Chapter 27: What Does Heige’s Infamy Have to Do with Li Li?
[Is there a chance Li will reappear later?]
1L Original Poster
As an illusion by Little Corgi’s side.
2L
Congrats, OP, you’ve grasped the essence of shonen manga!
3L
I don’t care, as long as Li reappears, I’m good!
Little Corgi’s suffering, but the moment the illusion vanished was so beautiful. I love ahoge Li’s broken vibe, it’s perfect!
4L
Watching yesterday’s update, I cried with Little Corgi, sobbing as I read, completely breaking down by the end.
This manga knows how to stab you in the heart.
5L
I swear I felt ahoge Li smile at Little Corgi at the end, and I instantly bawled.
Sob sob sob, my tears are worthless!
6L
You’re hallucinating, but imagining it makes me cry so hard. Sob sob sob, my ahoge Li, my sultry beauty!
He was one step away from escaping! He’d already gotten out of Qing Tong!
If Heige hadn’t chased him, he could’ve gone to Floating City with Little Corgi and Tang to buy candy.
Sob sob sob, Heige, go die!
I’ll never forgive Heige!
7L
Sob sob sob, crying to death! Hugging my male god and rubbing against him, as long as I don’t read the update, he’s still alive!
...
Li Li casually scrolled through the forum. The readers were as lively as ever today.
It was evening, and she was in her dorm.
Her roommate had just returned, probably reading the Extreme Black update, yelling, “Dead and still getting whipped, I’m sending the author blades!”
But the person’s still alive, Li Li thought, turning to comfort her roommate. “Maybe he’s still alive. Don’t mangas love bringing back ‘dead’ characters these days?”
“If they’re popular, the mangaka won’t let them stay dead.” She felt her logic was sound.
Resurrections were common in manga, and besides, she hadn’t really died.
Well, no, she did die, but not in the manga.
Her roommate didn’t listen, rushing over to hug Li Li and cry, “Lili!”
While comforting her, Li Li oddly felt like she’d become some sort of substitute.
After her roommate, exhausted from crying, climbed into bed, Li Li kept browsing the forum.
[I really don’t get what Heige’s so smug about]
1L Original Poster
Is it fun bullying low-ranks?
2L
I agree with Little Corgi. They’re completely different. This life-trampling jerk can’t compare to Little Corgi or Li.
3L
I genuinely hate this villain. When will he get his comeuppance?!
4L
Daily check-in: Has Heige died yet?
5L
I hate him just for bullying Little Corgi. How dare he dismiss Little Corgi’s ideals, taking advantage of his no-kill rule!
6L
Hehe, this kind of villain’s bound to die eventually!
...
The forum’s discussion about Heige was almost entirely one-sided, with far more people hating him than liking him.
As before, fans of Li, Yiming, and even the protagonist group despised this villain.
It wasn’t that Li Li didn’t care, but she’d accepted this outcome when she chose this path.
She was handling it better than she’d expected.
“Thinking that it’s the manga character ‘Heige’ getting hate makes it feel like it has nothing to do with me.” She looked relaxed.
Heige getting hate—what did that have to do with Li, or with her, Li Li?
Manga matters stayed in the manga world.
Right now, she was just a college student keeping up with updates.
However, power-scaling fans and non-character fans were much more lenient toward Heige.
[I was wrong, so ridiculously wrong.]
1L Original Poster
What I thought the Jiao Huang arc would be:
Protagonist team: Yiming, Li, Tang.
Antagonists: Qing Yu Chen and the Qing Tong organization.
The actual Jiao Huang arc:
Protagonist team: Qing Yu Chen and the Qing Tong organization.
Antagonist: Heige.
Heige single-handedly crushed the high-power players of the Jiao Huang arc, firmly claiming the top villain spot.
Too strong, A-rank bigshot, terrifying as hell!
2L
Heige’s A-rank, and that spell-type from before was also A-rank.
To settle a same-rank fight so quickly, Heige’s combat power is top-tier among A-ranks, right?
3L
So far, it seems so, but if the analysis in the other thread is correct and Heige’s an illusionist, his combat power’s questionable.
4L
No way illusions don’t count as combat power? Is Heige's power in doubt? That’s the funniest joke I’ve heard this year.
5L
What kind of combat power is illusions? If you’re so great, fight with real blades!
6L
Whoa, fight, fight! Are the power-scaling fans about to throw down?
...
The power-scaling fans started bickering. It seemed their most accepted theory was that “Heige’s ability is illusions.”
The Ability Guild thought so too, and honestly, Li Li wasn’t surprised.
Yiming would definitely tell the boss about “Heige,” and once Hua Yizhi of the Former Ability Guild knew, many others behind him would too.
She didn’t think the Former Ability Guild was a monolith, so leaks were highly likely.
She just hadn’t expected the Ability Guild to act so fast, issuing the bounty just two days later.
There must be some variable at play. She pondered.
At that moment, she glanced at the forum. Amid the power-scaling arguments and sobbing posts, she spotted a nearly buried title.
[PBC doujin, heretical Xiang Xiang!]
1L Original Poster
Heresy warning!
2L Original Poster
[Image.jpg]
The moment Li Li saw the image, she blinked and let out an admiring, “Ah…”
It was Heige and Li, the killer and the killed, shipped together.
The artist’s skill was superb, capturing both characters’ expressions vividly.
Heige, with a smirk and a nonchalant air, pinched Li’s jaw. Li, with a trace of blood at his lips, looked at Heige coldly.
Heige was impeccably dressed, exuding dominance as he gazed down slightly.
Li tilted his head up, revealing a choker at his neck, blood seeping into his collar.
“Truly handsome,” she said, admiring her own face and the handsome face she’d crafted.
Li Li knew such ships were common.
The tension of a life-and-death relationship often fueled them.
She’d once read something about popular characters getting all sorts of weird ships and secondary interpretations.
Seeing this heretical ship didn’t surprise her.
After all, it was “Heige” and “Li” being shipped, not her, Li Li, with anyone.
She drew a clear line between reality and fiction.
Besides, more doujin meant higher popularity, and she had no issue with it—she even supported it.
With that thought, Li Li saved the image and sent it to her roommate.
A sudden thud came from the bunk, followed by her roommate’s voice, “Ahhh, so handsome!”
Li Li was particularly pleased with her ability.
It saved her from buying disguise props at the system shop, sparing her from being extorted for a handsome face.
But the thread was a bloodbath.
Fans of Li and fans of the ship were arguing.
Some character fans couldn’t accept their favorite being shipped with their favorite’s killer.
Li Li browsed the forum a bit more.
With so little info on Four-Way City and the research institute, the usual analysis-posting readers were absent this time.
Looked like she’d have to investigate the institute herself.
At that moment, her roommate on the bunk suddenly pulled back the curtain. “By the way, Lili, don’t forget to prep for the con in two days!”
“Got it.” She’d been so busy she’d actually forgotten.
She checked the time. It was 11:57 p.m. Thursday, and the con was on Saturday.
Train for two more days, then relax at the con. Li Li thought, awaiting midnight.
...
[Data updated, total popularity value: 14,682.]
[Preparing for traversal.]
[Passage opened. Wishing you to become a high-popularity character, bringing new vitality to the manga.]
[System update detected. Please select your landing location.]
Hearing this, Li Li was surprised. She’d thought the last system update was useless.
“Same place as before,” she said.
When she appeared on the streets of Four-Way City, she crossed one arm, the other hand touching her jaw.
Her index finger brushed her cheek, the exposed black glove rough against her skin.
She suddenly had a great idea—an idea to make Heige appear and leave unscathed under a city-wide, empire-wide manhunt.
But for now…
She turned, her black coat arcing through the air.
Practical training was the priority.
She absolutely, absolutely refused to remain a physical weakling—the kind who’d been gasping for breath while being dragged by Yiming to escape.
And while she was at it, she’d investigate the research institute the twins called “Twinborn.”
...
One day later in the manga world.
The receptionist, working three consecutive shifts, took the youth’s Identification Card with trembling hands.
She hadn’t expected this youth to be so strong!
It was clear he looked frail, nowhere near as robust as other bounty hunters, yet over the past two days, he had been completing bounties at an almost relentless pace.
And the youth’s completion rate was one hundred percent!
Li Li maintained a cold expression, casually taking the card, then turned toward the large screen to search for the next task.
Illusory Reality could affect her own body, resetting physical fatigue with her ability.
Concept-type abilities generally lacked the offensive power of other abilities, but they were bizarre, absurd, and highly malleable.
“Impressive, huh? Do you know what they’re calling you now? They call you ‘the tireless madman,’” a chubby guy with glasses said as he approached Li Li.
This was someone she’d met over the past two days.
He called himself Le Caille, and he was well-informed.
Li Li maintained her persona and ignored him, but Le Caille kept talking. “Mr. Madman, pay attention to me. I’ve got the info you wanted.”
Li Li finally glanced at him.
Le Caille held up a number with his fingers, and after Li Li nodded, he grinned and said, “Twinborn is based in the suburbs, rarely coming to the city to hunt for ‘test subjects.’ In Four-Way City, they’re practically invisible.”
“Of course, that’s what others know. But I’m different. I know more.” He puffed up proudly, then continued, “Rumor has it they have influence in Jiao Huang.”
“Jiao Huang?” Li Li felt her thoughts clear up a bit.
“Yeah, Jiao Huang,” Le Caille said.
Seeing Li Li turn away again, he let out an “oi” and jogged to catch up. “Jiao Huang’s a mess. I don’t know which faction specifically! Knowing it’s Jiao Huang is already my exclusive scoop!”
Having just come from Jiao Huang, Li Li knew more.
She suspected this research institute was likely tied to Qing Tong.
Then Le Caille added, “Alright, alright, I’ve got one more piece of news.”
“Twinborn wants to join the hunt for the SSS-rank fugitive,” Le Caille said, waggling his finger.
“Barring any surprises, they’ll apply to the Ability Guild for a group bounty in the next couple of days.”
This made Li Li even more certain that Twinborn was connected to Qing Tong.
She pondered how Qing Yu Chen’s higher-ups weren’t just the Ability Guild but also a research institute in Four-Way City—though it was possible this institute was linked to Yue Lan as well.
Having received highly useful information, Li Li pulled a stack of bills from her pocket and handed them to Le Caille.
He took them with a wide grin, saying, “Oh, Four-Way City’s been so chaotic lately. The former Branch Leader died out of nowhere, and now the Four-Way City Ability Guild hasn’t elected a new one. The noble factions are all at odds, but they’ll likely settle it by whoever takes down the SSS-rank bounty becoming the new Branch Leader…”
Li Li suddenly felt her head was worth a fortune.
She was once again grateful for her excellent ability.
Even now, Heige remained completely off the radar.
Just then, a commotion erupted at the entrance of the Bounty Hall.
A blue-haired man and a red-haired youth entered, accompanied by a red-haired boy.
The blue-haired man wore the same white uniform as Yue Lan, likely a mark of the Ability Guild’s higher-ups.
The two red-haired individuals looked strikingly similar, both with red hair and golden eyes, dressed in matching high-end burgundy suits.
Besides them, a few others in white uniforms followed, probably Ability Guild members as well.
It was obvious the three were nobles, and the blue-haired man was likely from the same clan as Yue Lan.
The red-haired youth and boy seemed to be arguing.
As soon as they entered, Li Li caught the youth’s voice: “…Have you ever cared about the family’s reputation?”
The boy stayed silent, his face clearly defiant.
The blue-haired man, meanwhile, fanned the flames with a serious tone. “Heroes emerge from youth. If he can really take down the SSS-rank fugitive, it’d bring great honor to your An clan.”
Li Li, who had been about to leave, paused.
This matter actually involved her?
Li Li marveled again at how valuable her head was.
The red-haired youth shot the blue-haired man a cold glance.
Seeing they’d reached the Bounty Hall, he straightened his posture and lowered his voice, saying to the boy, “I can give you a chance, but you must take people with you.”
Clearly, the youth meant for the boy to bring their family’s men, but the boy rebelliously turned his head, his gaze sweeping the hall.
Then it landed on Li Li, who was walking forward with a cold expression, the closest person to them.
“I want to take him!” the red-haired boy declared.
Li Li: …?
Talk about heaven-sent luck, kid. You’ve just brought the SSS-rank fugitive right to your side!
Lili’s current disguise:
Li, black hair, crimson eyes, black trench coat, choker, no gloves.
Heige, black hair, crimson eyes, black or white trench coat with other colors later, silver mask (covering only the left eye), sunglasses, gloves.
Li Baige, black hair, crimson eyes, black jacket, blue earring on right ear (forgot to mention earlier, added now), gloves.
Lili herself, black hair, black eyes, T-shirt and jeans.