Chapter 212: It’s Illusionary Scenery
Ji Ziyao subconsciously replied: “Can’t you not go into the water?”
Xuan Xia was silent for a moment, then chose the latter between explaining and brushing it off.
“I’m coming clean, I’m just being lazy. But now I’ve turned over a new leaf and become diligent. I’m preparing to go find Zhou Shiqing.”
Ji Ziyao: “…” Damn it, I bought into your nonsense.
“Hurry up.” Xuan Xia urged.
As soon as she urged him, Ji Ziyao suddenly reacted.
Goddamn turned over a new leaf! Rather than saying she turned over a new leaf and became diligent, it’s more like she’s worried about Zhou Shiqing!
Ji Ziyao lowered his head to glance at the mobile phone screen; the interrupted live broadcast screen had not yet recovered.
“What are you worried about? This kind of accident with the screen interrupting is normal too. The Program Group definitely knows about it and will restore the screen soon.”
“Moreover, with so many people going down, you really think they’re all just going to play snorkeling and tour the seabed scenery? Nothing will go wrong.”
As Ji Ziyao spoke, he raised his eyes to look at Xuan Xia, his eyes holding unspoken words.
He felt that Xuan Xia’s current behavior was a bit too concerned about Zhou Shiqing’s situation.
This was not a good sign.
“What nonsense are you spouting!”
Ji Ziyao: “…”
…
Ji Ziyao was certain that this live broadcast screen interruption issue should be resolved soon.
But whether it was because communication between above water and underwater was obstructed, or the Program Group discovered it late and handled it untimely, by the time Xuan Xia had changed into full snorkeling equipment and was preparing to lower the cruise ship, the live broadcast room screen belonging to Zhou Shiqing still hadn’t recovered, and no one had come up diving to report the situation.
And among the live broadcasts of several groups of live broadcast guests, only Zhou Shiqing’s live broadcast room had an issue; everyone else’s was normal.
Ji Ziyao looked at Xuan Xia who was about to enter the water and suddenly had a bad feeling, unable to hold back from asking her: “Do you know how to dive?”
…If not, don’t force it.
You’re just a guest, not some rescue team.
But Ji Ziyao had no way to say more words and no time to say them; Xuan Xia had already given him a thumbs up.
Ji Ziyao anyway didn’t understand what this thumbs up meant.
And Xuan Xia had already plunged into the sea.
…
With the merman’s help and guidance, Xuan Xia quickly found the place where Zhou Shiqing was.
From afar, Xuan Xia saw Zhou Shiqing.
He was still just like how she had seen him in the live broadcast before, standing in place like a wooden post, not moving a bit.
And beside him, the young man filming the live broadcast was also maintaining the same wooden person posture.
There were two other people the same.
Xuan Xia took one look; they were all Program Group people.
No wonder no one had come up for so long to report the situation, because everyone nearby had all turned into the same state.
This made Xuan Xia even more certain.
It’s Illusionary Scenery!
She sped up her approach.
In a moment, she reached out and touched Zhou Shiqing’s shoulder.
The instant her fingertip touched Zhou Shiqing’s shoulder, a wave of dizziness hit her, making Xuan Xia’s vision go black.
The darkness and dizziness lasted three or four seconds; only after that wave of dizziness faded did Xuan Xia open her eyes.
The first thing Xuan Xia saw upon opening her eyes was the orange setting sun at the edge of the sky.
The warm orange setting sun had dyed half the clouds orange too, beautiful yes, but more a feeling of desolation and loneliness.
In addition, Xuan Xia discovered she was now in a city.
The houses, walls, and even streets of this city were all pure white, only the roof tiles were other colors.
It looked… particularly like that Mediterranean city feeling.
Just, all the house doors were tightly shut, the streets empty and deserted, not a bit of vitality, like an uninhabited ghost city.
Xuan Xia swept her line of sight around, couldn’t make sense of it. She gave up continuing to survey the environment and decided to first go find people.
She had just taken a step when a humanoid figure suddenly appeared before her.
The humanoid figure turned from transparent to solid; it was Chang Xi.
“How did you come out?” Xuan Xia asked them.
Chang Xi pocketed their hands, gave Xuan Xia a sidelong glance, and said flatly: “To protect you.”
Xuan Xia was silent for a moment.
Regarding Chang Xi’s abilities, Xuan Xia only knew they did forecasts; Daoist Master Qin had introduced them to her that way. As for what other abilities Chang Xi had, Xuan Xia anyway didn’t know.
But since Chang Xi said they were there to protect her, Xuan Xia could only reply: “Okay, then you have to protect me.”
As expected, Chang Xi’s speechless reaction was deafening.
But Xuan Xia went around them, saying as she walked: “Come on, let’s go find people first.”
Chang Xi followed behind her.
Xuan Xia walked along the street; at first not fast, but by the latter half, her pace had clearly sped up.
Because Xuan Xia discovered this city was far larger than she had imagined, and plus along the way there wasn’t the slightest bit of vitality, she couldn’t help feeling a bit anxious.
Afraid those few staff members would have some accident.
The street ultimately led to the beach.
Several tall coconut trees stood scattered on the beach, ending at the sea.
At this time the waves rolled leisurely, occasionally washing the beach, then she saw a human figure bathed in the setting sun’s glow, running from one end of the beach toward her direction.
This scene… inexplicably gave a sense of déjà vu like the Monkey King running along the seaside.
Xuan Xia narrowed her eyes, wanting to see clearly if the one running over was someone she had met before, because the figure seemed a bit familiar.
Before she could see clearly, Chang Xi’s voice came from beside her: “It’s the person you’re worried about.” The tone sounded indifferent, but listening closely it had a bit of teasing.
Xuan Xia didn’t have time to reply to Chang Xi; she finally saw clearly that the person running over was Zhou Shiqing.
When Zhou Shiqing was still about a hundred meters from Xuan Xia, his steps hesitated for a moment, but after the hesitation, he suddenly sped up, charging straight toward her.
“Zhou Shiqing…”
Xuan Xia had just called his name when Zhou Shiqing grabbed her wrist and, without a word, pulled her along running.
Xuan Xia, forced to run along: “???”
“What’s the situation?”
Zhou Shiqing had no time for details, only sparing a moment to reply: “Hurry and run, don’t stop!”
With him saying that, Xuan Xia was even more confused.
Had he seen something?
Xuan Xia turned her head to look in the direction he had run from, but that direction was empty and deserted, nothing there.
Zhou Shiqing didn’t have her kind of leisure to look back; at this moment he was like he was fleeing for his life, pulling Xuan Xia all the way back into that white city.
After picking left and right, he stopped in a remote spot.
As soon as they stopped, Zhou Shiqing was panting like an ox.
Xuan Xia wasn’t much better; many questions could only be held back for now, to ask after catching her breath.
The only one whose heart wasn’t racing or out of breath was Chang Xi; they looked at Xuan Xia and Zhou Shiqing each like they were looking at two rookies.
But when looking toward Zhou Shiqing, Zhou Shiqing happened to meet their eyes.
After this glance, Zhou Shiqing suddenly drew in a breath, looking vigilantly at the differently dressed Chang Xi: “Who are you?”
Chang Xi pocketed their hands; the wide sleeves drooped in front of them from the motion, like two curtains.
