Chapter 29: Didn’t We Agree Not to Cosplay!
The worries of the day had become reality!
In an instant, panic spread through Yue Qing’s entire body.
No one understood the power of the prophet better than Yue Qing, for I had once been a high-ranking member of the Former Ability Guild, and I had spoken with the prophet himself.
The rise of the Former Ability Guild was inseparable from the prophet’s contributions.
Without the prophet’s assistance, the Former Ability Guild would never have survived long enough to catch the nobles’ attention.
Countless past examples told me that the prophet’s words always became reality.
Thus, Yue Qing abandoned maintaining the so-called noble facade and issued a bounty ahead of others, driven by this fear, hoping to eliminate the obstacle early.
For this, I even fell out with An Heyu, earning the mockery of the empire’s nobles, but I didn’t care.
The fear from the depths of my soul made me tremble inappropriately when I saw the person from the prophecy.
This was my private residence, and the pride of an S-rank ability user made me disdain hiring bodyguards here, so only servants came and went.
But that didn’t mean my residence could be entered at will!
Under the moonlight, the smile on the strange youth’s lips seemed to carry immense mockery.
He was like a phantom that appeared suddenly, or a mirage in the night.
He appeared silently, then boldly and ostentatiously seized all my attention.
Yue Qing was momentarily stunned.
But after that instant of panic, Yue Qing suddenly remembered my identity.
Right, Heige’s sudden appearance was indeed unexpected, making me show weakness.
But I was S-rank, a powerful high-rank!
I no longer needed to bow and scrape before the prophet and those people like I did six years ago.
Those who made me lower my head had all gone to their graves!
Including the prophet!
Yue Qing turned around, looking at the youth, my expression serious and dignified, unconsciously adopting the hypocritical mask learned from six years of noble life.
“I heard you’re A-rank.” My ability was ready to activate at any moment, and this powerful force reassured me. “What gave you the courage to come to a high-rank ability user’s territory?”
In the dim light, I could clearly see the silver-edged mask of the youth named Heige, and the deep crimson pupils beneath it.
This was a youth whose appearance and behavior screamed ‘arrogance,’ the ‘leader’ acknowledged by the Former Ability Guild’s prophecy.
Upon hearing this, he showed no trace of panic.
In the silver-white halo, the black-haired youth raised his eyes, the smile on his lips deepening: “Then what are you afraid of, high-rank?”
It was as if the gap between A-rank and S-rank was nothing in his eyes, but to Yue Qing, it seemed more like he had something to rely on.
He wasn’t afraid, even belittling me!
No!
Yue Qing refuted myself.
If the gap between low-ranks was like the difference between someone holding a knife and someone unarmed, the gap between mid-ranks was like someone with a cannon versus someone with a kitchen knife.
And between mid-rank and high-rank, it was like an ant facing a human—utterly incomparable!
When Yue Qing wasn’t yet high-rank, I looked up to those high-ranks but didn’t dare let hatred or jealousy grow.
The gap was too vast, and I didn’t dare.
So why did this A-rank, mentioned by An Heyu, dare to appear before me directly?
Because…
“I’m curious, where did you hear about me.” The black-haired youth stood, his fingertips brushing over the back of the chair, stepping into the moonlight. “A-rank, illusionist, and my name, hmm.” He gave an emotionless laugh. “How interesting.”
There was only one possibility—An Heyu’s information was wrong!
Yue Qing instantly understood the reason.
There was no one in this world who would disregard the rank gap and be crazy enough to gamble with their life.
Even the most insane battle maniac wouldn’t attempt a cross-rank challenge.
This wasn’t a fight; it was a crushing defeat.
So the only explanation was that all the clues they had were wrong!
“The inherited ability of the noble An clan can pry open the mouths of the dead.” Yue Qing sold out An Heyu quickly, warily watching the approaching youth, mentally gauging his rank.
My ability was spell-type, like my cousin Yue Lan’s, so I couldn’t deduce an opponent’s ability based on limiting conditions before using my own.
Seeing the other party was only engaging in verbal exchange for now, Yue Qing naturally wouldn’t strike first.
But once I did, it would be a fight to the death!
I was looking for a flaw, and until then, I would maintain noble composure, lift the veil of the other’s mystery, and find his weakness.
And then completely eliminate this threat, proving that my choice back then was right!
...
Pry open the mouths of the dead...
The dead...?
The moment Li Li heard those words, it was as if my heart stopped.
I was indeed afraid of ghosts, truly afraid of ghosts.
But the situation was urgent, leaving no room for wild thoughts, and I quickly pulled my mind back, continuing to face the S-rank before me.
Yue Qing, standing on the balcony, seemed lost in thought, speaking in a broadcast-like tone, trying to sound mature and steady: “The failure of the Former Ability Guild was inevitable. We merely sought a stable refuge.”
“The prophet died, and almost none of the higher-ups survived. Such a Former Ability Guild couldn’t withstand the nobles’ erosion. Joining the nobles was a last resort. It’s the trend of the times, the inevitable result of the Ability Guild’s development.” He tested with a questioning tone, “And you, why are you now seeking out Qing Yu Chen, seeking out the Yue clan?”
He put on an innocent, lotus-like facade, as if he were truly pure and blameless.
But because he saw Li Li as a key player, he inadvertently revealed many old secrets, making my brain race, piecing things together.
Commoners and uninformed nobles only knew that six years ago, the nobles took control of the Former Ability Guild, but they didn’t know the details.
Even the noble young master An Huyu only knew bits from eavesdropping, unclear on the specifics.
This was confidential, known only to those involved and a few nobles.
“For what?” Li Li repeated Yue Qing’s words.
Based on Hua Yizhi’s reverence for the prophet and Yue Qing’s lingering obsession with the prophecy despite his betrayal, the prophet must have been a crucial figure in the Former Ability Guild.
Yet he, or she, had died six years ago.
None of the higher-ups survived, while the betrayers became nobles and rose to high-rank.
The Former Ability Guild’s losses were far heavier than I had imagined.
While thinking, I didn’t forget to stay vigilant of Yue Qing.
I had used the unique nature of this private residence to create the illusion of a sudden appearance, but in reality, I had only used my ability to deal with the ordinary people in the residence besides Yue Qing, then controlled a servant to pull the power switch.
I admitted my actions had an element of gambling, but they were clearly effective.
I feigned a relaxed demeanor, playing an empty-city strategy, and Yue Qing was indeed fooled into hesitation.
Li Li would have to face an S-rank sooner or later; I had to overcome the psychological shadow Dan had left.
And Yue Qing before me was a perfect stepping stone.
But while testing Yue Qing and letting him misunderstand me, I didn’t plan to elevate my disguised rank—rather, I didn’t want to be seen as high-rank.
The identity of an A-rank remnant of the Former Ability Guild was entirely different from an S-rank remnant.
For now, I didn’t want to face pursuit from the empire’s S-rank and above powerhouses.
Li Li glanced at the time; there were two minutes left until midnight.
“You already know, don’t you?” I curled my lips.
Within one minute, I would make Yue Qing believe I was only A-rank, then leave.
Illusory Reality activated, leaving a false image in place.
...
The words that reached my ears were laden with meaning, carrying a hint of frivolity, yet they directly tore through the facade of harmony.
“You have no intention of changing your mind.” Yue Qing’s face grew cold, his formal tone carrying a chilling edge. “Back then, many people were involved in that matter, but you specifically sought out Qing Yu Chen in Jiao Huang, then came straight to Four-Way City to find me.”
“You’re seeking revenge on those who betrayed back then, Heige.” He looked at the black-haired youth with a knowing gaze.
The youth returned a smile.
Forty seconds.
In an instant, the ground caved in, and sharp, cold ice pierced through, enveloping the youth.
Rising white frost spread instantly for miles, accompanied by a tremendous roar.
Dust spread through the sky, the frost and massive sound carrying far into the distance.
Their conflict was irreconcilable, and Yue Qing struck first, but soon he saw the phantom vanish from its spot.
“As expected, you couldn’t possibly come here in person, illusionist.” Yue Qing spoke with a tone of realization.
The residence collapsed under the erosion of his ability, while Yue Qing stood on a sheet of ice, floating above the collapsing structure, then slowly landing on the dust-filled ruins.
“That’s your trump card.” Yue Qing said, coldly eyeing the youth’s figure reappearing before him.
“How could an A-rank dare come to a high-rank’s territory? What you showed me was merely the effect of an illusion.”
“You’re clever and bold. I admire your courage, but I’ll find your real body’s location and snuff out the possibility of this prophecy coming true.”
As soon as he spoke, the frost-covered ground surged with cold air like rolling waves, spreading outward.
Wherever it reached, trees let out desperate cries like weeping children before being frozen in the cold.
He was expanding the range of his ability, searching.
And as expected, the phantom before him vanished again.
Before disappearing, the black-haired youth still wore that hypocritical smile.
Ten seconds.
“As expected.” Yue Qing said.
But at that moment, the phantom reappeared.
The silver-white mask seemed to frost over in the cold air, and he curled his lips, standing brazenly beside Yue Qing.
Yue Qing waved a hand dismissively, certain an A-rank ability user wouldn’t dare appear here: “Just a phantom. This trick can’t fool me anymore.”
His words abruptly stopped.
A dagger rested against his neck, the blade’s chill biting into his skin.
And the phantom he thought was fake casually held the dagger, walking past him from behind.
A trail of blood followed.
The low, husky voice carried a hint of amusement as the youth whispered in my ear, “I like the expression you’re wearing now.”
Expression? What expression? Yue Qing thought sluggishly.
Was it my dignified, calm noble demeanor?
No, it was the grotesque, uncontrolled terror on my face at that moment.
“Illusion! It’s an illusion! It’s all fake!” I shouted.
Six years of pampered noble life and my high-rank status had nearly made Yue Qing forget the pain of the past, the crises I had navigated between life and death.
How powerful I, an S-rank, was—I hadn’t felt fear in so long.
Yet now, under the most primitive cold weapon, I felt the chill of death.
My ability surged, and with a ferocious expression, ice needles rushed toward my back like an impenetrable wall.
It was just a trick; there was no way I could still be harmed after using my ability. It was all fake!
Five seconds.
Under the moonlight, the youth’s black trench coat billowed in the white mist of cold air.
The next second, he let go, leaning backward.
The phantom dissipated again.
“As expected!” Yue Qing raised a hand, trying to wipe away the illusory bloodstain on my neck.
But I touched a real wound.
“This is my greeting gift to you.”
Yue Qing looked up in panic, seeing the youth again.
The youth reappeared before me, casually strolling forward through the void.
Black crows appeared from nowhere, a dense flock enveloping him in dark feathers.
He flashed a confident smile, lightly raising a hand.
“And what will happen next time…”
Amid the rolling ice surging toward him from all directions, he leisurely flicked his fingers, snapping them amid the crows’ caws.
“Look forward to it.”
Zero.
The ice surged in instantly, but the sky full of black birds and the person within had already vanished.
[Opening the passage for you… Welcome back to reality.]
Midnight had arrived.
…
The moment I opened my eyes, Li Li felt as if I could still sense that bone-chilling ice.
I sat up abruptly from bed, gasping heavily.
The power of an S-rank was indeed different, far surpassing Yue Lan by miles.
I used suggestion and the first vague phantom to make Yue Qing think I wasn’t physically present, so he assumed I, as an A-rank, had come for him.
He deduced this himself and firmly believed it.
Then, when he thought it was all illusions, I used his conviction to turn myself into a phantom, escaping his second attack.
In my third counterattack, I still relied on Yue Qing’s trust in his own reasoning.
But the wound left by the phantom should have been fake.
When Yue Qing realized I had inflicted a real wound, he would start doubting his conclusions.
I wouldn’t be able to turn myself illusory a fourth time to dodge his attacks.
So, at the last moment, I used the system’s new function to return to the real world, leaving the illusion that I was still a phantom.
Next time I entered the manga world, I would land far from Yue Qing.
“Phew…” I let out a long breath, inhaling deeply.
After three cycles, the chill on my body seemed to fade, though it was just my imagination.
An illusionist’s phantom could also deliver real attacks.
Once this information spread, enemies would instinctively assume both I and my illusions could attack, which was like stacking an unmatched buff on me.
Imagine—a knife that’s inherently fake, but if the enemy believes they’ll be injured, they’ll be harmed under the effect of Illusory Reality.
Perfect.
Perhaps hearing the noise, my roommate poked her head out from behind the bed curtain: “Lili, are you too excited for the comic con to sleep?”
“Hehe, me too!” she said cheerfully.
I took another deep breath, then said in my usual tone, “Yeah, I’m super excited.”
This time, I had truly gained a lot.
I had a vague idea of what happened with the Ability Guild six years ago.
And I even learned about that noble young master’s brother’s ability…
The dead, the dead. I repeated the word in my mind, rubbing my forehead.
Looks like I needed to visit a haunted house for some emergency training, or I’d be at a disadvantage if I faced him.
“Yao Yao, want to go to a haunted house?” I asked casually.
“If you protect me, I’ll go…” My roommate was a bit cowardly but still decided to join.
The two of us, weak but eager, decided late at night to visit a haunted house after the comic con, buying non-refunded tickets.
…
After a few hours of sleep, my roommate woke me up at 5 a.m.
“Morning, Lili! Time to get up and do makeup!” She climbed out of bed, dumping cosmetics all over the table.
Still groggy from sleep, the warmth of the real world and the dorm’s cozy atmosphere made me feel safe.
I obediently got out of bed, washed up, and sat on a stool, letting my roommate work her magic on me.
When I, half-asleep, tried to rub my eyes and was stopped by her, I suddenly realized.
“Wait, didn’t I say I wasn’t cosplaying?”