The Grotesque Miss’s End Story v3c84

Chapter 84: Farewell

The Doomsday Messengers weren’t the only ones with methods of infiltration and reconnaissance. Zi Ke’s reincarnation technique, when used properly, although not comparable to Puppet Ballad in its complete form, was also undetectable.

Furthermore, Zi Ke concealed part of his ability’s details, so no one knew he possessed it.

At least Puppet Ballad was now widely known. Even if difficult to defend against, people could still be wary. But Zi Ke’s methods were silent and subtle.

Recently, Zi Ke had been using his reincarnation technique to secretly investigate the void battleship fleet’s movements.

Upon confirming that the fleet’s location almost perfectly matched the intelligence he sent to Yin Ke, Zi Ke was shocked.

Yin Ke didn’t need to compete. As one of the original Messengers who had spent the longest time with her, Zi Ke knew her personality very well. Although she wasn’t exactly righteous, she tended to be stubborn.

Avenging her friend by killing the world’s former hope, the original Messenger who was about to reach the “grave keeper” level, had always been a knot in Yin Ke’s heart. For this, she endured unimaginable pain, struggling to survive, even if it meant staying in the void forever.

Doomsday’s erosion brought her the torment of immortality, a living hell that had lasted for countless years.

She even suffered inexplicable misunderstandings from the Xuanyuan clan, hunted down countless times, forced to act against her former clansmen to protect herself.

No one asked Yin Ke to endure this. Even Zi Ke and Chou Ke, when they learned about this, prepared a funeral for her.

But…

She survived until now.

This wasn’t just ordinary stubbornness…

Therefore, it was hard to imagine that Yin Ke would one day abandon her responsibility and choose betrayal, not only causing the disaster at headquarters, but also assisting the Xuanyuan clan in attacking the Doomsday Messengers.

Even if she was once a member of the Xuanyuan clan, these actions were difficult to understand.

After realizing this, Zi Ke immediately contacted Chou Ke.

Needless to say, Chou Ke’s initial reaction to Zi Ke’s “facts” was also disbelief.

Only after Zi Ke presented the evidence, and considering Yin Ke’s special situation, did he reluctantly believe it. After all, Zi Ke wouldn’t target Yin Ke for no reason.

Then came this forced summoning of Yin Ke to the Mysterious Tomb.

Chou Ke still held a sliver of hope, hoping it was just Zi Ke’s misjudgment.

However, when Xuanyuan E entered the Mysterious Tomb and immediately erased her own consciousness imprint, Chou Ke knew that it was all true.

…It was… difficult to accept.

As the only one in the world who could communicate with Yin Ke, Chou Ke always treated her like a daughter, with a fatherly attitude.

For a long time, it was Chou Ke who took care of her mutilated body. Even when Yin Ke, after destroying the Xuanyuan clan’s void battleship fleet, was almost swept away by a void current, it was Chou Ke who risked his life to save her.

But now, he witnessed Yin Ke betraying her past.

Facing Zi Ke’s questioning and Chou Ke’s silence, Xuanyuan E couldn’t utter a word. She wasn’t eloquent, and since she was just a scapegoat for the headquarters incident, she didn’t know how to explain.

As the atmosphere became stifling, Luo Ling’s voice echoed in her consciousness.

“Just tell them about me, Miss Xuanyuan E.”

“Ah, this…”

Hearing Luo Ling’s words, Xuanyuan E was stunned. She hadn’t expected Luo Ling to reveal herself at this time.

Honestly, Xuanyuan E felt guilty for betraying Chou Ke’s care, but just like Chou Ke and Zi Ke’s influence on her, she was a stubborn person. Once she made a decision, she wouldn’t turn back.

Just like betraying the Xuanyuan clan and embracing Doomsday, single-handedly intruding into the ascension ritual for revenge, Xuanyuan E was never hesitant.

But facing Chou Ke, who had accompanied her through countless years of pain and torment, caring for her like a father, Xuanyuan E hesitated.

“…It doesn’t have to be everything,” Luo Ling said slowly. “Just say what you want to say.”

After controlling Xuanyuan E with the embedded puppet, Luo Ling could also sense her emotional changes. Although she couldn’t directly see her thoughts, she could see her struggle.

Although Xuanyuan E wouldn’t turn back after making a decision, it didn’t mean she didn’t have any regrets.

When facing her clansmen’s questioning, and after personally killing her pursuing clansmen, in every moment of torment throughout the long years, she had regretted her past choices.

If she hadn’t taken this path, would everything have been better?

This hesitation and struggle had accompanied Xuanyuan E throughout her life, something even Chou Ke never noticed.

Only Luo Ling, after controlling her and their minds almost completely connected, could sense… that even this seemingly unyielding woman had a soft spot deep within her heart.

Luo Ling was slightly moved and softened her approach.

“Thank you.”

Xuanyuan E whispered in her consciousness.

At the same time, Xuanyuan E conveyed her true thoughts to Chou Ke.

“I did all those things… I’m sorry, Elder Chou. Because I’ve found a sufficiently capable ‘grave keeper.’ I believe she can bear this heavy responsibility better than anyone, so I swore to remove all obstacles for her, until the moment of Doomsday.”

Hearing Xuanyuan E’s answer, a look of surprise appeared on Chou Ke’s aged face, then turned to a complex one, glancing at Zi Ke.

Zi Ke’s expression was serious. Noticing Chou Ke’s gaze, he looked up and asked in a deep voice, “Elder Chou, what did Little Sister Yin say?”

“……”

Chou Ke didn’t repeat Xuanyuan E’s words to Zi Ke. After a brief hesitation, he shook his head.

At the same time, Chou Ke’s sigh echoed in Xuanyuan E’s consciousness.

“Oh, so that’s how it is…”

He seemed to feel regret, but both Luo Ling and Xuanyuan E could hear the relief in his sigh.

After a pause, Chou Ke continued, “Are the Doomsday Messengers an obstacle to you?”

“Now it seems… yes.”

Xuanyuan E answered without hesitation.

“In that case, as you wish, Little Sister Yin.” Chou Ke’s voice was filled with love and gentleness. “This is also good. I know walking this path has always been a heavy burden for you.

I hope you succeed, but we also don’t want to fail… Of course, we’re all working towards the future after the world’s end. Regardless of the process, as long as the result is the same, there’s no difference.”

After saying this to Xuanyuan E, Chou Ke, as if relieved of a heavy burden, said, “Zi Ke, Little Sister Yin refused to say anything.”

“Is that so?”

Zi Ke frowned deeply, looking at Chou Ke suspiciously, but he was met with Chou Ke’s usual indifference.

Unable to detect anything, Zi Ke could only let it go. He couldn’t communicate directly with Yin Ke anyway, and everything he said had to be relayed by Chou Ke.

“Fine, it’s just an unexpected mistake. Even so, our plan won’t change.” Zi Ke exhaled and glanced at Chou Ke. “Right, Elder Chou?”

“Exactly.”

Chou Ke said calmly, lowering his wrinkled eyes.

The next moment, the mutilated body opposite them slowly dissipated.

Witnessing Yin Ke’s departure, Zi Ke didn’t react—actually, he couldn’t. The Yin Ke here was just a projection, and he himself was also a projection, without any ability to interfere.

For Zi Ke, this plan to find the traitor, although not a complete failure, couldn’t be considered a success.

The traitor being Yin Ke made Zi Ke helpless.

Who would dare act against Yin Ke, even though she was theoretically the closest to the “grave keeper” level? But this closeness wasn’t the kind Zi Ke wanted.

If their roles were reversed, and Zi Ke had to endure Yin Ke’s pain, tormented forever without end, he would rather just die.

If he inherited Yin Ke’s power, his fate wouldn’t be much better.

Therefore, no matter how much the Twelve Hours of Doomsday coveted each other’s power, they wouldn’t target Yin Ke.

Zi Ke’s plan to use the traitor to progress further could only be deemed a failure.

Moreover, due to this plan to catch the traitor, Zi Ke could only watch helplessly as the Xuanyuan clan’s void battleship fleet completed their deployment. He couldn’t mobilize his forces for a counter-encirclement in such a short time.

Firstly, it was too late to mobilize. Secondly, if he forcibly launched a counter-encirclement, the crucial “focused attack” plan would fail.

This wasn’t an outcome Zi Ke wanted to see. He still hoped to complete this plan before Doomsday’s arrival.

Chou Ke naturally knew what Zi Ke was thinking, but at this point, with Doomsday approaching, this was the only option.

Yin Ke chose to follow the White Witch, but this was her choice, not Chou Ke’s or the Doomsday Messengers’.

—By now, Chou Ke could naturally guess who the “her” in Yin Ke’s words was. There were only a few qualified candidates, and the most prominent one was the White Witch, inheritor of Puppet Ballad.

“Next… is the most crucial moment.”

Chou Ke said softly, his figure gradually dissipating.

Zi Ke sat there, silent for a moment, then turned to look at where Chou Ke had been sitting, and sneered.

“…Heh.”

He naturally knew that Chou Ke was hiding something. After all, Chou Ke didn’t even bother pretending, and anyone could see it.

But so what?

“No matter what, things have already come to this. I should be the ‘grave keeper’.”

……

After her consciousness returned to her main body, Xuanyuan E remained silent for a long time, sitting on the bed like a delicate puppet.

Luo Ling didn’t disturb her, just quietly accompanying her.

At this moment, Luo Ling had released all restrictions on Xuanyuan E. Although still under control, Xuanyuan E could now act according to her own will.

She could use all her previous abilities, even enhanced by the embedded puppet.

More importantly, Luo Ling’s Savior Witch could alleviate the symptoms of Xuanyuan E’s erosion by Doomsday.

Although the erosion was too severe, even worse than Jingwei’s, making a complete cure impossible, Luo Ling could at least alleviate her pain.

In other words, Xuanyuan E no longer had the limitation of only being able to act three times. With Luo Ling around, her condition wouldn’t worsen.

The reason for this was that, until now, Luo Ling had finally understood… that Xuanyuan E wasn’t much different from the other Xuanyuan clan members she knew, just walking a different path.

However… Xuanyuan E didn’t show any joy towards this long-awaited treatment, even if she had received it before being controlled by Luo Ling, it wouldn’t have made her happy.

After countless years, she had become numb to the physical pain. Xuanyuan E’s true suffering came from her inner demons.

But… all of this was now resolved.

“I think I… understand now…”

Xuanyuan E suddenly looked up at Luo Ling and whispered.

“Hmm?”

Luo Ling tilted her head slightly, a puzzled look on her face.

“Why they like you so much…”

Xuanyuan E continued, her expression softening slightly.

“Who?”

Luo Ling blinked, still puzzled.

“No, it’s nothing.” Xuanyuan E shook her head and said, “After this war ends, I’ll return to the Xuanyuan clan. Please forgive me… for placing this heavy responsibility on you.”

“It’s nothing.”

Luo Ling waved her hand dismissively. She had many responsibilities; one more or one less didn’t make much difference.

Xuanyuan E looked at Luo Ling, a faint smile appearing on her lips.

“It’s good that… I met you.”

“That’s a bit cheesy, Miss Xuanyuan E.”

Luo Ling’s face was covered in black lines. Was she truly some kind of natural succubus?

“Not at all.”

Xuanyuan E said softly, then looked away into the distance.

What truly moved people was always sincerity.

And this Miss Luo Ling possessed an abundance of this pure sincerity.

It was precisely because of this…

She slowly closed her eyes.

The final line of the Mysterious Tomb finally ended her previous struggles and hesitation. Now, all that remained… was walking towards her destined end.

This way, it was much easier.

Luo Ling couldn’t understand Xuanyuan E’s strange behavior and words, but judging from her current appearance, she seemed to have come to terms with things, and Luo Ling wasn’t interested in delving into other people’s secrets.

Just then, Luo Ling’s Black Kite puppet received a message from Xuanyuan Mu Yan, and her expression changed slightly.

At the same time, Xuanyuan E also opened her eyes. They looked at each other, seeing the seriousness in each other’s eyes.

“The Transcendence protection on the origin points… has started to break.”

…….

“This short yet long journey… seems to have reached its end.”

Beneath the swaying giant tree stood countless people, men and women, old and young, all with dull expressions, but at this moment, their dullness was melting away like ice under the scorching sun, gradually regaining their spark.

Auspicious Timing’s human avatar stood beneath the giant tree, looking into the distance, her eyes filled with longing for the past.

The Gypsy Girl and Lu Manqing sat beside her in silence, witnessing the birth of this historical moment.

—The hope of saving the world, “Eternal Sky.”

Would be completely born at this moment.

“Send them back, and take care of them as much as possible.”

Auspicious Timing turned around and said gently.

“Yes.”

Even the usually indifferent Gypsy Girl nodded seriously at Auspicious Timing’s request, which sounded like a last will and testament.

These people all possessed, to varying degrees, the ability to communicate with the true deity of Other Shore. It was thanks to them that “Eternal Sky” could reach a level sufficient to attract Its attention.

After explaining this, Auspicious Timing hesitated for a moment, then used a branch to bring out the white-haired puppet hidden within the tree trunk.

The delicate puppet still had its eyes closed, as if asleep.

“Please witness this moment, Miss Luo Ling,” Auspicious Timing whispered.

As if hearing Auspicious Timing’s words, the puppet’s eyelashes fluttered slightly, but its eyes didn’t open.

“And…”

Auspicious Timing focused her thoughts and brought out another person.

Within a transparent, crystal ball-like barrier, a beautiful woman slept peacefully, her appearance almost identical to the Fairy’s, yet exuding a completely different sacred aura.

“Auspicious Location,” Auspicious Timing whispered, then shook her head, a hint of sorrow in her eyes, “I should call you… Master. We finally did it. I didn’t disappoint your wish when you planted me here.”

Under the shocked gazes of the Gypsy Girl and Lu Manqing, Auspicious Timing slowly lifted Auspicious Location, almost merging her with the sun in Eternal Sky, and continued, “But from now on… we… won’t be able to meet like this again.

I hope that you, and the future of this world, can fulfill our ‘Eternal Sky’ within this hope built upon the past.”

“Farewell.”

“To this world… that I love.”

The emerald green woman slowly dissipated in the breeze, the swaying giant tree instantly spreading, its lush greenery filling the entire Eternal Sky.

At the same moment, the Transcendence protection on the origin points outside completely shattered, annihilated by nothingness.