“Moreover, these mystical matters aren’t something to be considered now. Ah Nong, I called you out to help me with something.”
“Hoho? You’re actually asking me for help? How surprising. Don’t you usually only ask others for help at the last possible moment? It’s not even close to the last moment yet, is it?”
“The moment I decided to leave this place, I was already in a desperate crisis.”
“I’m genuinely terrified of Ruanruan blackening.”
“Judging by the current situation, if things are exposed, it won’t just be a ‘Let’s brandish our kitchen knives!’ kind of development. It might even turn into a ‘Let’s dismember him!’ scenario, leaving only a head, with a ‘little boat pushing through the waves~’ kind of extreme outcome.”
“If I can’t find a place to hide in advance, I might not even have time to leave a last will.”
“You’re really afraid of your wife this life. ‘That guy’ is truly fortunate to have been chosen by you as your main wife in this life. Hmph, why didn’t I encounter such good fortune in my past lives? Ah Xin, that scoundrel, is never at peace… Ah, why is my life so miserable~”
Ah Nong, feigning a wronged woman, wiped her tears pitifully with her sleeve as she spoke.
“Please, can you blame me for this?”
I looked at Ah Nong, my forehead covered in sweat, and couldn’t continue the original topic. I also didn’t know how to comfort her.
“If it were Yu Hui, I wouldn’t hesitate to hug her and pat her back. But Ah Nong… Although she’s a past life of Yu Hui, hugging her feels a bit like I’m… touching myself.”
Just as I was feeling helpless, Lan, with great interest, leaned towards Ah Nong and asked.
“Nee nee, Sister Ah Nong, you’re one of Yu Hui’s past lives, right? Do you know me too?”
As it turned out, asking was worse. Ah Nong immediately stopped crying, her tears vanishing instantly. She transformed from a wronged woman into an evil demon, reaching out to a choke Lan.
“Recognize you? I’d recognize you even if you turned to ash, you seductive fox! How dare you seduce my husband when I wasn’t around! See if I don’t…”
“Stop, stop, stop! Ah Nong, calm down! That’s all in the past lives!”
Seeing that the situation was escalating, I quickly intervened, trying to stop Ah Nong.
But Lan walked right through me and towards Ah Nong. Lan, what are you trying to do! Can’t you see she hates you to death!
However, what happened next left me even more bewildered. Ah Nong, who was lunging at Lan, didn’t actually try to choke her. Instead, she hugged her and said.
“You’re truly pitiable, let alone…”
Eh? Why the sudden change of expression?
What the heck are you two doing? Are you performing a skit…
I slumped my shoulders, watching these two women who changed their expressions as easily as changing masks, feeling more and more that I would never understand the psychology of women in this life.”
“Heh heh, of course, you don’t understand. You didn’t understand in your previous nine lives, so how could you understand this one?”
“Which of you is lying? Did you plan this beforehand?”
“No, Juncheng. It’s just that I saw Sister Ah Nong didn’t seem to genuinely hate me just now, so I could tell she was just joking. I just played along.”
How could you tell! Why couldn’t I see it at all!
Then, through my shocked expression, Ah Nong read my inner thoughts and provided an answer.
“This is the tacit understanding between women. And you’re overthinking it. My past life with Lanhua wasn’t that bad. If anything, we had a good relationship. So, in this life, ‘my’ relationship with Lanhua is also very good.”
“Hmm? Does that matter too?”
“Yes, because you were always chasing women in every life, and every life you added more sisters. So, unconsciously, as the numbers grew, we formed several factions.”
“Eh eh…”
“Could it be like those palace dramas, divided into the Queen’s faction and the Consort’s faction or something… This is ridiculous.”
“In my previous life, your ninth life, balance was achieved. To put it in the names of this life… First, focusing on Lanhua: Lanhua and Bai Yuhui have a sisterly close relationship. Jun Xuan and Jiang Xueqing are like sisters. These four. With Lianbing as the center, An Xinran admires Ji Lianbing as an older sister. Li Nai and Ji Lianbing are best friends. Lilith was once the master of Ji Lianbing and Li Nai. These four form another faction. But actually, the relationship between Lanhua and Ji Lianbing isn’t one of irreconcilable enemies. It’s more like they are rivals who refuse to admit defeat.”
What the heck, it’s so messy.
But come to think of it, it’s pretty similar to the current relationship network?
…Let them fight it out. It’s like Shueisha and Shogakukan, born from the same root… I hope so.
“Hoho? So that’s how it is. Worthy of reference. Hehe…”
That smile… It’s like a villain boss who’s seen the script and knows the plot development.
Just then, I remembered something and asked Ah Nong.
“Speaking of which, Ah Nong, you said your past life was a Witch of Submission. Is Yuhui also a Witch of Submission in this life?”
“Heh heh, Yuhui isn’t a Witch of Submission in this life, so don’t worry.”
“Is that so…”
“Heh heh, what? Disappointed? Or relieved?”
“Perhaps both. It’s a bit disappointing that Yuhui isn’t my Witch of Submission, but more than that, I’m relieved. At least the series of events after her awakening won’t happen to her.”
“‘We’ and ‘you’ are both in nine-life samsara. Originally, we shouldn’t have met in this life, but in the end, we did. Yuhui has always been confused, but I know the reason.”
“Hmm? What reason?”
I asked curiously.
I still remember what Yuhui said when she confessed to me crying that day. She said she had followed me through nine lifetimes of reincarnation. In this life, when she saw me give up, she also gave up.
So, we shouldn’t have had a chance to meet in this life, but we did. I really want to know what’s going on.
“I won’t tell you~”
“…”
Ah Nong playfully stuck out her tongue, acting cute. I was stunned… Her expressions are really rich…
But being able to see Yuhui’s rich expressions is quite a rare opportunity. I’ve stored them all away in my mind.
“Alright, enough fooling around. We’ve gone off track again. Seriously, An Juncheng, since you asked for my help, just get to the point. You’ve wasted so much time. Aren’t you afraid Ji Lianbing will find out?”
It’s you who’s been derailing the conversation!
Suppressing the urge to retort, I rubbed my temples, changed my mood, and started talking about the real business.
About how to escape from here and where to go after we escape…
“If I’m not mistaken, that Pure World Glazed Tile organization was founded by you, wasn’t it, Ah Nong?”
Ah Nong didn’t show any surprise when I said that. Instead, she smiled happily, as if a meticulously designed puzzle had finally been discovered.
“Heh heh… Juncheng, how did you know?”
“I guessed, or rather, analyzed it. You said this world was created by you, so this organization that knows the truth of the world must have come from you too.”
“And there’s one more very obvious point.”
“Using your imagination, it’s not difficult to deduce from this information that Ah Nong is the one who created this organization.”
“That’s right, I built the Glazed Tile Shrine, but it developed into Pure World Glazed Tile later, and it has nothing to do with me.”
“But they still recognize you now, don’t they?”
“I’m the first leader, so they probably recognize me. Of course, it’s also possible they don’t believe me.”
“Excellent! That’s enough!”
With this connection, and bringing Xue Qing along, I’m confident I can escape!
“Juncheng, are you thinking of…”
“Ah, although it’s quite unprincipled, for safety reasons, I’ve decided… to defect!”
Between that assassin organization and a blackened Ruanruan, which is more terrifying? Isn’t it obvious! Of course, Ruanruan is more terrifying! Although becoming a double agent isn’t my intention, it’s the only way now! I need to find a sanctuary. A shield, to bear Ruanruan’s anger and kitchen knives in my stead. The best candidate is this organization that sent Xue Qing to kill me. So, at this moment, I must decisively defect!
“However, are you sure you want to join Pure World Glazed Tile? Although I founded it initially, it has developed to the point where it’s out of my control and has become increasingly extreme. The shrine’s purpose has also shifted from protecting the gods to using the gods to purify the world. Purification, you know what that means, right, An Juncheng.”
“Destruction and annihilation. What will this world become then?”
“I don’t know. Perhaps everything will disappear, returning to a blank state, with all spiritual entities vanishing. Of course, me too… For this spiritual world, it’s no different from the end of the world.”
“But as long as we don’t let them succeed, that’s enough, right? I’m joining, yes, but I never said I would help them.”
“…You’re walking a tightrope.”
“Heh, I’ve walked tightropes quite a lot.”
“….No matter what choice you make, I’ll help you. That’s what a woman behind a man should do.”
“It’s nothing, just giving you back what I couldn’t give you back then.”
Ah Nong turned and sat back in her chair, put on her glasses again, and opened a book.
“When you’re ready, come find me. I’ll take you to the shrine.”
“Okay.”
Escaping alone isn’t enough. I have to take Xiao An and Xue Qing, and also Xuan’er. These three lolis must be taken away. I need to act fast, before Ruanruan finds out…
With a thumping heart, I walked out of the study. The moment I opened the door, I bumped into someone. It was Ruanruan.
“Ah, Juncheng, you’re here with Yu Hui. I was looking for you just now.”
I was startled, my heart leaping into my throat, ready to jump out. Why? Why is Ruanruan here? Since when has she been here? Did she hear everything?
I forced myself not to let my gaze wander and tried my best to maintain a calm expression, forcing a smile.
“Hmm? You were looking for me? What’s up?”
But Ruanruan didn’t answer. Instead, she stared into my eyes. Damn it, she can’t sense anything, can she? Is she that sharp? If she can sense this, it goes beyond intuition; it’s practically precognition! I almost couldn’t help but glance at Lan beside me, but in the end, I managed to control my gaze and not wander.
…No, I didn’t see anyone.
“I see…”
“Heh heh, I understand. I just came to find you for dinner.”
“I’m not hungry yet. You go ahead, I’ll eat later.”
“Got it… Take care of yourself, okay?”
After a vague agreement, Ruanruan pursed her lips, smiled, and turned to leave. I also turned towards the staircase. Leaning on the wall, I gasped for breath. In that moment, I felt like Ruanruan held my entire being in her palm. She could crush me with just a clench of her fist.
…………
Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath and then reopened them. I had confirmed the fact.
“Juncheng, she already has…”
… Ruanruan, she might have sensed something. The iridescent title is maintaining its diffuse form and is no longer restrained… I need to speed things up… I must leave this man, leave this world, before it completely collapses.
