Isolated

Yu Xing gave Zhao Mou a general account of what happened in Nanshui Town, showing complete trust in this deputy captain.

Although he and Zhao Mou didn't have any real life-or-death friendship, and they rarely even went into divination together, the deepest connection between them was Zhao Yijiu.

But Zhao Mou's mind does give people a strong sense of security; it's as if no matter what the problem is, as long as you talk to him, he can find the best solution.

This is also where Zhao Mou's charm lies, and it's also his indispensable role in the team.

Therefore, Yu Xing held almost nothing back.

He recounted everything he had learned in Nanshui Town from beginning to end.

It's highly likely that Medusa Yan Li and others are secretly plotting something; they seem to have a clandestine alliance, which likely includes an unknown number of people.

When saying this, Yu Xing omitted many keywords. He knew Zhao Mou could understand, so he deleted the key points to minimize the risk of being noticed by higher-dimensional beings.

Zhao Mou said he would investigate the matter thoroughly in the coming days. With this promise, it's clear that Medusa's alliance will soon be exposed to the shattered mirror.

It also includes matters of Witch and time.

This can't be rushed. Even if you try to sort out all the anomalies, you might still miss something even after going through the process ten times.

Yu Xing also mentioned the system bringing NPCs into the real world to act as deducers.

Lan Wu is one, Fang Xiao is one, and who knows how many more like them are hidden within the group of divination practitioners.

This matter is not urgent, and it doesn't even have much to do with them. Yu Xing just needs to remind Zhao Mou that these people are somewhat special, and Zhao Mou to know about their existence.

The conversation went smoothly.

It got stuck in only one place.

That's about [Him].

When Zhao Mou learned about the relationship between Zhao Yijiu and [He], his surprise at Yu Xing getting two tickets vanished as if he had been doused with cold water.

The little fox remained silent for a very long time.

He raised Zhao Yijiu from a young age. Although he missed Zhao Yijiu's most important childhood, he worked hard for the family and in return, he earned Zhao Yijiu's freedom.

After that, the two were basically never truly separated.

Sometimes he had to travel around, following orders from his family to go on "business trips" to other cities, leaving Zhao Yijiu alone at home. Every time he came home, he would see Zhao Yijiu obediently staying in the house.

This taciturn young man had been confined to an even smaller space, and he had long been accustomed to staying put and not taking the initiative to leave the house to see the outside world.

That was neither necessary nor familiar to Zhao Yijiu.

Before meeting Yu Xing, it was Zhao Mou who soothed Zhao Yijiu's unease by buying her all sorts of books—mostly of the same kind.

He didn't expect Zhao Yijiu to pick up the lessons she had missed for so many years, and it didn't matter if she lacked common sense and knowledge. He only hoped that Zhao Yijiu could see a life that interested her in the story.

Those vibrant, colorful lives.

They are the closest people to each other in the world.

But now, Zhao Mou suddenly learns that his younger brother is [His] child.

Although "[His] child" must refer to the vengeful ghost inside Zhao Yijiu's body, the vengeful ghost has already deeply merged into Zhao Yijiu's soul and is no longer inseparable from it.

In other words, Zhao Yijiu is the child [He] is looking for.

Zhao Mou felt a wave of panic whenever he thought about it.

No matter how intelligent he is, he cannot empathize with the evil god. He doesn't know what the evil god's attitude is towards the "child," or what will happen if Zhao Yijiu is discovered.

That's something for which there's not even a single example to draw a conclusion.

That's his younger brother.

For a moment, he even began to feel grateful to Yu Xing.

Under [His] interrogation, Yu Xing found the best way to stall for time and prevent Zhao Yijiu from being exposed to the evil god's gaze.

This gave him more time to come up with a solution.

Yu Xing even prepared tickets for Zhao Yijiu.

Zhao Mou's feelings were very complicated, and Yu Xing didn't say a word while he was silent.

Both of them were thinking.

It's possible that Yu Xing was giving Zhao Mou time to adjust; he's always been so considerate.

Finally, Zhao Mou looked up, his expression returning to calm, as if the previous silence and panic had never existed.

"I'll make the plans for what happens next. And who do you plan to give the remaining ticket to?"

All the participants had a feeling that they deserved a ticket.

That seems to be more than just a ticket to a high-risk instance; it's also a key to survival.

Many people don't understand why they have such thoughts, but those who perform calculations always trust their intuition.

Everyone with ability is now vying for it.

The Broken Mirror Squad doesn't have many members, but everyone must have a ticket—that's Zhao Mou's bottom line.

He was the vice-captain. Although he sometimes had to worry about things like a babysitter, the vice-captain was still the vice-captain. He had more power than the team members. He had the authority to order everyone except the captain to fight for tickets at all costs during this period.

The two tickets that Yu Xing brought were crucial.

One of the cards belongs to Zhao Yijiu, and the other can be given to anyone. Zhao Mou needs to arrange the next simulation team based on the remaining candidates.

"I will give that ticket from the system to Qu Xuanqing." Yu Xing's voice left no room for argument.

The girl he raised will always have priority in his life.

"Okay." Zhao Mou agreed to the idea without asking any questions. "Then, Carlos and I are the ones who still need tickets."

Zhang Yu and Zeng Ranran are not being considered, not only because they joined later, but more realistically because they lack the necessary skills.

The dangers of Yin Yang City are deadly. Everyone will have to protect themselves. It will never be like Nanshui Town, where there is a captain or a Boss Hua to protect them.

Therefore, they have no choice but to avoid entering the Yin Yang City and leave their fate to others.

It sounds cruel, but it's the reality.

"No, you're the only one who needs a ticket," Yu Xing denied.

Zhao Mou paused for a moment. "Carlos?"

"He'll get the tickets himself, don't worry about him." Yu Xing knew what kind of person this Magician from the future was. Although he seemed eccentric and carefree, he was incredibly powerful.

A person like that can take good care of themselves.

Zhao Mou seemed to have realized something, yet he also seemed to be in a fog, with Carlos's shadow appearing and disappearing around him.

"I know he's hiding his true strength."

But what exactly is he?

The little fox finally asked the question.

"He... is Magician." Yu Xing smiled. "A true-level Magician. He's the one you need to worry about the least in the whole team; his mental stability is even better than mine."

Zhao Mou: "?"

When did this happen?

Yu Xing recalled that he had only sent Carlos the team invitation after leaving the tomb.

Therefore, for Zhao Mou...

"He's been at the 'True' level ever since he joined us."

Despite some speculation, this fact still surprised Zhao Mou, because Carlos, from the time he joined Broken Mirror until now, usually seemed to be an infectiously cheerful and silly person.

Even though he knew that the real Carlos was ruthless and not kind at all.

Surprisingly, a true-level player like him could tolerate being the bullied one in the team; his temper is quite good.

Zhao Mou was shocked. He began to ponder the secrets of all the team members, and Zhao Mou calmed down.

Okay, there's a reason why Carlos is in this team, so let's not argue about it.

Even he himself has never revealed his true hand.

"So our team's next priority is to get my tickets." Zhao Mou quickly changed his mind. "Before many forces can react, let's get the tickets first."

The longer it drags on, the fiercer the competition becomes.

Opportunities like Nanshui Town, where the system gives away tickets that can be transferred, are rare. If Zhao Mou wants tickets, he'll have to participate in the simulation himself.

Besides letting Carlos roam freely, someone in the team needs to enter the Yugi with him to ensure his safety.

Zhao Mou turned his gaze to Yu Xing's face.

He seemed to be investigating something, as if he were looking through Yu Xing's skin to observe the bones and flesh inside.

"What are you looking at?" Yu Xing raised an eyebrow.

Zhao Mou: "I'm monitoring your aftereffects."

Personally, he hoped that Yu Xing would be the one to work on the deduction with him.

Yu Xing's strength is undeniable, and he can keep up with Zhao Mou's thinking, even complementing him. Playing Yugi with Yu Xing is Zhao Mou's most reassuring option.

But he didn't know what the aftereffects of Yu Xing's illness were.

It seems that the temporarily terminated alienation has not changed Yu Xing. He is still the same person, always making people angry, but never disappointing.

But what if that's just an illusion?

If those kinds of aftereffects were to erupt, would Yu Xing still be able to focus on predicting the future?

I'm afraid even Yu Xing himself can't guarantee that.

"Don't worry, I know what you're thinking, I can do it." Yu Xing blinked.

Zhao Mou disagreed. "These things are very unstable. Just like how A Jiu was always affected by the consciousness of vengeful ghosts. He didn't want to be like this, but there was nothing he could do."

"You think you can do it now, but once it explodes, you won't be able to control yourself."

That's the logic.

But as I said before, Yu Xing never reasoned.

He and Zhao Mou were sitting at opposite ends of a table to emphasize the seriousness of their conversation. Hearing Zhao Mou's words, Yu Xing's lips curled into a smile. He leaned forward, propped his chin on his hand, and retorted, "It's different. Even if I lose control, I won't let you get hurt. Do you believe me?"

He has really changed.

Before meeting this group of people, all he could think about was that getting close to them would get him hurt, so he figured he'd rather not build any relationships with anyone.

He would act like a monster, causing harm to those he cared about, so he shut himself off, trapping the monster inside his own body.

But now he says that no matter how out of control things get, he won't let the people he cares about get hurt.

Because he started to believe in himself.

Zhao Mou narrowed his eyes, seemingly assessing the statement.

Yu Xing put on a hurt expression. "Hey... is my reputation that low?"

"Given your past behavior, your credibility isn't high," Zhao Mou, half-jokingly and half-seriously, tapping his fingers rhythmically on the table. "You promised you wouldn't risk your life again, but I caught you red-handed this time, didn't I?"

"Don't bring up the past." Yu Xing sighed, flashing her signature innocent expression. "Trust me, trust me, okay?"

Zhao Mou suddenly felt like he was bullying a younger brother in his early twenties.

He was suddenly startled and disgusted by his own thought.

Was he cursed? Could this be a penis?

But... he could sense the seriousness in Yu Xing's words.

"Even if I turn into a wild beast, as long as you're not afraid of me," Yu Xing said casually, as if talking about what to have for breakfast, "I'll only extend my claws to others, absolutely."

As long as you are not afraid of me, I will not be afraid of myself.

I make you feel at ease, and the reverse is also true.

You are also my anchors. With you by my side, I will be more clear-headed than when I face all of this alone.

After all the intelligence was exchanged, Zhao Mou stayed next door to handle business and analyze information.

Yu Xing walked back to her home alone in silence.

He could sense that everyone else was still in his living room; none of them had left.

He hoped that those people had calmed down and were no longer so agitated by his charade in the simulation.

As soon as he entered, he saw that Zhao Yijiu had dried her hair. Because she hadn't used a hairdryer or comb, her black hair was unusually soft and fluffy, making Zhao Yijiu face look small and her age seem several years younger.

Oh no, why does Brother Jiu seem to be getting more and more obedient?

The eerie, ghostly aura emanating from him faded day by day, and he became increasingly able to blend into normal life.

This is a good thing, indicating that his control over the vengeful spirit's consciousness is constantly deepening.

What's even more eye-catching is that Qu Xuanqing is standing behind Zhao Yijiu, pressing him down into a chair and fiddling with his hair.

Seeing Yu Xing walk in and stare at them, Qu Xuanqing explained, "... He messed up his hair, I think he didn't use conditioner... I'll straighten it a little."

When it comes to hair care, no one can compare to Qu Xuanqing.

Let's not even mention Carlos; he's a perennial hair dyer. He looks good, but his hair quality isn't as good as the others.

Qu Xuanqing's head of black hair, as smooth as a wolf-hair brush, is not something that can be easily obtained.

Qu Xuanqing found the earlier incident quite amusing. With the buffer provided by Zhao Mou and Yu Xing's conversation, everyone who wanted to join in the fun had already done so, and the group's interactions gradually returned to normal.

All she wanted to share with Yu Xing was, "Zhao Yijiu was drying his hair, and he seemed determined to dry every single strand. His technique was so messy that by the time I noticed, he looked like a static electricity ball."

Some people have naturally fine and soft hair, which is not suitable for dyeing or perming. Natural hair is just fine, such as Zhao Yijiu brand static electricity balls.

Carlos sprawled on the sofa, scrolling through his phone and laughing.

Zhao Yijiu wasn't angry at Qu Xuanqing's teasing, but she wasn't very enthusiastic about flattery, so she gradually slumped onto the table like a lump of mud.

He completely entrusted his unruly head of hair to Qu Xuanqing for tidying.

Yu Xing laughed out loud, but quickly suppressed her laughter the moment Zhao Yijiu gave her a death stare.

Tsk tsk tsk, everyone else can laugh, but he can't. Isn't this bullying an innocent person?

However, Zhao Yijiu used to only sit upright with her back ramrod straight, but now she has learned to relax her body.

--Although the relaxation method of collapsing like mud looks familiar, I don't know who I learned it from.

Yu Xing sat down at the table and watched Qu Xuanqing's actions. Zhao Yijiu finally realized she was feeling uneasy.

He shook his head and said in a muffled voice, "I'll do it myself."

"It's all tidied up." Qu Xuanqing had just put her hands down. She admired it for a moment, nodded in satisfaction, and then casually asked, "Yu Xing, what did you and Zhao Mou talk about during the long time you were gone?"

Yu Xing didn't mention anything else, only the subsequent arrangements. "He will be responsible for determining the next Yugi that includes tickets, and then I will go in with him."

Zhao Yijiu immediately sat up straight.

Under his direct gaze, Yu Xing smiled and said, "Brother Jiu is going too. Your brother doesn't really trust me. He said he can only feel somewhat at ease if you and I are together."

In the past, Zhao Mou could only feel at ease about Zhao Yijiu's safety when the two of them were together.

Now that they're together, Zhao Mou can rest assured that Yu Xing won't go crazy.

It's true what they say, fortunes change.

Upon hearing this news, Zhao Yijiu was satisfied. He touched his completely dry hair, took out the sacrificial hairband, and put it on.

Qu Xuanqing asked, "And me?"

"I brought you a ticket. After that, you'll be the same as before, but remember to conserve your strength and don't let other forces' intelligence agencies see through you too much." Yu Xing was never ambiguous when it came to serious matters. Once he got serious, Qu Xuanqing's playful attitude vanished, and she obediently nodded.

"And what about me? And what about me?"

Carlos propped himself up on the sofa.

Yu Xing ruthlessly, "Find your own tickets, or we won't take you to Yin Yang City."

Carlos: "?"

Okay, okay, so you want to play like this?

The Magician, isolated because he was too strong, pursed his lips but didn't object to the decision. However, he suddenly had a whim and made a request. "Could you lend me Yiqing for my prediction of what will happen next?"

As soon as he finished speaking, all three people in the room looked at him.

Carlos showed no discomfort whatsoever. He crossed his legs on the sofa, looking completely at ease. "I have something I'd like to talk to him about, alone."

"Besides, with Yiqing by my side, even if I'm a lone wolf, I won't be outmatched by others, right? What do you think?"

"Yi Qing is also a member of the Broken Mirror faction, so let's just say we're teamed up."

That's a rather unique approach.

And it's entirely feasible.

Yi Qing's vessel is the Sheqing Dreamscape. As long as the dagger is lent to Carlos, Yi Qing can follow Carlos's deductions.

As an adult, there's no need to pry into things. Yu Xing waved her hand, took out the dagger, and threw it directly at him.

"Hiss, thank goodness I had the scabbard, or were you trying to stab me to death?" Carlos caught the dagger flying at high speed with precision, but he kept muttering to himself. Even though their conversation was strange enough for Zhao Yijiu and Qu Xuanqing to notice something was wrong, he didn't react at all.

Yu Xing's feeling was correct; Carlos's mental state was probably the most stable among them.

Carlos is a madman too.

But his madness was so self-consistent and so calm that it appeared perfectly normal in a safe environment.

But what if Carlos were in a place where he could die at any moment, and he was still like this?

Eventually, someone will notice something is wrong. (End of Chapter)