Chapter 42 - Role Playing the Dark Horse Character

Chapter 42: Why So Griggly? Despite the gloomy hour, the night owls in this group were quite numerous. Shortly after Li Li posted her thoughts, a flurry of activity ensued, drawing out quite a few fanfic writers. [Lan Lan: Thank you, thank you, Goddess! As long as you like it, Goddess!] [Lan Lan: Ahhh! With the Goddess's words, I can create tonight!] [Lan Lan: Goddess, what would you like to see? I'll write it! I can write anything!] This fanfic writer seemed especially excited, and their following messages were filled with gibberish. Li Li found herself at a loss for words. She paused for a moment before responding. [Lily: More, more!] Fanfic of alternate identities... What did it have to do with her, Li Li? Fanfic of comic characters... What did it have to do with her, the reader eagerly awaiting the latest updates? Deep into the night, Li Li ingratiated herself within this group. Although the club intended to perform at AP39, the scriptwriter hadn't finished the script yet and was instead getting lost in opening endless side stories. What they currently knew was that they seemed to be plotting a stage play based on the Desolate Dragon arc, although it might change depending on the comic's progression. In any case, Li Li had a guaranteed role, as the scriptwriter firmly assured that wherever Yi Ming was, they'd find a way to have Li appear in a flashback. Li Li was looking forward to it. Since it was so late, she chatted briefly to acquaint herself with the online members before bidding goodnight for some rest. The following days were packed with classes, tutoring sessions, and extracurricular practices—as if water was being poured into a sponge, filling her life to the brim, making her three-dimensional life rich and fulfilling. Soon enough, it was time for the comic update. That evening, her roommate went to a nearby food street and brought back deep-fried snacks and barbecue for Li Li. "Eating these so late will make you gain weight," Li Li said, taking a bite of the fried snack. The roommate replied righteously, "That's why we should eat together. Best friends should gain weight together!" "Such malicious intentions!" Li Li retorted playfully, thoroughly enjoying her food. Thanks to the late-night snacks with her roommate, they remained energetic until midnight. "It's updated!" Right as the hour struck, the roommate wiped her hands and pulled out her phone to check the comic. Li Li moved slower, washed her hands, and then reached for her phone. This update’s color page was full of implications. Below the color page were Yi Ming, Tang, Mo Mo, and You You, while above them was a bust of Le Shan. A slanted shadow concealed his entire face, leaving only a pair of red eyes emitting an eerie glow in the darkness. Le Shan had blond hair and blue eyes, whereas red eyes belonged to Hei Ge. Yet this kind of color alteration was quite common, similar to a famous expressive anime where characters' eyes turned red when excited during gambling. However, the comic's content carried even stronger implications. The comic picked up from the last chapter, showing Yi Ming conversing with Le Shan. Just as Le Shan was about to pierce Yi Ming's chest, a rumbling noise came from upstairs. This prompted Le Shan to leave first to handle the intruder. Here, the perspective shifted to the intruder’s point of view, but the comic did not reveal the intruder's appearance, opting instead for a silhouette. The silhouette scenes spanned three panels: one, with smoke billowing from a hole in the ceiling, the silhouette observing them from above; another, with the silhouette leaping down—the juxtaposition contrasting with the researchers retreating in fear; the final panel, occupied entirely by a speech bubble against a black background with white text, read: “Do you remember me?” From this point, the perspective switched back to Yi Ming, as though the comic artist was both revealing and concealing the intruder's identity. Whether it was the leisurely stroll or the musical notes floating from the speech bubble, they pretty much clarified who this person was. At least, that’s what Li Li and the readers thought. [Wow, is this person so griggly?] [That familiar door-kicking style, those recognizable gate-crashing antics, it’s gotta be you!] [Greetings from Hua Yizhi and Qing Yuchen.] [Is this master visiting or crashing the party?] [The previous griggly description was spot on, haha, very griggly indeed.] The main content was not revealed, leaving only an ambiguous question, making Li Li feel her anonymity was still intact. She continued reading, reflecting on her previous dance with Le Shan, where a single misstep could have ended disastrously, leaving her oblivious to what transpired with Yi Ming. In the comic, the little corgi glanced at the bright lights and caught his breath, looking to Mo Mo beside him, pondering how to escape with her. Then he involuntarily thought of Li. “He said if I were caught, he’d expose me, but it never happened.” He murmured, then steeled himself, slicing his bindings with a blade during Le Shan's absence and leaping to subdue the nearby researcher. Li Li glanced at the comments, unsurprised at their tearful nature. [Uwu, today's Cowlick Li delivers another hit.] [Cowlick Li, a contradictory blade.] [I suddenly realized no one is aiding the little corgi in his fight this time.] [My Li! My Li! Heartless comic artist!] Li Li noted how Cowlick Li had progressed into Cowlick Blade Li among regular readers, finding it quite fitting. Earlier, a suspected Hei Ge appeared, and numerous readers wept while cursing Hei Ge, but Li Li, heartless as ever, skimmed through to continue reading the comic. Unlike Le Shan, these researchers were mostly non-ability users, with the few spell users present no match for Yi Ming. Yet, just as he freed Mo Mo from her biological restraints, preparing to carry her out, the blue-robed individuals appeared. Yi Ming found himself in a dire struggle. Unlike the internal guards who were mostly lower-tier, these individuals had a highest level of C-tier, akin to Hua Yizhi's group, above Yi Ming. Carrying Mo Mo indeed hampered his movement. Amid his ordeal, Mo Mo awakened. This usually eyes-shut girl’s first words upon waking were, “I won’t leave, I must find You You.” Though her eyes remained closed, she seemed aware of her surroundings. “You You is still here, put me down, I won’t leave,” she tried to wriggle free from Yi Ming’s grip. Suddenly, darkness engulfed them, robbing them of their senses, taking Yi Ming by surprise, thereby allowing Mo Mo to succeed. The feeling of being shrouded in darkness quickly receded like a tide, and Yi Ming shook his head to regain his vision. “Wait,” Yi Ming found Mo Mo, attempting to stop her, but the moment Mo Mo raised her head from the ground, she opened those usually shut eyes. Ability, Mimic-type Ocular Technique. In the monochrome, her pupils looked as if melded with the whites, a halo surrounding her eyes. In the next panel, everyone’s movements froze. Those eyes could immobilize all seen, like Medusa petrifying humans. Mo Mo, eyes wide open, rose and stumbled deeper inside. ‘Please, save me, save You You!’ The speech bubble revealed her inner thoughts as she ran, uncertain who she was pleading to. After her silhouette vanished, the ocular technique dissipated, and Yi Ming regained his agility. Concurrently, he pursued where Mo Mo had disappeared, but the blue-robed individuals incessantly hindered him, leaving him unable to catch up. This led to the scene Li Li witnessed later. The comic depicted Le Shan's return, capturing Yi Ming, and locking him away as part of a new experiment, pushing him to his limits. Amidst the chaos, Li Li provided insight, but the main focus was on Yi Ming, expertly detailing his combat instinct and strategies against challenging ability users, fostering a collective disdain for Le Shan. [Heart aches for the little corgi.] [Hei Ge should thank Le Shan. If not for him, Hei Ge would be my most hated character.] [Ahhh, how despicable can this villain be!] [So Hei Ge really just dropped by?] [Daily query: When will Le Shan meet his end?] As Li Li watched Yi Ming’s battle in the comic, she nodded contemplatively, pondering how she'd return to the comic world and perhaps surprise Yi Ming with unforeseen training. In this installment’s conclusion, Tang found You You. Much like what Li Li had seen, You You told her, “Kill me.” [!!!???] [You You’s eyes, Mo Mo’s eyes, what is happening!] [Heartbreak, he’s already lost the will to live.] [Ahhh, Le Shan, just go die!] Not long after his debut, Le Shan was already attracting immense ire, befitting of a fervent researcher even Li Li couldn't bring herself to like. At the end of the comic, a teaser for the next chapter read: "What exactly is the relationship between You You and Mo Mo? How will they survive?" Having nearly finished the comic, Li Li also just finished her fried snacks. "Damn, this Le Shan is too despicable, such a jerk!" her roommate exclaimed indignantly, standing to help Li Li tidy the table, putting the trash with strong odors out on the balcony. "Villains always meet their end, don't worry," Li Li reassured, though in reality, Le Shan had long been dead. She contemplated and added, "Maybe the next chapter you'll see his corpse." "I believe it, I really do!" her roommate replied tearfully. Afterwards, Li Li took a shower, then climbed into the top bunk, cradling her phone as she opened the forum. This was the time when forum members were most active, and refreshing the page, Li Li immediately saw several new posts. [Analysis Post: Whose ability is the sudden darkness? Hei Ge's or Le Shan's?] [Is Hei Ge just popping in? Did he leave right after?] [I hate Le Shan! Even if he's somewhat good-looking, I despise him! When will he die?] [What’s up with Mo Mo's ocular technique and You You's gouged-out eyes? Wasn't Mo Mo supposed to be blind?] [Let's review the current progress of the Four-Way City arc.] [Ding, today's check-in for White Moonlight Blade Li is a success.] [Everyone, don't be picky. Wouldn't it be great if both Hei Ge and Le Shan died!] Li Li casually browsed and finally decided to enter the thread that might uncover her cover. Though she felt the comic artist wasn't really trying to hide the two Le Shan's differences. [Is it just my imagination, or does the later Le Shan feel griggly?] 1L Original Poster I know my eyesight isn’t great, but this Le Shan. [Le Shan strides forward arrogantly, smiling smugly.jpg] And this Le Shan. [Sitting disdainfully with his legs on the table, Le Shan.jpg] And this Le Shan. [Chin in hand, watching Yi Ming with interest, Le Shan.jpg] Now compare with the Le Shan from the last chapter. [Face flushed, intoxicated and obsessed Le Shan.jpg] Isn't he suddenly exuding a strong big-shot vibe, yet simultaneously that griggly big-shot vibe? Author's Note: So tired, I can't anymore, goodnight everyone orz Currently 12 chapters behind, I'll work harder. Oh right, the fight with Le Shan will be featured as a special Hei Ge chapter in the comic after dropping a cover, it'll definitely happen.