Chapter 199: Section 199: Murdering the Fiancé


    The substitute saved Zhenjin, and then bravely rushed into the camp, defeating the bat monkey horde almost single-handedly and rescued everyone.


    The camp was safe, and the substitute was warmly welcomed by everyone, treated like a hero.


    But aside from the joy of victory, Zi Di’s heart felt unusually heavy.


    The sudden appearance of Zhenjin increased her stress and threw her into a panic.


    She had originally planned to treat the substitute as a tool, to continue cooperating with the Hundred Needle Family if they could escape Mysterious Monster Island. But with the War Merchant dead, she had no ability to carry out the original plan.


    However, now, after so many adventures, Zi Di’s thoughts about the substitute had undergone a radical change.


    ...


    Compared to Zhenjin, she genuinely wanted to consider the substitute’s well-being.


    But after all, the substitute was just a substitute—relying on her, relying on the Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce which was like a candle in the wind, relying on a substitute who didn’t yet know the truth, how could they possibly withstand the Hundred Needle Family?


    “I was so close to blowing my cover earlier,” Zi Di paced inside the tent, still feeling a trace of residual fear.


    Outside, everyone in the camp was cleaning up the battlefield, immersed in chaos.


    “Just wait, he must be impatient by now, he’ll come to me on his own. I need to stabilize him first!”


    Sure enough, validating Zi Di’s guess, the tent was lifted, and Zhenjin bowed his body and quickly crawled in.


    Seeing the purple-eyed girl, Zhenjin showed an exaggerated smile, his attitude extremely enthusiastic, “My dear Zi Di, you’re unharmed, that’s truly wonderful! I thought you had perished, I’ve been in utter grief these past days.”


    Zhenjin stepped forward with open arms, wanting to embrace Zi Di.


    Zi Di’s heart surged with disgust, and she immediately stepped back, pretending to be nervous as she looked around, “My Lord, be careful, lest others see.”


    In reality, they were inside the tent, their view obscured, where no one could see them.


    Rejected, Zhenjin’s face fell immediately.


    Zi Di hurriedly adopted an excited tone, explaining while deliberately flattering him, “After the shipwreck, I and a few people were washed ashore on another beach of the island. My Lord, I have been trying to find you all this time. We’re both not yet fated to die! I almost cried out in excitement when I saw you just now, but fortunately, I caught your advising glance and came to my senses.”


    Upon hearing Zi Di’s words, Zhenjin’s mood brightened, and he inquired about the substitute’s strength.


    Zi Di shook her head, “He is a Beastification Person, but the memory implantation isn’t complete; I’ve found he can partially beastify. As for having stronger combat abilities, I don’t think there are much.”


    She concealed much, such as the substitute being able to transform completely into a Silver Spear Scorpion.


    Yet Zi Di went on to detail other events, inconsequential but sufficient to gain Zhenjin’s trust.


    Zhenjin couldn’t help but show disappointment, “It seems, he’s no match for Zong Ge.”


    Zi Di was about to ask who Zong Ge was when footsteps were heard outside the tent.


    “Someone is coming.” Zi Di immediately tensed up, and quickly warned Zhenjin.


    Zhenjin had no choice but to end their brief exchange and quietly depart.


    Outside came Bai Ya’s voice, “Lady Zi Di, all the wounded have been gathered. Everyone is waiting for you to treat them.”


    Zi Di went to check on the wounded and saw Fat Tongue, who was unconscious.


    The girl felt joy and relief swell in her heart.


    This veteran of the Purple Vine Guild had followed Zi Di’s father from early on, utterly loyal, and had always taken good care of Zi Di.


    However, when the shipwreck occurred, Zi Di had tried to find Fat Tongue but could not. The ship filled with water at an alarming rate, and Zi Di could only lead a group away quickly. sea??h thё n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As Zi Di contemplated what potions to prepare, Fat Tongue awoke and was extremely excited to see Zi Di again.


    After Zi Di explained, she took Fat Tongue to see the substitute. The substitute was in the camp, with many people around him, crowding him like stars around the moon.


    “Fa-Fat Tongue pays his respects, my Lord,” the elderly man hurriedly greeted the substitute, his face full of smiles.


    Seeing this scene, Zi Di was momentarily stunned.


    She couldn’t help but hope, “If only he were really Zhenjin, how wonderful it would be!”


    “Unfortunately, he’s not…”


    In that moment, Zi Di actually wished the War Merchant was alive. Because only with him backing her, the plan to replace Zhenjin might have had a chance of success.


    The substitute inquired about Mu Ban and their experiences.


    Mu Ban told the substitute everything he knew as best he could.


    Zi Di’s heart also settled.


    She found that she was not under suspicion, and although the Captain’s body had been found, it turned out that Zong Ge had become the scapegoat instead.


    At the same time, she also learned about Zhenjin’s behavior during this period.


    “He’s always been pretending to be Hei Juan, never coming forward.”


    “He is truly a Holy Temple Knight, the sole heir of the Hundred Needle Family, an identity that could bring him support. But he has been so cowardly and timid, always in disguise.”


    “It was the Half-Beast who upheld justice and protected a frail woman.”


    “I’ve seen him before; he was running away, abandoning his comrades who were still fighting in the camp, without any sense of responsibility.”


    Despite having encountered Zhenjin very early and recognizing his true nature, at this moment, Zi Di still felt hugely disappointed.


    And ironically ridiculous.


    “The real Zhenjin is so cowardly, whereas the fake Zhenjin is a true, impeccable Knight!”


    “If only the identities of the two could be switched, how wonderful that would be.”


    At this thought, an idea suddenly sprung into Zi Di’s mind—what if I killed Zhenjin?


    This thought rapidly expanded and spread through her mind.


    “Zhenjin is now Hei Juan, and if he died, no one would know the truth. The substitute does not know this secret; he always believed he was Zhenjin. The War Merchant is dead too, and since I’ve been on the island for this long without seeing any sign of spiked drills, their fate is likely grim! Perhaps, only I know this secret.”


    “By killing him, this secret would be buried!”


    “We’re heading to the Wilderness Continent, far away from the Holy Bright Continent. We’re probably too late to compete for the position of the White Sand City Lord, but actually, that’s not so bad.”


    “If one does not hold a high position, who would care to scrutinize the authenticity of a Holy Temple Knight?”


    “And even if someone does verify it, it’s much less stringent than verifying the identity of a city lord.”


    “To disguise as a city lord, I would definitely need the help of a great power like the War Merchant. But to disguise as a knight, perhaps by purchasing some Magic Tools, I might also have a chance to bluff my way through?”


    Thinking this, Zi Di’s heart trembled, and she felt a flicker of hesitation and fear.


    Zi Di wasn’t unconditionally kind-hearted; her core was not fragile.


    During her childhood, she lived with her father, closely witnessing the commercial competition and strife. She watched her father’s step-by-step success and also developed a resilient spirit.


    If not so, she would not have refused to marry into the Garden City Lord’s family, decisively abandoning a princess-like life.


    After she started to fend for herself at the Magic Academy, she experienced the harshness of life, using all sorts of methods to compete with others for academy tasks, leveraging connections, gradually probing interests and human nature.


    “No matter who the killer is, no matter what kind of immense power is behind them, I’ll make them pay. I must avenge my father’s death!” Her father’s death reinforced her determination to resist the Empire’s upper echelons and to overthrow those above her.


    Therefore, when she learned that the Captain of Kiss was her competitor’s man, she didn’t hesitate to deal a lethal blow.


    Now, even though Zhenjin was her fiancé, this marriage arrangement was only because Zi Di was driven by circumstances and lured by benefits.


    There was no affection between her and Zhenjin; on the contrary, there was some disdain and disgust.


    When the War Merchant changed plans, asking Zi Di to cooperate in assassinating Zhenjin and replacing him with a substitute, Zi Di agreed immediately.


    Zi Di’s hesitation and fear at this moment were due to her lack of confidence.


    “There are many opportunities to eliminate Zhenjin, but truly replacing him is not easy!”


    With the War Merchant dead, Zi Di’s capabilities were insufficient to deceive the Empire’s higher-ups. If discovered, the consequences would be severe.


    Additionally, there was another reason.


    “If the substitute realizes I am such a malicious woman, what would he think? How would he regard me?”


    “He’s always believed he is the Holy Temple Knight Zhenjin. If one day he finds out the truth, how would he deal with me? Would he still trust me? Understand my difficulties? Or would he seek revenge on me for deceiving him?”


    “However, even if planning to murder Zhenjin, we must not rush.”


    “To replace him, I need all of his memories; otherwise, it would be easy to slip up.”


    “The Magic Device that creates Memory Crystals has sunk to the bottom of the sea with the shipwreck. And the completed crystals, due to disturbances during the casting process, have only been infused with a few memories.”


    After conversing with everyone for a while, the shipwright still had not returned.


    Sensing that the situation was amiss, the substitute set off immediately to meet the shipwright and his party.


    During the exchange, Zi Di learned about Zong Ge’s strength, and this caused her great concern.


    “Under normal circumstances, the substitute wouldn’t be able to withstand a Half-Beast. But if he were to undergo Beastification, the problem would become unmanageable! I must do everything in my power to assist him.”


    Seeing the substitute returning the thin sword Silver Lightning to Zhenjin, Zi Di promptly persuaded him to keep the sword.


    She also successfully convinced the substitute to join their party.


    After successfully rescuing the shipwright and his party, Zi Di met squad leader Sanda again and also witnessed Zong Ge’s capabilities.


    Zi Di tried but failed to sway Sanda’s Mercenary Group and also attempted to recruit Zong Ge.


    Zong Ge was not simple; he saw through Zhenjin’s fa?ade and rejected the offer.


    The substitute nearly came to blows with Zong Ge.


    Zi Di watched with trepidation.


    In the end, the substitute made the decision to accept Zong Ge and his party.


    Zi Di was full of worries about the substitute’s decision, “He is too full of the spirit of Knighthood. If this turns out to be inviting a wolf into the house, that would be terrible.”