HP - Chapter 54

Kingdom of Gods 32

He originally thought Zhong Xu was the queen of slacking off, but now he realized that when she gets serious, she works like there’s no tomorrow.

The phrase “strike while the iron is hot” was executed flawlessly by Zhong Xu.

Striking while the iron was hot meant taking advantage of White Butterfly being drunk, and the dark, windy night when everyone was exhausted.

Then, catching them off guard, the Judgment Eye charged in and immediately started beating people.

With the inside-outside coordination between Zhong Xu and Ji Zhou, the unprepared Pantheon instantly fell into a disadvantage.

But for now…

The Scorpion King couldn’t be bothered to argue with her for the moment and quickly rushed past her into the room.

Zhong Xu curled her lips into a smile and answered Ji Zhou’s call.

“Ah Xu, the Pantheon’s combat strength is still far higher than ours. That kid Zheng Zhong is about to lose his mind, worried we’ll all die here.”

Zhong Xu said as she walked, “No need to try so hard. Just stall for as long as possible. Not every game has to be a fight to the death—many times, clearing it depends on strategy.”

“Ji Zhou, we’re going to steal their base.”

In her hazy state, White Butterfly heard someone calling her.

She opened her dazed eyes, and upon seeing the Scorpion King’s face, her heart suddenly relaxed. She stretched out her arm to hook around his neck, her lips curving into a smile.

“I drank too much just now. I had a dream—I dreamed about that person.”

The incessant alarm was still ringing in their ears, but the lovestruck Scorpion King couldn’t care less.

What made him more nervous and curious was White Butterfly’s answer.

“So… what do you think?”

White Butterfly furrowed her brow. “He seems a bit different from the person in my memory.”

The Scorpion King was so nervous he barely dared to breathe. Of course, that had been Zhong Xu’s disguise after all.

“I think maybe I never really understood him.” White Butterfly traced over the Scorpion King’s brows and eyes, smiling as she spoke. “His face, his name, his story—they’re all fading more and more. Especially after drinking so much today and having that dream, he’s become even more blurred.”

“Not like you—so clear and real.”

The Scorpion King suddenly grabbed her hand, his eyes filled with intense and undisguised love.

The two of them embraced, able to hear each other’s heartbeats.

Just then, White Butterfly frowned. “What’s that noise? It’s so loud.”

“Invasion alarm… the Judgment Eye has come right to our door.” The Scorpion King answered a bit guiltily, then immediately added, “I’ll go out now and lead the team to drive them away.”

“Forget it.” White Butterfly pulled on his hand and looked at him seriously. “I figured something out in my dream just now. I want a future with you—what do you think?”

The Scorpion King stared at her blankly, then immediately said, “I want that too. I want a future with you.”

“Good.” White Butterfly’s smile deepened. “He dragged both of us into his game, putting our lives on the edge of a blade… I don’t owe him anything anymore. Let’s clear the game and walk toward the future together.”

“Okay.”

They looked into each other’s eyes, filled with hope.

White Butterfly pulled the Scorpion King to his feet. “Shatter the third mirror—let’s open the entrance to the Tree of Faith.”

The Scorpion King nodded. Wind gathered in his palm, condensing into a sharp crystal that shot toward the third mirror.

Swish—

The crystal tore through the wind, and the surrounding mirrors, unable to withstand such force, cracked open with fissures, reflecting multiple images of the two of them.

But the crystal stopped just one millimeter short of the third mirror.

“What…” As the Scorpion King and White Butterfly stood in shock and uncertainty, a dark figure shot out from the mirror at wind-like speed.

In the next moment, the Scorpion King was seized by the throat.

“How can you be here?!” White Butterfly cried out in shock. “I wasn’t dreaming just now—I really did see you?!”

The man wearing the black butterfly mask shifted his gaze to White Butterfly. “I originally didn’t want to come, but you’ve disappointed me too much. Having come this far, you actually want to give up? That’s so like you.”

“Let him go!” Seeing the Scorpion King’s face turning blue and purple from being choked, White Butterfly tried to rush forward, but was easily stopped.

The man snapped his fingers, and the Scorpion King’s Tarot card instantly fell into his hand. A crystal-like shield effortlessly blocked White Butterfly’s attack.

White Butterfly went from panicked anger to instant calm. “This is your game. None of us can beat you. What more do you want?”

“First of all, I’m a player now, too.” The man chuckled lightly. “This game is only interesting when you toy with people’s hearts. White Butterfly, right now, I want you to become enemies with Zhong Xu.”

“……”

White Butterfly stared at him for a moment, then sneered. “I see—you’re targeting her. Then you must have been very satisfied with my strategy over these past three years?”

“Of course, because that was the result of my manipulation behind the scenes.”

“My obsession with wanting to see you—was that your deliberate manipulation?”

“I didn’t cheat,” he emphasized. “It was still the effect of the Tarot cards. You know that Tarot cards can’t truly control people’s hearts; at most, they can only stimulate and amplify certain emotions.”

White Butterfly lowered her eyes. “Indeed, I did owe you… but I’ve already repaid it.”

She lifted her gaze again, her voice rising. “I’ve already repaid it! I repaid it with my life! Why did you still send me to this world?! Why do you still use the person I love to threaten me?! Let him go!”

The Scorpion King hovered on the brink of death, his mind growing hazy from being choked.

Looking at the white butterfly mask discarded at White Butterfly’s feet, the man curled his lips into a mocking smile. “If you truly believed in your heart that you had repaid it, you wouldn’t have made a mask like this.”

After a slight pause, he added, “But I stopped caring a long time ago. The reason you ended up here is simply because you were about to die, and so you entered my little assistant’s screening system. I was originally unaware… after all, the start of this game was indeed quite sudden.”

“None of that matters anymore. Whether you live or die, I don’t care. I only want to achieve my goal now—I want Zhong Xu to wish she were dead.”

White Butterfly gave him a strange look. After a moment, she bent down to pick up the mask, her voice already calm. “I understand. Let him go. I will proceed according to my original plan.”

After scrutinizing her for a moment, the man released the Scorpion King.

“Your man will stay here with me. Go.”

Seeing the Scorpion King glare at him viciously, he smiled indifferently. “Don’t worry, I have nothing to do with her… After this level, I’d even like to encourage you two to play a few more levels. I look forward to you becoming a fearsome duo of level-clearing experts.”

“Psycho,” the Scorpion King spat.

“Thanks for the compliment.”

……

With a heavy heart, White Butterfly left her room and walked through the corridor. The incessant alarm blaring in her ears made them ache.

She was just about to stop someone to turn off the alarm when the other person, panicked, spoke first:

“Lady White Butterfly, is it true that we are the real sinners?”

“What?”

The other person opened a holographic projection.

A massive airship tore through the rainstorm, drifting over the city.

A very familiar scene—back then, it was White Butterfly who ordered Xi He, through Luo Shen, to lie to all players that Zhong Xu’s identity was that of a sinner.

But this time, a conversation was playing on a loop.

What came out was her own voice: “Kingdom of Gods—a group of sinners banished here to accept God’s judgment…”

White Butterfly: “……”

Careless. She had never imagined it could be used like this—Zhong Xu had actually recorded it!

The truth of the world was completely exposed.

“What identity we have doesn’t affect the Pantheon’s goal.” White Butterfly quickly calmed down.

“But in that case, other players will think the Pantheon deliberately concealed the truth. How will they be willing to obey the Pantheon in the future?” Members gradually gathered around White Butterfly.

“No.” White Butterfly said coldly, “This only proves that the Pantheon knows more—that it is a more mysterious and supreme existence. As for obedience… only victors have the right to speak. Once they lose, they will naturally understand this principle.”

“Where did they invade from?”

“The base’s north gate.”

“In the end, we still can’t allow outsiders into our base. The Judgment Eye only came a few times to discuss cooperation, and already figured out the entrance most suitable for an attack…” White Butterfly stepped forward. “Let’s go. Meet them in battle.”

Ji Zhou walked through the rainstorm, moving the umbrella over Zhong Xu’s head.

“As expected, after learning the truth of the world, most players split into two factions. One believes the Pantheon truly controls the world and wants to cling to them. The other believes in us and wants to cooperate to clear the game.”

“What about White Butterfly and the Scorpion King?”

“White Butterfly has personally entered the fight. The Scorpion King hasn’t been seen.”

“Still can’t reach Qiu Heming and Ning Zhi?”

“Mm… Ah Xu, don’t worry. I’ve already asked Xiao Huan to help find them.”

Zhong Xu looked into the distance.

There was a player who had greedily reversed two Tarot cards—most likely a former member of the Tarot Path.

Insect wings had grown from his back, and his twisted limbs made him resemble a bug as he leapt between buildings.

Zhong Xu had a bad feeling.

Especially when recalling that person’s final words.

“When that time comes, your teammates won’t be safe either.”

What does “won’t be safe” mean?

“Ji Zhou, stay here. I need to check the entrance to the Tree of Faith.”

Ji Zhou quickly grabbed her. “White Butterfly is right there…”

Not far away in midair, White Butterfly stood on a flying craft holding an umbrella, her white dress fluttering in the wind as she watched them calmly.

Ji Zhou frowned. “Are you worried that if the Scorpion King is guarding that place, our plan won’t succeed?”

“If it were just the Scorpion King, it would be manageable…” Zhong Xu said meaningfully. “I’m afraid there’s someone else behind White Butterfly.”

Hearing this, Ji Zhou couldn’t help but say, “Like nested dolls?”

“Anyway, guard this place well. If White Butterfly tries to stop me, block her for me,” Zhong Xu said quickly. “Right now I’m worried that the result of reversing the cards is turning into bugs… Qiu Heming won’t be able to hold on.”

Ji Zhou’s expression turned serious. “Don’t worry. Leave this to me.”

White Butterfly leaped down from the flying craft with her umbrella. But it was as if she didn’t see Zhong Xu at all, directly attacking Ji Zhou instead.

Seeing this, Zhong Xu didn’t stop moving. She only glanced at her, and the ominous feeling in her heart grew even stronger.

Rumble—

Thunder roared and lightning flashed.

Xiao Huan skidded to a halt and sniffed hard at the scent drifting over. What a strange smell—it was clearly foul, yet it gave her a warm, comforting sense of home.

“Xiao Huan…” The companion beside her cried out in terror.

Xiao Huan touched her nose and came away with a hand full of blood.

“I’m fine. It’s just that this smell is too strong.”

Buzzzz—

The sound of countless vibrations rolled in like a tide, getting closer and closer, louder and louder.

She frowned and looked into the distance. When she saw the dense, black mass surging toward her like a dark wave, her pupils instantly contracted, and she turned and ran.

“Damn it! Run for your lives!”

Sevyn here ~~~

Enjoy!