HP - Chapter 52

Kingdom of Gods 30

“Qiu Heming, Ji Zhou sent word. The mastermind behind the Tarot Path is White Butterfly, the leader of the Pantheon. Ji Zhou has successfully captured Xi He of the Tarot Path. With no leader, the Tarot Path will soon be wiped out by the Judgment Eye in one sweep and completely dismantled.”

Ning Zhi’s voice was indistinct amid the torrential rain.

“Mm, I know.” Qiu Heming’s reply was even softer—so soft that if one didn’t listen carefully, it was almost impossible to hear.

Boom, rumble.

They seemed to be approaching the source of the lightning. The dark clouds hung lower and lower, the thunder grew louder and louder, and the occasional bolt of lightning that struck down was terrifying.

Raincoats were of little use in such a downpour; both of them were already soaked through.

Ahead of them was an oversized flying insect.

After molting, the insect finally spread its wings and took to the air, moving forward along the muddy road and pressing toward the abyss.

Three days ago, Liang Qing had completely turned into an insect and lost all human consciousness.

Ning Zhi had always been afraid of insects, and this gigantic one made her skin crawl even more.

But Qiu Heming had said that Liang Qing turning into an insect was expected; an insect’s instincts would allow it to find the nest more quickly.

“Ning Zhi, we need to run. The insect is flying too fast—we’ll soon lose it if we don’t.” Qiu Heming turned back and said.

Ning Zhi was looking down, adjusting the communication device on her wrist. As she quickened her pace, she said, “The deeper we go, the weaker the signal gets. Should we tell Zhong Xu and Ji Zhou our location in advance?”

“No need. We all have our own things to do.” Qiu Heming paused, his tone growing more emphatic. “Don’t tell them we’re looking for the insect nest.”

“…Alright.” Ning Zhi lifted her head helplessly, meeting Qiu Heming’s eyes.

Her heart suddenly gave a heavy thump.

“Qiu Heming… you… how strong is your prescription? It seems that after losing your glasses, you can still see quite clearly?”

“Hm?” Qiu Heming subconsciously touched his eyes, a trace of confusion in his tone. “Logically speaking, I shouldn’t be able to see very clearly. But recently I feel like my vision is getting clearer and clearer.”

He smiled slightly. “Maybe my body has been strengthened.”

Ning Zhi always felt that his smile was a bit unsettling.

Perhaps it was because…

He now had a pair of non-human eyes. They looked like mutated insect eyes.

“You…” Ning Zhi was a little worried that he would soon turn into an insect just like Liang Qing.

If that really happened, it would be no different from death.

Insects have no human consciousness.

Ning Zhi felt that Qiu Heming was not completely unaware of this, but he simply didn’t care.

Qiu Heming suddenly laughed out loud, obvious delight in his tone. “Listen—it's the sound of insects vibrating.”

Buzz buzz buzz buzz…

It was getting closer. The buzzing of the swarm made the hairs on Ning Zhi’s body stand on end instantly.

Her steps gradually slowed, fear spreading through her heart.

Compared to monsters, she was truly more afraid of insects!

…

“Senior Zhong Xu, is anyone sitting here?”

After Zhong Xu shook her head, Ran Ran beamed and sat down opposite her with her tray.

She carefully scanned her surroundings, and after confirming that no one was looking their way, she pushed a sealed glass test tube toward Zhong Xu.

"Senior Zhong Xu, this is the 'Morning Dew' they gave me."

Zhong Xu picked up the glass test tube and examined it.

It was crystal clear, indistinguishable from water. If White Butterfly hadn’t seen the design document, would players even have realized that this was actually a game resource?

Zhong Xu thanked Ran Ran, then asked, "Has your sister left the detention room?"

Ran Ran nodded. "She’s already left. Just as you said, Senior, after I showed my intention to fight, the guard captain paid more attention to me. Only when I actually entered the battlefield did I realize that my Tarot card could play such a role… This vial of Morning Dew is the reward they gave me."

"You've done well."

"If it weren't for you, I might never have found the courage," Ran Ran said, her face full of gratitude.

"Don't thank me. I got what I wanted," Zhong Xu said indifferently. After a moment’s thought, she added, "Soon, we might be on opposing sides. So you can completely forget about that gratitude. We were just making a deal."

Ran Ran froze, a little confused by what Zhong Xu meant.

They were both members of the Pantheon—why would they be on opposing sides?

Could it be referring to the difference in their player identities? But she didn’t believe a single word the Tarot Path said. And White Butterfly and the Scorpion King had sincerely invited Zhong Xu into the Pantheon—they wouldn’t be trying to recruit an enemy, would they?

“Eat your meal properly.”

While Ran Ran was still lost in thought, Zhong Xu had already picked up her tray and left.

As she walked, Zhong Xu was suddenly dragged into a small dark room.

The next actions happened within two seconds. Zhong Xu lifted her leg and kicked, grabbed the other person’s arm, and slammed them hard onto the ground.

“It’s me, it’s me…” the person on the ground hurriedly shouted.

Zhong Xu calmly withdrew the foot that had been about to step on his face, looking utterly innocent as she said, “Why were you sneaking around like that? I thought you were a bad guy.”

“…”

The person on the ground groaned as he got up. In the dim light, his features were blurred, but he could still be recognized as Zheng Zhong, the leader of the Judgment Eye.

In truth, he strongly suspected that Zhong Xu had recognized him and had simply beaten him up on purpose.

But he had no proof.

Zheng Zhong could only swallow his grievances and get down to business. “With the Tarot Path dismantled, we can officially cooperate now.”

“Just to inform me of this, you took the risk of meeting me this way?”

Zhong Xu’s tone was full of reproach.

“Uh… mainly I wanted to ask about the next plan. And since last time was a bit rushed, should we set up a contact procedure and a secret signal?”

“No need. Just like this is fine.”

“Huh?” This time it was Zheng Zhong’s turn to be confused.

Zhong Xu spoke matter-of-factly. “The Pantheon is now under my control. You can come find me anytime—no need to sneak around.”

“…”

Then why were you blaming me just now?

And… was she really that capable? Such a massive Pantheon—she could just declare it under her control like that?

Zheng Zhong asked suspiciously, “So what’s your next plan? Even though the Tarot Path has been dismantled, the city districts are still in chaos. After all, those monsters—once they become monsters, they can never turn back into humans.”

“Just keep the chaos in the city districts somewhat under control. Let your people conserve their strength.”

Zhong Xu said calmly.

“Wait for me to run an experiment. If there are no other problems, then we can make our move.”

Zheng Zhong always felt he couldn’t keep up with the other party’s train of thought. “Make our move?”

Here it comes again—he was receiving that reproachful look from her once more.

He was now seriously starting to suspect that he was being PUA’d.

“The final battle,” Zhong Xu said.

Zheng Zhong was stunned. “So soon?”

“Soon?” Zhong Xu chuckled. “We’ve already been in this world for almost three years.” There was not the slightest trace of a smile in her eyes. “The number of monsters is becoming difficult to control. The only thing we can do now is end this quickly.”

“You’re right. Then I’ll wait for your news.”

After Zheng Zhong left, another person slipped in.

Zhong Xu had long expected the other party to come, so she wasn’t in a hurry to leave. Instead, she leisurely found a chair and sat down.

As soon as the other person entered, he began to sneer, “Under your control?”

“Cooperating with the Scorpion King—doesn’t that amount to being under my control?” Zhong Xu showed no trace of embarrassment.

The Scorpion King had never met someone with such thick skin.

If the world weren’t in such chaos right now, requiring a swift resolution, the honest Zheng Zhong would probably be completely played for a fool by her.

Thinking this, the Scorpion King handed over a box. “The thing you asked someone to prepare—I brought it.”

Zhong Xu asked with a smiling expression, “Why did you bring it? Did you open it and take a look?”

Scorpion King: “…I looked.”

His expression twisted slightly.

The box was opened, revealing a butterfly mask inside.

The black butterfly was exquisitely crafted, as if it might take flight at any moment.

Black Butterfly and White Butterfly—so his wife’s mask turned out to be a couple’s mask with someone else.

The Scorpion King’s jealousy overturned several vats; Zhong Xu could practically smell the thick sourness filling the room.

Zhong Xu put on a helpless expression. “I asked someone else to make it precisely because I was afraid you wouldn’t be able to handle seeing it. Why did you insist on coming over to take a look anyway?”

The Scorpion King glared at her through gritted teeth. “I have someone on my side whose Tarot card ability allows them to change appearances. When do we start?”

“That depends on when you plan to get White Butterfly drunk.”

The Scorpion King was greatly alarmed. “What do you want to do?!”

“…What are you thinking?” Zhong Xu said, speechless. “If White Butterfly is sober, I’m afraid she’ll stop at nothing to tear off my mask. Then I won’t be able to hide anymore.”

Although the Scorpion King had subordinates with the ability to change appearances, Zhong Xu didn’t know what the person beneath the mask actually looked like either.

If White Butterfly tore off the mask, it would all be over.

The Scorpion King thought about it and felt it made sense.

“Tonight, I’ll make sure she drinks a few extra glasses.”

“Why do I feel like you’re trying to get me drunk tonight?” White Butterfly asked, her eyes hazy with intoxication.

The Scorpion King shook his head. “Stop drinking. It’s bad for your health.”

White Butterfly hugged the wine tightly. “No. I want to drink.”

Glass after glass went down, and White Butterfly was already quite drunk. Seeing that the timing seemed about right, the Scorpion King suddenly noticed White Butterfly sit up straight, her gaze shifting from hazy to cold.

“Zhong Xu has entered our room!”

The Scorpion King froze. “…How do you know?”

“I gave her the key to our room,” White Butterfly said with a cold smile. “Of course I’m not that kind-hearted, so I installed a monitor on the key. As soon as she opens the room, I’ll know.”

White Butterfly had already stood up and started striding toward the room. “I’m going back now to see what tricks she’s trying to play.”

Watching White Butterfly instantly sober up, the Scorpion King sensed trouble. But he had no reason to stop her, so he could only follow closely beside her as they walked toward the room.

As he walked, the Scorpion King cursed Zhong Xu for being unreliable, growing increasingly anxious.

White Butterfly moved swiftly and had already rushed into the passageway of the mirror world.

But suddenly, she came to an abrupt stop.

When she turned her head back again, her once-clear eyes had become hazy and unfocused again.

Standing at the entrance of the passageway, the Scorpion King couldn’t quite make sense of it. “Is Zhong Xu there?”

“No.” White Butterfly immediately stepped out of the passageway and pulled the Scorpion King farther away.

But the Scorpion King knew that Zhong Xu was definitely there!!

And she must have already put on the Black Butterfly mask and used a transformation technique.

In the true Kingdom of Gods, White Butterfly had seen the person she had been longing for… Was she perhaps feeling a little timid, like someone nervous about returning home?

If she cried in front of him, how should he comfort her?

White Butterfly: “I drank too much. I want to sleep alone tonight. Go to another room.”

Scorpion King: “…”

Sevyn here ~~~

Enjoy!