I'm not a drama god

The orange candlelight flickered.

"Baosheng, don't be afraid..."

"The sir will find a way to save you."

Chen Ling spoke softly.

Bathed in the warm glow, the black on Chen Ling's opera robe gradually spread, and his aura became visibly profound and mysterious, an indescribable power spreading through the air...

Just then, a slender hand gently grasped the hem of the black Nuo opera robe.

"gentlemen……"

"Let me go."

Hearing this faint murmur, as soft as a mosquito's buzz, Chen Ling stood frozen in place.

Under the dim light, Kong Baosheng slightly raised his head, his eyes wrapped in blood-stained bandages, making it impossible to see his expression clearly... but Chen Ling could sense that he was pleading.

"……What did you say?"

"I don't want to continue like this... sir..."

“Baosheng, I will cure your illness. Give me some more time, and all the pain will leave you, so you won’t have to suffer anymore,” Chen Ling said solemnly.

“…No.” Kong Baosheng gently shook his head. “Sir, you don’t understand…”

"What do I not understand?"

"In this era, just living... is the greatest torment."

Kong Baosheng lowered his arm helplessly, staring blankly at the ceiling, his voice hoarse.

Even if I recover my health, the situation of others will not change. The plague and famine will continue. Even if I can guarantee that I will never contract any virus again, even if I can live a life of plenty... so what?

“Every time I step outside, I still see people fighting over food, and I still hear their painful groans. I can't stand on high ground, and I can't turn a blind eye…”

"Sir, in this day and age, no one can calm down and listen to opera anymore."

"Jinghong Tower..."

"There will never be a day when the place is packed with guests again."

"For me... this kind of life is the greatest torment."

Kong Baosheng's voice echoed weakly in the room. This was the first time Chen Ling had seen sorrow and pain on his face since their reunion... His sorrow and pain were not for himself, but for the era.

Kong Baosheng was born in Jinghonglou. After his grandmother died, he regarded Jinghonglou as something he would do his best to do well. But in this era, Jinghonglou will never welcome customers who truly understand him again, and even this theater can no longer exist.

For him, watching Jinghong Tower head towards destruction was something even more unacceptable than death.

Today, when Chen Ling and Li Qingshan were performing "Looking at Spring Terrace," Kong Baosheng had already heard the commotion nearby. His tears were not only for his gratitude to Chen Ling and Li Qingshan, but also for his despair and sorrow...

At that moment he realized,

The spring he sought would never return.

“Baosheng…” Chen Ling opened her mouth, wanting to say something more.

"I know you are very powerful, sir. If I want to, you can definitely let me live..." Kong Baosheng smiled weakly.

"But sir, really... it's not necessary."

"I……"

I miss my grandma.

At that moment, Chen Ling felt as if her heart had been pricked by a needle, and an indescribable pain welled up in her heart.

He gently closed his eyes, as if he dared not look at Kong Baosheng's face any longer. A pair of vermilion earrings swayed slightly with his rapid breathing, and his heart was going through an unprecedented struggle.

At this moment, he was not facing an invincible enemy, nor a hopeless predicament...

Instead, they gave up.

He didn't know how much time had passed before he finally took a deep, trembling breath...

"……I see."

Chen Ling opened her eyes, her moist, ruby-like eyes looking tenderly at Kong Baosheng on the sickbed. "Baosheng... let me see you off."

Kong Baosheng's pale lips finally curled up slightly, as if he was very happy with Chen Ling's choice:

"Thank you, sir."

Chen Ling reached out her hand, trembling slightly, and gently placed it on Kong Baosheng's forehead, as if she were gently stroking a junior. The warmth of her palm spread across Kong Baosheng's bloodstains, as if spring had already arrived.

Kong Baosheng spoke softly again:

"Sir, I must take my leave now..."

“I know that with your abilities, you will definitely be able to reach the end in this era… but sometimes, the closer you get to the end, the more pain you suffer…”

"Sir, you must take good care of yourself."

Chen Ling couldn't help but close her eyes again, controlling her emotions, her voice still calm and gentle: "Yes, I will."

Under Chen Ling's palm,

A smile appeared on Kong Baosheng's lips.

Good night, sir.

Goodnight... Baosheng.

Chen Ling gently shook her hand.

At the same time, a thought entered Mr. Han's mind...

As Chen Ling's hand trembled as she moved it away, Kong Baosheng on the sickbed breathed his last.

But there was no trace of pain or suffering on his face; instead, he radiated a happy smile, as if leaving on this perfect and beautiful day had already drawn the best conclusion to his life.

A tear rolled down Chen Ling's cheek. He could no longer hold back his emotions. He sat alone on the edge of the bed, looking at the boy he had killed with his own hands. His fingernails dug deep into his palms, and drops of crimson blood spread across the floor...

At this moment, in his field of vision, a phantom soul floated out from Kong Baosheng's corpse and slowly rose into the void above.

Without hesitation, Chen Ling opened the red paper umbrella. Because Chen Ling had personally killed Kong Baosheng, his soul offered almost no resistance and was sucked into the umbrella.

"Baosheng..."

"This era owes you too much."

"After I restart the world, perhaps we'll have a chance to meet again..."

Chen Ling murmured softly, as if speaking to Kong Baosheng, or perhaps comforting herself. As he closed the red paper umbrella, a gust of cold wind swept through the room, instantly extinguishing the orange kerosene lamp burning beside him.

Wearing a red and black theatrical robe, Chen Ling slowly stood up from her seat and pushed open the door to go out.

Boom——

The thunder outside continued incessantly.

Li Qingshan, who was sitting alone at the door, seemed to sense something and turned to look at this place... A look of surprise appeared in his eyes.

The flickering lightning cast long shadows of the actor. Chen Ling slowly walked through the empty front hall, finally arriving beside Li Qingshan…

In front of Jinghong Tower,

The two actors remained silent.

"Brother Chen, Baosheng, he..."

"He's gone." Chen Ling paused for a moment. "I personally saw him off."

Although Li Qingshan had a vague idea, a deep sorrow still flashed across his face. He remained silent for a long time before finally speaking:

"It's better to leave without pain... In this era, living is suffering."

Chen Ling did not respond.

He slowly looked up at the sky... The wind and rain in the Hidden Cloud Realm did not stop for a moment because of Kong Baosheng's death, but instead became even more fierce and violent!

……

……

I'll be taking a day off tomorrow for the book signing of the sixth volume of "I'm Not a Drama God" in Chongqing. I look forward to meeting everyone!

It was wrong of me to stab you today. Please don't stab me when we meet, I beg you.