[Post-Disaster, Rock City]
Tendo's figure moved forward along the ruined streets, the bloody mud and rubble beneath his feet gently pushed aside by a vector field.
Surviving citizens along the way stopped in their tracks, casting looks of awe and reverence in his direction, spontaneously parting to create a path for him.
The scent of blood and char in the air had not yet fully dissipated, but as the soft energy surrounding Tendo expanded, a sense of tranquility gradually began to take hold.
The stadium was not far from the central city square; in just a few minutes, Tendo had arrived.
From a distance, the massive structure was covered in a pale purple energy barrier, a manifestation of Jing Liuli's "Daydream" Star Source. Traces of Star Beast impacts remained on the barrier, with several deep indentations testifying to the intensity of the previous defense.
Inside the barrier, dense crowds of people were visible, along with a slender figure with pale purple hair constantly weaving through them—Jing Liuli, comforting the citizens.
Sensing Tendo's presence, the purple energy barrier automatically opened a gap.
Jing Liuli's figure instantly appeared at the opening. Her iconic long, curly hair was somewhat disheveled, and several purple strands clung to her sweat-dampened cheeks, making her amethyst-like eyes appear even more brilliant.
However, unlike her glamorous appearance on stage, the current Jing Liuli not only looked exhausted, but her exquisite stage makeup was mostly ruined. Her pale pink performance outfit was stained with dust and Star Beast saliva, evidence of the prolonged battle she had just endured.
Yet, all of this vanished the moment she saw Tendo, the fatigue in her eyes replaced by a flash of excitement.
"Tendo! You finally made it!"
"Mm. The beast tide has been suppressed."
Tendo nodded, his gaze falling on her messy hair and smudged makeup. A flicker of subtle complexity crossed his eyes. With a slight movement of his fingertips, a gentle, pale blue vector field brushed over her cheeks and hair, much like how he used to brush dust off her face when they were children, meticulously wiping away the sweat and grime.
"What is the situation here?"
Tendo's voice was a few degrees softer than usual, carrying a reassuring tone.
"It's okay! With my 'Daydream' holding up, all one hundred thousand plus spectators inside are safe!"
Jing Liuli patted her chest with a hint of pride, but then her face slumped, and she clutched her stomach, complaining in a low voice.
"It's just... fighting for so long has left me starving."
"If I had known I'd run into a beast tide, I would have stocked up on more cream cakes and energy rice balls backstage."
As she spoke, a mist of grievance welled up in her amethyst eyes, looking exactly like she did back at Embers Base when she failed to grab her favorite snacks.
At this, Tendo shook his head helplessly, though a hint of indulgent laughter was hidden in his eyes. He reached into his storage space and pulled out a well-packaged strawberry cake—her favorite, which he had specifically prepared for his gluttonous friend before setting out.
Tendo gently handed the cake over and added, "Here. Eat this for now."
"Wow! Tendo, you really know me best!"
Jing Liuli's eyes lit up instantly, brimming with joy. She immediately took the cake, tore it open, and began eating in large bites. Her purple hair swayed gently with her chewing, making her look like a satisfied little hamster being fed.
While eating, she looked up at Tendo, her voice soft and muffled.
"Tendo, the audience inside was terrified. I used 'Daydream' to create an illusion of floating marshmallows to stabilize everyone's emotions."
"But my Star Source consumption was quite high. If you had come any later, this barrier might not have held."
By the end, her voice grew quieter, a flash of lingering fear in her eyes. She instinctively moved closer to Tendo, seeking a familiar sense of security.
Sensing her movement, Tendo said nothing, but he slightly expanded the pale blue energy around him toward her, forming a gentle barrier that shielded her from the external chill and the smell of blood.
Then, Tendo raised his hand and released a soft pulse of pale blue energy, merging it into the surrounding purple barrier. In an instant, the previously dim barrier brightened again, and the energy fluctuations stabilized significantly.
"I have notified the rescue forces. They will arrive soon."
As he spoke, Tendo's gaze swept over the dense crowds within the stadium. Most were fans holding glow sticks and wearing fan gear printed with Jing Liuli's portrait.
"Liuli, it seems you've gained many new fans at this concert."
"Yeah, I originally wanted to sing a new song for everyone."
Jing Liuli bit into her cake, her cheeks puffed out. "They traveled from all over just to be here. If they had been put in danger because of my concert, I would have felt guilty for the rest of my life."
Tendo was not surprised by her words. Liuli's kindness had never changed as she grew up, just as she used to share her only snacks with younger children at Embers Base.
Before long, the sound of rhythmic marching came from the distance, and the rescue forces appeared at the end of the street.
Jing Liuli immediately dropped her childish demeanor, wiped the cream from the corner of her mouth, and produced a city map covered in dense markings. This was something she had specifically asked her assistant to prepare while planning the concert, with high-density population areas and safety corridors circled in purple marker.
"Tendo, this is a detailed map of Rock City. The areas marked in purple are fan gathering points and the regions most severely damaged in this tide. The rescue teams should prioritize these spots for search and rescue."
Tendo took the map, reminded of how they used to mark safe zones on the sand table at Embers Base using different colored pebbles. Back then, Liuli always insisted on using the brightest purple, calling it her "lucky color."
After a moment's thought, Tendo flicked his finger, using his vector field to precisely add several red dots to the map.
"These are hidden shelters I discovered during my patrol earlier. There may be trapped citizens inside. Tell the rescue teams to bring extra emergency supplies to these locations."
"Got it!"
Jing Liuli immediately pulled out her custom communicator—its casing was pale purple, inlaid with small crystals and a wire-woven butterfly pendant, her personal lucky charm—and transmitted the updated coordinates to the rescue captain.
Just as the communication ended, Tendo's data-stream terminal chimed, and Caroline's calm, steady voice came through.
"Tendo, the rescue forces have reached the outskirts of Rock City. I have synchronized the coordinates of the hidden shelters you marked to all squads. Furthermore, I have dispatched ten sets of medical pods and emergency supplies, expected to arrive at the temporary relocation point within ten minutes."
Tendo looked at Jing Liuli beside him and replied, "Understood. Have the medical personnel interface with the relocation point first. Liuli will be there to assist in comforting the injured."
"Understood."
Caroline's response was concise, followed by an additional note. "Liuli, your concert team has been safely evacuated to the Martial Heavens Capital. They are all very worried about you."
Jing Liuli paused, then revealed a soft smile and spoke into Tendo's terminal. "Thanks, Caroline! Please send a message back for me—tell them I'm fine, and I'll contact them once things here have settled down."
Over the next few hours, Tendo and Jing Liuli moved separately but with perfect unspoken coordination.
Relying on his immense strength, Tendo cleared out the stray Star Beasts remaining in the city—mostly injured ones in hiding who stood no chance against his vector lines. Simultaneously, he used his vector field to clear debris from the roads, gently moving collapsed walls and twisted rebar to create clear paths for the rescue vehicles.
Jing Liuli remained stationed between the relocation point and the various search zones, using her "Daydream" Star Source to soothe the rescued citizens. When she encountered fans on the verge of emotional collapse, she would take off her sunglasses, revealing her signature purple hair and eyes, gently taking their hands and using her energy to alleviate their terror.
Upon seeing injured citizens, she would immediately produce her personal first-aid kit. Besides medicine, she had secretly hidden several packets of candy inside. After assisting medical staff with basic bandaging, she would hand the sweets to the injured children.
Beneath a pile of rubble, a young girl was trapped. The rescue team had tried multiple methods but could not safely move the heavy steel beams.
Upon receiving the news, Liuli ran toward the site, shouting into her communicator, "Tendo! Quick! There's a little girl trapped here!"
Her voice was anxious, her purple skirt fluttering in the wind as she ran.
When Tendo arrived, he did not act rashly. Jing Liuli hurried to his side, her small hand gently grasping his sleeve. Her amethyst eyes were filled with worry, her voice soft and urgent. "Tendo, be careful. The girl seems scared out of her wits; don't hurt her."
Tendo nodded. He used his "Star Eclipse Heavenly Eye" to precisely locate the stress points of the steel beams, then slowly expanded his pale blue vector field, applying precise force to the nodes. With a slight lift of Tendo's finger, the incredibly heavy beams were steadily hoisted up.
The rescue workers immediately rushed in and carried out the trembling girl.
Jing Liuli stepped forward at once, taking a strawberry-flavored candy from her pocket. She knelt down and said gently, "Don't be afraid, little one. Big sister has a candy for you. It's sweet; you won't be scared after eating it."
Liuli's voice was tender, her purple hair falling before the girl like a warm, protective screen. The girl timidly accepted the candy, and seeing Jing Liuli's kind eyes, she finally stopped crying.
Jing Liuli walked back to Tendo's side with a gratified smile. "Tendo, your vector control really is the most useful thing."
"It was no trouble."
Tendo's tone remained flat, as if he had performed a completely trivial task. He looked at Jing Liuli and added a rare playful remark, "Come on. The rescue team brought hot food. Let's go get some; I'll accompany you."
"Yay!"
Jing Liuli's eyes sparkled, instantly forgetting her previous fatigue. She grabbed Tendo's sleeve and ran toward the relocation point. "I want braised pork! and cream pudding!"
Her actions were natural and affectionate, with none of the airs of a superstar.
As the sun set, golden afterglow spilled over the broken city, gilding the scarred landscape with a layer of warm light.
Inside the temporary relocation point, rescue teams were distributing hot food. Caroline entered with several logistics staff pushing supply carts. Dressed in her sleek silver-grey combat uniform, her face showed a hint of fatigue, yet her spirit remained taut.
Seeing Tendo and Jing Liuli, she immediately stopped what she was doing and walked over.
"Tendo, the first batch of emergency supplies and medical pods have been set up. Medical staff are conducting preliminary diagnoses for the injured."
"Additionally, based on the spectator list from Jing Liuli's concert, I have compiled information on those yet to be contacted. I have directed the rescue squads to prioritize searching those specific areas."
Tendo nodded. "Thank you for your hard work."
Beside him, Jing Liuli proactively stepped forward and handed her a bottle of warm energy drink. "Caroline, thank you for organizing the list. I know it was a lot of work for you to come all this way."
Caroline accepted the drink and said calmly, "It is my duty. Miss Liuli, you have consumed a significant amount of Star Source energy. I brought a high-tier Star Source supplement; it has no side effects, you should use it."
Caroline pulled a pale blue vial from her pocket and handed it over.
While Jing Liuli was recovering her energy, Caroline handed a statistical report to Tendo.
"Tendo, the preliminary rescue work in Rock City is complete. Reconstruction materials have already departed from the Martial Heavens Capital and are expected to arrive by tomorrow morning."
"I have also contacted engineering teams near Rock City to immediately begin clearing the ruins."
Tendo scanned the report and spoke. "Casualty rates are better than expected. Follow-up psychological care must keep pace, especially for those who lost their homes. Prioritize temporary housing for them."
"Rest assured, I have already formulated a comfort plan. Specific personnel will be assigned to interface with each family to register their needs," Caroline responded, then looked at Jing Liuli.
"Miss Liuli, I have reserved a temporary tent on the edge of the relocation point. It is stocked with basic living essentials and the skincare products you usually use, requisitioned from your concert logistics supplies."
Jing Liuli's eyes widened with surprise. "Wow, that is so thoughtful! Thank you, Caroline!" She had been worried about the rough conditions, but Caroline had thought of everything.
Having said that, Jing Liuli picked up a box of cream pudding and began her "battle" with the food.
Watching her, Tendo thought for a moment and said, "Liuli, the reconstruction here will take some time. If you are tired, you can head back to the Martial Heavens Capital to rest first."
Hearing this, Jing Liuli looked up, cream still on the corner of her mouth, and shook her head. "No, I'll head back later."
She pointed to the citizens eating hot food around her, her gaze serious. "Many of these people came here because of my concert. I want to stay and help them."
"Besides, with me here, everyone will feel a little more at ease." Liuli paused, showing a bit of her willful side. "Furthermore, the food during the reconstruction will definitely be handled by the rescue teams. I'm staying here for the free meals!"
Tendo found this both helpless and amusing. "Fine, then stay. Although conditions are harsh, I'll have Caroline send over more of the snacks you like—and your favorite mango-flavored Nebula Mousse."
-----------------------------------------------
I handpick only the finest and most captivating novels for you. Don't forget to check out my other novels!
p@treon HongMengZi