Chapter 130

Black shadows shrieked through the air overhead. The gusts from their wings slanted the rain, making Ye Zheng’s figure appear even taller and straighter, like a lighthouse burning steadily in the dark night. 

Wet strands of hair clung to her forehead and cheeks. Her extremely deep black eyes were inscrutable. Yet Pei Xi could see carefree mirth within them. Dragging his exhausted body, he took a step forward, but he didn’t know what to say.

When he heard “so what,” Pei Xi felt as if an unfathomably deep chasm had suddenly split open between them. He and Sykes stood on one side, while Ye Zheng stood on the other.

In the heavy, wordless atmosphere, Sykes gave Ye Zheng a long, deep look. He beckoned with his hand. A group of knights in red uniforms immediately gathered behind him.

At the same time, a team of white-clad knights took position behind Ye Zheng. The two sides faced each other in silent confrontation.

“Ye Zheng, this is your last chance. Assist me in controlling them, and I’ll let bygones be bygones.”

Sykes lifted his chin slightly. His voice was hoarse.

“Otherwise, not only will you fail to protect them, but when you return to the upper districts, no one will protect you either.”

Ye Zheng slowly curved her lips when she heard this.

“Your Highness the Crown Prince, when you say such words, are you speaking out of consideration for our past camaraderie as teammates... or because you’re afraid?”

Ha!

Sykes laughed in furious disbelief. In the past, he had thought Pei Xi was the most ungrateful person he had ever met. Now even calling Ye Zheng “ungrateful” felt far too mild.

He shut his mouth. His golden eyes darkened further. Fine. If that was what she wanted, then so be it. The royal family had never liked this suddenly emerged God’s Chosen anyway. Pope Wen Jian had long harbored deep resentment toward her. Once she committed such a grave mistake and returned to the upper districts, how could they possibly let her off?

But that wasn’t enough. Sykes raised a suppressed and frenzied smile.

“Afraid of you? Ye Zheng, you’d better keep your eyes wide open and watch carefully.”

“Before the empire puts you on trial, I’ll crush everything you want to save!”

A frenzied surge of airflow erupted from the ground and shot straight upward, tearing through layer after layer of space. The air hissed as though under extreme pressure.

The knights surrounding Sykes staggered and barely managed to steady themselves. When they looked up, they saw that at some point the monsters had once again neatly lifted the mysterious white giant object and begun flying in another direction. But their movement was interrupted again. The chaotic airflow rocked the massive object in the sky, making it sway precariously as though it could plummet at any moment.

Some knights nervously swallowed. Quite a few quietly stepped backward. The Crown Prince had truly gone mad! Those things were right above their heads. If they fell, wouldn't everyone be finished together?

Almost everyone in the vicinity stared upward in tense shock. Only the one who had caused the chaos, Sykes, kept his head lowered. His gaze locked onto Ye Zheng, who was also looking up and observing.

Gusts of wind and flying dust whipped wildly around them. Then the violent airflow suddenly vanished all at once. The disheveled strands of hair froze abruptly in place. Sykes's frenzied, gloomy expression paused. He lifted his head.

Ye Zheng still held her head tilted upward. She spoke in a tone of feigned surprise. "Oh, it looks like there's someone up there."

Because of the earlier chaos, the dragon-bodied humans carrying the white spine had flown lower. Once the turbulence died down, they were in the process of stabilizing their formation again. Amid the dense black shadows, a small patch of gold stood out strikingly, like a tiny sun quietly climbing onto the curtain of night.

"It looks a little familiar. What do you think, Crown Prince?"

Ye Zheng pressed her clenched fist against her lips, as though thinking, or perhaps hiding an ill-timed smile.

The golden-haired Crown Prince lifted his chin and stared at the figure in the sky. The sensation of having his ability suppressed felt painfully familiar and ignited his rage. He ground his teeth and spat out a name.

"Sela!"

✧✧✧✧✧

Outside the manga world.

Ever since the last time the old uncle, at Kieran's fan request, had promised to give Kieran a "complete life" and draw out the detailed process of his death in full, Tang Mingxi had been eagerly waiting for the new week's update.

She had always complained that the author barely showed Ye Zheng's actions in detail. Every time Ye Zheng made a brilliant entrance, the scene would be glossed over in a single line, which made her successes feel like lucky flukes.

In the manga, Ye Zheng almost never had any proper combat scenes. On the forums, people still kept saying she was probably royalty. After all, which royal family's part received so little screen time?

[T/N- Here Royalty isn't meaning real royal family member but important side cast who keeps over shadowing MC , Kinda like Gojo in JJK.]

This time, Tang Mingxi opened the manga app right on schedule. She was even more excited than Kieran's fans to see how Kieran would die!

At that moment, as she tapped into the new chapter full of anticipation, Tang Mingxi had no idea that this update would exceed everyone's expectations in every possible way.

The first page continued directly from the previous chapter. Under Pei Xi's shocked gaze, Ye Zheng picked up the severed head and placed it into a bag.

"What exactly happened? Did he attack you? Why are you carrying... his head?"

In the manga, Pei Xi's expression had shifted from shock to wariness.

The girl standing opposite him simply smiled, as though Pei Xi's words had stirred some memory.

Tang Mingxi immediately sat up straight and adjusted her phone.

After sending Pei Xi and the others away, Kieran received a message saying that someone was waiting for him at the "Burial Grounds." He entered an underground palace filled with strange white bones and encountered Ye Zheng, who had already been waiting for him for some time.

What followed was the first time Tang Mingxi saw Ye Zheng in a true killing sequence.

The two fought fiercely. Just when Tang Mingxi thought Ye Zheng was about to be struck in a vital spot by the cunning Kieran, the prepared Ye Zheng saw through his move and used her exquisite water-based ability to successfully counter-kill him!

"Yes!"

This was the first time Tang Mingxi had seen Ye Zheng fight using her ability. In the past, whether as Zhao Mei or Saintess Ye Zheng, her powers had always been used for healing or supporting teammates in battle.

But after reading this chapter, Tang Mingxi had a feeling that Ye Zheng would climb several spots on the 《Throne of the Aberrant Realm》 power ranking list. On the forums, the impression of her had always been that of a cunning and intelligent strategist. When people discussed combat strength, they rarely included Ye Zheng.

Tang Mingxi excitedly kept scrolling. Kieran wasn't dead yet. On the screen, he lay on the ground in a pose that still carried a certain broken beauty. She had a premonition that Kieran's fans were about to get their masochistic thrill again.

"Ye Zheng, thank you... for ending my life like this. I'm very satisfied."

"Use the divine sword to kill me. Let it become our final shared glory..."

In the next panel, Kieran coughed blood as he spoke his last words. His face showed no fear, only dignified relief.

Tang Mingxi outside the screen twisted her face in disgust. If you lose, you lose. Why stage such a disgusting scene?

And asking Ye Zheng to kill him with the divine sword? Did he even deserve it?

Unfortunately, Ye Zheng was an extremely kind girl. She drew the divine sword and pressed it against Kieran's neck.

"Sigh, my girl is still too kind. A girl this kind is really prone to being taken advantage of."

Tang Mingxi shook her head. Giving Kieran such a dignified death was truly worthy of the noble Saintess.

But she never expected that on the next page, Ye Zheng lowered her head and spoke a few words.

The author didn't show what Ye Zheng actually said. All that was visible was Kieran's relieved expression suddenly twisting into horror. His eyes bulged wide in utter disbelief as he stared at Ye Zheng, completely stripped of the earlier broken beauty and dignity.

"What? What exactly did Ye Zheng say!"

Tang Mingxi voiced the question that every reader had at that moment.

She quickly scrolled down. Ye Zheng had already stood up with a smile, watching as an unidentified black mass enveloped Kieran's body. The intensely corroding Kieran screamed in collapse until he finally fell silent. Then Ye Zheng severed his head with a single sword strike.

Seeing this, Tang Mingxi remained stunned for a long moment by Ye Zheng's decisiveness and ruthlessness. Ye Zheng's image seemed to gain another layer, but she quickly processed it. Indeed, this was worthy of the clever Saintess. That was exactly how decisive she should be!

Ye Zheng's recollection ended there. Tang Mingxi felt a little reluctant. She knew the author's habits. Most likely this chapter's Ye Zheng content was already finished.

But fortunately, she had already been thoroughly satisfied by the decisive and ruthless Saintess today. She casually scrolled further and, sure enough, the rest mostly consisted of large close-ups of Pei Xi and Sykes. Ye Zheng had been taken away by the white mist, and the two of them even started suspecting her.

Fine, her girl was indeed very suspicious. But even setting that aside, how could those two not trust Ye Zheng?

When she reached the page where the hostile Sykes confronted Ye Zheng again on the street, Tang Mingxi sucked in a breath. They weren't going to bully her girl next, were they?

Then she saw Ye Zheng and Sykes trading blows evenly. Tang Mingxi was a little dumbfounded.

Scrolling further and seeing Ye Zheng brutally beat Pei Xi, nearly killing the manga's main male lead, she read the rest with her mouth hanging open the entire time.

Finally, when she reached the part where Ye Zheng had beaten both Sykes and Pei Xi, openly let the Fallen Ones go in front of everyone, spread her hands with a smile, and said "So what?", Tang Mingxi completely lost control of her expression. She went absolutely wild!

In the past, she had always patiently taken screenshots of Ye Zheng's rare appearances. But today she couldn't wait to share her excitement with everyone after finishing this chapter.

Whether they were fellow fans or rivals, she wanted to grab everyone's heads and force them to appreciate this chapter!

She was willing to call this Ye Zheng's god-tier chapter!

On the forums, following the previous wave when Zhao Mei was revealed to be Ye Zheng, another massive traffic surge arrived. Several brand-new hot threads popped up one after another.

【OMG, someone rein in Ye Zheng...】【hot】

【1L: OMG, someone rein in Ye Zheng...】

【2L: This girl just went next level. How did Mom only find out today that she's this cool?!】

【3L: Scared me for a second. Before clicking in I thought it was another Ye Zheng hate thread.】

【4L: Us Ye Zheng fans who get hated on by everyone are so humble and cautious. Every update we have to mentally prepare ourselves before entering the forum (crying emoji)】

【5L: Our Zheng has already punched the protagonist and kicked the villain. What are Ye Zheng fans still being humble about!】

【6L: Turns out even Zheng Mom knows you guys get hated on by everyone lol.】

【7L: Outside the forum, who still babies your Zheng haters? Real passersby only know that our Zheng is strong and beautiful. Zheng haters really think too highly of themselves.】

【8L: Not sure if Ye Zheng fans get hated by everyone, but I do know Ye Zheng's hands moved fast and beat up all your precious sons (smirk)】

【9L: Wait, Ye Zheng's A-class ability is strong enough to fight Sykes to a draw? Is this plot even reasonable?】

【10L: Why not ask if it's reasonable for Pei Xi, certified E-class, to be such a cheat instead?】

【11L: Who started the rumor that Ye Zheng fought Sykes to a draw? Clearly Sykes held back and didn't want to keep fighting. If it had really gone all out, do you think Ye Zheng would've survived?】

【12L: Not sure if Ye Zheng would've survived, but Pei Xi almost didn't, and Sykes almost died of rage lol~】

【13L: This Zheng fan is having a hard time defending this. This chapter pushed Ye Zheng way too far. How could a Saintess who serves the country and the people abuse or kill others, try to kill her comrades for no reason, and release monsters? And you're all happy about it?】

【14L: OP, just because you quietly changed your ID to "ZhengZheng Number One Under Heaven" doesn't make you a real Zheng fan. Even though Ye Zheng really is number one under heaven.】

【15L: My mood is complicated after this chapter. Because of Ye Zheng I'm having trouble supporting Pei Xi anymore...】

【16L: Oh mom, even Zheng Mom is doing anti-fan roleplay now. Our Pei Xi doesn't need your support lol.】

...

【63L: Pei Xi fans, stop masochistically loving Zheng Mom already. Hurry and go control comments in the neighboring "dropped Pei Xi" hot thread!】

【64L: #YeZhengForeverNumberOne #HolderOfRecordsForBeatingKieranSykesPeiXi #PeiXiForeverTrashOne #SykesForeverTrashTwo #LittleSteamClockedOut!】

Tang Mingxi was already used to people sneaking into Ye Zheng praise threads to smear her, especially with this chapter where Ye Zheng had fully positioned herself against Pei Xi and even against Sykes. It was bound to stir up a lot of controversy.

But what she hadn't expected was that the biggest negative backlash was actually directed at Pei Xi. Quite a few people were speaking up for Ye Zheng instead.

From her years of experience in fandom circles, many of them were genuine passersby, not like her, a Zheng fan pretending to stir drama.

【Dropped. I'm really disappointed in you this time, Pei Xi.】【hot】

【1L: Dropped. I'm really disappointed in you this time, Pei Xi.】

【2L: From the early days of serialization, I've watched you grow. Your justice and your ideals used to move me. Every time you suffered setbacks, I hurt more than anyone. But today, seeing you pinned down and beaten by Ye Zheng, my heart didn't ache anymore. Instead, I felt relieved. It turns out you haven't been the righteous, hot-blooded boy I admired and loved for a long time.】

【3L: Wait, where did this come from on my end? Is this still a 2D forum?】

【4L: Sis, did you wander into the wrong place? This isn't the big-eye drop fan containment center. Zheng Mom, please roleplay something better next time.】

【5L: Yeah OP, I get what you mean. The most satisfying and cathartic part of this chapter was actually Ye Zheng's line, "So what"...】

【6L: The plot is getting weirder and weirder. Logically speaking, since Ye Zheng tried to kill Pei Xi, she counts as a villain now. But her goal really feels very just.】

【7L: Those women who were forced to become Fallen Ones were already so pitiful. And now they have to be killed too? What's wrong with Ye Zheng wanting to protect them?】

【8L: Are you all seriously not reading the plot? Pei Xi's backstory already made it clear that Fallen Ones are beyond saving. His aunt even asked him to end her life once she became a monster. Pei Xi even hesitated to do it. And now you're blaming him for that too?】

【9L: Oh my god, Ye Zheng is going all out to save monsters, yet when it comes to the safety of ordinary people she just says, "So what." With antisocial behavior at this level, how has no one come out to judge her yet?】

【10L: "Monster," "antisocial"... When Kieran and the others used women for experiments, that was justice. But when our Zheng saves those innocent women, suddenly she's antisocial. If that's the case, then I can only support Ye Zheng in continuing to be antisocial lol.】

【11L: I'm really disappointed in Pei Xi. Shouldn't he empathize with those women? His own mother and aunt suffered exactly that kind of pain. That supposedly rational awakening at the end made me flash back to certain guys in real life...】

【12L: What exactly do you want from Pei Xi? Killing his aunt, who had already become a monster, in order to protect innocent people is called cold-blooded. But if he ignored ordinary people's safety to protect monsters, he'd be called a saintly father.】

【13L: Pei Xi really drew the short end of the stick by being born the protagonist. Next door Sykes kills monsters and no one blames him. Ye Zheng disregards the safety of ordinary people and still gets wildly praised.】

【14L: Then I suggest he get reincarnated as one of those women used as sacred vessels. Let him experience what a "good life" really feels like.】

【15L: Stop accusing people of hating women and loving men again. Has anyone here actually loved Pei Xi? All I see are endless moral demands placed on him just because he's the protagonist.】

...

【123L: Now I finally understand why so many Pei Xi fans are dropping out. Pei Xi is ridiculous, and Pei Xi fans are ridiculous to exactly the same degree as the character himself.】

【124L: The people saying Ye Zheng disregards the safety of ordinary people clearly didn't read the plot properly, right? She said there might be a way to restore them to normal people. Only those two spring bamboo brains and that robot didn't understand what she meant.】

【125L: This floor is obviously another anti-fan roleplay masterpiece from rival steam fans. Pei Xi and Sykes are so pitiful. They're bullied by Ye Zheng in the manga, and then smeared by Zheng fans outside the manga...】

【126L: Teacher, is our Sykes really the villain? Standing in front of Ye Zheng, Sykes actually looks innocent and pure.】

【127L: Stop playing the victim card. We're just bullying your precious boy. So what?】

【128L: Thanks to Sykes fans for sending us the certification of your man's number-one villain status. Our Zheng teaming up with Zheng Mom as dual villains, so what?】

【129L: Forgot to beat up Sykes while beating up Pei Xi. Thanks to the Sykes fan in 125L for reminding us about the long-forgotten former number-one villain.】

【130L: This time all the rival fans of Ye Zheng have completely collapsed. Can't outsmart Ye Zheng? Fine. But how come even the combat strength you're so proud of can't compare either?】

Tang Mingxi snorted with laughter. After this chapter, where did Ye Zheng even have rivals left? Only successors remained!

【183L: Xi-Sy shippers bundle up and step on Ye Zheng every single day. If you're that obsessed, why not just change the ship name to "Successor Twin Young Masters"*? It highlights your Xi-Sy bond while also leeching off your #ForeverNumberOne #YeZheng traffic.】

[T/N- okay I will try to make it simple but it won't be so stay with me ther okay!? Original chinese 下家双少 (xià jiā shuāng shào). 双少 means two young lord , 下家 implies second place, “the ones who follow after someone bigger has already taken the throne”. So commentor saying these isn't even worth being villain and Protagonist now at best NPC.]

【184L: I'm dying of laughter. Successor Twin Young Masters? Hearing that name for the first time feels a bit strange. Back then, no one knew it would end up occupying the entire youth of boy stans...】

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Authors Note  

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Oh my god, I didn't make it before 12 o'clock. I got too addicted to the forum and missed the full attendance...

I can only reward myself by continuing the forum tomorrow...