Chapter 313: The Middleman
"Flamecloud Evil God Sigurd, there's only one reason you lost—because you made the mistake of angering this Immortal! I shall now—"
"Reverse All Creation!" ×n
The iconic catchphrase burst from Senti's mouth—and was echoed by a chorus of children's voices below the stage.
On stage, Senti threw a powerful punch, smashing the massive puppet—controlled entirely by her qi—into a pile of splinters.
She held the cool pose for a few seconds before spinning around, raising both arms triumphantly, and flashing a radiant grin.
"That's the end of the show! Thanks for watching!"
Clap clap clap!!
The sound of applause, cheers, and the shining eyes of dozens of kids made Senti puff out her chest with pride, her smile growing even brighter.
See that? When this Immortal takes the stage, even some made-up, random play can win over any audience! That's the power of an Immortal!
"Sister Fu Hua, I want to see the Edge of Taixuan!
"Yeah, what about the Flamecloud Evil God's henchmen? Why didn't they show up?"
"And what happened to the clever little Book Sprite that served the Immortal? Where'd she go after the happy ending?"
"Sister Fu Hua—"
After the curtain call, a swarm of children clambered onto the stage, surrounding Senti and chattering nonstop with questions.
She raised both hands and looked left and right, sweat beginning to bead on her forehead—Wait, she'd just made all this stuff up on the fly! How was she supposed to know all these details?!
Just then, a kind and familiar voice called out, rescuing her from disaster:
"Children, Miss Fu Hua—it's time to eat!"
The elderly caretaker of the orphanage waved from the dining table.
Senti's eyes instantly lit up.
"Food time! Time to eat, questions later, move move move!"
Breaking free from the crowd, Senti bolted for the table at top speed.
Thanks to pre-planning by a certain someone who preferred to remain anonymous (cough Sigurd), the food on the table was plentiful enough that even the kids got to eat their fill.
A few moments later, Senti was patting her bulging belly, cheeks puffed as she chewed the last few bites. She was half-heartedly fielding the children's endless questions:
"Big sis, how many henchmen does the Flamecloud Evil God have?"
"Lots..."
"Are they strong?"
"Weak as heck. I can squash one with a finger."
"So is Flamecloud Evil God Sigurd a man or a woman?"
"Woman. Big chest. Real big."
"Then what about—"
The children's energy was boundless. Question after question flew her way like a never-ending barrage.
To be fair, it wasn't their fault—Senti's story might've been basic, and her acting unpolished, but compared to the barren entertainment options of this era, her wild imagination and the visual spectacle she created using qi and Fenghuang Down made for an unforgettable show.
But even Senti was starting to wear thin from the nonstop attention.
Before long, she made up an excuse and slipped away from the orphanage, fleeing at full speed.
"Whew~ I'm beat. Kids really are the most troublesome creatures, no matter where you go!"
In a quiet alleyway, Senti wiped the sweat from her brow and sighed with exaggerated relief.
Then her sharp senses picked up movement—her ears twitched, and she turned.
Beneath the moonlight, a tall, cold-looking young man in a white coat walked side-by-side with a graceful woman in flowing sleeves.
"Old Timer!!"
Senti let out a joyful yell and launched herself at Fu Hua, throwing her arms around her and rubbing her cheek against hers, her face blooming into a pure, radiant smile.
Then, in the very next second, still hugging Fu Hua, her face morphed into one of absolute disdain and loathing as she glared at Sigurd.
"Tch! You're here too, you mangy mutt? Way to ruin the mood. My happiness just tanked from +100 to -100!"
"…M-mangy mutt?"
Sigurd turned slowly, brow twitching slightly—but then calmed down.
Fine. He'd already beaten her up earlier today. Judging by her face, she was still recovering.
No rush. He'd settle the score later when the time was right.
Fu Hua forced a small smile, then sighed lightly as she gently ruffled Senti's hair, helplessness written all over her face.
"So, how did today go?"
"Hmph! What kind of mission could possibly stump me? Of course it all went perfectly!"
Fu Hua offered a comforting smile—but then shot a sideways glance at Sigurd. When it came to the boasting of a certain brat, you could only take her words with a grain of salt. For the truth, you had to ask the professional.
Sigurd brought up a floating virtual screen with a tap.
"Old Liu from the west market sent a thank-you letter. Said his daughter was really happy, and he's very grateful for the civil affairs officer's help—though he did find it a little weird that you gave her a cat pretending to be a dog."
"Old Lady Wang from East Street said the young civil official was very cute and patient. The house was cleaned spotless. But she suspects your superior might be embezzling food supplies, since it looked like you hadn't eaten enough during lunch. Also, she said you're welcome to come eat at her place anytime—she serves big portions."
"As for the play 'Immortal Fu Hua Bravely Defeats the Evil God Sigurd', judging by the kids' reactions, I'd say it was a hit. So that mission's a success too."
"Oh, and there's positive feedback from the folks at the construction site and the farm as well."
Sigurd relayed it all with a flat, matter-of-fact tone.
Senti scratched her cheek, trying to ignore the heat creeping up her face. Putting on an exaggerated tsundere act, she huffed:
"Hmph! Obviously! I'm an all-powerful Immortal—these tiny accomplishments are just the bare minimum!"
Fu Hua continued patting her head, eyes soft with pride.
Then Sigurd nodded and added,
"All in all… aside from the low number of tasks completed, the work quality was acceptable."
That wiped the smugness right off Senti's face.
She let go of Fu Hua and took a few sharp steps toward Sigurd, stopping just short of bumping foreheads. Her expression was thunderous.
"Oh, that's easy for you to say! If you think it's so simple, how about you try doing it? Every single task takes time, you know?!"
"Which is why I haven't rushed you. I'm just saying—it's a bit on the low side. But it's fine. Take your time. Once you've finished everything on the list, I'll destroy those files, as promised."
Sigurd replied with a deadpan expression as he pushed her face away from his.
Senti's head tilted back slightly. She blinked.
"…Wait! That's all it takes?"
"That's all."
"You're not messing with me?"
"No."
Sigurd's expression didn't change. He wasn't lying either—this entire operation had been nothing more than a clever ruse to force Senti to get a taste of the real world. No need to drag it out forever. Of course, when it came time to deal with this unruly brat again, he'd have other tricks up his sleeve.
Senti took a step back, held her forehead theatrically, and threw her head back in a wild laugh.
"Hahahaha! In that case, you should've made the list ten times longer! Because once I finish every last task and burn all that cursed paperwork—that's the moment this Immortal will stomp your annoying face into the dirt!"
Sigurd raised an eyebrow, voice calm.
"Is that... really how you see it?"
Senti was still laughing with her head thrown back, taunting Sigurd for miscalculating. Meanwhile, Sigurd, face blank as ever, subtly moved his fingers.
"Wait! Calm down! You know she's all bark—deep down, she's got a good heart! Please, just… be the bigger person, okay?"
Fu Hua quickly reached out and placed a hand on Sigurd's shoulder.
Sigurd turned his head, those calm blue eyes staring at her, emotionless. He didn't say a word. Only when Fu Hua's smile began to turn awkward did he finally step away and start walking off.
"Whew—"
Fu Hua patted her chest in relief.
But just as she had defused one potential explosion, another problem sprang up. Senti clung to her side, slinging an arm around Fu Hua's shoulder and grumbling:
"Old Timer, why were you so scared of him? I'm telling you, beneath the divine aura, all beings are equal. Sooner or later, I'll beat him to a pulp…"
"Oh hush, you silly thing."
Fu Hua pinched her cheek and gave a tired smile.
After a moment of thought, Fu Hua patiently continued:
"Listen, Sigurd really is doing this for your own good. Senti, you need to go out there, see the world, meet its people. Only then will you understand what it truly means to protect this world."
"You've been heavily influenced by my memories. That's why your martial arts are nearly on par with mine—but that's not all good. Your ideals, your beliefs, they aren't your own… they're mine."
"I want you to reach a point where you desire to protect this world from the bottom of your heart. The day that happens, I'll truly be proud of you."
"Ugh, you're being weird again! I don't get any of this!"
"One day you will. If you want to understand, just take your time and complete the missions. Sigurd doesn't mean you harm. He always has a reason for what he does. If you want to get along, stop blowing up at him all the time."
"Hmph! Friendship isn't such a cheap thing! Once I beat him to a pulp, I'll make him my friend. True friendship is forged beneath the edge of a blade! I'll hold the sword, and he'll kneel beneath it!"
With that, Senti mimed holding a sword, complete with her own sound effects—shwish, shwish—waving her hand above her head like a child playing warrior. A sly, mischievous grin tugged at her lips.
Fu Hua sighed and rubbed her forehead, already developing a headache. But before she could protest, Senti grabbed her hand.
"Hey! I found an amazing candied hawthorn stall today! If we hurry, we might still catch it open—come on, I'll take you!"
She yanked Fu Hua forward, darting off excitedly in the opposite direction.
Fu Hua had no choice but to jog after her. As she did, she glanced back at Sigurd's receding figure… then looked at Senti's bright, carefree smile, and couldn't help but laugh softly.
"Well… there's still time. We'll take it slow."