Chapter 291 Comic Con Charity Sale
"After such a long wait, the music is finally finished!" Si Ruier beamed with joy. "Please find a suitable venue for the poet so that the music can reach the ears of the audience~"
The dark-faced poet pushed the door open, looking complacent. Chu Hengkong, who was reading a book, immediately stood up and asked anxiously, "Is the song finished too?"
After Chu Hengkong finished reminiscing, he privately added some details to enrich the narrative, and Si Ruier began composing the lyrics and music. The poet's professionalism in this area was truly exceptional, as always upholding his storytelling style: sparing personal details while preserving the key elements. The lyrics had been written a few days prior for his personal approval, and even the most discerning eye couldn't find any flaws. This song about finding someone was complete, lacking only the composition and the title.
"The best song in five hundred years, the poet dares to boast."
Fander's entire Eye Demon was about to pounce on him: "Please sing a few lines first! I'm a loyal fan and I want to hear it!!"
Ji Huaisu grabbed it with one hand and said, "Have you forgotten what this song is for? It's for finding people, okay? Singing it in a bookstore is pointless. At least find a place with lots of people and wide circulation."
"Then let's hold a concert." Chu Hengkong suggested.
But Sriel was not happy: "I am a lazy person by nature. I can't stand so much trouble. How can I sing endlessly under the spotlight?"
Bang Bang Crucian Carp, who was listening in, said, "There's going to be a fundraising event tomorrow~"
Si Ruier thought for a moment, plucked the strings of his zither, and said with a smile, "Okay, okay, the manager is really understanding. Singing is the best thing about this occasion. Once everyone has heated up the atmosphere, the poet will arrive after nightfall~"
He sauntered out of the bookstore, his movements as comical as if he had stepped on a banana peel. Ji Huaisu didn't understand what he said and asked in confusion, "What is the fundraising meeting?"
"It's an event held regularly by the city-state, boo." Gulibo ran around carrying a small water bottle. "Various shops gather together to sell various things. The five major meridians take turns holding the event. Tomorrow it's our turn to participate, boo!"
Today, the Seafood Bookstore's slacking atmosphere has vanished. From the seals to the staff, everyone is bustling with activity. Gulibo is busy running around watering various pots and jars. He's not planting the usual cucumbers and tomatoes, but rather a variety of uniquely shaped ornamental plants. Miaonu is leading the art-loving animals in making chibi-style stickers. Each time they finish a crucian carp, they place it into a large clay slab, and an identical chibi-style clay figurine churns out.
The manuscript collection team from the sixth floor swarmed down and gathered around the pool, working while gazing intently at the large seal in the pool. The seal, holding two sausages in its mouth, wrote with such swiftness that it couldn't help but scream, "Mmm!" (Demanding a break!)
"Don't you even check how many pages are left in the manuscript? What do you mean by rest?" Dudu Otter sneered, "I'll rest when I finish the publication!"
"Mmmmm!" (Devil! Demon! Dummer!)
Chu Hengkong felt the bustling atmosphere was incredibly familiar, as if he'd seen something similar somewhere before. He searched for a while, a strange expression on his face. "...A comic convention?"
"A comprehensive exhibition," Dudutao corrected. "Calligraphy and painting publications, potted food, relics and secret manuals... anything sold in the city-state is available. Take a look around this exhibition, and I guarantee you'll be spoiled for choice."
Fander laughed when he heard this: "Wow, that bookstore looks like it will make a lot of money tomorrow."
The venomous otter gave a mysterious smile, and the crucian carp chuckled, "Profit—that's not a cent!"
"?"
·
Early the next morning, as Big Seal was in a state of lethargy and Dudu Otter wanted to look after the store, manager Bang Bang Crucian Carp led a group of old employees including Gulibo to the exhibition.
Using a bamboo straw, he blew out clouds of cotton-like "bubble clouds," each about the size of a car. These clouds streamed into the store, enveloping the magazines and merchandise packed the day before, and floated lightly into the sky.
The crucian carp took a few deep breaths and blew out an exceptionally wide and long cloud. The small animals scrambled to jump on it, bouncing around on it like a trampoline. From above, Vander observed the cloud curiously. "This technique is quite convenient. Turbid Tears plus Free Wind?"
"Add a little shaping dust—that's a cloud," said the crucian carp cheerfully. "Everyone, hold on tight, we're about to set off—Miss Ji, please don't poke, it'll make a hole."
Ji Huaisu smiled awkwardly and retracted his finger: "I am also learning from life..."
"You just want to play!"
Long clouds rose, carrying clusters of puffy clouds toward the city. Children on the street reached out, trying to catch the drifting clouds. Small animals plucked bits of cloud and scattered them to the ground like petals. Musicians struck up a melodious song, and the puffy clouds drifted away to the music, leisurely as if from a fairy tale.
As they floated over the venue, the roof opened like a flower bud. Bang Bang Crucian Carp directed the bubble clouds to descend, finally letting the cloud carrying people down. Once it landed, the cloud transformed into a long, soft table and chairs. Bang Bang Crucian Carp then used the colorful clouds to draw a sign for "Seafood Bookstore," and the stall was ready.
"The Supreme Road is really convenient." Chu Hengkong exclaimed.
"The power of elements is the closest to life, and it is much easier for them to create and shape things than for us to unify them," said Ji Qiufeng.
The city lord had disappeared a few days ago. No one knew where he had gone or what he had done. He had only returned to the bookstore yesterday, just in time to be at the exhibition with them. He tapped his daughter on the head and said, "Huaisu, if you have time, learn more from Manager Yu and see how good his wind control is."
Ji Huaisu made a face and said, "Manager Yu has already crossed the first abyss! I don't even know how to control the wind."
"It's not that great~" Bang Bang Crucian Carp rubbed his head and smiled innocently, "When the mood is right, it's right - as long as the mood is right, it's fine."
"You see, there's no way to learn it."
Chu Hengkong surveyed his surroundings and saw that most of the stallholders had already arrived. Plant and potted plant vendors were busy cultivating on-site, while those selling video images displayed crystals for trial viewing. A fragrant aroma emanated from the food stalls. The majority of the stalls were naturally book stalls, but he also spotted relic weapon stalls (specializing in various war plants from the Fourth Vein), card game and toy stalls (even including local game consoles, a Fifth Vein specialty). First Vein merchants were peddling high-end-looking luxury clothing and armor that was more decorative than practical, while Second Vein entomologists were touting the efficacy of various practical medicines.
"It's quite lively." Vander said excitedly.
"The atmosphere here on the third line is more welcoming, so merchants from other lines will also come~"
A lazy male voice echoed from the distance. Trixon approached casually, followed by a line of spirited Divine Guards. The fundraising event looked like it would be very popular, so even the captain had come to check it out.
Cui Ke greeted everyone and smiled at Ji Qiufeng, "It just so happens that my daughter is here today, so I'd like to show her off to you. Hey, come say hello to Uncle Ji!"
A small head wearing a beret popped out from behind a food stall, her long silver hair tied into two long braids. She mumbled, "Hello, Uncle Ji—why are you guys here?"
Vander stared at Li Ke, who was filled with shock, then looked at Trick's weather-beaten face and exclaimed, "Is this your daughter?!"
Trek touched his chin and said, "Isn't it cute?"
"They don't look alike at all!"
"No, uncle, I was very handsome when I was young~"
Ji Huaisu's expression changed immediately, and he said in a coquettish voice, "Uncle Cui Ke, your daughter is so violent. She even blasted me with fruit two days ago."
"Who's hitting who?! What gives you the right to say I'm violent?!" Li Ke exclaimed.
Trick echoed the sentiment: "Hey, Rico, how dare you bully a little girl? Grow some mushrooms!"
"Why grow mushrooms? To apologize? Isn't it weird to apologize with mushrooms?"
The Cui family's father and daughter were arguing, and Chu Hengkong commented, "It's obvious that they are biological children."
"This is just the temper of their tribe. I've never seen many tree people with such deep hatred and vengeance." Ji Qiufeng said, "But are we here too early?"
While most of the exhibitors were already in attendance, the venue was sparsely populated. The venue was perfectly situated, nestled in a bustling urban area, just steps from the wind tunnel station. Normally, it would have been packed with people, but today, even the mere spectacle of the event was scarce. The occasional child attempting to enter was snatched away by their parents, who simply tried to avoid it.
"That's normal. After all, this is a fundraising event," Bang Bang Gu told them. "A so-called fundraising event is a charity sale specially prepared for soldiers."
·
Every second, lives are lost, and every second, battles are fought. Even when the sun rises and the sky is set, the fierce struggle never stops. This has been the norm in the Shendong world for thousands of years.
The Jingsha city-state is vast and rich in resources, and is home to many experts, but it is still located in the Senluo secret realm and needs to face the dangerous situation there.
The western third of the secret realm is the territory of the Empire of Truth, while the northern third is ruled by the Spiral Tower. These two factions of the Outer Paths clash with each other and simultaneously oppose the allied forces of the Righteous Path. The three-way battle continues unabated, and the rifts formed in the land torn apart by the war have formed a narrow, chasm-like front. This front stretches almost across the center of the Senluo Secret Realm, earning it the nickname "The Desperate Front."
The pressure on the city-state of Jingsha, facing two major factions of the Outer Dao on its own, can be imagined. However, Jingsha is the granary and staunch support of the righteous forces, and the largest base of the Allied forces in the Senluo Secret Realm. With the Netherworld Divine Kingdom on the verge of collapse, if Jingsha falls, the Senluo Secret Realm will fall completely to the Outer Dao, and the resulting disaster is unimaginable.
Therefore, the supreme leaders of the major factions decided to adopt a rotational system, taking turns defending the desperate frontier for ten years. The three parties participating in the defense, in rotation order, were Jingsha City-State, Longquan Township, and Shura Island.
For the first ten years after the fall of Huilong City, the martial artists of Longquan Township led the war, while the second ten years were led by the combined forces of Shura Island, Wuchen Land, and Le Tu. Now that Huilong City has been revived, and another ten-year rotation is about to end, it is the turn of the Jingsha city-state to lead the war itself.
·
"War costs money," Bang Bang Gu said seriously, "so the city-state will organize a series of activities to raise military funds, and our exhibition is one of them. All the green branches earned today will be donated free of charge to the various Divine Guards as a voluntary support from the citizens."
Chu Hengkong couldn't help but look up to the little animals. Merchants willing to sacrifice profits for the benefit of the public were extremely rare, no matter where they were. But upon hearing this, he became even more puzzled. "Even the merchants love the city-state so much, why are the ordinary citizens so uninterested?"
"It's not anyone's fault. After all, Jingsha regularly collects 'war taxes,'" said Trick, looking unconcerned. "Even when there's no war, Jingsha is responsible for supporting the front lines. War taxes are always paid regularly every month. Those who have twigs pay twigs, those who grow fruits and vegetables pay crops, and those who sew clothes pay cloth...
Citizens who pay their taxes on time every month will naturally feel a bit skeptical when they see the charity sale. They already pay so much in taxes, so there's no reason to donate more to the military.
"And the anti-war sentiment in the city-state over the past twenty years has also been very..." Rico gritted her teeth, "It's all caused by that stupid masked man!"
Trick tapped her lightly, "Li Ke, don't talk about politics when you're out having fun."
"Leave me alone!"
Cui Ke and his daughter started arguing again. Seeing that the place was deserted, Ji Huaisu couldn't help but worry: "Wasn't everyone's work in vain?"
"Guests will arrive, and things will be lively soon." Bang Bang Crucian Carp was confident, "Look—here they come!"
Everyone followed its lead and saw a burly man walking into the exhibition hall. He was wearing armor made of bamboo and wood, carrying a large sword on his back, and had several obvious scars on his face.
This is a mercenary.
(End of this chapter)
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