Insight Inspired by the Scene

The shop manager chuckled, "Sir, you're overthinking it. Just looking at how hard your girlfriend had to enter the illusion before, I know she must be a master. If someone had any ill intentions, they would have been alerted immediately and woken up from their slumber."

But given the impropriety of the situation, he didn't say much. After all, the man's girlfriend was beautiful, and many of the goddesses that guests fantasized about during their erotic dreams were not as outstanding as her. So he left Si Ming in the room and departed.

Admiring Si Huaruo's flawless face, Si Ming didn't feel bored at all. Moreover, her expressions were very vivid. On ordinary days, she might have been mindful of the etiquette of a well-bred lady and dared not let loose. But after falling asleep, she was free from restraint, sometimes grinding her teeth, sometimes smacking her lips, and muttering in her sleep things like "I can still eat, don't take it away" and "Kongming, feed me"—all rather vague words.

Despite being unusually picky and finding the shop's illusions unrealistic, Si Huaruo became increasingly relaxed, radiating happiness and satisfaction, almost saying "It's so delicious!" as she was completely absorbed in the culinary dream woven by the illusion.

An hour later, Si Huaruo's expression suddenly changed. First, she was shocked, then she frowned, then she was angry, and she opened her eyes abruptly.

Si Ming asked with concern, "What's wrong? Did you have a nightmare?"

"In a way, yes... I was enjoying all sorts of delicious food when suddenly Si Jingyu appeared out of nowhere and told me that eating so much food would definitely make me a big fat person, and then I really did get fat. Then she pulled you away from me and said that she wouldn't allow her younger brother to marry a 300-pound sow."

Si Huaruo grew angrier as she spoke, finally gritting her teeth and saying, "Tell me, isn't she going too far? She even has to come out and ruin my sweet dreams, deliberately trying to make me unhappy. I'll remember this grudge!"

Chapter 763 Enlightenment Through Scenery

You even dare to bother me in my dreams, I'll stab you to death!

With a single bite of her chopsticks, Si Huaruo shattered the crab shell into pieces, leaving only the crab meat and eight crab legs behind.

Si Ming shook his head helplessly, but said nothing. Anyone who is in the happiest moment of their dream, and then suddenly faces a dramatic reversal, will feel a similar bittersweet sensation as being turned into a rosy-skull. Guanyin once offered her physical body as a sacrifice, appearing in rosy form to have intercourse with a lost person. At the moment of great joy of intercourse, she suddenly revealed her skeletal form, thus saving the lost person from being consumed by the desires of flesh and skin.

Ultimately, it comes down to the fact that the Dream Illusion Hall's technology is inadequate. Human thoughts are like wild horses, and no one can guarantee that a random thought won't suddenly pop up and cause the dream to reverse. Even Buddhist School monks say, "Constantly wipe it clean, lest it be covered in dust," let alone ordinary people. It is not an easy thing to completely control one's dreams.

However, Si Ming was not worried that this matter would become a mental demon for Si Huaruo. After helping Si Huaruo defeat Si Jingyu Yu at the Water Mirror Manor, this mental demon had already been shattered. Even if there were still remnants, they could not be formed. Besides, Si Huaruo was not the kind of person who was stubborn and could not get over things.

"Sir, this is Tianxiong Moxibustion on Blue Carp. Please enjoy."

Because they had opted for snacks and street food for lunch, Si Ming changed his dinner choice to a well-known local restaurant frequented by celebrities. Sensing something was amiss, the waiter quickly left after serving the food.

Si Ming quickly tried to divert Si Huaruo's attention. "This grilled fish is the signature dish of this Qilin Star Restaurant, give it a try."

He reached out with his chopsticks to pick up the fish, and as soon as he touched it, the fish blossomed like a flower. The dark, charcoal-like bluefish instantly released a rich aroma, which immediately attracted Si Huaruo as well.

"The explosive aroma suggests that the chef used some method to seal the fragrance inside the fish, achieving a powerful, gradual release."

Si Huaruo picked up a slice of fish. As a scion of a wealthy family who had never lacked fine food and clothing since childhood, her evaluation of the food was much more refined. "The chef's skills are superb. Not only did he calculate the breaking strength of the grass carp's own muscles and tendons, bringing the heating to a critical value, giving the fish a delicate texture that seems to bloom like a flower, but he also didn't add any extra oil, simply using the grass carp's own oil to coat the surface of the fish, completely locking in the aroma."

As Si Ming ate the fish, an image involuntarily appeared in his mind: a raging fire burning on the boundless Yangtze River, with bluefish leaping out of the river and soaring in the flames before falling back into the sea. One side was scorching as fire, and the other was tranquil as water. The bluefish underwent changes under the alternating influence of water and fire.

"Oh--the fire used to grill the fish isn't an ordinary fire, but a flame generated by the chef using his True Qi, and it's a very special kind of Yin fire, which allows for precise temperature control so that the fish doesn't get too hot and burn."

Si Huaruo picked up a piece of fish tail meat, her eyes lighting up, and added, "What's even more impressive is the uniformity. Each part of the fish is grilled at a different temperature, with the intensity adjusted according to its thickness, instead of just throwing it all into the fire to cook."

Fish has a thick belly and a thin tail. If the heat is the same, the tail may burn or the meat deep inside the belly may not be cooked through. For example, when we eat regular grilled fish, the outer layer is very crispy and fragrant, but the inside is just average. This is not only due to the skin, but also because the flames burn from the outside in. If you wait until the inside is also crispy, the outside will have already burned.

However, there is no such worry when using fire of True Qi to roast the fish. The True Qi can penetrate into the inside of the fish meat and burn from the inside out. In addition, less True Qi is used for the tail part and more True Qi is used for the belly part.

"Perfect."

This was Si Ming's assessment of the grilled fish. He couldn't find a single flaw; every part of the fish was incredibly crispy and flavorful. To others, it was simply a dish prepared by a chef, but to him, it was a testament to the skill of a martial artist. Just like a swordsman's mark, which others could discern through the lingering Sword Intent, Si Ming understood the chef's Swordsmanship skill through this dish. At least in terms of Internal Cultivation, the chef had reached a level of complete control and subtle mastery.

Logically speaking, such a master would have no need to become a chef; becoming a martial artist would certainly be more promising. However, everyone has their own ambitions, and not everyone enjoys fighting and killing. Some people simply enjoy cooking ingredients and making exquisite dishes. Seeing others enjoy their food makes them happy too, and this is not uncommon.

"A dish priced at eight thousand is quite reasonable compared to the skill involved."

You get what you pay for. The price of this dish is entirely supported by its technical quality. From an engineering student's perspective, it's extremely cost-effective. It's not the same as luxury goods that rely on "rarity" and "high reputation." The ingredient is just an ordinary, plump bluefish.

Thinking that there was no need to see the hen if the eggs were delicious, Si Ming didn't go to see the chef. After finishing his meal, he went to the Linked Mountains City Art Grand Theater with Si Huaruo, though the aroma was still lingering in his mouth.

Si Huaruo loves acting and joined the drama club when she was in school. Si Ming naturally didn't forget this, so instead of watching a movie, they went to see a play together.

The Linked Mountains City Art Grand Theater is the largest art theater in Su State and even the entire Sea Continent. The largest theater can accommodate 5,000 people, which is impossible on Earth because, unlike movies, True Person performances cannot amplify the image. More importantly, with a larger space, the sound cannot reach the audience in the back rows, making it easy to not hear clearly.

For example, stage performance emphasizes the actor's ability to use language and perform. Every actor must have enough breath to deliver their lines. When professional actors receive professional training, their diction classes include many methods of using breath and proper vocalization. All of this is to enable actors to deliver their lines freely on stage.

There's a saying in the industry that the best actors can deliver their lines so clearly that even the audience in the last row of the theater can hear them perfectly. Every word is precious. But there's a limit to that. Generally speaking, a theater that can seat 1,000 people is considered a large theater. It really tests an actor's skills, and many actors can't do that and have to rely on microphones.

But there's no such compromise in the Sea Continent. If your voice isn't loud enough, it's because your Internal Cultivation isn't enough. No excuses will help. If your Internal Cultivation strength is weak, you're destined to be a low-level actor, never a master.

Therefore, the trend of pretty boys with only good looks doesn't take off in the Sea Continent. If you don't have enough talent, you'll be discriminated against. Even fans don't have the confidence to speak up for their idols. That's the hard standard.

Of course, some idols also take the path of drug use, improving their Internal Cultivation by consuming elixirs. Theoretically, they can reach level eight, but the cost is consuming all their future growth potential and costing over ten million. The most cost-effective level is level six, which only costs one million.

This situation is similar to that of celebrities getting plastic surgery on Earth. Although it becomes a scandal after being exposed, a large number of female celebrities still rush to get plastic surgery, since it is a basic necessity.

Celebrities always have packed schedules, leaving little time to hone their Internal Cultivation. Even with the same talent, they can't compare to their peers, unless they are actors who can focus on honing their craft. In that case, they can manage both, but such actors are far less wealthy and earn less than celebrities.

Throughout the entire play, Si Huaruo watched intently, her eyes glued to the screen, occasionally letting out soft exclamations of admiration. This was because the performers on stage were the top theatrical actors in the Su State, and each of their lines were incredibly impactful, like deep bass cannons, possessing a strong penetrating power that resonated with the audience. One of them even had Internal Cultivation that had reached the Spirit Transformation Threshold.

As the performance ended, Si Huaruo stood up, clapping enthusiastically, and exclaimed excitedly, "That was amazing! Truly a top-notch performance, absolutely breathtaking!"

Si Ming also stood up and applauded, then asked, "You must have seen some top-notch performances in the Nation of Beauty. Which one is better?"

Si Huaruo pondered for a moment before replying, "Their acting skills are equally impressive, but their styles are completely different. Actors from our country pay more attention to the details, telling the story in a gentle and detailed way, which is suitable for careful appreciation. Actors from Su State, on the other hand, are more confident and have a greater impact, giving people a strong shock from the very beginning and instantly drawing them into the play."

"It sounds like the difference between the delicate and refined school and the bold and unrestrained school. Which one do you prefer?"

"Nation of Beauty theater places too much emphasis on tradition. It talks about innovation but still requires people to abide by various unspoken rules. Once you cross those lines, you'll be criticized for being unorthodox. In comparison, the atmosphere in Su State is more open and has a broader perspective. Personally, I prefer the latter," Si Huaruo said without hesitation.

This isn't about loving someone because of their family, but rather it's related to personal experience. Si Huaruo is in the prime of her youth and is one of the best among her peers, so naturally she prefers that kind of striving and enterprising spirit, just like Li Bai's poems were popular during the Tang Dynasty and Du Fu's poems were popular during the late Tang Dynasty.

As she left the stage, Si Huaruo, like the other audience members, continued to reminisce about the exciting parts of the previous performance.

"... The backdrop suddenly collapsed, startling me. I thought there had been a performance mishap and the show would have to stop. But national-level actors are national-level actors; their ability to react on the spot was incredible. The actor playing the guard shouted 'Assassin!' The actor playing the imperial envoy immediately followed with a panicked expression, and the other servants also looked around as if they were really on guard against an assassin. If I hadn't heard from the people next to me that this scene didn't actually happen, I probably would have thought it was part of the plot."

Theatrical performances are spontaneous; no matter what happens, the performance can never be stopped during the show. Therefore, stage accidents are an inevitable part of theatrical production. When an accident occurs, actors and even the entire production team need to react on the spot and adjust to make up for the unexpected situation. Inexperienced young actors are easily flustered and at a loss, standing on stage unsure of how to react. However, skilled actors can seamlessly continue the play, making it seem as if no accident ever happened.