Chapter 95

The moment she saw Lu Qi on the screen, Ye Zheng’s heart skipped a beat. Why would Lu Qi look like that?

She had seen Aberrant Realms that infected people into monsters. Could Lu Qi be infected and turned into a monster in the next Aberrant Realm?

Ye Zheng rubbed the screen with her fingertip. The foggy image made it impossible to analyze more details.

Looking at the strange yet familiar Lu Qi on the screen, Ye Zheng suddenly remembered that during one gathering after she joined the protagonist team as Zhao Mei, Lu Qi had happily said that after the competition ended, she wanted to bring everyone from the Cloud Soarers team home to play.

Lu Qi’s hometown was in the western district.

She remembered agreeing to Lu Qi back then. Since that was the case, even if she could no longer attend as Zhao Mei, she at least had to ensure that Lu Qi returned safely to her hometown.

“System, Lu Qi is an important member of the protagonist team. She will not meet with disaster, right?”

The system hesitated for a moment.

『It depends on how you define disaster. In the original plot, after you joined the Cloud Soarers team as Saintess Ye Zheng, your role actually conflicted somewhat with Lu Qi’s. In the eyes of the author and readers, both were support-type beautiful girls, making the team feel redundant.』

『Although Lu Qi doesn’t have many die-hard fans, her popularity among casual readers is still quite strong. Even a slight stab like this can stir the readers’ emotions, create a tragic and solemn atmosphere, and grant the protagonist team even greater motivation.』

From the system’s roundabout phrasing, Ye Zheng understood that Lu Qi wouldn’t die, but something would happen to her, such as a severe injury, which would force her to leave the team.

For Lu Qi, leaving the protagonist group might not be a bad thing at all, yet Ye Zheng didn’t want her to depart in such a manner.

She examined the image on the screen once more, especially the horns atop Lu Qi’s head and the faintly discernible black wings behind her. A sudden flash of insight struck Ye Zheng, and the fragmented clues connected in that very instant.

Lu Qi, who came from the Western District. Wen Jian’s dragon bone experiments in the Western District. Lu Qi, who had displayed dragon-like traits in the spoilers...

Ye Zheng thought that perhaps it wouldn’t be long before news arrived from the Western District.

✧✧✧✧✧

"Lu Qi, are you stupid? What’s the use of her going back alone!"

Roy finished reading the letter Lu Qi had left behind, slammed the paper onto the table, and grew so furious that even his blond hair seemed to bristle.

"If I had known, I would’ve kept a closer watch on Lu Qi. Yesterday, after she heard the news about the Western District, her state was already off... How could she be so impulsive?"

Kyle picked up Lu Qi’s letter from the table and read it through once more. In her neat handwriting, Lu Qi told her teammates that she was deeply worried about her family and had to return home for a while. She knew this would slow everyone’s progress in the competition, but she promised to come back soon and told them not to worry about her, only to focus on the competition.

Kyle sighed again. He was a boy, so he couldn’t look after Lu Qi in such a personal way. His tongue was clumsy as well, and he wasn’t good at comforting or persuading others. If Zhao Mei were still here...

Pei Xi pressed his brow, his voice weary as he said, "It’s no one’s fault. No one expected this kind of thing to happen. It’s only natural for Lu Qi to worry about her family. As the captain, I failed to notice and care for her in time."

Seeing the captain sink into self-blame, Roy and Kyle began to comfort Pei Xi. After Roy offered a few words of reassurance, he fell silent for a moment, then suddenly spoke. "Then what should we do?"

What should they do?

That sentence felt like a curse. In the past, Pei Xi had taken his captain’s duties seriously and with pride. Leading everyone forward had always been deeply fulfilling. Yet someone had disrupted his steps. First, they’d freed him from those heavy responsibilities, teaching him to trust and rely on her, and then they’d shattered everything to pieces.

Pei Xi clenched his fist tightly, veins bulging along his arm, a bitter smile flashing across his face. Lu Qi had truly handed him an enormous problem.

The Eastern District where they were staying was the most prosperous area in the lower district, with dense population flow. A few days earlier, rumors had begun circulating among the people that the Western District had turned into a land of devils, and anyone who entered had lost contact. From that moment on, Lu Qi had grown uneasy, though the rest of them had reassured her it was only rumor.

It wasn’t until yesterday that the trains heading to the Western District had completely ceased operation. Even the lord of the lower district had stepped forward to urge everyone to suspend all activities in the Western District, without explaining the reason. This had caused widespread panic, and rumors of a world-destroying aberrant realm had begun spreading wildly once again. Market prices rose rapidly as a result.

This time, the entire Western District had lost contact. Pei Xi could no longer console himself by thinking it was merely a minor issue and that Lu Qi would certainly return safely.

The competition rules confined them to the Eastern District, and the allotted time was nearly exhausted. Their current points placed them only in third. If they rushed to the West District to search for Lu Qi, it would be almost equivalent to the Cloud Soarers forfeiting all competitiveness. The championship would slip entirely beyond their grasp, along with the dragon bone reward reserved for the champion.

But could they truly abandon Lu Qi?

The three of them fell silent. For a moment, Pei Xi couldn’t help blaming Lu Qi. She was only one person and clearly couldn’t change anything on her own. Why had she gone back alone and forced them into such a painful dilemma?

On one side was a precious friend. On the other was the champion’s position that could bring dawn to the lower district...

Pei Xi walked alone along the street. Many passersby were discussing the West District, their panicked and exaggerated speculations only heightening his restlessness.

Lu Qi had a reckless temperament, and her ability was suited for neither offense nor defense. How could they feel at ease letting her head alone into a dangerous zone?

No. He still had to bring Lu Qi back. When he’d first entered Cloud Soarers Academy and been mocked and shoved around because of his E-class talent assessment, it was Lu Qi who’d stepped forward first, charging in like a little calf to knock aside those attempting to bully him.

Even though those people hadn’t been his match, Pei Xi remained grateful for Lu Qi’s precious kindness.

Pei Xi finally exhaled in relief. After making his decision, his heart felt considerably lighter. He ran to a pastry shop they often visited, the one Lu Qi loved most. The owner was a smiling grandmother who always gave them extra treats.

"Why haven’t I seen Lu Qi? She loves these the most. I’ll pack a little more for her."

Pei Xi hesitated for a moment before saying, "No need, Grandma. Lu Qi... has gone home. She won’t be able to eat them for the time being."

The old woman’s wrinkles deepened with concern. "Oh dear, why would she run off at such a chaotic time? I heard the monsters from the Western District will be attacking soon, and our Eastern District is about to fall..."

Pei Xi let out a helpless laugh. The rumors were growing more absurd by the day. He was about to offer a few comforting words when she handed him the packed pastries. Her wrinkled face relaxed into a smile once more.

"Don’t worry, I won’t be like those muddleheaded fools shouting about the end of the world. I don’t believe any of those ridiculous rumors."

"The Saintess is right here competing in our East District. I heard she can slay a demon dragon with a single sword and revive the dead with a mere touch of her hand. Even if the God of Hope were reincarnated, it would be no different. Why should ordinary people like us worry?"

Pei Xi glanced at the small newspaper beside the old woman’s hand and immediately spotted the two characters for Ye Zheng, surrounded by extravagant praise.

A few days earlier, Ye Zheng’s name had vanished from the newspapers for several days. Even the spontaneous propaganda posters the public had put up along the streets had been removed by the knight order. For reasons unknown, in recent days the titles "Saintess," "Agent of the God of Hope," and "God Chosen" had once again appeared before everyone’s eyes.

The grandmother patted the back of his hand, comforting the stiff-faced young man before her. "Pei Xi, don’t put too much pressure on yourself. You’re all still children. Believe in the Saintess and believe in the empire. The lower district will remain safe and sound."

Pei Xi forced the corners of his mouth upward with difficulty, blinked his dull blue eyes, and replied, "...Is that so? Believe in her."

When Pei Xi turned around with the bag in hand, he stared blankly at the crowd flowing along the street. He suddenly realized that no one was paying attention to him anymore, nor to the promise he’d once made to bring the championship, glory, and peace to the lower district.

The focus of people’s conversations was no longer the Cloud Soarers’ competition results. A while ago it had been the Pope’s crimes, then the successor of the God of Hope and the Saintess Ye Zheng. Recently, discussions of the Western District had been added.

In that instant, all surrounding noise seemed to fade away. Pei Xi could hear only the violent pounding of his own heart.

He couldn’t entrust the safety and hope of the lower district to Ye Zheng, whose intentions remained entirely unclear.

The church had used the sudden emergence of the Agent of the God of Hope as a pretext to reduce taxes and promote divine grandeur. People had immersed themselves in the Saintess’s grace and had even forgotten the church’s and the Pope’s past sins.

How could entrusting the future to a Saintess who resembled an unfathomable abyss ever be reassuring?

Most importantly, he couldn’t abandon the promise he’d once made to the lower districts and to himself.

The night deepened.

"Pei Xi! You’re finally back. Roy and I were so anxious we almost went out to look for you."

"Didn’t you say you were just going to buy food? Why did it take so long?"

Kyle saw that Pei Xi had returned empty-handed and scratched his head in confusion. In any case, it was good that Pei Xi had returned.

"Mm. I wandered through the streets for a bit."

Pei Xi offered no further explanation. He poured himself a glass of water to moisten his throat, then spoke calmly.

"Tomorrow we’ll continue clearing the aberrant realms. We’re not far from second place in points."

Roy and Kyle rose from their chairs in shock, staring at the black-haired, blue-eyed young man in disbelief.

"Wait, then Lu—"

Roy said urgently.

"Lu Qi also wouldn’t want us to give up the competition. Bringing glory and dawn to the lower district is our shared wish, isn’t it?"

Pei Xi’s gaze shifted as he looked at his two teammates. "Besides, there’s no definite news about the Western District or Lu Qi. Even if we rush there impulsively, it would be extremely difficult to find her."

Roy and Kyle exchanged glances, both seeing the shock reflected in each other’s eyes.

What Pei Xi said was reasonable, yet deep down they’d always assumed he would make a different choice...

✧✧✧✧✧

Ye Zheng had already dispatched people to secretly gather information about the West District. As soon as the rumors about the West District began spreading in the lower districts, she’d received confirmed news: the Western District had been enveloped within a massive fog.

After the fog swallowed the entire Western District, no one emerged again, and those who entered vanished without a trace.

The most bizarre aspect was that none of this had anything to do with aberrant realms!

At first, people assumed the fog was a colossal aberrant realm covering the entire Western District. However, when government personnel from neighboring areas used detection instruments, they discovered it wasn’t an aberrant realm at all. The instruments showed no reaction whatsoever.

It was either a new type of aberrant realm that surpassed existing technology, or monsters originating from outside aberrant realms. Either possibility was enough to trigger overwhelming panic.

The empire had originally intended to conceal it for a while longer, but the lord of the lower district, Chen Xue, had defied the higher authorities’ wishes and warned everyone not to approach.

Ye Zheng had already guessed why the scene from the spoilers would unfold.

Knowing that an unknown crisis had erupted in her hometown, with Lu Qi’s temperament, she would certainly return.

Ye Zheng closed her eyes. Even without Lu Qi as a factor, she would still have to go, for the sake of the secrets the Pope was concealing in the West District.

『But if you go to the West District now, Wen Jian will certainly grow suspicious of you. You’ve finally managed to stabilize him, causing the church to oppose the imperial family and fully support you in securing the God Chosen identity.』

The system analyzed.

『You’re currently the focus of everyone’s attention. It’s impossible to conceal it from Wen Jian and the others if you personally go to the Western District. You also have no legitimate reason to go.』

“No reason?”

“The people are enduring hardship. As the Saintess, it’s only proper that I appear before them.”

『That is, in fact, a sound reason. However, will the imperial family truly permit you to cultivate popularity so openly...』

The system considered that the imperial family had already devised such vicious means to seize Ye Zheng’s identity. It was impossible they’d simply watch as she continued winning the people’s hearts.

Nor was it likely they’d allow her to place herself in genuine danger. If the individual chosen by the God of Hope were to perish, the empire would only descend further into instability.

“Find a way that won’t arouse Wen Jian’s suspicion, yet also prevents the imperial family from obstructing me.”

Ye Zheng tapped her fingers lightly against the table. She sat in her private study, a stack of documents piled neatly beside her. This study, reserved exclusively for her use, had only recently been approved by Ye Fanjing.

Her dark eyes swept across the documents before her, then suddenly paused.

Ye Zheng drew out one particular file. The last time she’d gone to the training grounds to formally meet the Order of Sacred Conduct, she had instructed Wende to discreetly investigate any suspicious individuals there without drawing attention.

The training grounds had been a gift from Sykes. At the time, she’d suspected that Sykes, now operating with his full intellect, might have planted surveillance to monitor her movements.

Initially, Wende had found nothing unusual. However, ever since she’d transformed before Sykes and drawn the divine sword, he had clearly begun investigating her. Even the hidden lines he had embedded had grown restless and were subsequently discovered by Wende.

She had instructed Wende not to alert them. Perhaps they could be turned to her advantage and used to transmit precisely the information she wished Sykes to receive.

Holding the document, Ye Zheng’s brows relaxed, and a meaningful smile curved her lips.

Perfect. As a member of the royal team and the emperor’s secretly designated future imperial candidate, if Sykes insisted on traveling to the Western District and required her accompaniment, it wouldn’t appear unusual for her to comply.

Ye Zheng lifted her pen, contemplated briefly, and wrote a few lines upon the document.

She was willing to gamble. The fragmentary memories Sykes had abruptly recovered following her treatment were connected to his monstrous origins.

She wondered how much he truly understood about his own background: the transaction between the church and the imperial family in those bygone days, the empress’s death, the dragon bone human experiments, the clandestine research conducted in the Western District...

『Are you intending to reveal this information to him? I believe it may be somewhat dangerous for you to approach Sykes at this time.』

The system recalled Sykes’s violent temperament. The moment Ye Zheng had drawn the sword, she had even kicked him to the ground. How could Sykes possibly greet this girl, who had once trampled him beneath her foot, with composure?

He would likely activate 【Destruction】 the instant he laid eyes on her again.

“Approach him directly and confess everything? He’d only assume I’ve come to toy with him once more.”

The present Sykes could no longer place simple trust in her as he once had. She had to proceed through subtler, more circuitous means.

She would exploit the hidden lines Sykes had stationed to monitor her and “accidentally” leak him certain clues, particularly those concerning the Pope’s secrets in the Western District.

She would lead him to believe that the secrets surrounding his origins lay concealed within the Western District. Ye Zheng was confident he’d be intrigued. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have requested regular treatment from her in order to recover his memories.

“Don’t disappoint me, Sykes.”

Ye Zheng lowered her head and composed a paragraph. Observing the half-truths and half-fabrications she had constructed, she felt they would suffice to handle the present Sykes.

Until his coming-of-age ceremony, Sykes would remain a remarkably useful blade.