Chapter 109

 【Fake hidden-line protagonist: Sykes, real hidden-line protagonist: Ye Zheng!】

Tang Mingxi saw the title and inhaled sharply. This poster was even more adept at provocation than she was, placing her girl and Sykes, two immensely popular characters, within a single headline for comparison. Wasn’t he afraid the opposing side would invade and start a fight?

Then she reconsidered. So what if they stepped on Sykes? So what if the other side came to fight? They deserved it anyway, and their Ye Zheng fans had always been honest. No stepping, only objective analysis.

【1L: Fake hidden-line protagonist: Sykes, real hidden-line protagonist: Ye Zheng!】

【2L: Objective analysis, no stepping involved. Hidden-line protagonist is a neutral descriptor, neither praising nor criticizing either character. If you accept this premise, please continue reading below.】

【3L: In the new chapter, everyone’s attention centers on Pei Xi and Sykes’s fragmented memories. The information provided is indeed substantial, nearly confirming that both are Church experimental products. However, the beginning of the chapter is highly intriguing. Why is only Ye Zheng standing behind Sykes during the speech?】

【4L: Squatting. I occasionally ship a bit of Sy-Tian. The monarch-minister CP had been stable in the early stages. Recently, I don’t know why Yu Tianming hasn’t appeared alongside Sykes?】

【5L: This time, Sykes didn't bring Yu Tianming, which is also rather strange. If Yu Tianming had been locked in the dark room with Pei Xi and Sykes, then with Yu's support-type ability, Sykes could likely have destroyed the dark room and left in a single move.】

【6L: Isn't this just the author adding scenes for Ye Zheng? Seeing that Yu Tianming's popularity can't compare to Ye Zheng's, disregarding the plot's life and death for commercial gain.】

【7L: Thread starter, I think the reason is simple. Sykes no longer trusts Yu Tianming. He trusts Ye Zheng more, or rather, he needs Ye Zheng more, and Sykes's psychology is entirely under Ye Zheng's control. That's why she shows such a composed smile. (Attached enlarged image of Ye Zheng's expression.)】

Opposing voices quickly flooded in below.

【8L: Ye Zheng has treated Sykes quite harshly. Sykes only needs her healing ability to restore his memories. How could he possibly trust her? Sykes isn't a masochist.】

【9L: Um... With Sykes's personality, he's more likely to kill her after using Ye Zheng's ability. Sykes would never allow someone to control him or ride over his head, so I laugh at those shipping Sy-Zheng...】

【10L: Liked. In this Manga, the designated protagonist's fated ultimate antagonist is only Sykes. Sy-Zheng shippers, be careful that one day Sykes personally dismantles the CP haha.】

Tang Mingxi looked at these comments and rolled her eyes. They still believed Sykes could kill Ye Zheng? Although in terms of raw ability Sykes might seem slightly stronger than her girl, but the gap in intelligence between them was a chasm!

The thread starter appeared far more patient than she was, responding to the questioning voices with reason and evidence.

【13L: At first, no one guessed that the one who would ultimately raise the Divine Sword of the God of Hope would be Ye Zheng. There are still many mysteries behind Ye Zheng raising the sword, enough to show how deep and terrifying this woman truly is. It's only been a few weeks since the shock of Ye Zheng's reveal passed, and everyone has already started to forget?】

【14L: Regarding the mysteries behind Ye Zheng drawing the sword, I'll give one example. Where did Yinkong go?】

【15L: ! How did this suddenly involve us Yinkong fans? This guy has always been elusive. Maybe he'll pop up in the Western District arc.】

【16L: Come to think of it, Yinkong did seem to disappear after Ye Zheng drew the sword, but what does that have to do with Ye Zheng? Bai Muqing hasn't appeared in the subsequent manga either.】

【17L: I originally just wanted to follow the main thread and enjoy the show, and now we're suddenly being mentioned?】

【18L: Have you Yinkong fans not noticed? In the stage before entering the temple, during the pairwise duels, even Bai Muqing and Sela had close-up shots, but Yinkong and Zhao Mei didn't. So Yinkong's duel opponent at that time probably was...】

【19L: Oh my god, now that the thread op points it out, at the time we assumed Zhao Mei was trapped in the previous stage due to voluntary sacrifice, but looking back from later developments, Ye Zheng absolutely must've entered the pairwise duel test to obtain the sword!】

【20L: Wait, you guys don't mean Yinkong, he... he was taken out by Ye Zheng...?】

【21L: No way. Everyone was safe in the pairwise duel stage, and Yinkong is still a high-popularity character. How would the author dare to kill him?】

The thread op continued replying.

【22L: When considering Ye Zheng's behavioral logic, it's best not to think about how the author would design it, but how Ye Zheng herself would act. After all, even the author said he can't control Ye Zheng as a character.】

【23L: As everyone mentioned, Ye Zheng's ability isn't considered strong in front of characters like Pei Xi, Sykes, or Bai Muqing. Her greatest trait is being exceptionally good at lying low and then delivering a fatal strike. In that process, she must conceal herself as much as possible, so Yinkong's precognition ability is precisely her greatest obstacle!】

【24L: Whether Yinkong is dead or not, perhaps the subsequent plot will provide an official explanation. I can't guarantee anything, but the suspicions surrounding Ye Zheng aren't limited to this alone.】

【25L: Oh my god, the more I think about it, the more I get a bad feeling, but I still bet Yinkong isn't dead. How could such a mysterious and entertaining character die so ambiguously?】

【26L: Thread op, please continue. My curiosity is completely hooked!】

...

【35L: Alright then, I'll continue. The following are all just my guesses, so don't hold me responsible if I'm wrong haha.】

【36L: Please recall the first time Ye Zheng positively gained fans, the famous scene of the Saintess raising her gun while holding the shelter during the suspected insect disaster crisis. That cool moment did win her many fans, but it also sparked considerable controversy at the time, with many accusing her of being a holy mother.】

【37L: Is Ye Zheng truly a holy mother? Think back to Zhao Mei's first appearance, entering danger to save a cat and being rescued by Pei Xi. Although the barrage was filled with praise like pretty wife and little male beauty, honestly, if that had been Ye Zheng, she would've definitely been scolded as a holy mother.】

Questioning voices surged up again below.

【38L: Wasn't it just to establish a persona so the protagonist team would believe her? I said back then that the cat-saving plot felt very deliberate and brainless, but seeing the barrage full of wife and little beauty comments, I didn't dare speak up.】

【39L: Ah, as a former Zhao Mei fan, I feel inexplicably kicked. What does this have to do with gender? That plot was simply very cute. Just thinking it was all acted by Ye Zheng makes me want to vomit...】

【40L: Being a Zhao Mei fan is truly my biggest internet black history. Thoroughly backstabbed.】

The thread op asked in puzzlement.

【41L: Zhao Mei's so-called dark side was revealed when she strangled Yu Tianming in the Blood Flower Aberrant Realm. Didn't Zhao Mei fans accept it quite well at the time? Her popularity even clearly rose. From my perspective, this character turning out to be Ye Zheng isn't OOC at all?】

【42L: Right, the plot where Zhao Mei strangled Yu Tianming was also very interesting. To prevent Yu Tianming from exploiting ordinary people, she revealed a violent and cold side. That side absolutely couldn't have been Ye Zheng pretending, because it completely contradicts the image she established within the protagonist team.】

【43L: Speaking of which, Ye Zheng's behavioral logic is very clear. She's someone who can use any means for justice, whether gentle healing, cunning disguise, or violent threats.】

【44L: No, where is the justice in Ye Zheng seizing the sword? I think the thread OP is secretly whitewashing as a Zheng fan, right?】

【45L: As a true passerby, I've always been curious about those who curse Ye Zheng for seizing the sword. Why do you default to the assumption that the sword belonged to Pei Xi? Just because Pei Xi had a dream?】

【46L: The one above suspected to be Spring Bamboo, then how did Ye Zheng know about the divine sword? Wasn't it Pei Xi who told her about the dream out of trust? It's like you introducing your crush to your best friend, and then your best friend turns around and takes your crush.】

【47L: That metaphor above made me laugh. Actually, no one cares about your crush.】

The thread OP continued responding to everyone's questions.

【48L: To those asking where the justice lies in Ye Zheng seizing the sword, it's very simple. She needs status and power on the path to realizing her justice. What reason would she have to give up the divine sword she could obtain through careful planning? It's the same action logic as Pei Xi defeating opponents, obtaining dragon bone, ascending to a high position, and ultimately achieving the goal of ensuring the lower district is no longer in danger.】

【49L: Look closely. Both of their goals are just, but their methods are vastly different. One follows the orthodox hot-blooded shonen manga protagonist route, while the other takes a dangerous path similar to that of an antagonist. That's also why I say Ye Zheng is the hidden-line protagonist.】

【50L: Compared to Sykes, she and Pei Xi are the true contrasting pair.】

Seeing this, Tang Mingxi recalled all the moments when she had been drawn to Ye Zheng. All along, she hadn't known how to precisely describe Ye Zheng as a character, but after reading this sister's analysis today, she suddenly understood why Ye Zheng attracted her so much.

She was vivid and complex, not like a flat paper figure seen through at a glance. Any corner of her could reveal new charms upon closer digging, and the surrounding storms of public opinion only nourished her flesh and blood further. This sense of infinite possibility was simply more stimulating than chasing real-life female idols.

The thread starter's bold speculations quickly drew a wave of replies, and the post count rose rapidly.

...

【178L: The more I think about it, the more I feel Ye Zheng is truly the intelligence ceiling in this Manga. Do you still remember after the Blood Flower incident, when Sela held the Saintess hostage in the square to expose the Pope's scandals? The news of Ye Zheng's disappearance was announced to everyone by Zhao Mei and Bai Muqing, which means Ye Zheng wasn't being held hostage at all. It was her acting!】

【179L: Oh my god, the more you dig into Ye Zheng, the more terrifying she becomes. I remember Ye Zheng was also a family member of the Blood Flower incident victims, so was it her who suppressed the Pope, self-directing and self-acting a Saintess execution? Is Sela also under her control?】

【180L: Wait, then Bai Muqing and Ye Zheng's relationship absolutely isn't shallow, but in the manga they appear completely unfamiliar. Yinkong even said they disliked each other?】

【181L: Has anyone remembered Bai Muqing's ability? Within the Divine Domain, nothing can be hidden from her eyes, which means she's been covering for Ye Zheng all along...】

【182L: The CP I ship is finally being acknowledged. I said her gaze toward her wasn't innocent!】

【183L: So secretly Ye Zheng has been quietly linking up with other female characters. What queen of ten thousand females?】

【184L: Ye Zheng is so sinister. Could she secretly be running some evil organization?】

【185L: You have your Illuminati, I have my Saintess Society...】

【186L: Rest assured, organization. Today I've joined the Saintess Society, Zheng Sect!】

【187L: This supposedly objective but secretly lifting Ye Zheng tone feels familiar. Look at the ID. Isn't it the passerby sis who posted "Ye Zheng took back her own flesh and blood" last time?】

【188L: Scheming Zheng passerby, you've tricked me in again. But I admit your analysis is quite reasonable. Ye Zheng has always given me a contradictory sense of being both righteous and evil, though I still prefer Pei Xi as that pure protagonist.】

【189L: First time seeing someone so eager to elevate their own main to antagonist status. No matter how awesome your big female lead Zheng is, the final winner is destined to be Pei Xi. Our big male lead is fated to step on everyone. Your girl is just a stepping stone, pinch~】

【190L: 189's mouth is really filthy. Our Zheng fans never demanded big female lead status. Clearly it was you who forced that title to shade Ye Zheng. If you can't stand male treasure being suppressed by female treasure in both strength and intelligence, just say it directly.】

【191L: Even if Zheng fans did demand big female lead status, so what? Female-oriented works are full of big male lead works. When male-oriented works get a few big female leads, it's suddenly strange? One by one so petty. Indeed, males aren't as magnanimous as females, pinch~】

The highly capable fellow fans swiftly seized control of the situation. Tang Mingxi felt deeply gratified. The average combat strength of their Zheng fans truly was this formidable.

She glanced at the thread starter’s ID and noticed the IP address was identical. For a moment, her heart itched with curiosity, and she very nearly sent a friend request to this outstanding comrade-in-arms.

✧✧✧✧✧

While the forum seethed over CP debates and plot disputes, every faction locked in chaotic melee, Ye Zheng had no time to browse the spectacle.

Zhou Yun’s dense fog enveloped her. In the span of a single blink, the surrounding scenery shifted entirely, and even the urgent sound of Pei Xi’s hurried footsteps rushing toward her from behind vanished without a trace.

“Where is this?”

Ye Zheng asked, uncertainty flickering in her voice. Within the slightly timeworn yet spacious hall, no response came.

She surveyed her surroundings. It was a church, fitted with semi-transparent stained-glass windows, an inelegant dome, and a weathered statue.

The statue wasn’t the distinctly male, meticulously crafted God of Hope displayed in the grand church of the Upper District, but rather an ancient figure with a more slender frame and a gentle bearing, identical to the one she had seen within the maze that concealed the divine sword.

Ye Zheng stepped closer and lifted her head for a careful examination. A stern voice tinged with fearful tremor abruptly shattered the silence.

“Who are you, and why are you here!”

Ye Zheng turned. An elderly nun was staring at her, her gaze clouded with uncertainty and alarm.

“…Hello. I accidentally lost my way and ended up here. May I ask where this place is?”

Ye Zheng offered a cordial smile and inquired politely.