Chapter 93-The Manga Pariah's Guide to Self-Salvation

Sitting in the car, Ye Zheng's hand rested on the sword at her waist. Wen Jian had only asked about it briefly. He had suggested leaving the sword in the Sei Curia for safekeeping, but she refused, and he didn't press the matter.

Even if Wen Jian knew her mind was complex, he didn't doubt the authenticity of this sword. Who would dare to imagine she would create such a fake?

[Have you thought about what you'll do if you're exposed?]

The System had always had this worry. Wouldn't that be incredibly awkward?

"So what if the sword is fake?"

"As long as I solidify my status as the savior, it will be the new divine sword."

Ye Zheng replied to the System coolly. Rather than being exposed, she was more concerned about whether she should take the time to practice swordsmanship. Learn a few flashy moves to bluff people?

[Stream] was actually a double-S-rank water-based ability, leaning towards control and attack; healing was just a side effect.

Back then, to solidify her identity as an A-rank healer, she spent most of her time practicing control and healing, and occasionally learned some marksmanship from Qin Lu. Her skill level was merely introductory compared to Qin Lu's.

—Alright, she had to admit, as a girl her age, it was inevitable to yearn to become a more imposing and dashing figure.

[Dashing aside, I really can't find anyone more imposing than you...]

The System couldn't help but complain inwardly. It often forgot Ye Zheng's age because of her overly mature way of doing things. In the real world, a seventeen-year-old would still be in their rebellious phase, giving adults a headache.

But wasn't Ye Zheng a kind of rebellious teenager to the adults of this world? As expected, it's the young people who have the passion to save the world, the System couldn't help but muse.

The girl was still deep in thought. Wen De's swordsmanship was quite good; she could have her teach her a few moves.

Recently, Wen De had been actively leading the Holy Journey Knights Order in the lower district, participating in rescue and post-disaster work in the Demonic Domains. The Holy Journey Knights Order represented Saintess Ye Zheng, and their actions had elevated the already high reputation of the Saintess to a new level.

Even though the Royal Family maintained a suppressive silence regarding Ye Zheng's identity, the people of the lower district, who had genuinely received her grace, did not forget to spread the word of the Saintess's miracles. Moreover, Saintess Ye Zheng already had a formidable reputation among the common folk.

Thinking of matters in the lower district, Ye Zheng finally remembered something important. She sighed slowly.

The Oath-Binder was just a small, elaborate trick by Wen Jian. It was time to reveal Zoya's secret to her.

Zoya was still in the room with the curtains drawn tight, sitting on a stool and reading the latest newspaper. Wen Xin was at the desk beside her, writing a draft, her face tinged with frustration.

After spending these days together, the two had become quite familiar. Zoya asked, "What's wrong? Are you out of inspiration?"

Wen Xin shook her head. "I'm overflowing with inspiration, actually. All my manuscripts have been rejected."

Zoya was surprised. Although Wen Xin was openly ostracized by many male writers, who spread rumors that her articles must have been stolen from her late husband and that she was undeserving of her fame, only using her status to create hype, it didn't stop her articles from being highly sought after, and she had established stable collaborations with major newspapers.

"How could they do that?"

Zoya had been staying indoors all this time, her daily entertainment being learning to read and looking at books. Wen Xin was recently serializing a novel in the newspaper, a story about a girl who receives a divine mandate to save her hometown. The writing was straightforward and simple, the plot full of twists and turns. Even a semi-literate person like her found it engrossing.

The prototype was also easy to recognize. One look and you could tell it was inspired by the recent sensational Saintess Ye Zheng. Zoya guessed Wen Xin's novel must be very popular.

Wen Xin propped her chin on her hand and sighed. "It's the higher-ups who won't allow it to be written. I was already being so subtle..."

Zoya couldn't help but say, "I think anyone you grab off the street would know who the prototype is. Could it be that the higher-ups have a problem with the Saintess?"

Wen Xin's gaze became complicated. She rarely paid attention to politics before. Ever since she, under the Saintess's guidance, used a political article to take down her husband, she had become more astute in this area. She estimated that neither the Royal Family nor the Sei Curia was very happy about the Saintess gaining such a lofty reputation.

Her gaze towards Zoya held a hint of guilt. Wen De had told her that the people hunting Zoya had been withdrawn, and she could now take Zoya out carefully. However, to ensure the Saintess's plan went off without a hitch, Wen Xin still kept Zoya in the room.

"Let me continue teaching you how to read. I can't get anything published even if I write now."

Wen Xin took a book and sat down next to Zoya. Zoya turned to stare at Wen Xin's melancholic profile and asked, puzzled, "Those newspapers rejected you. Can't you publish it yourself?"

The woman holding the book couldn't help but chuckle. "The dissemination of knowledge is strictly controlled by the Sei Curia and the monarchy. Daring to print privately is a grave offense..."

Zoya nodded, half-understanding. Before meeting Pope Wen Jian, she was just an ordinary factory worker. After meeting him, she felt like the protagonist of a romantic story.

But now, her body was confined to this small room. She should have felt oppressed and miserable, yet her heart seemed to have flown to a much wider world.

"What about the Saintess? She must have a way to help you. She seems so omnipotent—"

"Omnipotent?"

Zoya heard a soft laugh. She and Wen Xin turned their heads in surprise. The Saintess, dressed in plain clothes, was walking towards them.

"That's far too much praise. But I do have a way to handle this."

Ye Zheng looked at Wen Xin and blinked. "The Sei Curia will grant you this authority, Wen Xin. I need someone to be my mouthpiece in the literary field."

Wen Xin shot up, her face flushing with excitement, her quiet demeanor tinged with a fanatical admiration. "Saintess, I will do anything you ask me to write or do!"

"Just keep writing what you want to write. As for what else to do—remember to lock the door properly in the future."

The Saintess's teasing brought a hint of embarrassment to Wen Xin's excited face. She occasionally forgot life's details when inspiration struck.

Ye Zheng and Wen Xin began to chat. The potential influence of literature was enormous, which was why the monarchy and the divine authority strictly controlled publishing rights. But the power she now held was enough to open a path for Wen Xin, and even more women.

It was not only to showcase their suppressed, outstanding talents but also for herself. Ye Zheng understood that only women would truly appreciate what she had done.

In the midst of their earnest conversation, a voice abruptly cut in, interrupting them, "Saintess, I—I—"

A flicker of surprise crossed Ye Zheng's dark eyes. She looked at the panting Zoya, moved closer to support her, and a soothing stream of water climbed up Zoya's pale, cold face.

"The Pope's secret is in the West District!"

After saying this, Zoya lowered her head, panting as if she had just survived a disaster.

Just now, when the thought of revealing the secret arose, a deathly terror almost pierced her scalp. But at that moment, she had a strong urge to say something, anything—she wanted to join them!

She had violated the oath sworn before the Oath-Binder. The ending awaiting her would be death.

While panicking, Zoya felt a strong hatred for Wen Jian. If only she had met Saintess Ye Zheng instead of him back then, would she, like Wen Xin, have found a direction to soar high...

Wen Xin covered her mouth in shock. She never thought Zoya would suddenly blurt out the Pope's secret. That came at the cost of death!

Tears almost streamed down her face. Zoya had been her companion all these days; the two were already friends. Wen Xin looked at Zoya, who was motionless with her head down, and tremblingly placed a hand on her cold cheek.

"Zoya, you... you are the most... the second bravest woman I have ever met! The Saintess and I will forever remember you!"

Ye Zheng wore an expression of wanting to speak but hesitating. The atmosphere seemed to have built up to a very moving point, making the truth get stuck in her throat. She felt that if she were to say it, it would be rather impolite...

Until Zoya herself lifted her head, her face a little dazed. Wen Xin, realizing her friend was still alive, was so excited she forgot about the Oath-Binder's curse, repeating "truly, the God of Hope protects us" several times.

Ye Zheng quietly breathed a sigh of relief. She hadn't checked on Zoya immediately because she was still thinking about how to persuade her. From Zoya's perspective, anyone trying to convince her to risk her life for someone else's goal wouldn't be very trustworthy.

Fortunately, Wen Jian's Oath-Binder was indeed a scam, and Zoya was braver than she had imagined.

But, what exactly did 'the Pope's secret is in the West District' mean?

In Wen Xin's arms, Zoya gradually realized she was fine. This could only mean one thing: Pope Wen Jian had lied to her.

She almost ground her teeth in hatred. All her anxiety and the repeated torment of her conscience these past days, what did it all amount to?

Zoya recalled Wen Jian's hypocritical appearance. He was only a little taller than her, not even comparable to the Saintess. How could she have thought Wen Jian was tall and noble back then?

"Go on, Zoya. What secret is the Pope hiding in the West District?"

The young woman straightened up from her friend's embrace. She wiped the nervous sweat from her forehead, looked into the Saintess's tolerant and encouraging dark eyes, and continued, "I overheard him at the time. After he placed the Dragon Bone in my body and saw no effect, he said to his guard that he was going to send me to the 'old place' in the West District."

"I don't know what the 'old place' is, but his tone sounded like he had sent many people to the West District. Those people are probably all... failed products? Like me."

Ye Zheng hadn't asked Wen Xin to leave the room. After hearing this secret, Wen Xin murmured in disbelief, "God of Hope above, what is the Pope planning to do? All those helpless and injured people he took in, don't tell me they were all..."

Wen Xin couldn't continue. She too had once sincerely marveled at the Pope's virtue.

After speaking, the two young women simultaneously looked at the only teenager present. Ye Zheng was leaning one hand on the desk, supporting her forehead. Her face was expressionless, looking exceptionally calm.

Wen Xin thought she knew the girl before her quite well. The Saintess was always accustomed to having a gentle smile on her face. Once her expression turned cold, it meant she was already very angry inside.

The West District, the West District... The Pope would regularly send people to the West District to preach and provide charitable relief. For the poorest and vastest area of the lower district, this was special care from the Sei Curia. Ye Zheng had thought it was part of Wen Jian's effort to build his image as a benevolent Pope.

If one wanted to hide a secret, the West District was the perfect place!

"Wen Jian... Ha."

Ye Zheng let out a low, cold laugh. Those people followed him because they admired and trusted him, and in return, he sent them to hell.

From ten years ago until now, Wen Jian really hadn't improved at all.

Ye Zheng's fingers unconsciously gripped the corner of the desk, her dark eyes staring intently at the sliver of light coming through the gap in the curtains.

If she investigated this matter now, the cooperative front she had formed with Wen Jian to oppose the emperor could easily be broken. But if she set it aside for now—

No, she couldn't set it aside.

Having thought this through, Ye Zheng put on her gentle smile again, reassuring Zoya and Wen Xin, "It's alright, I will handle this matter."

First, send people to the West District to investigate the situation. Meanwhile, she could use the temporary cooperative relationship with Wen Jian to investigate within the Sei Curia. If she acted cautiously, it wasn't impossible to pull it off. Anyway, she was quite skilled at this sort of thing.

Wen Jian's experiments were related to the Dragon Bone. Ye Zheng had a gut feeling that the manga's plot might soon have Percy and the others come into contact with Wen Jian's secret.

Ye Zheng still remembered the System telling her that these dozens of chapters were called the "Dragon Bone Arc," and Wen Jian was one of the major villains in the later stages.

When she was with the Cloud-Soaring Squad, she found that Percy hadn't even officially come into contact with the Dragon Bone.

Perhaps the creator was about to have him do so.

[Ding, your manga spoiler has been updated!]

The System's voice rang out cheerfully.

Author's Note:

I was originally going to reward myself with a day off after the identity reveal plot, but after seeing the comments section, I couldn't bear to rest. So I huffed and puffed and got back to the grind for you all... I feel like an idol who just debuted and still has that fresh rookie drive...

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