Eldritch Horror Theatre

Strength was always the best way to earn respect.

On the journey back, not a single member of the task force came over to bother the two of them with questions.

This was true even though their minds were reeling with countless shocks and doubts.

A Demigod clearly specializing in flesh-based power had been beaten flat and smashed to a pulp. Only his head had barely managed to escape, and by the sound of it, he might have even been let go on purpose.

For a time, even Old Man Ji Tong looked rather grim.

It was obvious that even for him, such a feat would have been a highly challenging maneuver.

Then there were those words: the flesh is weak, flesh ascends.

The contrast was staggering. Although both clearly relied on flesh-based power, Andiel was overwhelmingly stronger. His methods had been endless, perfectly matching the legendary persona of someone who spliced Transcendent power.

Even his opponent had acknowledged that.

So had a fake really just run into the genuine article?But if that was true, didn’t it mean Ji Liushuang’s status in the Rebirth Club was absurdly high?

...

Having reaped a solid harvest, Fu Qian cared nothing for the group’s complicated thoughts.

After changing into the clothes Ji Liushuang had bought to avoid scaring the pedestrians, the two headed back at an unhurried pace.

Along the way, seemingly to maintain her persona, Ji Liushuang didn’t say much, though she appeared to be in a good mood.

”So, among your predecessors, was there anyone named Ji Feng?”

Prompted by this, Fu Qian remembered something and asked casually.

Ji Feng?

Classmate Liushuang clearly thought about it very hard, but she ultimately shook her head.

”Sorry, I really don’t recall that name.”

Not surprising.

Fu Qian wasn’t disappointed in the slightest; he was just asking casually.

Not only had Brother Jifeng in Unseen Hill possessed an absurd Rank, but the things tied to his special state were probably highly unusual as well. It wouldn’t be surprising if his name had been hidden by Transcendent means.

”So what do we do next?”

Since Fu Qian had broken the silence, Ji Liushuang took the opportunity to ask.

The earlier operation had clearly gone perfectly, and with no one else around at the moment, it was a good time to confirm their next steps.

”Simple. We go back to rest, and then wait for the person you’re looking for to come to us.”

Fu Qian answered completely naturally.

”...So that guy from just now wasn’t the one who startled Mother?”

”Are you asking for my advice, or are you testing me?”

Toying with the mask in his hand, Fu Qian gave Ji Liushuang a half-smile.

”You probably figured out the answer a long time ago.”

”A piece of trash like that sneaking into the manor, saying hello by scaring ordinary people, and then claiming he wants mutual benefit—those communication skills must be beyond the Demigod Grade. Forget reaching a quick cooperation; he’d be lucky not to get beaten to death.”

”So it’s highly likely someone else did all that. Someone who had a reason to do it—someone who wouldn’t provoke disgust, but whose actions would actually facilitate communication.”

”You’re right.”

Ji Liushuang sighed.

”The moment I laid eyes on that guy, my intuition told me he wasn’t our target. The reason is exactly what you just said: those bizarre actions were fundamentally meant to achieve a certain goal, not just to provoke. But what could that goal possibly be?”

”That’s hard to say, since I’m not familiar with this place. But have you thought about a certain question? What kind of person can beat someone up in their own home, yet actually have it facilitate communication?”

What kind of question is that...

Ji Liushuang frowned slightly. A moment later, her eyes lit up.

”...Someone from their own family.”

”He even knew about Mother’s situation.”

Only someone raised in a powerful aristocratic family could instantly crack a brain teaser like that.

Fu Qian nodded in appreciation.

”And as for someone from the Ji Clan connected to the Rebirth Club, I happen to know a man named Ji Ping.”

”Ji Ping...”

Repeating the name in a low voice, Ji Liushuang’s gaze gradually sharpened.

”I know of him. He should be about the same age as Mother, and he similarly didn’t inherit the bloodline talent. Fortunately for him, he didn’t have any inheritance rights, either.”

”Of course, he didn’t see it that way. Apparently unable to accept reality, he left the family many years ago. He joined the Rebirth Club?”

About the same age as Classmate Liushuang’s mother? That guy took pretty good care of himself.

Fu Qian recalled the Ji Ping who had once knocked on his door in the middle of the night, inviting him to join the Rebirth Club alongside Jennie Ma.

It seemed Classmate Liushuang really didn’t pay much attention to family affairs. Even the deceased Ji Yicheng clearly knew that Ji Ping had joined the Rebirth Club.

”When I was in the Archipelago, I shared a drink with him.”

Fu Qian recounted those eventful days of the past.

”But after the accident, his whereabouts became a bit murky.”

You really are quite familiar with them...

After an instinctive mental retort, Ji Liushuang quickly refocused on the matter at hand.

”So this incident might essentially be Ji Ping returning to the Ji Clan with the Rebirth Club’s intention to cooperate, and Mother simply became a prop for him to show off his methods?”

”The probability is quite high. Of course, the answer should be revealed very soon.”

Fu Qian pointed toward Silver Mist Manor.

”They wouldn’t be stupid enough to arrange another pursuit. That would mean Old Man Lu would very likely go berserk again, sending the situation spiraling further out of control.”

”And giving up easily is entirely out of the question as well. So next, there will highly likely be a relatively more civilized exchange.”

”We can walk a bit slower to give them some time to discuss and confirm this plan.”

Fu Qian didn’t mention the Origin Council. In his judgment, Ji Ping most likely only had such confidence because of them, using the Rebirth Club as a banner to stir up trouble.

This plan might have been designed to seize control of the Gospel Team, but it could very well have been intended to target the Rebirth Club, too.

As he had noted before, he had already ruined quite a few of the Origin Council’s schemes. It wouldn’t be surprising for them to seek revenge by any means necessary.

”Alright.”

Ji Liushuang didn’t seem to have any doubts about Fu Qian’s analysis. Her pace immediately slowed a fraction, and she even let her mind wander, admiring the dazzling array of goods lining the street. She didn’t ask again what kind of reward he wanted.

...

True to their status as a top aristocratic family, their decision-making was highly efficient.

By the time Fu Qian and Ji Liushuang made it all the way back to Silver Mist Manor, someone was clearly already eagerly waiting for them.

”Professor Andiel, Liushuang, there’s someone here you might want to meet.”

Not only was Ji Xun waiting in person, but he cut out the nonsense entirely and got straight to the point.

”Alright, we’ll head over in just a moment.”

This time, however, it was Ji Liushuang who answered directly.

Given their prior conversation, she wasn’t surprised by this development at all. When answering, she hadn’t even bothered to consult Fu Qian, fully displaying her authority.

”Alright. I’ll go have them prepare, then.”

This bearing of a Saintess made Ji Xun’s gaze grow even more solemn.