Chapter 454: Chapter 39: Grace as Great as a Second Life

On stage, the sudden female voice instinctively made many in the audience hold their breath.

Although the voice wasn’t the familiar one, and it lacked the expected authority, the familiar tone, the condescending sarcastic edge, involuntarily awakened a sense of fear within Jin Yu people. For a moment, those who were about to leave stood still, those who were ready to voice their protest lost their words, and the venue fell silent.

It wasn’t until the next moment, as the owner of the voice slowly appeared on stage, that the audience let out a collective sigh of relief.

Entering was a plump young girl, whose face still bore an air of innocence. Even though she was meticulously made up to appear more mature and composed than her real appearance, she was still distinctly different from the indelible shadow in people’s minds.

Could it just be a coincidence in the dialogue? The audience intuitively thought.

And with that sudden shock and subsequent relief, those who initially intended to leave finally calmed down and returned to their seats to watch the rest of the performance.

On stage, Li Chaolu continued her performance with a slightly tense mood.

She was to play the most important role in the whole musical... In truth, she was somewhat nervous, reluctant, and unwilling. But considering her mortal enemy Shen Qingming was only responsible for the opening dance and subsequent minor roles, whereas she could play the lead and become the focus of the entire show... This disparity in treatment made Li Chaolu reluctantly agree.

However, it’s really difficult to handle this role on stage.

Zhao Chenlu’s personality and temperament were unique to the Xiangzhou Continent, and no matter how Li Chaolu tried to emulate it, she couldn’t capture its essence. Even though she herself was born into a noble family, she was still far from Zhao Chenlu’s level of absolute lawlessness.

In fact, in the whole cast, only the Celestial Divine Sword could truly mimic Zhao Chenlu. Wang Jiu had once, during rehearsals, used the Illusion Sword Technique to transform into Zhao Chenlu; the manner of speech, actions, demeanor, and aura were all indistinguishable from the real person. Besides that, Li Wanqing could barely mimic a fraction of the essence—after all, she was also of a rebellious nature.

So in the original plan, Zhao Chenlu’s role was supposed to be played by Wang Jiu using the Illusion Sword Technique. But soon, Li Wanqing objected, arguing that it would be inappropriate to portray Zhao Chenlu too realistically. The day before the public trial meeting, suddenly having an actor appear who was indistinguishable from Zhao Chenlu herself might cause panic, so they simply chose Li Chaolu, someone who couldn’t possibly play the role too similarly.

Now, it seems the effect is indeed quite good.

Though her best effort at imitating the tone successfully startled the audience, it didn’t cause chaos or panic. Most people, with renewed curiosity and interest, shifted their attention back to the stage, eager to see what kind of storyline someone with a resemblance to the Former City Lord might perform.

On stage, Li Chaolu tilted her head slightly, looking at Li Wanqing with a playful gaze, she said, "Now, do you regret acting out brashly for temporary gains when you were young, attracting attention and even suppression from above and below?"

After speaking, without waiting for a response, Li Chaolu snorted and nodded, "Good if you don’t."

These words once again heightened tension among the audience.

This self-questioning conversation style was indeed quite familiar... The Former City Lord liked speaking this way, as if her gaze could penetrate people’s hearts, knowing the answer without needing anyone to respond.

If not for the clear difference between Li Chaolu and Zhao Chenlu’s external appearance, the audience would have surely been unable to suppress their fear and fled in panic.

On stage, Li Chaolu continued with her performance.

Facing the uncertain and suspicious Li Wanqing, she smiled and said, "Do you know your cultivation potential is top-tier across the Xiangzhou? Comparable even to those Noble Family Heads."

"Unfortunately, you were born in the wrong place; in a third-rate family, even with first-rate qualifications, you can only become a second-rate figure at best. Not to mention, your family wasted a few precious years of your time and taught you the wrong Cultivation Techniques, your foundation is unstable, and you’ve already downgraded from second-rate to third or even fourth-rate."

Upon hearing this, Li Wanqing sighed slightly and said, "So rather than continuing to waste life like this, why not start anew? If there’s a next life, if I still have the chance for Immortal Cultivation in the next life... the situation should undoubtedly be better than now. Even if there’s just a one in a billion chance, there’s still a sliver of hope."

Li Chaolu laughed, "So you jumped off a cliff to commit suicide, seeking life in death?"

Li Wanqing said, "Living doesn’t necessarily mean hope; compared to this kind of living, death is more worth looking forward to."

Li Chaolu laughed heartily, "Hahaha, well said, though a bit childish and fanciful, it’s still redeemable."

"Hmm?"

Li Chaolu said, "Despair is fine, but numbness is not. Since you still have the thought of seeking life in death, I’ll lend you a hand."

As soon as the words were spoken, two blood-curdling screams echoed from afar, only to see at the edge of the stage, Li Xinyu, who played a servant, mimicking a falling off a cliff.

But Li Chaolu didn’t even glance that way, she produced a book of Cultivation Techniques and tossed it to Li Wanqing, "I’ve already taken care of those two stalkers for you, and the tracking spell on you has been broken, this book is lent to you for three days, how much you can learn depends on your ability."

After speaking, Li Chaolu’s figure disappeared, leaving only Li Wanqing holding the book, as if in a dream.

——

The first act of the musical thus came to an end.

During the brief intermission, the audience erupted into discussions.

The plot of the first act was remarkably similar to those classic novel plots where a protagonist with a deep-seated grudge receives aid from an otherworldly master, thus embarking on a path of revenge, taking down all the villains who once bullied them... Such stories are enjoyed by young and old alike.

However, such a story doesn’t seem to have much to do with today’s theme: love, does it?

Amid the chatter, the second act of the musical began.

——

The protagonist is still Li Wanqing, but the woman’s temperament has changed significantly compared to the first act. The audience sees her walking through the mountains, wandering and cultivating, as a melodious song begins, her aura appears ethereal and profound, clearly mastering a profound cultivation technique and transforming herself.

The three-day secret manual Li Chaolu gave her has been fully utilized, and the various hidden troubles she once planted within her family have been systematically eradicated along with her cultivation in the mountains. The current Li Wanqing is gradually regaining the presence of a top-tier cultivator.

However, the scenes showcasing her cultivation aren’t long. Shortly after finishing her daily lessons, Li Wanqing goes to a bamboo cottage in the mountains to quietly cook a few simple dishes.

The dishes are simple, but the thoughtfulness behind them is not. Li Wanqing approaches these dishes with even more focus than her cultivation. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Finally, she places the meticulously prepared dishes on the table, maintaining their warmth with a simple array, then leaves quietly without tasting a single bite.

The next day, she returns to the bamboo cottage and sees the dishes on the table remaining untouched. She shakes her head with some regret, clears them away, and heads back to the kitchen to cook a new set of dishes for the table.

On the third day, Li Wanqing arrives at the bamboo cottage to find that the dishes on the table have finally changed. Two plates are emptied, while one has only been touched with a single chopstick, clearly not to someone’s liking.

Li Wanqing immediately notes these changes down, then returns to the kitchen to seriously cook again. Those unappreciated dishes naturally won’t be made again, while the popular ones are not reproduced identically but instead are varied, with new flavors added.

In this way, the woman continues day after day in the mountains — cultivating, cooking, serving the ever-unseen master of the bamboo cottage.

Without concern for the passage of time in the mountains, it is unclear how long has passed. One day, after finishing her coursework, Li Wanqing sets out once more towards the bamboo cottage, only to find someone new standing before its door.

Someone she has thought of every day and night.

Li Chaolu reappears, wearing a cryptic smile, and asks, "Such perseverance, why did you jump off the cliff back then?"

Li Wanqing replies, "I hadn’t encountered you back then."

Li Chaolu says, "The dishes are well-made."

"I will keep striving."

Li Chaolu adds, "You’ve been cultivating in the mountains for two years without leaving, all just to see me once?"

Li Wanqing answers, "Yes, I have a few questions that I’ve been wanting to ask."

"Alright, ask away."

"First, why did you help me?" Li Wanqing asks. "Over these two years, I’ve considered many possibilities, but none seem worthy of someone like you offering assistance."

Li Chaolu laughs, "Indeed, my initial assistance was not to help you, but to punish your oblivious family."

"Punish my family?"

"Remember the Black Brilliance Sword Sect? The sect that once opened its doors to you? Your family sent people to spread rumors, deceiving the sect elder into thinking you were a schemer, missing out on a promising talent..."

"Mm, I’ve heard of this."

"For a sect of Black Brilliance Sword Sect’s level, a disciple with top-notch aptitude often signifies the sect’s future growth, which could rapidly boost its stock value. Missing out on you was a significant loss for Black Brilliance Sword Sect."

Li Wanqing listened, utterly confused, "So...?"

"I had just acquired the Black Brilliance Sword Sect not long ago. Its loss is my loss."

"..."

"Your family, with its unspeakable dark desires, managed to impact me. By that reasoning, I should have directly punished them until their downfall. But on second thought, they aren’t worthy of my personal intervention. Your vengeance against them would be the heaviest blow."

"So... you granted me such a gigantic opportunity? Creating who I am today?"

"Opportunities are given by others, accomplishments are earned by oneself. During these two years, I’ve watched every move you made in my mountains. So today I’ve come to give you two gifts."

With that, Li Chaolu took out a book and a seal.

"This secret manual, which was initially lent to you for only three days, is now yours to consult anytime. With your cultivation progress, it is indeed time to start new Chapters. This seal here, you’ve seen it before."

Li Wanqing certainly had seen it.

The seal of the head of the family she was born into.

"Last month, your family just declared bankruptcy due to mismanagement and has now been acquired by me; this family head seal I am giving to you. How you deal with those people is entirely up to you."