In the end, Makoto still didn’t tell Luo Qing the exact number.
All she said was that it was “a lot,” and then confidently patted him on the shoulder, assuring him that as long as she was around, there would never be chaos in his harem. He was free to flirt however he pleased.
Luo Qing understood her words, but he was equally stunned.
Did that mean she was the main wife?
It all made sense now…
—
Before the last rays of twilight faded, the two of them entered the Grand Bazaar, still holding hands.
Compared to the stern and solemn atmosphere of the Akademiya, the people of the Grand Bazaar were far more enthusiastic and full of life.
Merchants on either side of the streets shouted energetically, while the faces of passing travelers were filled with carefree joy.
Walking hand in hand with Makoto along the bustling streets gave off the vibe of a long-married couple going grocery shopping after work.
Before long, they arrived at the very heart of the Grand Bazaar.
This was the stage of the Zubayr Theater.
The performers from Zubayr Theater held their shows here every day, and tickets weren’t even required.
Luo Qing had no idea how this theater managed to sustain itself financially. It’s not like they could be running a side hustle in merchandise sales, could they?
Today’s performance was said to feature Nilou, the theater’s star dancer.
As one of the most stunning beauties in all of Sumeru, Nilou was incredibly popular in the Grand Bazaar. The performance hadn’t even officially started, yet the seats around the stage were already packed, leaving no room to move.
Luo Qing and Makoto had arrived early enough to snag seats in the front row.
—
Suddenly, the stage lights dimmed. In the darkness, the faint silhouette of a girl stepped quickly to the center of the stage.
The next moment, the radiant glow of a Hydro Vision lit up.
Water elements gathered around the girl, forming lotuses that floated gracefully into the air.
The lights came back on, revealing a beautiful girl with long crimson hair standing center stage. Her mere presence ignited cheers from the crowd.
“OMG, Nilou is just TOO beautiful!”
“Miss Nilou, do you need a dog at home? I come with my own leash!”
“Nilou is the best!”
“Thank you, everyone!”
Nilou smiled sweetly at the audience, then pressed a finger gently to her lips. The crowd instantly quieted down.
Soft, melodious music began to play. As the rhythm flowed, Nilou’s movements on stage became a breathtaking dance, her figure gracefully rising and falling with the melody.
Many of the men in the audience were utterly captivated.
Of course, Luo Qing wasn’t one of them.
After all, he’d seen countless beauties in his time…
“Ahem…”
Makoto cleared her throat, glancing sideways at him.
“You’re here with me today. Watch your expression.”
“…”
“I’m just appreciating the art!” Luo Qing retorted.
Teyvat had so many beautiful girls—he may have been a bit of a flirt, but it wasn’t like he had his eye on every single one of them.
Though, Nilou’s figure was admittedly… impressive.
Clearly, all that dance training had paid off…
And her…
Wait…
“Appreciating what exactly? The clothes? The person? Or the person in the clothes?”
Makoto huffed softly, leaning closer to whisper in his ear.
“Should I try wearing something like that tonight?”
“…?”
Luo Qing turned his head.
“Are you serious?”
“Hmph.”
Makoto’s lips curled into a mischievous smile.
“Keep dreaming.”
“…”
Luo Qing’s brow twitched.
Why did Makoto suddenly feel like such a sly fox?!
—
While the two were bickering, Nilou finished her first performance on stage and began thanking the audience.
“Thank you, everyone! Please take a short break—we’ll have the next performer on stage soon…”
Before she could finish, a commotion broke out in one corner of the audience.
A group of scholars dressed in Akademiya uniforms, escorted by guards, pushed their way through the crowd, interrupting the performance.
“You all…”
Nilou frowned slightly, maintaining a polite demeanor.
“May I ask what brings you here? The performance is still ongoing. If it’s nothing urgent—”
She was abruptly cut off by the leader of the group, a man with a cold expression.
“Fetch your manager. We’re here for a routine business inspection.”
The man showed no remorse for interrupting the show.
“But the performance is still—”
“I won’t repeat myself. Bring out your manager,” he said coldly. “Otherwise, I’ll have this venue shut down for illegal operations.”
“You’re doing this on purpose!”
Nilou’s frustration showed.
This wasn’t the first time the man had caused a scene during a performance, always under the same pretense.
Unfortunately, as a representative of the Akademiya and the Grand Bazaar’s governing authority, he held power that even Mr. Zubayr couldn’t counter.
“Think whatever you want,” the man sneered. “Now, get your manager!”
His eyes scanned the audience dismissively.
Though the spectators were visibly angry, they didn’t dare speak up. The guards accompanying the scholars, armed with curved swords and spears, weren’t the type to reason with.
All they could do was watch helplessly as their beloved Nilou was harassed.
—
“Tsk, how annoying,” Makoto muttered, puffing her cheeks in frustration.
“These people are clearly here to make trouble!”
She nudged Luo Qing with her elbow.
“They’re ruining the show. Go teach them a lesson!”
“Huh?”
Luo Qing was momentarily stunned.
“What were you about to call me just now?”
“Slip of the tongue! Don’t overthink it. Just get rid of those guys—I want to enjoy the performance!”
Makoto’s tone turned playful, resembling a girl pouting at her boyfriend after a bad day.
“Alright,” Luo Qing said with a shrug.
He was already annoyed with the troublemakers anyway.
He opened the system interface in his mind, scrolling through his item cards to decide which one to use.
“Hmm… Making them sing in public might be embarrassing, but they deserve something harsher…”
Muttering to himself, his gaze landed on a particular card: Extreme Nausea and Diarrhea.
Ding!
[You have used three Extreme Nausea and Diarrhea cards.]
The cards, capable of briefly influencing even divine beings, were a precious resource to Luo Qing.
Thus, he only used them on the three lead scholars causing trouble.
“How many times do I have to tell you?! If you don’t—”
The lead scholar suddenly froze.
His brows furrowed as an unsettling sensation overwhelmed him.
He clamped a hand over his mouth.
Why did he feel like throwing up? And why did his stomach feel… off?
Uh-oh. He couldn’t hold it in…
“What are you people even—”
Nilou, still fuming, was about to confront them further when she noticed the lead scholar and his two companions drop to the ground.
Each of them clutched their stomachs with one hand and covered their mouths with the other.
Both Nilou and the audience were puzzled, wondering what on earth was happening.
BLEGH!
SPLAT!
The next moment, the three scholars could no longer contain themselves. They vomited violently.
And as their abdominal muscles contracted, their other… “muscles” gave out too.
The dampness spreading from their backsides left no doubt as to what had just happened.
—
The stunned silence in the audience was broken by a cry of disbelief:
“Holy crap, are they seriously puking and crapping themselves on stage?!”
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