Chapter 121-The Manga Pariah's Guide to Self-Salvation
In the dilapidated control room, a red-haired woman fumbled tensely, her hand gripping a circular ring, pulling it steadily leftward.
Lily recalled Kiran's words: if he didn't return in half an hour, she must come here.
Then pull the helm-like ring on the wall left-downward, wait another fifteen minutes. If he still didn't arrive...
Lily glanced at a corner of the console. She knew a button lurked there—Bishop Kiran hadn't explained it, but instinct warned against pressing it lightly.
Who knew what dire fate might befall Bishop Kiran, her, and the entire base.
What had Bishop Kiran gone to do? Would he meet mishap? No—he schemed so flawlessly; surely he wouldn't let things reach the worst.
A soft creak startled her. The young red-haired woman turned joyfully, but upon recognizing the intruder, excitement dimmed to wariness.
"Nun Annabelle, and Annie—why are you here?"
"Child, come to me. I've come to take you back."
Annabelle advanced slowly, arms outstretched. Hesitation flickered on Lily's face; she lowered her head, shuffling back a step.
"No, I have something crucial to do—concerning the entire plan. You shouldn't be here."
The younger Annie couldn't help complaining, "What crucial thing could you have? Tell us—can't we help?"
Annabelle softened her gaze, stepping closer. "Annie's right. We're family—share what's troubling you."
Lily shook her head while edging toward the console's far left, her hand instinctively resting upon it.
They seemed reasonable—if it concerned the base, why not let them assist? But Bishop Kiran had expressly warned: reveal it to no one.
Because they—and he—couldn't comprehend. Only she... Even she didn't know his exact intent, but only she could understand and support him unconditionally.
Seeing Lily unmoved, Annabelle's gray eyes darkened. She glanced deeply at the young red-haired woman, then at Zhu Weilai beside her.
Tall, with cheeks like soft dough of kindness, her expression often blankly wandering, swaying idly when bored—this seemingly dim-witted child could reap lives from afar.
If she focused, she could sever anything within three meters. Just a step closer, a gesture, and Lily nearby would halve instantly.
Kiran had cozened Lily here with ill intent, surely to counter Ye Zheng or some grander scheme. She couldn't let the wayward lamb charge further to doom.
The young woman by the console eyed them warily and panicked, her gaze dipping occasionally. Annabelle noted she seemed to check the time.
She was waiting—for Kiran.
At the thought, Annabelle's heart clenched. She knew Ye Zheng had gone to the Bone Burial Ground to await Kiran; likely only one would emerge alive. But who?
She closed her weary, turbid eyes, murmuring a "God of Hope protect us." Reopening them, her gaze sharpened cold and ruthless.
"Lily, either come with us, or remain here forever."
Lily stared blankly at Annabelle, shuddering involuntarily. This was the first time seeing the gentle yet dignified dean nun so merciless—had she truly erred? They all gathered here to better the world.
The girl beside the old nun grew anxious. Though her bond with Lily was middling, she wished no harm upon her regardless.
"Lily, do you even know what you're doing? Do you know Bishop Kiran's goal? He didn't even tell you—why trust him so blindly?"
"Was it because he once recited for you—Divine Revelation Volume One's 'I shall offer myself to darkness and despair, burning to ash until birthing new life for all'?"
Lily flushed crimson. "I shared that with you, not for you to blurt it publicly!"
"He's deceiving you! That's not the God of Hope's original words—you needn't burn for anyone!"
Lily clutched her head, eyes reddening. The ignorant Annie must be lying! How dare she call Bishop Kiran and the Divine Revelation's black-and-white text a deception?
Her hand slammed onto the console, flipping open the metal plate to reveal the hidden red button beneath.
Fifteen minutes had passed—Kiran hadn't come! He—he might have... No, then she must steel herself to fulfill his final wish: ensure Bishop Kiran's great life ended without regret, in fulfillment!
Seeing the young woman's increasingly frenzied demeanor, Annabelle drooped her lids wearily. She silently tugged Zhu Weilai's sleeve.
Weilai couldn't control her power well; once unleashed, survival was near impossible. Though loath to lose another child, the moment brooked no hesitation.
Lily still wavered, her raised hand hovering. In her heart, she clung to a one-percent hope: Kiran was merely late—he'd arrive soon, pull open that door—
Creak—the abrupt sound shattered the room's stasis.
Lily's gaze toward the door ignited with hope, as did the other three's in surprised vigilance.
The door cracked open a slit, as if nudged by breeze—but this sealed base knew no wind—
Nor mist.
Annie clapped a hand over her mouth in shock. White fog poured ceaselessly from the gap, soon filling the control room. Even Lily lowered her hand in bewilderment.
In the enveloping white terror, the door swung wide unnoticed, outside screams of despair and frantic fleeing steps filtering in—the only sounds in the hushed space.
"Come here—all of you!"
The aged nun pulled the children close. In the fog where visibility dropped to inches, Lily too bolted panicked toward the sole warm voice, huddling into Annabelle's arm.
She knew what this was: Zhou Yun, the woman bent on destroying the base, the West District—even the entire empire. Today, the base had finally fallen.
In the mist, the door rattled creakily back and forth like an unsteady clock. Suddenly, it slammed backward with a boom. Annie flinched, then cautiously peered out.
In the white fog, a deep black loomed at the threshold—like some beast's massive claw mark on the door.
Until the "claw mark" twitched. Annie realized with a jolt—it wasn't a mark. Something had entered.
When Luo Qi awoke amid the humid air, she sneezed involuntarily, looking up to find herself cradled in someone's arms.
"Awake?"
Hearing the unfamiliar voice, Luo Qi rolled off the woman's lap at once. Surveying her surroundings, she was in a lavish parlor; on the sofa before her sat a woman—evidently, she'd been napping on her knee.
Wait—how had she ended up in someone else's home? Just now, she'd taken Ye Zheng's note from the base, then in the white fog, sought Zhou Yun's aid...
"You're Zhou Yun!"
Luo Qi's eyes widened, staring at the woman seated elegantly on the sofa. She wore a black gown, black hair low-bound with a white ribbon at her left breast, sipping tea slowly, her gaze kindly upon her.
"Rest a bit more. Escaping that place must have injured you badly, but luckily you weren't implanted with that vile, despairing thing..."
"No, I don't need rest. Auntie, listen—Ye Zheng has something for you to see."
Luo Qi remembered suddenly, fumbling over herself in panic, only to find the note missing. Flustered, she gaped at the sofa woman, who leisurely set down her tea, a paper note suddenly pinched between her fingertips.
"I don't like that child Ye Zheng."
Luo Qi blinked in astonishment—someone disliking Ye Zheng was unheard of.
"But I like you. You remind me of my daughter. For you, I'll grant her request."
Zhou Yun sipped again, then rose, eyes misty with laughter yet laced with cold murder. "Anyway, wherever they go on this land, death awaits."
"N-no— what happened to your legs?"
Luo Qi noticed Zhou Yun's legs upon rising: her lower half seemed buried in fog, ethereal and indistinct, drifting cloud-like as she moved. The sight shocked her past Zhou Yun's chilling words.
"Ah, because my power's nearly spent. I'm dying."
Zhou Yun glanced faintly at her lower body.
Luo Qi felt she'd misspoke, hastily shifting the hurtful topic. Racking her brains, she said, "Um, right—why don't you like Ye Zheng? She seems the perfect good child adults adore."
At "good child," Zhou Yun smiled, her gaze more tenderly pitying upon Luo Qi.
"Because I dislike perfect good children. I prefer the not-so-bright one, a bit reckless, envying more talented peers... my child."
In Luo Qi's stunned gaze, Zhou Yun stroked her hair, murmuring, "I should have told her that long ago. I shouldn't have compared her to Ye Zheng... Of course, my mistakes go far beyond that."
Luo Qi knew not what had transpired, but seeing Zhou Yun's sorrowful face stirred bitterness within her. She touched the woman's icy cheek.
"Whatever the mistakes, there's chance to mend them. Right—Ye Zheng's great at healing; maybe she can help you!"
Zhou Yun's smile held no warmth as she hooked her lips, pressing Luo Qi's hand. "Not just my errors—many people's lies piled up, and it was all this tottering wrongness that crushed my Yuan Yuan."
"And now, I'll thoroughly correct this nation's heinous sins, freeing you from the veil of deceit."
Luo Qi harbored a dire premonition, gazing at Zhou Yun's face gentler than her mother's, a chill crawling inexplicably through her—along with nameless sorrow.
West District, Lanxia County, York Town.
Percy watched the people huddle in terror, his heart sinking heavier instead of lifting with relief at finding the missing.
Zhou Yun had herded fifty thousand into this town. Over two weeks of chaos and scarcity, many had died even without her hand—attempts to flee looping them eternally in the fog-shrouded town.
Percy glanced back; the path they'd entered had vanished.
He'd asked several—no one knew Zhou Yun's whereabouts. Without locating her true form, they were mere lambs awaiting slaughter in the mist.
Percy sighed deeply again, hoping Sykes's Ryan might uncover something. Word was Sykes had brought hundreds of knights in, only for the fog to isolate them all upon entry.
Now he had only Roy and Caleb; Luo Qi remained in the base, and Ye Zheng... she was no longer a teammate. For her extremism, Kiran had her confined.
Powerless despondency washed over him anew. Pacing irritably down the fog-wreathed street, he nearly collided with someone.
Gurgle gurgle—it seemed he'd knocked something from their bag, objects rolling out.
Percy crouched apologetically to pick them up. Through the hazy mist, he touched a round, furry thing.
"Sorry—let me get that."
A familiar voice sounded softly above. Percy looked up in disbelief; the other had already squatted, gently taking it from his hand.
"Percy, hand it over, hm?"
Dazed, Percy looked down—not a round object, but a human head in his grasp.
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