Miss Witch Doesn't Want to be a Diva-Chapter 1554 - 48: The Gray Rain-Shrouded Land

Raindrops fell from the deep gray sky, landing on the steel-colored earth, instantly boiling and rising into a mist. Even in the wet rainy season, the area was filled with endless roaring, thousands of gigantic smokestacks standing like volcanoes, from which countless white smoke and vapor emerged, creating a spectacular scene.

Under layers of steel plates forming the protective cover, dense tracks crisscrossed, continuously feeding in processed raw materials and dragging out unfinished products that had not fully cooled down. Everywhere, the sound of mechanical operations was heard, and large warship components took shape here.

In past eras, such lands were the hometown many people could not escape in their lifetime, whereas in the interstellar era, this area, housing over 3 million workers, was merely a production base under a giant company.

The advancement of technology, the unblocking of information channels, made wars no longer a contest of wits among small groups; strategies and war arts studied by generals of the past turned into simple clashes of strength in the vast, boundless space.

What truly decided victory in war was no longer whether frontline soldiers were brave or generals skilled, but the industrial productivity and organizational capability of the entire entity.

On the distant hills of the steel-gray earth, a figure wielded an umbrella, slowly walking along the ridge.

She wore a wine-red classical long dress, stood with her waist straight, many areas of the skirt wet by mud and water, showing heavy black, but her gaze never cared about what was beneath herself. She kept looking far away, where the endless steel-gray hills blurred in the rain and mist, columns of water smoke reaching skyward, as if supporting the heavens.

Finally, her steps halted on the cement platform atop the mountain, already the highest place around.

A few steps forward, as if wanting to touch the distant mountains with her hand, she raised her hand, extending it from under the umbrella, heavy raindrops continually fell on her hand back, the cool and cold feeling finally waking her from her distant gaze, shifting her eyes to the gray-white sky.

The black umbrella slowly turned, flicking off droplets, flying into the outside rain curtain, she stood quietly, gazing afar at the unceasing steel-gray land.

Facially, the woman did not look old, nor did she have the innocence and purity of a young girl, like a settled jade, her aura reserved and profound.

Stone, jade, grass, the titles of songstress in the Western Star Region all seemed related to resilient things, not as elegant and exquisite as those in the Central Star Domain, yet such titles always won the locals’ affection, for it was the spirit they needed, fitting their environment.

’Red Stone Bamboo’ Chi Wanxin, sixty years ago, she was also a new songstress of the Federation, gaining fame alongside ’Cui She’ Yulanduoja, but her fame and influence were always overshadowed by her peer ’Bai Mei Vertical Harp’ Evelyn.

In youth she did not achieve dazzling success, and as age grew, her ambition and vigor faded, Chi Wanxin too, like many predecessor songstresses, gradually withdrew from the forefront, becoming a relatively ordinary member among the songstresses.

Originally, she also believed she would spend the remainder of her life in such plain and stable life.

’Didn’t expect that naive child back then to eventually change everything.’ She silently recited this sentence in her heart, and upon recalling the figure again, felt a dreamlike sensation.

Upon first meeting Blanchi, she wasn’t overly surprised, that child with ordinary talent, and unremarkable appearance among the songstresses, much like herself once.

Bamboo sounds elegant, but is actually a grass family plant, just another type of grass; where bamboo grows thick, it’s occasionally referred to as a green desert, because they are extremely aggressive weeds.

’Jin Yangcao’, ’Red Stone Bamboo’... Chi Wanxin silently reminisced about the titles of songstresses through generations in the Western Star Region, always able to feel a simple vitality.

She too had been young and wild, once competing with ’Cui She’ Yulanduoja, the two competing against each other; yet facing Evelyn, whose talent and strength far surpassed theirs, they felt a despair akin to gazing at towering mountains.

No matter background, backing power support, even appearance, manners, aura, Evelyn was a mountain none among contemporary songstresses could climb over, after debut quickly rising, reaching the pinnacle of Moon Level Songstress.

In times without any Sunlit Level Songstress, she was the uncrowned queen among songstresses, even long hidden away, remaining an unreachable target to many.

Being classmates, friends, familiar peers, Chi Wanxin knew clearly how terrifying Evelyn’s strength was, a height she and Yulanduoja would never reach, so very early on, she started giving up continuing climbing this path.

If a very distant person achieves success, it wouldn’t impact life, generally only occasionally causing envy. But if someone around with seemingly similar background and conditions finds success, it brings great pressure, making one question if something was missed in the past.

Facing Blanchi who became the ’Decamanga Sun’, Chi Wanxin’s feelings were initially complex, with relief, admiration, and slight regret and jealousy. If she had been bolder then, could the outcome have been better?

A decade passed, Blanchi passed away amidst busy life, transferring the core position of the Western Star Region to the ten-year-old Arosa before leaving, a process Chi Wanxin almost entirely witnessed.

Facing Blanchi, her mindset again changed, from past envy to deep respect and compassion.

She was still so young, as a songstress, not yet reaching her life’s peak, yet so prematurely departed from this bustling world.

Upon soul searching, Chi Wanxin felt even if given the same opportunities and timing as Blanchi, she couldn’t achieve such a degree, past regrets vanished. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

Great achievements never occur by chance, especially those shifting epochs, allowing no insubstantiality.

Time hurried by eight years, after Blanchi’s departure, this nation continued smoothly operating under her remaining influence, her successor, the emerging songstress, steadily growing, everything progressing positively if not for certain unforeseen events.

Regarding ’Flame Sugar’ Prin Coco, Chi Wanxin didn’t know well, only learned about this junior songstress from Yulanduoja.

Originally thought she might pass youth fervently like Yulanduoja, then gradually move to ordinary; unexpectedly in just a few years, this previously unremarkable junior stirred shocking waves, completely controlling the powerful Federal Center, becoming the Volcano Queen, bringing great intimidation and pressure everywhere.

’Today’s young people, they’re all monsters.’

Chi Wanxin raised her heel, tapping the ground lightly, shaking off the adhered mud and water, then slightly lifted her skirt hem, wringing the moisture from the edges. After doing these, she looked again at the distant steel-gray earth and then slowly walked downward along the ridge, holding the umbrella.

Unknowing what finale awaits this land.

Since you left, everything is swiftly changing.

You started well, but the subsequent journey remains challenging.

I can’t do much, just silently pray for it.

Pray its final end meets your wishes.

Ensuring your aspirations and sacrifices aren’t forgotten.

This increasingly cold world.

Hasn’t heard a gentle fairy tale for a long time.