Come to think of it, Inazuma's a sort of island nation, isn't it?
They must use boats all the time over there.
When the time came, she'd make that brat Thoma associate the dread of some colossal thing lurking beneath his feet every single time he set out to sea and glanced at the surface of the water.
Of course, besides getting back at Thoma with that fear of staring straight into the abyss, there were plenty of other things she could write about, too.
Though it might scare Thoma witless, it seemed she'd first scare herself half to paralysis.
It was a move that wounded the enemy by eight hundred while costing oneself a thousand... mm... that sort of move.
Never mind—she'd worry about it when the time came.
Fang Qiu didn't dwell on it any further; instead she chatted away with Hu Tao and the others, and took the chance to do a bit of scouting about the Jade Chamber.
She had to admit, Miss Ningguang's taste really was superb—terraces stacked upon terraces, soaring pavilions painted in flowing vermilion, overlooking a sheer drop into nothing, displaying wealth and grandeur to the fullest; and there were kiosks, towers, and pavilions besides, all reflecting one another, each setting off the other to perfection.
Time slipped slowly by.
Guests streamed without end up onto the Jade Chamber, every one of them dressed in lavish finery.
Some were perfectly composed—one look and you could tell it wasn't their first time setting foot on the Jade Chamber.
Others glanced about left and right in wonder, clearly here for the very first time.
Fang Qiu even overheard someone voice the very same thought she'd had.
Why doesn't the Jade Chamber have railings? If a strong gust blew through, wouldn't it just sweep someone right off?
The safety measures really aren't up to scratch.
Watching that young man tremble with trepidation, as though treading on thin ice, Fang Qiu couldn't help but nod, in deep agreement.
Evidently, aside from wealthy merchants and great magnates, there were also a number of talented and extraordinary individuals present.
"Wow, everyone's taken their seats already! This is my first time attending one of Miss Ningguang's banquets up on the Jade Chamber—feels like there's going to be so much good food!"
Paimon said, sounding rather excited.
No sooner had her voice fallen than Ningguang stepped out from within the Jade Chamber.
"All of you are honored guests of mine, Ningguang. Having come here today, you must enjoy yourselves to the fullest before you return."
Ningguang said in a calm voice, "Guests who cannot partake of wine, please substitute it with another drink. Fine wine is delightful, yet it is not fine wine alone that delights. I trust the splendid scenery upon the Jade Chamber can likewise intoxicate the heart. Afterward, I have a certain business proposition I should like to share with you all; those who are interested may stay behind of their own accord once the banquet has ended, to discuss it."
The crowd all spoke up at once with flattery and praise.
Then came a wave of discussion; quite a few of those present also knew that tonight there would be a new opera by Yun Jin, and not a few had in fact come precisely for that.
Amid everyone's chatter, Fang Qiu too couldn't help but feel a touch of anticipation.
Having watched Yun Jin's Walking in the Snow earlier at the Heyu Tea House had left quite an impression on her, making her feel the charm of opera for the very first time.
And now, Yun Jin's Divine Damsel of Devastation had been painstakingly prepared over a long while—how could she not look forward to it?
"I'm so looking forward to it."
Paimon, too, wore a look of excitement.
Just as everyone was talking among themselves, Yun Jin stepped onto the stage.
Dressed in a simple set of opera robes, she walked slowly up onto the stage, not saying a word, her back to the crowd.
Just as Fang Qiu was anticipating, she noticed Shenhe beside her gazing fixedly up at the stage—though her temperament was suppressed by the red cord, Fang Qiu could still make out a trace of anticipation on Shenhe's face.
Paimon had once said that Divine Damsel of Devastation told the story of Shenhe's own past.
Was Shenhe looking forward to her own story?
Or was she anticipating something else?
Just as Fang Qiu was wondering, up on the stage Yun Jin began to move, and the sound of the accompaniment below rose in time with Yun Jin's movements.
"How... lamentable..."
The moment those two words left her lips, Fang Qiu felt goosebumps prickle all over her at once.
As that single cry of "how lamentable" rang out, the crowd that had been buzzing in discussion fell silent in an instant.
Even Paimon hovered off to one side, quietly waiting for what Yun Jin would sing next.
Then they saw Yun Jin slowly turn around, and at the same time her crimson lips parted.
"The autumn swan, its wing broken, can pair no more; the foolish one in foolish grief sinks into maddened hate. All because that evil god's dread rite sealed in disaster; were it not for the heroine drawing her sword, every soul would have perished. Mortal ties grow dim while immortal fate surges on; the bonds of kin scatter away as the crimson palace beckons. Crimson threads, once bound, are severed; the woodcutter's axe-handle rots away. Faint as a swan's tracks upon snow and mud, far and distant; the crane returns to find the old pillars gone. The spider's silk weaves on in vain, the soul-banner adrift; karma and the mortal dust grow dim and boundless—vanished like smoke."
A voice like a lark's—winding, melodious, yet clear and crisp—echoed on and on throughout the Jade Chamber.
For a moment, Fang Qiu listened, utterly entranced.
Though it was archaic verse, Fang Qiu could still grasp the gist of it. The story went roughly like this: once there was a married couple who loved each other deeply, but one day monsters came to the village. The monsters carried off the wife, and the husband, his head splitting with agony, went mad. The monsters told the villagers that if they wished to live, they would have to offer up a child as tribute. And at that moment, that couple's child stepped forward; sword in hand she made her way all the way to the monsters' lair, and after a desperate life-or-death battle, she did away with the monsters.
Then, spent and drained of all strength, she was rescued by the Adepti; her mortal ties already at an end, she became a disciple of the immortal household, and from then on remained in the realm of the Adepti.
Only, by the time she returned to her hometown, all had long since changed beyond recognition.
Her parents were both dead, and the village had fallen to ruin.
In the mortal world, no one recognized Shenhe any longer.
Karma and the mortal dust grow dim and boundless—vanished like smoke...
Hearing this far, Fang Qiu looked over at Shenhe beside her, and couldn't help but feel a pang of heartache.
So Shenhe had a sorrowful past like this after all....
Still, Shenhe really was brave—at such a young age, she'd actually dared to fight monsters....
Fang Qiu looked at Shenhe, only to find that Shenhe's expression remained somewhat complicated.
Before Fang Qiu could even open her mouth, she realized the opera was not yet over. Yun Jin spoke up with a soft laugh:
"Divine Damsel of Devastation ought, by rights, to be drawing near its close at this point. But today, I shall add one more stroke—and sing it, for all of you, to hear!"
As that goosebump-raising word "hear" rang out, a new chapter of Shenhe's story began.
"A lofty tune need not go unrecognized; surely a kindred spirit will harmonize with its pure verse. Red tassels flutter, the sword a shooting star, pointing straight at the raging tide to wash the seas clean."
"Back then the crane returned, with all the vast world offering nothing to lean upon, and departed alone. Today we meet once more—new friends and old fill the hall, gathered together at this very moment."
As the opera drew to a close, seeing Yun Jin's gaze cast toward them, both Lumine and Shenhe couldn't help but raise their teacups, and Paimon even waved her hand at Yun Jin up on the stage.
Fang Qiu and Hu Tao raised their teacups along with them.
Fang Qiu had only just lifted her teacup when she saw a smile curl at the corner of Shenhe's mouth.
Seeing this, Fang Qiu couldn't help but smile herself.
That's right—it was all in the past now.
The Shenhe of today had them by her side.
No longer was she alone in a vast world with nothing to lean upon; instead, new friends and old filled the hall, gathered together at this very moment.
"Even though it's pretty different from Shenhe's actual story, Yun Jin really did sing it wonderfully—I got goosebumps just now."
Paimon cradled her teacup in both hands, took a sip, and said, sounding rather excited.
"There are differences?"
Fang Qiu, somewhat puzzled, asked.
"Uh... I'm sorry, Shenhe, that slipped out."
Paimon froze for a moment, then looked over at Shenhe with an apologetic face.
"It's fine."
Shenhe shook her head, and proceeded to tell Fang Qiu the other version of the story in full.
As it turned out, Shenhe had not been so brave as the story made her out to be. It had not been of her own will; rather, her mother, afflicted by the miasma of the monsters, had fallen gravely ill and was on the verge of death, and her father, likewise affected by the monsters, had fallen prey to his inner demons. In order to save the mother's life, he had offered Shenhe up as a sacrifice to the monsters.
A few days earlier, in order to find something the Jade Chamber required, they had made a trip to the village where Shenhe used to live.
And there they had learned that, after sending Shenhe into the monsters' cave, her father too had been consumed by remorse, and had taken his own life....
Listening to Shenhe recount the past one sentence at a time, as though without any feeling at all, and then thinking back to the story Yun Jin had just sung, Fang Qiu couldn't help but feel a sting in her nose, and tears slid unbidden down her cheeks.
So that little girl hadn't been so brave after all...
Shenhe's parents were pitiable people too—they who had loved each other so dearly, yet were torn apart by monsters, and then beguiled by monsters, until in the end they even lost their own daughter....
Shenhe's past was simply far too sorrowful....
She so badly wanted to give Shenhe a hug....
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