Chapter 17: Forum Analysis Emperor and the Mysterious Pants Disappearance Technique
After bantering with her roommate for a bit, Li Li returned to her seat, tidied her desk, and opened the forum while eating her packed cafeteria meal.
Last night’s manga update had been massive, and today the forum was noticeably more lively.
【Ahoge Cool Guy, Li’s True Love Check-in Thread!】
【Yiming and Li, Clueless and Grumpy, is Extreme Black and White finally going for a classic plotline?】
【Analysis Post, There’s More to Li’s Background】
【Tang is like a little black cat】
【PBC Fanart, Li, come hug this lonely kid】
【Let’s Discuss, With the power balance completely tilted, how will the Jiao Huang arc resolve?】
【Pen Ready, What’s the power level of the Tide Organization?】
Fanworks and analysis discussions had clearly increased.
After two plot points, the character ‘Li’ even had a true love check-in thread.
But Li Li remembered her doubts from reading the update and first checked the analysis post about Qing Yu Chen.
In fact, I had some ideas of my own. From my perspective, Qing Yu Chen wasn’t just investigating ‘how the information leaked’ but also ‘what exactly is A-rank’s identity.’
Since I appeared out of nowhere, there was no way to trace my identity.
Even if Qing Yu Chen scoured the empire’s entire list of named A-rank ability users, he wouldn’t figure out which rock I popped out of.
So, the result of Qing Yu Chen’s investigation would definitely point to the recipient of Tang’s father’s letter, which was the ‘Tide’ organization.
But I wanted to hear what the readers thought.
【Analysis Post, What Exactly Did Qing Find Out】hot
1L Original Poster
In the previous chapter, the Bronze leader Qing Yu Chen sent someone to investigate how Tang’s information leaked.
[Manga Screenshot.jpg]
Before the manga entered the Jiao Huang arc, we were already told that Tang’s father left a letter meant for the ‘Tide’ organization to rescue Tang.
But the letter was never sent and was picked up by the event machine Flipping Fish, whose luck fluctuates, and handed to Little Corgi.
After Qing learned about Tang’s father sending the letter, he didn’t investigate further, and his expression was very intriguing.
[Qing Yu Chen’s solemn profile.jpg]
Clearly, just getting this information was enough for him to know who Tang’s father was sending it to.
So, it’s highly likely that Qing Yu Chen investigated the post office and followed the trail to figure out Little Corgi’s identity.
Just kidding.
2L
??? What is the OP even talking about?
3L
Fists clenched.
4L
Isn’t it that they found out Tang’s father sent a letter, so Little Corgi came to save Tang?
The letter clue lines up!
[Corgi’s wise gaze.jpg]
...
31L Original Poster
Tang’s father sent a letter, but obviously, Tide never received it.
This is something we know from our omniscient perspective, but Qing doesn’t.
32L
So? So what?
Next time, find an OP who can finish their point in one go.
...
102L Original Poster
Qing’s perspective: Tang’s father sent a letter, and someone came to try to take Tang away.
He’d naturally assume it was delivered!
I’ll put it out there: if Little Corgi isn’t mistaken by Qing as a ‘Tide’ member, I’ll eat my keyboard upside down.
103L
That makes sense.
The mysterious ‘Tide’ organization has appeared too many times. I’ll make a bold guess.
The letter mentions that Tang’s father was a traitor to Tide.
Before Tang underwent the bloodline inheritance ritual, she was just an ordinary person, so Qing Tong had no reason to target her.
So, it must be because of Tang’s father that Qing Tong took notice. Because of Tang’s father, Tang was imprisoned by Qing tong.
Therefore, I speculated that Tang’s father had a connection with Qing Tong before his death.
At the same time, Qing Tong knew about Tide, so Qing, upon learning that Tang’s father sent a letter, could determine who Tang’s father would seek help from.
Moreover, from the expression Qing Yu Chen had while speaking, he might be wary of that organization.
104L
By that logic, what kind of scale is this Tide organization?!
105L
A mysterious organization, definitely a more powerful late-game boss than Qing Tong!
...
There was no noteworthy content afterward.
After reading the analysis from the original poster and the readers in the thread, Li Li, who was eating, blinked her eyes.
Her right index finger, holding chopsticks, couldn’t help but start tapping them.
Slowly, she let out a somewhat melancholic sigh: Why did she feel like the blame would fall on her?
Recalling the unease she sensed in the manga world, Li Li felt this possibility was very high.
It was somewhat of an intuition.
After all, her impression of Qing Yu Chen wasn’t great. In her eyes, Qing Yu Chen was capable of anything...
After all, he was a lunatic who didn’t value human lives.
As if recalling the red explosion that day before her eyes, Li Li lost her appetite.
She hastily cleaned up her meal thermos and continued browsing the forum.
[Doujin Fanwork, Jiao Huang Trio]
1L Original Poster Doghead Rose
Couldn’t resist drawing.
[Chibi Li and Yiming pulling Tang in the middle to go shopping.jpg]
[Tang wants to buy candied haws, Yiming hesitates and nods, Li refuses.jpg]
[Tang crying.jpg]
[Li drawing a sugar figure for Tang.jpg]
[The three continue holding hands to go shopping.jpg]
2L
I knew it! When I read it, I felt like they were a family of three!
Gentle and tender Yiming Mama, cold and unyielding Li Papa, and a Tang Baby who needs coaxing!
3L
My heart is melting, the artist is amazing!
4L
Dare I ask, is Qing Yu Chen the one selling the candied haws?
If so, you really can’t eat that!
5L
Hahaha, the person above spotted the Watson point.
The chibi characters are so cute, it heals the mood.
After bookmarking the post, Li Li exited it and casually browsed other discussion threads.
She then realized the readers’ imaginations were extraordinarily wild.
[Analysis Post, There’s More to Li’s Background]
1L Original Poster
Orphan, commoner, incomplete name, a prisoner of an ability user trafficking organization.
This guy is too tragic, but I have a question.
Why would Qing Yu Chen remember the name of a mere commodity?
2L
Is it possible that Qing Yu Chen didn’t know who Li was and just wanted to insult Little Corgi?
3L
Second floor, give the original poster some face.
4L Original Poster
...Hear me out.
It’s well-known that Qing Tong is backed by noble forces.
And what do nobles love to do most?
Ability research!
5L
Are you saying this character is not only so tragic that he has no family, no friends, and no freedom, but also an experimental subject?
That’s too much misery for a secondary male lead.
6L
I still think Qing Yu Chen was just casually dissing Little Corgi.
Li is just a low-rank, what’s special about him?
7L
No way, no way, Extreme Black wouldn’t be that cruel.
...
The original poster argued fiercely afterward but, lacking solid evidence, ultimately lost.
Li Li read the entire post with an amused mindset and didn’t think the original poster was talking about her.
The manga was the manga, reality was reality, and she believed she could distinguish between them.
Besides, her mother was alive and kicking, clocking in for square dancing every day, as robust as ever.
She then opened a post titled [Tang Seems Like a Little Black Cat] and found it filled with heated arguments.
Recalling the black-haired,emerald green-eyed little girl, Li Li had no ill feelings toward her.
After skimming for a while and finding no useful information, she exited.
[Extreme Black Doujin Data Analysis for the Past Week]
1L Original Poster
In summary, Li, the man occupying half of the steamy Extreme Black doujin scene!
Artists, I’m hungry, feed me!
2L
We’ll forever remember the permanently banned account of a doujin artist and her delicious works.
3L
Who wouldn’t love that battle-damaged fragile vibe! In the latest chapter, I’m even more obsessed with the lonely, confused kid after peeling off the joking facade—a man who hits all my kinks!
4L
I’m the candy in Li’s hand in the latest chapter! I’m rolling and spinning in Li’s palm! I’m at the tip of Li’s heart!
5L
I’m different, I want to be Li’s dog, letting him tease me however he wants!
Come on, roast me, I can take it!
Woof woof woof woof!
6L
Ssss, my wife!
7L
Ssss, my husband!
8L
I’m dumbfounded, you guys are terrifying!
What are you planning to do with someone else’s partner?
Hugging my Li tightly.
9L
Pondering, why is this place full of pants?
...
Li Li maintained a polite smile throughout. She hadn’t seen a single doujin they mentioned.
The forum moderators were quick—such posts often vanished within a minute. Even catching a title required seizing the moment.
Just then, she refreshed the forum and came across a new post.
[PBC Doujin Extreme Shipping, Arrogant A-Rank Bigshot and Fragile Cold-Faced Delicate Flower Li]
When she refreshed again to check it, the post was gone.
Li Li: ...Hm?
What kind of doujin was that? The title alone sounded so weird!
...
The day passed quickly, and it was soon evening.
At exactly midnight, the final day to use the shop arrived.
[Data updated, total popularity value: 3682.]
[Preparing for traversal.]
[Passage opened. Wishing you to become a highly popular character, bringing new vitality to the manga.]
She had to take a gamble.
The moment she opened her eyes, the dim Qing Tong corridor stretched before her.
The wind from running brushed past her cheeks, carrying a chill.
Yiming was beside her, darting past a black-robed figure ahead.
His metallized arm struck the back of the black-robed figure’s neck.
Tang clung to his back.
The girl, who hadn’t used her ability since inheriting it through her bloodline, quietly rested on Yiming’s back, occasionally glancing at Li Li with her emerald-green eyes.
They arrived at the first-floor hall, filled with cylindrical bronze pillars connecting the ceiling.
From here, they were close to escaping Qing Tong’s stronghold.
Li Li lowered her gaze, her dark pupils peering through the black-robed figure blocking Yiming, looking further ahead.
[100 popularity points deducted, current account balance: 3582]
[Item [Red Dot Map] purchased successfully, countdown: 10:00]
On the map, the dots representing Yiming and Tang had turned green, while the black-robed figures remained red.
This indicated their opposing stances.
Sparse red dots surrounded them, blocking their path forward, but it felt more relaxed compared to that night.
Yet, it seemed more like an evacuation, as if the area had been deliberately cleared.
When she saw two red dots approaching from behind on the map, she faintly curled the corner of her mouth.
At this moment, pursuing from that direction—under Qing Yu Chen’s orders?
Was it that C-rank, and Qing Yu Chen himself?
A B-rank ability user, far surpassing a D-rank ability user.
Without ability-restraining conditions, she might not even have the chance to use shop items.
What was he planning?
The next moment, the bronze cylindrical pillars suddenly melted, transforming into walls that extended in all directions, trapping them within iron barriers.
Li Li turned her head.
Under the incandescent light, at the far end of the hall, on the staircase leading to the second floor, she saw the C-rank ability user, the black-robed figure, standing beside someone she had never seen before.
Dressed in a pure white uniform with silver trim, with deep blue hair, around fifty years old, he stood with his hands behind his back, three ice prisms orbiting around him.
He faced them directly.
The man’s face was full of indifference and nonchalance.
Was he planning to kill all three of them with just three ice prisms?!
A cold air spread through the space, and in that instant, it felt as if they were plunged into a frigid winter.
Li Li heard the sound of her teeth chattering.
Undoubtedly, this was the ability user Qing Yu Chen had brought to deal with an ‘A-rank’.
B-rank? Or A-rank? Or perhaps S-rank?
What high-level treatment!
Beside her, Yiming stepped back, touching the alloy iron door blocking them.
Just as he prepared to tear it down and escape with Tang and Li Li—
“Your foster father taught you to do what you’re capable of, right?” Li Li suddenly spoke.
The youth, with his back to the brown-haired boy, looked at the ability user on the staircase, a cold, emotionless smile curling his lips.
She had no intention of leaving.