Suyue was taken aback. She hadn't expected Chen Ling to give such a reply. She couldn't help but ask, "Then why are you trying so hard to save me?"

"You are my companion. In the past, I would have certainly saved you... So now, I should do the same; this is truly me."

Huang Suyue didn't comprehend the meaning of his answer. Yet, she could see the detached coolness and indifference in Chen Ling's eyes, as if they didn't belong to this world, like those of an emotionless spectator.

Huang Suyue was utterly stunned.

As she lay in Chen Ling's arms, her heart silently crumbled into dust, mingling with the crimson blood and drifting down beneath the clouds.

"Indeed... actors are heartless," Huang Suyue murmured softly.

"Stop talking." Chen Ling felt Huang Suyue's life force rapidly draining away in his arms. The faint blush that had been on her face had vanished, leaving behind only a snow-like pallor and coldness. "...You must live."

"No, I insist on speaking."

Her vision dimmed, her consciousness blurred. Huang Suyue knew her time was short. The emotions that had long been suppressed beneath her rationality now gradually surged forth...

She no longer needed her business acumen, nor a calm mind, nor did she care about being subservient or independent... She gazed stubbornly at Chen Ling, simply wanting to make certain things clear.

"Sir... no, Chen Ling." In Huang Suyue's weakening voice, there was a trace of resentment. "You're nothing but a cheat!"

"...What?"

"The very first time we met, you swindled me out of half a million."

"..." Chen Ling retorted, "You bought that willingly."

"Weren't you the one who took advantage of my predicament and arbitrarily hiked up the price... Who does business like that?!"

"But I later compensated you with information." Chen Ling tried to reason with Huang Suyue, or perhaps, to tally up the exchange, using logic to balance the so-called gains and losses.

"And later, didn't I also help you? Your identity, everything, came from me."

"But..."

"You made me tell everyone that you were an actor I'd signed, yet you never shared any of the money you earned... you didn't even treat me to a single meal!" Huang Suyue burst out, gritting her teeth. "I helped you conceal your identity, I helped you repair the theater, I spent the money I earned on you, I had your back whenever you got into trouble, I helped you with everything you did..."

Chen Ling was silent for a long moment, as if seriously weighing her words, then let out a deep sigh,

"Alright, I genuinely owe you."

"That's not what I meant to say!"

"Then what do you want to say?"

"I... I..."

Huang Suyue pressed her lips together, attempting to speak several times, but the words wouldn't come out... She blinked, and tears – whether from frustration or injustice – slipped from the corners of her eyes as she silently swallowed both her words and her tears.

She sniffled softly, burying her head into Chen Ling's embrace, her hands clinging tightly to him.

Her voice came softly:

"You... if only you were truly my performer, how wonderful that would be..."

"I'd willingly spend my entire life to redeem you."