Chapter 158

 “Tell me.”

Ye Zheng did not answer immediately. She glanced at the gradually burning red clouds on the horizon and asked Wu Shu to take her to a higher place. Wu Shu grabbed her arm, and the two of them flashed onto a hill, perfectly overlooking Amber Lake, which was dyed red by the setting sun.

The giant fish tail appeared and vanished from time to time in the lake. Its speed was extremely fast. With its invisible camouflage and agile movements, it toyed with the people trying to hunt it, sending them running in chaotic circles.

Ye Zheng took in the entire scene. She pointed into the distance, where a lighthouse-like structure stood in the center of the lake.

“The deep-blue giant eel was originally imprisoned at the bottom of the central lake.”

“That tower regularly releases sedatives aimed at the giant eel. Whenever it shows even the slightest movement, the managers respond by releasing a stronger dose. The facilities here still haven’t been fully relocated yet, so I suspect there are still some sedatives left inside.”

This piece of information came from a knight whose entire family had worked at Amber Lake. Over the years, in an effort to cut costs, the amount of sedative had been steadily reduced, which had led to more and more workplace accidents. Ye Zheng guessed that whatever stock remained in that tower probably wasn’t much either.

“The sedatives are stored beneath the tower. I’m not completely sure about its exact internal structure, but I’ve heard only the designated managers are able to operate the metal mechanisms that control the sedative release.”

Wu Shu frowned. “Can’t we just smash it with brute force?”

“To deal with that giant eel, the tower is built to be extremely sturdy, both inside and out.”

Wu Shu raised an eyebrow. “You mentioned metal mechanisms… Pei Xi might be able to control them. Are you suggesting I use Pei Xi again?”

“That won’t be easy. Even putting aside what happened before, in this competition I already secretly harmed him once for your sake. His wariness toward me will only have increased, not decreased.”

Ye Zheng smiled faintly. “He may not trust you, but he won’t suspect his own teammate.”

Wu Shu stared at her, a hint of doubt flickering across her expression.

“Well, even though Wen Xiaoxing is their new teammate, they probably won’t stay constantly guarded against someone on their own team, right?”

“—Wait, did you just say Wen Xiaoxing?”

Wu Shu’s voice rose unconsciously in surprise.

Ye Zheng nodded, her smile deepening slightly. “As long as you want it, he’ll obediently listen to you and cooperate with you from the inside.”

Wen Xiaoxing had personally witnessed Wu Shu working with Ye Zheng to break his 【Fate Singularity】. As long as Wu Shu appeared in front of him again, the clever Wen Xiaoxing would understand exactly what she wanted him to do.

The more he did for her, the more valuable he became as a bargaining chip to ensure his own survival. At least, that was how Wen Xiaoxing interpreted the fact that she had temporarily spared him.

Under Wu Shu’s astonished gaze, Ye Zheng continued, “Have Wen Xiaoxing tell Pei Xi about the sedative. His ability is fate-based, so it wouldn’t seem strange for him to know something like that. Pei Xi will find a way to obtain the sedative, but his actions will definitely draw Sykes’ attention. The two teams are bound to clash again.”

“Wen Xiaoxing is the only one in the team without an offensive ability. He’ll most likely be placed in the rear for protection, guarding the sedative.”

Wu Shu asked, “So I take the opportunity to steal the sedative?”

Ye Zheng shook her head. “No. Have Wen Xiaoxing voluntarily suggest taking the sedative away instead. Let him make an agreement with Pei Xi to set up a trap using the sedative at a specific location. Pei Xi will try to lure the giant eel into that agreed spot, and then you can cooperate with Wen Xiaoxing and act according to the situation.”

“With Wen Xiaoxing acting as a traitor, it means you’ll be able to secretly direct the Cloud Soarers team to work for you.”

Ye Zheng winked at her, as though asking how she liked this little surprise.

Wu Shu hadn’t expected Ye Zheng to give her such a “big gift.” She laughed lightly. “You coordinate for me in the Royal Academy team, and Wen Xiaoxing obeys me in the Cloud Soarers team. If I still lose like this, it would be a bit too impolite of me.”

“I’m sorry, I can’t coordinate for you in the Royal Academy team.” Ye Zheng let out a barely audible sigh. “I have something to handle, and I’ll probably need to leave the competition early.”

According to what Wen Xiaoxing had said, while she was trapped in this isolated competition ground, Wen Jian had been stirring up trouble behind the scenes again. Her instincts told her it would be best to get out and take a look as soon as possible.

Aside from her agreement with Wu Shu, there was nothing else in this competition worth her staying for any longer.

Wu Shu first frowned, but after a moment, her brows relaxed again. She waved a hand in understanding. “Fine. You’ve already given me more than enough.”

Ye Zheng had already done more than enough by arranging all of this. In the end, she hadn’t really helped her with anything major. She had only, in a dazed moment, taken part in assassinating Pei Xi once, inadvertently offending someone who was already an enemy. Yet Ye Zheng’s method had still significantly increased Wu Shu’s chances of winning.

In truth, Wu Shu didn’t need Ye Zheng to plan everything so meticulously. As long as she was handed the chess piece known as Wen Xiaoxing, Wu Shu could easily come up with plenty of ways to use him on her own.

Wu Shu offered Ye Zheng a sincere smile. “Thank you, Saintess. Go handle your own matters. I can take care of everything that comes next.”

She lightly patted Ye Zheng’s shoulder, but noticed that she didn’t move at all, as if she had no intention of leaving. Wu Shu studied Ye Zheng’s expression and, for the first time, saw the Saintess wearing a hesitant look, like she wanted to speak but was holding herself back.

“Wu Shu, if it’s exposed after the competition that you were connected to Wen Xiaoxing, you’ll face a lot of public backlash.”

Working with members of another team to coordinate from both inside and outside would be seen as a violation of the competition’s fairness. Even if Wu Shu hadn’t bribed Wen Xiaoxing and the organizing committee couldn’t find any evidence, Pei Xi and the others involved would most likely still notice. Once public opinion blew up, Wu Shu would come under overwhelming pressure.

More importantly…

“Wu Shu, the reward for winning the competition may not be worth the effort you’re putting in, or the risks you’ll have to bear.”

Ye Zheng knew Wu Shu was desperately determined to win the championship in order to obtain the final dragon bone reward. With that dragon bone, which symbolized protection, no matter what methods she used along the way, the Middle District that ultimately benefited would still remember Wu Shu with gratitude.

However, the protection offered by the dragon bone was itself a massive lie.

She couldn’t tell Wu Shu this yet. This matter wasn’t suitable for too many people to know. If it leaked, it could easily bring fatal danger to Wu Shu.

Ye Zheng could only emphasize once more in a serious tone, “This reward isn’t worth you going to such lengths for. It might even bring you trouble.”

The setting sun slowly sank below the horizon. The remaining glow blurred Wu Shu’s features. She realized that Ye Zheng likely knew some major inside information. From Ye Zheng’s solemn expression, she understood that, for her own safety and reputation, she perhaps shouldn’t insist on pursuing the championship.　

Wu Shu reached out, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear as the mountain wind swept past. She let out a soft laugh, carrying a hint of loneliness and desolation.

“Ye Zheng, sometimes I really envy you. You’re such a dazzling figure. Your path is dangerous yet bright, always accompanied by the blood-soaked praises of the thorn bird.”

“But I’m just an ordinary person, a thorn bird that can’t find the thorn tree no matter what I try.”

Ye Zheng’s expression froze for a moment. She looked at Wu Shu’s face, half-hidden in the darkness, wanting to offer comfort, but she found that any comforting words felt too light and hollow.

She knew she had gone through many hardships along the way, but she was also luckier than many girls.

“I’m not dazzling at all, Wu Shu.”

“If I were truly upright and honorable, before asking you to act for me, I should’ve warned you that this competition isn’t worth it.”

Beneath Ye Zheng’s indifferent tone, a faint, hard-to-detect ripple stirred within her.

“If there were many ‘Wu Shu’s in this world, that would be a good thing. But if there were many ‘Ye Zheng’s, this world wouldn’t be far from destruction.”

After those words fell, the slightly cold air grew quiet for a few moments. Then Ye Zheng suddenly heard a burst of abrupt laughter.

“Ha… Hahahahaha!”

Wu Shu seemed genuinely amused by what she had said. She grabbed Ye Zheng’s shoulder, laughing so hard that her hand trembled. “Hahaha… You’re right. One ‘Ye Zheng’ in this world is more than enough.”

She walked to the edge of the cliff on the hill and turned back to face Ye Zheng. Even with her back against the faint warm glow of the setting sun, her smile remained strikingly clear in Ye Zheng’s eyes.

“If everything I do is wrong…”

No matter whether she won the championship or not, she would still end up in an awkward position.

“Then I might as well do whatever I want.”

“I’ll try to enjoy the simplest, most exhilarating pleasure that victory brings. That’s what you told me, Ye Zheng. Even if it was said just to use me, it still sounded so moving.”

Wu Shu spread her arms at the edge of the cliff and leaned backward. Along with the last trace of the setting sun’s glow, she vanished into the darkness.

　　After she vanished in a flash, her laughter still lingered in the evening wind.

“You’ve already won. I can’t lose either.”

Ye Zheng walked to the edge of the cliff and looked out at the lake that was almost blending into the night. She took a step back as if to leave, then paused.

『Aren’t you leaving? The Pope has already started schemeing against you.』

The system’s voice sounded out calmly.

“…I promised her I’d make sure she wins.”

『You’ve already exhausted most of your energy. It won’t recover anytime soon. Staying here won’t be of much use to Wu Shu.』

“Oh.”

Ye Zheng sat down at the cliff’s edge. There was a trace of irritation in her response. She didn’t like the word “useless” being tied to her.

“Useless is useless then. Sometimes I also want to rest uselessly for a while.”

Saintess Ye Zheng would not break her promise. Until she personally witnessed Wu Shu’s victory, she would not leave this place, even if the storm of public opinion trying to swallow her surged outside once again.

✧✧✧✧✧

Inside the church.

A man in white robes stood beneath the towering divine statue. Perhaps because his face was hidden in shadow, his expression looked especially unpleasant.

A young woman wearing a neat uniform stood opposite him. Her white pupils were empty and cold, giving off a ruthless, icy aura.

“Knight Bai Muqing, I don’t think I need to explain anything to you.”

Bai Muqing took out an identity plaque and turned it over in her hand. Her voice was flat and indifferent. “With this identity, I have the authority to ask you some questions.”

A cold smile flickered across Wen Jian’s face. “Very well, the youngest daughter of the general’s family, current captain of the knight order, former church nun… What questions do you have?”

His tone was extremely gentle, which only made it sound more mocking, as if he were humoring a willful child relying on her status. In his eyes, Bai Muqing was exactly that kind of person.

Bai Muqing pursed her lips and put the identity plaque away. She rarely did something like this, but in front of the Pope, she had no choice but to use her status to prove she was qualified to speak with him.

“What is your relationship with Wen Xiaoxing?”

She asked directly.

After confirming Yinkong’s death from Ye Zheng, she had chosen to help Ye Zheng conceal it. But since she and Yinkong had been classmates, she wanted to comfort his family and friends.

Unexpectedly, while tracing Yinkong’s identity, she had uncovered many unbelievable things.

“Or rather, what is the relationship between Wen Xiaoxing and Yinkong?”

Her white pupils locked onto the man in front of her without blinking, carrying a sense of pressure that even Bai Muqing herself was unaware of.