Chapter 736: Two "Main Characters"

The Master’s sudden move startled Jian Changsheng, who then quickly stepped back. But on second thought, he realized something was off. This "Chen Ling" was still wearing paper shackles, his power sealed. How could he possibly fight?

The Master simply flicked his sleeve, and the disc transformed into endless light and shadow, engulfing "Chen Ling" like a tide, yet causing him no harm whatsoever. The figure in the crimson opera robe stumbled amidst the waves of light and shadow, his expression utterly ferocious.

"Old man! You're playing tricks! If you've got the guts, kill me!"

"Come on! Even if my power is locked away, and I stand here for you to kill, can you actually kill me?!"

"I don't need to kill you," the Master calmly stated. "I just need to awaken someone else... the one who should have been on stage."

"Chen Ling" widened his eyes. Within the surrounding tide of light and shadow were various scenes, like a compressed movie playing in fast-forward before his eyes.

It was an invitation signed by the nameless actor; a performance of "Picking the Chariot" in the desolate wilderness; his stunned expression as he passed through countless movie discs; the sight of the starry sky, the grassland, and the houses with colorful flags the first time he pushed open that door...

Everything Chen Ling experienced in the Ancient Repository of Theatrical Arts was recorded on this disc and now reappeared before him. Senior Brother Ning Ruyu, Second Senior Sister Luan Mei, Third Senior Brother Wen Renyou, Fourth Senior Brother Mo Jiao, Fifth Senior Brother Chou Jiao — one familiar figure after another flashed before his eyes, as if retrieving long-lost memories.

"Hahaha, you're dreaming!"

Seeing these images, "Chen Ling" naturally guessed what the Master intended. He immediately sneered, "He has already fallen off the stage. Now, I am the protagonist of this stage! He won't be awakened by any of this. Even if he wakes up, he'll just be an 'audience member'!"

"Like all 'audience members', he cannot cross the fourth wall between the audience and the stage. He cannot possibly affect me! And he certainly cannot return to the stage!"

The Master's eyebrows slightly rose. He spoke unhurriedly:

"...Is that so?"

The Theater.

Audience Expectation Value +1

Current Expectation Value: 20

Familiar images once again flickered on the stage, like a lengthy recap, immediately causing many "audience members" to lose interest, and their Expectation Values plummeted to rock bottom.

But in the dark audience seating, a pair of eyes stood out from the others.

They were eyes filled with rapture. He stared blankly at the passing images of the past, like a dying elder looking back on his life, recalling his entire existence. The images seemed to possess a certain power, stirring something deep within him, as if something was about to awaken.

He seemed to want to whisper something, but his face was devoid of features, leaving only a face as dark as an abyss and a pair of crimson eyes. But even so, he did not give up. As the emotion deep within him grew stronger, his body in the audience seat trembled from the effort.

Creak—creak—

Faint creaking sounds emanated from the chair beneath him.

At this moment, all the "audience members" seemed to notice something and abruptly turned their heads to look at the distinct figure among them. Pairs of crimson eyes, like an ocean, almost engulfed the figure.

No one paid attention to the recap on stage anymore, or rather... in the eyes of the "audience members," a second, more exciting stage had appeared.

The crimson in the figure's eyes gradually receded, replaced by a wisp of confusion. He had no idea he had become the center of attention, still lost in the past unfolding on the stage. A question slowly emerged in his mind.

"Who... am I?"

The next moment, a familiar voice suddenly rang out from the images:

"Chen Ling! What are you waiting for?!"

These words were like a thunderclap, echoing in his ears, and much of the confusion in his heart dispersed. He suddenly remembered that he hadn't always been sitting there; he was different from all the other audience members.

He had a name, he had a face of his own.

"I am... Chen Ling?"

The dark face gradually faded. Under the gaze of the "audience members," a hint of color slowly emerged from the figure of Chen Ling...

It was a touch of apricot red.

The last failsafe Chen Ling left before fully releasing the Mocking Calamity had taken effect.

The moment this face appeared, he was completely separated from the other audience members. He regained his memories, his own joys and sorrows, his own face, and even his pupils gradually returned to a human appearance...

At the same time, memories of the past flooded his mind. He was like someone waking from a nightmare, his pale face filled with fear and astonishment!

"This is..."

Chen Ling looked at his hands, still as dark as shadows, and the dense crowd of audience members nearby. His forehead was covered in sweat.

Too close... Since first entering the theater until now, Chen Ling had always stood on stage, looking down at the audience. But now, he was actually sitting among them, endless crimson eyes, like waves, engulfing him, chilling and eerie.

Chen Ling recalled carefully. Since he shot himself, he knew everything that had happened afterward—the feeling was like watching an exciting movie from the audience seats. But during this process, his own thinking ability seemed to have been clouded; he only felt different emotional responses as the plot developed, like a listless puppet.

"Is this what it feels like to be an audience member...?" Chen Ling murmured to himself.

One suicide attempt had brought the Expectation Value down to 5...

The good news was that Mocking Calamity had almost been killed off; the bad news was that he himself had become an audience member.

So, how was he supposed to get back?

Chen Ling's gaze fell upon the stage, where a dark figure in an opera robe stood in his original position, confronting the Master and Jian Changsheng.

"Master!" A sharp glint flashed in Chen Ling's eyes. He unhesitatingly stepped forward, descending from the audience seating.

As he advanced, the curious audience members automatically parted to either side, clearing a path for him to the stage. Although Chen Ling was wary of them, this was not the time to focus on them. His eyes were fixed intently on the shadow in the opera robe on stage, his gaze filled with determination.

Since he had awakened, he naturally couldn't be content with remaining an "audience member"... He had to reclaim what was his.

Perhaps the audience found the protagonist on stage too dull, or perhaps they were still curious about Chen Ling.

The next moment, a line of text floated above Chen Ling's head:

Audience Expectation Value +1

In one theater, both on and off the stage, there were now two "protagonists" capable of affecting the audience's Expectation Value... From the audience's perspective, a thrilling performance, unfolding right beside them, was about to begin!