As night deepened, the Martial Capital Charity Gala officially commenced.
The venue was packed to capacity, with lights as brilliant as a river of stars. The background screen scrolled through heartwarming images of the reconstruction of Panstone City. The audience's applause and cheers rose in waves, pushing the atmosphere to a crescendo.
Jing Liuli stood backstage waiting for her cue, clutching a warm lava-core drink. Her expression was a bit unnatural. However, she wasn't nervous about her performance. Truth be told, after years of performing, she was long accustomed to such "small scenes." What she was truly worried about... was actually Yun Meng.
It was like going out to play but having a parent follow along—it made her feel somewhat constrained. Fortunately, Caroline walked over at that moment to break the tension.
"Liuli, don't be nervous. You performed very well during the rehearsal." Caroline gently straightened the hem of Liuli's performance dress, her green eyes full of tenderness. "Besides, Instructor Yun was only joking. She won't really say anything out of line."
Tendo leaned against a nearby wall, hands in his pockets, his tone teasing. "Don't worry, Sister Yun just likes to mess with people. In reality, she won't actually embarrass you."
Jing Liuli's eyes lit up, and the tension on her face vanished instantly. "Really?"
Tendo smiled and ruffled her hair. "Why would I lie to you? Alright, your concert is about to start. Go get ready."
"Mhm."
On the other side, Yun Meng was unaware of the trio's situation. She was sitting in her exclusive spot atop the head of the Purgatory Demon Dragon. The staff had specifically cleared a corner of the area and set up simple protective railings, clearly prepared for her presence.
Little Jin lay submissively on the ground, his golden beast-like pupils staring curiously toward the stage. Occasionally, he flicked his tail, stirring up gusts of hot air that caused the surrounding audience to frequently turn their heads and snap photos.
Yun Meng leaned nonchalantly against the dragon's scales, toyed with a star crystal in her hand, and watched the backstage entrance. A playful smile played on her lips.
Little Jin is way too obedient! Using a Calamity-class star beast as a mount is one thing, but using it as an exclusive seat...
Instructor Yun Meng's prestige is insane! The best seat in the house definitely belongs to her.
As the music started, the stage lights suddenly dimmed. A pale violet glow slowly spread as Jing Liuli's figure appeared in the center of the stage. She took a deep breath, and star power gathered at her fingertips. The "Daydream" Star Source enveloped the entire venue, wrapping the audience in a gentle aura. The previously noisy venue fell silent instantly.
A clear and melodious voice flowed from her, sometimes soft and tactful, sometimes passionate and powerful. The audience waved their glow sticks, forming a purple sea of stars.
Seeing this, Yun Meng sat up straight. The playfulness in her eyes faded slightly, replaced by a touch of seriousness. She lightly tapped the dragon's scales and whispered, "This girl's control over star power is much steadier than before."
Little Jin let out a low growl as if in agreement, his golden eyes fixed on the figure on stage in a protective stance.
Liuli's voice is so healing! My eyes are tearing up just listening to it.
She's definitely a professional! Her stage presence is maxed out.
Just as the song reached its climax, the background screen behind Jing Liuli suddenly malfunctioned. Static hissed as the screen went black, and the lights on one side of the stage flickered out. Several bolts of rogue electricity shot toward the audience!
The audience screamed in shock, and the scene instantly fell into chaos. Jing Liuli's heart tightened. She instinctively tried to manipulate her star power to block the electricity, but the interruption of her song caused her star power flow to falter, making her stumble.
At that moment, an azure vector field instantly enveloped the stage, firmly binding the runaway electricity. Tendo's figure appeared at the edge of the stage, his voice steady. "Caroline, check for circuit failure!"
"The lines were maliciously sabotaged; someone injected interfering star power." Caroline analyzed the situation quickly on her tablet, a flash of coldness in her green eyes. "I've cut the faulty lines and am currently locating the source of interference."
Someone's causing trouble? They have a lot of nerve to strike at a charity gala!
The trio's teamwork is perfect! Tendo controls the field while Caroline finds the fault.
Amidst the chaos, a dark shadow lunged from the back of the audience, targeting Jing Liuli on stage. It was a Star Envoy disguised as an audience member, clutching pitch-black star power—clearly a premeditated attack.
Jing Liuli didn't have time to react and could only instinctively raise her hand to block. The pale violet star power collided with the black star power, and she was knocked back several steps by the impact. Although she wasn't injured, she was clearly caught off guard by the sudden assault.
Just then, Yun Meng's voice rang out, piercingly cold.
"Presumptuous!"
With a wave of her hand, the flame attribute she shared with Little Jin erupted. Crimson flame star power swept toward the dark shadow like a giant wave, trapping it firmly. Little Jin also stood up abruptly, his massive body shielding the stage. His golden eyes were full of ferocity as his low roar made the venue tremble. He looked like an entirely different beast from his previous submissive state.
The dark shadow screamed as it was scorched by the flame star power, attempting to break free, but it was held down ruthlessly by Yun Meng's power. Tendo manipulated his vector field, instantly stripping the shadow of its star power. Caroline arrived just in time, firing an energy beam from her tablet to completely immobilize the assailant.
"Tendo, it's someone from the Forsaken Star Pirates. They likely wanted to kidnap Liuli to blackmail the Association." Caroline quickly read the shadow's identity, her tone grave.
[Name: Forsaken Star Pirates]
[Danger Level: S-rank]
[Evaluation: A special pirate group led by a Calamity-class leader. They frequently kidnap children of wealthy families in the New Federation to exchange for high ransoms.]
The danger came quickly, but it vanished just as fast.
Looking at the captured "thief," Jing Liuli walked over to Yun Meng, rubbing her numb arm, and whispered, "Thank you."
In that moment just now, although Yun Meng's aura was terrifying, it made her feel inexplicably safe. It was just like when she encountered danger during training as a child—Yun Meng would always be the first to stand in front of her.
Yun Meng glanced at her. Though her tone carried a hint of sternness, it hid an obvious concern. "You couldn't even dodge something this small? All those years of training were for nothing."
Despite her words, Yun Meng quietly injected a strand of gentle star power into Jing Liuli's body to help soothe her injuries.
The 'sharp tongue but soft heart' is confirmed! Scolding her while healing her at the same time.
Liuli: I got scolded, but I'm still happy.
Tendo walked over to the two and handed the dark shadow over to the arriving Association staff. His tone was flat. "The interference source has been cleared and the circuits are repaired. The gala can continue."
He looked at Jing Liuli, his eyes holding a bit of concern. "Can you still sing? If not, we can have someone else fill in."
Jing Liuli shook her head and wiped her cheek, standing back in the center of the stage with determination in her eyes. "I can sing! I want to finish this song and bring hope to everyone."
Following her words, Jing Liuli took a deep breath and reconverged her star power. The pale violet glow enveloped the venue once more, and her voice sounded even more powerful than before.
Yun Meng returned to the top of Little Jin's head. Watching the shining Jing Liuli on stage, a gratified smile touched her lips. Little Jin became submissive once more, lying on the ground with gentle golden eyes, silently guarding the stage.
The audience's applause rang out again, even more enthusiastic than before. The flickering glow sticks were like the never-extinguishing fires of hope.
Liuli is so strong! This is what a real idol looks like.
The bond between the four people and one beast is incredible! The feeling of mutual protection is so touching.
When the song ended, the whole venue erupted. Jing Liuli bowed slightly, her gaze moving across Tendo, Caroline, and the corner where Yun Meng and Little Jin were. A brilliant smile bloomed on her face.
The gala continued, and the subsequent programs proceeded smoothly. That brief disturbance, rather than affecting the atmosphere, had allowed everyone to feel the power of protection and hope.
After the gala concluded, the venue gradually grew quiet. Jing Liuli, holding her newly acquired charity trophy, ran to Yun Meng's side and offered it like a treasure. "Instructor, look! I got a trophy!"
Yun Meng took the trophy, lightly stroking its surface, her voice softening. "Not bad. You didn't embarrass me."
She paused and added, "By the way, regarding the Doctor's arrangements, I'll tell you the details once we get back. This pirate group is only the beginning."
Tendo and Caroline exchanged glances and nodded. Little Jin let out a low howl, nuzzling Yun Meng's hand with his head as if reminding them of something.
In the night, the figures of the four people and one beast stood together. The moonlight fell gently upon them. A greater crisis was quietly approaching, but their bond would only grow stronger in the trials to come.
As the staff busy themselves with clearing the site and the Association took the captured pirates away for interrogation, Tendo and Caroline stood to the side, coordinating future security matters with the person in charge.
Jing Liuli, still clutching her trophy, clung to Yun Meng's side. She occasionally touched Little Jin's scales with her fingertip, pulling back quickly as if afraid of getting burned. At this moment, Little Jin had shrunk to the size of a puppy and seemed somewhat annoyed by her teasing, trying to run away.
However, since Yun Meng was right there, he didn't dare move too much. He could only let out a frustrated low howl. After glancing at Jing Liuli with his golden eyes for a moment, his tongue lightly licked the back of her hand.
The scalding temperature made Jing Liuli pull her hand back sharply, but she couldn't help but laugh. "Little Jin's tongue is so hot!"
Hahaha, is Little Jin acting spoiled? A Calamity-class divine beast turned into a 'licking dog' in seconds.
Liuli is teasing Little Jin again! The interaction between the human and the beast is so cute.
Yun Meng watched this and helplessly tapped the top of Little Jin's head. "Behave yourself. Don't scare her."
Just as she finished speaking, Little Jin's ears twitched. His massive body arched slightly as he sniffed toward the edge of the venue. He then trotted over and came back with a fallen mango cake box in his mouth. It was the dessert Jing Liuli hadn't finished during rehearsal.
"Hey! My cake!" Jing Liuli cried out and quickly chased after him.
Little Jin placed the cake box on the ground and nudged it gently toward Jing Liuli with his nose. His golden eyes were full of fawning, as if trying to make up for scaring her earlier. It turned out that amidst the earlier chaos, this little guy had actually remembered the dessert Liuli left in the corner and specifically went back to find it to please her.
Oh my god! Little Jin is too smooth! He actually remembered Liuli's cake.
One minute he's a terrifying guardian, the next he's brown-nosing for snacks. The gap moe is off the charts.
Jing Liuli was both surprised and delighted. She opened the box, took a piece of cake, and held it to Little Jin's mouth. "Here, have some. This is super sweet!"
Little Jin hesitated and looked at Yun Meng. Seeing no objection, he carefully took the cake and chewed it in small bites. His puppy-like size combined with his delicate eating manner made this Calamity-class star beast lose all its intimidation; instead, he looked quite comical, making Liuli laugh incessantly.
Yun Meng walked over. Watching the human and beast share a dessert, her eyes filled with tenderness. Her fingertip condensed a strand of star power, tracing a gate of light in the air. Behind the gate, a mist-shrouded secret realm was faintly visible—it was her "Kingdom in the Clouds."
"Stop fooling around here. Let the others out to get some fresh air too."
As soon as she spoke, several figures leaped out from the gate of light. Star beasts of various shapes and forms surrounded Yun Meng: a spirit fox covered in snow, a bird with flowing feathered wings, and a transparent jellyfish-like star beast. In an instant, the corner of the venue turned into a miniature star beast paradise.
Most of these star beasts were gentle and well-behaved. Upon seeing Little Jin, they crowded around to greet him. Only one pitch-black little beast ran straight to Jing Liuli, nuzzling her pocket as if searching for snacks.
Jing Liuli blinked, pulled a fruit candy from her pocket, and held it to the little beast's mouth. It immediately snatched the candy and curled up at her feet to gnaw on it.
"This is Mo Ying, the greediest of them all. He used to steal your candy all the time," Yun Meng explained with a laugh. "The candy you hid at the base back then—besides the ones Tendo stole—some of them were taken by him."
"So it was you!" Jing Liuli was both annoyed and amused as she lightly poked Mo Ying's head. "I wondered why my candy was always missing. So it was you little guys making trouble!"
Mo Ying seemed to understand. He nuzzled her fingertip affectionately, the half-eaten candy still in his mouth, looking adorably clumsy.
Tendo and Caroline walked over after finishing their tasks. Seeing the lively star beast paradise, they couldn't help but smile. Caroline knelt down and reached out; the glowing jellyfish star beast immediately floated to her hand, nuzzling her fingertip submissively. Green star power and the jellyfish's glow intertwined harmoniously. Tendo leaned to the side, watching Jing Liuli play with the beasts, his eyes full of doting affection.
Little Jin finished the cake and lay on the ground, letting the smaller star beasts jump around on his back, his golden eyes full of contentment.
Yun Meng leaned against Little Jin, looking at the people and star beasts around her. Her voice was soft. "The Doctor had me bring them out because he wants them to help you. In the coming crisis, relying on us alone won't be enough."
Jing Liuli hugged Mo Ying and nodded. "With them around, we'll definitely be fine!"
Mo Ying seemed to agree, letting out a soft whimper and nudging her finger, making everyone burst into laughter.
As the night grew thicker, moonlight fell over the people and the star beasts. The lively and warm atmosphere diluted the gravity of the previous crisis and strengthened everyone's resolve to face the upcoming challenges side by side.
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