Chapter 457: Chapter 42: The Cliffhanger Dog Grandmaster

Evening of April 29, 2018

Inside the Golden Jade Grand Theater, the musical had reached its fifth act.

The opening of the fifth act surprised many in the audience.

As the stage lights illuminated, Li Chaolu stood outside the bamboo chamber in the moonlit night, gazing at the starry sky with a customary sardonic smile on her lips, draped in light gauze.

Inside the bamboo chamber, Li Wanqing still lay asleep, her face flushed.

This simple scene carried such a heavy amount of information that many in the audience felt suffocated.

Even the young children watching on-site couldn’t suppress their curiosity, asking their parents beside them, "What are the young ladies doing?"

The parents, with expressions of iron-blue, answered, "Kids don’t need to know that much!"

On the other hand, they truly had no way to explain what was happening on stage.

Whether from the viewpoint of the musical or reality, people found it hard to understand why someone like Zhao Chenlu would suddenly do such a thing...

Meanwhile, on stage, Li Wanqing also awoke, stretching lazily as the thin quilt before her slid down unhindered...

As the parents in the audience exclaimed and covered their children’s eyes and ears, Li Chaolu quickly stepped into the room, perfectly blocking everyone’s view, then smiled and asked, "Aren’t you going to sleep a bit longer?"

Because her back was to the audience, Li Chaolu’s smile contained a bit more mischief.

Playing her role required her to perform as the dominant Zhao Chenlu in the play, while Li Wanqing had to portray a weaker woman often teased by Zhao Chenlu. Their interactions on stage were completely opposite to their usual dynamics, giving Li Chaolu a natural sense of revengeful pleasure.

On the other hand, Li Wanqing didn’t shy away as Li Chaolu expected, but instead blinked and silently mouthed, "Just you wait."

Li Chaolu instantly tensed up, refraining from making more random remarks, and continued to sing her lines, performing her role.

In the play, after Li Wanqing awoke, she looked at her savior with a complex expression and asked, "Why?"

Li Chaolu replied, "After a hero saves a beauty, it’s only natural to repay with oneself."

Li Wanqing laughed, "In terms of looks, who in the world dares call themselves beautiful before you? Besides, just now, it was clearly me at your mercy."

Li Chaolu said, "So if you’re unwilling, just learn and practice more, and strive to give me a taste as well."

When it came to the word ’enjoy,’ Li Wanqing couldn’t help but blush and didn’t know how to respond.

Li Chaolu continued, "There’s no need to worry so much. The accomplices of that person have already been captured entirely, and nothing between us has been exposed."

"But..."

"But those opposing me will never disappear. They’ll always find reasons to attack me from every angle, such as criticizing me for being autocratic and arrogant, for not respecting traditional elders, for not sincerely loving the people as my own. On the surface, they cannot defeat me, so they resort to various underhanded methods, like lodging complaints with the Saint Sect, spreading rumors in other families, or suddenly attempting an assassination when I’m unprepared, or even fabricating tales of former lovers or ex-husbands to tarnish my reputation."

By this point in the play, there was an uproar in the audience.

Because these lines, with their pointed criticism, were blatantly obvious!

The hottest topic in Golden Jade City was indeed Zhao Chenlu’s ex-husband, Zhao Xinyu, this sleazy middle-aged man who claimed expertise in bedroom arts, was like a stain of filth on Zhao Chenlu’s reputation. Mentioning the once-illustrious Former City Lord now only made people feel nauseated.

But according to the insinuations of this musical, was all this merely defamation by political enemies?

Meanwhile, in the VIP seats, two temporary government heads, who had snuck out of a meeting, exchanged glances. Zhao Hongwu was the first to stand, preparing to stop the performance.

Zhao Hongwen stopped him: "Acting now will only confirm their slander. Tomorrow is the public trial; best not to complicate matters."

"So just let them spout nonsense?"

Zhao Hongwen said, "No matter how vividly they speak, it’s just the script of a musical. I believe our city’s millions of citizens can at least differentiate between drama and reality."

Zhao Hongwu pondered briefly, reluctantly pulling back his hand: "Once the trial is over and the dust settles, I’ll make them pay! But, that Zhao Xinyu, he’s not going to be a problem, right?"

"Whether there’s anything with him or not, it doesn’t matter anymore. Tomorrow is the public trial, and his submitted evidence has been confirmed true. Even if he wants to retract his statement, he can’t. As long as we maintain our composure, there won’t be any issues."

——

Meanwhile, the performance on stage continued.

Hearing Li Chaolu’s words, Li Wanqing said sadly, "You have so many important matters to handle, why waste time on me?"

Li Chaolu replied, "Those important matters you mention are what I find to be the real waste of time. Being with you is actually more interesting."

"But all this time, I’ve only been under your care, unable to help you with anything."

"First, taking care of you doesn’t make me feel unhappy, at least it’s much easier and more enjoyable than taking care of millions of fools. Second, your meals are delicious." Li Chaolu said, "Finally, if you think you haven’t done enough, then work harder and do better, I look forward to your performance."

Li Wanqing asked again, "Besides meals, what else can I do?"

Li Chaolu laughed, "Just now, it would have been better if you had responded more."

Li Wanqing’s face immediately turned red, "I am serious!"

"I am too." Li Chaolu said, "Although I consider myself as having the best talent in Immortal Dao under the heavens, I am still just human, and haven’t become immortal. My desires and emotions remain, always needing a channel for fulfillment. So, rather than finding some random big guy with skills, it’s better to look forward to your performance."

"But I’m a woman!"

"Does being a woman necessarily mean you are inferior to a man?" Li Chaolu asked amusedly, "Just now, your intense reaction, I don’t know which man could..."

"Alright, alright, I get it!" Li Wanqing quickly interrupted, "Anyway, I’ll work hard... in every aspect, I’ll work hard."

——

The plot of the fifth act set its tone from the beginning.

Still everyday life, but with more passion than the third act.

In the years that followed, Li Wanqing still settled in the mountains, like a diligent little wife, preparing chores in advance for Li Chaolu in the bamboo room every day, waiting for her to return.

And Li Chaolu also came to the mountains more frequently, staying overnight each time. Although the specific scenes were not presented on stage, it’s easy to imagine. Li Wanqing is indeed a first-class talent with exceptional qualities, whether in immortal cultivation, cooking or intimate pleasures, she can study and achieve top-notch standards, quickly able to reciprocate with Li Chaolu, mutually serving each other.

This mountain cabin is Li Wanqing’s entire life, as well as Li Chaolu’s complete private life.

If nothing unexpected happens, the rhythm of their lives will not change much in the coming years, or even decades.

Li Wanqing’s growth environment since childhood was special, having no interest in worldly affairs. The long journey of Immortal Dao has already occupied most of her energy, so long-term seclusion in the mountains to cultivate diligently is not a lonely and unbearable thing for her. Not to mention the companionship of Li Chaolu.

And Li Chaolu had no intention of replacing the old with the new; Li Wanqing’s performance in all aspects satisfied her, unconsciously elevating her feelings for Li Wanqing.

But the unexpected still occurred.

——

When Li Wanqing finished her routine lessons and returned to the bamboo room, seeing the untouched dishes on the dining table, she bit her lip.

It’s been 5 days since Li Chaolu last returned home, in all these years, she had never been away for so long. Moreover, even if there was an urgent matter, she would always send a secret message; this time, however, there was no news at all.

With strong unease, Li Wanqing used the Immortal Treasure left by Li Chaolu to perform a divination under the starlit sky.

The result of the divination made her complexion change drastically.

It was the worst of all hexagrams, implying a situation of near-death.

Nevertheless, it’s ultimately not a death sentence. Li Wanqing quickly adjusted her mindset and reexamined her divination result.

Li Chaolu must be in trouble, big trouble. As she self-mockingly said before, playing too much will eventually lead to problems.

The next question is, how to rescue her?

After years of seclusion in the mountains cultivating, Li Wanqing’s strength has greatly improved, the family that once oppressed and bullied her can now be easily crushed by her. But in Golden Jade City, she’s only considered top-notch, still a difference from the elite. Moreover, those who have troubled Li Chaolu must be more than one or two elite experts.

It’s very likely she will have to go against half the city, or even the entire city, and brute force is absolutely hopeless.

She’s going to rescue, not sacrifice herself, so she must plan carefully to ensure the action is foolproof.

For someone who has long been secluded in the mountains and indifferent to worldly matters, the difficulty is extremely high, but Li Wanqing feels no fear, instead, the challenges have sparked unprecedented determination.

After a sleepless night of planning, Li Wanqing resolutely stepped out of the deep mountains, into the human world.

And the fifth act also concludes at this time.

Right now, inside and outside, tens of thousands of spectators are holding their breaths, waiting for the sixth act to begin.

The plot has developed to this point, and it’s already irresistible. The theme of a hero saving the beauty is always evergreen, not to mention that one main character of the story is the Former City Lord of Golden Jade City...

In the play, how does Li Wanqing plan to rescue her?

Yet amid countless impatient gazes, a line of text floats on the stage.

The sixth act will be performed tomorrow.