Chapter 177

The manga gave Zhou Chenhao two side-by-side close-ups to show his changing expression.

In the first panel, Zhou Chenhao’s long eyebrows were slightly downturned in an inverted V-shape, as if he felt sad for Xia Xiaoxi at that moment. In the second panel, he had already put away that expression and replaced it with his usual refreshing smile, which had a kind of sunny infectiousness that would make anyone who saw it feel a little better.

In the next panel, he patted Xia Xiaoxi’s arm and advised, “It’s not necessarily true, don’t be so pessimistic. Aren’t we on our way back to find Bai Xuechao? When we see him, we can confirm with him whether there’s any news of your brother’s death.”

Xia Xiaoxi lowered the hands covering her face. Tiny teardrops still clung to her eyelashes, and her pair of green eyes just looked at him like that.

Ling Feng, perhaps also wanting to comfort Xia Xiaoxi and give her some hope, looked at her and said, “Yes, we don’t know how Bai Xuechao learned of his sister’s death. Maybe there’s no news about your brother yet.”

“Mmm…” Xia Xiaoxi lowered her eyes. “Even if… even if something really happened to my brother, I need to know who killed him.”

【Brother Haozi and Maomao probably both feel that my daughter’s brother has already passed away, but they both chose to give her a little hope. (Crying Kitty Head)】

【Wuwu, actually, Brother Hao is really very gentle. It’s just that he usually has a carefree and cheerful demeanor, so it’s hard to see that he’s also quite considerate.】

【Although, carefree and cheerful hahahaha, I’m dying of laughter. (Beating the ground)】

【My daughter is also very strong, wah. She only cried for a bit and immediately mentally prepared herself for her brother’s death. Wanting to know the murderer is probably for revenge.】

【Haha, after forming the family reunion group with Bai Xuechao, are they going to change to the revenge group now?】

【Um, am I the only one curious about the perspective of the passerby driver?】

【Driver: Three chuunibyos got in my car in the middle of the night. Their hair dye is too trendy, I feel like my rheumatism is about to act up. From their accents, I can tell they’re from out of town. They actually believe the rumor that Dream Game City “lets you exchange anything you own,” which is used to trick tourists. They look like they’ve just come of age. They can’t even get to the third floor, let alone the top. They haven’t even arrived at Dream Game City yet and they’re already saying they’ve played with the City Lord. They’re probably just indulging in their acting addiction here. When they get to the game city, they’ll know how ridiculously they’ve been acting.】

【This passerby driver’s perspective is too funny. Sister, write more! (Holding face)】

However, Bai Xuechao, who was reading the manga, had a serious expression, even a bit grave.

He looked at Xia Xiaoxi’s words in the last panel, closed his eyes for a moment, and his thick, feather-like eyelashes trembled slightly.

He had actually thought about the reason why the protagonist group would return. He had also imagined that Xia Xiaoxi would come back to ask him about Su Zhao. But when he really saw Xia Xiaoxi say, “I need to know who killed him,” his heart still trembled.

He thought, thankfully, the situation at that time didn’t give them a chance to ask.

Bai Xuechao didn’t want to face Xia Xiaoxi’s question yet. He wanted to avoid it, at least, for one more time.

He decided that the next time he saw the protagonist group, he would use the black-ponytail persona he created at the Marine Amusement Park. It was about time for the “villain” to have his scene.

Turning the page of the manga, the camera finally returned to Dream Game City.

The beginning was a black and white top-to-bottom gradient panel, indicating a spatial transition, followed by a panoramic shot of Bai Xuechao.

The camera angle was a top-down view. The white-haired boy sat on a sofa chair with an air of ease, propping his head up with one hand. His red eyes, more magnificent than pigeon’s blood rubies, were raised, looking at the camera, which was also the direction of the readers. But the readers all knew that the direction he was actually looking at was Yuan Lan. Although the boy was being looked down upon, his calm and relaxed posture and expression gave people a feeling of being looked down upon by him from a high place.

The next panel was Yuan Lan’s smiling face, with his eyes curved into crescents, completely unfazed by Bai Xuechao’s aura.

He was still half-squatting on the puppet thread, smiling as he mentioned that he hadn’t said he was from the Apocalypse Society during his self-introduction, but Bai Xuechao was not at all surprised by the recruitment.

Next was a close-up of his somewhat puzzled face: “Has my information been leaked to this extent?”

【Wifey’s expression, as if looking down on the world, is so handsome!】

【Damn it, I’m worried about Xuexue’s health on one hand, and on the other, I’m prprpr licking his face. He’s so beautiful, baby!】

【Is Bai Xuechao’s intelligence network that awesome? He knew about Yuan Lan long ago?】

【This leader of the Apocalypse Society seems to have a lot of tricks up his sleeve. I feel like when he said he wanted to recruit wifey, he both genuinely wanted to recruit him and wanted to test if he really knew him.】

【I’ve given up on thinking. After I finish the update, I’ll go to the Pink Forum to see if there are any analysis posts by the big shots.】

In the manga, Bai Xuechao calmly said that he was just someone who didn’t show his emotions, and also said that he didn’t expect to meet the leader of the Apocalypse Society, answering Yuan Lan’s question.

The readers didn’t know if this explanation was true or false. Some believed it, and some didn’t.

The next panel was a scene of several high-pressure water streams attacking Yuan Lan.

This was followed by several consecutive and smooth action panels. Several high-pressure water streams continuously rushed towards Yuan Lan. Yuan Lan pushed off from his half-squatting position and leaped up, jumping back and forth on the puppet threads to avoid the water streams. A faint smile played on his lips, the hem of his clothes fluttering in the air. His posture was light and graceful, as if he were dancing an elegant dance.

At this time, the manga gave a close-up of Yuan Lan’s foot.

His leather shoe was stepping on a puppet thread, pressing it down into a shallow arc, while a high-pressure water stream below pierced through the sole of his foot!

【Wow wow wow! The paneling of this fight scene is so smooth!】

【This new husband looks so handsome jumping around on the thin threads. It instantly hit me in the feels. I’m falling head over heels! (Holding face)】

【My wifey is the best! (Scattering flowers) Did you guys see that, ahhh! So what if he’s delicate and soft-bodied? Our wifey can fight! (Going crazy) (Mesmerized)】

【Xue fans, don’t get too excited, okay? He just got hit once. (Picking nose)】

【What the hell is delicate and soft-bodied hahaha, he’s obviously frail! (Covering face, laughing-crying)】

Turning the page, the beginning was an extremely exciting scene.

The high-pressure water stream that had pierced Yuan Lan’s sole swiped, and actually cut off the front half of Yuan Lan’s foot! The puppet thread under Yuan Lan’s foot was finally cut along with it.

Because the puppet thread broke, Yuan Lan’s body fell downwards with gravity, and a high-pressure water stream went straight for his throat.

In the next panel, the tip of the cut-off leather shoe and the bleeding toes fell into the water below. It was unknown whether that stream of water had cut Yuan Lan’s throat.

Yuan Lan’s life or death would be revealed on the next page.

The next page only had two panels.

In the horizontal panel above, Yuan Lan’s arm was entangled by a puppet thread, throwing him to the side and allowing him to dodge the high-pressure water stream that had almost killed him.

The rest of the page was a vertical panoramic shot.

The handsome youth with medium-length white hair sat on a puppet thread, laughing loudly, his expression joyful and frenzied. His legs were dangling, and the cross-section of the foot that had been severed was a bloody mess, dripping blood, yet he seemed completely oblivious to the pain.

He held his stomach and said, “You’re really too interesting! Much more interesting than A-Qing, hahaha!”

【Woc, so exciting! (Covering eyes)】

【Ahhh, new husband is so crazy and perverted, I like it! (Shy) (Holding face)】

【Yuan Lan: Young man, you’ve caught my attention. (Doge emoji)】

【Oh my god, big brother, stop laughing and look at your foot, it’s bleeding, ahhh! (Laughing-crying)】

【He seems like another B-king. Half his foot is gone and he’s still laughing. Doesn’t it hurt, dear? (Wiping sweat) (Leaning on the wall)】

【Who is A-Qing? Is he also a member of the Apocalypse Society?】

【I feel like the target of interest for this leader of the Apocalypse Society is about to change from Brother Hao to Axue. (Covering face)】

The next page of the manga started with a side view.

Yuan Lan was still laughing, but a high-pressure water stream was already shooting diagonally towards his face, its path indicating it was about to enter through his mouth and pierce his brain.

The next panel was still a panoramic shot that took up the remaining space on the page. Yuan Lan was still laughing, but his body was entangled by puppet threads and pulled up high like a string puppet to avoid the attack.

In the lower right corner of this panel, there was also a small overlapping panel, which was a close-up of Yuan Lan’s foot. Countless puppet threads were winding towards his severed foot.

Turning the page, there were two side-by-side panels.

The first panel showed the foot wrapped tightly like a mummy. The second panel said “A few seconds later,” and the puppet threads had disappeared. Yuan Lan’s foot had returned to its original state. Only the still damaged leather shoe with its severed tip silently told the readers that what had just happened was not an illusion, Yuan Lan’s foot had indeed been cut off.

Next, Yuan Lan leaped towards Bai Xuechao with force. The water on the ground condensed into high-pressure water streams and shot at him. A new round of battle was about to begin.

However, the last panel of this page made many readers’ hearts leap into their throats.

It was a close-up of Bai Xuechao’s expression. His brows were furrowed, and the hand that had been propping up his head was now pressing on his temple, as if he were enduring a headache or some other uncomfortable feeling.

【Holy shit, holy shit, is Axue having a headache? The thing I was most worried about has happened!! (Horrified)】

【Wifey won’t fall here, wuwu. Ji Chuanze, hurry back and provide support! (Screaming)】

【Wait, what’s with Yuan Lan’s special ability? How can it also heal? Isn’t that a bit too versatile? (Scratching head)】

【It can attack, defend, and heal. This special ability is a polygon warrior! =A=】

【This special ability is so unfair. The only one who can deal with him is probably a grown-up Brother Hao. Brother Hao has nullification.】

【Am I the only one who cares that Bai Xuechao hasn’t used his fire special ability yet…】

In the manga, a shield woven from densely packed puppet threads blocked the high-pressure water stream. Yuan Lan broke through the attack of the high-pressure water and landed on the armrest of the sofa chair behind Bai Xuechao.

Next was a full-page panoramic shot.

Bai Xuechao was sitting sideways on the sofa chair, his brows slightly furrowed, still looking uncomfortable. Behind him, Yuan Lan stood on the armrest of the sofa chair and bent down, his large hand gripping the back of Bai Xuechao’s neck, a gentle smile on his face.

Turning the page, Yuan Lan asked with a smile, “Do you like floating islands in the sky?”

The next panel was a close-up. A puppet thread had pierced the skin on the side of Bai Xuechao’s neck!

Then there was a close-up of Bai Xuechao’s expression. His furrowed brows relaxed, but his face was a little dazed, as if he didn’t know what had happened.

【Ahhh, save me! This puppet thread implantation, I feel like something bad is about to happen!】

【Yuan Lan’s special ability is called Puppetry, and with wifey’s reaction, I feel like wifey is about to be controlled by Yuan Lan…】

【To the person above, be bold. You don’t need to feel it. Take out ‘about to be,’ he is being controlled. (Wiping sweat)】

【Wuwuwu Axue!!!】

【Nooo—My Brother Haozi’s personality is still in Bai Xuechao’s hands! If Bai Xuechao is controlled by a special ability, what will happen to my Brother Haozi!】

【Good heavens, another new food chain. It’s on theme. (doge)】

【Hahaha, what kind of dark humor is that from the person above!】

【Are they going to play out the drama of ‘the controlled person infiltrates the protagonist group’ and ‘we’re friends, why did you betray me’?】

【Noooo! Don’t be angsty! I refuse! (Shivering)】

【What does that floating island in the sky mean? A wedding room? (Doge emoji)】

【Hahaha, grass (a plant). The person above successfully made me laugh.】

【I’m totally shipping the sofa chair scene… Who understands my xp? Grabbing the neck from behind is so hot! QAQ】

The manga showed two horizontal panels, both close-ups of Bai Xuechao’s eyes.

In the first panel, his eyes regained their spirit, like bright and translucent rubies. In the second panel, his gaze returned to chaos again, and Bai Guzi added a “lost highlight” special effect to his eyes.

Looking at the two panels together, it was not difficult to guess that Bai Xuechao had briefly regained consciousness just now, but was controlled again.

Sure enough, Yuan Lan made a questioning sound, “Huh?”

The next panel was a close-up of a hand. A large hand with extremely slender fingers moved from the slender neck to the throat.

The next panel was a side view. Yuan Lan held Bai Xuechao’s chin and lifted his face, while he himself bent down from behind Bai Xuechao to meet his gaze. A lock of long white hair slipped from his shoulder and hung beside Bai Xuechao’s forehead.

【Woc, this composition, I feel like it’s a bit ambiguous, hahaha. (doge)】

【I feel like Axue is hard to control. He seemed to have regained consciousness just now, which piqued Yuan Lan’s curiosity or interest. (Obedient)】

【This posture is a bit… I’m sticking out a probing jio to ship this CP…】

【That close-up is so hot. Does anyone understand my strange xp? (Afraid to make a sound)】

Yuan Lan said with interest that Bai Xuechao had lost control for a moment just now.

The manga gave a close-up of Bai Xuechao’s eyes.

Under his thick, snow-white eyelashes, his beautiful scarlet eyes were hazy, reflecting Yuan Lan’s interested face.

He made a sound, “Mmm…”

Yuan Lan smiled at Bai Xuechao and said, “Now you can introduce yourself, right?” Then he asked him for his name.

Bai Xuechao still looked dazed. He looked up at Yuan Lan and said, “Bai Xuechao…”

【Ahhh, Axue’s dazed look is totally hitting my xp! My dick is exploding! (Taking off pants)】

【LMAO, does Yuan Lan really care that Bai Xuechao didn’t introduce himself? (Laughing-crying)】

【Whose pants are on fire seeing wifey like this! It’s me! (Taking them off) He looks so kissable right now, let me kiss him!!! (Pounces)】

【The person in front, put your pants back on! (Shouting with a megaphone)】

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep