Chapter 683: The [K]s

Chen Ling understood.

From the very beginning, his master had pointed out his situation... He was too immersed as a "spectator," to the point that he forgot he wasn't a "spectator," but a "person" on the stage!

He didn't know when it started, but he had already projected himself into the perspective of a "spectator," looking at things with an detached "scrutiny."

He only cared about the "ending," only cared about restarting the world. As long as he could complete this ending, any twists and turns or unexpected events in between disgusted him... He pursued efficiency and rationality with a near-paranoid mindset. He only cared about whether things could proceed smoothly and couldn't empathize with the characters involved.

Why does this person have to do this? If he didn't do that stupid thing, couldn't he advance faster?

That person is really annoying, telling him to go east and he insists on going west. If he just listened obediently, wouldn't it have been a peaceful ending?

Chen Ling held his head in pain. He realized where the problem was... Since he had projected himself as a "spectator," he would naturally distance himself from the world. He was walking from the stage to the audience, becoming a viewer in front of the screen, so when the "characters" saw him, his face was also blurred...

What was blocking him from the "stage" was the Fourth Wall!

"The characteristics of a 'person'... I have them!" Chen Ling seemed to remember something, his eyes flashing with brilliance. "The unique thing my master gave me."

He stood up abruptly, and a hint of apricot-colored blush gradually appeared from the corners of his eyes!

"[Paint the Crimson Face]!!"

Since he was gradually losing his characteristics and becoming a cookie-cutter "spectator," he just needed to find that face that belonged to him. As long as he found his face, he would naturally return to being a "character" and could break free from the state of being a "spectator"!

The apricot-colored eye makeup was gradually solidifying, but then the grayness that shrouded the corners of his eyes spread rapidly, actually suppressing the Crimson Face!

In the void around Chen Ling, the Fourth Wall began to tremble, as if shaken by the struggle between the two!

But in the end, Chen Ling's Crimson Face was suppressed, fading and disappearing...

He had fallen too deep into the state of a "spectator" to extricate himself, and the Crimson Face couldn't save him... Chen Ling failed to cross the "Fourth Wall" and return to himself.

"Damn it..."

Chen Ling's eyes were bloodshot.

"Hey, hey, hey, Hearts! Are you okay?!" Jian Changsheng hurried over. He had seen Chen Ling looking at the water, tearing his face, and going crazy, and was scared silly for a moment. "You... are you possessed? I don't see any Sorcery God Path around... Have they become that evil?!"

"...I'm fine."

Chen Ling took a deep breath and calmed his mood.

He already knew his problem, but he hadn't found a way to solve it... It seemed that "Paint the Crimson Face" alone wasn't enough. He needed something that could better distance him from being a "spectator" and return him to the "stage."

He seemed to think of something, slowly raising his head to look at the Red Dust Main City shrouded in fire in the distance.

"Perhaps... I should go back."

"Go back? Aren't we already at the door of our landing spot?" Jian Changsheng pointed to the Twilight Society's temporary stronghold nearby.

"Not back there, but back into my own character."

"You? What character?"

"Six of Hearts, Chen Ling." Chen Ling paused for a moment. "And... the Jinghong Pavilion actor, Lin Yan."

Jian Changsheng was stunned, raising his eyebrows in surprise.

"Did you find your conscience? Are you going back to save them?"

"Not yet... but I want to try to find my 'heart'."

To break free from the state of a "spectator," besides "Paint the Crimson Face," the most effective way was naturally to return to the "character." As long as Chen Ling could re-project himself into the character and regain the emotions belonging to the character, he could naturally contend with the Fourth Wall.

"If you want to go back and take risks, I have no objection. It's not like I'm the one going to die."

Jian Changsheng shrugged, looking back at the house of the Twilight Society members,

Then he spoke sneakily,

"But the other seniors might not agree... One Eight of Clubs and one Nine of Hearts have already ignored the Twilight Society's principle of neutrality and intervened in the realm war. If you leave too, our funeral team will be missing more than half. When the higher-ups ask, it won't be easy to explain..."

"This matter is serious, I must go," Chen Ling replied firmly.

For Chen Ling, this might be his only chance to find himself. If he missed this time, he might unknowingly walk further and further on the path of a "spectator," eventually completely detaching from this world and becoming one of the "spectators."

"You... sigh."

Jian Changsheng struggled for a long time, then hardened his heart. "Forget it, since you've helped me so many times in the Red Dust! Go ahead. If they ask, I'll say you went to take a dump... Don't worry, I'll definitely help you stall them."

Chen Ling: ...

"Thank you."

Chen Ling took a deep look at the direction of the Twilight Society's house, then finally turned and headed straight toward the Red Dust Main City.

The bright red opera robe swayed under the dim sky. The last actor of Jinghong Pavilion was rushing to the war-torn stage... He didn't know if it was too late to go on stage, but at least he wanted to go up one more time as a "person."

The rain was still falling, like the curtain of a grand finale performance, slowly opening amidst the flames of war...

Perhaps the performance of Jinghong Pavilion was not over yet.

……

Twilight Society, landing spot.

Chu Muyun, Bai Ye, Jack of Clubs, and Ten of Diamonds sat scattered in the courtyard. No one spoke, and the air was deathly silent.

"...Another one gone." Ten of Diamonds frowned. "One after another, won't that be bad?"

"I actually don't think it's anything."

With his white duck-billed cap lowered, covering most of his face, Bai Ye's lazy voice sounded. "Anyway, we can complete the Realm Funeral with just a few of us."

"Then how do we explain it when the higher-ups ask?"

"If you don't say anything and I don't say anything, how would they know... They aren't truly all-knowing and all-seeing."

"Heh, for all you know, the Gray King might be watching you right now."

"Then you tell me what to do."

Ten of Diamonds pondered for a moment, then stood up slowly. "Since none of you want to be the bad guy, I'll go... I'll go talk to Six of Hearts."

After speaking, he didn't wait for the others to answer and walked straight out the gate.

At the same time, Jian Changsheng was also muttering something as he opened the door and walked back.

"Where's Six of Hearts?"

"He, he went to take a dump!"

"...Stay aside."

Ten of Diamonds bypassed him and continued forward.

Seeing this, Jian Changsheng became a bit anxious. Just as he was about to grab Ten of Diamonds, four afterimages tore through the void, accompanied by sharp explosions, and crashed in front of Ten of Diamonds!

Thud—!!

Faint dust and smoke spread to the surroundings.

Ten of Diamonds was stunned. Not just him, but astonishment also appeared on the faces of Bai Ye and Jack of Clubs. They walked quickly to the door and fixed their eyes on the place where the dust and smoke were churning...

On the thick bluestone path, four playing cards had been embedded at some point;

These four cards were like sharp gates, blocking Ten of Diamonds in place. The moment they saw the faces of these four cards, everyone's pupils contracted involuntarily!

—[Spades K], [Hearts K], [Diamonds K], [Clubs K].

These four cards represented the top brass of the Twilight Society, representing the peak combat power second only to the Red King and the Gray King... Even the Js and Qs rarely had the opportunity to come into contact with any of them.

And now, these four cards appeared at the same time;

Four "K" cards, supporting Chen Ling!

……

……

Recommend Youziyin's "The Immortal Scholar of Tongyou"~ Xianxia knife (crossed out) Xianxia word-of-mouth masterpiece!! If you are interested, you can go take a look.