Chapter 66: Where the Dream Began (Second Update)
Li Li was also flipping through the manga.
After confirming the manga artist’s ideas aligned with her own, Li Li went to check the later plot.
The perspective shifted.
In the main hall, Qu Yan and An Heyu faced each other.
With Qu Yan’s “My target is you,” they began to fight.
Before this, An Heyu had only appeared once, gaining some popularity with his striking looks, but he was ultimately just a minor side character.
The manga explained why Qu Yan sought out An Heyu and depicted how his worry for his brother led to a fatal flaw, allowing Qu Yan to turn the tables.
In the end, An Heyu stared at the web of threads enveloping him, and the panel faded to black.
【?! Big brother Crying Bird is gone just like that?】
【No, no way! Just now, Crying Bird was proudly saying his big brother was the strongest, and now he’s gone?!】
【First, the Li fans collectively broke down. Now Crying Bird’s gonna break down with them.】
【Aaaah, no way!】
After the blackout, the next panel showed black splatters resembling bloodstains.
A crescent arc of light appeared against the black background, and Qu Yan’s head was gripped by a hand wearing fingerless gloves.
Heige appeared.
The manga artist deliberately omitted An Heyu’s response, maliciously editing what happened.
It was as if, in the blink of an eye, Qu Ran’s corpse appeared before Qu Yan, and Heige said,
“The person you killed during the day? That was him.”
In the upper-left corner of this panel’s background, text indicated “One day ago,” showing Heige, wearing sunglasses, standing and looking down at Qu Ran’s fallen body.
And in the corner of this background, a black silhouette resembling a woman appeared in the bottom left, sitting as if collapsed.
“Sure enough.” Li Li was not surprised at all.
If the readers knew that An Heyu had faked his death, they would likely immediately suspect whether she had faked hers as well.
The alias Li Baige was meant to be used to throw off Heige, but it couldn’t be completely discarded all at once.
And the subsequent plot was more or less as she had guessed.
The manga artist fully utilized their skill in malicious editing of Li’s character, adeptly using hints and transitions to conceal An Heyu’s existence.
Heige released Qu Yan’s head, and in the next panel, an ice knife severed Qu Yan’s head.
“I really don’t like it either.” Heige seemed to be speaking to someone, but because similar scenes had appeared before, it misled the readers, making them think it was the same as earlier rather than Heige addressing An Heyu, who was still alive in this space.
He raised his hand, and a long sword appeared, pinning the head to the square.
The manga artist used several panels to depict the post-disaster Four-Way City, including the head pinned to the square and a single line from a stranger at the square’s edge: “He won.”
The following plot was the same as what she and An Heyu had seen back then.
That noble young master knelt before his brother’s ‘corpse,’ recalling bits and pieces of their time together.
The final freeze-frame was their last meeting, when he had shouted at his brother in irritation.
And when the sun set, and darkness enveloped the land, a youth in a black trench coat lifted the jar containing the head in the dark, then set it down.
The manga update ended here, pretty much as Li Li had expected.
However, at the very end, the manga artist drew a single panel with a speech bubble containing one line: Isn’t someone being forgotten?
Next to it, a chibi Yu Xiao looked utterly confused: What just happened?
Seeing this, Li Li slowly said: “Oh, right, Yu Xiao.”
She had felt like something was missing, and it turned out Yiming and the others hadn’t rescued Yu Xiao.
To sum up this update, it explicitly showed that the Li Baige who appeared to kill Yue Qing was actually Heige, that An Huyu’s brother was targeted by Qu Yan and others due to his ability, and that An Huyu awakened an ability after being struck by this blow.
After finishing the update, Li Li browsed the forum.
Because the update had a lot of content, the homepage was flooded with all sorts of posts.
[What’s going on?! I really didn’t see this twist coming!]
[Is being a brother in this manga kind of dangerous? Two have died already.]
[Analysis post: Who was Heige talking to in the manga?]
[There are two possibilities now. First, Li Baige was replaced by Heige like Yue Shan was. Second, Li Baige was an identity Heige created to ensure Little Corgi doesn’t die before he’s done playing with her.]
[So, is Li still alive?]
[Yu Xiao, baby, how did you get forgotten? Maybe try saving yourself?]
[Crying Bird, so tragic, his last moment with his family was a fight.]
[Analysis: Uncovering Heige’s true identity.]
[Serious discussion: Is Heige really unbeatable?]
[I’m getting the feeling the manga artist is setting up Heige for a redemption arc.]
...
But the most numerous were the wailing posts.
The happier the Li fans had been a few days ago, the harder they cried tonight.
[Who are you? I’m giving you one more chance to tell me who you are?!]
1L Original Poster
Manga artist, you have no heart! I was so genuinely heartbroken, and then you tell me it’s Heige?!
2L
No kidding, I was still crying, wiping my tears, and then—bam—Li Baige lifts the mask, and it’s you, Heige!
3L
Aaaah, I can’t accept this!
A few days ago, I was so happy, and today I’m just as devastated. How could you, how could it be Heige!
Heige, weren’t you already dead?
4L
My heart was brutally deceived! But my tears are still falling, waaah!
Let’s just say Little Corgi was completely played by Heige, toyed with in the palm of his hand, unable to turn the tables, sob sob sob.
5L
How could he be Heige? Then where’s Li, where’s Ahoge Li?
Where is Ahoge Li?!
6L
Looking at my Li Baige doujin, I’m lost in thought.
Performing a live SC failure, sanity dropping to zero, entering a crazed state, tearing up the card and starting over.
7L
Thanks for the invite, I stanned someone covered in knives.
8L
Upstairs, I’m worse off—I stanned someone who’s completely fake.
9L
This round, Heige fans are winning big.
No more to say, I’ll go cry some more.
My male god, my proud, sharp-tongued, unwilling-to-face-his-heart-but-grew-and-got-stronger male god, how could he just be gone, waaah!
...
[Let’s just say this was brilliant.]
1L Original Poster
The manga artist’s skills are still sharp—this twist is insane!
All those earlier details built up Li Baige’s strength.
If Ahoge Li was that strong, how could he die?
Heige, Baige—just a word swap, and the ‘ge’ sound is the same, it was practically spelled out!
And Li Baige clearly said he wasn’t Ahoge Li.
Ahoge Li might lie and disguise herself, but Heige hasn’t lied so far, right? He does what he says.
Most importantly! Li Baige has black hair and crimson eyes! Just like Heige!
2L
Lol, another day of being thoroughly played by the manga artist.
3L
The Li fans are going nuts, so miserable, toyed with by the manga artist for a whole lap, hahahaha.
4L
Aren’t the Li Baige fans the most miserable? From start to finish, it was all Heige’s game.
5L
Hold on, whether they were played or not is still up in the air, the folks next door are still digging.
Anyway, Heige fans are definitely thrilled.
Damn, Heige, killing an S-rank just like that.
This power-scaling fan is diving in headfirst.
I have a feeling I’m gonna be hyped to death next, hahaha!
...
[You thought I was Ahoge Li? Nope, I’m Heige!]
1L Original Poster
Let’s just say, I was so shocked that I forgot Heige is supposed to be dead.
But, like, Heige being dead is probably the fakest lie so far, right?
How many people actually fell for it?
2L
There’s one, me.
Shouldn’t he be thoroughly dead, and then Ahoge Li and Little Corgi reunite with the Tang cat?
3L
Go ahead and curse, I’m exhausted.
I’m just a fool, sob sob sob.
4L
Holy crap, there are actually people who believed it, hahahaha!
5L
This Heige fan is dying of laughter tonight, hahahaha!
Finally holding my head high!
...
[Rational Discussion: What Exactly Is the Relationship Between Li Baige and Heige?]
1L Original Poster
Are they two people, or has it been one person all along?
If it’s two people, it’s highly likely that the Li Baige who appeared earlier was still Li.
Also, didn’t Heige have that moment at the end where he looked at the ice-blue pendant and spoke to the air? If it’s this possibility, he was probably saying that to Li, who cares about Little Corgi.
If it’s one person, then based on Heige’s current personality, he’s just toying with Little Corgi’s emotions and he succeeded—Little Corgi broke down in the manga, and the Li fans outside the manga broke down with her.
Oh, and there’s also Crying Bird, who lost his brother because Heige didn’t feel like saving him.
The whole protagonist team is in shambles.
2L
Is there a chance that Li, Li Baige, and Heige are three different people, but they all came from the same lab?
The manga never explained why Heige targeted Yue Shan, but Yue Shan was into human experimentation. What if they’re connected?
3L
Upstairs, that’s an interesting angle, but your ID looks familiar.
Aren’t you the one who’s been pushing the ‘Li is a test subject’ theory all along?
4L
I support the second possibility from the OP.
Heige’s personality is that of a thrill-seeker, so messing with Yiming doesn’t need a reason.
As for the first possibility, unless Ahoge Li is insanely strong, the Li Baige that Yan Changxiao considered a powerhouse couldn’t be Ahoge Li.
Ahoge Li was mocked for being weak, so honestly, it’s unlikely.
5L
Didn’t we already dig into this before? The idea of ‘Heige killed Li’ is a false premise; the manga never directly showed it.
So there’s definitely a chance Li isn’t dead.
I support the first possibility—Li was the one who saved Little Corgi earlier, and Heige in these last two chapters was just faking his death to mess with the nobles.
Otherwise, how do you explain who Heige was talking to? Isn’t it obvious he was addressing Li, who borrowed his identity?
It’s not like Heige and Baige have split personalities, right?
6L
Split personalities? Why not go with our sliced-up person theory?
Heige hunts down Li, Li Baige, and other test subjects to collect mental fragments and merge the slices into one?
7L
My bloodline theory isn’t convinced!
Heige and Baige are clearly connected.
Why can’t they be brothers?
Twin brothers—Li Baige, using the alias Li, became someone else’s (Little Corgi’s) brother, so Heige, in a rage, imprisoned Li Baige and took on the Li Baige persona to deceive Little Corgi!
8L
I originally thought Li’s death was a Schrödinger’s cat situation, but Li Baige definitely equaled Heige.
But after reading this thread, why does it feel even more convoluted?
This reveal that Li Baige equals Heige revealed nothing at all?
9L
I’m tired, let’s just destroy everything. Just say all three are the same person and be done with it.
10L
Upstairs, what kind of new-age joke is that, hahaha? That’s not actually possible, is it?
11L
Reading this thread is like reading a story, it’s got everything, hahaha.
I’d say Heige just equals Li Baige. Didn’t Yiming see Li before? Li didn’t die, but Yiming was misled.
Just like how the manga artist misled us.
12L
Right, Yiming did see Li!
Li fans still have hope, hahahaha.
...
[Heige’s Combat Power Is Insane, Right? Taking Down an S-Rank Single-Handedly—Is He Really A-Rank? Where Did the A-Rank Claim Come From?]
1L Original Poster
This is A-rank? Are you kidding me, A-rank?
2L
I checked, and it was Hua Yizhi who first said he’s at least A-rank, then Qing Yu Chen thought he’s A-rank, and we just went along with it.
The manga also says Heige is A-rank, but Heige himself never seems to have said what rank he is.
3L
Forget it, I’m convinced by Heige, the big boss.
This round, he used fake info to bait his enemies, then told them who their daddy is when they were at their cockiest.
Yes, I’m saying Heige is my daddy.
4L
This villain is really hard to beat.
Right now, Little Corgi is completely under Heige’s control.
Come on, Little Corgi!
...
[Doujin Fanworks: This Chapter’s Heige Was Insanely Cool, Right?!]
1L Original Poster
This chapter’s Heige was insanely cool, right?!
Calm and collected, two S-ranks dead, one’s head chopped off and pinned to the square, aaaaah, too awesome!
[picture.jpg]
2L
slurp slurp I’ll always love Heige’s smile!
3L
Diving in headfirst tonight, ready to sleep hugging my Heige merch.
4L
Thanks for the invite.
A Li fan was chasing me down and cursing me before, and today she’s the one breaking down, hahaha.
5L
I call it: Double kill.
Double kill.
...
Li Li shook her head as she browsed the posts.
Tonight’s forum was truly a riot of voices and ideas.
[My love-hate CP is dead! Wait, selfcest seems pretty shippable too!]
[Brother An is literally my ideal type, such a handsome noble young master, but he died too soon!]
[We’ve never admitted Li Baige is Ahoge Li! Li Baige fans, stay away from us!]
[I’m a Li Baige fan, I never had any intention of piggybacking on Li fans!]
[Will we see Baige again, or at least get some Heige to satisfy the craving?]
[Stan Heige alone, and you get multiple husbands. Sea o’ House, ever-changing Ge.]
[Discussion thread, stop wailing and analyze what’s going on! Is Heige some kind of leader? Feels super cool.]
[Former Ability Guild, Heige, leader—let’s dive into the embrace of the new plot.]
[Heige is undeniably the strongest in combat! No arguments!]
...
[Summarizing tonight’s forum chaos: Who is he, who is he, who is he again, and who is who between him and him?]
[Heige, a mysterious and deeply sinful man.]
...
Jiang Lan, much later than Luo Han, finished reading the update, her pupils shaking as she typed three question marks: “???”
She said to Luo Han over the phone, “So you knew all along I was praising your fave? That’s why you went along and said my male god was so strong?”
Luo Han feigned shyness, “Oh, come on, the guy you were talking about is super strong, I didn’t lie.”
Jiang Lan still couldn’t believe it, “So where’s my male god? My big, glorious male god?”
Luo Han comforted, “Your male god isn’t gone, he just went from being yours to mine.”
Jiang Lan: “...?”
What kind of outrageous thing was this person saying!
“Wahhh, friendship over!” She hung up the phone in a huff.
Don’t even think about getting her to produce fan content again!
She was locking her heart away!
...
[Preparing to traverse.]
[Channel opened. Wishing you to become a highly popular character, bringing new vitality to the manga.]
The previous chapter had caused a storm in the real-world forum, but the manga’s Illusory Reality arc still hadn’t concluded.
With such a major event in Four-Way City, the manga would need at least one more chapter to wrap up.
But besides that, one loose end hadn’t been tied up.
That was Yiming having seen Li, and the full context of Hundred Faces impersonating Li.
It wasn’t a big deal if it was left unresolved, though.
An Huyu had mentioned it while searching for Yu Xiao with Yiming and the others, and he’d surely explain it to Yiming when they had time.
With such a massive mess, An Huyu and the others would probably be busy for a while.
Meanwhile, Li Li, who waved goodbye and left, taking a local specialty—a free laborer—headed to Jiao Huang.
She had some business with Hua Yizhi. It wasn’t a big deal, just something she had to do.
“So you’re calling me Heige, what should I be called?”
Early in the morning, they walked through the streets of Jiao Huang.
The sea breeze brought a salty, damp air, and the coastal city of Jiao Huang felt fresh and pleasant.
Slightly behind Li Li on her left, An Heyu wore that red hooded cloak and brought up the topic.
An Heyu couldn’t use his real name, of course.
He had faked his death to make it seem like he was gone, ensuring the An clan wouldn’t be targeted by nobles coveting his ability.
Plus, what he planned to do next required cutting ties with the An clan nobility to avoid implicating An Huyu.
So he needed a new name to use publicly.
Li Li adjusted her sunglasses.
She was wearing that navy-blue hooded jacket, but her face had reverted to her original appearance.
Hua Yizhi had only seen her true face, and to avoid complications, she didn’t want to reshape her appearance.
It was just a quick visit, after all.
Hearing An Heyu’s question, Li Li glanced at him, eyeing his red ensemble, and mused, “Little Red?”
An Heyu gave a polite, refined noble smile, then said, “Are you treating me like some pet cat or dog?”
No, in my heart, you’re Mother hen.
Li Li thought, looking up to see Hua Yizhi’s casino building.
And that familiar wooden door, which had once filled her with dread yet she’d stubbornly kicked open after much hesitation.
Standing here, she suddenly had a feeling.
To her, this was where the dream began.