Chapter 19: The Show Begins
Near Wan Yu Square.
A girl wearing a beret was looking around the street, her hair and eye color had changed so drastically that anyone spotting her from afar wouldn’t have a clue who she was.
She had purposely pulled her beret down to cover the upper half of her face, trying to avoid being recognized by overly enthusiastic fans with fond memories of her looks.
“Wow, it’s been ages since I came to Yun Chang City. Guess not much has changed after all,” the girl murmured.
She wandered over to a snack stall and casually ordered her favorite snack, but just one portion.
“Five bucks.”
“Uh-huh, okay.”
“By the way, your voice is really nice! If you were a songstress, you’d be super popular, right?”
“Eh? A songstress… that job feels pretty far from me.”
“Really? I think you should give it a shot! If you sing well, I’ll definitely become your fan!”
“Well… we’ll see, I gotta go now.”
“Come back anytime!”
After escaping the enthusiastic stall owner, the girl breathed a sigh of relief. Her heart almost jumped out of her chest.
“That was scary; I thought I might’ve been recognized.”
She knew she couldn’t say too much in front of strangers, especially since her voice was quite distinctive.
Even though she lowered her tone a lot while speaking, there was still a risk of being recognized.
Less talking is probably for the best.
After all, her current situation was like “incognito mode.” If anyone figured it out, it could be catastrophic.
This girl was a well-known songstress! She had just finished a concert in this city yesterday and was out to relax today.
If any seasoned fan stood in front of her, they would likely scream, “OMG! It’s Qing Liao Songstress!”
Being a world-class songstress, merely changing her hair and eye color wouldn’t disguise her unique aura. Plus, she was a beautiful girl.
Yes, that’s right, it’s Qing Liao, the most famous songstress in the world, who was on an entirely different level than her peers—a true peak existence.
However, the fact that she snuck out for a little fun revealed her somewhat quirky nature.
Back to reality.
Qing Liao found a spot away from the bustling crowd to sit down and started nibbling on her snack.
“Delicious!” Qing Liao’s eyes sparkled, and she devoured the snack in just a couple of bites.
Unfortunately, that was all she could eat—being a public figure means controlling your diet. It’s a necessary discipline to maintain her figure.
Usually, it was just a little treat to satisfy her craving.
“Now, where to next?”
After finishing the snack, Qing Liao stood up, pondering where to go play.
This rare opportunity was not one she wanted to waste sitting in a hotel.
Just as she was lost in thought, she caught sight of a few peculiar figures not far off.
“Eh? Those folks look strange.”
From Qing Liao’s perspective, she saw a group of oddballs. Their attire was already out of the ordinary, making them look like a bizarre troupe engaged in some group activity.
Leading them was a composed-looking man in a black tailcoat and top hat, resembling an old-fashioned magician.
Behind him were a few other quirky characters.
A smiling man in a mask, a dapper guy in a black suit holding a cane, an adorable little loli hugging a puppet, and a striking girl with long beige hair who looked far from normal.
Among them was a silver-haired loli with a ponytail wearing a mask and top hat, clad in a bizarre outfit that would make Qing Liao blush if she were to wear it on stage.
In summary, they all looked like a bunch of weirdos.
“Well…”
I have to admit, Qing Liao was captivated by them.
“Maybe I can find some creative inspiration.”
With that thought, she curiously crept closer, trying to keep her head down to hide her face.
…
Rising Sun Theater Group.
Night Star stood in the middle of the group with the director and others, feeling utterly speechless.
“I didn’t expect this! Night Lan is out shopping nearby with Bai Yu and Zero Meow.”
Night Star mumbled to herself before letting out a heavy sigh.
Feeling humiliated by her current outfit while walking on the street, she nearly wished for a hole to crawl into.
The entertainment district was bustling with people, mostly there to have a good time.
Choosing this spot for the performance made complete sense, as crowded areas attract more viewers.
In a different scenario, the entire Rising Sun Theater Group would have been gawked at by a bunch of passersby with peculiar looks.
But with low spiritual consciousness, regular folks often couldn’t notice the presence of the Star Eclipse Embodiment and the theater director; only the Star Holders could easily sense they were there.
If any Night Watchers happened to stroll nearby and spotted them, it would definitely be a shocker.
After all, seeing six Star Eclipses hanging out in such a packed area is terrifying!
As for Night Star? Well, she had plenty of Star Eclipse energy around her, so being mistaken for one was fairly standard.
As for that harmless Ghost Girl? Night Star had already warned her off.
Mainly because she was worried about her getting caught up in things—she always floated around randomly, and the Night Watchers with a focus on the Star Eclipses wouldn’t let her slide.
A little while later.
The director stopped in front of a public stage and opened his arms with a smile.
“Well then, it’s showtime!”
Night Star found a place to sit, feeling a bit anxious.
“Mmm… I wonder what’s going to happen next? I have a strong feeling something disastrous awaits.”
If all went according to plan, the Night Watchers would certainly arrive at lightning speed.
Night Star hadn’t notified any Night Watchers—she didn’t even tell Mo Tu.
That guy didn’t even know where he was wandering off to.
“Hmm… if things get really bad, I’ll just make a run for it.”
Yep, that’s the plan!
With that thought, Night Star turned her gaze to the stage.
The director stood there, addressing the oblivious pedestrians walking right past him, a subtle arch appearing on his lips, like a formulaic smile.
“Audience etiquette.”
In the next moment, the atmosphere around them instantly shifted; all the pedestrians stopped dead in their tracks as if time had frozen. They dropped whatever they were holding and turned their heads towards the stage, focusing on the director.
With a slight bow to the gathered crowd, the director spoke politely, “Thank you all for your attendance. Next, please enjoy the performance by the Rising Sun Theater Group.”
Among the crowd was a hidden identity known songstress, curious about the director’s actions.
“Are they really going to perform on stage? Hmm… I should stick around. This old man looks like he has a lot of stage experience.”
As someone who often sang on stage, Qing Liao knew exactly how a performer should react on stage.
This old man had the demeanor of someone used to performing, radiating confidence without any stage fright, as if he was completely accustomed to this scene.
“Seems like a pretty impressive performer.”
In just a matter of moments, Qing Liao quickly sized up the situation.
