Chapter 148-The Manga Pariah's Guide to Self-Salvation

 Ye Zheng looked around. She was standing on the shore of Amber Lake. The lake surface was so calm there wasn't a single ripple, nor were there any shadows of boats. Only the wind occasionally blew through the forest, rustling the branches and leaves.

She suddenly thought of something, reached into her bosom, and took out a pocket watch. The time happened to be 10:15.

Ye Zheng, busy with combat just now, hadn't paid attention to the time. She only remembered they departed from the lounge at 9 o'clock. Then arriving at the lake, struggling with the vortex, sharing a boat with the Cloud-Soaring Squad, and finally her killing Wen Xiaoxing—almost an hour must have passed.

Now it was 10:15. Time shouldn't have flowed backward. Ye Zheng even suspected if she had lost a segment of memory, like the boat accidentally breaking after she killed Wen Xiaoxing, and she and the others being washed ashore.

"Ye Zheng, why are you here?"

A familiar voice rang out from behind. Ye Zheng turned her head. Percy, who appeared suddenly, was looking at her in confusion.

Ye Zheng narrowed her eyes slightly, sizing up Percy's dark blue coat. Why had his clothes changed to a different set?

"Aren't you going with Caleb to—"

Under the gentle sunlight, a near-transparent water line refracted blinding light. Percy's blue pupils contracted. In the next moment, his hand clutched his slit throat as blood flowed out from between his fingers.

"No, you, you are not Ye Zheng..."

He coughed up blood, staring at her with anger and disbelief.

"Hmm? It seems the 'Ye Zheng' of this world treats you well."

The bloody water line dissolved in Ye Zheng's palm. She stared curiously at the black-haired, blue-eyed boy. Although she really wanted to ask what happened in this world, she had to return to that world as soon as possible.

The Percy of this world looked at her with a very natural and concerned expression, and his temperament was brighter, as if he had a very good relationship with her. Coupled with his different clothes and the confusion in his voice, Ye Zheng immediately judged that something was wrong with this place.

"Rewind time to one minute ago, Percy. This is your only way to live."

Ye Zheng stepped forward, her gaze watching him carrying a persuasive implication. However, the black-haired, blue-eyed boy retreated continuously as if he had seen a monster, accidentally falling to sit on the ground.

No matter what kind of ghost place this was, as long as she killed Percy, it would trigger his time rewind, letting her return to the time before she killed Wen Xiaoxing.

Ye Zheng guessed that the trigger condition for Wen Xiaoxing's ability was his death. This time, she wouldn't rashly kill Wen Xiaoxing again.

Wen Xiaoxing claimed that Wen Jian paid a considerable price to maintain him as a monster. It seemed Wen Jian really invested heavily this time to resolve her as a threat. An ability that could control time and space was simply more exaggerated than the protagonist Percy.

Ye Zheng quietly watched Percy, who had fallen on the ground, suppressing emotions in her black eyes.

"Re... Rewind!"

Percy's face twitched. His throat, coughing blood, vaguely spat out the word "Rewind." Ye Zheng hooked up an encouraging smile at him. Just as she waited for the rewind, a white light once again deprived her of her vision!

Ye Zheng suddenly lost her perception. Even her body became light as if it were nothing, just like all senses were extracted at this moment.

The sound of wind rushed past her ears. The smell of rotting withered leaves mixed with the special fragrance of soil lingered at the tip of her nose. Ye Zheng's eyelids twitched, and she opened her eyes abruptly.

"Saintess, where are your teammates?"

A familiar voice rang out from behind. Ye Zheng paused for a moment, then slowly turned her head. Her face, cold to the point of being piercing, softened the instant she turned. She looked at the newcomer with a surprised expression, her tone carrying a trace of uncertain fragility.

"Wu Shu? Have you seen them? I accidentally got lost."

Wu Shu, wearing a tight black long dress, raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms. "I didn't see Percy and the others. Shouldn't your Cloud-Soaring Squad be in the direction across the lake?"

Ye Zheng's eyes darkened. In this world, just like the previous one, "Ye Zheng" was a member of the Cloud-Soaring Squad.

She quickly glanced at the skin exposed at Wu Shu's waist. Or rather, it was all the same as the original plot.

"Why did you appear here?"

Wu Shu asked sharply.

"...Ah, we encountered an attack on the lake."

Ye Zheng answered nonchalantly, taking out her pocket watch to look. The time was 10:20.

Time was constantly moving forward. Simultaneously, she was sent to a different world again.

[You accepted the existence of world lines very quickly.]

"I thought you didn't follow me."

Ye Zheng was somewhat surprised. When she killed Percy in the previous world, the System didn't issue any warnings, nor did it deduct action points. She thought the System ceased to exist after switching worlds.

[...I will always be here. No matter which world line you are sent to, it makes little difference to me.]

[Ye Zheng, I will try my best to accompany you.]

Ye Zheng frowned imperceptibly. The System's attitude was a bit strange; maybe she wasn't used to cloying sentimental remarks.

"Forget it." Wu Shu looked at Ye Zheng for a while and said, "You follow us first. As a healer, you'd better not run around everywhere."

Wu Shu, in the black dress, looked at the Saintess radiating a harmless aura and decided to temporarily take in the opponent, although her sudden appearance here was a very strange matter.

Cloud-Soaring Squad Captain Percy was upright and wouldn't play schemes. Saintess Ye Zheng had a gentle and kind personality, and her ability had no offensive nature. Wu Shu wasn't worried about this being a trap; besides, it had always been her scheming against others.

Ye Zheng followed Wu Shu's lead smoothly. Before figuring out [Fate Singularity], she decided not to act rashly anymore and see what was going on in this world first.

She turned to glance at the few boys behind her. They were Wu Shu's teammates and were secretly sizing her up. Seeing her turn around, moderate jeering sounds arose, and someone blushed.

Ye Zheng stopped walking and tilted her head as if confused. Her pitch-black eyes stared straight at them. The piercing chill, tangible as substance, made them stand frozen in place instantly, as if they were thrown into a world of ice and snow. Their ruddy faces turned pale instantly.

Wu Shu, walking in front, sensed something and looked back. She looked at Ye Zheng, "What's wrong?"

Ye Zheng slowly turned around, walking side by side with her. "Nothing. Their pace is too slow; they will drag you down."

She could tell from the attitude of Wu Shu's team that in this world, Saintess Ye Zheng was probably just a mascot-like existence of the Sei Curia. In her world, these people would absolutely not dare to show such frivolous attitudes.

"Are you a bit cold? I'll ask them to get another coat for you."

Wu Shu offered enthusiastically. When it didn't touch her interests and goals, she was always very friendly, generous, and helpful, although this layer of mask was also worn to achieve her goals.

"No need, I..."

Halfway through speaking, a gust of cold wind suddenly blew. Ye Zheng found that it really was a bit cold. She looked at herself and froze.

She was wearing a thin white long dress with semi-transparent white gauze long sleeves. Outside, she wore a short jacket. This jacket was the one she had been wearing; the pocket watch, gun, and some small items were in the inner pocket.

In the previous world, her clothes hadn't changed yet. Arriving at the third world, it seemed even less friendly to her.

Seeing Ye Zheng seemingly fall into contemplation, Wu Shu thought for a moment and realized, "Sorry, you are the Saintess, shouldn't... Pity I didn't bring extra clothes myself."

Ye Zheng temporarily withdrew from her thoughts. She swept a glance at Wu Shu's clothes, which were much thinner than hers. This outfit was what Wu Shu wore when she first appeared. Later, after she made the Crown Prince wear the same style, Wu Shu immediately discarded it in disgust.

The "Ye Zheng" and "Wu Shu" of this world seemed to be merely tools of the original plot.

Ye Zheng felt that after killing Wen Xiaoxing, she should have entered the original plot line. But why did she jump to a third world line after Percy used the rewind ability?

...Currently, there was too little information. Better observe more.

She let out a long breath, then turned to hook up a smile at Wu Shu. "I'm wearing more than you. No need to worry about me."

"My body is much sturdier than yours, you..."

Wu Shu wanted to say more, but Ye Zheng took her somewhat cold hand.

Feeling the warm temperature of Ye Zheng's palm, Wu Shu's palm felt as if it were burned. Ye Zheng's hand was stronger than she imagined. Just as she wanted to struggle and pull her hand back, Ye Zheng let go one step ahead of her.

A trace of lost blankness flashed in Wu Shu's eyes. She didn't understand where this emotion came from. Suddenly, a coat was draped over her shoulders.

Ye Zheng looked at Wu Shu wearing the coat and nodded slightly with satisfaction. Wu Shu's sleeveless high-collar tight top made even her feel cold.

Her hand suddenly reached into the coat draped over Wu Shu. Before Wu Shu could react, she was startled by her behavior, only to see the Saintess actually taking out a gun from this coat.

"The coat is yours."

As for useful little things, of course, she still had to keep them with her.

Ye Zheng hung the pocket watch around her neck, holding the gun in her right hand. She blinked and took out a mirror from the coat again. This was the mirror that black shadow left on the lounge door.

Wu Shu pulled the coat tighter. It was strange; originally, she didn't feel cold wearing short sleeves. After putting on this coat, it was as if she suddenly gained perception of temperature. The wind was very cool, but the residual warmth on the coat's lining was warm enough.

For a moment, she actually didn't want to refuse this useless "gift" from Ye Zheng. It was really strange.

"Thank you... Ye Zheng."

Wu Shu, always good at socializing, didn't know what to say at this moment. When she looked into Ye Zheng's smiling eyes, she felt there was no need to say more.

Wu Shu's smile became sincere. This Ye Zheng was very interesting. Why hadn't she paid attention to the Curia's little Saintess having such a side before?

"Let's go. If we delay any longer, I'm afraid your Cloud-Soaring Squad will win the championship."

Wu Shu jokingly put her arm around Ye Zheng. Ye Zheng, however, turned her head unexpectedly, leaning close to her ear.

"Wu Shu, want to win? I can help you."

Seeing Wu Shu's abruptly changing expression and the doubtful and shocked look, Ye Zheng smiled even more gently.

Although this world appeared to develop according to the original plot line, Wu Shu was still Wu Shu. She had ambition and means.

Her hand touched the hidden pocket on the white dress. This kind of dress shouldn't have pockets, but the "Ye Zheng" of this world was like her, liking to add little features to dresses for convenience.

This world seemed to follow the original plot, but was the "Ye Zheng" of this world really just the empty and beautiful tool in the original plot?

Ye Zheng thought, perhaps the "Ye Zheng" of this world just lacked the System and action points that could help her break free from control.

Wu Shu stared at Ye Zheng for a long time, gradually recovering from the shock. The kindest and gentlest member of the Cloud-Soaring Squad actually wanted to betray her team to help her? Was this Ye Zheng really Ye Zheng? Not some Demonic Domain creature or ability user capable of shapeshifting?

Ye Zheng wasn't surprised by Wu Shu's reaction. In this world, "Ye Zheng" was a member of the Cloud-Soaring Squad throughout and probably had no separate interactions with Wu Shu. It was normal for her not to believe her.

But she didn't know how long she would stay here. It was best to rope in an ally in this world too, to guard against unknown crises.

Since she and Wu Shu had reached a cooperation and promise in the original world, then in every world, Ye Zheng would keep this promise and help Wu Shu win until the end.

"Try to trust me, Wu Shu."

Ye Zheng winked at her and said no more, leaving time for Wu Shu to think. She believed Wu Shu in every world would make the most correct choice.

She sized up the surrounding environment in a good mood, but when she saw the white figure slowly walking out from the depths of the forest, her black pupils contracted abruptly.

"Ye Zheng, I can really trust you—"

After thinking intensely for a while, Wu Shu finally looked up at the girl beside her, her expression becoming firm. But Ye Zheng was looking behind her, revealing a shocked expression.

Wu Shu followed Ye Zheng's gaze and turned around sharply, her expression wary, thinking danger was quietly approaching them.

But when she saw clearly the figure gradually walking over not far away, Wu Shu was so shocked she couldn't close her mouth.

"...Ye Zheng?"

Wu Shu turned her head. That smiling Saintess was no longer by her side. Her pupils trembled, and she suddenly clutched the coat on her body tightly.

When the blinding white light once again deprived her of all senses, Ye Zheng went from shock and surprise to calmness. After smelling the fishy scent of lake water, she opened her eyes again.

This time, she came to the lakeside again.

Ye Zheng looked down at the pocket watch. 10:50. Time had advanced another half hour.

She looked around. This time there seemed to be no familiar people around. She simply sat on the ground, lowering her head to stare at the mud.

Why was she transported to another world again?

Ye Zheng decided to sort out everything that had happened so far.

Her finger swiped on the mud, drawing a long line.

Ye Zheng drew a timeline, then briefly wrote down the events that happened at each world line jump next to the key time points.

Around 10:00~10:15, she killed Wen Xiaoxing in the main world and jumped to the second world, meeting Percy.

10:15, she killed the Percy of the second world.

10:20, she jumped to the third world, met Wu Shu... and then saw the "Ye Zheng" of the third world.

10:50, she arrived at the third world. [Translator's Note: Based on context, this likely means she arrived at a fourth location/time or is still processing the third jump, but the text says "arrived at the third world" here. It might be a slight inconsistency in source or referring to the current state.]

Summarizing the possible factors triggering world line jumps: killing Wen Xiaoxing, killing Percy, seeing another self...

Ye Zheng felt a slight headache. Judging from the first two points, the cause of triggering the jump might be killing key characters, but she hadn't harmed anyone in the third world just now.

Before the white light appeared, she saw another self. Ye Zheng originally thought her consciousness traveled to the "Ye Zheng" of every world, but she didn't expect them to exist independently.

That's right, the black shadow she saw outside the lounge back then was indeed "Ye Zheng."

Two Ye Zhengs could exist in one world line simultaneously.

But Ye Zheng's intuition told her it was best not to rashly approach the self of another world. Perhaps something irreversible would happen.

Could it be that two Ye Zhengs meeting triggered the jump again?

Ye Zheng's finger drew circles on the ground somewhat hesitantly. Although she saw that "Ye Zheng," that "Ye Zheng's" angle wouldn't have discovered her.

Her finger suddenly paused. Ye Zheng remembered before the jump, Wu Shu seemed to have said something to her?

At that time, she was too surprised by seeing another self and was dazed for a good while, so she didn't notice Wu Shu's words...

Thinking about it this way, it seemed the white light appeared only after Wu Shu spoke!

"Ye Zheng, I can really trust you..."

Ye Zheng recalled Wu Shu's words at that time. Her tone clearly indicated she had thought it through and wanted to agree to cooperate with her.

Killing Wen Xiaoxing, killing Percy, Wu Shu agreeing to cooperate—what connection did these three points have?

Ye Zheng pursed her lips tightly. The always-composed Saintess rarely felt a sense of annoyance.

It was just too unlucky. Every time things were about to take a decisive change, every time she thought victory was in her grasp, the world line would jump suddenly like this!

Wait. Change, turning point, jump... A trace of disbelief flashed across Ye Zheng's face, followed by a sneer. She stood up from the ground, looking down at the timeline in the mud.

It was Wen Xiaoxing using [Fate Singularity] to stop her. Whenever she was about to break out of a predicament and pose a threat to him, the world line would automatically jump.

In the second world, her clothes were normal. But in the third world, her clothes began to change into the appearance of the original plot.

Ye Zheng looked down. She was wearing the white dress from the previous world, but this time her boots had turned into exquisite leather shoes.

Whenever she wanted to resist fate, [Fate Singularity] would push her into an even worse world!

After obtaining the answer to the world jumps, Ye Zheng's expression didn't relax at all. She exhaled deeply, her face blank.

"What to do then?"

Ye Zheng asked herself.

"Wen Xiaoxing, where is Ye Zheng? Wasn't she with you just now?"

The vortex had disappeared, and the boat regained stability. Percy ran to the bow and found only Wen Xiaoxing standing by the gunwale.

The brown-haired boy tilted his head, revealing a confused expression.

"Ye Zheng, who is Ye Zheng?"

Percy frowned first. He opened his mouth to question but found he didn't know what to say. Then a trace of confusion flashed across his face, his blue eyes stagnating.

Right, who was Ye Zheng?

Wen Xiaoxing saw Percy's confused expression. He turned his head and suddenly covered his mouth, laughing silently until his shoulders trembled.

[Fate Singularity] extracted Ye Zheng from this world. All traces Ye Zheng left in this world would slowly disappear—

If Ye Zheng didn't even exist, the fact that he was killed by Ye Zheng naturally wouldn't count either.

Wen Xiaoxing laughed enough. Seeing Percy still murmuring Ye Zheng's name, he walked over and patted his shoulder.

"Don't think about it. Hearing the name, it's just an annoying mob character. No need to care at all."

"But, but..."

"Percy, let's hurry up and track that big fish. Don't let it run away."

Wen Xiaoxing put his arm around Percy's shoulder, and the two went to the deck to meet up with the others.

Except for him, everyone in this world would forget Ye Zheng.

And Ye Zheng, displaced in other world lines, would drift continuously until she touched another self, and then annihilation would occur.

If fate was a vast ocean, when Ye Zheng wanted to surface, [Fate Singularity] would ruthlessly push her down. This was the most exquisite ending he, Wen Xiaoxing, had set for her—

The harder Ye Zheng tried to break the game, the further she would be from the main world.

She could never arrive at a successful fate!

"What kind of garbage plot setting is this!"

Fang Jue, who was staying up late coloring, lost all sleepiness after browsing through the plot, so excited she almost flipped the desk.

"This Wen Xiaoxing, this ability is completely unreasonable!"

She immediately put down her pen and picked up her phone. She originally wanted to question that man, but after thinking back and forth, she messaged Editor Lin instead.

Although "King of the Demonic Domain" was a shonen manga featuring ability battles, the ability style was relatively down-to-earth. Wen Xiaoxing's ability appeared exceptionally abrupt, forcedly powerful.

And his mission target wasn't the protagonist Percy, but the villain Ye Zheng. Did Old Uncle and the company want Ye Zheng to go offline right now?

Were they crazy?

Although Fang Jue wasn't the lead artist, as a coloring assistant, the painstaking effort she poured into the characters wasn't much less than Old Uncle's.

Fang Jue was too angry, so the tone of the message she sent to the editor was very stiff. She only realized after sending it that her tone was too impolite. Just as she wanted to retract it, unexpectedly, the other party replied to her.

[I also think they are crazy.]

Author's Note:

I'll try to update more, getting to Zhengzheng's counter-kill as soon as possible.

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