Becoming an Artist

"Luo Man, why did you stop singing?"

High on the mountain in the center of the island.

A figure dressed in pure white, exuding an aura of pristine purity, stood there. He watched as distant ships were swallowed by the storm and gradually faded from view.

Beside this figure.

A thin, young girl in a wheelchair asked her a question:

"This place is your secret factory. Some people even came here just to take a look."

"Is it really okay to just let them go like this?"

The standing white figure replied calmly:

"The ones who came to pick them up were the Kuwait Family Red Sea Kraken."

The girl in the wheelchair sneered, "Hey, I don't recall you being afraid of authority."

"The drug dealers' fear of the police is just like how Van Ginneken quit a robbery because someone stopped him!"

"Otherwise what? Make me go up against an artistic Lineage?" The white-clad figure rolled his eyes at the girl. "A more reasonable solution is to abandon this island and find a new base."

He gazed at the distant blue sky:

"The Red Sea is vast; it can hide all filth and secrets, and it can also accommodate a lawless person like me."

The girl in the wheelchair asked:

"But if you leave, those mermaids will be very sad."

The white figure replied:

"What does it have to do with me? They've already got enough men."

"They still thrived and multiplied even before this island existed; they're just back to square one now."

"Don't be irresponsible for the ecosystem you've altered! So many tragedies have stemmed from this!" the girl in the wheelchair asked again. "Regardless of these mermaids, what about this island?"

The white-clad figure replied casually, "Do you think I would leave any trace here that would allow someone to trace me?"

The girl in the wheelchair pointed to the island in front of her and asked, "Where are the people on the island?"

The white figure pointed to the vast sea in the distance. "The sea is full of hungry wild animals."

"Those bastards who don't respect human life are disgusting," the girl in the wheelchair cursed, then asked again, "If you don't want this island anymore, where do you plan to go next?"

The blurry white figure replied, "Anywhere is fine, just not the City of a Thousand Sails."

The girl in the wheelchair felt that the other person was unreasonable:

"They ruined your work, aren't you going to get revenge?"

The white-clad figure spoke with composure and calm, "I'm not the protagonist in the Prince's Revenge, why would I do something that doesn't benefit art?"

The girl in the wheelchair recited a line from a movie. "Money, I hate money the most! It's the root of all filth in the world, the devil that incites greed and desire!"

Then she changed the subject. "If I didn't know how much money you made through Caimeng, I would have believed you."

When asked about his purpose, the white figure's expression turned serious. "What I want is not money, but the figures of people who have fallen into delusion and their minds that have been confused and bewildered by chaos."

The white figure sighed:

"Mundane things get caught up in illusions and dreams, which is just a waste of time and life. But a true genius like me can also discover unparalleled art from them."

The girl in the wheelchair made no attempt to hide her disgust. "Twisted darkness is art?"

"You are absolutely despicable, even more disgusting than Gore in Von Buren's novel!"

The white figure retorted, "Are you any better? A disseminator of despair who writes tragedies?"

The girl in the wheelchair panicked:

"How could I be like trash like you? Those people are consumed by despair simply because they lack the ability! I pursue art, dreams, redemption with the power to break free from fate, and true heroes!"

The white figure suddenly lowered its voice:

"You took what you saw in the play seriously?"

"..."

The girl in the wheelchair was silent for a few seconds before murmuring in a very low voice:

"Of course I think it's true."

"But later I thought it was fake, the only treasure that could not be found."

The white figure repeated it, then realized with a start:

"I thought, but later?"

So... you've found the real thing?!

He then pressed on, "By the way, didn't you say you were manipulating a hapless little guy who's chasing after love, re-enacting the love story of Lily Danny and Adores, and writing Bitter Journey of Love?"

"The script wasn't even finished yet, and now the goals have changed?"

The white-clad figure's voice sounded somewhat incredulous, but the girl in the wheelchair nodded in agreement. "That's right, because my true love has appeared."

The white figure sounded somewhat surprised:

"Are you in love?"

"How can someone like you, trapped in despair and sorrow, have such positive and uplifting emotions?"

Upon hearing this, the girl in the wheelchair became extremely excited.

She struggled to stand up, but her weak arms couldn't support her body, so she leaned forward slightly and then fell down again.

The girl, slumped in her wheelchair, retorted indignantly, "Don't use something as ridiculous as love to describe my feelings!"

"A true hero has arrived!"

The white figure naturally didn't believe it:

"What? Among those little runaways, there are so-called heroes?"

"I've spent quite a bit of time in the Seven Seas Alliance. I've seen many courageous people, but I've never seen a single one who can defy fate."

Hearing the words of the white-clad figure.

The girl in the wheelchair had an incredibly bright look in her eyes, and her tone even became more assertive:

"In this corrupt and dull world, there are naturally no such people."

"But he's different!"

"He is Singular Being has awakened Second Life, a hero who came from the harsh borderlands and overcame despair and fate along the way!"

"I believe in him, he can definitely do it!"

"..."

The white figure then realized:

"You've stumbled upon someone's life script."

"So what about that little guy who was originally pursuing love? What do you plan to do with him?"

The girl in the wheelchair replied, "Of course I won't let my story be cut short. But—sometimes scripts change the main character."

The white figure said:

"But how could someone who can't even compete with my singing possibly refute your script?"

"And if you change his life's destiny, will he still be the same person he was before?"

"My power is indeed immense!" The girl in the wheelchair spoke with unwavering conviction. "Lifespan, cause and effect, destiny. These laughable tragedies cannot stop a true hero! I believe he can overcome everything!"

The white figure sighed, "If you can complete this creation, you should be able to advance to the Eighth Stage."

"That kind of thing is fine no matter what!"

The girl in the wheelchair shouted excitedly, "I'm not one of those Bone-Eating Shark that only pursue power!"

A sickly, loving smile appeared on the girl's face:

"What I need is a brave man, a hero! He must be someone who can conquer fate, he will definitely save me!"

"..."

After a brief silence, the white figure asked:

"What if he fails?"

"..."

The girl in the wheelchair remained silent.

A profound sense of despair spread, as if it were about to turn the island's Mountain Peak black.

Within just a few breaths, the surrounding plants withered.

Further afield, those in the island town who were addicted to the Rainbow Dream Potion also briefly regained their senses under the chilling stimulation.

"Hehe--"

Upon seeing this, the white figure let out a cold laugh:

"How dare you say that to me?"

"I think it's a tragedy for the whole world that someone like you has become a powerful artist."

After saying that, he turned around and walked back behind him, stepping into the Mountain Peak.

It's as if the paint has blended into the painting.

The girl in the wheelchair did not go back with him; instead, she pushed the wheelchair towards the edge of the island.

She murmured softly, with unwavering determination and fervor:

"But for me."

"One of the great things about being an artist is that it allows you to truly live."