Eldritch Horror Theatre

Blazing Rainbow’s exit seemed fairly low-key.

Fu Qian was in no rush to step out and say hello, choosing instead to keep studying the view outside the window.

It was still the Sacred Night Capital of dazzling luxury and debauchery, still the towering temples and churches, still the crowds of people desperately trying to let loose.

That peculiar night had not changed any of this.

Nor had Blazing Rainbow.

It wasn’t surprising. For an entity that understood self-preservation so thoroughly, the basic skill of accepting reality had absolutely been mastered to perfection.

The moment the final outcome arrived, regardless of its mood, the only thing this entity needed to consider was how to deal with a newly ascended Tier 2.

And he had already gotten off to a good start.

Though it was hard to say whether this entity recognized him as someone it could reason with, at least it hadn’t resorted to any childish venting. Its mindset remained stable.

Of course, someone else wasn’t quite as stable...Fu Qian reached out a hand. The crimson moonlight reflecting off it roiled almost like a tide.

Just as Blazing Rainbow had said, the Red Moon was frantically searching for him.

His appearance just now had clearly provoked a massive reaction.

Of course, the thick moonlight that had seemed to converge entirely on his window only lasted for a split second before dissipating. It continued to bathe every corner of the Sacred Night Capital equally, no longer singling out this spot.

Faced with these seemingly continuous celestial anomalies, the citizens were already accustomed to the strange sights. Some could even be seen taking photos of the sky.

Of course, the Dark Moon was no longer visible in their pictures.

”I took a nap.”

The Red Moon did not speak, but Fu Qian took the initiative to say something to indicate that all was well.

The next moment, he finished looking out the window and turned around.

With no attempt to muffle the sound, the door behind him opened.

”You...”

In that instant, the expression on Chief Yuan’s face as she opened the door was spectacular.

Her very first reaction was to instinctively glance over her shoulder.

Classmate Su Gao, carrying the demeanor of a visiting guest, sat upright in a seat over there, quietly looking in his direction. She hadn’t gotten up despite the sudden development.

”How did you know I lived here?”

As Fu Qian gave a slight nod, Yuan Shan couldn’t help but ask.

Had their previous interactions been redefined as fake history, just as he expected?

Not rushing to answer, Fu Qian silently reached a conclusion.

He had wondered long ago about situations like yesterday’s: if a successfully completed task seamlessly linked with the future to become true history, what would be the nature of the events that had originally occurred?

The sight before him seemed to offer a possible answer.

The fake became real, and naturally, the real became fake.

”How did Su Gao answer that question?”

The next moment, Fu Qian blinked, skillfully responding to her question with one of his own.

”How did you know I asked her?”

After a brief shock, Chief Yuan had already recovered her wits, turning his tactics back upon him.

”So you didn’t ask?”

”...I asked.”

Unfortunately, Fu Qian’s decades of honed skill were clearly superior, and she quickly admitted defeat.

”Su Gao said you told her.”

Of course, Chief Yuan’s answer clearly carried a hint of a retreat in order to advance. She stared intently at Fu Qian after speaking.

”Yeah, I told her.”

Fu Qian openly admitted it.

”So how do you know where I live?”

Yuan Shan’s brow furrowed even tighter.

”If I could tell Su Gao, why wouldn’t I know?”

...

Looking back at Su Gao, who still hadn’t chimed in, Yuan Shan faintly felt like dropping the issue.

As well as the question of how he had even gotten in.

”Are you here to see me?”

Stepping aside, she gestured for Fu Qian to come out of the room first.

”Yeah, because of what happened last night.”

Fu Qian gladly accepted the invitation.

”What happened?”

Yuan Shan’s confused tone sounded perfectly natural, but as they passed each other, out of Su Gao’s line of sight, her gaze held a split second of profound meaning.

”Quality control. I demonstrated it to you on the spot—did you forget already?”

Fu Qian’s confusion was even more natural.

”I’m here for my compensation. Don’t tell me you haven’t reported it to anyone yet?”

”...A lot happened last night. I haven’t had the time.”

Yuan Shan ground her teeth.

”You might not know this, but there was quite a big mess here afterward. Su Gao and the others were busy all night.”

Gesturing for Fu Qian to sit next to Su Gao, Yuan Shan pointed at the table.

”The same as Su Gao?”

”Is there another option?”

Fu Qian took a look. Inside a delicate cup was juice giving off a sweet aroma.

It obviously suited Su Gao’s tastes.

”...Are you going to drink it or not?”

Chief Yuan sounded a bit exasperated from embarrassment.

”I’ll drink it.”

Considering he was a guest in someone’s home, Fu Qian reined in his attitude a bit.

Meanwhile, even as Chief Yuan huffily went to pour the juice, her movements looked much more relaxed.

...

”What happened last night?”

Fu Qian looked at Su Gao quite naturally, speaking in a casual, conversational tone.

Neither Yuan Shan nor Su Gao had any injuries on them.

”An anomaly resembling a sun suddenly appeared, and its brightness kept increasing. Most of the Night Watchers’ High-Tier Transcendents were gathered to guard against any major incidents. Fortunately, nothing happened.”

The latter didn’t hold back, quickly providing a summary.

”Later, the blazing sun was obscured by incomprehensible means. A Dark Moon then appeared in the sky, immediately plunging the entire city into darkness. After the darkness faded, the Dark Moon turned into a Red Moon, which has remained until now.”

”Sounds quite lively.”

Fu Qian looked thoughtful.

”I finally managed to get a vacation, so I got lazy and didn’t go to help.”

Yuan Shan sat down opposite him and pushed a glass of juice over, defending herself without blushing.

”As it turned out, it was nothing. Those guys were just overreacting.”

...

The dynamic between these two was rather subtle.

Taking a sip of the cold juice, Fu Qian felt the scene before him was quite unique.

Even though the two had been chatting and laughing happily before he arrived, Yuan Shan’s gaze just now clearly meant she didn’t want him to expose his actions from last night.

It was likely because, despite knowing he had a good personal relationship with Su Gao, the latter’s visit was just too abrupt, leaving Yuan Shan feeling that her stance was unclear.

As for Su Gao, she had undoubtedly memorized the address and come looking for him.

On one hand, this showed that the situation wasn’t actually tense; on the other hand, Su Gao was clearly observing Yuan Shan with the utmost caution.

Therefore, she also didn’t want Yuan Shan to know that he was connected to last night’s anomaly.

”It certainly sounds exciting.”

Although the situation was peculiar, as a reasonable person, Fu Qian appreciated the favor and nodded slightly.

”Did they compensate the bar for its losses?”

”Mhm.”

Su Gao nodded seriously.

”After the alert was lifted, I went over there first, and then dropped by to visit Chief Yuan.”

”It wasn’t until I arrived that I realized Chief Yuan actually kept a cat.”

”Is that so?”

Fu Qian followed Su Gao’s gaze.

In the furthest corner of the living room, a fat black-and-white cat was curled up, basking in the sun.