Between Master and Disciple

Some things are actually difficult to investigate deeply, and once you do, the situation becomes terrifying upon closer examination.

Given the immense courage to create a world like the [Domain of Delirium], Bai Zhi didn't believe the other party would be unaware of information regarding the "Lord of Anomaly."

And that's where things get interesting.

Regardless of whether that world actually has the ability to contend with a "Lord of Anomaly," it's fundamentally impossible for someone to confront such a terrifying Monster just for the sake of one person, even if that person is the youngest genius in their world.

So... why did that world send someone to rescue him?

And what exactly happened in that so-called Core Zone that led to it being sealed off for three years?

Is the truth of everything really that simple?

--Anyway, it has nothing to do with me. (Shrugs)

Standing up from the ground, Bai Zhi glanced at the Blond Young Man beside him.

With a severed hand, two legs, and half a tongue, the other party actually managed to hold back without making a sound despite such serious injuries... Bai Zhi didn't believe that the other party was incapable of escaping.

Even Player of Withered Heart's Level or his own have one or two Skills or items that can definitely save their lives. Bai Zhi didn't believe that the guy in front of him didn't have any. It was just a superficial injury, which was easy to heal, but because of one sentence from that purple-haired Young Girl, he completely lost the will to resist.

Is this the difference that comes from absolute strength?

Even if he heals his injuries, he can't go far as the Safe Evacuation Point hasn't been opened. He might as well obey and try to survive... This guy is really flexible.

If you don't pull the weeds out by the roots, they'll grow back in the spring breeze...

Bai Zhi glanced back at the purple-haired Young Girl, his gaze flickering slightly.

The [Pitch Black Rubik's Cube] is an unexpected product born from the collision of the Strength of the [Lord of Flesh and Blood] and the [Doll Princess]. It is an item outside the standard scope. The Strength of the [Lord of Flesh and Blood] and the [Doll Princess] coexist within it. Apart from myself, whose Sanity Value is displayed as???, anyone else who possesses this item will cause a series of terrible events to occur.

... Just like Tianhuo who got this Magic Cube's Tian Huo earlier.

The Strength contained in [Curse Origin] Level clearly inferior to the combined Strength of the two, so it was simply devoured by [Pitch Black Rubik's Cube], as if no third party was allowed to interfere between them... Bai Zhi wasn't very good at using analogies.

"However, the balance seems to have been broken... Hopefully, we won't lose money this time."

Looking at the Pitch Black Rubik's Cube in his hand, which had been displaying a bunch of question marks in the system description after absorbing the [Curse Origin], Bai Zhi shook his head slightly helplessly and put it into his Inventory.

This Magic Cube is quite useful; he hasn't even tried the Change Food Skill yet...

On the other side, after the purple-haired Young Girl walked up to Tian Huo, she looked at the Red-haired Girl kneeling there with her head down, eyes closed, and not saying a word. She remained silent for a long time.

It was as if she had just woken up from a dream. The gentle and sweet Young Girl who used to cling to her arm and act coquettishly had grown up and become someone she didn't recognize at all.

The once inseparable master and disciple now seemed separated by a thick metal wall.

She didn't know what had happened after she fell asleep, but she could roughly guess some things from the brief conversation they had just had.

Because of her, her Disciple's family was destroyed and he ended up in this state.

Lifeless and gloomy, the surface calm contained a hint of composure, yet it also clearly revealed a trace of despair.

"... sorry."

She raised her hand and lowered it repeatedly, trying to help the other person up, but in the end, because of the obvious distance emanating from this most familiar stranger, the purple-haired Young Girl ultimately failed to do so.

"My Master has nothing to be ashamed of."

With his head bowed, Tian Huo spoke calmly.

"But I'm really tired. Can I stop being your Disciple?"

"... good."

After standing there in silence for a moment, the purple-haired Young Girl nodded gently.

"Once we get back, I'll settle all the scores for you, one by one."

"If apologies were enough, what would we need the police for?"

Pulling out a bag of sunflower seeds from who-knows-where, Bai Zhi forcefully interrupted the deep bond between the master and disciple in front of him while munching on the seeds... or perhaps it was a complete break in their relationship.

From Tian Huo's perspective, it would be absolutely impossible for her not to harbor even the slightest hatred towards her master.

In a sense, she did indeed lose her family and home because of her Master... She didn't even know how to face her Master.

--Things like this are simply impossible to sort out.

"Player from Otherworld... Thank you for your help this time."

Seemingly unsure of how to face her Disciple, the purple-haired Young Girl turned to look at Bai Zhi.

To be fair, she was indeed quite beautiful, and her Mecha Armor added to her heroic spirit. Unlike the empty and lifeless look in her eyes at the beginning, the Young Girl's eyes now shone like stars.

"No, no, no, this isn't helping, it's a transaction."

By waving a finger in front of him, Bai Zhi corrected the other person's grammatical error.

"We're not on the same wavelength, and I have no intention of criticizing you; in fact, I admire you somewhat... However, I would never do something like helping someone to the point of tears. Now that I've fulfilled my promise, it's time for me to receive my due reward."

As he spoke, Bai Zhi's gaze fell upon Tian Huo, who had silently risen from the ground.

"By the way, do you still stand by what you said before?"

"What deal? I'll pay it off for her."

A complex emotion flickered in her eyes as the purple-haired Young Girl subtly stepped in front of Tian Huo.

We're all smart people, so there's no need to say more.

She wouldn't be foolish enough to ask how the other person had managed to revive her from that near-eternal slumber, but she figured it must have been incredibly difficult, and perhaps even came at a considerable cost.

Can Tian Huo really afford such a price?

She owed the other party so much, so naturally she would choose to step forward in this matter.

"Hmm... that's not important. What I want to ask is, what do you plan to do with this guy?"

Slightly shrugging, Bai Zhi turned his gaze toward the Blond Young Man.

"Be careful, this guy has many Trump Cards. For example, he used a Puzzle Card to seal that thing away earlier. Who knows what other good stuff he might have that could turn the tide?"

"It's that Puzzle Card... Hand it over."

The purple-haired Young Girl frowned slightly, turned her head to look at the Blond Young Man, and spoke in a cold voice.

"That's not all. Look at how he treated your precious Disciple before, could you tolerate that? This guy even has the nerve to cosplay as a Prince. Your Disciple doesn't even have a mount yet. Don't you think his White Horse is pretty good?"

Bai Zhi then added leisurely.

"Hand it all over."

Reminded by Bai Zhi, the purple-haired Young Girl's expression turned even colder as she recalled the previous conversation.

"..."

After a moment of silence, the Blond Young Man, looking frustrated, took out a pale gold Puzzle Card and a palm-sized White Horse sculpture from his Inventory, and began to speak in a low, indistinct voice.

"I know a lot of dirty tricks about Uncle Kong and his gang; I can point them out for you. Also, regarding this Large-scale Campaign Quest..."

"Stop talking nonsense, understand?"

Reaching out to pick at his ear, Bai Zhi impatiently interrupted the other person, then turned his gaze toward the purple-haired Young Girl.

"So, what exactly are you planning to do with this guy?"

As he asked the question, he secretly winked at Tian Huo.

"Take them back, and then settle accounts one by one."

The purple-haired Young Girl had an icy expression.

"Regarding the accounts concerning my Disciple, I will..."

"Bang--!!!"

With a muffled gunshot, the Blond Young Man's head exploded like a Watermelon.

"..."

Turning her head in astonishment, the purple-haired Young Girl saw Tian Huo behind her, who was expressionlessly lowering the gun in his hand.

This was the first time she had seen her Disciple's face since waking up.

Cold and numb, yet with a hint of relief within.

"I'm sorry, I'm no longer your Disciple."

Looking directly into his Master's astonished and puzzled gaze, at those eyes that remained unchanged and shone like stars, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders, Tian Huo spoke softly.