Chapter 72: Dealing with the Aftermath
Qi Yuan City.
The Night Watchers are busy cleaning up the mess.
The Sunset Research Institute has become a heap of rubble, and all the researchers have taken a permanent vacation—no survivors in sight.
Their research成果? Totally obliterated! All their hard work has gone poof today.
Hei Yang stands atop the wreckage, shaking his head gently.
“Why even bother? We’ve been sabotaged by our own research product before we even got our hands dirty. I don’t know where you folks got the guts to mess around with star eclipses.”
With this situation, the Sunset Research Institute is practically on Qi Yuan City’s “Are You Kidding Me?” list.
But if the backers want to rebuild, they have their ways.
They’ve got resources galore!
With massive wealth at their disposal, they could set up multiple research institutes of the same scale, though training new talent will take some time.
But even so, Hei Yang won’t let them rebuild in Qi Yuan City.
After committing such a heinous act, the audacity to think they can start over? Please.
Not only will he refuse, but the headquarters’ leader will also refuse, and even the higher-ups won’t have it.
Those officials may have every excuse in the book, but they’ll still be ghosting for a while.
Or perhaps it’s about time to clean up some of those cocky ones.
In the meantime, Hei Yang quickly instructs the staff to investigate the forces behind the Sunset Research Institute, pinpointing those who could be caught without disrupting order for a little “let’s teach them a lesson” action.
As for the bigger fish, he’ll just have to wait for orders from the top leader.
“Speaking of which, where’s the Rising Sun Theater Group?” Hei Yang inquires.
Mo Qianmeng shakes her head.
“No idea. I saw the announcer from the Rising Sun group earlier, but then she just… poofed.”
Ice Lixie softly adds, “She’s probably off saving that ultimate experiment body.”
A memory flashes in her mind, so vivid it feels like she’s lived it.
Thinking back, it seems more like a recollection.
This strikes her as odd.
“What’s the connection between the Rising Sun Theater Group and that ultimate experiment?” Hei Yang asks.
“The audience performer is friends with her. They brought the troupe along to rescue her,” Ice Lixie explains.
“Ah, got it,” Hei Yang nods, turning to Ice Lixie again. “I remember you’re also friends with her. What’s the plan for her now? Even the researchers at the Night Watcher Base are eager to study her immortality. That means she’ll get a lot of attention, but keeping her outside will just draw in more prying eyes from other forces. Sounds like neither option is a win-win for her.”
“Hmm…”
Before Ice Lixie can respond, a spatial distortion suddenly appears nearby, catching their attention.
Out steps a petite silver-haired figure alongside a purple-haired one—it’s Night Star and Book Yao!
Hei Yang momentarily freezes.
“Audience Performer?”
Hearing her name, Night Star glances at a certain orange-haired boy in the group, tilting her head in confusion.
“Eh? A kid?”
Hei Yang’s expression stiffens instantly.
Okay, he’s used to this by now.
Ice Lixie clears her throat deliberately, introducing, “This is another Sunlight Night Watcher from Qi Yuan City—Hei Yang, and he’s the leader of the Night Watchers here.”
“What the heck…?” Night Star is taken aback by this news.
This guy is on the same level as Boss Xiao Jin!
“Why can a kid be the leader of the Night Watchers?”
At that moment, Hei Yang can’t resist chiming in.
“Audience Performer, I’m not a kid! Just because I look small doesn’t mean I’m not practically a grandpa! You should call me ‘Uncle’!”
Night Star blinks for a second, a sudden thought popping into her head.
“Is it because of the stars?”
“Maybe that’s one reason.”
“Okay, I get it now.”
Night Star beams with understanding, losing the surprise from before.
She’s got her own transformation into two lolis, so why not a grandpa-looking dude?
Stars are just weird that way sometimes.
“This…”
Hei Yang notices Night Star’s sympathetic gaze and feels a complex emotion bubble up.
Why does the Audience Performer feel a connection here?
Shaking off the thought, he focuses his attention on the purple-haired woman beside Night Star.
“Ah, the immortal Star Holder, I’ve heard so much about you. May I ask if you’re doing well?”
Hei Yang knows this lady is an ancient witness of history, so he speaks with respect.
He never gets smug about power; he treats everyone equally, especially when the person in front of him could practically be his ancestor!
In her presence, he opts for a more humble approach.
“I’m doing just fine now.”
Then, Hei Yang brings up the previous issue regarding their whereabouts.
Once she understands, Book Yao replies, “No need to worry about that. I’ve now become the playwright for the Rising Sun Theater Group and will be staying with them.”
“?”
Hei Yang’s brain short circuits.
What now?
The immortal Star Holder has joined a theater group filled with all sorts of star eclipses?
That wasn’t on his bingo card!
He glances sideways at Night Star, narrowing his eyes suspiciously.
“Mmm…”
Night Star nervously hides behind Book Yao, avoiding Hei Yang’s steely gaze.
At this point, Hei Yang gets the picture.
The Audience Performer has a knack for recruiting people, and snagging Book Yao into the troupe proves that point.
Playwright?
That’s a pretty fancy title that fits right in among the troupe members like the leader, gentleman, or fraudster, without any awkwardness at all.
But you can bet that Night Watchers’ records will have to note another name now.
If this were earlier, Hei Yang would have stopped Book Yao from joining such a dangerous theater.
But now that the Rising Sun Theater Group is looking much more stable and transformed, he’ll have to shake off the old mindset.
So…
“I respect your decision. I’ll report this to headquarters, but please be cautious moving forward.”
After saying that, Hei Yang bids farewell and heads back to the base.
Mo Qianmeng also leaves to deal with the injured.
Now, only Night Star, Book Yao, and Ice Lixie are left.
The three exchange glances.
“How about we chat in a safer place?”
“Sure.”
Moments later, they’ve relocated to a cozy café.
Ice Lixie smiles warmly at Book Yao.
“Not wanting to disappear anymore, huh?”
“Probably. The Audience Performer has done so much for me; it would be pretty pathetic to still be thinking about d*ath.”
“Then congratulations on escaping the sea of suffering! Here’s hoping you can stay optimistic about life from now on.”
“I will!”
Ice Lixie turns to the Audience Performer, who’s been quiet as a mouse, and asks, “By the way, Audience Performer, why do I have a memory of you in my mind? Care to explain?”
“Huh? I have no idea!” Night Star hopes to bluff her way through unscathed.
“Your stars can traverse time, right?”
“Guess?”
“Ah, I see now! That’s how you managed to redeem Book Yao. So it seems you’re quite the special person indeed.”
“Mmm-mmm-mmm~”
Ice Lixie can’t help but smile gently, watching Night Star’s expression as she squirms away from the topic.
If it were her, maybe she would find a way to change the world.
