Chapter 158-The Manga Pariah's Guide to Self-Salvation
"Tell me".
Ye Zheng didn't answer immediately. She glanced at the horizon where the clouds were turning a fiery red and asked Wu Shu to take her to a high place. Wu Shu grabbed her arm, and the two flashed to a hilltop, overlooking Amber Lake, which was now tinted red by the sunset.
A giant fish tail occasionally surfaced in the lake. It was extremely fast, using its invisible camouflage and agile speed to toy with those trying to hunt it.
Ye Zheng took everything in. She pointed to a distance where a lighthouse-like building stood in the center of the lake.
"The Deep Blue Giant Eel was originally imprisoned at the bottom of the central lake".
"That tower periodically releases a sedative targeted at it. Once it makes a move, the managers release a larger dose. The facilities here haven't been completely moved yet; I suspect there are still sedatives left there".
This information came from the Knight whose entire family worked at Amber Lake. To save costs, the amount of sedative used had been decreasing over the years, leading to more accidents among the workers. Ye Zheng guessed there wasn't much left in that tower.
"The sedative is stored beneath the tower. I'm not sure of its exact structure. I've heard that only specialized personnel can operate the metal instruments to control the sedative".
Wu Shu frowned. "Can't we just destroy it with brute force?".
"To withstand that giant eel, the tower is exceptionally sturdy, both inside and out".
Wu Shu raised an eyebrow. "You mentioned metal instruments... Percy might be able to control them. Are you planning to let me use Percy again?".
"It's not very feasible. Setting aside the past, I've already harmed him once for your sake during this competition. His wariness toward me has only increased".
Ye Zheng smiled. "He might not trust you, but he won't suspect a teammate".
Wu Shu watched her, a flash of doubt in her expression.
"Well, Wen Xiaoxing is their new teammate, but they shouldn't be constantly on guard against someone on their own team".
"—Wait, you mean Wen Xiaoxing?".
Wu Shu's voice rose slightly in surprise.
Ye Zheng nodded, her smile deepening. "As long as you want it, he will obey you and coordinate with you from the inside".
Wen Xiaoxing had witnessed Wu Shu helping her shatter his [Fate Singularity]. As long as she had Wu Shu stand before him again, Wen Xiaoxing was clever enough to understand what she wanted him to do.
Doing one more thing for her gave him one more bit of survival value—at least, that's how Wen Xiaoxing would view her temporary mercy.
Under Wu Shu's astonished gaze, Ye Zheng continued: "Have Wen Xiaoxing inform Percy about the sedative. His ability is related to fate, so it's not strange for him to know things. Percy will find a way to get the sedative, but his actions will inevitably attract Sykes's attention. The two teams will definitely clash again".
"Wen Xiaoxing is the only one in the team without an offensive ability. He'll likely be protected in the rear to guard the sedative".
Wu Shu asked, "And then, I take the chance to steal the sedative?".
Ye Zheng shook her head. "No, let Wen Xiaoxing take the initiative to suggest leaving with the sedative. Have him and Percy agree on a location to set a trap using the sedative. Percy will find a way to drive the giant eel into the agreed spot, and then you can work with Wen Xiaoxing to act as the situation dictates".
"With a traitor like Wen Xiaoxing, it means you can drive the Cloud-Soaring Squad to work for you from the shadows".
Ye Zheng winked at her, as if asking how she liked this surprise.
Wu Shu hadn't expected Ye Zheng to give her such a big gift. She laughed. "You're covering me in the Royal Academy team, and Wen Xiaoxing is following my orders in the Cloud-Soaring Squad. It would be rude of me if I still managed to lose".
"I'm sorry, I won't be able to cover you in the Royal Academy team." Ye Zheng let out an imperceptible sigh. "I have things to do and will probably have to leave the field early".
According to Wen Xiaoxing, Wen Jian was up to no good behind her back while she was in this isolated arena. Her intuition told her it would be best to get out and check as soon as possible.
Aside from her agreement with Wu Shu, there was nothing left in this competition to keep her here.
Wu Shu frowned at first, but after a moment, her brow smoothed, and she waved her hand understandingly. "Fine, you've already given me enough".
Ye Zheng had done enough by setting up so much. Come to think of it, she hadn't really done much for her, just helped her assassinate Percy once while in a daze—offending someone who was already an enemy anyway—while Ye Zheng's plan had indeed significantly increased her chances of winning.
Actually, Ye Zheng didn't need to plan so meticulously for her. As long as she was given the pawn that was Wen Xiaoxing, Wu Shu could think of many ways to use him herself.
Wu Shu gave Ye Zheng a genuine smile. "Thank you, Lady Saintess. Go take care of your business. I can handle the rest".
She patted Ye Zheng's shoulder, only to find that her body didn't move, as if she had no intention of leaving. She looked at Ye Zheng's expression; for the first time, the Saintess showed a look of hesitation.
"Wu Shu, if it's revealed after the match that you were in league with Wen Xiaoxing, you'll face considerable public condemnation".
Colluding with members of other teams was a violation of fair play. Even if Wu Shu didn't bribe Wen Xiaoxing and the committee couldn't find evidence, Percy and the others would likely notice. Once the public outcry grew, the pressure on Wu Shu would be immense.
More importantly... "Wu Shu, the reward for winning might not be worth the effort and the risk you're taking".
Ye Zheng knew that Wu Shu desperately wanted to win the championship to obtain the final Dragon Bone reward. With the Dragon Bone representing protection, the Middle District would be grateful to Wu Shu regardless of the means she used.
However, the protection of the Dragon Bone was itself a massive lie.
She couldn't tell Wu Shu yet; it wasn't a matter for too many people to know. Once leaked, it would bring fatal danger to Wu Shu.
Ye Zheng could only emphasize again in a serious tone, "This reward isn't worth your trouble. It might even bring you problems".
The sun slowly sank below the horizon, and the lingering glow blurred Wu Shu's features. She realized Ye Zheng seemed to know some major inside information. From Ye Zheng's serious expression, she understood that for her own safety and reputation, she perhaps shouldn't be so fixated on the championship.
The mountain wind blew, and Wu Shu reached out to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear. She laughed, her voice carrying a hint of loneliness and desolation.
"Ye Zheng, sometimes I really envy you. You're a brilliant, important person. Your path is dangerous but bright, accompanied by the bloody praise of the thornbird".
"But I'm just an ordinary person, a thornbird that uses every means possible but still can't find a thorn tree".
Ye Zheng was stunned. She looked at Wu Shu's face, half-hidden in the darkness, and wanted to comfort her, but found the words too hollow.
She knew she had faced many difficulties along the way, but she was also a luckier existence than many other girls.
"I'm not brilliant at all, Wu Shu".
"If I were honorable enough, I should have warned you that this competition isn't worth it before I encouraged you to act for me".
A trace of an imperceptible ripple stirred beneath Ye Zheng's indifferent tone.
"If there were many 'Wu Shus' in this world, it would be a good thing. But if there were many 'Ye Zhengs', the world would be close to destruction".
As her words fell, the cold air grew a bit more silent. After a long while, Ye Zheng suddenly heard an abrupt laugh.
"Ha... Hahahaha!"
Wu Shu seemed to be amused by this statement. She leaned on Ye Zheng's shoulder, laughing so hard her hands trembled. "Hahaha... You're right. One 'Ye Zheng' in this world is enough".
She walked to the edge of the hill's cliff and turned to face Ye Zheng. Even with her back to the faint warmth of the setting sun, her smile was clear to Ye Zheng.
"If everything I do is wrong..." Regardless of whether she won the championship, she would be in an awkward position.
"Then I'll just do whatever I want".
"I'll try to enjoy the simplest, most exhilarating joy of victory—that's what you told me, Ye Zheng. Even if it was just to use me, it sounded very pleasant".
Wu Shu spread her arms at the edge of the cliff and leaned back, vanishing into the darkness along with the last bit of the sunset.
After she flashed away, the sound of her laughter still lingered in the evening breeze.
"You've already won, so I can't lose".
Ye Zheng walked to the edge of the cliff. She looked at the lake, which was almost merging with the night, and took a step back as if to leave, but then paused.
[Aren't you leaving? The Pope is already moving against you.]
The System's voice rang out calmly.
"...I promised her to ensure her victory".
[Your energy is almost half depleted, and it will be difficult to recover anytime soon. Staying won't be of much use to Wu Shu.]
"Oh".
Ye Zheng sat down at the edge of the cliff. Her reply carried a hint of grumpiness; she didn't like the word useless being associated with her.
"If I'm useless, then so be it. I occasionally want to take a useless rest".
Saintess Ye Zheng would not break a promise. Before witnessing Wu Shu's victory with her own eyes, she would not leave this place, even if a storm was rising outside to swallow her.
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