Chapter 99 – [Envy]
Yu Shenwei tried to suppress the feeling, but to no avail.
Because she realized that she even found the cup in Xu Zhi’s hand to be unpleasant to look at.
This was way too bizarre!
And given that fanatics already had poor self-control to begin with, it meant Yu Shenwei had absolutely no way to hide how off she was acting.
As she followed Xu Zhi to clean up the plantation after waking up, aside from the expected bloodlust she felt when encountering living beings, what overwhelmed her more was jealousy—jealousy whenever Xu Zhi talked to anyone else. It was so intense that she couldn’t conceal the malice in her gaze, making Xu Zhi turn back to look at her repeatedly.
“Did your brain get messed up during the ritual or something?”
It had gotten to the point where Xu Zhi had to ask such a question.
Yu Shenwei blinked in a daze. To be honest, she kind of thought that might be the case herself.
She probably did get brain damage or something.
Seeing her not answering for a long while, Xu Zhi mumbled, “Weird…”
To be fair, ever since Yu Shenwei woke up, she had looked gloomy multiple times—like she could kill someone at any moment. For a fanatic, that was expected. But what wasn’t normal was that her strongest killing intent always flared up when someone was around Xu Zhi.
Thinking it over, Xu Zhi asked again, “Do you have a problem with me?”
Can’t kill me, so you’re planning to kill the people around me instead?
Yu Shenwei shook her head firmly.
Then what was it?
Xu Zhi couldn’t figure it out and decided not to dwell on it. Whatever Yu Shenwei was thinking or planning didn’t matter as long as she wasn’t stronger than her.
Besides, for some reason, since waking up, Yu Shenwei hadn’t made any attempt to test the powers she gained from the ritual against Xu Zhi, not even once.
Their partnership was technically already over. At this point, Yu Shenwei was sticking around without reason.
Which was especially odd, considering fanatics and transcendents were supposed to be natural enemies. Their current harmony felt downright unnatural.
Xu Zhi spent most of the day clearing out the plantation. Once all the mutated animals nearby were dealt with, she casually scattered their eggs across the fields.
“Let’s hope that by the time I return, this place is up and running.”
She said this to Zhong Lingfan, who came to coordinate things.
Then she pulled Zhong Lingfan aside, far enough that Yu Shenwei couldn’t hear them, and asked in a low voice, “So, have you figured out what faction she belongs to?”
Zhong Lingfan’s expression turned a bit strange. “I not only figured out her faction—I saw something else.”
“What?” Xu Zhi asked, all innocent and curious.
“I saw that she’s jealous of me. So jealous she probably wants to kill me,” Zhong Lingfan said calmly.
Xu Zhi’s eyes widened slightly. “Jealous?”
“…You’re imagining things, right?”
What would a fanatic be jealous of a transcendent for?
Zhong Lingfan smiled faintly and placed a hand on Xu Zhi’s shoulder. At that moment, Xu Zhi suddenly felt a tangible wave of killing intent pierce through her from Yu Shenwei’s direction—so intense it made her skin tingle.
“See?” Zhong Lingfan didn’t react outwardly but spoke softly into Xu Zhi’s ear. She gently pressed down on Xu Zhi’s shoulder, prompting her to turn and look at Yu Shenwei.
Caught off guard, Xu Zhi saw Yu Shenwei’s crimson eyes looking more blood-soaked than ever, staring at Zhong Lingfan with undisguised hatred and killing intent.
It was as if, in her heart, Zhong Lingfan had already died a thousand times.
Xu Zhi was stunned. Her mind finally began to consider possibilities she’d never imagined before.
Zhong Lingfan added, “Also, her faction is… strange. She’s wavering.”
“Evil is her foundation, but she’s shifting between Lawful Evil and Chaotic Evil.”
“Be careful of her.”
With that, Zhong Lingfan withdrew her hand from Xu Zhi’s shoulder—but Yu Shenwei’s chilling, murderous gaze remained fixed on her the entire time.
Only after Zhong Lingfan left did Yu Shenwei return to her usual expression.
Xu Zhi was completely baffled by Yu Shenwei’s current condition. She tried asking, but Yu Shenwei refused to answer. Left with no choice, Xu Zhi increased the pressure!
Specifically—by occasionally releasing moths to flutter in front of Yu Shenwei’s eyes.
Later, after finishing her tasks and returning home to pack for a trip beyond the Federation and into the second ring, she picked up her game console—when the narrator suddenly popped up.
[…]
[I know what’s going on.]
Xu Zhi looked confused. “Know what?”
[I know what’s wrong with Yu Shenwei.]
[I can’t believe this is actually happening!]
The narrator seemed utterly shaken, which in turn piqued Xu Zhi’s curiosity.
“What’s going on? Spill it!”
[I think I can now confirm the identities and roles of this generation’s Archbishops.]
“Uh-huh, and?”
[She doesn’t seem to know it herself—maybe because the ritual was incomplete.]
Xu Zhi’s face darkened. “Can you stop being so cryptic?”
“I’m seriously about to get mad.”
[Okay, okay. Don’t rush me.]
[Zhong Lingfan was probably right—Yu Shenwei really is jealous of her.]
Xu Zhi had seen Yu Shenwei’s expression firsthand and didn’t doubt this, but she still didn’t get it. “Why?”
What did Zhong Lingfan have that was worth being jealous of?
[To answer that, you first need to know—this generation’s Archbishops will consist of seven individuals.]
[You know the Seven Deadly Sins, right?]
Xu Zhi nodded. That much she knew.
[Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Wrath, Envy, Pride. Yu Shenwei’s Archbishop seat is most likely—Envy.]
Xu Zhi had an “aha” moment. “Oh! So that’s why she’s jealous of Zhong Lingfan?”
[You “know”? What do you mean, “you know”?]
[Generally speaking, an Archbishop’s role reflects their core trait and desire—it’s the essence of their nature, and it’s always directed inward.]
[If Yu Shenwei were envious, it should be self-centered envy—jealous of people more beautiful, more powerful, more knowledgeable than her… even something petty like being mad someone saw a sunset she didn’t. That kind of irrational jealousy.]
[But you’re far stronger than her, and she’s not jealous of you at all.]
[Instead, anything that gets close to you becomes the target of her jealousy.]
Xu Zhi wasn’t dumb—she immediately realized what was off.
“She’s been influenced by me?”
[Exactly.]
[Her jealousy should have been self-centered. But your “creative methods” and the flawed ritual shifted her anchor point. Now, her envy is tied to you.]
[…This is the first time such an anomaly has occurred.]
[But in a way, it’s a good thing.]
[Envy is the source of her power. If she kills you, she destroys the foundation of her abilities.]
[From now on, it’s likely that she’ll never be able to break free from your influence.]
Damn so she’s like Xu Zhi’s #1 fan?? 🤔💭