Chapter 98

 【Am I the only one who thinks Pei Xi is acting OOC in the latest plot...?】

Upon seeing this title, Tang Mingxi immediately detected the scent of controversy surrounding the male lead, Pei Xi, in this update. Although she was only invested in Ye Zheng’s storyline, watching the rival camp stumble was equally satisfying.

She swiftly switched back to the manga app, unwilling to miss any opportunity to watch the opposing side embarrass themselves.

The moment the app opened, a splash screen appeared: a black-haired, green-eyed youth smiling as he extended a hand toward the viewer. Tang Mingxi froze briefly, then quickly took a screenshot. This was the splash-screen event fulfilling the results of the previous “Most Popular Female Character” poll.

Imagining those who disliked Ye Zheng, as well as Zhao Mei fans who refused to acknowledge her, all being forced to see this upon opening the app, and knowing it was a result they themselves had voted for, made Tang Mingxi stifle a sly laugh.

The more she looked at Zhao Mei on the screen, the more pleasing he appeared. Ye Zheng’s male disguise completely overshadowed Pei Xi, Sykes, and the other high-popularity pretty-boy characters. Being able to enjoy such a striking splash screen every time truly made being a Ye Zheng supporter worthwhile!

In high spirits, she opened the latest chapter of 『Throne of the Aberrant Realm』 .

The new installment continued from the previous one in which Ye Zheng had revealed her identity and drawn the sword, with crowds cheering along the streets and the protagonist team watching in stunned silence.

Several days had passed, yet the group still couldn’t fully digest this astonishing reversal. Every time Pei Xi stepped outside, he was surrounded by voices praising the Saintess. The image of Zhao Mei from the past gradually overlapped with the towering portraits of the Saintess hanging along the streets.

Reading to this point, Tang Mingxi felt something in the plot was amiss. The author repeatedly emphasized the contrast between past and present, making Ye Zheng seem like some grand deceiver. Yet Zhao Mei had never denied being Ye Zheng!

There was also a close-up panel of a Saintess portrait: a black-haired, black-eyed girl with her hands clasped over her heart in an exceedingly gentle and harmless pose, yet her eyes held a coldness untouched by the smile.

Startled, Tang Mingxi immediately took another screenshot. Though indignant, she couldn’t deny that she somewhat enjoyed the occasional dark and damp aura Ye Zheng exuded. Still, the author’s deliberate amplification of this scene felt as though they were slapping an “I am the villain” label directly onto Ye Zheng’s forehead.

Yet Ye Zheng had plainly done nothing to wrong the protagonist team. As Zhao Mei, she had even rendered them considerable help, and she’d obtained the divine sword through her own strength. How did that make her a villain?

Tang Mingxi was displeased with the way the author was steering Ye Zheng’s character. She kept reading, her irritation mounting with every paragraph.

Just as the Cloud Soarers’ morale had sunk to its lowest ebb, Lu Qi vanished.

Her hometown in the Western District had fallen into crisis. Lu Qi departed without a word, slipping away from the team in silence. Pei Xi and the others stood holding the letter she’d left behind, their expressions weighted with restrained emotion.

Tang Mingxi could predict the next development with her toes. Pei Xi and the others would certainly rush to the Western District to find Lu Qi, assist her in resolving the calamity there, display the Cloud Soarers’ team spirit, and secure a triumphant moment of protecting their companion. Wasn’t that the standard shonen manga formula? Lu Qi was nothing more than a narrative device to introduce heightened difficulty, and she’d probably be scolded by readers for burdening the team.

But what followed left Tang Mingxi utterly stunned. Pei Xi actually chose not to search for Lu Qi.

Curious, she scrolled further. In the subsequent chapters, the author devoted an extended stretch to portraying Pei Xi’s inner turmoil, how he was torn between his personal desire to rescue his companion and his overarching mission to fulfill his duty. The lengthy and intricate monologue made Tang Mingxi want to skip ahead.

She flipped to the final page. Roy mentioned that Ye Zheng and Sykes were heading to the Western District together, and after much complicated deliberation, Pei Xi ultimately decided to go as well to bring Lu Qi back.

Tang Mingxi finally understood what the trending forum post had been referring to.

【1L: Am I the only one who thinks Pei Xi is acting OOC in the latest plot...?】

【2L: Disclaimer, I’m a Pei Xi fan who’s followed since the very first chapter. Reading the new update genuinely hurt. Did I misunderstand Pei Xi, or did the author write him OOC? Given the deep bond among team members, Pei Xi should’ve rushed to the Western District the moment he learned Lu Qi was missing. He’s always been a brave hero who sacrifices himself for others. He’d save even a stranger without hesitation, let alone Lu Qi!】

【3L: Are you blind? Didn’t you read the detailed and nuanced inner struggle that followed?】

【4L: I also found it strange at first when Pei Xi chose not to save Lu Qi, but after reading the later passages, I actually feel his character’s finally been fleshed out. Blind hot bloodedness is flat and dull anyway.】

【5L: Anyone trying to smear the character under the guise of criticism, please delete your post. Who can still call themselves a Pei Xi mom now? If you can’t even understand Pei Xi, what kind of fan are you?】

【6L: Mm... The OP said what I didn’t dare to. Those above, stop coddling him so excessively. You think you’re protecting Pei Xi, but you’re actually babying the author. What’s wrong with calling out OOC?】

【7L: The OP is so strange. If it’s OOC, blame the author. Why drag the paper character into it?】

【8L: You Pei Xi moms have astonishing mental gymnastics. The plot’s collapsed this badly and you can still lie without blinking. Does anyone even care whether our Lu Qi lives or dies?】

【9L: All the Pei Xi fans who think the plot is fine, come meet me. When I’m old, I want to sell you insurance.】

【10L: Why attack Pei Xi fans? Aren’t Pei Xi and his fans the biggest victims of this plot?】

【11L: You’re right, but our Lu Qi’s been so lightly brushed aside by everyone...】

【12L: What right does a Lu Qi fan have to show her face? In the end, if Lu Qi hadn’t run off on her own, the Cloud Soarers wouldn’t have been forced into this dilemma!】

【13L: Pei Xi’s ideal has always been to protect his hometown in the lower district. Where’s the OOC? It’s human nature to struggle between friendship and ideals. Anyway, after reading this update, I love him even more. Pei Xi’s become more three dimensional and alive.】

【14L: Pei Xi moms are so skilled at arguing from both sides. One moment you say OOC and stop dragging the paper character, the next you claim your male treasure’s grown flesh and blood. Can you apply the same rhetoric you used to scold Ye Zheng last week?】

【15L: Extreme double standards. Many people don’t dare say it, but this Pei Xi is simply low. He can’t even protect his own companion, yet he wants to accomplish some grand ideal. How ridiculous.】

【16L: The person above is so bold. Guards!】

【17L: Such audacity, daring to say that about our three dimensional, flesh and blood male lead. Don’t you want to live anymore?】

【18L: Now we know who’s stirring trouble. You Ye Zheng fans don’t even conceal your agenda while fanning the flames. So obvious and laughable. Pei Xi fans, don’t let them lead you around.】

【19L: May a passerby speak? This plot genuinely feels off. Instead of silencing passersby here, why not go protest under the author’s account?】

【20L: Everyone, come analyze the joke in 19L. ID: “Zheng Dragon's Heavenly Maiden” “Passerby”】

【21L: What passerby? They’re all Zheng passersby. Our Pei Xi moms are still too gentle. Anyone can step on us.】

...

“Zheng passerby.” Tang Mingxi let out a cold laugh. This tactic of diverting attention was simple yet effective. The controversy surrounding Pei Xi himself was swiftly redirected into a fan war between character stans.

And what did any of it have to do with them, the Ye Zheng moms, or with Ye Zheng herself? Anyone unaware of the situation might think Ye Zheng had held a gun to Pei Xi’s head and forced him to decide.

【162L: I support the OP. Our Lu Qi truly gave her heart to the wrong people. She believed everyone were good friends, yet in the end she was the one who could be discarded so easily.】

【163L: Lu Qi fans have the least right to blame Pei Xi. Who’s been dragging the Cloud Soarers down this entire time? Who? I won’t say.】

【164L: Oh my god, is it that our Lu Qi doesn’t want to contribute? She’s always been sidelined by the author, and now you want to fault her for not contributing enough?】

【165L: Male treasure dads are forever young and forever elastic in their double standards. The moment they start scolding female paper characters, our usually flat and soulless female treasures suddenly acquire vivid flesh and blood.】

【166L: I’m laughing till I throw up. There aren’t even five genuine Lu Qi moms across the entire internet, yet the moment someone criticizes Pei Xi, a whole crowd appears. Ye Zheng moms, stop hiding beneath other female treasure moms’ skirts. You’re the most misogynistic of all.】

【167L: I’m genuinely confused. When there’s a problem with the plot, shouldn’t we criticize the author? Why are all the Pei Xi fans attacking other unrelated female paper characters and their fans?】

【168L: This is how precious male treasures are. They can’t be criticized. Make way for our Compensation Emperor!】

【169L: Who’s the compensation goods? Someone’s fans have been hyping the sword drawing highlight and claiming she’s the first to break out of the aberrant realms, and the official even gave her a splash screen to promote her. Yet her merch sales look like this?】

【170L: Your Pei Xi’s plot content is more than ten times Ye Zheng’s, yet his merch sales are only twice as much. That return rate is far too low. How do you have the nerve to post that table?】

【171L: I know you Compensation Emperor fans were severely provoked by our Zheng’s beautiful splash screen. Since that’s the case, let’s admire it once more.】

【172L: Compensation Emperor fans, kneel and thank us. We Ye Zheng fans are extremely busy today. We haven’t even finished appreciating the Saintess extra chibi comic, and we still have to carve out time to let you all have a look.】

...

【284L: Dear Pei Xi moms, please take note. We Lu Qi fans are deeply grateful to the captain for taking care of her all along, and in the end Pei Xi did choose to go rescue Lu Qi.】

【285L: The person above really thinks we Lu Qi moms are dead. Next time a male treasure mom pretends to be a Lu Qi mom and kneels on our behalf, please provide proof, alright?】

【286L: I originally had a fairly good impression of Lu Qi, but this time I’ve turned against her. Fans resemble their fave. Ungrateful. With Lu Qi’s ability, she doesn’t even qualify to stand beside Pei Xi. It’s only because my son is kind hearted that he’s willing to carry this dead weight.】

【287L: Suspected Pei Xi fans can’t defeat the Ye Zheng moms, so they begin bullying a niche female treasure to whitewash their male treasure. Lu Qi is truly pitiful. She’s a tool both within and outside the comic.】

Tang Mingxi hadn’t held a particularly deep impression of Lu Qi, but compared to the three boys in the Cloud Soarers, Lu Qi was undeniably cuter. Moreover, when Ye Zheng had been Zhao Mei, she’d gotten along well with Lu Qi, so Tang Mingxi couldn’t help but feel a trace of fondness by association.

This thread debating whether Pei Xi was OOC had already completely derailed into an all out character stan war. Many Pei Xi fans, in their attempt to prove there was nothing wrong with Pei Xi’s actions, had begun attacking Lu Qi to divert everyone’s attention. Their brazen thick skin was genuinely infuriating.

Tang Mingxi rolled her eyes. A mischievous idea surfaced in her mind.

She widened her eyes and clicked into Lu Qi’s super topic. Though the super topic was rather quiet, Lu Qi still had a circle of loyal fans who meticulously compiled her plot scenes.

Tang Mingxi saved several images, then returned to the forum. The account she usually used, “What does it matter if I’ve offended the whole world,” had already been identified by Pei Xi fans. She deliberately created a new account and posted a fresh thread.

【Is there anyone else who can’t stand Lu Qi?】

【1L: Is there anyone else who can’t stand Lu Qi? I used to tolerate her purely because she was a member of the Cloud Soarers, but in reality she’s genuinely difficult to evaluate.】

【2L: In this plot she was so selfish. Why is everyone blaming Pei Xi? Wasn’t Pei Xi completely dragged down by her?】

【3L: She was already so useless in the earlier plot. During battles she still couldn’t forget to look pretty and wore skirts. Who was she dressing up for? Everyone else was fighting monsters with all their strength, and she was still tugging at her skirt.】

【4L: If her butterflies had been of any real use in the labyrinth aberrant realm, Pei Xi would’ve obtained the sword long ago. This girl is the most useless character in the entire manga, bar none.】

Tang Mingxi posted four consecutive trolling comments in a single breath. After submitting them, she reread them and suddenly felt a flicker of regret. The bait was far too obvious and crude. What if the Pei Xi fans immediately saw through the provocation?

She refreshed the page. Replies poured in at once.

【5L: Mom, protect me. Finally someone dares to say it. I was afraid that the moment I spoke up someone would accuse me of misogyny.】

【6L: It’s simply the truth. Lu Qi is the archetypal energetic yet brainless pretty girl in male frequency stories. As a female reader, isn’t it perfectly normal to dislike this stereotypical character?】

【7L: She triggers my stupidity allergy. What purpose does her going back alone serve besides creating a moral dilemma for her teammates?】

【8L: Everyone’s scolding Pei Xi for not saving her, but why must Pei Xi save her? If Pei Xi had abandoned everything to rescue her and then lost the competition, wouldn’t you all scold him for being a brainless saint again?】

【9L: Enough. Stop making my son clean up after his foolish teammates. Pei Xi has to save people and still gets scolded. He’s practically the greatest scapegoat in the entire manga.】

【10L: Reading this update broke my heart. When has Pei Xi ever been this conflicted? They completely disregard Pei Xi’s pain and only scold him.】

　　……

Tang Mingxi hadn’t expected the Pei Xi fans to take the bait so effortlessly. No one realized she was deliberately fanning the flames, and they began criticizing Lu Qi with genuine emotion, as if they had been holding their grievances in for a long time. The replies multiplied at a startling speed.

“…What an astonishing way of thinking.”

She let out a sigh.

Soon, even passersby outside the Pei Xi fan circle were lured in by the extremely provocative title. Shocked by the malice directed at Lu Qi, dissenting voices began to appear in the thread.

【52L: Are you all serious? You’re even nitpicking a cute little girl like Lu Qi?】

【53L: Uh, excuse me, if something happened to your family, would you still be in the mood to compete? Lu Qi’s decision was completely reasonable, wasn’t it?】

【54L: Isn’t it a fact that she dragged her teammates down? Even taking ten thousand steps back, it was her own choice. On what basis are you morally coercing Pei Xi to abandon the competition and rescue her?】

【55L: Congratulations to you Pei Xi fans for ascending to the most unreasonable group in the entire manga. The issue is clearly that Pei Xi is OOC. When you praise him, you call him a rare righteous protagonist of this era, a true savior. Yet this savior can calmly continue competing after his companion disappears. You really think there’s no problem there?】

【56L: I’m honestly stunned by you fellow fans. Anyway, I’m dropping the manga. Proof attached. Don’t claim I’m a rival stirring trouble. (attached image: Pei Xi merchandise purchase record)】

【57L: The bond of the Cloud Soarers is a crucial part of Pei Xi’s character setup. The very fact that he hesitated so long over whether to save Lu Qi has already disqualified him. After following Throne of the Aberrant Realm for so long, this is the first time I’ve felt disappointed in the protagonist.】

【58L: Lu Qi moms are really about to cry. Whether Lu Qi wears skirts into battle because she likes them or because the author likes them, don’t you all have any awareness? In the labyrinth, Yu Tianming used his S-Class ability to suppress Lu Qi’s C-class ability, which is why her butterflies collapsed powerless. Afterward, her expression was filled with self-blame. And you still want to use that image to judge her? Is Lu Qi truly useless, or does the manga simply enjoy using her as a supporting character and a tool to manufacture obstacles? Don’t you honestly know?】

【59L: Lu Qi baby, my heart aches for you. I got so upset I went to the official site and bought a pile of badges. Let those dead officials know that we Lu Qi moms aren’t pushovers!】

…

The accusations escalated to such extremes that even neutral readers couldn’t stand them anymore. This successfully reversed the tone of the thread. Most readers could now clearly see the issue with Pei Xi this time. Frenziedly hurling mud at female characters would only provoke backlash from rational readers.

【172L: After seeing the Lu Qi moms’ recommendations, I got completely hooked. Going back alone to confront unknown danger, our Lu Qi is truly such a brave little girl.】

【173L: The Ye Zheng moms next door also bought some Lu Qi merchandise to show support. The two female treasures had a good relationship before. The badges look adorable together.】

【174L: Oh my god, I used to ship Zhao-Lu. I was constantly bullied by the Xi-Zhao fans. Watching the Pei Xi fans implode this time is so satisfying.】

【175L: Same here, Zhao-Lu CP sis, haha. I’ve been in collapse mode until now. BG suddenly turned GL and I still haven’t fully adjusted, but I won’t let anyone bully either of them!】

【176L: Aiyo, the big male lead stans finally flipped. They thought bullying a niche female treasure was a guaranteed win, and ended up being collectively mocked instead, hahaha.】

【177L: Lu Qi moms are dying of laughter. You kicked cotton and now we’ve turned into an iron board. Are your feet alright?】

Tang Mingxi, having concealed her achievements and fame, quietly switched accounts. A secret thrill surged within her. The domineering big male lead stans had finally taken a blow, and the fire aimed at Ye Zheng had been diverted. The Pei Xi fans were even beginning to fracture internally, leaving them with no energy to target Ye Zheng.

Thus, Tang Mingxi opened the extra chapter 【A Day in the Life of the Saintess】 once again. The manga’s bullet comments had increased significantly, and they were overwhelmingly friendly. As a Ye Zheng stan who’d weathered countless storms, this was the first time Tang Mingxi had witnessed such a harmonious comment section and bullet screen. It felt like a peaceful, pastoral happiness.

Holding her phone, she suddenly pouted. This extra also featured Zhao Mei’s appearance. Should she tempt Li Yixin into coming to appreciate it together?

In the past, the Ye Zheng household and the Zhao Mei household had fought fiercely. She and Li Yixin had both quickly adapted to their rival identities. Now, however, the two of them had a perfect opportunity to become fellow stans.

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Authors Note

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Oh my heavens, the 200-person Big Eyes super topic actually updates with new content every single day. The Laosi are truly formidable!

[T/N- big eyes here a slang term for Weibo (cause it logo is eyes) it's a combination of twitter and reddit, supertopic=subreddit, author basically saying although supertopic has just 200 people they still managed to post new content about this series every day.]