Crimson clouds appeared around the stage. The listeners saw only a flash of swordlight before sensing the razor-sharp sword intent, and cold sweat broke out across their bodies.
"Azure Empyrea wielded the divine sword. Sword qi erupted and transformed into a sea of crimson clouds, sealing the savage beast within the land of Jiuyou... As for Ji Xuanyuan, alas..."
In the painting, Azure Empyrea discarded her sword and silently departed alone.
Indeed, making changes was not the same as fabricating nonsense, and dramatization was not the same as spouting rubbish. In any case, miHoYo had already devoured The Mystery of the Stigmata, so Vill-V could tell the story however she pleased.
Of course, Vill-V still had principles. She had merely attributed all the credit for sealing Chiyou to Azure Empyrea.
The storyteller onstage delivered the tale with extraordinary flair, while the newly recruited gang members below clamored noisily.
"What does the clan suffix mean? Is she called Nüwa, or Lady Nüwa?"
"These special effects are way too realistic. This is ten thousand times better than the storytelling shows online."
"Storyteller, does Azure Empyrea really exist? Is she still alive?"
Vill-V neither confirmed nor denied it. "Hard to say, hard to say! Every one of us can follow Azure Empyrea's example by upholding justice, helping the weak, and ridding the people of evil. Though we possess neither divine swords nor magical powers, we may still offer aid according to our means, help those in danger and hardship, or even guide the common people. All are virtuous deeds that benefit an entire region."
If she hurried to confirm Azure Empyrea's existence, people would find it harder to believe.
Sure enough, someone had already begun defending Azure Empyrea. "Don't speak nonsense. Azure Empyrea is an immortal from heaven. Unable to bear seeing the common people suffer, she descended to the mortal world to deliver salvation to all..."
"No, no. Azure Empyrea was an immortal bird that cultivated a human form. She slew monsters and eradicated evil solely to preserve peace in the mortal realm..."
"Look at that giant bird. It must be Azure Empyrea's disciple, or perhaps her descendant! What normal bird could possibly grow that large?"
"That makes sense. That makes sense."
Coo, coo, coo!
The gigantic black kite Zeo walked among the audience beneath the stage, carrying a wooden tray in its claws. Resting on the tray was a statue of Azure Empyrea designed by Dan Zhu.
The statue had been sculpted from silicone clay, a material popular among figure craftsmen. It felt warm, smooth, and supple to the touch, while also resisting further deformation once its shape had been finalized.
The sculpture of Azure Empyrea was dignified, graceful, and remarkably lifelike.
Her seemingly pale yet warmly radiant skin framed features that appeared carved by the craftsmanship of heaven itself. She was as elegant as a startled swan and as graceful as a roaming dragon.
Beneath hair as red and passionate as flame, the faint aloofness in her expression inadvertently revealed her maturity.
She held a Taixuan sword in one hand. One sleeve billowed freely while the other hung low, both as light as a bird's wings. Her robes fluttered in the wind, and every thread of fabric seemed imbued with life.
Combined with her beautiful figure, the statue radiated a purity and nobility that transcended the mundane world.
It had to be said that Dan Zhu truly was a rare talent when it came to design.
The audience below gazed longingly at the sacred yet alluring statue, showering it with praise.
"A clay figure made by Lady Nüwa? It's unbelievably beautiful!" a young man shouted excitedly.
"Tell me how much this figure costs! I want to preorder one right now!" a young woman asked impatiently, her eyes shining.
"Let me touch your round belly!" An old man secretly reached his lecherous hand toward Zeo.
Coo, coo, coo!
Zeo was surrounded so tightly that it could not move. It held the statue of Azure Empyrea aloft in bewilderment while lecherous hands occasionally reached out to rub its belly.
Seeing the audience below so enthusiastic, Vill-V was delighted.
It seemed the Taixu Gang's operating expenses and her own research funding had been secured once again.
Besides, everyone appeared to like Zeo's appearance as well. Dan Zhu would not even need to design anything. Vill-V could simply mass-produce Zeo-shaped ice cream cakes. They would be the ultimate treat for the scorching summer!
Compared to Azure Empyrea figurines, she could save the shares of the design fees owed to Dan Zhu and Cang Xuan, as well as Hua's portrait licensing and endorsement fees.
That would save a full seventy percent of the profits! I truly am a business genius!
What? Zeo wanted portrait licensing and endorsement fees too?
Artificial life-forms had no human rights! What belonged to Zeo belonged to her, and what belonged to her still belonged to her!
Seeing that Zeo was about to be stretched into a pancake, Vill-V hurriedly raised the microphone onstage and shouted, "Ahem, ahem! Stop fighting over it! Stop fighting! Anyone who joins the Taixu Gang will receive priority purchasing rights!"
And so, another large group of Azure Empyrea's followers joined the Taixu Gang.
The Taixu Gang flourished more with each passing day.
...
Hua, who was taking a short rest in the backstage lounge, had no idea how Vill-V was portraying Azure Empyrea onstage.
Ever since the Mirror of Truth had shone upon her twice, Hua would often become suddenly drowsy.
Vill-V knew nothing about this. She had originally intended to have Hua appear onstage, but after seeing her asleep, she could not bear to wake her.
Within the dream, clouds and mist swirled around Hua.
She could not see the other person's figure clearly, or perhaps that person was already about to fade away.
"I'm sorry, my friend... You will have to walk the road ahead alone..."
Hua's eyes snapped open. "Cang Xuan!"
"Hm?" Cang Xuan, who was helping Dan Zhu carve a sculpture nearby, raised her head and looked toward Hua, who had suddenly called her name.
"Ah... Sorry. I was only having a nightmare. I wasn't actually calling for you."
It had happened again. Ever since arriving in this city, Hua had been having strange dreams.
Today, Hua had once again dreamed of Cang Xuan saying strange things to her before disappearing.
What occupies the mind by day enters one's dreams by night. I must have been thinking too much lately.
Fortunately, Dan Zhu distracted Cang Xuan from her confusion.
"Cang Xuan, Cang Xuan! Look! We've already sold thirty!"
Dan Zhu held up a monitor in her long sleeves. A list of customers and addresses was displayed on its screen.
Naturally, she was cosplaying Nüwa, while Cang Xuan was cosplaying Fuxi.
"Those are only deposits. They may not necessarily complete the payment. Still, your judgment was correct, Dan Zhu. At this rate, we can expect to sell more than a thousand..."
"Right? Right? I knew everyone would love the image of a beautiful young girl who looks innocent on the outside but is mature within! Hehe!"
Dan Zhu waved the tablet in her hands. Having her design acknowledged by everyone was the happiest thing imaginable.
Compared to dull and tedious experimental research, researching figurines made her feel far more fulfilled.
Cang Xuan did not continue dampening Dan Zhu's enthusiasm by mentioning things like insufficient production capacity, how they could sculpt only three figures a day, or how producing a thousand would take an entire year.
It was a good thing for Dan Zhu to be so motivated.
"Perhaps we should find a factory and establish a production line."
"How could we do that? Wouldn't every figure produced on an assembly line be exactly the same?"
Dan Zhu's muttering made Cang Xuan sigh deeply. She lowered her head again and added two mounds to the impoverished chest of the Azure Empyrea figurine.
Previously, in pursuit of realism, Cang Xuan had carved the figure according to Hua's actual body shape. Dan Zhu had been dissatisfied and insisted on adding more material, so Cang Xuan had no choice but to slowly patch it up.
Hua, dressed in Azure Empyrea's attire, held the exquisite figurine Dan Zhu had created and murmured, "Um... I hope Azure Empyrea won't take offense."
"Don't worry. Azure Empyrea will forgive you. Everything we're doing is a chivalrous act carried out in the name of justice."
...
Vill-V, who had just come down from the stage after storytelling for so long, was also somewhat tired.
Improvising the story and stage movements on the spot had required considerable mental and physical effort.
When she arrived at the lounge and saw Hua chatting animatedly with the sisters Dan Zhu and Cang Xuan, Vill-V did not want to disturb them.
After all, Hua always paid special attention to her. If she entered, Hua would probably focus entirely on her, while the newly arrived sisters Dan Zhu and Cang Xuan would become extremely reserved. Then Hua would have no chance to deepen her relationship with them.
When it came to friends, Id was always willing to lower herself, treating them with caution and tenderness.
"Mm-hmm~ The office should be empty. I'll go lie down there for a while."
Vill-V stretched lazily and walked toward the office alone.
The lights in the corridor around the office flickered between brightness and darkness. Vill-V muttered softly, "Huh? Is the motion-sensor light broken?"
Just then...
A large pile of black-and-white feathers on the floor caught Vill-V's attention.
Judging by their texture, they were unmistakably Zeo's tail feathers!
As an artificial life-form, Zeo did not molt naturally. Its feathers were fundamentally part of its body, so there was no such thing as molting—
Moreover, Zeo's defenses were far from weak. Forget office supplies, even a rocket launcher could not possibly injure Zeo.
Creeeak...
Just as Vill-V's mind filled with suspicion, the office door quietly swung open.
A transparent butterfly fluttered before the doorway, seemingly inviting Vill-V inside.
Vill-V's eyes sharpened, and she decisively pushed open the door. "Let's see who dared lay a hand on my ice cream cake!"