Chapter 194

.

.

P. S.: Update times are irregular due to adjusting my sleep schedule and writer's block, but I don't want to just do it perfunctorily. I can only guarantee that I won't stop updating unless I get sick. If you're not satisfied, you can let the book rest; there's no need to be sarcastic in the group.

Volume 1: 186. The Story of the Changing Room, Father and Daughter Meet. (5K)

Waiting Room, rest area.

This is where the contestants wait to see who wins the PK battle. To enhance the show's entertainment value, each team occupies a fairly large room.

The atmosphere inside was rather quiet at the moment.

However, unlike Tang Liuli, Xie Qingxuan, and Kiriwake Yayoi, who knew about the Magical Girl in advance and were mentally prepared, the silence of this Little Cotton-padded Jacket seemed particularly deafening, as if one could hear the sound of their worldview collapsing and shattering, as if they were in a state of shutdown.

As for the other three, they all looked at Chu Yuanqing was resting with his eyes closed.

Chu Wangshu was completely bewildered and couldn't sense anything amiss, but since they had all replenished Chu Yuanqing's magic and knew he had been injured, they were naturally worried about the Pure White Witch's condition.

Time passed by, second by second.

The Magic Clone outside the venue dissipated on their own.

Chu Yuanqing relaxed and let out a long sigh. She curled up on the sofa in the room, her delicate yet pale face showing signs of fatigue. Her eyelashes drooped and fell on her eyelids, casting a shadow. The color of her lips had faded slightly, making them look soft and fragile.

Now, in terms of appearance and temperament, she is worlds apart from the man who slayed the nightmare outside the venue. It is likely that, apart from those who have passed away, no one can find any common ground between the two.

Chu Yuanqing ignored the pain of his soul cracking like porcelain glaze, immersing himself in a lingering sense of relief. The red and black flames flowing within his body, like peeling away ashes, slowly withdrew from the warmth of the fire and returned to the silvery magic of moonlight.

Thus began the emptiness of continuously overflowing and frantically disappearing magic.

If it weren't for the audience's continued positive emotional support, her overdraft of the Soul Flower and forced release of magic would have inevitably led to the lantern's further shattering, losing its last refuge from the Sea of Truth.

But no matter how great the risks, she will protect her daughter and the children in the venue.

At least for now, it ended with a good result, which can be considered lucky.

Chu Yuanqing murmured to himself:

"Am I now unable to even defeat the Supreme Calamity Beast?"

[The Shattered Golden Cup], [Echoes of the Past], [The Killing Karma of Annihilation].

Although the [Pure White Aria] wiped out most of the Nightmare's offspring, the three spells born from the Soul Flower, combined with the Magic Clone, completely annihilated the remaining offspring of the Nightmare.

However, today's series of actions were all taken at a risky pace, like walking a tightrope, and are not repeatable at all.

If it weren't for the inexplicable fear the nightmare hadn't instilled in him, [Pure White Aria] wouldn't have been able to build up enough stage presence to unleash it at its peak; it would most likely have been forced to use it right at the beginning of the performance.

In that situation, at most one could only kill the opponent's body on the spot; there was no way to use methods tainted by fate and karma to drag all the offspring located around the world to the scene.

After that, if the audience below the stage hadn't reacted with a huge amount of positive emotions in time, restoring their magic power all at once and allowing [The Killing Karma of Annihilation] to be woven, they wouldn't have been able to unleash that sword strike with just [Echoes of the Past] and their own pool-level magic power.

In other words, killing the Nightmare was merely the result of luck, coincidence, and the advantage of the terrain.

Chu Yuanqing understood that without the help of the Little Idol on stage, she couldn't kill the Nightmare with magic alone, and the Nightmare was only ranked in the third tier within the Disaster God's ecosystem.

Well, in comparison to Xie Qingyu's assessment, it would be B-Class.

This was still while Nightmare was in a weakened state, which shows just how weak she was at that moment.

Chu Yuanqing speculated that only if her magic level increased again and the Soul Flower wove more spells could she single-handedly and risk-free reproduce the process of defeating the Nightmare today.

"What a pity. If we hadn't encountered this situation, this stage performance could have significantly accelerated the progress of magic enhancement."

"But this should clear Chu Yuanqing's name of any suspicion that he has any connection with the Calamity Beasts, making Xiao Shu's official record more legitimate. My performance in fighting the Nightmare on stage can also explain things out, and I won't be suspected for the time being."

After sorting out her thoughts and ending her period of rest, Chu Yuanqing suppressed the urge to cough, rubbed the lantern with her fingertips, reminded the little one not to forget the spell to maintain the disguise, smiled at the three of them, and then looked at the silly Little Cotton-padded Jacket with concern, feeling somewhat conflicted.

Although I never wanted my daughter to be involved in such matters, the fact that the other party had stepped into [Flow State] and the unexpected incident at the venue both proved that this day would come sooner or later.

Chu Yuanqing used to be able to be optimistic, thinking of finding opportunities to fill in the gaps, solve the root of all the crises, and let his daughter know nothing about the Calamity Beasts, so that she could live a happy and healthy life.

The emergence of nightmares shows that the authorities are gradually losing control of the situation, and similar incidents will only increase in the future. It is no longer possible to keep it a secret forever.

Therefore, she should perhaps tell Xiao Shu something so that the child can have some expectations for the future.

With a slight thought, an announcement came over the loudspeaker in the room:

"If you see any strange monsters at the venue, please do not panic."

"This is due to a problem with the mayfly nanotechnology devices that were set up in the venue by the organizers. The error in the electron wavelength caused the projection of the virtual reality scene to be affected."

"Everything is back to normal now..."

Staff had apparently been notified and were using the loudspeaker to promptly address the aftermath of the nightmare attack.

Chu Yuanqing was somewhat speechless, yet also felt it made perfect sense.

For example, Calamity Beasts like a nightmare cannot be captured by electronic devices. It does not have a definite physical form. The terrifying monsters that the audience saw were essentially a vague and abstract mental imprint, which is why they remained in a writhing state.

In other words, the contestants in the Waiting Room couldn't see the Calamity Beasts appear at all. The only unusual thing they could notice was the image of themselves having removed their disguise and revealed their white hair and golden eyes.

And that was exactly the case. The other contestants in the Waiting Room barely reacted after hearing the announcement. At most, they were curious about what the projected monster looked like and who had seen it. This became the topic of conversation among the girls.

As for the five thousand audience members present...

These people should have been the hardest to fool, but [Pure White Aria] sealed their memories. At the moment, they were all savoring the stunning beauty of the Pure White Witch and indulging in the grand stage of the fivefold [Flow State], completely unaware that they had just escaped death.

Therefore, the only task that <Flash Dance> needed to accomplish was to fool the few Little Idol who were present at the time, and keeping the matter a secret wouldn't take much effort.

This misleading broadcast, far from providing any comfort to the incredibly intelligent Green Eyed Cat, was practically another kind of horror story.

Tang Liuli's head started spinning wildly after hearing this. She had witnessed Chu Yuanqing's magic and had a complete logic in her mind about this incident—that a powerful enemy attacked Qing Bao and was defeated by Qing Bao's magic—so she naturally didn't believe the broadcast at all.

Based on this line of reasoning, Green Eyed Cat is highly skeptical of the official response from <FlashDance>.

The fact that the red-eyed rabbit was dealt with so quickly... could it mean that the show "Flash Dance" itself is connected to the underworld?

Thinking about it carefully, since the monster dared to appear in public, the hypothesis that Qing Bao wanted to use the popularity of <Flash Dance> to seek refuge no longer holds true in the present day.

Is it possible that Qing Bao participated in <Flash Dance> because it's related to Magical Girl, and she thought it would be easier to Magic Replenishment targets to heal her injuries?

Little Sakura was somewhat silent. She hadn't quite come to her senses yet. This second Public Performance was the one in which she was in the best personal condition and had the largest audience in her seven-year Idol Career. In her imagination, this would be a milestone, and she should be able to evoke even more emotions.

The arrival of the nightmare not only extinguished her hopes and joys, but also shattered her values, even causing her to waver in her dream of becoming an idol for the first time.

Kiriwake Yayoi wants to become an idol because she was once redeemed by the brilliance brought by idols.

Therefore, she firmly believes that becoming an idol can bring happiness and joy to more people, and can also redeem and heal more people, just as she saved herself when she was young.

But what if those monsters become so numerous that they are everywhere, and peace is no more? Can idols still offer salvation? Will the effort and dedication one has poured into getting on stage still hold any meaning?

Kiriwake Yayoi couldn't find the answer to this question. Even the announcements on the radio sounded particularly cold and jarring, carrying a hint of sarcasm. She thought somewhat discouragedly, "What if there were many Magical Girl like Xiao Qing in the world, secretly protecting it?"

Do I, who can only sing and dance, really deserve a more glamorous identity and win more public favor than them?

Xie Qingxuan's perspective is completely different. Unlike Green Eyed Cat, she doesn't overthink things, nor does she care about idols as much as Little Sakura, to the point of being devout.

My first reaction was based on a simple set of logic.

1. I want to protect Xiao Qing.

2. Only by becoming Magical Girl can you have the power to protect Xiao Qing.

3. How to become Magical Girl?

Of course, even excluding those who don't believe it at all, some people still get fooled.

Hmm, like a Little Cotton-padded Jacket just waking up from a dream.

Chu Wangshu's brain finally recovered from its malfunction. She subconsciously glanced at the big screen. The team that had been competing against her on stage was still dancing. Although the audience's reaction was lukewarm, there was no sign of panic. It was as if it were all a dream.

Could it be... that they're all holographic projections?

That's right, how could such a monster really exist!

The little girl felt much more at ease upon realizing this. She had lived in a peaceful era and spent 17 years of ordinary life. Compared to the appearance of a monster that shattered common sense, a holographic projection was obviously easier for her to accept.

Although this reason is full of holes, anyone who has witnessed a nightmare firsthand can understand the soul-crushing terror and the mind-shaking shock. However, the technology in <FlashDance> has always been quite fantastical, so causing this result... isn't that normal?

Chu Wangshu didn't want to think too much about it, and the expression on her face made the Pure White Witch, who wanted to say something, choose to swallow her words for the time being.

Chu Yuanqing felt a little soft-hearted. Even if he didn't point it out, his daughter, having gone through this ordeal, would eventually be confronted by the authorities and told the world the truth. The child didn't have much time left to dwell on these little troubles.

So, let's wait a little longer.

Chu Yuanqing lowered her eyelashes, her gaze unfocused. The stabbing pain in her mind intensified, and she couldn't help but cough a few times. Then she looked at her daughter and said with a smile:

"Xiao Shu, we won't be back on the field for another hour or two. Don't you want to go see your Dad? He should be waiting for you in the family section right now."

Upon hearing this, Chu Wangshu blinked her eyes innocently, then suddenly remembered this thing she had been looking forward to for a long time. Her cute face lit up with anticipation, and she stood up eagerly. But then, feeling that it was a bit too forward, she obediently sat back down and whispered, pretending to be calm:

"Okay, I'll be right there."

After speaking, the Little Cotton-padded Jacket hesitated for a few seconds, then, amidst the farewells of everyone in the room, she hurried out of the lounge and headed towards the area where the contestants' relatives were staying.

Chu Yuanqing breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing this, then coughed several times. Double images began to appear in his vision, and the surrounding scenery and figures gradually became abstract. Nearby sounds seemed to be separated by a thick layer of seawater, and his five senses became blurred, clearly a sign that the curse had recurred.

--[Echoes of the Past].

This magical spell, which steals power from the past, will not deplete the Blessed Wall that resists curses and cause severe backlash, but it seems to have attracted some attention from the Sea of Truth, thus exacerbating the pain in the soul.

"Xiao Qing, are you feeling very unwell?"

Tang Liuli had only ever seen such an expression when the Pure White Witch coughed up blood. She immediately realized something was wrong and hurriedly moved closer to Chu Yuanqing, her emerald green eyes filled with tears.

Xie Qingxuan pursed her lips slightly. She knew what Chu Yuanqing needed most at this moment. She glanced at the camera in the lounge, then looked at Little Sakura who was walking over, and used her hands to support half of the Pure White Witch's body.

Kiriwake Yayoi understood immediately. Suppressing her shame, she decided to act expediently and temporarily abandon the dogma of pure love. She also helped Chu Yuanqing up and the three of them entered the dressing room, which had no cameras, and locked the door from the inside.

Who wants to go first?

Little Sakura just asked this question.

Xie Qingxuan had already lifted the chin of the Pure White Witch, her platinum eyelashes drooping, clearly in emergency mode, causing their lipsticks to smudge on their lips. They would probably have to go back to the staff for touch-ups afterwards.

After finishing, the Golden Haired Doggy took a deep breath and looked at the Pure White Witch's somewhat dazed expression and alluring eyes. She couldn't help but rub her thighs together slightly, barely managing to suppress her thoughts before calmly stating:

"One minute per person, alternating, is the most effective way."

Kiriwake Yayoi was deeply shocked and extremely ashamed.

Why is group sex the most effective? Magical Girl is clearly for children, right? How come it's not pure love at all?!

The Green Eyed Cat, without hesitation, became the next attending physician, causing a surge of Heart Tide deep within the Pure White Witch's soul and triggering a second, completely different magical response.

During this time, Chu Yuanqing's nostrils trembled slightly. After unconsciously letting out a few muffled sounds, she began to regain some of her rationality, and her five senses gradually became clearer.

And when Little Sakura, enduring her shame, took over the bite...

Chu Yuanqing has almost recovered and has regained some ability to process external information.

However, her sense of responsibility as a father made her temporarily ignore the help from her Little Idol after her recovery. Almost instinctively, she immediately constructed a spell and placed a Magic Clone in the relatives' room, which she had scouted beforehand, to prevent her Little Cotton-padded Jacket from coming to her empty-handed.

Only then did the Pure White Witch realize how absurd the scene in the changing room was.

Chu Yuanqing, with her excessively high moral standards, couldn't help but feel a deep sense of guilt and remorse for the Little Idol's selfless sacrifices and compromises. She politely Kiriwake Yayoi finished before stopping the Golden Haired Doggy from continuing, saying:

"Um, Qingxuan, really, we don't need to continue. My injuries have healed."

As Chu Yuanqing spoke, she observed the perspective of her Magic Clone. The place she had chosen was a toilet stall, so that coming out would not attract the attention of others.

The family area is a large space, with Living room, exhibition booths, lounge, snack area, and many other things. Many contestants who are scheduled to go on stage later meet their families here.

The reason why <FlashDance> was made with so much effort is most likely because people believe that it's better to guide than to suppress.

Not long after the Magic Clone emerged, it attracted the attention of many people. After being struck up by the parents of the other contestants, it quickly entered a long-lost state of social interaction. However, because it had been drowsy for a few minutes, a certain Little Cotton-padded Jacket arrived at the scene before it could chat for long.

Chu Yuanqing cut off the conversation, seeing his daughter as a father after a long time. Before she could say anything, she was hugged tightly.

Chu Wangshu is a rather introverted person and is rarely so outgoing and clingy. She was clearly frightened by the nightmare and couldn't help but hug the other person and act coquettishly, seeking a sense of security.

But as the little girl hugged the monster, she couldn't help but let her mind wander. What if the monster was real and had caused her Dad's accident? Would she regret inviting it to the Public Performance for the rest of her life?

These thoughts hadn't surfaced when she arrived, but they all surged up when she saw Chu Yuanqing, filling her heart with lingering fear. She couldn't help but hug him tighter, burying her face in his casual suit jacket, inhaling his familiar scent, without saying a word.

Seeing this, Chu Yuanqing transferred twice as much magic power, making the clone's body temperature and touch closer to the original. Only then did he breathe a sigh of relief and gently stroked the Little Cotton-padded Jacket's hair with some heartache.

On the other side,

Xie Qingxuan blinked, and asked with some confusion:

"Really? But Xiao Qing, your face is still so pale, and you don't seem to be able to concentrate very well."

The Green Eyed Cat was a little skeptical. She poked Chu Yuanqing's cheek with her finger and said seriously:

"It's definitely fake, Xiao Qing has fainted again."