Dual wielding volcanoes, killing through the west

While I was thinking, the ticket seller with the perpetually serious expression suddenly said impatiently, "Go straight ahead, to the end, turn right, there's a small door, go through that."

“Uh…” Zhang Renfeng scratched his head, momentarily stunned by what he said. “I’m here to buy tickets to see the show.”

"Huh?!" The ticket seller's eyes widened in surprise. She quickly took another look at Zhang Renfeng's clothes, appearance, and face. More importantly, she noticed his perfectly natural local accent. Then she realized, "Your skin tone is so similar to those actors. I thought you were..."

"An actor?" Zhang Renfeng frowned slightly.

"That's right, it's a brand new Oriental Theatre Company. They're said to be here for cultural exchange and are currently touring New Austin. In addition to Oriental theatre, they also have unprecedented Oriental magic! Not only that, but the famous 'hidden gem'—Miss Evelyn Dietersdorf—is also a supporting actress in the company. It's a powerful combination, and the theaters are sold out every day."

"Their performance is about to start in about ten minutes. The front row seats are sold out, but there are still a few tickets left on the second floor. If you're interested..."

……

Prior to this, Zhang Renfeng was unaware of the background of the theater troupe that had proposed performing with Evelyn. He only knew that the troupe was preparing for a tour in New Austin, seemed to have substantial funds, and offered Evelyn a very considerable fee for the performance.

Everyone has their own career, and since he's an outsider in this area, he shouldn't interfere too much. Besides, at this critical juncture, it's not a bad thing to let Evelyn leave White Torch Town temporarily.

Now it seems... things are completely different from what he originally imagined.

"What kind of actors are they?"

“Let me think. They don’t usually come out much. If they do leave, they go through the back door…” The ticket seller thought for a while and finally found a feature that was completely different from Zhang Renfeng’s. “If I had to say, it would be their heads.”

"Head?"

“Unlike you, they all have a braid at the back of their heads.”

----

"Hmm... How could this happen..."

Evelyn turned her back, twisting her head as far as possible, and pulled the zipper at her waist with considerable difficulty. Her lips were slightly pouting, and a blush appeared on her beautiful profile. Her slightly embarrassed expression, like the luster of a pearl, made her incredibly charming.

She dared not exert any more force with her hands; the soft flesh on both sides of her waist clung tightly to the fabric, as if the zipper would snap off with a "snap" if she used even the slightest bit more force. Then, amidst incredibly enthusiastic applause and atmosphere, she would have to perform on stage wearing a backless gauze dress, and within five hours, she would be on the front page of the San Quintak newspaper.

"Could it be that I...I..."

Have you gained weight?

She could hardly believe it. Through her gauze skirt, she gently touched her stomach. Her once flawless white belly did indeed have a slight curve; it felt cool and soft to the touch, as if you could squeeze water out of it. This made the girl's vision go dark—the food at the Red Gang was simply too good. Ever since she could remember, to maintain her slender figure and light body, her family's diet had been basically a long-term vegetarian diet.

"An excellent performer must always control their weight; physical obesity is a harbinger of spiritual decay"—this was a phrase her mother often repeated. Because of the corset, her stomach was compressed, greatly reducing her appetite. Eating too much only made her feel nauseous.

Cinch your waist, and you'll feel like you're floating on air, freeing up your control over what you eat and drink.

Evelyn's weight experienced a small rebound.

"Excuse me... Could you please help me..."

The members of the opera troupe backstage ignored her, and occasionally when they passed by, they would cast slightly disdainful glances at her, leaving the girl bewildered.

She didn't know the reason, but she could sense that these gazes were unfriendly. It seemed to happen every time she changed into her stage costume. There were a few women in this Eastern theater troupe, but they were all busy applying makeup and ignored her for a moment, leaving the girl somewhat bewildered.

Culture, language, customs... A huge curtain fell silently, drawing a clear line between her and the seemingly bustling backstage area.

She bit her lip lightly, just as she was about to use brute force, a warm and strong hand suddenly reached out from behind and wrapped around her waist.

"what!"

Evelyn gasped and turned around, only to see the woman whom the rest of the troupe called "the boss." (Zhu Kuilong translated "boss" directly, implying the leader, which, while not entirely accurate, is acceptable.)

Her body was as slender as a willow branch, her eyebrows as crescent moon, and her slightly aloof, upturned eyes revealed a gentle tenderness towards the young girl.

What impressed her most was that shiny, full braid that hung from her head all the way down to her waist. It was as if blood vessels were growing in those strands of hair, and if the hair were to be let loose, it would surely create a stunning visual effect like a waterfall.

Zhu Kuilong gave her a brief introduction to the members of the troupe. To be precise, there were only the two of them; the rest were just underlings responsible for the performances. In short, the troupe consisted of about twenty people, all under her management, and they depended on her for their livelihood, hence the title "boss."

The woman's surname is "Qiu," which means autumn. Evelyn felt that the surname was very poetic, and when she said it, it was as if she had the refreshing feeling of citrus fruits in autumn.

The single name is Yun, but I don't know how to translate it, so I simply used a syllable instead.

She gently pressed her palm against Evelyn's abdomen, while her other hand supported her waist. With a slight press, the gauze skirt clung to her body.

"Thank you... thank you, Mrs. Autumn..."

Evelyn was somewhat flattered. Despite the language barrier, she could vaguely sense that the woman called "boss" held a special position in the troupe, probably second only to Zhu Kuilong.

The woman didn't speak, but instead squinted and looked her up and down before giving her a meaningful smile.

Chapter 205: Something's Wrong, We Need to Know How to Escape

"very nice."

Zhu Kuilong succinctly commented.

Qiu Yun turned her head in surprise, blinked, and made sure she wasn't hallucinating. "Boss Zhu, is this true?"

They were crouching backstage, observing the commotion in front of the stage through a thick, plush curtain.

……

Evelyn is performing the story of the famous dancer "Salome". At this moment, she is no longer the reserved and elegant noble lady, but the beautiful dancer in the story who is obsessed with love and disregards everything.

Beneath a pristine white gauze dress, her body was draped in bronze ornaments, with a pair of jeweled bracelets adorning her wrists and ankles.

Clearly exquisite and precious works of art, worn by a young girl, they seemed like shackles, giving her a fragile and delicate beauty under the enchanting lights. Seven layers of gauze, as thin as cicada wings, covered her body, outlining her alluring figure, and together with the copper ornaments that clung almost to her body, they created a perfect stage image.

The young girl lay relaxed on the "steps" constructed from the stage set, her long hair flowing freely, her legs, veiled in seven layers of gauze, slightly raised. Her eyes held a hazy, alluring charm; the phrase "captivating" would be an understatement.

Simply by turning things upside down, a sense of weightlessness can be created. Salome's passion and madness are all expressed through that radiant smile.

……

Thunderous applause erupted, mixed with roars and whistles from the audience.

"I thought that a gentleman like Boss Zhu would definitely not appreciate this kind of thing," Qiu Yun joked with a smile. "From our point of view, the clothes this girl wore when she went on stage were too revealing, weren't they? She was practically wearing a white gauze dress on top of everything, which was a bit... indecent."

“Across the sea, I don’t have much to say about the opera genres here. Kunqu Opera is so refined that they can’t understand a single word.” Zhu Kuilong shook his head and explained, “When I said it was good, it was her movements.”

"action?"

"Have you ever noticed how she dances on tiptoe?"

Zhu Kuilong's tone was full of praise, as if he didn't think Evelyn's outfit for dancing on stage was indecent at all. "She has been wearing a corset since childhood, which makes her weak and frail. There is an old saying, 'King Chu liked slender waists, and many starved to death in the palace.' If the waist is too thin, the transmission of strength will be hindered. Even if she stands for a while, she will feel dizzy and lightheaded."

"On stage, she puts every bit of her strength to the fullest, without wasting a single bit."

"It's almost in line with the principles of boxing!"

Qiu Yun sighed in bewilderment upon hearing this. "What about the play, Mr. Zhu? Don't you have any opinions on her play? I was hoping you could translate it for me."

"I don't understand it," Zhu Kuilong honestly admitted. "It's mostly about love and romance between men and women; I forget it as soon as I read it."

"Love..."

"Women dress up for those who appreciate them; the old saying is absolutely true."

Zhu Kuilong asked, puzzled, "What does this mean?"

"It's nothing." Qiu Yun glossed over the topic and focused intently on Evelyn.

She was convinced that her intuition was correct; the girl's performance was indeed superb, yet suddenly, she felt a subtle infatuation. This surreal atmosphere made her exceptionally charming, and the character... whoever she played, had been melted into juice by the fire of love, which poured down and, along with the white veil, draped over her body.

Not crazy, not live.

The girl on stage, through the love that sprouted from her heart like wild grass, had reached a level that could drive the audience wild.

Following the direction the stage tilted, Qiu Yun looked towards the audience seats.

The thunderous applause came from the front, making it easy to overlook the back rows and the seats on the second floor on both sides.

Qiu Yun's gaze was fixed on a corner on the second floor to the left. Her pupils contracted slightly, and for a very short time, she showed an expression of disbelief.

That brief moment of distraction was immediately noticed by Zhu Kuilong beside him. His brows furrowed slightly as he asked, "What's wrong? Is there something going on over at the stands?"

“…No.” Qiu Yun turned around. “Let’s go, Boss Zhu.”

"We're about to get ready to dress up too."

----

On the second floor of the theater, in a somewhat secluded corner.

Although the location was remote, everything that needed to be seen was still clearly visible. The girl on stage was radiant, almost illuminating the entire theater. Her dance moves, her smile, and even the way her toes spun gently, revealing her delicate curves, captivated everyone.

"How wonderful..." Xiaomei exclaimed, at a loss for words. She subconsciously touched the side of her cheek, where the scar from the wolf's claws seemed to ache faintly.

The princess, shining brightly on stage, not only unveiled her dreams but also quickly made her realize who she truly was.

She knew she could never become that kind of person in her entire life.

"Thinking about it that way, it really is unbelievable." Theon said expressionlessly, "Ordinary gangs wouldn't recruit someone like this as a member... Rather, ordinary gangs would never have any dealings with such a celebrity."

"I've really joined an amazing gang."

“Of course! How could Mr. Red Center’s gang be like those guys?” Xiao Mei immediately chimed in smugly at the mention of the Red Center gang. Luckily, the place was relatively secluded, with no one else around. She counted on her fingers, speaking with feigned seriousness, “We already have a chef and a performer. If I could, I'd also like a sniper, a doctor, an archaeologist…”

Halfway through her speech, Evelyn on stage paused briefly at the side of the second floor, revealing a breathtaking smile.

In a sense, this should be considered a kind of rice dish from the old days.

"Look! Can you see that?! Evelyn is waving at you!" Xiaomei seemed to have returned to her true 14-year-old self, and the performer on stage was her familiar best friend. She was so excited she couldn't contain herself. "Mr. Red Center..."

His tone gradually lowered, and when he turned his head, Xiaomei finally noticed that Zhang Renfeng's expression was not quite right.

He didn't look at Evelyn on the stage; to be precise, he didn't have the time or inclination.

Instead, his body remained slightly leaning forward, and although he was seated, his center of gravity was very low, like a cheetah arching its back, ready to pounce at any moment. His gaze, however, was fixed across the entire stage, fixed intently on what lay behind the curtain.

"What's wrong?" Theon noticed his unusual behavior and his hand was already on the gun handle. "An ambush?"

"..."

What's frightening is that Zhang Renfeng didn't even answer that question; he seemed completely immersed in his own world.

A bead of cold sweat trickled down his forehead.

"Mr. Hongzhong, are you alright?" Xiaomei shook his hand, but was startled the moment she touched his wrist.

The wrist is connected to the pulse, and one can clearly feel Zhang Renfeng's heartbeat at this moment.

"Your heartbeat... is so fast..." Xiaomei felt his pulse and was even more frightened.

Generally, the body only produces this reaction when it senses a nearby threat.

What lies behind that seemingly ordinary curtain?

……

“Xiaomei, and Theon…”

After a moment of contemplation, Zhang Renfeng finally regained his composure, closing his eyes slightly and gathering his inner energy and spirit, before exhaling deeply. Then, he began to adjust his breathing in a certain rhythm, as if trying to quickly adjust his body to a combat-ready mode.

His voice became very serious, "Wait a minute, if things go wrong, you need to know how to escape."

Chapter 206: Faster than a bullet!

The dreamlike dance of seven layers of gauze ended amidst near-endless applause. The curtain rose and fell, and then the familiar sound of gongs and drums appeared on the stage. Hearing the familiar melody from across the ocean, Zhang Renfeng felt a strange sadness amidst the sense of temporal displacement.

I can barely understand it anymore.

When a person is away from their native language environment for a long time, they will naturally lose their sensitivity to language.

Zhang Renfeng had been living in this country where no one used Chinese for nearly two years, and his thought patterns and language logic had naturally shifted to a foreign language mode. Furthermore, the language used in opera is different from the Chinese he speaks in everyday life, so he had to think about each line in his mind before he could understand its meaning.

"Kunqu Opera is indeed elegant to the core, but..."

Judging from the deathly silence in the audience, you can tell that no matter how elegant something is, it will never gain recognition in a place without fertile ground for its culture.

However, from the ticket seller's description, this scene was already somewhat predictable. The opera performance was considered a bonus act; most of the audience bought tickets for the magic show. It was like the prelude to a crosstalk performance—basically just a place for people to drink water and go to the bathroom.

Zhang Renfeng watched the performance intently, increasingly impressed by it; this was no ordinary opera troupe. The scenery, props, and even the stage decorations were all top-notch. The singing, recitation, acting, and acrobatics were all expertly executed.

That makes sense. How could an ordinary opera troupe possibly have the ability to travel across oceans to perform here?

The only thing that particularly caught his attention was the young lady playing Du Liniang—her graceful figure and light body were indistinguishable from a real woman.

This is somewhat unusual, as Zhang Renfeng had always thought that such roles were usually played by men.

A famous female impersonator who can become a leading actress must not only imitate a woman's singing style, but also her figure, posture, and even subtle expressions, to the point that it is impossible to tell whether she is male or female. That is what it means to have reached the pinnacle of artistry.

But the woman on stage gave him the feeling that "this is just a woman performing." Even in his disturbed state of mind, Zhang Renfeng was still captivated by her.

……