Chapter 889: If's If

Chapter 889: What IfAuthor: Sān Jiǔ Yīn YùWord Count: 1462

"Thunder Constriction Finger."

Jian Changsheng took a deep breath, exerting all his strength. His fingers clenched abruptly, and he slammed them against the curtain. A piercing pain shot through his knuckles. Here, Jian Changsheng seemed unable to use his skills; his full-force strike only resulted in his hands being covered in blood. He grimaced wildly in pain.

Meanwhile, Chen Ling, in the scene, had already crossed the snow-covered courtyard, amidst joyful songs and laughter, and pushed open a tightly shut door. Under everyone's bewildered gaze, the figure in the crimson opera robe stepped onto the stage.

"Chen Ling, if you've lost anything, just tell me... I'll go find it for you."

"I lost a heart," Chen Ling said, his voice grim as if from the netherworld, "and my brother's life."

A hand instantly pierced through the person's chest, splattering blood onto the screen behind them! Everyone present rose in shock, and a chaotic battle erupted. At the same moment, Jian Changsheng seemed to sense something, and a memory flooded his mind: he saw Chen Ling fighting in the courtyard, pinned in mid-air by a ritualistic weapon, and then shot in the head.

"Damn it..." Jian Changsheng foresaw the unfolding events, his anxiety growing. He knew he had to change something, or Chen Ling's memories would remain lost. Chen Ling saved Sun Bumin, and Sun Bumin saved him; if Jian Changsheng couldn't save Chen Ling, everything would be meaningless. But now, a curtain completely separated his world from Chen Ling's.

Jian Changsheng took two steps back, inhaled deeply, and instinctively clutched the silver pendant on his chest. His life had seen too many failures, but he refused to fail in saving Chen Ling this time, no matter what. The silver pendant was the only thing he could pray to. He hoped the goddess of luck would favor him just this once, even if only for a single moment. Jian Changsheng took another deep breath, clenched his bloodied fist, and slammed it against the curtain!

*Thump—!*

As Jian Changsheng desperately tried to intervene in the performance, lines of text were continuously being written in the latest script on a nearby bookshelf. Excruciating pain filled Jian Changsheng's mind, yet he did not give up. Instead, each punch he threw was heavier than the last. He didn't know why he was fighting so desperately; he only knew that if he failed to save Chen Ling this time, he would never be able to forgive himself.

However, the story's plot would not change due to the intervention of a supporting character, even if he had been resurrected due to the 'audience's' favor. But it was undeniable... the audience was indeed moved by Jian Changsheng's actions and anticipated a new possibility.

Audience Expectation +4Current Expectation: 61Warning! Warning!The audience is beginning to intervene in the performance!

As Jian Changsheng's shattered hand slammed against the curtain for the countless time, a thin page, separate from all other scripts, materialized from thin air on the nearby bookshelf!

Script No. ?Extra — What IfStarring: Chen LingOther Appearances: Jian Changsheng, ?

Blood stained the surface of the curtain, as if breaking through a barrier, continuously seeping through to the other side. Jian Changsheng's blood, like paint dripping onto a canvas, transformed into a mysterious, black star in the sky within the performance.

"He actually attracted the attention of the 'Soldier God Dao'?" Chu Muyun stood under a snow-laden tree, his gaze fixed on the distant manor. "I didn't expect him to be a genius... in killing, that is."

The figure in the crimson opera robe fought wildly in the snow-swept courtyard. He seemed to faintly perceive something, raising his head to look at the sky. A star emanating the aura of the Soldier God Dao silently gazed at him from above. A God Dao Star.

"It seems I'm getting through a little?" Jian Changsheng felt the sensation from his fist, and a faint glimmer appeared in his eyes! The next moment, the void behind him shimmered slightly, and a white-haired figure wrapped in bandages slowly walked out, looking around somewhat bewildered. Jian Changsheng was overjoyed at the sight!

"Jiang Xiaohua, what took you so long?" From the beginning, Jian Changsheng had been alone in Chen Ling's memory. Jiang Xiaohua, who existed in both Sun Bumin's and Jian Changsheng's memories, hadn't appeared here until now.

"I don't know," Jiang Xiaohua replied dully. "I couldn't enter his memory at all before... but just now, it seemed to open up for me."

Neither of them noticed that the moment Jiang Xiaohua stepped in, his name immediately appeared after Jian Changsheng's in the "Other Appearances" section of the extra script.

"Quick, help me! I feel like I'm about to tear it open!" Jian Changsheng urged immediately.

"...Oh." Without another word, Jiang Xiaohua walked directly to Jian Changsheng's side, gripped the small opening Jian Changsheng had created, and slowly pulled with force.

"It's not just the 'Soldier God Dao'," a figure in the shadows outside the courtyard said in a deep voice. "Didn't you notice? The 'Shaman God Dao' star also reacted..."

"Shaman God Dao? What's his connection to the Shaman God Dao? Why would he activate the Shaman God Dao?"

"I don't know..."

As the two spoke, a ritualistic weapon inside the courtyard was activated with full power! Chen Ling's vision blurred; the snow beneath his feet instantly burst open, and a pale, rib-like projection, resembling a giant's, pierced through his body, impaling him directly in mid-air! Then came the second, and the third... By the time the last bone-like projection impaled Chen Ling's body, he could not move an inch, like a prisoner in a cage.

"Is receiving divine favor so impressive? Even if you're a quasi-enforcer, don't you still end up in my hands? Kid, I don't care what grudge you have with Ice Spring Street, you're dead... Do you have any idea how many people's interests you've harmed?" Qian Fan raised his gun, pointing it at Chen Ling's brow. Killing intent spread through his heart, and he was about to pull the trigger with force!

"Oh no!""Hurry! A little more force!! Otherwise, this guy's going to get shot!""I am trying."

Jian Changsheng and Jiang Xiaohua pushed simultaneously, their palms cut by the sharp edge of the curtain. Blood continuously seeped downwards as their auras burst forth at the same time!

*Boom—!!*

The two stars in the firmament instantly brightened, magnificent divine pillars shattered the snowy curtain, and two streams of God Dao aura—one of a soldier, one of a shaman—enveloped Chen Ling within the skeletal structure. The surging aftermath nearly knocked everyone nearby off their feet!

"It's torn open!" Jian Changsheng wiped the sweat from his brow, looking at the opening before him, almost wide enough for a person to pass through. "Just a little more... almost there..."

"Let me do it!" A voice came from behind.

Both turned their heads simultaneously to see Sun Bumin, who had followed the threads of memory to this place, constantly stretching his limbs. The aura of the Opera God Dao wildly spread around him. He let out a cold snort and punched the nearly shattered opening in the curtain!

***

A quick announcement: Tonight, the 'Opera God Official Week' merchandise is now available! This includes Twilight Society poker cards, individual badges and shikishi cards for Chen Ling, Han Meng, and Bai Ye, a personal merchandise set for Chen Yan, Opera God-themed notebooks, and more. You can find these items by following the Douyin shops "Yu Huo Qiu Shi" or "San Jiu Yin Yu." There will also be a live stream tonight! (Merchandise for 'God Slaying' is also available.)