Chapter 442
So, where else would you like to go for the rest of the time?
Chu Yuanqing smiled and replied:
"Our trip is over. I want to stay in Great Xia for a while longer and see them more, but... I won't be able to get close to them. I'll probably only be able to follow Xiao Shu, Liuli, Xuan Bao, Yayoi, and Charlotte from a fan's perspective."
The Witch expressed her understanding and retorted:
"There's no other way. After all, that kid will only get stronger, and it's possible that he could be caught red-handed at close range."
The girl put down the porcelain cup filled with cola, rested her chin on her hand, and asked:
"And then? In the end, where do you want to go?"
Chu Yuanqing had already prepared her answer in mind, and she replied:
"Finally? I should go to the place closest to the stars."
Where is that?
"Crimson Extreme Realm".
Volume 1: Chapter 417. The Pure White Witch's Business.
Time flies like an arrow; it passes in the blink of an eye.
On September 20th, the vast Sea Capital officially entered the autumn season, when the heat had subsided. Along Nanjin Road, which exudes historical charm, the neat rows of ancient trees along the street turned yellow, and the fluttering ginkgo leaves laid a soft carpet on the bricks and stones.
This urban area is not lacking in high-rise buildings, but their design and decoration are all in the style of decades ago. The quaint hutongs, the alleys selling sweet soup and rice cakes with pork ribs, and the old residential areas crammed together next to the streets and alleys all exude a tranquil sense of bygone eras.
Similar to other places, the streets and alleys are still full of popular advertisements about Little Idol.
A month ago, ten teams that advanced to the finals emerged out of nowhere. With the help of resources across the country, they debuted one by one and toured the country in just 30 days, passing through dozens of cities and holding nearly a hundred shows. They became famous overnight, and the popularity spread from the internet to offline, like a series of celebrations.
Currently, not only in Sea Capital, but even in some mountain villages where internet access is not yet available, people have received generous sponsorship from Flash Dance, with every household receiving a television set and free internet access.
At village entrances, village committees, mountain roads, Hope Primary Schools... you can see those glamorous, shining, popular idols about to step into the battlefield in advertisements.
This has led to a surge in the number of fans, popularity, and online presence of contestants on Flash Dance, surpassing that of top-tier celebrities in the past. The number one group, Pure White, has reached 790 million fans across the entire internet.
During this period, news also occasionally surfaced that certain idols were Magical Girl, and videos showed contestants from "Flash Dance" constructing Magic Armor in the street to protect citizens and using spells to kill Calamity Beasts in public.
Idols, Magical Girl, Calamity Beasts, Countermeasures Bureau, Pure White High Wall, and a series of other unrealistic terms have become the main theme of recent public opinion.
As a result, the Entertainment Industry basically came to a standstill. Any scandals or trending topics about celebrities or other programs were considered "occupying public resources." Even the most famous artists disappeared from the public eye and were collectively sidelined. All of this was to pave the way for the "Flash Dance" Savior Plan.
This combination of favorable treatment, coupled with the inherent charm, dazzling appeal, and endearing qualities of Magical Girl, as well as official explanations of the benefits of the live stage, created an unprecedented phenomenon where the entire internet was filled with idol fans.
At this moment, Xu Ling, clutching a dinosaur-shaped handbag, sat on a park bench next to the old residential area. She gazed thoughtfully at the Green Eyed Cat poster affixed to the charity bin, then looked suspiciously at the person beside her and asked:
"Tong Bao, are you sure we can run into Teacher Lin here?"
Pei Xiaotong ate a scallion pancake, her cheeks round and full. She swallowed a bite of pork tenderloin and said confidently:
"Don't worry, this time it'll definitely work. I guarantee your money won't be wasted. We're sure to catch a glimpse of that Mysterious Guitarist today!"
Xu Ling was not entirely credulous, but since her younger cousin had indeed seen the Mysterious Guitarist yesterday and even taken photos, she decided to refrain from questioning him for the time being.
It's worth mentioning that the Mysterious Guitarist Pei Xiaotong met yesterday didn't play the guitar or breakdance anymore. Instead, he was pushing a pink food cart that he'd somehow gotten his hands on, seriously selling milk tea and grilled sausages.
Although I didn't see it in person, no matter how I imagine it, the image of such a serene and beautiful person, who, despite her physical disability, is still as perfect as an elf, pushing a small cart and selling grilled sausages and milk tea on the roadside, is a strikingly contrasting one.
Putting aside her stunning looks, her guitar playing, singing, and dancing skills alone are enough to make her a huge online sensation. Why bother being a street vendor and battling wits with the city management officers?
Xu Ling felt that this was a new kind of performance art, just like Teacher Lin playing guitar, singing, and dancing on the street, and she had to contribute her heart to the other person's art.
For example, you could buy some sausages that the other person grilled themselves and some milk tea that they made themselves.
Xu Ling said earnestly:
"Teacher Lin already has 500,000 followers on TikTok, and she'll become popular in China sooner or later. We must do our best to build up her popularity before she becomes famous."
The little girl folded the bag of scallion pancakes, preparing to throw it away later. She looked at her cousin's carefully made-up face with a strange expression, and muttered to herself.
While that Mysterious Guitarist was indeed quite alluring, why was Ling Bao so persistent? She didn't even know if she'd ever see him, yet she meticulously applied makeup. Could it be that she'd been completely swayed by him and fallen for him at first sight?
Pei Xiaotong felt something was off the more she thought about it. This was too interesting; she had to share it with her aunt secretly afterward. She tentatively asked, "..."
"So why do you call her 'teacher'? She's not an educational blogger."
Xu Ling thought for a moment and said:
"I could also call her Lin Bao like everyone else online, but it feels a bit strange to call her that offline. Wouldn't calling her Teacher Lin be more formal? Anyway, it's better than you just calling her the Mysterious Guitarist."
Pei Xiaotong spoke with righteous indignation:
"Her account ID is 'Mysterious Guitarist,' she must want people to call her that, and I think it's pretty cool. It would be weird to call her 'teacher,' it makes you feel nervous like you're on a blind date."
The girl seemed thoughtful, and she replied:
"That makes sense. Let's call her Lin Bao then, she's so cute anyway."
Xu Ling spoke, she urged Pei Xiaotong to start leading her to find the whereabouts of a certain guitarist, like frantically clicking the auto-guide button while playing a low-quality online game.
The little girl seriously pulled out a Tarot Cards and solemnly said not to rush, but to draw a card to calculate which direction to go. She then said a bunch of confusing jargon and chose to go east.
Xu Ling was speechless. Leading the way like this was worse than letting her just drop a pen and figure out the direction. But considering that if her cousin messed around like this, she could find a reason to deduct her wages if they couldn't find anyone, she didn't stop her.
To be honest, she really wanted to meet the Mysterious Guitarist, but the main reason she would go out aimlessly with her cousin was that they were just too bored.
For some reason, she seems to have an inexhaustible supply of copywriting inspiration and endless videos to edit over the past few months.
But lately I've been feeling rather listless, as if half of my muse has been cut off, and my workload has been halved again and again, to the point that staying up late is just a habit of playing on my phone, and I'm completely idle during the day.
If her family weren't so wealthy, her creative block would have likely led her to anxiety, prepare for the "Don't Laugh Challenge," and start actively seeking online traffic and making money.
But the reality is, she has no reason or need to tie her life to her social media accounts. Since she's bored, she might as well go out more.
The blogger's life is not exciting either; most of the time it is as mundane and uneventful as that of an ordinary person.
Therefore, going out with my little cousin, who has just recovered from a limb injury and is already cheerful, outgoing, and incredibly lively, is definitely better than staying at home and rotting away.
Putting everything else aside, it's quite amusing to watch this little girl spout nonsense with such conviction.
Along the way, we didn't see the white-haired, golden-eyed succubus selling milk tea, but we did see an old woman selling sweet potatoes, and other mobile vendors.
In the early morning, the alley is full of breakfast vendors. By noon, most of the shops have disappeared, but it's still quite lively. There's even a poster on the wall of a Liuli Cat Cat lying on a sofa, playing games with its legs crossed.
Although it looks cute, and it is indeed very cute, this scene, which appears to be a natural performance, is actually taken from a video game advertisement.
Yesterday, the twelfth episode of "Flash Dance" aired as scheduled. The popularity winner from the Great Xia region remained unchanged, with Pure White maintaining a significant lead.
Therefore, today, all advertising spaces for Flash Dance across the country have been divided into regions according to the final rankings.
Among them, all the advertising space in Sea Capital was allocated to Pure White, who was ranked first. Now, only advertisements for the four characters, Great Demon King, Little Sakura, Yue Bao, and Liuli, can be seen in the city.
This Old Street on Nanjin Road, known as Liuzhan Street by fans because it only features advertisements for Liuli, was recently renamed "Cat Street." This nickname was discovered by some fans shortly after the street was renamed, attracting many to come and take photos.
The park where Pei Xiaotong and Xu Ling had been before wasn't far from here, so it made sense that they came here under the "guidance" of the Tarot Cards.
Xu Ling raised a question:
"I haven't seen Lin Bao. Do you think she doesn't like crowded places?"
Pei Xiaotong complained:
"Do you think he's catching some small animal? The Mysterious Guitarist selling sausages is quite serious; he wouldn't deliberately do business in some remote corner. Just browse the nearby food streets, and you're sure to find him."
Xu Ling asked:
What if I can't find it?
The girl put away the Tarot Cards and said matter-of-factly:
"I have a very good conscience. If I can't find the money, I'll refund half of it, and give you back 100 yuan."
Okay, okay, Tong Bao, what's the difference between you and those shady brokers who only make money off deposits?
Xu Ling was so angry she laughed. Speechless for a moment, she decided to stop looking at her sister's ugly face. As she walked, she started scrolling through her phone, looking at the messages in the support group.
[Yay! I won Little Sakura's debut album yesterday! I heard it has an autograph on it???]
[Heh, another lucky guy pops up, go to hell!]
[The efficiency of <FlashDance> is truly terrifying! Pure White is back on stage again, they've been working non-stop for a month without stopping, it's practically an endless cycle of music show performances!]
[Pure White and two other girl groups are going to compete in the Donghuang Competition Zone's PK tomorrow. I feel a little sorry for them; they really don't have any rest time at all.]
Xu Ling sighed, noting that the discussion in the group was similar to what was being discussed online, with most people debating the format of the subsequent competition.
According to the announcement from Dream Weaver Rabbit, the top three teams will leave Great Xia on the 21st and head to the larger Donghuang Competition Zone, where they will join the top three teams from the other divisions to arrive in the City of Performance and the Shining City for a global live broadcast.
If the "21st" refers to the day of arrival for the competition to start, then Pure White probably already boarded a plane yesterday to travel abroad to meet with Little Idol from other regions and prepare for rehearsals.
This itinerary is truly grueling.
If it weren't for the fact that all the Little Idol from <Flash Dance> have been radiant and lively for the past month, with almost all of them having time to secretly go shopping, take photos, check in, play, and do promotional work in the local cities after the tour, their fans would probably be heartbroken just by imagining it.
It can only be said that the physical constitutions of humans and Magical Girl cannot be generalized.
These energetic and perpetually vibrant idols can truly make gloomy, reclusive otaku feel as if the sunlight is too bright, and even the livid spots on their bodies have faded—it's incredibly therapeutic.
But...
"What exactly is the Shining City?"
Xu Ling browsed through the related discussions but still couldn't figure it out.
The nation war was not surprising. In the initial promotion of Flash Dance, it was made clear that the various major regions would eventually have a showdown. What really attracted the attention and curiosity of the outside world was the vague and unknown battlefield.
In other words, it's the so-called capital of performance and the Shining City.
The little girl thought for a moment, took five yuan from her cousin's pocket, bought a candied hawthorn, ate one, pondered for a long time, and then answered:
"I have no idea."
Xu Ling: "?"
I didn't know you were taking my money? And you haven't even bought it for me!
Pei Xiaotong handed the candied hawthorn she had eaten to her sister, and said nonsensically:
"But aren't people online saying it might be the closest place to [pure white], or even a cool Sky City?"
Xu Ling took the candied hawthorn with a disgruntled expression, took a bite, and muttered:
"That's too surreal, it doesn't feel real. It's not as good as those guesses that say it's Magical Girl headquarters."
After the girl finished speaking, she looked up at the sky and hesitated, then said:
"But speaking of [pure white], haven't you noticed it's become a bit lighter in color lately?"
Pei Xiaotong blinked and looked over as well.
For 17 years, regardless of spring, summer, autumn, or winter, it has been like a mirage, stretching across the ends of the earth, allowing people all over the world to admire its magnificent Pure White High Wall, which still stand tall in the sky.
But... just like my cousin said, it seems to have become fainter, even more distant.
The visual illusion was subtle. Curious, she took out her phone, pointed the camera at the sky, and zoomed in repeatedly, only to be shocked to find that even so, she could not see a clearer or larger Pure White High Wall.
The distance between humans and [pure white] seems to be confined to a fixed threshold.
Pei Xiaotong put down her phone. She suddenly remembered seeing some absurd posts recently, where netizens claimed that staring at [Pure White] for too long granted them superpowers. She stared at that illusory, miraculous creation for a while longer, then sighed with melancholy:
"Is the reason why <Flash Dance> is moving so fast related to its changes?"
"If these Calamity Beasts' are swarming all over the world like dumplings being dropped into a pot, can those 'Flashdance' idols, who are about our age, really change anything on stage?"
Xu Ling bit into the sugar coating in her mouth, her tongue touching the sour hawthorn. She savored the sweet and sour taste, and was just about to make some constructive remarks when she caught a glimpse of a small pink food cart out of the corner of her eye.
In an instant, all the somber topics and complex philosophies vanished, and my mind was instantly filled with that exquisite and alluring face.
The excited girl, pulling her patriotic younger cousin along, ran with lightning speed to the Pure White Witch's food cart and blurted out her request in incredibly fast voice:
"Ten grilled sausages: one with cumin, one with black pepper, two medium spicy, two with sweet sauce, and four extra spicy."
"Ten cups of milk tea, three cups of coconut jelly, three cups of red bean, two cups of taro paste, one cup of passion fruit, and one cup of peach oolong tea, all extra icy, and finally... the slower you make it, the better!"
Volume 1: 418. A ray of starlight, a fixed star.
After the dining car,
The Pure White Succubus sat on a small stool, looking down at her phone. Her delicate, palm-sized face was covered by a mask, revealing only her striking heterochromatic eyes, one gilded and the other pure silver. The former resembled a frozen and then shattered lake, with ripples spreading outwards as if several more rings had appeared, while the latter, though without cracks, was deathly still and cold.
These eyes are already quite distinctive, but what's even more striking are the cracks at the corners of the eyes, like porcelain cracks that have been burned open. It's like some kind of strange makeup, which, combined with the other person's calm and aloof demeanor and extremely understated atmosphere, has a classical charm and is still inexplicably beautiful.
Therefore, with her pure white hair and the lingering affection of her fans, Xu Ling recognized Chu Yuanqing from afar.
Pei Xiaotong was particularly impressed by this; she had seen the other party's food truck yesterday, but she hadn't recognized Lin Bao as early as her own cousin.