Chapter 1265: The Invisible Thread

Chapter 1265: The Invisible Thread

So, it turns out that Ling Meng’s original personality was specifically replaced by this new one.

That means she can’t be messed with at all; it’s as if her blade is poised at the original Ling Meng’s neck—one slash, and Ling Meng would be toast!

The only option is to go along with her; I can’t just say, “Hey, hurry back and let the original Ling Meng return!”

Surprisingly, this Ling Meng was quietly munching on pastries and sipping drinks, making it hard to believe she was the murderous type.

You really can’t judge a book by its cover, huh?

“Actually, do you ever communicate with the original personality? Like, in dreams or through the subconscious—heart-to-heart chats?”

“Nope. She doesn’t know I exist. But thanks to the Handa Alliance’s influence, I’m here now. So if she comes back, she won’t remember what she did. So, please keep my existence a secret.”

“Why?” Lin Nuo asked.

“As long as she rejects me in her heart, it won’t do either of us any good. She might even fall apart.”

With that, Ling Meng dabbed the corner of Lin Nuo’s mouth with a handkerchief, trying to act like an ordinary girl enjoying a lovely moment with her crush.

“Can’t hide it forever; she’ll find out eventually.”

Lin Nuo didn’t mind Ling Meng’s mouth-wiping antics one bit; in fact, he quite enjoyed it.

The more he looked, the more he felt she exuded an air of devilish charm that the original Ling Meng lacked.

Indeed, only a true devil deserves a temperament that carries a hint of gentleness without losing its murderous intent.

More and more demons were arriving in Feng Ling Country, and Lin Nuo and the others encountered various demons bustling about the markets, shopping, negotiating—everything felt harmonious.

“Once upon a time, the Demon Realm was the same. I don’t know when it all started, but now it’s filled with war everywhere. In the human world, demons are seen as a brutal race, but in the Demon Realm, many demons long for peace and desire a stable life.”

Ling Meng paused, gazing at the peaceful street, clearly touched, reminiscent of an elder having weathered life’s storms.

“Peace, huh?”

Lin Nuo echoed her sentiment, sensing stories entwined in her words.

Test subjects, tragic life stories, controlled by others, yet still yearning for peace.

To the Handa Alliance, she’s a failure. But to the entire Demon Realm, she’s a success.

“Don’t you aspire for peace? Do you wish to keep killing, my dear master?”

Ling Meng turned her eyes to Lin Nuo, who smiled gently and replied:

“Peace? I don’t even know what that is anymore. Killing is just…meh. Even if I long for peace, would it come true? Nope. Just like you said, humans have prejudices against demons, which means their lives are filled with killing. Even if demons take control, there will be those waving the banner of justice, causing war. So demons don’t deserve peace.”

Ling Meng didn’t know what Lin Nuo had been through, but even those few sentences hinted that his story was far from ordinary.

If given the chance, she would gladly spend countless nights listening to him share it.

“Master, would you be willing to tell your story?”

“I have no story.”

“Well then, I hope someday I’ll be qualified to hear it.”

Ling Meng decided not to push further; if he didn’t want to share, she wouldn’t force it.

She finished her pastry and drink, got up to refill her cup, and also poured one for Lin Nuo.

“All done. Got any places you want to go? Today, I could accompany you.”

Lin Nuo said, as today’s task was to go on a date with Ling Meng’s new personality or perhaps gain some insight from her.

“If possible, I’d like to visit the human realm—go to the place where we first met, walk the path the original personality walked.”

“I want to go back too, but I can’t, sister. Come on, let’s toss that fantasy aside; it’s beyond our reach. But if you have a way, then you might—I don’t know if you have connections?”

“None, but you must.”

“You’re overestimating me; if I could go back, I would’ve done it long ago. But if you’ve nowhere else to go, let’s just sit and enjoy pastries and drinks.”

“I have a place I want to go, but it’s a bit far.”

“Where?”

“Um…”

Before Ling Meng could finish, a sudden wave of intense pain surged through her entire body, and her face twisted in agony.

“?! What’s going on??”

Lin Nuo was stunned, like, sister, please, don’t joke around—what the heck happened to make you put on that painful mask?

Could it be something wrong with the pastries and drinks?

If so, wouldn’t I be affected too?

No, if something was wrong, I’d know!

“I… I’m fine… d-don’t worry… Sss…”

“That doesn’t look fine at all! You’re on the verge of death! Forget talking; we’re going back!”

Lin Nuo hurriedly scooped up Ling Meng, no more time for arguing—let’s just get back before you keel over here!

However, suddenly, a sense of foreboding washed over Lin Nuo.

“Is someone…?”

“Mm…”

Ling Meng noticed it too; her sudden pain was certainly a sign that someone was scheming in the shadows.

Could it be the Handa Alliance?

Lin Nuo wasn’t sure who it was, but they were a bit far off, and he couldn’t free himself just yet.

“Ah… cough…”

Ling Meng suddenly felt pain again, unable to suppress a cry that caught everyone’s attention.

Passersby whispered, gossiping in hushed tones; if Lin Nuo had his way, he would love to throw a punch their way.

“W-we should get out of here…”

“Okay.”

Lin Nuo quickly led Ling Meng away, but just as they hadn’t gone far, Ling Meng felt a sharper pain and couldn’t help but shout again, her face paling by the second.

“W-we should hurry… I-I’m fine…”

“Can’t run.”

Lin Nuo turned back quickly, and while Ling Meng felt a bit better, she still had some pain.

“Why are we back…”

“I get it now; it seems the further we are from the target, the more you suffer. If I take you further away, you might die, or worse, collapse halfway.”

Lin Nuo figured it out quickly; it felt like an invisible thread was pulling at Ling Meng. The more she ran, the tighter it became, making her suffer more.

So they had to cut that thread.

“Let’s see if this will work.”

Lin Nuo glanced at Ling Meng and, like last time, swiftly knocked her out.

“Well, that worked; now it’s done.”

Lin Nuo murmured. Once she was unconscious, Ling Meng’s pain vanished.

He needed to find out who was pulling the strings nearby and cut that thread; otherwise, it’d be agonizing for Ling Meng.

“That tower?”

Lin Nuo’s gaze landed on the tallest tower in the city, which had the broadest view, allowing for a glimpse of most of the city.

Without hesitation, he headed straight for it, deliberately avoiding the tower’s line of sight, taking a detour so they wouldn’t see his movement.

Along the way, Ling Meng didn’t wake up from the pain, indicating they hadn’t strayed from the range; otherwise, she would certainly be suffering immensely.

“Must be that place.”

Lin Nuo seemed to have discovered something.