As the music faded, a voice came from the back of the stage:

"My dear friends, we meet again in reality."

Suddenly, the lights in the sky dimmed.

While still looking down at her seat in the audience, Jin You's vision was obstructed by the darkness, and she could no longer see the road.

As night fell, only the stage in the center of the venue was illuminated by several beams of light.

She instinctively stopped and looked in that direction.

On stage, a graceful woman dressed in a light yellow gown walked out from behind the curtain, and seemed to glance at Jin You's position along the way.

This person walked with light and elegant steps, and his slightly curly light-colored long hair swayed with his movements. His clothes were adorned with exquisite embroidery, and compared to the people of Xiping City, he seemed to come from another world, noble and elegant.

Her appearance was like a perfect painting, truly meticulously crafted, her fair skin, untouched by any spiritual transformation, shimmered slightly as a few rays of light fell upon it.

A special aura surrounds him, giving people an irresistible attraction. It's as if the world suddenly becomes brighter because of his presence, making people want to get closer.

"The charm and illusion techniques that can subtly change people's hearts are quite advanced," Xi Heng remarked after glancing at them.

"She was a practitioner of illusion magic from the beginning, and I don't know what level she has reached now." Jin You looked at her a few more times with mixed feelings, and only breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that the other person's gaze had already shifted away, as if she had not actually noticed her.

Xi Heng remembered that the demonic cultivators he had killed back then did indeed have an aura similar to that of this idol girl named Qian Qi.

"People who specialize in this kind of practice are used to manipulating people's hearts and are difficult to get along with."

“You’re right.” Jin You nodded.

She walked along the dimly lit path, and along the way, she heard the beautiful, seemingly meticulously rehearsed voice coming from the stage:

"I know that everyone has been having a hard time lately because of some wicked people in the city... But even so, I am truly grateful that you have still come here to meet with Qianqi."

"Her voice is quite pleasant," Xi Heng remarked, glancing over.

"..." Jin You didn't want to hear anything.

Her gaze didn't linger on the stage; she walked alone down the dimly lit road.

Around her, there were a few other figures wandering in the dark passageway, mostly staff members.

"But now that you've come here, please put aside your many troubles from outside," the girl on the stage said gently. "Because we hold hope in our hearts, and the light of hope can illuminate life and lead people out of desolation and danger."

“There was once a saying that after a tree falls ill and withers, all trees will surely grow strong and healthy again… Believe me, under the leadership of the heavenly beings who care for the earth above, we in Xiping will surely overcome this calamity and welcome a better tomorrow and every day.”

"No matter what difficulties they face, the people of Xiping still smile and welcome the warm spring that follows."

"..."

After delivering her opening remarks with a convincing smile and cheerful words, she finally began performing her first song amidst applause.

Soothing melodies emanated from the surrounding speakers, the main theme of today's performance being to heal wounds, hence the gentle tunes and warm music.

Chiki's soft singing voice echoed in all directions, and Jin You finally saw her empty seat.

That seat seemed even closer to the stage than she had imagined, with only a small row of real dignitaries and performance officials in front of her, and her seat behind her.

As she quickened her pace to get closer, a dark red figure brushed past her.

A familiar scent made Jin You frown, and she stopped in her tracks and turned around.

The other person also stopped and turned around to look.

Amidst the cheers from the stage, in the dim light, the two locked eyes.

After a moment's hesitation, Jin You discerned the other person's identity by their aura and whispered:

"Hongyang of the Fire Lotus Gang..."

"Miss Jin You?" The other person narrowed their eyes. "What are you doing here?"

"Looking for someone." Jin You replied, "And what are you Fire Lotus Gang doing here?"

"I hope the person you're looking for has nothing to do with our operation today," Hongyang said in a deep voice.

"You...you're going to blow this up?" The gray-haired girl frowned, remembering the Fire Lotus Gang's reputation.

After accomplishing such a major feat, the Fire Lotus Gang has remained hidden for so long; they certainly don't intend to have a friendly relationship with the company.

Their appearance now likely signals another attack.

The Tianxi Art Center, where the performance is being held today, is also a company that is not small...

"No." The other party shook his head and transmitted his voice silently through the communication device: "You are also one of us, so just say it directly. We are here to assassinate someone."

"Who?"

The other person turned around and looked at the graceful and elegant girl on the stage.

"..."

"Why?" Jin You's voice grew deeper.

She recalled her previous intelligence conversation with a former researcher from the Mok Control Spiritual Body Agency, during which she may have been eavesdropped on.

It was the Fire Lotus Gang who introduced that person, and the fact that Qianqi was a Gao Tianren was probably also known to the Fire Lotus Gang during the process.

Was it because he hated Gao Tianren that he immediately decided to assassinate him? Or was there another reason?

“This city doesn’t need her.” The other person replied, “What people need is not forgiveness and comfort, not this kind of gentle and peaceful tenderness, but anger and resistance.”

Hongyang looked around at the tens of thousands of people and said, "They must remain angry, or at least be confused, in order to find a way out for us. But the so-called idol on the stage is trying to tame them again—this is unforgivable."

So it wasn't because of Takaten's identity... Yoru thought.

"So you're going to kill her?" she asked.

The other person nodded.

"Stop it, you can't do it," Jin You said calmly.

"Why? Just because the person you're looking for is her?" Hongyang, now with a changed appearance, asked back.

"She is a highly skilled celestial being. Not to mention you, even the Xiping Guards can't do anything to her," the girl said directly.

“How could a celestial being like you be on Earth?” Hongyang was clearly unaware of this, and frowned as he said, “I told you the truth because I consider you a fellow traveler, so don’t try to deceive me.”

"She lost her shares in Gaotian, so she came down to run her own company," Jin You said. "Taking action against you will not end well. If you don't believe me, so be it."

After saying that, she turned and left, leaving Huolian Gang Hongyang standing in the shadows.

"..."

The Fire Lotus Gang also noticed something unusual about this place after entering. The fluctuations in spiritual light were unusual, and the center of it was the woman on the stage.

They were already undecided, and after hearing this, Hongyang finally announced to the team that the operation was canceled, and quietly withdrew.

Once Jin You finally found her place and sat down, a voice came to her ears:

"They've left, so there shouldn't be any more assassination attempts."

"That's good……"

"Are you protecting her?" Xi Heng looked at the beautiful young woman singing softly on the stage.

"She doesn't need my protection. I just want to avoid trouble." Jin You also looked over, her feelings were truly complicated.

On the eye-catching stage, the girl in the pale yellow dress shone even brighter under the flashing lights and the rhythm of the drums.

Her melodious voice sang softly as she reached out her slender, fair fingers to the excited and spirited audience.

Jin You subconsciously relaxed her guard and breathed a sigh of relief, but then that hand reached out towards her.

She paused for a moment, then subconsciously raised her hand.

Consciousness returned, then slowly returned.

On the dazzling stage and in the dimly lit audience, two girls looked at each other.

A few seconds later, Ima Yu and I parted ways.

The singing voice remains unchanged.

……

An hour later, the stage performance finally came to an end.

After Qianqi gave a few closing remarks and stepped back from behind the curtain, people slowly dispersed. The staff took the opportunity to tidy up the equipment, and the once bustling scene immediately returned to its empty state.

Jin You remained seated, ignoring the fact that most of the audience had left and the company employees had begun calling for the show to end.

Just as a company employee approached to shoo someone away, the word "step back" suddenly rang out from behind.

A steady female voice came from the stage, and at the same time, a woman wearing a plain yellow dress walked out from behind the curtain.

After changing out of her Rainbow Feather Robe, Qianqi walked off the stage in her everyday clothes and approached Jin You in the front row.

"Yu, you're finally back... I've waited so long." The other person sat in the seat next to me, their eyes filled with a tender emotion as they looked at me.

"Are you coming back with me this time? Just like we said before, although you've lost your identity as Gao Tian, ​​you can still return with me as my pet—"

Jin You shook her head, interrupting the other person: "I want to ask you for a favor."

"Mm." Qianqi was silent for a moment, then nodded obediently.

"I need to manipulate my divine sense; I might need to contact your father," Jin You said, her voice dry and strained, her head bowed.

"Okay, I can help you make the contact," the other party readily agreed.

"But,"

"It's okay. I just have a poor relationship with my family, but I can still communicate with my father."

“…This is troublesome.” When speaking to this person, Ima Yu’s voice was quite dull.

“However, there is one condition.” Qian Qi suddenly said, reaching out her soft left hand to grasp Jin You’s pale right hand: “You must come back with me this time.”

Before Jin You could retort, the other party continued:

"Look at you now, Yu. Your legs are lifeless, which is not something people like you or me should have. Even the life force in your body has weakened. I'm afraid you won't survive much longer if you stay in this filthy city down here."

"..."

“And you have also been tainted by this world, becoming unlike yourself.” Qianqi said cherishingly, “I absolutely do not want to see you continue to fall into the abyss.”

Jin You shook his head: "It's not some abyss, mortals all live like this."

“How can mortals compare to us?” The other person shook his head repeatedly: “You should not empathize with mortals. You would never have done so in the past.”

“So much time has passed, there must have been some changes by now,” Jin You said.

"No...you need to understand, you've been corrupted." Qianqi stared at her, then spoke seriously, "You just drove away those heinous criminals because you wanted to protect them, right?"

"Just now?"

“I came here to perform today knowing that these sinners who know how to be grateful to Heaven would take action, and I was prepared to hang them all to maintain peace in this world,” Qianqi said. “But you let them go.”

Xi Heng's illusory figure appeared to the side, tilting his head as he said:

"Something seems wrong?"

Jin You was a little nervous and silently replied in her heart, "It's completely different from what I thought."

Seeing her silence, Qianqi continued in her tusks, "I don't blame you... I know you've been in the mortal realm for so long, and it's inevitable that you've picked up a lot of mortal impurities. That's alright, as long as you come with me, I will help you wash away these impurities and become the noble person you once were—"

"Wait, wait, wait..." Jin You leaned back and retreated, already regretting coming here. He quickly said, "I came here just to ask you for a favor. I don't want to go back to Gaotian. I can agree to any other request, but not this one."

"Other requirements?" Qianqi's gaze swept over Jin You's entire body. After a sigh, she said resolutely, "No, you must come with me. You look terrible right now. This is not the kind of person I want—"

"Then let's just forget about it." Jin You stood up, supporting herself on the handrail, and said, "Just pretend I was never here."

However, the other person continued speaking: "If Yu-jung from a few years ago were here, he would definitely not be able to stand seeing your ugly and filthy appearance now."

"People always change, don't live in the past." Jin You was constantly being told that things were dirty and filthy, and people kept talking about the past, which inevitably affected her.

Subconsciously, I said, "You're the one who looks ugly."

The stunningly beautiful woman with light-colored curly hair stopped speaking and met Jin You's gaze.

She took a deep breath and then said, "You, the old you would never have said this to me... You've changed too much, you can't go on like this."

Since you don't want to go back, I'll take you back myself—"

Qianqi slowly got up and suddenly grabbed her.

A powerful surge of spiritual light rippled through the air, and a sense of urgency quickly enveloped the area.

The white-haired, red-eyed girl, who had been observing the whole time, sighed and said, "The person you found doesn't seem very reliable..."

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