Chapter 146-The Manga Pariah's Guide to Self-Salvation

Ye Zheng stopped in her tracks, staring at the square vanity mirror hanging behind the door. It was an unremarkable style, but why was it hanging on the door?

She took the mirror down. A square wooden frame held the glass, and there was a triangular stand on the back. The lounge door had a small hook for hanging miscellaneous items, and someone had hung the mirror there.

Ye Zheng recalled what happened when she first entered the lounge. She had followed Sykes and the others, being the last one to enter. She had a habit of closing doors behind her and didn't remember seeing such a mirror on the door then.

Could it have been hung there when she and Wu Shu went out to talk?

Ye Zheng's fingers subconsciously rubbed the frame as she fell into deep thought. She suddenly remembered that when she and Wu Shu left the lounge, the door was already open.

She hadn't thought much of it at the time. It was normal for people to enter and exit the lounge. The wide-open door was pressed against the wall, so no one would have noticed what was hanging behind it. Therefore, the mirror wasn't necessarily hung during the time she and Wu Shu were out; it could have been earlier.

For instance, when she was inside the lounge observing the mirror on the innermost wall.

Ye Zheng looked up. A larger mirror hung at the end of the room, capturing everyone's reflection. She had examined it carefully; it was just an ordinary hanging mirror, as ordinary as the one in her hand...

Suddenly, Ye Zheng's fingertips felt as if they were burned. She looked down, flipped the mirror in her hand, and brought it close to her eyes—

There was a slightly darker trace on the side of the mirror's wooden stand.

Pressing the pad of her finger against this inconspicuous mark, the damp sensation caused Ye Zheng's pupils to constrict abruptly, her scalp tingling.

She suddenly remembered a dark shadow she had noticed flashing past the window ten minutes ago.

The shadow had moved too fast, leaving only a fleeting impression on Ye Zheng. She composed herself, walked to the window, and leaned out to look.

The window had been open the whole time, and the morning light was very bright. That person must have been dressed entirely in black to look like a flashing black shadow at first glance.

Ye Zheng slowly raised her right arm. In her memory, that shadow was about this height... Her palm hovered horizontally at a position slightly above the middle of the window. Her black eyes lifted, and Ye Zheng realized that the person was about the same height as her.

She looked down. Today, she was wearing all black.

Ye Zheng's breath almost stagnated. Her arm suddenly lost strength and dropped to her side. Her black pupils stared unblinkingly at the half-withered trees outside the window, her gaze seeming to solidify and penetrate the trees, looking towards a more distant, unknown scenery.

"Sister, Sis—Ye Zheng!"

Ye Zheng turned around. Even Ye Di noticed her expression was off. He ran up and lowered his voice, "What's wrong with you? Not feeling well? Don't drop the ball at a time like this."

He had managed to get into the Royal Academy team with great difficulty. If he followed the Crown Prince and secured the victory, he would absolutely become the most glorious boy at the Royal Academy, no longer just "the Saintess's younger brother"!

"Nine o'clock. Let's go."

Sykes glanced at the clock on the wall and stood up to walk towards the door. He glanced at Ye Zheng with slight curiosity. Her state today wasn't quite right; Ye Zheng hadn't shown a trace of confusion or fear even when she challenged him in the West District.

But what could happen? Sykes thought nonchalantly. Whether it was Percy or the giant eel in Amber Lake, nothing could threaten his team.

Ryan and Ye Di followed closely behind Crown Prince Sykes. One could detect the location of mutant beasts, and the other could control algae underwater. They could perfectly assist Sykes. Coupled with Ye Zheng's water control ability, this competition was practically in the bag for the Crown Prince.

Perhaps from the very beginning, this competition location was chosen to ensure the Royal Academy team's victory.

No wonder the Royal Family was willing to offer a Dragon Bone as a reward. They probably never considered a second possibility other than Sykes winning the championship.

Wu Shu walked forward with her head down, unable to resist kicking a pebble on the path. To the Imperial Royal Family and the Crown Prince, she was just a pebble that could be kicked away at any time.

She turned her head. Her teammates behind her were low-spirited, chatting idly. They took it for granted that they were just here to make up the numbers.

Even if, by a one in ten thousand chance, she led the team to victory, they—and many others—might not thank her. The Dragon Bone was obviously a pre-determined reward the Royal Family was passing from the left hand to the right. If she won, rather than becoming a legend, she was more likely to invite disaster.

Wu Shu stared at the ground and suddenly laughed. She actually dared to think about what would happen after winning the championship.

Although she kept telling Ye Zheng that she wanted to win until the end, she knew deep down that the Blood Flower incident was already a stroke of immense luck. Now her tricks would certainly be guarded against by Percy and the others. The God of Luck wouldn't descend a second time.

Even if Ye Zheng could help her, they weren't in the same team. She couldn't blatantly betray her teammates to fully assist her. Wu Shu didn't think she had the honor of having the Saintess's full support.

Moreover, she didn't believe in unconditional kindness. Benefit was the greatest lever. Ye Zheng only asked her to monitor that new member of the Cloud-Soaring Squad. For just this one condition, Wu Shu didn't believe Ye Zheng would gift her a victory that defied everyone's expectations.

The cool breeze brushed past with the sunlight. As Wu Shu walked, her steps suddenly slowed down. Unknowingly, Ye Zheng had walked up to her side.

Speaking of which, the Saintess's state today was strange. She lacked her usual ease and composure, but now, staring at her profile, Wu Shu felt that the usual Ye Zheng was back.

Ye Zheng's jawline was very distinct, and her facial bone structure was clear. If it weren't for the soft flesh on her cheeks, she would look exceptionally unapproachable when expressionless.

"Wu Shu."

Walking side by side, Ye Zheng turned her head and leaned close to Wu Shu's ear. Her volume was very low, almost using a breathy voice.

"Regarding the previous deal, I want to add a condition—be on standby for me at all times."

"Fulfill the condition, and I guarantee you can achieve victory."

Wu Shu tilted her head, bringing them even closer. Her upturned eyes narrowed in confusion.

"How do I be on standby for you?"

The two teams couldn't move together, and all communication methods would be cut off during the competition; only the distress signal could be used.

"You'll know when the time comes."

Wu Shu shook her head. "Ye Zheng, since this is a deal, our information had better be equal. What exactly do you want to do? And what do you need me to do?"

She really didn't understand. Ye Zheng had no intention of winning the championship, so what did she need her to do in this competition?

Wu Shu suddenly thought of Ye Zheng asking her to watch Wen Xiaoxing, and a sharp look crossed her expression. "Is that Wen Xiaoxing planning something against you?"

Ye Zheng was too conspicuous now. It wasn't impossible that someone wanted to eliminate her, a Saintess with too much fame.

"Mm, you guessed right."

"...I'll try my best to watch him for you."

"Thank you. Besides watching him, you also need to make some other preparations."

Wu Shu's expression became heavier. She vaguely understood. If that Wen Xiaoxing wanted Ye Zheng's life, she had to be ready to help Ye Zheng kill him in return.

...Although she had only become an adult last month and had at most scammed people, never thinking about killing anyone, if Ye Zheng could help her win, killing a thug who wanted to assassinate the Saintess as the price was nothing.

"I understand. If necessary, I will help you kill Wen Xiaoxing."

Ye Zheng made a humming sound, as if afraid of scaring her, and softened her tone even more. "I do need you to be prepared to kill, but perhaps not Wen Xiaoxing."

Ye Zheng paused for a moment and softly recited a name.

Wu Shu turned her head in shock, their noses almost touching.

Warm breath mingled between them. Wu Shu's pupils trembled. In Ye Zheng's large and pure black eyes, she saw her own incredulous face, as if she had already been placed in an inescapable black vortex.

"Him? He has no reason to target you. Did you make a mistake... We agreed, I don't kill innocent people..."

Ye Zheng smiled and shook her head, taking a step back. The warm breath quickly dissipated. Wu Shu's chest heaved forcefully, as if she could finally breathe. She stared at Ye Zheng, her gaze wavering.

Wu Shu wanted to ask more, but Ye Zheng cut her off, her tone carrying an imperceptible dominance. "Wu Shu, remember to be ready to assist me at any time."

"So that we can win until the end."

Wu Shu stared at Ye Zheng's retreating figure for a long time until her slacking teammates caught up from behind, pulling her to move in the other direction arranged by the Organizing Committee.

Inside the small grove, Ye Di, who was walking in front, looked back repeatedly. Just as he couldn't resist pulling back the slowly strolling and chatting Ye Zheng, she finally finished chatting and strode up to catch up with the team.

"What is there to chat about with a student from the Middle District? You are the Saintess, and also the eldest daughter of our Ye family. Don't lower your own class."

"Yeah, remember not to learn from Sister."

"You must stick close to the Crown Prince. Even the monster raised by the Crown Prince can raise your status."

Ye Di widened his eyes in anger, about to retort to Ye Zheng's sarcastic remarks, but when he looked up and saw Ye Zheng's expressionless face, he inexplicably lost his steam. His intuition told him it was best not to provoke Ye Zheng at this moment.

[Ye Zheng, how are you going to contact Wu Shu to help you? Four teams enter the arena from four directions. It will be hard to meet up anytime soon. Or have you hidden some special means?]

The System couldn't help but ask curiously.

"You."

[?]

"My special communication method is you."

Since the System could speak to her, there was no reason it couldn't speak to Wu Shu.

[No, no, no, this is against the regulations. I am your System, not—]

"You are my System. Assisting me is your mission."

Ye Zheng asked calmly, "Do they have a rule that contacting Wu Shu is a violation?"

[...] The System fell silent for a while.

"System, I don't like fence-sitters, but I trust you. From the moment you reminded me that a variable was coming, you had already chosen me."

"Isn't that right?"

Faced with Ye Zheng's pressing question, it took a good while for the System to speak up.

[I will try, Ye Zheng.]

Receiving a satisfactory reply, Ye Zheng's tense face relaxed a little, though her expression remained slightly grim.

When she realized that the black shadow flashing past the window was likely herself, her spine tingled, and an unprecedented sense of crisis assaulted her heart.

Was it her clone? Could Wen Xiaoxing's ability copy humans? Just like the shadow Demonic Domain she entered with the Cloud-Soaring Squad.

But why would a clone specifically place a mirror behind the door? This action couldn't cause her any harm.

Ye Zheng felt this action was more like a reminder.

Especially the trace of water on the mirror stand, a water trace carrying the aura of [Stream].

No one knew her ability better than she did. The water lines formed by [Stream] could draw away all water traces, leaving not a single mark. A residual water trace only meant that the "Ye Zheng" who placed the mirror didn't want to eliminate the trace.

...Perhaps because the trace could prove that "Ye Zheng" placed the mirror.

When Ye Zheng realized that another "Ye Zheng" existed and was trying to remind her of "Ye Zheng's" presence, she completely shattered the clone theory. If it were a clone created to deal with her, it wouldn't remind her.

Although Ye Zheng couldn't accurately define the existence of that "Ye Zheng" for the moment, she assumed that person was herself and used her own thinking to reverse-engineer "Ye Zheng's" objective.

Leaving a water trace on the mirror was hinting at her identity, but why specifically use a mirror?

One conjecture: a mirror can reflect another self. That person used the mirror to hint that she was also "Ye Zheng," and they were like mirror images of each other.

Another conjecture: the mirror was hinting at something... such as the enemy's ability.

And a third conjecture: both "Ye Zheng" and the mirror were related to the enemy's ability.

"Wen. Xiao. Xing."

Ye Zheng ground this fresh name between her teeth; her dark eyes looked like rolling storm clouds.

The surname "Wen" reminded her of something. Maybe this person was related to Wen Jian. But this relationship wasn't as simple as just being related to Wen Jian; there must also be the handiwork of the higher-dimensional world. Only with their permission would this character make such a prominent entrance.

Moreover, Wen Xiaoxing appeared specifically targeting her.

This time, 'they' in the higher-dimensional world seemed to want to attempt an even more malicious experiment.

The System knew and had been hinting at her explicitly and implicitly.

So Ye Zheng had to obtain the support of the System and Wu Shu. Utilizing every factor around her that could be moved, she must win until the end and personally heal this riddled world.

If her guess was right, her opponent this time was no longer an ignorant character from the manga world. A force more dangerous than the Emperor tore off the faint mask of warmth, revealing its fangs for the first time.

"Wen Xiaoxing, the competition has already started. You should reveal your noble ability, shouldn't you?"

The blond boy crossed his arms, looking askance with dissatisfaction at his new teammate who was lazily yawning.

Roy really didn't understand why the principal would recommend such an undisciplined guy with zero team spirit, who wouldn't even reveal his basic ability.

Just now, when the competition was about to start, he arrived in a hurry. Who knew if he overslept or went wandering off somewhere to play.

Percy also looked at Wen Xiaoxing with a headache. He had tactfully asked the principal if they could switch to a more cooperative child, but the principal mysteriously said he couldn't find a better candidate than Wen Xiaoxing.

"Xiaoxing, it's time to tell us. What exactly is your ability, [Fate Singularity]?"

Percy blocked the brown-haired boy's path, his face serious and his tone carrying a hint of toughness.

Wen Xiaoxing had to stop. He sighed, "My ability is hard to describe, but rest assured, I am not your enemy."

Percy found it strange. "You are our teammate, of course you aren't some enemy—or do you mean you have some enemy?"

Wen Xiaoxing fell silent for a moment, looking up to stare at him with a pair of large, round green eyes. Percy suddenly shivered, feeling an indescribable creepiness.

Percy's expression became increasingly wary. If it were before the third stage of the competition, he would trust his teammates unconditionally. But after experiencing so many things, he couldn't manage pure trust.

Ye Zheng had left too many deeply engraved marks on him. He felt a bit spooked seeing Wen Xiaoxing's eyes.

Wen Xiaoxing suddenly hooked up a relaxed smile, breaking the gridlocked atmosphere. He raised his arm to drape it over Percy's shoulder, his voice very enthusiastic and sincere.

"Alright, since you want to know, I'll tell you. After all, from now on, we are all friends in one team."

Roy, standing silently to the side, muttered, "What 'from now on'? This Wen Xiaoxing is just temporarily replacing Lucy's spot. Once Lucy thinks it through and comes back, this guy won't be needed."

"Speaking of my ability [Fate Singularity], do you guys know what a 'singularity' is?"

Wen Xiaoxing straightened his expression to ask. The three teammates looked at each other and shook their heads in ignorance.

"'Singularity' is an infinite thing. It exists in a zero dimension with no volume and no size. All human laws fail at the 'singularity,' including space and time. But it is precisely the expansion of the singularity that created our world."

Listening to Wen Xiaoxing's explanation, Percy and the others fell into a dazed state with blank minds.

Seeing this, Wen Xiaoxing laughed "haha" twice. "Simply put, a 'singularity' is an unpredictable and infinitely expanding point, just like fate—"

"Suppose someone stands at the 'singularity' to observe; they would find that the Percy in this world is still a student with average fame, but in another world, Percy is already a widely renowned hero."

Percy's expression became dazed.

Just then, the hand Wen Xiaoxing had draped over Percy's shoulder pulled down forcefully. He whispered in Percy's ear, "Maybe there are other worlds where Ye Zheng is completely no match for you."

"Do you want to defeat her? Percy?"

Percy's face went stiff. He turned his blue eyes to look at the approaching Wen Xiaoxing; those closing-in green eyes were full of bewitching colors.

The two stared at each other for a moment. He struggled to pull Wen Xiaoxing's arm off his shoulder, took a step back, and frowned at him.

"Our mission is to kill the S-rank giant eel and win the championship."

"Let's go. We can't let others get ahead."

Percy finished speaking and walked forward quickly, not looking at Wen Xiaoxing again, as if escaping from something.

Wen Xiaoxing walked slowly at the very back, lowering his eyes to reveal a bored expression. Sure enough, he still looked forward to fighting Ye Zheng more.

He didn't lie; he had always looked forward to meeting Saintess Ye Zheng, ever since the day he was born.

Although calculating the time, he was still a little baby not yet eighteen days old.

Really, he was born in such a hurry and then sent by Wen Jian in such a hurry to execute the mission. Wen Jian was truly an annoying human father.

But the ability used to create him was interesting, and it was an ability that could be stolen by others. In a certain world line, his ability [Mother of All Things] was stolen by Ye Zheng.

Wen Xiaoxing saw too many world lines with [Fate Singularity] and simply couldn't sort out which one that was. The only thing he could be sure of was that that world line definitely didn't have him.

Because in the world of his birth, Ye Zheng was destined to die today.

How could she have the chance to steal Wen Jian's ability? That was a gift he reserved for himself.

A father leaving precious property to his youngest son, that's very reasonable, right?

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