VAP - Chapter 153
Chapter 153: The Intersection of Illusion and Reality (18)
Yue Du tried to understand Gluttony’s thought process from her own perspective, but no matter how she looked at it, it always came back to one thing: “eating.”
Was it because Gluttony smelled her—or to be precise, the sweet scent of food?
To this, Ji You slowly shook her head, her expression rather complex.
She nimbly climbed the tree, settling on a relatively stable foothold. This was where Ji You had once stood, staring intently at the person whose soul emanated a fresh, sweet scent. As if bewitched, she had let go, fallen, and been caught securely in a warm embrace.
The wind began to rise, rustling the scorched leaves. Ji You’s long hair and the hem of her skirt fluttered in the same direction. Against the backdrop of her surroundings, she seemed like a convergence of light and shadow—born from darkness, yet her heart bloomed like a soft, pure white flower.
“Perhaps the first time she jumped was for that reason, but it was completely different afterward.” Ji You lowered her gaze slightly. Her expression seemed calm, but her tone gradually became a resentful hiss. “You would never guess how she flaunted it to me in her mind while she jumped down again and again, only to be caught perfectly each time.”
Yue Du: “…” Actually, it wasn't that hard to imagine. After all, all her hosts were cut from the same cloth.
Ji You continued, “Sister, tell me, isn't that unfair? She clearly didn't remember you, yet she still got to see you first, and you saw her first. Meanwhile, I could only wait in the mental space, forced to listen to her feign coyness and show off to me.”
At that moment, Gluttony, who was also confined to the mental space, retorted: “Liar! You’re the one who’s feigning!”
Gluttony was beside herself with rage. If she were outside at that moment, she would have been angry enough to devour an extra high-level Scarlet Beast.
The young Gluttony of the past, though naturally dark, was also genuinely pure. With a blank, doll-like face, how would she have known what it meant to feign anything? Whether it was repeating the game or expressing her joy to her other self in the mental space, it all came from the heart—nothing like what Jealousy described!
However, Yue Du couldn't hear Gluttony's rebuttal. She knew Jealousy was likely exaggerating, but for a host whose defining trait was jealousy, the actual events had probably been quite a shock to her system as well.
“So, do you want to play too?” Yue Du asked.
Ji You answered honestly, “I do.” After a pause, she added, “I want to play now for every time I played with you back then.”
Yue Du said, “I don’t remember—”
Ji You cut in, “I do. It was nine times in total.”
Alright then. This must have been festering in Jealousy’s heart for a long time. Every time she thought about it, she must have felt malice toward her other self. Now that she was back in this place after so many years, she had to pull out that thorn.
Ji You let go of the branch, her dark eyes shimmering with eager anticipation. As light as a large bird about to spread its wings, she dropped from the bough. The hem of her skirt billowed upward from the momentum, like the elegant, fluttering tail feathers of a bird in flight.
She was much bigger than she had been a few years ago, but she still felt just as light when she jumped. Yue Du caught her securely in her arms with little effort.
Yue Du hefted her slightly and mused, “You’re heavier.”
Ji You wrapped her arms around Yue Du’s neck. “Are you tired, Sister? It’s fine if I catch you instead.” In fact, that would be even more satisfying for her. Either way, they had to play a full nine times.
Gluttony gave up resisting and muttered, “…So petty.”
Ji You paid her no mind, the corners of her lips merely curling into a small smile.
But young Gluttony, unlike the obsessive Jealousy, didn't dwell on things. After a brief moment of annoyance, her enthusiasm returned. She couldn't control the body, but she could hear, see, smell, and feel. That being the case, why sulk? Not immersing herself in the experience would be a waste of a perfectly good opportunity.
While the host and system were playing their childish game of catching each other, just a forest away in the Northern Stronghold, the courtyard of the Ji estate was bustling with a constant stream of visitors.
The sky had not yet darkened, but the courtyard was already brightly lit with candlelight. The most renowned Scarlet Beast hunters from the Northern Stronghold, and even from dozens of surrounding strongholds, had gathered here. They presented their invitations to a bowing butler at the door before entering the main hall, some walking alone in silence, others in small groups.
Every year, the Ji family hosted a hunter's assembly. It was a stage for the stronghold’s rulers to display their status and a platform to win over powerful individuals.
Ji Zhouzhang followed his father, a polite smile on his face as he conversed with the guests. It was his first time appearing at a formal occasion as the heir apparent. Nearly every guest offered a compliment, such as “a tiger father has no dog of a son” or “Young Master Ji is such a fine talent.” The head of the Ji family beamed with pride, and Ji Zhouzhang, the direct recipient of the praise, couldn't help but feel pleased.
During a lull in greeting the guests, the head of the Ji family glanced at the large grandfather clock against the wall and whispered to his son, “It’s almost time. Go and invite your grandfather.” After a brief pause, he added, “And if your aunt is in good spirits, ask her to come as well.”
Ji Zhouzhang nodded in understanding. He crossed the main hall alone and ascended the spiral staircase to the third floor, where the family resided. At the end of the long, narrow corridor was his grandfather’s room—the old patriarch’s—but Ji Zhouzhang paused before a door in the middle of the hallway first.
He knocked on the door.
The room belonged to his only aunt, but everyone called her Miss Ji. Paired with his own title of “Young Master Ji,” it made them sound more like siblings.
In Ji Zhouzhang’s memory, this aunt had always been quiet and fragile, like a delicate piece of glass. At other times, however, she would become hysterical, resisting anyone who came near, smashing things, and screaming madly. Even so, she was still doted on by her father and brother—a rare display of warmth in a great family like the Ji clan.
Ji Zhouzhang had heard his aunt wasn't always like this. Many years ago, before he was old enough to remember, Miss Ji Ruying had been bright and willful—bright because she was cherished, and willful for the very same reason.
Later, something happened, and Miss Ji went so mad that for a time she couldn't even recognize her own parents. She recovered slowly, and now, as long as she wasn't having an episode, she could converse normally.
Ji Zhouzhang suspected it had something to do with the cousin he had never met. It wasn't a difficult guess, because—
A relatively calm voice came from within the room. “Please come in.”
Ji Zhouzhang pushed the door open to see his aunt sitting in a chair by the window, quietly watching the endless stream of people pouring through the estate’s main gate below. Waste paper was scattered on the floor around her. Some sheets were crumpled into tight balls, others were torn to shreds, and a few lucky ones remained intact, though they had been drawn on.
They were all wanted posters for Ji You. On one, the little girl’s face in the portrait had been scribbled over in black and heavily scratched out. Another had been defaced with strange doodles: an extra eye on her forehead, all three eyes colored blood-red, fangs protruding from her mouth, a single horn sprouting from her brow, and several meaningless red lines across her face.
She had been made to look like a monster, and indeed, Miss Ji had muttered that very word to herself as she doodled. “Monster.”
Those not in the know assumed Ji You was from a defecting collateral branch of the Ji family. No one questioned how a child, not yet twelve when she went missing, could defect—it was none of their business, after all. Very few knew she was Miss Ji’s biological daughter, but Ji Zhouzhang was one of them.
Ji Zhouzhang walked to his aunt’s side, his eyes fixed forward, and bent down to ask if she would be attending the assembly that evening.
Ji Ruying looked up, her gaze unfocused. “The assembly…?” she murmured, as if to herself.
Ji Zhouzhang said, “Yes, this year’s hunter’s assembly—”
Before he could finish, Ji Ruying’s reaction cut him off. The word “hunter” seemed to have struck a raw nerve. Her lips trembled, and for a moment it looked as if she might start screaming and throwing things. But she managed to restrain herself, merely shaking her head with an exaggerated, frantic motion. “I’m not going. I’ll stay here. I’m not going.”
Ji Zhouzhang’s expression remained unchanged. “Very well. Please get some rest.”
He stepped out of the room and called over a nearby maid, instructing her to keep an eye on Miss Ji in case she lost control and hurt herself.
Then, Ji Zhouzhang made his way toward the old patriarch’s room.
Ji Ruying lunged forward and slammed the door shut. Ignoring the maid who was watching her nervously, she snatched up a fresh wanted poster and began to scribble haphazardly over the blank face of the young Ji You.
“Monster, monster. It’s a monster…”
Ji Ruying defaced several more posters before finally putting down her pen. She buried her pale face in her hands, trying to suppress the unease rising in her heart.
She was terrified. She had a feeling that the monster was about to return.
Yue Du indulged her host’s whims at the treehouse for quite some time. By the time they reached the Northern Stronghold, the red moon had already risen silently in the sky. Its crimson light streamed down, flowing over her host’s similarly colored hair in a shifting halo.
A long line had formed at the stronghold’s entrance, and it was moving very slowly. The security checks for entry and exit were especially strict that night.
Yue Du’s sharp hearing picked up the nearby chatter, and she learned that the Ji family was hosting its hunter’s assembly that night. Many had been invited, but of course, there were also uninvited hunters who had come to the Northern Stronghold to join the excitement. At times like these, all sorts of strange characters would try to slip in, so the guards dared not relax for a moment.
An assembly.
Ji You looked thoughtful and whispered in her ear, “It seems we’ve arrived at just the right time.”
Yue Du nodded in agreement.
After what felt like a long time, the two of them finally stood before the guards. Yue Du had her star-ranked hunter’s certification, and Ji You’s rank was no lower than hers. The guard asked a few simple questions, likely assuming they were invited guests, and even added a reminder, “The assembly should have started by now. You two can head directly to the leader’s residence.”
Yue Du thanked him. And just like that, the two people with a Ji family bounty on their heads walked openly through the main gate of the stronghold, arousing no suspicion whatsoever.
Compared to seven years ago, the Northern Stronghold seemed largely unchanged, though its defenses were stronger. Considering the night’s event, this was a necessary precaution—not just against Scarlet Beasts, but also against people from other factions.
The Ji family’s main residence was easy to find, located right in the center of the stronghold. The two had bought and changed into formal hunter’s attire at a nearby clothing shop, and now they strolled arm in arm to the Ji estate’s gate.
The hunter’s assembly was already underway, so there was no one at the entrance. Seeing them approach, a butler immediately trotted over. “Please wait, you two. May I see your invitation?”
A faint light flickered in the depths of Ji You’s eyes. She squeezed Yue Du’s fingers, signaling her not to bother with him. Sure enough, the butler’s expression quickly turned deferential. He bowed to them and said, “The assembly has already begun. I wish you two young ladies a pleasant evening.”
Ji You hadn't intended to acknowledge him, but upon hearing this, she seemed to think of something. A smile touched her lips. “We’ll take you up on that.”
Yue Du: “…” I suspect your idea of a ‘pleasant evening’ is not the same as the butler’s.
Their entrance into the main hall didn't attract much attention, though the hunters near the door glanced over to see who had arrived, whether they were famous, and if they recognized them. Seeing that they were neither famous nor familiar, they should have looked away.
However, the newcomers were exceptionally beautiful—one with a pure, clear air, the other stunningly glamorous—and they were wearing matching outfits, making them quite eye-catching. Many couldn't resist taking a second look.
The members of the Ji family paid them no mind either. They had sent out hundreds, if not thousands, of invitations. Only the renowned and exceptionally skilled star-ranked hunters were worth their attention; the other guests were merely there to fill the space.
Proper formal attire for hunters, regardless of gender, consisted of sleek, well-tailored trousers that allowed for ease of movement. The left breast was reserved for displaying one’s star-rank badge. If Yue Du were to pin on her badge, its brilliant gold would immediately announce that they were no ordinary, unknown hunters. But that wasn't necessary; they hadn't come to attract attention.
Yue Du scanned her surroundings.
As this was an assembly for Scarlet Beast hunters and not a typical ball, the venue had unique decorations: the heads of numerous dead Scarlet Beasts. They were mounted firmly on the walls. Directly opposite the main entrance, two beast heads of different forms hung high above. Judging by their energy fluctuations, both were high-level Scarlet Beasts. They were the Northern Stronghold’s trophies from the past year’s hunts, a silent testament to the Ji family’s immense power.
Yue Du, however, was completely unfazed. Two high-level Scarlet Beasts? Young Gluttony had eaten twice that number in the past year. The entire strength of the stronghold couldn't even match her host, so what was there to be impressed by?
Forming an interesting contrast to the beast heads was the food laid out on the tables. Because of the ingredients’ natural appearance, the dishes had bizarre colors and twisted shapes. Illuminated by the candelabras on the long tables, they looked like some dark cuisine from hell. If not for the guests dressed in attire that fit normal human aesthetics, the scene could have been mistaken for a Halloween banquet.
Ji You took it all in stride. Her gaze swept past the hunters clustered in small groups and finally settled on the center of the hall, where a white-haired but vigorous old man was conversing with someone. Whatever the topic, he seemed quite pleased, stroking his beard repeatedly.
Beside him stood a middle-aged man with similar features, who in turn was accompanied by a tall young man in a crisp suit. The three generations—grandfather, son, and grandson—looked as if they’d been cast from the same mold. They were the past, present, and future patriarchs of the Ji family.
They were also Ji You’s biological grandfather, paternal uncle, and cousin.
Ji You watched them, her brow furrowed slightly. Yue Du thought she was recalling some unpleasant memory and was about to offer a word of comfort when she heard Ji You say with disdain, “So ugly.”
The words Yue Du had been about to say caught in her throat. “…?”
Ji You continued, “It’s a good thing I look like myself and not like them. Otherwise, how could you still like me, Sister?”
Yue Du silently retracted her words of comfort.
In truth, the three generations of the Ji family could be considered quite distinguished-looking. The future patriarch, Ji Zhouzhang, in particular, was in the prime of his youth and, when properly groomed, was a handsome man.
But when compared to Ji You—
Yue Du mentally simulated what her host would look like with the Ji family face and couldn't help but shudder. She quickly turned to look at the real Ji You for a few moments, calming down only after her eyes had been soothed by the sight.
The Ji men were not the focus of the mission. Only Miss Ji knew the full story of what had happened back then. Unless she was still not lucid, there was no need to shift their attention to other members of the Ji family.
Not seeing Miss Ji in the hall, Yue Du said in a low voice, “Miss Ji isn’t attending this important event. Her condition might not be good, but that doesn’t necessarily mean we can’t communicate with her.”
When it came to her biological mother, Ji You’s attitude was one of complete indifference. “Even if she can’t communicate, I’ll make her tell the truth,” she said nonchalantly. “You don’t need to worry about it, Sister. Leave it to me. I’m not just good for eating, you know.”
Gluttony: “…” I feel personally attacked.
Yue Du suddenly felt a sense of gratification. It was the kind of “Ah, my host has grown up, she’s become sensible, she’s finally taking the mission seriously herself” feeling. As a system whose job was to assist her host but who usually ended up doing the missions for her host, this sight was deeply fulfilling.
However, Ji You didn’t head upstairs immediately. Her gaze roamed over a nearby table laden with food, finally settling on two half-full wine glasses.
She picked up the two glasses and handed one to Yue Du.
Yue Du glanced down. The transparent, amber liquid was like clear honey, and in it, she saw the reflection of her own deep amber eyes. She looked back up at Ji You, confusion written plainly on her face.
Ji You swirled her glass, a bright smile on her face. “Let’s have a dance.”
The Accompanied-by-Wine Dance. It was a type of partner dance that had existed in this small world long before the arrival of the Scarlet Beasts.
Dancers had to complete all the steps while holding a half-full glass of mead. Throughout the dance, not a single drop could be spilled, or it would be considered a great failure on the dancer’s part. To keep the glass steady while maintaining graceful postures and fluid steps required a high degree of physical fitness, balance, and rapport between the partners.
The Accompanied-by-Wine Dance was typically the first dance of a ball. Those who lacked the confidence to perform it well would find an excuse to leave before it began and return only after it was over. Spilling the mead due to a lack of skill was considered a great embarrassment.
Before humanity evolved under the influence of the spiritual infusion, the number of guests would instantly shrink by half, sometimes even more, whenever it was time for this dance.
Now, however, the guests were all capable hunters. If they couldn't even manage a dance without making a fool of themselves, they had no business being here. And so, all around Yue Du and Ji You, people were picking up glasses from the long tables and inviting their chosen partners to dance.
Ji You looked at her sister expectantly.
Her biological mother versus the mission—which was more important? The mission.
The mission versus a romantic dance with her sister—which was more important? The romantic dance.
Ji You’s chain of logic was just that indestructible, utterly flawless.
Yue Du wanted to laugh, but she was also moved. She pressed a light kiss to the rim of her glass, leaving a faint, lovely red print on the transparent surface.
“Alright,” she said.
Ji You’s eyes lit up instantly. Beneath their sparkling surface was a quietly surging, dark desire to hide the person before her and possess her completely. A desire to kill everyone around who had witnessed her sister’s alluring gesture. Because she was Jealousy. That way, only she would be able to see, only she would be able to desire—
But she quickly concealed these dark thoughts.
No matter how much she wanted to, Ji You would not break her oath to her sister. She would not deceive her, and she would not kill inconsequential people.
This was the promise Jealousy had made.
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