Eldritch Horror Theatre

After confirming that Fu Qian didn’t need to change clothes, Ji Liushuang asked him to wait for a moment.

When she opened the door a short while later, she was wearing a completely different outfit.

Her practical clothes were gone, replaced by a long, pure white lace dress. Despite its relatively conservative cut, the gown was accented with gold thread woven into floral patterns, making it look elegant and luxurious.

It was rare to see Ji Liushuang in this kind of style. She seemed to be interpreting the concept of a Saintess in her own way.

At the same time, she finally looked the part of a wealthy family’s daughter.

Of course, Fu Qian suspected she was still hiding a sword under that long dress.

”Let’s go.”

Ji Liushuang herself seemed unfazed by the change. She gave Fu Qian a slight nod and walked ahead to lead the way.

...

”Liushuang, Professor Andiel, you’re here.”The saying that clothes make the person held true. Although Classmate Liushuang usually never paled in comparison to anyone, her current look commanded the entire room. For a moment, even Fu Qian was reduced to looking like a mere attendant.

The proof lay in the fact that the moment they walked through the door, Ji Xun subconsciously placed her name first in his greeting.

”Sorry to keep you waiting.”

Her tone was polite, though it lacked any real apology. Ji Liushuang nodded slightly and took a seat before looking toward the unfamiliar face that had appeared in the room.

It was a man who looked to be around thirty, bearing a striking resemblance to the other members of the Ji Clan. He wore black gloves on both hands and was currently studying them with a smile.

”Hello, Liushuang.”

Seeing her look his way, he greeted her before anyone could introduce him, his voice thick with a lament for life’s unpredictability.

”You might not know me, but I recognized you at a single glance.”

”You look exactly like your mother!”

”I really don’t know who you are. How should I address you?”

Unfortunately, Classmate Liushuang didn’t seem interested in lamenting over life with him, opting to ask her question directly.

Although her previous conversation with Fu Qian gave her a rough idea of who this man was, she still chose to make him introduce himself.

It really was Brother Ji Ping!

Meanwhile, Fu Qian studied the somewhat familiar face and confirmed his own speculation. It really was a classic prodigal-son-returns scenario.

However, compared to the last time they met, the man had certainly changed a lot.

As a figure who lacked talent and ultimately had to rely on limb grafting, Ji Ping had barely seemed like a Mid Tier when he delivered the Rebirth Club Badge last time. He could only rely on the Gray-White Eyeball in his palm to create hallucinations similar to an Ash Descent.

But now, he had clearly advanced by leaps and bounds. He didn’t lose out in the slightest even compared to Ji Mingzhe sitting right next to him.

So this was what had won over the Ji Clan?

To make the Ji Clan take such a massive risk, whatever the Rebirth Club behind Ji Ping brought to the table had to be of monumental importance.

For example, a method that allowed an untalented Ji Clan descendant like him to so easily reach his current level of power.

Having roughly deduced the outline of the situation, Fu Qian still showed absolutely no intention of speaking up to greet him.

...

Catching Fu Qian’s lack of reaction from the corner of his eye, Ji Ping found it hard to hide his disappointment. A moment later, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and introduce himself.

”I’m Ji Ping. In terms of seniority, even your mother would have to call me uncle.”

”I was away from home for so many years and only finally returned a couple of days ago. I just wanted to play a joke on her, but I didn’t expect to frighten her. I haven’t even had the chance to apologize to her yet.”

Under Ji Liushuang’s scrutiny, Ji Ping maintained his smile, doing his best to downplay the severity of the previous incident.

”My original intention was merely to show her a rather delightful harvest I’d acquired.”

”What harvest?”

Ji Liushuang listened intently, pressing him in a completely emotionless tone.

”A harvest that holds immeasurable value for the Ji Clan... Elder Lu, do you still remember me?”

Seemingly unwilling to let a junior dictate the pace of the conversation, Ji Ping threw out a shocking but vague answer before turning directly to look at the mask on Fu Qian’s face.

Following his question, the rest of the room turned to look in unison.

”Of course I remember.”

Fu Qian gave a low laugh.

”Though compared to before, you’ve certainly changed quite a bit.”

”The one who has changed even more should be you, Elder Lu.”

Ji Ping shook his head.

”During the Archipelago incident, I thought you’d met with an untimely end. It wasn’t until I heard a string of news later on that I realized you were not only completely fine, but had even officially taken the step into the Demigod Realm.”

”Not just me, but the others were heavily inspired as well... Do you all know about the recent news over at Ye Island? The conflict between Anjing Company and Siren?”

After this round of flattery, without waiting for Fu Qian to answer, Ji Ping turned to look at the others.

”Anjing Company originally held the absolute upper hand, but they suddenly pulled back their operations and fell into a passive state where they were just taking a beating. Do you know the reason for that?”

”Did the Rebirth Club have a hand in that as well?”

This time, Ji Xun’s shock didn’t look faked at all. It seemed this was the first time he was hearing this claim, too.

”Of course they did!”

Ji Ping gave a cold smile, unable to hide his fierce pride in the organization.

”When I first heard it, I found it hard to believe too. Yet it is the absolute truth... Emperor Yasui made the worst possible mistake in her senility by provoking our people. After suffering a massive loss, she was forced into hiding. In the end, even the demigod they had painstakingly turned to their side defected once more. That was why their tremendous advantage collapsed in an instant.”

...

Something like this actually happened? This was the real truth behind the recent conflict on Ye Island?

That was far too absurd!

As Ji Ping spoke, his eyes stayed almost entirely fixed on Fu Qian. This prompted the others to stare the same way, their minds reeling with shock at the world-shaking implications of his words.

No matter what condition she was in, Emperor Yasui was undoubtedly a Divine Emissary, a true Tier 2.

No matter how powerful the man in front of them was, he hadn’t reached that level yet, right?

Not to mention that this had happened on Ye Island. As the region under Anjing Company’s absolute control, they had far more High-Tier Transcendents than just Yasui Tokiyuki alone.

But the sudden, abnormal behavior of Anjing Company was a solid fact.

”Elder Lu, is this really true?”

Ji Xun finally couldn’t help but ask him directly. Since Fu Qian had already openly accepted the title in his conversation with Ji Ping, Ji Xun no longer bothered to hide his own use of it.

”Heh...”

Under the stares of the group, Fu Qian let out a string of eerie laughter from behind his mask.

”It might be a little impolite to say, but that kid really did a good job.”

That kid... so the man in front of them wasn’t even the one who had made the move? It sounded like it was a junior in their organization!

This was sounding more and more surreal. If it were true, just how powerful was the Rebirth Club?

The sheer volume of implications behind those words made even Ji Ping—who had just been helping to brag about them—look a little stiff in the face.

”You won’t be seeing Yasui Tokiyuki show his face for at least three months.”

Unfortunately, Fu Qian had no intention of explaining any further, simply continuing in a cold voice.

’Of course, it will be the same even after three months.’

Adding that silently in his mind, he cast a seemingly unintentional glance at Ji Xun.