Night in the Shan Hai Realm should have been a forbidden time filled with darkness and terror.
Evil, uncanny things bred amid the tides, indescribably colossal monsters roamed the wilderness without order, and the wind of the wilderness never ceased. Coldness and restlessness eternally dwelled within that lonely howling wind.
...It should have been like that.
But ever since this mysterious Mechanical City had appeared out of nowhere, the night had welcomed a carnival of its own. Whenever night fell, tens of thousands of fireworks rose into the sky under the gaze of countless spectators. Colors of every kind nearly dazzled everyone's eyes, and only at dawn would this grand fireworks display temporarily come to a halt.
—This was a city that truly never slept.
"..."
Disconnecting his consciousness from the Shadow Puppet, Bai Zhi raised a hand and pressed against his faintly aching temple before turning to look beside him.
At his side, the girl who had an arm around him and rested her head on his shoulder was quietly watching the movie playing on the Big Screen before them.
The hotel room came with films like this, as well as a fully immersive viewing experience, but she preferred this kind.
"?"
As if sensing his gaze, the girl tilted her head slightly and looked at him with mild confusion.
"Nothing."
Coughing lightly a few times, Bai Zhi turned back toward the Big Screen.
Two days of spending time together had been enough for him to understand her personality preferences and certain unusual details about her.
Personality-wise, she leaned toward being quiet and reserved. If circumstances allowed, she could even sit alone in a corner in silence for an entire day.
Perhaps because she had traveled through too many worlds, she regarded everything with extreme detachment. There were few