Chapter 11? Transference?
Night Lan lowered her head in deep thought, pondering how to make the performances of her theater troupe more appealing.
She didn’t worry too much about the Puppet Master and the Singer.
Lianhua’s puppet shows had long since moved beyond mere nostalgia, instead filled with an air of mystique that captivated audiences. The surreal stage and the atmospheric music transported viewers, immersing them as if they were part of the show. Even people of this era would be hooked by curiosity.
The Singer’s voice needed no worry; it alone drew countless admirers.
But the main problems lay with the Group Leader and the Fraudster. Their acts seemed outdated for modern entertainment.
While Night Lan didn’t mind, they needed to evolve to attract a broader audience.
Sigh…
She let out a soft breath.
At that moment, two figures approached her down the corridor – a black-haired girl and a blonde loli, none other than Xi Xia and Uni.
Looking up, Night Lan wondered whether or not to greet them, then decided why not, since they were both Night Watchers.
Before she could speak, Xi Xia beat her to it.
“Hey there, Night Lan.”
“Uh? Oh…Hello.” Night Lan stiffened at first but quickly relaxed.
Xi Xia continued, “Where are you headed?”
“Well, I’m just taking a stroll. I have nowhere in particular in mind.”
“Strolling, eh? You look pretty free.”
“Yeah, with no tasks, one is rather idle.”
“Having no worries is great. You’re so lucky.”
“Not really, sometimes it gets pretty boring…”
Spotting Uni beside Xi Xia, Night Lan noticed a stark contrast with Neko Shinna—more fragile, yet not as soft and cute.
Noticing Night Lan scrutinizing Uni, Xi Xia introduced them, “This is my partner, Uni. She’s sixteen; probably older than you.”
Night Lan tilted her head.
Older?
Joke’s on me. Forget Uni; Xi Xia could pass as her senior.
But holding back her quip, Night Lan greeted politely:
“Hey, Uni, I’m Night Lan.”
“Hmm, your singing voice is lovely; I love it.”
Hearing this, Night Lan was momentarily stunned, remembering last night’s concert—and that Uni must’ve been there.
Being complimented by a loli, even if she wasn’t exactly one herself, was delightful.
“Thanks for the praise. Knowing you enjoy it means everything.”
But then silence fell over the conversation.
Both sides fell into a minor awkwardness.
On the surface, Night Lan remained composed, though internally she felt quite embarrassed.
Save me!
Can anyone rescue me from this awkward situation?
To break the ice, she asked, “So, do you like watching shows?”
“Shows?” Xi Xia pondered, “If they’re unpredictable with twists and turns, sure, I like watching those.”
“Twists and turns?”
Night Lan recalled. The Puppet Master’s shows were the only ones with plots.
The Group Leader and Fraudster focused merely on visual effects to draw attention, lacking intriguing narratives compared to Puppet Master.
Maybe they simply hadn’t shown their full potential.
Could they handle collaborative performances, like a full-fledged stage play?
“Hmm…”
Night Lan mulled over the possibilities.
Seeing this, Xi Xia asked, “Does Night Lan have an interest in shows? If so, you might want to try opera. Given your incredible voice, performing operas would stun everyone.”
“Oh, I was just guessing. Don’t mind what I said.” Night Lan added hurriedly.
She preferred not being associated with the Tragic Shadow.
Her current days were blissful; she did not wish for them to end.
Xi Xia let it go, “Alright, carry on walking, Night Lan. Uni and I will be going.”
“Okay.”
They then parted ways.
“Phew…”
Night Lan exhaled, finally releasing the tension.
Clearly, she wasn’t good at such social moments. Solo encounters sent her nerves on edge. Clearly, her social skills had room for improvement.
“Speaking of which…they’ve come to Cloud Chang City to vanquish the Tragic Shadow. When will they leave? Maybe they won’t.”
Reflectively, Night Lan mused, perhaps changing the troupe’s city of operations would be wise.
This city teemed with powerful Night Watchers. Moving elsewhere would be less stressful. At least, performing wouldn’t trigger chaotic conflicts, with the troupe overpowering the Night Watchers.
Certainly, based on the Rising Sun’s current strength, they could dominate a city.
Singer, Puppet Master, Announcer, Group Leader, Fraudster, Gentleman—all were Ultra Star Eclipses.
Normally, a small city might host just three Dawn Guardians. They’d barely stand a chance here.
For now, watchful waiting was in order.
If the Rising Sun truly faltered in this city, relocating was always an option.
Rumor had it, the troupe’s shadow had appeared in many cities, implying they must have relocation strategies.
“Ah, maybe I should head back.”
Returning along the same path, Night Lan found comfort among the little lolis.
Surrounded daily by ultra-cute lolis was pure bliss.
…
Scene shifts to the Rising Sun Theater.
Night Star had already seen Lianhua’s two puppet shows, retelling the tales of Bai Yu and the Singer. Lianhua had adapted them swiftly into puppets.
Truly, a master puppeteer.
Night Lan found these performances captivating, even for this age. Too bad such magic involved secrets.
Their authenticity, if seen by Night Watchers, would likely invite scrutiny.
Only a few would get to see these shows.
But for now, it was temporary.
Perhaps one day, all the secrecy would end, removing the risk of Night Watchers targeting the group, and avoiding disaster altogether.
Completing her performance, Lianhua stepped offstage, smiling brightly at the Singer and Night Star.
“Thank you for watching; having an audience feels amazing.”
Satisfied with the response, Lianhua’s innocent smile charmed everyone, making them want to hug her.
Such easy delight.
Other troupe members mirrored her pure joy, prompting laughter.
