Chapter 193: Section 193: Staying By His Side Is Dangerous


    Once the substitute boy’s injuries had healed, the two left the cave and tried to escape once again.


    They discovered a change in the geomorphology.


    Because of this, the girl made pink marking medicine powder.


    After delving deep into the forest, Huang Zao pleaded for their help.


    After careful thought, Zi Di responded to the substitute, “Sir, I suggest we save him.”


    Zi Di’s analysis that followed was clear, focused, and well-founded.


    ...


    “But to save him, we’ll have to face at least a dozen Bronze Blade Spiders…” the substitute expressed difficulty.


    “Sir, I already have a plan,” Zi Di said with a smile, “Trust me; I would never do this if the risks outweighed the rewards.”


    “You’re not wrong. But you’ve forgotten the most important thing,” the substitute said.


    Zi Di quickly restrained her smile and bowed her head solemnly, “Please instruct me, sir.”


    “I am a Holy Temple Knight, a Knight among knights. Helping the weak and saving the injured is my creed! Even in times of danger, I would never abandon a companion.” The substitute’s emphatic words echoed in the peaceful woods.


    For a moment, Zi Di looked at the boy, taken aback.


    If Zhenjin himself had said these words, Zi Di would never have believed them, and she would have felt contempt.


    If the substitute had just awakened and said these words, Zi Di wouldn’t have believed him either.


    But a few days earlier, Zi Di and the substitute had faced life and death together, through constant perils, where Zi Di saw the substitute step forward to protect her against the Fire Poison Bee Swarm, battled fiercely with the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear for her sake, and struggled between life and death inside the cave.


    “Maybe he truly means what he says. He is a Knight after all, and the spirit of knighthood is his creed; his rough memories have also reinforced his virtuous character.”


    “If that’s the case, then he is worthy of my trust!”


    Thinking this, Zi Di revealed a smile, “Sir, I understand.”


    Utilizing Flammable Potions and Fire Resistance Potions, the substitute fought a great battle against the Blade Spider Group, only to discover that Huang Zao had deliberately concealed significant information about the Silver Level Blade Spiders.


    Huang Zao regained his freedom and, in his panic, ran away alone with Zi Di’s dagger.


    Without the dagger to cut through the spider webs, the substitute was trapped.


    Zi Di was bound to the ground by spider webs, seething with anger and frustration, desperately struggling.


    “Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah!”


    In her desperation, Zi Di heard the substitute’s roar of fury.


    Her body bound by spider webs, lying on the ground powerless, she could only strain to look up, then she saw the substitute’s hands transform into the claws of a Monkey-tailed Brown Bear. He killed the unsuspecting Blade Spider.


    “He’s beastified! He’s undergone beastification!!” Zi Di was both shocked and delighted.


    She wasn’t surprised at all; the substitute was originally a beastification person modified by a War Merchant.


    The next moment, the bear claws of the substitute’s mutation turned into carbon ash and scattered, reverting back to human hands.


    Zi Di’s eyes widened in astonishment, “This kind of beastification can be reversed? It’s not a one-time transformation! No wonder the War Merchant said the substitute was the proudest creation of his life.”


    “We’re saved…” Realizing she had escaped a life-threatening crisis, Zi Di suddenly relaxed.


    But immediately, her gaze became serious again, “No, this isn’t good!”


    She suddenly remembered, the substitute’s memory was artificial; beastification was a huge discrepancy, and it conflicted greatly with his memories and sense of identity!


    Zi Di was even more concerned that this kind of beastification could stimulate the awakening of his true memories, making him realize that he had been deceived?


    Zi Di quickly lay back down, deciding to feign ignorance amidst the uncertainty.


    Having slain the leader of the Silver Spiders, the substitute felt immensely weak.


    He turned back to free Zi Di, allowing her to regain her freedom.


    “Sir, have you awakened your fighting energy?!” Zi Di pretended to be extremely surprised.


    “No. I used the spearhead to pierce through the spider web,” the substitute was in turmoil, thinking Zi Di hadn’t seen it, and didn’t think much about it, subconsciously hiding the secret of the beastification.


    Zi Di’s heart sank, “He’s concealing it from me! Could it be that he’s discovered the truth?”


    “No, don’t panic too much.”


    “Perhaps he hasn’t discovered the flaw and is struggling to accept the fact that his body could undergo mutation.”


    “I still need to pretend to be ignorant. If I rashly reveal the truth, it might provoke him, and he could very well act maliciously.”


    “That damned Huang Zao has run off! We must find him and settle scores with him fiercely!” Zi Di said viciously, swiftly changing the subject.


    “Wait, this is valuable. We must not lose it.” Zi Di took an interest in the corpse of the Silver Spider.


    The substitute’s beastification and concealment intensified the sense of crisis in her heart. She had to seize every opportunity to strengthen herself.


    On one hand, she relied on the substitute to protect herself against the perilous environment of Mysterious Monster Island.


    On the other hand, she remained vigilant of the substitute, who might suddenly succumb to his animal instincts and pounce on her!


    Discovering his own mutation, the substitute was full of doubts.


    Along the way, his expression often revealed his inner turmoil and confusion.


    All of this Zi Di observed closely.


    “With the situation as it is, the substitute doesn’t know that I’m aware. If he comes clean to me about his secret, seeking my help, that would be most advantageous to me.”


    “Because if he comes clean to me, it means he still trusts me and hasn’t discovered the truth.”


    “If he continues to hide it, there are basically two possibilities. One, he hasn’t discovered the flaw and is just in a stage of self-doubt. The other is that he has begun to suspect me, questioning his own identity.”


    Zi Di followed the substitute, observing his words and demeanor.


    With heavy thoughts weighing on the substitute’s mind, she also felt great pressure.


    However, fortunately in her observation, she didn’t notice the substitute subtly probing her or fishing for any information.


    This gave her some peace of mind.


    While drawing water, Zi Di and the substitute were surrounded by Lan Zao, Cang Xu, and the others.


    Contrary to the young girl’s expectations, Cang Xu, Lan Zao, and Huang Zao took the initiative to pledge allegiance.


    On the surface, the girl expressed disgust with these people, but in her heart, she was filled with joy.


    “It’s too dangerous to stay by the substitute’s side alone.”


    “He has already begun to beastify, and partial beastification might still preserve his sanity. If it’s a complete beastification, he might attack anyone on sight.”


    “The arrival of these people couldn’t be better timed!”


    “I need some people at my side. This way, if the substitute completely beastifies, I’ll only be one of the targets. If the substitute maintains his sanity, even if he discovers a flaw in my identity and wants to trouble me, he might hesitate because of the presence of these others.”


    Watching the people kneeling on the ground and acknowledging the substitute’s leadership, the young girl felt a moment of emotion: “Although it’s a ruse, the substitute, with his dual identity of Holy Temple Knight and Noble, easily became a leader. If it were me, it would be impossible to achieve this in such a short time. Sigh… The time, effort, and cost it would take for me to get to this point would far exceed that of the substitute.”


    The substitute youth summoned each member of the team for a private talk.


    Zi Di began to see the substitute in a new light.


    “It seems that despite losing all his memory, he still has certain leadership abilities. My previous worries were somewhat unnecessary. Could it be because of his original identity?”


    Zi Di started to become curious about the substitute’s original identity.


    Because she knew that if it were Zhenjin, there was a high chance he wouldn’t do this.


    Zhenjin’s attitude towards these commoners was quite arrogant; he wouldn’t lower himself to meet and converse with everyone. He would probably think that these people were fortunate to follow him.


    Inside the tent, the substitute, Zi Di, Cang Xu, and others began discussing their next course of action.


    Cang Xu started to share his speculation, revealing a shocking guess—that the magic beasts on the island were artificial.


    The substitute was surprised because this was the first time he had heard such a claim.


    Zi Di was also surprised; she evaluated the old Scholar before her, feeling wary: How exactly did he come to know this secret?


    The subsequent explanation from Cang Xu led everyone to accept his conjecture.


    Zi Di breathed a sigh of relief; Cang Xu wasn’t in the know, it was merely a deduction born of his extensive knowledge.


    Zi Di’s mind was still preoccupied with the War Merchant’s legacy. During the conversation, she deliberately steered people to explore the Central Tower.


    But it was not successful. Sёarch* The n??el Fire.nёt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Zi Di was filled with disappointment, yet she was also helpless. She couldn’t reveal the truth; even a hint could backfire, bringing disaster upon herself.