Painting Seventy-Seven: Eating the Stool

Jun Shi clapped her hands. “Beautiful! Will Sang Sang wear any makeup? The specially appointed stylist said it could make you look radiant and more spirited.”

Before Sang Sang could answer, Sena interjected, “Children look best natural. It’s not too late to start wearing makeup when you reach the age of the Hundred Flowers Maiden.”

Today, the Void Plaza was once again packed to the brim, the audience’s strength several levels higher than yesterday’s, and media outlets swarmed in from all directions. Before the assessment began, the most eye-catching figure was not the early-arriving contestants, but an enormous octopus in the media section preparing to perform the act of eating a chair.

Just moments ago, he had purchased an original chair from the temple at ten times its price. As soon as the other party arrived, he would, under the gaze of all media, chew the chair to pieces and swallow it. While waiting, the octopus’s verdant skin dimmed as he endured interviews from his colleagues.

Some didn’t understand why; informed friends in the media explained that this octopus was the celebrity host who had doubted Sang Hongye during the physical test and had been proven wrong. He was supposed to eat the chair at the end of the physical test, but he claimed he didn’t want to steal attention from the blessing of the Saint Son and Saint Daughter. After the blessing ended, Sang Hongye had already left, so he insisted he must perform in front of the other party, delaying until today.

“Attention, attention! According to frontline sources, Sang Hongye is about to arrive! Sang Hongye is about to arrive!”

The Void Plaza was instantly awash with news of Sang Hongye’s imminent arrival.

This time, Sang Sang was not traveling alone. She stood atop the enormous Starry Sky White Whale, arriving at the entrance of the Void Plaza. Stepping down from the whale, she was flanked by the little Dragon Lord and Green Sprout, each displaying the traits of their own race. Her heart skipped a beat under the countless intense gazes.

What was happening? Wasn’t the influencer incident already over? Her appearance yesterday had drawn little attention. Surely a change in entrance wouldn’t suddenly make her the focus of all eyes? Sang Sang recalled what Sena had told her: The Starry Sky White Whale wasn’t Anthony Grandpa’s subordinate, but his friend—and a galactic-level powerhouse, supporting her simply because he liked her.

It must be Grandpa White Whale!

Sang Sang bowed to the Starry Sky White Whale. Under the pressure of universal attention, she strode elegantly into the plaza with the little Dragon Lord and Green Sprout.

“That’s the Starry Sky Whale, isn’t it?”

“Bishop Anthony has a friend who’s a Starry Sky Whale, and a white one at that. Looks like all those rumors about Sang Hongye being overlooked are false.”

“Definitely rumors. To bait others, Sang Hongye is now famous across the stars, and with her recent earnings, she’s even built a standard interstellar city for a Saint Maiden, with a basic following. Her guardian is quite the strategist.”

---

“Wait, are those the Dragon Clan and Longevity Wood Clan at Sang Hongye’s side? Their bloodlines look pure. Aren’t both clans notoriously proud? How did they become her little attendants?”

“The Dragon Clan makes sense—Bishop Anthony is aquatic and has always been on good terms with dragons. But the Longevity Wood Clan are the companion race of Bishop Glory, extremely rare and the royalty among woodfolk. Isn’t Sang Hongye worried about offending the Glory faction?”

The Starry Sky White Whale, Dragon Lord, and Green Sprout helped Sang Sang shoulder most of the attention. Her newly adopted appearance was barely mentioned.

The assessment had not yet begun. Sang Sang sent the two little ones to join the others in the family and friends section, preparing to go on stage, when Boya pulled her aside, pointing discreetly toward the octopus and explaining quietly.

Now, with Sang Hongye’s arrival, the octopus could not postpone any longer. “Friends, compatriots. I will now honor my promise from two months ago. From this moment, I will never again associate Her Highness Sang Hongye with any primitive or indigenous terms. I wish her perseverance to be richly rewarded. Now, I begin eating the chair.”

The octopus was massive, and so was his chair; he was heavy, so his chair was dense and sturdy; he loved to whip it with his tentacles, so it had extra toughness. Now, he regretted not being human—human chairs would be much smaller and softer, not as tough as dragon hide. He also regretted promising to chew the chair to bits before swallowing, rather than simply gulping it whole. Swallowing it whole might upset his stomach for a while, but he could digest it slowly, instead of having aching teeth just halfway through.

No one sympathized with the octopus’s poor teeth, stomach, or even poorer wallet.

“Media folks really shouldn’t be so stubborn. Getting slapped in the face is painful and embarrassing. Mm, Zhang Zhang’s green face looks wonderful.”

“I thought Zhang Zhang would renege, but he’s actually eating it. From now on, I’ll call him the Trustworthy Octopus.”

“He has to keep his word. Zhang Zhang is now Sang Hongye’s contract follower—didn’t you hear him address her as Her Highness?”

“That can’t be! He has so many followers himself. How could he become someone else’s follower? Even if he did, it would be for a True Deity, not a young girl whose status as Saint Maiden isn’t even certain! Don’t think I missed the punishment list released recently by the Child Protection Organization.”

“How naive. The Child Protection Organization’s list was only those who refused mediation once. There’s another batch who settled directly after notification, mostly by paying compensation. Zhang Zhang, being a public figure, repeatedly doubted Sang Hongye in public. Her guardian refused monetary compensation, so he could only become Sang Hongye’s contract follower for three thousand years.”

“No, I’ve followed Zhang Zhang closely. During Sang Hongye’s Star Network event, he never made any insulting or discriminatory remarks or actions.”

---

“Hah, as if he’d use his main account to bully a child? Of course he disguised himself and stirred up trouble under someone else’s starlight, only to be caught by the main AI.”

“Wow, I always knew Zhang Zhang was shameless, but I didn’t expect him to stoop this low.”

“Contract followers are pitiful. He’s learned his lesson, hasn’t he?”

“Pitiful? More like lucky. Sang Hongye is sure to be chosen as Saint Maiden. With Bishop Anthony supporting her, she could even become Chief Saint Maiden in the future. Even if not, she’ll definitely be high up in the temple.”

“Are you joking? That’s talk for kids—trying to fool us? Media people need sharp eyes. Sang Hongye may look popular, and today her appearance is totally different, but it’s all for show, just to impress the average audience and make the betting data look good, so the official odds don’t go negative.”

“Who’s joking? I’m serious. Want to bet?”

“I refuse to eat a chair.”

“Of course not. Your family runs a major starship manufacturing business. If Sang Hongye passes the spiritual arts test, you’ll provide her a starship capable of cross-domain travel, free of charge.”

“My family has plenty of starships, but not for free. Best I can do is seventy percent off. Also, Sang Hongye can’t just scrape by—she must pass with a top ten score.”

“Top three, and it’s free. My wager is a spot in the elite clergy program at the Academy—a place that ten super starships couldn’t buy, so your recommended candidate must meet the basic requirements.”

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