Chapter 1435: Different Paths, Same Destination
Regardless, by evening, the circus performance began smoothly.
It looked as if the entire city had crowded into the performance grounds, with even the streets outside packed full. Many people had spontaneously carried chairs and tables over, using them to make up for their lack of height.
Overall, the adults preferred Xu Huo's magic show, while the children favored Yan Jiayu's performance. When they finally handed out the toys they had prepared in advance, the atmosphere reached its climax.
Everyone was thoroughly entertained, and no one forgot to leave their ticket fee before leaving.
As the crowd gradually dispersed, Yan Jiayu lifted the basket filled with white notes and gems, grinning from ear to ear. "This is way more profitable than fortune-telling."
Duan Cheng and Li Kun appeared at the performance grounds at just the right moment. The latter said, "Check if there are any items inside?"
Yan Jiayu had the same idea, so the two of them searched behind the stage.
Xu Huo, on the other hand, leisurely packed up his belongings while casually asking about Duan Cheng and Li Kun's gains.
Knowing that Yan Jiayu had obtained items from the gifts given by the residents of Gem City, Duan Cheng and Li Kun had helped many people while looking for work. Although they had also received plenty of gifts, they were all useless things—not even items, and hardly worth any money. The only fortunate thing was that a fruit farmer, grateful for their help, allowed them to work in the orchard, picking several carts of fruit to be sent to the King's Castle.
"It's just picking fruit. To actually get the fruit into the city, we'll need to find another way," Duan Cheng said. These jobs all had people assigned to them, and no one would be replaced without a special reason.
"When do they usually send fruit into the King's Castle?" Xu Huo asked.
"In the afternoon," Duan Cheng smiled. "If it were at night, it would be much easier. Those laborers would definitely be scrambling to come watch the show. How about you guys? Just performing at the grounds alone probably won't earn you a summons from the King."
At the very least, someone would need to recommend them to the King.
"Xiao Yu has befriended a noblewoman whose husband works inside the castle. She's agreed to help recommend us."
Just as they were talking, a guard appeared from outside. He first stated his identity, then said, "Mr. Sunflower Number One, I wonder if you have time tomorrow. Lady Leah would like to invite you and your sister, Miss Sunflower Number Two, to the castle."
Xu Huo set down his things and walked over. "May I ask who Lady Leah is..."
"Lady Leah is the Queen's cousin. She is very interested in your magic show," the guard replied. "You may bring your performance tools in advance."
Xu Huo smiled and nodded, then asked further, "I have a lot of things to bring. Can I bring the two assistants I hired along?"
"Lady Leah only wishes to see the two of you. As for the tools, the guards can help transport them," the guard said. "Besides, your performance tonight was already excellent."
Meaning it made no difference whether he had assistants or not.
Xu Huo agreed, and only after the guard left did he turn back and say, "We're in luck."
"You're the ones in luck," Li Kun said somewhat disappointedly. "It's a shame Duan Cheng and I can't go in with you."
Xu Huo, however, said, "I suspect tomorrow is just a formality. The real person who wants to see the performance is someone else. There will still be a chance."
The two weren't exactly comforted. Li Kun turned back to Yan Jiayu and said, "You're pretty impressive, you know. How did you convince that noblewoman to run errands for you?"
"Simple," Yan Jiayu said. "I gave her a drink that makes her breath smell fresh."
"That's it?" Li Kun found it hard to believe.
"That's it." Yan Jiayu's eyes curved into crescents. "Loving beauty is human nature. What's wrong with making oneself a little more beautiful?"
It wasn't that Li Kun and Duan Cheng thought bribery was useless, but rather that they felt such small-scale efforts were too slow to show results, more like relying on luck. But who would have guessed her luck was so good—she hit the mark every time.
"My master says kind-hearted people are always lucky," Yan Jiayu touched her short hair. "Probably because I'm a kind-hearted person."
Li and Duan were speechless. They really wondered who it was that had kicked someone into the castle last night.
Apparently, they weren't the only ones feeling dissatisfied. The unlucky guy from last night also showed up, appearing silently outside the performance grounds. Using a gravity item, he yanked Yan Jiayu straight out of the yard, raised his knife, and aimed directly for her back:
"Know why I didn't leave? If I don't get my revenge for that arrow, I'll never be able to swallow this anger..."
But before he could finish, he was suddenly frozen in place, and inexplicably lifted higher. At the same time, Yan Jiayu, who had her back to him, also rose—the two of them stood about ten meters apart on a little yellow duck seesaw.
This item appeared out of nowhere. Although it didn't look like a powerful offensive item, it still made the player standing on it change expression slightly. Before he could use an item to free himself, he saw Yan Jiayu across from him turn around, leap up violently, and land heavily. "See you later, seesaw!"
The next second, the three people standing nearby watched as that player shot into the sky like a rocket, flying at least fifty or sixty meters before starting to fall. As he adjusted his posture, Yan Jiayu below had already stepped on the duck's head with one foot, hoisted a cannon barrel with one hand, attached a scope, and pressed the button.
What shot out wasn't a real cannonball, but a paper toy shaped like a shell. It tracked the male player moving through the air, missed twice in a row, and finally hit his defense barrier. Although it wasn't very offensive, the colored adhesive it sprayed completely covered the entire defense barrier.
Both sides' vision was blocked, but Yan Jiayu definitely had the advantage. She used an item to pull him down and rushed in front of him in one stride!
The male player didn't dodge. Instead, after removing the adhesive, he directly exchanged punches with Yan Jiayu!
Both seemed to be strength-type players. Their fists collided with a loud crack in the air. With that single blow, Yan Jiayu, standing firmly in place, quickly grabbed his hand and twisted it outward—the seemingly small movement caused a cracking sound from the male player's arm. He was clearly startled, and without even time to use an item, he had to follow the direction of Yan Jiayu's force, spinning in midair to absorb the power!
But before his feet touched the ground, he was kicked in the abdomen by the person holding him, sending his body flying backward rapidly.
That wasn't the end. Yan Jiayu soon appeared before him again, leaping with each step. She was fast, and every time her foot hit the ground, it left a shallow footprint.
A real footprint, imprinted on the gemstone floor.
Logically, such force should have first spread outward, shattering the surrounding gems. But she had precisely controlled the power to stay under the sole of her foot...
In just a moment of distraction, when his gaze shifted back and met those eyes sparkling with excitement so close at hand, the male player's expression changed. Without hesitation, he used a teleportation item!
(Chapter End)