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There was still a little time before her knight duty started, so Sushang thought that it wouldn't be bad spending it walking around the streets of Exalting Sanctum. After all, there was always something interesting to see in this delve, especially around this time of the day. Celestial jade matches being held at the gaming parlor. Different diviners promoting their businesses around the plaza.
And a certain street performer causing her latest ruckus.
“Come and see, ladies and gentlemen!” Guinaifen shouted, playing around with her juggling balls. “Witness my game, you choose if now or then!”
Around her was gathering a considerable number of people, amazed by her little display. Sushang would have been one of them, weren't for the fact that she was already too familiar with her terrifying tricks.
Precisely because of that she was pondering whether to take the risk of being seen by her. Guinaifen was a very close friend of hers and stopping by to say a simple hello would have been surely appreciated. The problem was that she was in the middle of a performance, and that meant that in one way or another she would have found a way to involve her.
And Sushang dreaded the mere idea alone.
Because while she loved her friend and respected her talents to bits, she was also of the idea that self-preservation around her was key.
And so she turned the other way, praying the Aeons that she didn't already notice–
“Ah, Shangshang!” Guinaifen said, gesturing her over. “This way!”
Too late…
Much to her dismay, Sushang slowly turned back, a bunch of eyes now looking at her in curiosity. The crowd made a small berth as she made her way to the area they created around Guinaifen.
“Little Gui,” she said once arrived, “w-what a surprise…”
“Right?” Guinaifen reached to give her a hug, then she grabbed her by the shoulders with expectant eyes. “Hehe, just in time for the best part of my show!”
“No! Wait a moment–”
“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for sticking around!” Guinaifen gave a big smile to the crowd, who clapped with enthusiasm in return. “Today’s your lucky day, because here alongside me we have my most esteemed assistant, the Cloud Knight Shangshang!”
Ugh… Sushang thought, greeting the crowd with an awkward smile, the damage is done…
“Let’s not waste any other time. Shangshang!”
With a dramatic flair Guinaifen provided Sushang with a torch, asking to hold it up for her while she rummaged through the bag containing her props. She retrieved a vial along with a match, and upon a closer look Sushang widened her eyes.
And gulped.
“Are… are you sure?” Sushang whispered, trying to hide her concern by straining a smile for the audience.
“Don’t worry, I have done this so many times.” Guinaifen opened the vial, then winked her way. “Trust me!”
Sushang gave her a terrified look. “But not once with me!”
However her words went ignored as Guinaifen shifted her attention to the crowd.
“Make sure not to blink or the show you will miss!”
Everything happened so fast. Guinaifen took a sip of the vial without swallowing its content while lighting the torch that Sushang was holding with the match.
And then blew against it.
A big, majestic fiery cloud took its way towards the sky, its orange and red shades glimmering in the eyes of the people watching in complete and utter awe, in Guinaifen’s satisfied eyes as the fire shot out of her mouth. And in Sushang's eyes too, however, watching in horror as the scene unfolded right in front of her firsthandly.
The venue rumbled in applause when all was left was a large puff of smoke, the air steeped in a burned smell.
“Thank you! Thank you!” Guinaifen said, striking an exaggerated bow.
On the other hand Sushang stood motionless, watching as the fire on the torch swayed calmly in the evening breeze.
Unlike Sushang, who looked like her soul was leaving her body at once.
T-Thank the Aeons is… all over…
“But it's not over yet!”
Sushang turned over Guinaifen, eyes widening in shock. “Heh? What?!”
“Yeah!” Guinaifen exclaimed to the audience as they whispered in anticipation. “Because now, ladies and gentlemen, I saved at last my best number!”
What was that bow for then!?
Under the curious gaze of the audience Guinaifen rummaged once again through her props, then pulled out an item that left Sushang completely scandalized.
A sledgehammer, complete with a stone slab waiting only to be broken.
“...Little Gui,” Sushang whispered, cold sweat collecting on her forehead. “Is that really necessary?”
Guinaifen came up to her only to collect the torch, extinguish the fire and wink to Sushang once again. “Of course! Please, just trust me this one more time?”
But before she could give her answer, Guinaifen was already lifting the sledgehammer up, swinging it dangerously left and right as if to test it. And then, satisfied, she put it down.
“Please Shangshang, be my guest!” Guinaifen pointed to the floor beside her.
Left with no other choice, Sushang approached the point indicated by the girl, sitting on the floor before completely laying herself upon it. Through the cut-out on the back of her uniform she could feel the coldness of the floor on her bare skin.
But it was nothing compared to what she felt moments later.
Pain and excessive heaviness. The stone slab that Guinaifen placed on her chest took so much pressure on her upper body that breathing now felt like a luxury.
“I… I didn't sign up for this!” she cried out, as far as the stone could let her.
“It’s alright, it's alright!” Guinaifen joined hands, expression softening in a plea. “Just hold on a little more for me?”
And then changed into a sly smile, before talking to the crowd.
“Come feast your eyes, ladies and gentlemen! You won't regret it, be it much or a tiny bit!”
Sledgehammer now in both hands, she hefted it up only to make a little show of swinging it around before she positioned in front of one of Sushang's sides.
And then she raised it up to the sky, ready to charge. Sushang took it as the perfect moment to close her eyes.
…And pray. Ma, I’m sorry I couldn't make it as a legend like I promised. May that wish come true in a next life, if I ever have one!
When Guinaifen finally charged downwards as rapidly as possible, everyone in the crowd couldn't help but hold their breaths, silence falling upon the venue like a veil. Someone even looked away, unprepared to witness the outcome.
But as soon as the sledgehammer grazed the slab by a hair, Guinaifen stopped abruptly.
Only to give it a gentle tap.
The slab cracked, crumbling all over before everyone stupefied eyes. Sushang, who had still her eyes tightly shut, was surprised when she felt the crowd roaring in applause while feeling herself still whole.
“...Huh?” As she made to sit up she noticed that the painful weight pressing her down was no more, replaced only by pieces and crumbs.
“So? How did you like it?” Guinaifen said, smiling warmly as the crowd showered her in applause.
Sushang wasn't really sure about what had just happened, but of one thing she was sure as she observed the scene unfolding before her. The smile that Guinaifen was reserving to the audience in that moment, the sparkle in her eyes as she greeted them, was filling her with a weird sense of… reward.
Well, at the end of the day the duty of a Cloud Knight was to offer any help they could. So that made sort of sense… even in absurd circumstances as this one. All in a day's work for me at least–
Huh? As Guinaifen slowly retreated while facing the crowd, her foot stumbled against some prop she carelessly left on the ground. This caused her to frantically wave her arms as she tried to stay on her feet without falling over.
Unfortunately the attempt seemed futile. However, thanks to her reflexes coming from her military training, Sushang readily came to the rescue, running towards Guinaifen and catching her before she could make a mess.
Too bad that in doing so, the two of them ended up tumbling over together instead.
“Ouch…” Sushang said, touching the back of her head. She found herself again with her back to the ground, but a newfound weight seemed to crush her down at that moment.
Guinaifen.
She was on top of her, hoisting herself up enough to stand on her hands and knees over Sushang. Enough to hover over her.
“Um…” Sushang said, embarrassed for some reason, “uh, are you alright?”
“Y-Yeah,” she said, unable to divert her eyes from Sushang. A small flush suddenly came to her cheeks. “Um… thank you. For all you did for me today.”
Sushang shook her head, at least as far as she could in that position. “Don’t worry about it… actually, I kinda had some fun at the end of it all.”
Guinaifen giggled softly. “Well, I’m glad you did.” She then returned her words with a genuine smile that for some reason sent Sushang’s heart thumping a little faster.
…That, before they were made aware of the situation they were in. And the several pairs of eyes that, dumbfounded, witnessed the whole scene.
They both slowly turned towards the audience at the same time, mortified. The drawn-out silence created around them was as deafening as it was embarrassing. But Guinaifen, despite the position she was literally put in, simply grinned, seizing the opportunity to do one last thing.
“Make sure to tip” she said, as if nothing happened, “before you leave!”