Fang Tunan’s mech was struck in its energy core, crashing heavily to the ground.
He struggled out of the cockpit, his eyes wide with shock and confusion as he stared at the clown on the stage.
This was absolutely unbelievable.
The energy core was protected by Starmarrow Alloy! Yet it had been pierced by the clown’s green bullet as if it were made of paper. How was that even possible?!
Fang Tunan’s expression was graver than ever before. Was this clown targeting the Mute Bride, or was he after “His Lordship”?
He turned his head, scanning the scene.
His teammates were in a similar state—all their mechs had been hit in the energy cores, lying pathetically on the ground.
Just thinking about the astronomical amount of star currency needed to repair those cores made Fang Tunan’s face twitch involuntarily.
This mission was a massive loss!
The members of Broken Blade all climbed out of their cockpits. Standing on the wreckage of their mechs, they looked up at the stage.
The green, translucent pod continued to spin at high speed, recharging. It seemed the barrage of bullets it had just unleashed was nothing more than a light sprinkle.
The clown stood behind the green turret, one hand resting on the control lever as he watched the crowd warily.
The female lead had collapsed to the floor, looking up at the clown with fanatical admiration in her eyes.
In this moment, the clown was the sole focus of the entire theater.
His ridiculous mask was a hero’s mockery, a display of contempt from the pinnacle of power!
The live stream exploded. Viewership soared past a million, with people from other planets even crossing network boundaries to tune in after hearing the news.
[Ahhh! So cool! Is this the man who made even Broken Blade bite the dust? I declare, from today, the clown is my idol!]
[A hidden master, returning to the Jianghu for love, taking down the Grand Theater single-handedly! Mom, I believe in love again.]
[Stop kneeling already! Can someone please explain what just happened? Why didn’t the electromagnetic rifles fire? How did Broken Blade’s mechs just drop like that?]
[The clown has electromagnetic interference tech, that’s why the rifles failed. He’s not as incredible as you think. Due to certain reasons, Broken Blade could only use electromagnetic rifles, which is why they suffered such a loss. If they could fight without restrictions, ten clowns wouldn’t be a match for Fang Tunan!]
[Exactly. Just you wait and see. His Lordship won’t let the clown off easily!]
In the VVVIP box of the Grand Theater, the masked man tilted his head, seemingly talking to himself. “A Starflora Manipulator? No… I’ve never heard of a Starflora Manipulator called ‘Clown’.”
There couldn’t be a wild Starflora Manipulator in the Sixth Ring.
Every Starflora Manipulator required a massive investment of resources to cultivate. Aside from the academies of the Central Star Systems, only the great families, pooling the strength of their entire clans, could manage to nurture one.
The Sixth Ring was far from the central regions. People here hadn’t even heard of Starflora Manipulators, let alone cultivated one.
“Interesting. Just who are you?” A crimson glint flashed in the man’s eyes. His curiosity about the clown had now completely overwhelmed his initial excitement about becoming the groom.
He murmured softly, “Next, let me see just how far you can go.”
After saying this, he turned and left the box.
Simultaneously, a piercing alarm blared throughout the Grand Theater!
The theater manager’s face paled drastically.
That alarm…
His Lordship’s personal guard was being deployed!
Damn it! If the personal guard starts bombarding the place, won’t the theater’s interior be reduced to rubble?!
How utterly unlucky! Where did this clown even spring from? What a disaster.
Cursing internally, the theater manager’s hands flew into action, not daring to pause as he directed the guests to evacuate the theater through the emergency exits.
“What’s going on? Why the sudden alarm?!”
“Stop yapping. His Lordship is furious. He’s dispatched his personal guard to bombard the main stage.”
“What?! He doesn’t care about the female lead anymore?”
“Ha! After being slapped in the face like that, who cares about some female lead? If His Lordship gets truly angry, our entire Wasteland Star might pay the price. Hurry up and run!”
The guests’ hearts clenched, and they broke into a sprint.
“Boss, what should we do?” The Broken Blade members were frantic with anxiety.
They could run, but what about their mechs?
These were their partners, their guarantee for survival and livelihood!
Fang Tunan looked at the scattered, motionless mechs and felt like he was about to cough up blood.
If only they had been told not to worry about the female lead’s safety!
If it weren’t for having to protect the female lead, would Broken Blade have ended up in such a miserable state?!
Dammit! Those high-and-mighty types were the worst! Absolutely infuriating!
Fang Tunan steeled his heart, turned, and started walking away. “Preserving our lives is what matters now! As long as the mountain remains, we won’t lack for firewood.”
Clown, Broken Blade will remember this debt!
A tense, murderous aura permeated the entire Grand Theater.
Guests streamed out from every exit.
On the stage, Lin Jingqiu and Lin Xiaohe also sensed that something was wrong.
Lin Xiaohe tried to lead Lin Jingqiu off the stage, but the intelligent collar around Lin Jingqiu’s neck strictly controlled her movement range.
If Lin Jingqiu ventured more than two meters from a central point, she would receive an electric shock.
Lin Jingqiu was once again shocked to the ground.
She curled up in pain, and when Lin Xiaohe tried to help her up, Lin Jingqiu pushed her younger sister forcefully toward the edge of the stage.
Her eyes were resolute, as if saying, Little sister, go! Quickly! Don’t worry about me.
Lin Xiaohe stumbled from the push. Xin Bao leaped from her shoulder, landing in front of Lin Jingqiu.
Its two little leaves desperately grabbed Lin Jingqiu’s thumb, trying with all its might to drag her off the stage.
The leaves were stretched taut into long lines, looking as if they might snap at any second.
Tears in her eyes, Lin Jingqiu gently touched Xin Bao, shook her head, and then firmly unwrapped the little leaves from her finger.
Xin Bao wailed, crying out, Second Sister, let’s go together! We leave together!
Lin Jingqiu couldn’t hear Xin Bao’s words. Enduring the numbness, she picked up Xin Bao, stood, and placed it back on Lin Xiaohe’s shoulder.
She studied Lin Xiaohe carefully, as if trying to see through the clown mask and memorize her little sister’s face firmly.
[Go.] She mouthed the word. After straightening Lin Xiaohe’s loose-fitting red tailcoat, she placed her hands on Lin Xiaohe’s chest and gave a strong push.
Lin Xiaohe didn’t budge.
Lin Xiaohe took off the clown mask, grinning like a complete fool. “Hehe, didn’t expect that, did you? I was mentally prepared. Didn’t let you succeed.”
Lin Jingqiu felt both exasperated and amused, giving Lin Xiaohe a light tap.
What a little imp!
Lin Xiaohe was a head shorter than Lin Jingqiu. She had to raise her arm high to sling it over her sister’s shoulder.
“Second Sister, in life we’re one family, in death we’ll be one family of ghosts. I’ve entrusted Dad and the others to reliable people for care, and I left Big Brother 200,000 star currency. No need to worry about them!”
Lin Jingqiu glanced around. The sixteen mechs of the personal guard were now all in position.
They radiated a murderous aura, like relentless killing machines.
Lin Jingqiu smiled, a look of resignation. This time, the two sisters were truly doomed.
If her little sister wanted to stay, then let her stay.
On the road to the Yellow Springs, they would have each other’s company. They wouldn’t be alone.
