Celestial Human Diagram

Chen Chuan’s gaze was fixed on the armor. Based on his own experience, he could tell this was an anomaly.

’But for it to appear on stage, in full public view... was this intentional on the organizers’ part? Or did it have some special purpose? Or was it some kind of sudden, unexpected incident?’

He had no way of knowing.

The musical itself had many mysterious elements, and with numerous Fighters involved, it was hard to say if they were using certain things for dramatic effect.

For now, the anomaly didn’t seem to be affecting those around it. But an anomaly was still an anomaly.

After a moment’s thought, he decided to wait and see.

Onstage, the Shepherdess character was mute and couldn’t speak, so the exchange between the two was just the Knight speaking alone in a theatrical tone.

The Knight’s voice was sonorous and clear. Even without seeing a face, one could sense this was a person filled with passion, possessing an indomitable will and courage.

But in reality, the so-called Knight was just a hollow suit of armor. And when Chen Chuan used his Second Self to block it out, the voice disappeared along with it.

’This means it’s not someone providing a voice from backstage. The anomaly itself is making the sound.’

The organizers probably had no idea this was happening; at the very least, the actors on stage didn’t.

He opened his Realm Token and looked up the actors’ information on the list provided by the theater’s platform.

There, he could see the backstories for each character and introductions for the actors. The main cast was, of course, at the top.

At the very top were the lead actors. The actress playing the Shepherdess was Astrid from Nordland—her Dashun name was Qiu Hudie. She was a twenty-five-year-old Three-Limited Fighter, but on stage, she looked to be only eighteen or nineteen.

The actor playing the Down-and-out Knight was named Torsten, with the Dashun name Nanwang. ’This means there was supposed to be an actor in this role. So where is that actor now?’

He then looked at the actor’s full-body photo, which was a near-perfect match for the current appearance of the Knight Armor.

His gaze deepened.

He then looked up some more information about the stage production. To ensure authenticity, all the props, costumes, and weapons used in the musical had been shipped over from Nordland.

Meanwhile, the plot continued to unfold on stage. Setting aside the anomaly, the actors’ performances were actually quite on point. Even the anomaly showed no flaws, perfectly portraying the persistent and unyielding nature of the Down-and-out Knight, who refused to bow his head in the face of ridicule.

The audience had the feeling that this was exactly what the Knight of old was like, brought to life right before their eyes.

The Shepherdess’s performance was also excellent. Even without lines, her body language and the emotion conveyed through her light green eyes were more than enough to move people.

Unconsciously, as the plot advanced, the first six acts came to an end. The lights came back on, signaling a short intermission.

All the main characters had been introduced in these six acts. A major turning point was next—the most exciting part of the entire show. During the break, the audience members were all enthusiastically discussing the plot and the actors.

Pan Xiaode and Tan Zhi were no exception, though they were more interested in the fights to come.

Chen Chuan didn’t join the discussion. Instead, he picked up his Snow Monarch Blade, stood up, and left the private box.

He was going to see Chen Bitong.

Just as he stepped into the hallway, a person walked over from the opposite corridor and greeted him. "Captain Chen, what a coincidence. We meet again."

Chen Chuan recognized the man as Gu Haiting from Canglong Company, whom he had met at the training session the other day. "Ah, Mr. Gu," he said.

"Captain Chen, you’re...?"

Chen Chuan said, "I saw Teacher Chen earlier, so I thought I’d go over and say hello."

Gu Haiting smiled. "What a coincidence. I was planning to see Teacher Chen as well. Shall we go together?"

Chen Chuan agreed.

He could sense that the other man had likely been waiting here for him specifically. But regardless of his motive, having someone accompany him to see Chen Bitong would make the visit seem less abrupt.

As the two walked down the corridor, Gu Haiting asked, "Captain Chen, what do you think of this musical?"

"It’s certainly brilliant," Chen Chuan replied.

’Setting the anomaly aside, the costumes, props, and singing all possess an extremely high artistic quality. Even someone like me, who doesn’t usually watch stage plays, can appreciate it.’

Gu Haiting said, "I heard the songs contain a special Fighting Skill. I’m very curious if that’s true. Captain Chen, have you heard anything of the sort in them?"

"No, I haven’t," Chen Chuan said. "I suppose it’s because of the language barrier."

Gu Haiting chuckled. "Yes, perhaps. On Dashun soil, an ancient hero from Nordland might not acclimate so well."

Chen Chuan said, "Any power gained from nothing comes with a price. We have our own heritage; we don’t need to go out of our way to seek others."

Gu Haiting nodded lightly. "Did you know, Captain Chen, that the biggest sponsor and promoter of this whole musical is a Nordland enterprise, Porlon Company? When these foreign companies are on Dashun soil, they naturally bring their own things with them. Some are good, but some are not."

"That’s unavoidable," Chen Chuan said.

"Indeed. But when some of them go too far, we have to find a way to rein them in. Even if it’s just trimming the weeds, you can’t let their branches stretch out over the road," Gu Haiting said meaningfully.

He looked ahead again. "Oh, we’re here. It’s quite crowded."

A number of people had gathered in front of the private box. Since Chen Bitong was in Chairman Quan’s family box, most of them were people who hadn’t gotten a chance to greet the Chairman earlier and were coming to pay their respects, in addition to those like them who were there to visit Chen Bitong.

However, they all knew that Chen Bitong would have sensed their arrival. If he wanted to see them, he would. If not, it meant he didn’t wish to be disturbed.

Just then, a side door opened, and a server outside made an inviting gesture.

Gu Haiting said, "Teacher Chen is inviting us in. Let’s go." Chen Chuan nodded and walked in with him.

This private box was very large, with two separate rooms. Chen Bitong was in one of them.

After entering, Chen Chuan scanned the room and saw Chen Bitong sitting on a wide sofa. His back was ramrod straight, and his sharp, chiseled features looked particularly stern under the light. His eyes were especially deep and intense.

His large, brimmed cap was placed neatly on the table in front of him, and his military greatcoat was hanging on a nearby rack. He was currently wearing just a gray shirt, with no visible weapons on him.

"Come, have a seat."

Chen Bitong seemed very relaxed, like a true teacher facing his students. After they both sat down, he asked in a casual tone, "What do you two think of the opera?"

Gu Haiting smiled and said, "Teacher, although I didn’t get to see what I was hoping for, it’s still quite a good show. A real feast for the eyes and ears."

Chen Chuan, however, said, "I’ve never seen anything like this before, but I find I can appreciate it. It’s just..." He looked at Chen Bitong. "It seems like there’s something hidden underneath it all."

Chen Bitong offered no comment. He appeared not to have sensed any anomaly, simply saying, "If you find it pleasant to listen to, then keep listening. You might gain something from it."

After the three had chatted for a few moments, a notification on their Realm Tokens announced that the second half of the show would begin in five minutes.

Gu Haiting and Chen Chuan both stood up. "We won’t disturb you any longer, Teacher Chen."

Chen Bitong also stood, but he looked at Chen Chuan. "Captain Chen, a moment."

Seeing this, Gu Haiting understood they had something to discuss privately. He smiled, bid them farewell, and walked out of the box.

Chen Bitong then said in a gentle tone, "Captain Chen, I’m here alone. Would you be willing to accompany me for the rest of the show?"

Chen Chuan felt a slight stir within him. He nodded, used his Realm Token to notify Tan Zhi and the other two, and then sat back down.

Chen Bitong had the server outside pour a hot drink and said to Chen Chuan, "Thank you for what you did for Xiaojin."

"As long as you don’t think I was being nosy, Teacher Chen," Chen Chuan replied.

Chen Bitong shook his head. "His talent is limited, and I don’t have time to teach him. It’s better not to teach him at all. That way, he might not be so disappointed in the future."

"But I believe Xiaojin does have talent," Chen Chuan said.

Chen Bitong was noncommittal.

Just then, the house lights dimmed, leaving only the stage illuminated.

Chen Bitong looked toward the stage and said slowly, "Let’s watch the show."

After the intermission came the second half. A noblewoman took a poem into the royal city, passed the Court Swordsman’s trial, and successfully received the King’s investiture.

At this point, she was supposed to present the poem to vindicate the Down-and-out Knight. However, she had a change of heart and sent men to kill him. The Shepherdess defeated the assailants, took up the Knight’s armor and sword-spear, and charged into the Royal Court. The two actresses would then engage in a true, climactic duel.

As Fighters, the two actresses would not only use their full strength, but the play also had a branching ending.

If the Shepherdess lost, the play would proceed to a dark ending. Although this would deviate from the main theme, the audience would understand it. If the Shepherdess won, it would be the orthodox ending.

But precisely because the ending was uncertain, the audience’s anticipation and tension were at an all-time high.

Chen Chuan watched the stage. As the scenes passed one by one, the plot soon reached the moment the Shepherdess was bestowed the armor.

According to the synopsis on his Realm Token, the Knight, amidst a passionate and stirring song, had the Shepherdess remove his armor and guided her in putting it on. But when Chen Chuan used his Second Self to block out the Domain, he saw a different scene.

The armor came off by itself, revealing nothing but emptiness inside. Then, the actress playing the Shepherdess put it on, piece by piece, before raising the spear high.

The Shepherdess remained silent the entire time, yet her sheer determination and forward-charging resolve deeply moved most of the audience. Accompanied by the swelling, impassioned music, their eyes filled with anticipation, awaiting the violent clash that was about to unfold.

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