Chapter 94

【Ding dong, your manga spoiler has updated!】

Ye Zheng’s eyes shifted slightly. It seemed the protagonist team’s new adventure was about to begin.

She could no longer participate as Zhao Mei, but as a member of the Royal Team, she would still have plenty of chances to interact with the protagonist group.

In the room, Zhuo Ya held her head in frustration, desperately trying to recall any overlooked clues that could give the Saintess a more precise direction.

“Saintess-sama, I still remember a few people came from the lower district like me, handling cleaning and odd jobs. I will write down their names and information for you. Maybe the Pope did something to them too.”

Zhuo Ya picked up paper and pen and wrote a few words before struggling. Wen Xin saw this and kindly took the pen, letting Zhuo Ya dictate while she recorded.

After receiving the information, Ye Zheng curved her eyes. “Thank you. Without you two, I would not even have a direction to investigate.”

Zhuo Ya lowered her head somewhat ashamedly. If she had cooperated with the Saintess earlier, perhaps the Saintess could have already liberated those controlled by the Pope. Her tone carried regret and self-blame, “We should be thanking you. Without Saintess-sama, I would still be living in a daze…”

“But without you two, I could not have reached this point smoothly.”

Zhuo Ya lifted her reddened eyes and looked up at the Saintess.

Ye Zheng interrupted Zhuo Ya’s self-deprecation. She looked back at her seriously, “I was simply luckier than you, born into a higher position with a broader view.”

“Precisely because of that, I should shoulder heavier responsibility. Standing in front of you gives me the reason to lead you toward higher places.”

Both young women froze. For a moment they were speechless, watching Ye Zheng leave.

The world was full of those who took status and wealth for granted while scorning ordinary people’s incompetence. Wen Xin had seen many such people. This was the first time she heard words like Ye Zheng’s.

Zhuo Ya did not fully understand Ye Zheng’s words. She only felt that standing there, Ye Zheng was like an unextinguished lighthouse.

The black-haired, black-eyed girl turned her head at the doorway and smiled at them. “Take care. When we meet again, I want to see the newest chapter of Sword-Wielding Girl.”

Only after Ye Zheng’s figure completely disappeared from sight did Wen Xin finally come back to herself. She clenched the pen tightly in her hand. The Saintess had her grand mission. Even if she could not stand shoulder to shoulder with her, she could still contribute a portion of strength for the Saintess’s future, and for the futures of many more companions.

✧✧✧✧✧

Today, Ye Zheng gained quite a lot. After clashing with the Pope, she made another trip to the lower district and pieced together crucial information. By the time she returned home, the lights were dim, and even the maids had already gone to rest.

As Ye Zheng quietly passed through the living room alone, her mother’s voice suddenly called out to her.

“Zhengzheng, there is something I want to talk to you about…”

Ye Zheng followed her mother into a remote guest room. Shu Wan suddenly grasped her hand. Her usually gentle voice turned urgent. “Has your father said anything to you? The royal family seems to have intentions regarding you becoming… His Highness the Crown Prince’s…”

“He hasn't told me, but I know, Mother.”

After receiving her daughter’s clear confirmation, Shu Wan fell silent. Was this good or bad? Recent events had made her increasingly unable to understand anything.

“Is this what you want? His Highness the Crown Prince may have noble status, but his personality is difficult to get along with. And Mother knows you really like being a Saintess…”

Ye Zheng’s gaze traced her mother’s anxious expression. Listening to her mother’s fragmented words, she suddenly spoke. “If I said I don't want it, Mother, would you have a way to help me?”

Shu Wan’s pupils trembled. It had been a very, very long time since she heard her daughter ask her for help. She lost the ability to respond for a moment. Her throat felt blocked, unable to speak.

Perhaps the more important reason was that she could not confidently answer her daughter. Ye Zheng had grown up. What she needed was no longer exquisite desserts, beautiful clothes, or pocket money to tip beggars. Those were things she, as a mother who was little more than a puppet, simply couldn't provide.

Ye Zheng lowered her eyes. She decided to end this momentary whim of making things difficult.

She clearly knew that asking this would embarrass Shu Wan. She had just been able to comfort Zhuo Ya with ease, yet toward the person in this world most closely tied to her by blood, she could not help using a harsher attitude.

This was wrong, Ye Zheng thought. Such willful and unreasonable questions would only push both sides into deeper awkwardness.

“Go rest first. Those matters I can han—”

“Mother can help you!”

Shu Wan tightly gripped the hand that was about to leave. Her eyes flashed with an excitement that felt unfamiliar to Ye Zheng.

“There will be no unhappy incidents at your adulthood ceremony. Mother guarantees it. Our Zhengzheng will have a very, very good eighteenth birthday…”

Ye Zheng was suddenly hugged by her mother. She had already grown taller than her mother. From her perspective, it looked more like her mother had buried herself in her embrace. That slightly frail body trembled faintly in her arms.

So Ye Zheng wrapped her arms around her mother, just like when she was very small and her mother had held her while she cried.

As for Shu Wan’s words, they circled in her heart once and then flowed away. Perhaps she had once expected too much, but now Ye Zheng had long learned to avoid the natural expectations that came with blood ties.

Ye Zheng simply patted Shu Wan’s back gently, her expression unusually peaceful.

Thus she missed the ruthless glint that flashed in her mother’s eyes within the embrace.

Shu Wan gradually calmed in her daughter’s arms. A crazy idea surfaced in her mind. Since Zhengzheng didn't like Sykes, didn't like Ye Fanjing, and didn't like her as a mother either.

Since Ye Fanjing had entrusted Zheng Zheng’s adulthood ceremony to her, she would prepare it very well…

✧✧✧✧✧

After returning to her room, Ye Zheng did not immediately take out her phone. She first washed up and, for the first time in a while, soaked in a hot bath to relax her body.

After soaking until her head felt slightly dizzy, she climbed out, changed into refreshing pajamas, and sat in front of the mirror, combing her long hair. Suddenly, she felt the urge to cut it again.

“System, has popularity stabilized?”

『Currently Ye Zheng’s popularity is around eighty-five thousand.』

The system reported. Ye Zheng’s eyes widened slightly. This result was better than she had expected.

Before the new chapter updated, Zhao Mei’s popularity was fifty-five thousand, and Ye Zheng’s was forty thousand, totaling ninety-five thousand.

Now Zhao Mei’s popularity had vanished, yet Ye Zheng’s had doubled, nearly matching the previous combined total.

『Zhao Mei’s popularity did not completely disappear. A small portion of readers accepted everything and tentatively began liking Ye Zheng.』

『Also, this plot drew in quite a few passersby. They are a major part of your doubled popularity. Plus, the readers who already loved Ye Zheng remain very loyal!』

『This time, the badges, those character pins, your sales are second only to Pei Xi. Worth mentioning: the Zhao Mei badges ranked third, and surprisingly many people still bought them…』

Heartbroken Zhao Mei fans treated these peripherals as Zhao Mei’s relics or final mementos, while Ye Zheng fans also bought plenty, including many who had previously cursed Zhao Mei.

The system had explained to Ye Zheng before that badges were pins printed with character images.

A subtle look of confusion crossed the girl’s face. In the eyes of those who believed Zhao Mei was now dead, were they treating pins with his image as memorial portraits?

As the still-living-and-kicking Zhao Mei herself, Ye Zheng did not quite understand, but she respected everyone’s way of expressing affection.

Ye Zheng shook her head slightly and remembered what she originally wanted to do. She took a small pair of scissors from the drawer and held them up to her hair.

Two months ago, the warning that had pained her into putting down the scissors did not sound. The room remained quiet and peaceful.

Yet Ye Zheng stared at herself in the mirror and slowly set the small scissors down.

“No. I need to find a more appropriate moment.”

Right now, the image of Saintess Ye Zheng being spread everywhere always came with this head of glossy black long hair. In this sensitive promotional period, abruptly changing her appearance would not be suitable.

Moreover, she still needed this heavy weight pulling her back, constantly reminding her.

She could not relax. Countless shackles still wanted to drag her down.

“System, I am a little curious. Why does the manga law not care about my hair anymore?”

『Because your positioning has changed. This world’s law no longer sees you as the protagonist’s partner, but as....』

『The protagonist’s enemy!』

The system’s voice turned serious.

『Ye Zheng, in shonen manga, villains usually don't have good luck. Even if you have overwhelming strength, the law will create small accidents to let the protagonist win in the end.』

『Lucky villains might escape unscathed or even reconcile with the protagonist, but most villains meet ugly ends.』

『Since the last chapter update, the law will not demand you be the protagonist’s beautiful spouse anymore. But it will target you as an enemy.』

Ye Zheng let out a soft “ah.” “Enemy? I have never seen Pei Xi as an enemy.”

The girl’s fingers flicked the soft bedding beneath her. Pei Xi stood in her way, she just had to push him aside. That was all. Hearing the system’s worried yet serious reminder, Ye Zheng curved her lips indifferently.

“In the original plot, I wasn't a villain and still got a death ending. What do I have to fear now?”

The system finally laughed too.

『You are right. At least in this world, you will not be sacrificed like an offering. No matter what, that is a better outcome!』

Outcome? Ye Zheng did not like that word. She was still young. Even if tired for a moment, she didn't want to stop. She opened the red icon on her phone and entered the manga titled Throne of the Aberrant Realm.

The previous chapter update stopped at her holding the sword, walking straight toward the excited crowd, passing the despondent Pei Xi without a glance.

“Looking at it this way, I really do have a bit of the bad guy who betrays true feelings in a drama.”

Ye Zheng teased herself.

Her slender fingers scrolled down, patiently passing a large blank space. Suddenly, her fingertip paused. She scrolled back up.

The screen was almost pure white, making her think it was a blank page. Upon closer look, the white was semi-transparent, like thick fog.

Beneath the fog, faint outlines emerged. Orange hair like a sun hidden in heavy mist.

Yet this sun had grown strange horns. Black scales dotted the side of the face. A pair of barely visible black wings flapped behind her.

Lu Qi?

Ye Zheng furrowed her brows.

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Authors Note

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Saw everyone’s fanart in the super topic! So cute, so cute, I am eating it all up!