“What does this have to do with pulling out nails?”
Luo Ye completed her discharge procedures herself; in fact, she was never seriously ill, her body was quite healthy, and it was completely regenerated before the final Illusion of the cross was expelled.
The mental blow was much stronger than the physical one, so these past few days she had simply wanted to stay in the hospital to pass the time and improve her mood.
At this moment, she was in a bookstore, still wearing a noticeable bright red coat, though it was a different style from before, and she held several copies of “Kuku Manga” in her hand.
“These are comfort items for my Unit Two,” the sparrows on her shoulder chirped, its beak moving slightly. “She wants to catch up on the manga; she’s been begging me for days.”
“How many bodies do you have?”
“Strictly speaking, three; I consider two of them mine. The spare one is nothing to brag about. Speaking of which, I originally wanted to develop you into Unit Three, but I’m a bit reluctant to do it now.” Zheng Fan’s expression of regret and disappointment, as if she were a piece of iron that couldn't be forged into steel, inexplicably annoyed Luo Ye.
But she couldn’t muster up any anger right now; she instantly became timid.
“So, what does this have to do with pulling out nails?”
“If I’m not happy, I won’t tell you.” Zheng Fan flapped her wings.
“Sigh.” Luo Ye took the manga, preparing to check out, when she suddenly glimpsed the “taboo Demon King Singer King Setting Collection” next to her and immediately stopped moving.
“It’s the latest Singer King setting collection, pretty good, huh?” Zheng Fan said, clearly having caught up on the series these past few days.
Luo Ye muttered, “It’s Singer King again…”
“Are you really holding such a grudge over something like this?” Zheng Fan also remembered the incident where she was unintentionally angered by a child.
“taboo is always the most classic.”
“Is that series not releasing anything new? If not, when will the next taboo arrive?”
“It doesn’t matter if the next one doesn’t come out, as long as taboo is the best…” As she spoke, Luo Ye was stunned.
“The taboo fan club is going crazy.” Zheng Fan complained speechlessly.
“Sorry…”
“Huh?” This time it was Zheng Fan’s turn to be startled. “Why are you suddenly apologizing?”
“There are also people who don’t like taboo,” Luo Ye said softly.
Zheng Fan: “Who are you, sis?”
Luo Ye shook her head, reached out, picked up a Singer King setting collection, and went to check out.
She left the bookstore carrying a large bag of books.
Zheng Fan looked at the streets of White District. If the daytime of Xixikok gave Zheng Fan a sense of everyday peace, then White District was undoubtedly true everyday life.
Compared to a compromising concealment, the White World was truly “spotless.”
It was exactly like the modern city in her memory, and for a moment, it seemed like she was looking at the past world. There were no strange gangs, no randomly wandering office workers.
The city order was good, and the feeling of prosperity when passing through the commercial street was even more overwhelming.
“It’s so peaceful, so peaceful that it doesn’t need any overly prominent colors.” Luo Ye, in her bright red, looked very conspicuous here, but most people just glanced and then looked away.
“It’s a place I would appreciate but not enjoy,” Zheng Fan said.
Luo Ye looked at him in surprise: “How did you end up like this? In your memory…”
“The reasons most people go astray are nothing more than their original family and school, but I might also be naturally evil. Rather than how I ended up like this, how did you end up like this?” Zheng Fan threw the question back to Luo Ye.
“My family moved from the Violent World to Dadu. An able person in a certain generation combined the powers of both sides to research Illusion Art, which could forcibly control Illusions, and then it led to a bloodbath. In the end, we were left with broken branches and scattered leaves, hiding everywhere. At the same time, for revenge and revival, the remaining descendants were constantly subjected to the strictest discipline and experiments.”
Luo Ye casually recounted things as if they had nothing to do with her: “Then I was the last one to survive, so I turned around and killed the rest of the people too, but it seems a few branches escaped back to the Violent World; I’m not too clear on that. The Illusion Art on me was changed by an Illusion in the Black World, turning from an unfamiliar technique into something like an innate talent engraved on my body.”
“After that, I probably went crazy.”
After listening, Zheng Fan said, “Okay, still a story with no novelty.”
“It’s nothing new. Pick any fallen noble in Dadu, and besides the Illusion Art part, they’re probably similar to me,” Luo Ye couldn't help but laugh.
Then, her smile faded: “Compared to an ‘artificial product’ like me, Lin Yilin is much more natural. Although the earthquake had a huge impact on her. In short, she’s much scarier than me.”
As she spoke, she couldn't help but rub her stomach.
“That’s true.” Zheng Fan had to agree with Luo Ye on this point.
Then she said, “If you pull out the nail, will you still obstruct her?”
“As long as you’re still here, then there’s no obstruction,” Luo Ye answered without much thought.
“So you still want to? As expected, you’re just submitting to coercion.” Zheng Fan said bluntly, “Only an idiot would use your set of logic on friends they genuinely want to treat well.”
“Perhaps… but that’s not what I’m thinking about right now.” Luo Ye shook her head.
“Because after several encounters with you, I’ve become even more certain that you are an incredibly formidable monster. To be honest, in some ways, it has made me even more anxious. I’m very worried about what Lin Yilin will become in the future through her interactions with you.”
“Hmph hmph, can’t get rid of that ‘old mother’s’ way of thinking, can you?” Zheng Fan let out a laugh of unknown meaning.
“However, on the other hand, I’ve also let go. Whether I lost or not, whether I truly feel apologetic, I no longer have any reason to interfere with you two,” Luo Ye added.
Zheng Fan was surprised: “How so?”
“You chose Lin Yilin, didn’t you?”
“Oh, that.”
“My White Pure Spear can instantly sever the connection between all non-reality-side existences and reality. Although I was very confident in myself at the time that I could control everything, in the dark, there was probably still an uneasiness that made me prepare such a trump card,” Luo Ye said.
“If you can’t beat them, you exclude them, right?” Zheng Fan said.
Luo Ye ignored the interruption and continued, “Even Illusions that have already established a connection with reality can be easily forced back. And in a situation where there’s nothing to rely on, the influence of the Black World’s depths on Illusions is greater than reality.”
“There’s such a thing?” Although Zheng Fan knew it was true.
“I don’t know the specific reason, maybe it’s like the feeling of ‘home.’ In any case, no matter how intelligent you are, the attraction is there, and I can’t think of a reason for you to come back. But you did come back when Lin Yilin was… made very sad by me,” Luo Ye sighed.
“Compared to a pitch-black place, a crying beautiful girl is more attractive; it’s a very simple choice.” Zheng Fan blabbered nonsense.
“Haha.” Luo Ye was amused for a moment, but then she lowered her head with some guilt and loss.
“Illusions are not to be trusted, but that day… for Lin Yilin, you were much more trustworthy than me. Losing to an Illusion, losing to a long-prepared Lin Yilin, not getting much information from the Earth Tremor Society, and missing that possible killer… a complete and utter failure,” Luo Ye said slowly.
“It’s good that you know.” Zheng Fan kicked her while she was down.
Luo Ye didn't care about the sarcasm now and asked, “As long as Lin Yilin is still ‘interesting,’ you won’t abandon her, you won’t completely occupy her, right?”
“As long as she is indeed still interesting,” Zheng Fan replied.
Luo Ye nodded, chuckling, “Then what more is there for me to say? She certainly won’t be boring.”
After speaking, she walked over to her sports car: “I’ll help you deliver these things to the designated location. I need some time to rest and think about some things.”
“The nail…”
“The Illusions have all been packed up and taken away by you, so what’s the use of Illusion Art coming back? Let’s talk about it later.” Luo Ye, however, was unusually carefree.
“That’s true. I ate a few of those glutinous rice balls; they tasted weird,” Zheng Fan said.
“Be nice to them! The ones I used as backup shields during our fight are almost all gone. The rest are all my old buddies,” Luo Ye said helplessly.
“Heh heh.” Zheng Fan was noncommittal, saying, “Stop acting, you just don’t dare to go to Binary Little Sister to ask for things, do you?”
Having been seen through, Luo Ye slammed her head on the steering wheel and mumbled, “Why is an Illusion so good at reading people?”
“Her anger has subsided,” Zheng Fan said. “Although she holds grudges and uses ruthless methods, her anger comes and goes quickly. She’s cute.”
“I know,” Luo Ye said. “Don’t I understand her? That’s precisely why it’s troublesome…”
“Stop being so sentimental.” Zheng Fan’s language wasn’t very clean. “So, are you pulling this nail out or not? If not, then forget it. Binary Little Sister sent me here; if you don’t want it, then fine, it saves me trouble.”
“No.”
“Alright, I’ll give you credit for being able to act tough.” Zheng Fan spread her wings and circled above her head.
“So, coming back to it, the time limit for that nail was actually only one hour.”
Luo Ye froze: “Huh?”
“Binary Little Sister’s original words: Illusion Art itself is very complex, a profound technique. When it’s alienated and engraved on the body, it’s even more difficult. How could it be so easily broken? However, I added some curses and hallucinogenic ingredients in there. If someone can’t let go, they probably won’t ever feel it.”
Zheng Fan imitated Lin Yilin’s voice to relay the message.
Luo Ye looked up at the circling Black Sparrow, and for a moment, her eyes became “wise.”
She… she was played by Lin Yilin?!
“Then I’ll trouble you with the delivery. Once you get there, don’t go looking for people; just drop off the items and leave. My Unit Two is very timid; don’t scare her.”
“Is that some kind of small animal?” Luo Ye subconsciously blurted out as she regained her senses.
“She’s a Killing demon, but there might not be much difference. Well then, I’ll take my leave.” After speaking, the Black Sparrow flew away directly. Just then, a flock of sparrows flew by, and Zheng Fan blended in among them.
In a short while, as an outsider with vastly different body coloration, Zheng Fan was attacked by the other sparrows!
The Black Sparrow chirped and chattered, cursing terribly.
Angrily, it broke out of the encirclement, but due to the restrictions of the White World, its combat power was limited to that; at most, it was a Black Myth among sparrows, unable to do more, and in the end, it could only fly away dejectedly.
Luo Ye couldn't hold back and burst out laughing.
Then her smile slowly faded.
…
“I don’t want to go out alone! I want you to go out with me!” The girl’s scream was heart-wrenching, the black patterns on her body seeping into her flesh with intense pain, and the vortex before her grew blurrier within the vast black torrent.
“Heh heh, you should know that I’m just an Illusion, and Illusions are not to be trusted.”
That was the last thing that entity said to her.
…
After staring blankly for a while, she took out her phone.
Next time you come, remember to call ahead…
Lin Yilin’s words to her echoed in her ears.
She seemed to have never really properly called Lin Yilin…
She let out a long breath, found Lin Yilin’s number in her contacts, and dialed.
It was answered instantly.
“Hello?”
“Hello, hello, um… Lin Yilin, I’m out of the hospital.”
“Oh.”
“Um… can I come to your house for dinner tonight?”
“Sure.”