Chapter 44: He Is Not Pearl

“Deity Blesses Heresy.”

This sentence came without context and seemed unclear.

Deity? Heresy?

Lin Rudong had mentioned that the All Beings Executioners called themselves “believers of the Deity.” Did the “Deity” in this sentence refer to the same entity?

And what did heresy refer to? Fierce Ghosts? Monsters?

Yin Luo examined the card once more. After confirming there were no other special features, he casually froze it into fragments and destroyed it, his practiced ease reminiscent of destroying evidence.

Now for the main point, the Corpse Silkworm Silk.

The transparent silk thread was very light and fine, like hair.

But holding it caused a slight stinging pain. It seemed to still contain toxins; the skin it contacted started turning blue.

But it was bearable.

Yin Luo tried wrapping a small amount of cold energy around the Corpse Silkworm Silk. Like dye climbing up a white cotton thread, or electric current flowing through a conductor.

The Corpse Frost Power spread very easily along this fine silk thread, until the entire thread was dyed a grayish-blue.

He hooked the thread with his finger. It still had the texture of a hair, only the stinging sensation was replaced by a coldness that chilled to the marrow.

He thought for a moment, then simply wound the thread, now controlled by Corpse Frost Power, lightly around his own wrist. Then he made a slight flick with his finger.

The silk thread sliced past at high speed, leaving a thin but deep wound on his pale skin, as if cut by a sharp blade.

Bright, vivid red blood slowly welled up. Before it could even drip, it was instantly absorbed by the thread.

This Corpse Silkworm Silk was like a dry cotton thread, absorbing whatever it encountered.

The color, which had become grayish-blue due to the Corpse Frost Power, now suddenly turned a brilliant, vivid red, hanging loosely around his wrist. Depending on the shifting light and shadow, it was sometimes prominent, sometimes hidden.

Beautiful.

A bright, crystalline, translucent red. It perfectly fit Yin Luo’s aesthetic of forever liking shiny, sparkling things.

The white-haired youth simply extracted all the Corpse Silkworm Silk from the roll, meticulously winding it around his wrist, preparing to nurture the entire length with his own blood.

This way, the Corpse Silkworm Silk wouldn’t just become more formidable, it would also be easier to control.

Although it was a bit costly to himself.

It wasn’t until he nearly toppled out of his wheelchair from blood loss that Yin Luo finally stopped. He sat in his wheelchair and went out.

The sky was darkening, approaching five in the afternoon. It was about time to head back.

Not having eaten for nearly a day and a night, if he didn’t get some food soon, his body might go on strike first.

…

“Don’t wander around too much.”

“Okay.”

“Don’t eat any stimulating or irritating foods.”

“I won’t.”

“Your uncle is unreliable. Just listen to his words, don’t take them all to heart. Let him pay when you go out to relax, but don’t follow him to fool around at night. You must come back. Call me when necessary.”

Yin Luo glanced at Zhao Jun, who was sitting in the front passenger seat, and nodded seriously. “Okay.”

The slightly cold, clear female voice on the phone said: “Don’t faint from hunger again.”

Yin Luo: “…I didn’t.”

“Then who was it that collapsed in front of me the moment you came back that day?” Luo Xian’s tone grew even colder. “The cuts on your hands, the excessive blood loss, and have you thought of an excuse for where you went that night?”

“……”

“I was wrong.” Yin Luo immediately caved, and with righteous confidence added, “But I can’t think of an excuse, Mom.”

Zhao Jun, eavesdropping on the conversation, choked on his own saliva on the spot.

What a gutsy kid!

Letting loose feels great for a moment, cleaning up the mess is a crematorium.

It was just that Luo Xian’s personality wasn’t like an ordinary mother’s. She gave a cold scoff, examined her kid from head to toe to make sure he was still alive, and the matter was done.

“Protect yourself well. I don’t want to have to worry about you again.” Ms. Luo said.

Yin Luo: “Mmhm, okay, I will, Mom. No need to worry about me.”

“I never knew you were so troublesome before.” Luo Xian frowned. “Call me if there’s trouble. Don’t bother me if there’s not.”

She was very busy. After dropping this line, she hung up.

Listening to the disconnect tone after less than a minute of call time, Yin Luo slowly put down his phone.

In this family, no one could disobey Luo Xian.

Ms. Luo’s authority was even greater than in years past.

Three days had passed since returning from that Reality Quest world.

Lin Rudong and Lei Jue had said their goodbyes long ago. Zhang Hengheng and Ying Zixin had left after staying one extra day.

After becoming Players, probably many things had changed, a farewell to ordinary life long past. Even when not in an Instance World, staying too long on someone else’s turf was always somewhat uncomfortable.

Once the call ended, Zhao Jun in the passenger seat came alive again: “Did my sister say when she’ll be back?”

Yin Luo was wearing a long-sleeved sweatshirt whose wide sleeves were somewhat long, almost covering his entire hand, just enough to hide the red Corpse Silkworm Silk hanging on his wrist.

This method was indeed quite bold. Finding an excuse if discovered wouldn’t be easy either.

But right now, he was like a child who’d found a new toy, wanting to carry it around at all times. The former beloved—the white rabbit doll—had already been thrown into the Game Backpack for three days without being brought out to sunbathe.

“Mom said she has some things to deal with, so she can’t come back for at least two more days,” he replied absentmindedly.

It was precisely for this reason that Luo Xian had packed Yin Luo up and thrown him to Zhao Jun, telling him to take the boy out for a change of scenery.

Yin Luo didn’t mind either way. Having been cooped up in the same place for several years, he still yearned for the outside sun after all.

“That’s really wonderf— I mean, that’s too bad.” Zhao Jun sat with his back ramrod straight, chin slightly raised. Matched with his bespoke suit and impeccably styled hair, he looked like an elite boss straight out of a novel. “Taking this opportunity, I’ll also take you to experience life, to feel the great times of living!”

Yin Luo gave a perfunctory yet earnest reply: “Mmhm, mmhm.”

The Corpse Silkworm Silk that had absorbed blood seemed to have mutated somewhat. Although its inherent toxin was weakened, the accompanying cold energy was even more terrifying.

He seemed to have quite a talent in this aspect. In just a few days, he was already wielding it like his own arm.

Zhao Jun’s tone was impassioned: “Me, a CEO of a large conglomerate handling countless affairs daily, so many people waiting for my orders, such large sums of capital passing through my hands. To actually be able to specifically make time to accompany you, my nephew, do you know how honored you are!”

Unfortunately, he was too weak in the real world. He could at most cut his own skin, couldn’t even scratch bone yet. He wondered to what extent it could be used in an Instance World.

While pondering, Yin Luo spared a sliver of attention to continue his perfunctory reply: “You’re really amazing. I’m really honored.”

The driver, silent like a transparent man, couldn’t keep his expression straight even with professional training.

“Bonus reduced by ten percent. Put away that Schadenfreude.” Zhao Jun patted the driver’s shoulder.

He seemed very interested in his nephew, whom he hadn’t seen for a long time. Not settling down for long, he spoke again: “I say, my dear nephew, I’ve been wanting to ask for a while: are you still not going to dye that white hair of yours back?”

Yin Luo yawned, feeling drowsy. “No.”

Prolonged sitting in the car and deep thinking drained his energy too much. He was already feeling a bit sleepy and wanting to rest.

“My sister didn’t say anything about it?” Zhao Jun was shocked.

“Why would she say anything?” Yin Luo finally looked up, his gaze even carrying some confusion. “Mom even said it looked good.”

Back then, the woman in the cheongsam, her face of peerless beauty, had stared at his hair for a long time and uncharacteristically complimented him directly: “Not bad, it suits you quite well.”

As someone who had navigated the fashion industry for countless years, Luo Xian had actually wanted Yin Luo to try different styles and looks long ago. But before he got sick, this kid wouldn’t even consider a different hair color, and even hesitated on whether to wear his school uniform during holidays. He was so plain and rigid that Luo Xian couldn’t even begin to style him.

She hadn’t expected that after growing up, he’d actually become more open-minded.

Zhao Jun probably remembered the unfair treatment he himself received. He gave a light scoff and said no more.

Looking at the phone, checking the new technique he’d exchanged for, Yin Luo finally couldn’t hold out. He hugged a throw pillow and fell asleep.

After rambling on alone in the front for a while longer, Zhao Jun finally noticed something was wrong. He turned his head to look and found the kid had actually fallen asleep.

“Tch, what a poor sense of vigilance.” The handsome man sneered coldly, then rested his chin on his hand and looked out the window.

Was it an illusion? In the blurry reflection on the car window, his eyes seemed to be faintly tinged with blue.

After a moment, Zhao Jun gestured, telling the driver to slow down a bit and drive more steadily.

By the time Yin Luo woke up, several hours had passed.

“Yo, finally awake, young master? We’ve been waiting for you for half the day.”

Yin Luo’s attention was completely drawn by the gigantic object before him: “This is… a cruise ship?”

Outside the window, a massive steel behemoth stood at the dock, its shadow cast under the sun as majestic as a fortress.

Looking into the distance, the sky and sea met in a single line, red clouds hung low, seagulls skimmed the water’s surface, the waves glittered. Just looking at this scene made one’s mood feel vast and open.

“What do you think, impressive?” Zhao Jun got out of the car, the sea breeze brushing his face, and spread his arms wide. “She’s called the Mermaid Ship, the largest super cruise liner in the entire Southwest Delta. She weighs 198,000 tons and can take thousands of people out to sea at once.”

“Not as quiet as my other little treasures, but she wins in bustling liveliness. Over five thousand people traveling with you at the same time. You can surf, play golf, go shopping up there. Walking on her, you won’t even feel the ship moving forward.”

“My sister said to take you out for a spin, to let you experience the outside world. On this cruise ship, forget just relaxing; your heart can straight-up take flight.” His expression was arrogant.

Yin Luo wanted to say something but hesitated. In the end, his curiosity won out as always. He lowered his eyes and didn’t say anything else.

Anyway, if Ms. Luo came looking for someone to blame, he’d just say Zhao Jun forcibly dragged him here. Absolutely not his subjective wish not to go home at night.

Plan successful √.

The entourage grandly entered through the VIP channel. After dinner, the ship had already set sail.

Although a giant cruise liner like this was massive, it was hard for it to cross vast oceans; it was generally used for short trips or crossing inland seas.

After dinner, Yin Luo lay down in the top-floor suite. He refused Zhao Jun’s suggestion to leave someone to personally look after him and sank alone into the soft, large bed.

Zhao Jun claimed he was going to have a drink with old friends and left early, only having people guard the door outside Yin Luo’s room.

Well-fed and rested, Yin Luo’s mood was better than ever. His whole being radiated a lazy aura, like a little tiger dozing on the snow under the winter sun.

Past memories were still blurry. The most vivid things were these experiences after entering the game these past few days. He never imagined the real world could also feel so comfortable.

Perhaps this was one reason why Players would do anything to crawl out of Instance Worlds alive?

Having lived in this beautiful world, how many would willingly accept death?

The white-haired youth stretched lazily, sauntered over to the window, and gazed out at the sea view.

Suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a figure with ash-pink hair from behind.

It looked familiar.

Yin Luo frowned. But the distance was too great. Even with his excellent eyesight, he could only make out a vague shadow. If not for that strikingly colored hair, he might have overlooked it on the first glance.

Surely… it couldn’t be such a coincidence?

The white-haired youth pondered.

Forget it. As long as they don’t dance right in front of him, he’ll just pretend they’re not there.

Yin Luo retracted his gaze and eagerly opened his phone to look at the technique he’d painstakingly chosen and exchanged for, spending 400 of his remaining 420 points.

[Puppet Thread (Complete Manual): 400 Points]

[Function Intro: Don’t even think about controlling others into skin puppets with a few threads. But making the threads themselves your puppets? Not a problem at all (unless you’re just stupid).]

Ignoring the sarcastic function introduction, this technique was very useful to him.

Not for controlling others, but for more precisely manipulating the Corpse Silkworm Silk.

After all, he wasn’t good at all those twists and turns. He was only good at slaughter.

Yin Luo stretched, practicing while letting drowsiness creep onto the corners of his eyes.

Lights were brilliant, the environment was clamorous.

The handsome man made an entrance with great fanfare. Surrounded by a group of big men in black suits and sunglasses, he finally found the person he was waiting for in a booth.

“Yo, changed colors again? If fashion trends ten years ago didn’t follow you, I’d be the first to object.” Zhao Jun raised his glass, starting the sarcasm first.

Sitting opposite was a man with a head of ash-pink broken hair.

He had fair skin and single eyelids. His features were of the cool, elegant type, like misty distant mountains, with a languid air. Yet he was adorned with all sorts of gemstone accessories, adding a touch of worldliness to his innate fresh, youthful handsomeness.

“How would an old fossil like you understand the trends of us young people?” The pink-haired man crossed his arms and sprawled limply against the back of the chair, drawing out his words. “Uncle surnamed Zhao, if your circles are different, don’t force your way in. Otherwise, what’s that called? An old cucumber trying to pass itself off as fresh and tender?”

Zhao Jun: “You’re paying for tonight’s drinks.”

“Heh, I’m not drinking anyway.” The pink-haired man spread his hands.

“Fine. I hope you can be this tough when you come to me to reimburse your boat ticket.” Zhao Jun poured himself a glass of wine.

The pink-haired man’s movements stiffened. Stiffly changing the subject, he asked, “So? Is it him?”

Zhao Jun swirled his glass, watching the liquid display a magnificent color under the lights, and said nonchalantly: “If I didn’t know for a fact that Pearl died long ago, I’d almost think it was him.”

“So certain?” The pink-haired man asked.

Zhao Jun narrowed his eyes, looking straight at him: “These eyes of mine can see through most illusions in the world. How could I not know that inside that shell bearing Pearl’s face resides the fierce soul of a Fierce Ghost?”

“Heh, probably loaded with resentment and obsession too. That dense layering of hatred and yin energy, even I would shiver looking at it. Who knows what it experienced before dying.”

The pink-haired man didn’t speak. Instead, a golden frog appeared from who knows where, hopping onto his shoulder and croaking twice.

This frog emitted a faint golden glow, its large, round, bulbous eyes full of spirit, like a creature from a fairy tale. People came and went around them, yet seemed unable to see it.

“Well, never mind. No matter who he is, no matter what his purpose, no matter who sent him. As long as A’Xian believes he’s Pearl, then he is Pearl. He is my nephew, Zhao Jun’s nephew. Whoever dares to say he isn’t, I’ll make them shut up forever.”

His voice was light: “After all, my little sister… can’t bear the pain of losing a child again.”

“Are you really certain it’s not him?” The pink-haired man repeated.

“I said it’s not.” Zhao Jun frowned.

“Pearl was a child with a clean heart and a soul that forever remained clear and pure. He might not have been that outstanding, might never have been able to step through the door to another world in his lifetime, but he definitely wasn’t that Fierce Ghost wearing human skin! Their soul essences are fundamentally different!”

“And you ask me? Lin Yujing.”

Zhao Jun’s expression turned cold: “Six years ago, you watched him die. He died right in front of you.”

“If you back then had possessed even half the strength you have now, what came back that day would have been a perfectly intact, living, bouncing Pearl. Not a dismembered corpse without a head!”

The atmosphere froze. Only the frog, Golden Toad, understood nothing, croaking occasionally.

“Regarding your nephew’s death, I am indeed very regretful. After all, it was the only failed transaction of my career, the Waterloo of my money-making journey.”

Lin Yujing, who had been silent, finally raised his eyelids and sighed: “After six years, the reason I’m still concerned about this matter is merely due to my excellent professional integrity and because we share a common enemy.”

“But, Head of the Luo Family, you must understand: it was you, as the family, who should have kept him well hidden. It is also you who should be seeking revenge for him. Not me, an outsider who just takes money to do a job.”