Chapter 72 - Role Playing the Dark Horse Character

Chapter 72: Popularity There are two possibilities, but it's still unclear which one it is. Li Li continued flipping through the pages; the manga didn't end there. An Huyu handed over all the subordinates and connections left by his brother to Rao Yue. He, Yi Ming, and others arrived at Zhusheng City. The manga provided readers with a brief introduction to Zhusheng City, including details about its rulers, the Sang noble family. Like Yu Xiao mentioned, the entire city worshiped violence, combat, and bloodshed. Every coliseum and arena was buzzing with voices, earning it the nickname "City of Violence." Guided by the locals, they chose an arena named Blazing Fire, reputed to be the fairest. The following content featured Yi Ming's debut in the ring. His opponent was also a B-tier spell-type ability user. “This is Little Corgi's first formal fight since upgrading, isn't it?” “Here we go! Corgi's shedding!” “Come on, Little Corgi!” The manga artist skillfully depicted the battle, with a perspective that conveyed palpable strength. On stage, Yi Ming was engrossed in combat, while those below wore various expressions. “Cat Tang truly is a sweet daughter, always worrying about Little Corgi!” “Ever since Crybaby Bird's brother died, I can't understand what he's thinking. What does that expression mean?” “Maybe he's analyzing the opponent's moves?” “The others are focused on Little Corgi, so Yu Xiao, what are you doing, counting the lines on the ground?” The scene showed Tang raising her hand and tiptoeing to punch Yu Xiao on the back of his head. "Stop staring at the ground, look at Yi Ming!" An unsuspecting Yu Xiao, “???” “For some inexplicable reason, I don't feel bad and even want to laugh, hahaha!” “Yu Xiao, hahaha!” After the amusing interlude, Yi Ming's battle with his opponent reached its climax. He narrowly won. The referee blew the whistle, declaring Yi Ming's victory. The now seemingly grown-up boy hunched over, hands resting on his knees as he gasped for air. Then he wiped the corner of his mouth, using the back of his hand to brush away a bruise. “I can't afford to be weak any longer.” The scene showed a backdrop of his memories, a past where he was protected yet powerless. Another scene showed An Huyu's weary face telling him that the person he was looking for was already dead. His gaze appeared to pierce through the present scene to the distant horizon, watching the setting sun. “I can't distinguish whether those events were real or not, but I believe in you.” In the background, a cold face appeared, with a dangling earring on the right ear seemingly glowing with a spectral light. A sequence of three large background frames unfolded three scenes—at the Twins' place, Li Baige waited behind a wall until Tang arrived to heal Yi Ming, ensuring his safety before leaving. Li Baige secretly protected Yi Ming in a park, his eyes fixed on the impending action by Yan Changxiao. Li Baige also saved him at the Yue residence, using a long knife to separate him and Yue Qing, cutting off Yue Qing's attack. Yi Ming believed in that person because their actions left no room for doubt. And so, looking toward the distance, he spoke to someone who couldn't hear him: “I want to become strong enough to truly help you.” As the sun set over the horizon, the scene shifted. Under the bright moonlight, a young man with black hair, wearing sunglasses, sat atop a shipping container, one leg casually dangling, the other bent, foot resting on the container's edge as he propped his arm on his knee. The trench coat's belt fluttered in the night air as he raised his head, gazing at the pristine moon. The next panel revealed the scene behind him. A man with a hood concealing his eyes, his sharp jawline visible, stood at his back. Behind the shipping container were people subdued beneath him. Whether in fear or terror, the silent environment appeared frozen with the night, yet one certainty remained—they dared not challenge his authority. Though the young man sat with apparent casualness up front, his figure exuded an indomitable air. Within the darkened night, from below upward, looking from the perspective of those subdued toward the seated figure, the page marked with text indicated the location. Lin noble family, Dyed-eye City's District Three. In the next panel, the young man curled his lips and leaped off the container. A black box appeared at the bottom, marking the end of the manga. "Ahhhhh, it's Hei Ge!" "He jumped right into my heart, winking~" "Is Hei Ge off to challenge another venue? He's killing me with his style!" “I don't know whether to feel sad for Yi Ming being played like a fool or sympathize with Hei Ge walking in the dark.” “Little Corgi, if you want to help Hei Ge, you'll have to get strong enough to solo an S-tier!” “What is this? Did I hear wrong? Feeling sorry for Hei Ge?” “Master Hei Ge is the strongest! Challenge me if you disagree!” “I’m Hei Ge's devoted follower!” As she gazed at the final scene, Li Li tapped her finger on the back of her phone, recalling the events from the previous night. She remembered. After her and An Heyu's swift martial conquest of those people, she jumped down to head to the next organization’s stronghold. An Heyu quickly followed, and nothing struck her as particularly noteworthy. However, what seemed mundane chaos in her eyes was elevated into grandeur when depicted by the manga artist. “I look really handsome,” she remarked, a rare sentiment. Simultaneously, an overwhelming sensation took hold. At the manga's end, a line of text promised the next chapter, with another page beyond that. In large characters, the words proclaimed—“First Popularity Poll for 'Beyond Black and White' Characters!” “Top three get a mysterious prize, and the top five will get official merchandise!” Staring at the colorful promotional page and the various chibi character smiles, Li Li calmly muttered, “As expected.” This was the manga artist giving her one last chance to establish her character's role, whether a villain or a protagonist, dependent on the poll results. Although it seemed urgent and serious, Li Li wasn't flustered, knowing her next course of action was to browse forums. What's there to gain from haste if she couldn't hack into the voting system? Scrolling through forums until tomorrow's class seemed like the sensible plan. University finals were the most lethal period; current university student Li Li knew this all too well. Glancing at forum trends, many were campaigning for votes. “Li supporters, vote for our idol! Maybe he can rise from the grave!” “Doesn't Yu Xiao's beauty deserve your vote? Gorgeous fool, no, beautiful airhead awaits you!” “Honestly, Little Corgi needs to make a statement as the protagonist! Cast your precious vote for Little Corgi!” “The idea of Cat Tang merchandise is too tempting, so you know what to do! Who doesn’t love a tsundere darling?” “This popularity vote is unfavorable for the recently joined Crybaby Bird, so friends, vote for him!” “Vote for the powerful Hei Ge! Why even hesitate? The strongest force in Beyond Black and White deserves your vote!” Li Li couldn't help but sigh at the bustling scene. Since the vote was online, each account that purchased the original manga had one vote, making the competition truly fierce. She peeked into a stage play chat she previously joined. As expected, a popular fan artist was rallying votes for Li, while Han Zhi, who had cosplayed Hei Ge at a manga convention, was advocating for Hei Ge. Their fervent debate made it seem like they were sworn enemies, each fighting relentlessly for their own cause. In summary—they wanted that merchandise! While watching, Li Li shook her head, her finger hovering between Li and Hei Ge. After some thought, she didn't vote for either. She'd wait a few days to check the data and vote for the one with the most. Returning to the manga world when it was still daylight. Li Li refreshed her state using her ability the previous night, so she wasn't tired. She wandered the streets of Dyed-eye City without aim. Recalling the cities she'd visited before, Desolate Dragon operated independently of the empire with no noble intervention. The city lord stayed away unless a major calamity occurred. The lower levels resigned themselves to being oppressed and exploited by organizations like Bronze. But now, with Bronze gone, Tides took full control of the city's underworld, making Desolate Dragon seemingly safer than before. At least, no one like Bronze would brazenly kidnap ability users in broad daylight anymore. Four-Way City was considered rural within the empire, governed by the emerging noble Yue family. Though their fief was a noble showcase, superficially well-managed for appearances by Yue Qing. Bounty hunters roamed Four-Way City unchecked; anyone with money could post rewards without scrutiny. Yet, compared to the fiefs of established nobility, they still appeared somewhat peaceful. Qu Family’s domain was notorious, Qu Yan paving roads with blood, taking pride in head collection. Qu Ran enjoyed the massacre of ordinary people for fun, oblivious to the value of their lives. The Sang family's territory was introduced by the manga, teeming with violence and blood. A duel challenge issued had to be accepted, life and death disregarded in arena bouts. Social hierarchy was determined by fists, while the Sang nobility reveled in watching their subjects strive and bleed for survival. Currently, the situation with the Lin family was unknown, but Dyed-eye City during the day could indeed be described as a city of order. Li Li roamed District One, eventually finding herself at the Ability Guild building in Dyed-eye City. In contrast to Four-Way City, the guild here exuded a 'big city' vibe, its exterior clad in costly bioglass, polished to perfection. Its vast premises rose about twenty stories high. At its entrance, androids stationed as guards denied entry to all outsiders. In Dyed-eye City's Ability Guild, the identity of bounty hunters underwent rigorous scrutiny. Ordinary civilians and lower-tier ability users lacked the rights to join the guild. Upon realizing this, Li Li recalled the original intention behind the guild's establishment: to unite ordinary people and lower-tier ability users, advocating for their rights. She chuckled softly and averted her gaze, as if she was merely passing by. Coincidentally, a lavish winged-carriage approached from the road's end, accompanied by servants and androids. When the carriage halted, two individuals disembarked. They both possessed striking orange hair, and Li Li noticed one of them bore a strong resemblance to the young man on the giant screen of the nearby building. Advertising in their own territory? Li Li found it intriguing. These people must be from the Lin noble family, but it was the first time she had seen a noble personally doing such things. Then again, perhaps it was because she hadn’t encountered many nobles before. She shifted her focus away and moved on. By nightfall, An Heyu continued with his tasks, while Li Li transformed into a crow, soaring freely through Dyed-eye City's eternal night. With flames and violence as constant companions, Li Li occasionally saved people in passing, easily leaving the scene thanks to her ability that let her walk with impunity. However, upon reaching District Thirteen, she discovered this area was different from the others. It was eerily quiet, starkly contrasted with the sporadic explosions and screams elsewhere. Noticing something amiss, she decided it was worth investigating. Li Li deliberately waited until five o'clock, with only ten minutes remaining until eternal night ended, before making her move. The black crow descended from the sky, transforming into human form. Li Li adjusted her sunglasses, switching to silver-edged masks that didn't impair her vision, and walked along the boundary of District Thirteen. Then, she raised her foot. As her toes stepped into the district, an immense pressure descended upon her. "This area should have a pressure of 1.3 billion Pascals." A familiar voice emerged from the darkness.