Quick Travel to the Clouds

Chapter 576 The Little Demon 37

On the meticulously arranged long table, the delicacies gleamed, and the production team deliberately created a relaxed farewell dinner atmosphere, but it couldn't hide the subtle awkwardness left by the previous gift-giving segment.

Bai Muchen sat upright at the table, his posture as straight as a solitary peak, as if the surrounding conversation and laughter were separated from him by an invisible barrier.

His gaze swept across the table, intentionally or unintentionally, without lingering in the direction of Yun Chu.

That rejected black fishing rod box should now be quietly placed in some unnoticed corner, like a forgotten data error.

His slender fingers held the delicate neck of the wine glass, the amber liquid inside remaining perfectly still, reflecting the deep stillness in his eyes.

Most of the conversation revolved around amusing anecdotes from past recordings. Zhang Man tried her best to liven up the atmosphere, Zhang Chi interjected with jokes at appropriate times, and the Li siblings shared their travel experiences.

Bai Muze remained the perfect mirror image beside him, occasionally exchanging a few precise evaluations with Mu Chen in low voices, which only they understood.

Amidst the lively chatter, Luo Yunshuang quietly moved closer to Yun Chu's seat. Her long, seaweed-like hair cascaded over her shoulders, and as she ladled soup, she whispered in Yun Chu's ear, a sound only the two of them could hear, her voice tinged with curiosity and concern:

"Chu Chu... what just happened? Teacher Bai actually prepared a gift for you alone? And you... rejected it? His expression was so scary..." She glanced furtively in Bai Muchen's direction, then quickly looked away.

Yun Chu's fingertips, gripping the chopsticks, turned slightly white as she tried to maintain a calm expression. She picked up her lemonade and took a sip, the cool liquid quelling the slight bitterness in her throat before gently shaking her head and replying in a similarly low voice, "It was just a small misunderstanding... The items are too expensive, it's not appropriate."

Her words were calm, but a subtle, complex emotion flickered in the depths of her eyes—perhaps apology, perhaps helplessness.

Luo Yunshuang blinked knowingly, not asking any further questions, but simply gently squeezed Yun Chu's wrist, conveying silent support. "It's good that you're alright. Don't think too much, just wait and see how I make you happy!" She forced a sly smile, her bright eyes regaining their sparkle.

As the banquet drew to a close, the stage had already been quietly set up. The director announced the "Free Talent Show" segment, a heartwarming farewell to the twelve-episode journey.

The atmosphere instantly heated up.

The Li siblings took the stage first. The brother played his ukulele, which he always carried with him, while the sister sang along with a soft and sweet voice. The melody was soothing, and the song was an original tune about "journey" and "encounter," carrying a fresh and natural warmth.

Zhang Yihang fully utilized his comedic talent, pulling his sister Zhang Man into a hilarious dialect skit. His clumsy movements and exaggerated expressions, combined with Zhang Man's "unbearable" complaints, drew laughter from the entire audience, completely dispelling any remaining awkwardness.

Li Siqi and Li Wenkai sang a lighthearted old song together, which prompted everyone to join in the singing.

Bai Muze showcased his amazing piano skills, playing a fragment of Debussy's "Clair de Lune," clear and ethereal, as if moonlight were being poured onto the sea.

When it was Luo Yunshuang's and Yun Chu's turn, the air seemed to quiet down for a moment.

Luo Yunshuang wore a dress adorned with star-studded sequins, looking playful and dazzling. Gripping the microphone, she winked at Yun Chu and announced loudly, "Yun Chu and I! We'll be performing 'The Startling Beauty' for everyone. I'll sing, and she'll perform the sword dance!"

Applause erupted, filled with anticipation.

Yun Chu had already changed into a simple white shirt and black pants, her long hair tied into a neat ponytail. She had shed her previous gentleness and exuded a cool and aloof temperament.

As the lights shifted, her silhouette was projected onto the huge floor-to-ceiling window, against a backdrop of the deep night sky and the flickering city lights below.

Luo Yunshuang's ethereal voice rang out, melodious and graceful, like a clear spring flowing down a waterfall, singing of the breathtaking beauty of a fleeting glimpse and the entanglement of destiny:

"...Just like the first time we met, a fleeting moment of beauty captured in a glance..."

The prelude music is soothing yet carries a touch of ancient charm.

Yun Chu remained motionless, standing as still as a pine tree, her slender figure casting a clear silhouette on the ground. When she sang the line "Sword pierces the flowing clouds," Luo Yunshuang's voice suddenly soared, clear and stirring!

In that instant, Yun Chu moved!

With a slight flick of her wrist, her slender arm, which had been hanging limply at her side, rose as if it had come to life.

A cold, sharp light flashed—a simple, elegant longsword had appeared in her hand without her noticing.

Without any unnecessary frills, a clean and crisp starting stance, the body moves with the sword, the footsteps are as light as walking on clouds, yet carry a deep and powerful force.

Swords flashing!

Like a silver snake spitting its tongue, like twinkling cold stars, or like a startled swan skimming the water!

Her movements were a perfect blend of fast and slow, sometimes as swift as lightning, the sword slicing through the air with a delicate whistling sound; at other times as slow as stillness, each swing and thrust was like a meticulous brushstroke, full of the balance between power and beauty.

As she moved nimbly, the white dress traced simple yet graceful arcs under the lights, while the breathtaking black was the only serene backdrop.

"...Love and hate are separated by a single thought, life and death are tied by a single thread..."

Yun Chu's gaze was focused and cold, as if she had abandoned all the noise of the outside world and was completely immersed in the world of swords.

Every swing of the sword, every turn, every pause carries a sharp poetic quality.

She was no longer just a pretty and quiet girl, but rather like a peerless sword tempered by heaven and earth, its sharpness restrained yet astonishing.

Her sword is a brushstroke that combines strength and gentleness, writing an invisible and magnificent poem on the stage.

Everyone in the audience was stunned.

The commotion subsided, leaving only Luo Yunshuang's clear and melodious singing voice, accompanied by the soft tinkling of sword blades cutting through the air, echoing in the vast restaurant.

The Zhang siblings were speechless with amazement, while the Li siblings were filled with astonishment and admiration.

Bai Muchen's body remained as still as a cold sculpture, only the knuckles holding the cup tightened slightly, and a subtle ripple seemed to spread from the depths of his originally calm eyes.

The sword light flashed across the lenses of his frameless glasses. His gaze was fixed on the figure in the center of the stage, who had transformed into a swirling gust of wind and swirling snow, as if he were truly "seeing" her for the first time—not in front of the camera, not on the edge of the crowd, not during a chaotic fishing trip, but in her most authentic and dazzling moment.

Each turn of the sword's edge was etched into his rapidly working mind like a precise stream of data, becoming another "variable" coordinate that could not be ignored.

As Luo Yunshuang's last long note faded away, its lingering melody resonated in the air.

"The journey through the martial world is long... I will not dwell on past entanglements..."

Almost the instant the song faded, Yun Chu completed her final movement. She smoothly withdrew her arm, the longsword returned to her side, its tip pointing diagonally at the ground, the drooping tassel no longer swaying.

She stood still, her white shirt and black pants silhouetted against the spotlight. A thin layer of sweat glistened on her forehead, her breathing was slightly rapid, but her eyes were clear as water.

Absolute silence for one second.

Immediately, deafening applause and cheers erupted like a tsunami!

"So handsome!"

"Wow--"

"Yun Chu!!"

"Absolutely amazing! Luo Luo sang wonderfully too!!"

Everyone stood up, their excitement palpable. The visual and spiritual impact of the sword dance was undoubtedly the climax of the evening.

Luo Yunshuang ran over with a bright smile and gave Yun Chu a big hug. Yun Chu's tense face finally melted, revealing a faint smile of satisfaction and relief, and she gently hugged Luo Yunshuang back.

Amidst the thunderous applause, Bai Muchen slowly finished the remaining liquid in his cup. The icy liquid slid down his throat, but it couldn't erase the ripples deep within his heart caused by the breathtaking sword dance—ripples that defied precise logic.

The dazzling lights shattered into specks of light in his eyes, eventually settling into a darker, deeper color. Across the noisy crowd, he looked at the figure at the center of the light, but no one could see the set of "abnormal parameters" being reassessed and integrated beneath the intricate ice layer.

The sea is vast and the sky is high, the city twinkles like stars, and this journey will eventually come to a complete end amidst such dazzling beauty and undercurrents.