Chapter 63

Volume 1

63 How Cute Are the Spider-Men?

The battle within Guan Nie’s illusion had raged for an unexpectedly long time; by the time we crossed the endless boundary forest of the Southern District and into the Eastern District, the skies had grown dark.

Even though it wasn’t the Western District we had returned to, I still felt a sense of ease wash over me the moment we crossed the border.

Lifting her fingers to her lips, Jiao S blew a resounding whistle. All of a sudden, we were surrounded by ten silhouettes of people who leapt down from the trees.

But the ten of them…

diagnosed with some sort of mental disorder, huh? Why are you discriminating against my mind-splitting disorder!

In resignation, she continued. “They’re not in that sort of relationship, but I don’t know how Guan Nie feels towards Gaoqin Jiuye. In any case, it doesn’t matter. I promised him.”

I suddenly remembered another matter and swiftly changed subject. “Oh yeah, I meant to say––what’s the secret to the split zone you wanted to tell me?”

Jiao S’ eyes darkened. “Have you ever seen a legitimate soul splitter?”

I shook my head. “No, I’ve only heard about them. Didn’t they say Mi Fu’s a soul splitter, though? And then there’s Li Wen, she said she’s one too.”

Jiao S sighed, “Sure, but we only have their word for it. We’ve never actually seen it with our own eyes; we’ve never seen someone return to the real world by inserting their splitting key into their soul splitter. I’ve seen a soul splitter once… but they looked identical to their counterpart.”

“Huh? What does this mean?”

Jiao S shrugged and shook her head. “I don’t understand it either. Regardless, I have seen someone who inserted their key into their soul splitter’s symbol and the two of them looked exactly alike. I suspect the split zone has been concealing soul splitters, and that they are our doppelgängers. Still, Li Qing and Li Wen have the same symbols but they look different… though it’s possible one of them has been using their MF to disguise themselves.”

I furrowed my brows. “Why do you think so? Just because you’ve seen it once doesn’t mean that it’s true of everyone.”

Jiao S let out another sigh. “I don’t know why either. Still, I have a strong feeling I’m right. Besides, wasn’t there another Nie Zun who was causing trouble?”

Jie Pa chimed in at this point. “That might have been part of You Ji’s conspiracy. Nie Zun told me about the night You Ji came to sow discord, spoke about the powers in Nie Zun’s hands. We suspect that was You Ji’s ability; maybe she was the one who masqueraded as Nie Zun in front of Yu Liang and Song Lu.”

Surprised, I sought clarification. “Do you mean You Ji has the ability to replicate other people’s skills? But that doesn’t necessarily mean she can pretend to be another person convincingly.”

Although… was that why she could manipulate the airflow too?

It wouldn’t be that difficult a feat for her to masquerade as Nie Zun either; after all, she had known both Song Lu and Yu Liang for a long time now.

Jie Pa nodded. “That’s our theory.”

Jiao S had an epiphany then. “Even if that’s the case, how was she able to replicate their abilities? Did she activate her split symbol too?”

I shook my head, uncertain. “I have no idea where her split symbol is hidden. I reckon it’s on the lower half of her body; she always had a serpent tail for that part, so I couldn’t see anything.”

Jie Pa turned to Jiao S and asked, “Ms Jiao S, who is the person you saw with their corresponding soul splitter?”

In her eyes there was a flicker of heaviness, a shield concealing her own emotions. “I really can’t tell you that.”

Jie Pa pushed up his glasses in a gesture of silent understanding.

“Is this the secret about the split zone?” I continued probing.

With another exhale, she breathed out the words, “I’m afraid many speculations I had in the past were proven wrong. Our situation evolved too much, too quickly. It was too unexpected, and we can’t even get in contact with Mr Blond right now.”

“Actually, haven’t you been in the split zone for almost four years now? Did you never research about the soul splitters?”

There was a quick flash of embarrassment to Jiao S at that. “I… Well, for the past three years, I’ve always been researching about Si Luo. It was only when these stranger things began happening that I considered leaving the split zone…”

My mouth twitched. How unexpected it was that this bizarre woman was actually a hopeless romantic, that she had never once thought of leaving the split zone––instead, she was enchanted by the most gorgeous man in the entire split zone, as labeled by rumors.

Still, I wonder what happened between them. Why did she agree not to step foot inside the Southern District for three years?

As I sped on, I twisted my head to look at Jiao S. She looked as though she was deep in thought as well, her eyes glazed over. Her gaze was locked straight ahead, yet at the same time seemed to see nothing at all.

I wondered, but ultimately chose not to ask about it.

Nie Zun, who had been quiet all this while, spoke up. “Don’t forget to ask Mu Li about the scent of those poisonous insects. The man from our district had a similar scent––the very person who collapsed with his entire back gnawed by those insects.”

Jiao S hummed an acknowledgment. “Mm-hmm, I’ll handle it. Are those bugs the same as the ones we saw in the Southern District?”

Nie Zun shook his head. “No, they’re different. Still, the split zone isn’t supposed to have creatures like that. I suspect they’re related.”

Jiao S conceded with a dip of her head.