### Chapter 13 Encore
The Grand Performance by the Theater Group was viewed by all the citizens of the city.
This situation has clearly surpassed everyone’s common sense.
Neither the Night Watchers nor any other department would be easily fooled if this just ended and the group slipped away unnoticed. If that happened, the entire city might go into chaos.
Moreover, the Star Eclipses left behind in people’s bodies by the Group members including the Group Leader would linger too.
Even if the citizens’ Star Eclipses were eliminated, the resulting chaos from rumors and speculations wouldn’t dissipate easily.
With this in mind, Night Star felt compelled to do something.
She was both an Audience Performer of the Rising Sun Theater Group and a Night Watcher.
Just lounging around and waiting for it to end at the Night Watcher Base wasn’t going to fly. She couldn’t just sit idly.
Night Star could guess her boss and crew must be incredibly stressed right now, probably planning how to handle things next.
“Am I supposed to make a wish?”
That could work. But making a wish is exhausting, especially when no one knows how such a grand wish will manifest. If it turns out to be too troublesome, she might rather skip the Wish Machine altogether. She might even fall asleep from weariness after it’s all done.
Sleeping lazily would never do; there were many things yet unclear. Time was running short, and there was no room for slacking off.
At that moment, the Singer said, “Audience, are you troubled about how to deal with the current situation?”
“Yeah.”
“How about trying my powers?”
“Interference of Existence? Seems worth a shot.”
Night Star looked at the Singer hopefully, almost urging her to get on with it.
But the Singer shook her head.
“Just my strength alone is insufficient. You must help as well.”
Immediately Night Star understood.
Her recent obsession took about one-third of the Singer’s power, so the remaining portion was too weak to accomplish what needed doing. She needed that additional third to achieve the complete Interference of Existence.
“But how am I supposed to do that?”
“Let’s sing together.”
As they spoke, the electronic screens transformed, displaying the message:
[Encore, encore performance, forgotten revue]
The background music that accompanied the atmosphere kicked into high gear, stimulating the nerves of countless spectators.
Another show?
Suddenly the sky changed, the morning sun appeared, and a warm light illuminated the stage high above the clouds, creating a scene of sacred magnificence.
This stage effect delivered a shock to the soul!
On stage, Night Star stood several paces away from the Singer as the rest of the troupe had vanished, leaving only them two.
Night Star slowly raised her blade and chanted a line on the spot:
“On a starlit stage, the dawn heralded by stars, Rising Sun Theater Group’s audience, I vow to keep your memory alive within me.”
The Singer smiled and raised her hand, her mouth forming the perfect lines in response to Night Star’s:
“With a heart full of joy, climbing onto the stage to sing, Rising Sun Theater Group’s singer, forever engrave my soul in yours.”
Then they started moving towards each other, their voices ringing from their throats.
[I have always been by your side, like a shining star guiding you]
[Star, always by my side, like a shining star illuminating me]
[No forgetting you]
[Thank you for the promise]
[_Even if the world forgets, I will still be forever in your heart]
[_Thus, let the world forget, but live solely in your heart]
_[A secret for two]_
Their song ended.
In the light of the sunrise, the two embraced, their hands holding the blades while the tips were mysteriously stuck in the center of the stage.
“Is this…the end?”
“Yes, this is indeed the end.”
“Do you remember our…promise?”
“Mm, I do.”
“Please always remember me.”
“Yeah, I will always remember you.”
[Position Zero] x 2
The curtains fell on the stage.
From somewhere, the Announcer quietly watched the embracing pair, snapped her fingers.
The grand opera’s stage had vanished.
Under the Interference of Existence, a significant amount of crucial information disappeared entirely, and the Star Eclipses left by the Group were completely erased. Only the images of the performance remained imprinted in everyone’s minds.
They wouldn’t question under what circumstances they saw the performance, but would continually reminisce about the spectacular production instead.
Also, Rising Sun Theater Group had now become officially famous, their name etched in the collective memory.
All traces of the theater group disappeared, everything returned to normal.
One Night Watcher after another stood there, utterly bewildered by the present scenario.
Xiao Jin and Wang Chao watched the stage revert back due to the Announcer’s actions, their bodies involuntarily relaxing with relief.
“Xiao Jin, now…what next? It seems combat isn’t necessary anymore.”
“Check if anything else is out of order; hopefully, the issues with the Rising Sun Theater Group will settle down.”
Now knowing the true identity of the group, Xiao Jin wouldn’t refer to them as the Tragic Shadow Theater.
Using their proper name was a sign of the basic respect he held for them now.
For a moment they did earn his respect with everything they did.
However, he still had much to clarify.
…
Xi Xia returned to the Night Watcher Base with a muddled heart.
She had completely messed up. Not only had she been exploited by strange Star Eclipses, but she hadn’t accomplished her goal either.
What should she do next?
Looking up at the building of the Night Watcher Base, tranquil music kept playing in her ears, barely offering any comfort.
Just then, a familiar voice snapped her out of her thoughts.
“Xi Xia.”
Xi Xia, who was in a daze, finally noticed Uni waiting at the entrance.
Seeing this blonde girl, her lips moved slightly but no words came out. Uni walked over quickly, asking:
“Where have you been lately?”
“Just did something terrible.”
“Well, that doesn’t matter. I have good news – I’m fully healed.”
“Eh?” Xi Xia was confused and unprepared for this.
Uni continued saying, “Night Lan cured me, her power is incredible!”
Upon hearing this, Xi Xia held Uni’s shoulders, actually sensing the disappearance of the anomaly within her body.
Uni’s vitality was no longer frail; it was just a matter of time before she became a healthy girl again.
Was it really…Night Lan?
“So that’s how it is…”
For no reason, Xi Xia felt a weight lifted off, her heart starting to relax. Everything grew clear.
In fact, curing Uni had become her obsession. She had acted upon this obsession all the time.
Undertaking bounty missions, becoming a Star Eclipse hunter, even steering stability in the Star Eclipse imbalance were driven by this obsession.
On the surface, she was acting as a Night Watcher, but in reality, she followed her inner obsession like a Star Eclipse. Yes, this was exactly her.
The constellation didn’t change, but her own mental condition had changed.
Such mental resilience, truly the weakest.
With that thought, Xi Xia closed her eyes, reopening them and walking inside the base.
Seeing this, Uni paused slightly.
“Xi Xia, where are you going?”
“Uni, you no longer need me. And I, well, I’m going to make amends for what I’ve done.”
