Farewell My Concubine

When the sun finally replaced the moon, the silver-white ground turned a brilliant gold, burying the events of the night beneath the light.

After breakfast, Troupe Leader Yu gathered everyone in the opera building.

He looked at their confused expressions and spoke faintly.

"Today's opera is particularly important."

"It is the Prince's favorite, Farewell My Concubine."

"If anything goes wrong, not only will your lives be in danger, but our Opera God's Righteous Garden will suffer as well."

He scanned the room, his gaze sharp.

"So, you must give it your all. Understood?"

Hearing this, the players all nodded.

Xiaoxiao's gaze, however, was distant and dazed. She seemed to be surveying her surroundings, as if looking for someone.

Last night, Wu Wang had come to see her. He told her that everyone had to kill the Prince on the opera stage today. They couldn't just flee for their lives like they did in Changbanpo. Otherwise, there would be no way to clear this Instance.

This was information he had obtained at the cost of both his arms.

He had also warned her that one of the players was on the Prince's side, information she was not to share with anyone. During today's performance, he would find an opportunity to help, just as he did before.

When Wu Wang met with Xiaoxiao, it was almost dawn. His arms were already gone. He also revealed that a master would be helping them in the play today, though he didn't reveal the master's identity.

Although Xiaoxiao was a little doubtful about this sudden news, she chose to believe him.

If you asked why she didn't suspect he was an impostor… well, Xiaoxiao's assessment was simple.

A guy who kicks open her door with a grin despite having no arms, whose first words are, "If that puppet Marionette from last night was exactly like you, does that mean your panties have little white bears on them too?"

It was unlikely any other player could imitate someone like that.

After all, only she and Pending Death had actually seen the Marionette last night. She just didn't know when the bastard had managed to see… certain strange things.

Besides Xiaoxiao, the scholar boy also watched Troupe Leader Yu's inspiring act with great interest. He found it laughable. The man clearly didn't care about the lives of the actors, yet he had to put on a "this is for your own good" facade. It was nauseating.

Fortunately, after today, he could finally clear the Instance and leave.

Last night, he had gone to the Dilapidated Opera Building to verify the Painted Face Troupe Leader's story. But he found all the guards in the Opera God's Righteous Garden patrolling around the building, their expressions solemn, as if facing a life-or-death crisis. They seemed afraid that something inside might escape.

As he got closer, a piece of equipment he owned began issuing a warning, detecting the presence of a large number of sealed souls. This made the scholar boy even more convinced of the Painted Face Troupe Leader's words.

After he had verified the facts, just before dawn, the Painted Face Troupe Leader returned. It seemed he had come to gain his trust again.

This time, he delivered the promised 【Arms of Prosperous Earth】.

To be honest, seeing the man cut off his own arms without a change in expression filled the scholar boy's heart with a trace of horror. He hadn't expected the guy to be willing to go that far.

Having the 【Arms of Prosperous Earth】 was proof of the man's determination. Today, during the opera, he had to find a way to kill the Prince on stage.

This was also intelligence revealed by the Painted Face Troupe Leader.

"If he dies in the Yi Garden under normal circumstances, it will be the death of a frontier Prince. The imperial court will be shaken and will quickly level this place to investigate the truth."

"But if he dies during the opera, he won't be dying with the noble status of a frontier Prince, but merely as an unknown actor who met a sudden, violent end."

"Only in this way can we avoid attracting any outside attention."

The scholar boy was completely convinced. After all, the background of this Instance was set within the capital city. The main reason no one could leave was that the Prince had sealed the garden off.

The Spirit Calamity Game wasn't some crude video game with "real-time rendering" for optimization. Things that seemed like mere background, like the imperial court and the national army, absolutely existed just because players couldn't interact with them. The Instance worlds had complete worldviews.

If they really triggered the scenario the Painted Face Troupe Leader described, the imperial army would truly come and raze this place to the ground. They might even arrest everyone and execute them on charges of murdering a prince. At that point, clearing a Nightmare-level Instance would be impossible. Even the strongest players would be cut down.

No matter how powerful an individual was, they were helpless before a relentless army.

In fact, the scholar boy had considered this very point the first time he performed with the Prince. Now, his suspicions were simply being confirmed. To kill an important NPC in this Instance, it had to be done during the opera. This applied not just to the Prince, but likely to Troupe Leader Yu as well.

"Alright! Enough talk!"

Troupe Leader Yu's voice boomed.

"Let the show begin!"

At his command, the players began to change into their costumes backstage, preparing to face the Prince once more.

On the stage, everything instantly went dark.

The windows of the opera building were wide open, and the sun was shining brightly outside. Yet at this moment, it was as if they had been transported to another world.

On the previously empty stage, tables, chairs, and other furnishings appeared. A wide table held a simple diagram of army formations, like a sand table simulation with different colored game pieces. On both sides, weapon racks materialized, holding the conspicuous Overlord's Spear and the Prince's great blade.

Behind them, an enormous banner hung on the wall. On a red background, a majestic and powerful traditional character was painted in black.

The scholar boy's eyes focused.

"The banner of Xiang."

Everyone glanced over.

"This is Overlord Xiang Yu's command tent," Zi Jin said, her face grim. "We're in the center of the State of Chu's army."

Dong dong dong—

Just as she finished speaking, a tall, burly, and formidable man appeared in the empty tent. He wore a Black Flat-Gold Embroidered Kao and thick-soled boots, the yellowish satin soles highlighting his noble status. A wide belt was fastened around his waist, from which hung a tiger tally, a jade pendant, and a golden lock.

What a majestic Overlord Xiang!

"My spear has unhorsed generals in the Han camp~ But how can valor guard against a ten-sided ambush~ I order the troops to halt their advance and return to their tents~"

The Prince's operatic voice was high-pitched and stirring. The players were dumbfounded. Compared to his portrayal of Zhao Zilong the day before, this dramatic image of Overlord Xiang Yu seemed to fit his identity and performance even better.

Just as the players were waiting for him to finish singing and preparing for the martial arts scene, another melodious and clear voice came from the side.

"Victory and defeat are common in war, why should it trouble you?"

"I have prepared some wine. Have a few drinks with me, Your Majesty, to dispel your gloom~"

This high-pitched female voice made everyone turn their heads. Even the Overlord Xiang in the play looked in surprise toward the source of the voice.

A heroic and imposing figure strode out, wearing a cloak of goose-yellow with lake-blue edges and rivet decorations. Her stage makeup was mostly light, with only the corners of her eyes distinctly outlined. Yet it couldn't hide a heroic aura and beauty that was simply heavenly.

Looking closely, this woman wore a Ruyi Crown, fish-scale armor underneath her robes, and colorful floral shoes. A golden collar adorned her neck, and at her waist hung the Mandarin Duck Swords, ready to dance away her lord's sorrows.

What a Yu Ji, so heroic yet exuding a touching vulnerability!

The players looked at each other in dismay. They naturally recognized who was playing this Yu Ji.

"Troupe Leader Yu!"

"If those two are performing together, how are we supposed to survive?"

While Zi Jin and Qiao Biluo were panicking, a different thought flashed through the minds of the scholar boy and Xiaoxiao.

"Could Troupe Leader Yu be here to help us?"

"Pending Death really wasn't lying to me?"

The two of them guessed that Troupe Leader Yu's appearance was also outside the Prince's expectations. Otherwise, the Prince wouldn't have shown such a surprised expression. Since it was unexpected, there had to be a reason. The only thing they could think of was that Troupe Leader Yu was also here to kill the Prince.

"Defeated in battle today, my heart is unsettled."

"I urge Your Majesty to cease your worries and be at ease."

"Alas, with enemies on ten sides, victory is hard to achieve."

"We must endure, hold our position, and wait for reinforcements."

"Helpless, I can only drink this fine wine to drown my sorrows."

"Your Majesty—"

In an instant, the two began a duet inside the tent. The magnificent singing, combined with the sounds of soldiers and horses moving outside, echoed one another. For a moment, the entranced crowd thought they were truly witnessing the conversation between the trapped Overlord Xiang and Yu Ji at Gaixia.

Swish—

As the opera reached its climax, Yu Ji drew the Mandarin Duck Swords from her waist. They were a pair of civil and martial blades; one had a tassel, the other did not. When wielded in a dance, they could be separated or joined, moving fast or slow.

He slowed his hand, turned, and struck a pose with the swords. Then he lowered them, switching to a reverse grip. Holding one sword in each hand, he turned again, swinging them in a semicircle. The posture and fluidity of his sword dance were breathtaking.

This was the first time the players had seen Troupe Leader Yu perform on stage. Though he was a man playing a female role, his performance was simply heavenly. Neither his posture nor his singing voice gave any hint of his male form. It was a lifelike performance born from complete immersion, a testament to his love and professionalism for opera.

The Prince was also captivated. The Overlord Xiang he was playing sat motionless in his chair.

During the sword dance, something unexpected happened.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the enemy is attacking from all four sides! I have come to inform you!"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the eight thousand soldiers of Jiangdong have all been scattered!"

Panicked shouts came from outside the tent.

A hint of fury instantly appeared on the Prince's black-and-white painted face. He shot up, slamming his hand on the table. He looked at Yu Ji, who had stopped dancing.

"My consort, quickly follow me and we shall break through the encirclement!"

At this point, the players were already taking deep breaths, preparing to rush in. According to the plot, to avoid being a burden, Yu Ji would kill herself with Xiang Yu's sword. They were supposed to act as the Han army, rushing in to stop Xiang Yu after Yu Ji's suicide.

"Your Majesty, if you can break through, please retreat to Jiangdong and plan for the revival of the State of Chu!"

"If your consort were to accompany you, I would only hinder you! So be it! I wish to take the precious sword from your waist and end my life before you!"

After singing, Yu Ji reached for the sword at his waist. Xiang Yu turned to avoid her.

"You must not seek such a short-sighted end!"

As he sang this line, the wails of soldiers were heard again.

"The Han army has seized our land~ the songs of Chu echo from all four sides~ My king's will is broken~ how can this consort go on living~"

With this, Yu Ji tried to take the sword again, but failed. On the third try, she shouted.

"The Han army! They've broken in!"

Xiang Yu, not knowing if it was true, turned to look.

"Let me see..."

When he turned back, the precious sword from his waist had already been drawn.

However, just as everyone thought Yu Ji was about to kill herself, and just as they were about to make their entrance, the plot took a violent turn.

Yu Ji held the precious sword and thrust it forward, viciously stabbing at Xiang Yu's neck.

In an instant, Farewell My Concubine had become an assassination.

At such close range, and with Yu Ji's nimble skills, the Xiang Yu played by the Prince had no reason to turn back so quickly.

A splash of crimson blood flew up in the tent.

"The Prince... is injured!?"

The players exclaimed in shock. They hadn't expected that the Prince, a BOSS-level character who seemed able to suppress everything with raw force, would actually be stabbed.

But it was only an injury.

The Prince reacted the instant the sharp blade pierced his skin. He twisted his head, dodged, snatched the sword, and sent Yu Ji flying with a palm strike, causing her to crash into the edge of the tent and collapse it.

His movements were a single, fluid sequence, so fast that by the time the players reacted, he was already standing alone in the tent, holding the precious sword with a solemn expression.

"Brother, have you betrayed me?"

The Prince gently touched the wound on his neck. Despite having the body of a Jiangshi, crimson blood still gushed out, staining his palm.

Hearing this, Yu Ji staggered to his feet from the collapsed corner of the tent. He held his Mandarin Duck Swords and grinned.

"We walk different paths, so we cannot make plans together."

Then, he remembered what Bai Sha had reminded him of. If he successfully injured the Prince, he was to immediately shout a mysterious incantation. The other players would then appear to help.

After a moment's hesitation, he spoke the words with a solemn expression.

"Tell me."

"Do you bleed?"

Seeing the Prince's utterly baffled expression, Troupe Leader Yu continued slowly.

"You will."

Bang—

The moment he finished speaking, an extremely destructive ray of light pierced through the tent and shot toward the Prince.

The other players looked at Xiaoxiao in horror. They couldn't understand why she had suddenly gone crazy. Wasn't it better to just watch these two fight it out? Why did she have to get involved?

In response, she just sighed. She casually tossed away the consumable item she had just used, then took out a pair of what looked like plush toy gauntlets from her backpack and slipped them on.

Taking an offensive stance, she spoke.

"He was quoting Batman."

"And while the villain in that movie was Lex Luthor, it seems The Joker has already arrived."

She shrugged.

"It fits. The Prince is also a being who can bleed."

As soon as she said this, everyone else understood. That was right. Their opponent could bleed. He could be injured. He could be killed.

Now that Troupe Leader Yu was on their side, this was a rare opportunity. If they didn't act now, when would they?

The crowd looked to the scholar boy for his opinion, but all they saw was a flash of white.

Wielding a paper-folded Guan Dao, wreathed by a faint White Dragon, he had already leaped into the tent.