Chapter 204: Section 204: Missed Opportunity


    Under Zi Di’s cover, the substitute was deceived and still believed he hadn’t been exposed.


    However, that night, the substitute was repeatedly woken up by his own nightmares. He realized—everything seemed unchanged. But in fact, he could never go back.


    The substitute felt depressed, yet he still had to pretend to be calm.


    It was this superficial calm that made Zi Di empathize even more, sensing the immense pressure and pain within the substitute.


    “Perhaps, I shouldn’t keep hiding it.”


    “I should tell him everything.”


    ...


    “No matter how he views me, he deserves to know the truth!”


    This thought frequently surfaced in Zi Di’s mind, yet each time, she lacked the courage to truly act.


    She could not speak it out.


    “Perhaps, I need the right moment.”


    On the night of Zi Di’s birthday, to the girl’s surprise, the substitute came to Zi Di’s residence alone.


    He brought a bowl of Fire Poison Bee honey.


    “Thank you,” Zi Di was very moved.


    “Although there’s no Rainbow Cake now, but I’ve tasted it, and the honey is also very sweet,” said the substitute.


    Zi Di’s face changed suddenly, “Sir, you ate the honey? It’s poisonous!”


    “Ah? I, I don’t feel poisoned.”


    “It might be because you tasted too little. It contains Fire Poison Essence, if the dosage were increased, even a Gold-level would be harmed,” Zi Di quickly explained, her face immediately showing a guilty expression, “It’s my fault! I didn’t tell you about the latest research findings. I remember, there aren’t any beehives around the valley, sir, it’s too dangerous for you to venture out alone, even with Smoke Medicine.”


    “I am willing to take the risk for you!” burst out the substitute.


    Looking at the knight before her, Zi Di’s heart raced, filled with a profound sense of being cherished.


    She stared deeply into Zhenjin’s eyes and softly said, “Thank you.”


    The substitute shook his head, his gaze falling upon the bowl of honey, somewhat deflated.


    Zi Di’s eyes twinkled, suddenly saying, “Thank you for the cake.”


    “Cake?”


    “Yes, such a big cake, made with non-poisonous honey, didn’t you see it?” Zi Di released the substitute’s hand, gestured with her hands in front of her chest, outlining the shape of a cake in the air.


    The substitute couldn’t help but laugh, following Zi Di’s lead, “Oh, I did see it. The cake was very large indeed, and even had several layers, kind of like a Rainbow Cake.”


    “No, it has only one layer,” Zi Di shook her head, “It’s nothing like the Rainbow Cake. It… It’s sweeter than the Rainbow Cake!”


    The two began using their fingers to dip into the cake, feeding it to each other’s mouths.


    “So sweet!”


    “Really delicious.”


    Breathing heavily, Zi Di’s face flushed with a deep blush, as the two of them drew closer, with only a fist’s distance between them.


    The atmosphere in the cave turned intimate.


    Zi Di cried out in her heart, “Now, it’s now!”


    “Say it, say everything, tell him.”


    “You shouldn’t hide it from him.”


    Love brought courage and impulsiveness, but just as she was about to speak, the substitute said, “Zi Di, there’s something…”


    Zi Di paused, immediately realizing what the substitute intended to say.


    “My goodness! He’s going to reveal his secret of Beastification!!” sea??h thё n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In an instant, the happiness of being trusted so profoundly by the one she loved, swept over her like a tidal wave.


    She was acutely aware of the great risks and trust that the substitute had granted her by sharing his secret.


    At that moment, she realized this was the mature moment she had been desperately waiting for.


    Once the substitute spoke, she would follow his lead and tell him the whole truth!


    “This is the moment, let us be honest with each other.”


    All of Zi Di’s concerns were cast aside.


    However, the substitute had barely begun to speak when he was interrupted.


    Suddenly, noise and tumult erupted from outside the cave.


    “He’s gone mad!”


    “Big Fool has gone mad!!”


    “Quick, someone come, he’s going to kill someone.”


    The substitute and Zi Di, their complexions drastically changed, immediately rushed out of the cave.


    The substitute quickly took control of the situation, preventing further damage.


    Still worried about the future, Zi Di said, “I’m not a physician, and according to the shipwright, although he has tried to treat the Big guy in the past, all the physicians were helpless. The shipwright even paid a lot to hire a Priest, who used Divine Arts on the Big guy.”


    “We must consider this hidden danger. If the shipbuilding is nearly complete and Big guy suddenly goes mad, the losses would be unimaginable.”


    The substitute, after hearing this, remained silent.


    As they approached their residence, the two faced separation.


    “Right, sir, earlier… what did you want to tell me?” Zi Di asked expectantly.


    The substitute said, “Nothing.”


    Watching his receding figure, Zi Di suddenly realized she had made a huge mistake.


    “He saw himself in Big Fool.”


    “I just suggested guarding against Big Fool, in his ears, isn’t that like guarding against a Beastifiable him?”


    “My god, Zi Di, you are so foolish, how could you make such a mistake?!”


    Overwhelmed with regret, Zi Di hastily stepped forward, wanting to catch up to the substitute.


    She wanted to rush over, boldly embrace him, and bravely reassure him, “Please don’t misunderstand, I wasn’t talking about you!”


    However, her steps gradually slowed and became heavier.


    The courage and impulsiveness she had felt earlier had dissipated.


    Various concerns once again obstructed her thoughts.


    Although they were so close, Zi Di felt as if there were countless mountains and vast chasms between her and the substitute.


    “I’m sorry… I’m sorry…” she could only apologize continuously in her heart.


    “Now is not a good time, just wait a bit longer, surely a better opportunity will arise.”


    Zi Di withdrew.


    She continued to wait for the right moment.


    But what came was an earthquake.


    The situation deteriorated further, not just with the earthquake, but also erupting volcanoes, and the approaching Demon Beast Army.


    People built ships while fighting the countless Magic Beasts in the valley.


    Zhenjin again quietly found Zi Di.


    “The situation is dire!”


    “Perhaps I should reveal my identity to ensure they protect me more.”


    His face was filled with fear and concern.


    Zi Di tried to reassure, “My lord, it’s too risky to do this. Now that everyone recognizes the substitute, once they learn that he is not real but you are, it will certainly cause chaos and be hard to accept. Morale will drop, which will likely lead to the collapse of our front.”


    “And about the substitute, he is quite a threat. If he learns that he has been deceived, how would he treat us? Would he kill to vent his anger?”


    The fear on Zhenjin’s face deepened.


    Zi Di then changed her tone, “Actually, our situation is still quite good; the new ship is nearly finished.”


    “We hold the valley and its defenses, and we have crossbows. These past few days, I have often heard others praising you in private, my lord. Under your control, the Crossbow Cart has grievously wounded even Silver Level Magic Beasts.”


    “That’s right. I am, after all, of the bloodline of the Hundred Needle Family…” Zhenjin’s expression gradually eased, “I was too impulsive just now. Your analysis is very logical. I will continue to endure. We are the closest duo, aren’t we?”


    “Of course, my lord!” Zi Di smiled.


    But in fact, Zi Di had always been looking for an opportunity to explain the truth to the substitute.


    However, not only was she busy, but the substitute was also occupied—either guarding the shipyard to prevent the Big guy from going mad or rushing to the front lines for emergency support. At night, the substitute would continue to patrol alone, fighting beast hordes in his beastified form.


    Bai Ya fell ill.


    But there were too many injured. Almost all healing depended on Zi Di alone, and her stress was immense.


    Zi Di hadn’t prescribed the right medication, so although the potions she made could alleviate Bai Ya’s symptoms, they could not cure him.


    Soon after, Bai Ya was on the verge of death, with a pale face, lying unconscious.


    Zi Di rushed to his treatment and discovered the faded writing on a piece of paper, which profoundly shocked her.


    “Bai Ya used that bottle of ink!”


    She instantly understood Bai Ya’s symptoms—he was an indirect victim of her plot against the captain.


    Bai Ya’s letter felt like a needle suddenly piercing Zi Di’s heart. She felt guilty towards Bai Ya and developed a sense of fear towards her fate.


    Fortunately, the substitute, Cang Xu, and others were unaware of this secret.


    “My lord, please wait a moment.” As she was leaving, Zi Di stopped the substitute.


    Only the two of them remained in the corridor.


    “My lord, please let me take care of these letters. After all, you are often at the forefront,” Zi Di said.


    “Please take good care of them.” The substitute nodded and handed the letters to Zi Di without any suspicion.


    Holding Bai Ya’s letter, Zi Di realized that there would always be traces of her actions.


    “It’s better to confess now than to be found out later!”


    Thinking this, Zi Di began, “My lord, I…”


    But the substitute interrupted, “There’s no need to comfort me. Indeed, I am feeling very low right now, as my companions have fallen. But I don’t have the power to save him; there are so many times when my abilities are simply limited….”


    The substitute was immersed in self-doubt, and Bai Ya’s condition had impacted him to some extent.


    Seeing the substitute like this, Zi Di, as the perpetrator, felt even more guilty.


    “My lord!” she softly called and took a step forward, throwing herself into the substitute’s arms.


    “Lord Zhenjin, you are definitely qualified, no, an outstanding leader, and you are a knight, my… knight. Please don’t doubt yourself.”


    His soft embrace and her affirmations slightly alleviated the substitute’s dejection.


    The young man raised his hand and stroked Zi Di’s shoulders.


    Feeling the warmth of the substitute’s embrace, Zi Di felt their heartbeats beginning to sync.


    At this moment, all her concerns seemed like the ice on a river in spring melting away, revealing a lively, flowing river.


    Zi Di clenched her teeth; at that instant, she finally regained her courage.


    But just as she was about to divulge the truth, the substitute’s expression changed slightly—he detected an urgent situation at the front line through ultrasound.


    “I have to go!” The substitute gently pushed Zi Di away.


    Interrupted once again, Zi Di felt the courage in her heart suddenly dissipate by a large measure.


    Disheartened and frustrated, she hated her own weakness while she could do nothing but release her arms. Her Purple Crystal eyes deeply gazed at the substitute as he turned and left, his figure disappearing around the corner.


    This was her best opportunity, and also her last one.


    But at that time, she thought there would still be good opportunities.


    She was too young, always subconsciously thinking there was plenty of time in the future and that life would get better and better.


    With the ship built, during a celebratory feast, the substitute silently left the crowd and sat with the big guy.


    An unprecedented earthquake occurred, small valleys collapsed, the Demon Beast Army attacked, and a fierce battle ensued. Zi Di had to use potions, causing many of her companions to undergo beastification in order to save the lives of the others.


    After the battle, everyone gathered to examine the bodies of their beastified companions.


    Zi Di intentionally led the conversation: “Don’t you think these Beastification People resemble those modified magic beasts?”


    “I have no evidence; I’m just speculating. The Island Master has set up a super-massive magic array, or some other kind of arrangement on this island. These arrangements force us to teleport randomly, creating a Magic Ban environment, and even control the weather. Besides these, perhaps it can subtly change various lives on the island, and the reason our companions beastified might be due to this.”


    She succeeded, and no one doubted her.


    But there was no joy in her heart.


    Especially when she saw the substitute bowing his head in prayer on the deck, his face heavy, barely masking his sorrow.


    Guilt and compassion overwhelmed her.


    “People became beastified, and you could too. You must be worried, worried that one time you’ll beastify, become savage, lose reason, and harm others.”


    “You have always been full of doubts.”


    “I can answer your doubts. But, but…”


    After the beastification incident, it was as if another mountainous barrier had formed between Zi Di and the substitute.


    “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, it’s my fault you ended up like this…”


    “It’s all because of my mistake.”


    Zi Di wanted to comfort the substitute, but she was too timid and guilty to even take a step.


    She knew she had disguised herself well, at least for now, the substitute had not spotted any flaws.


    But she dared not approach.


    She loved him, but each act of love felt more like repeated harm.


    The ship was severely damaged, the earthquake occurred again, and everything fell into despair; it seemed that waiting for rescue was the only option.


    Looking at the cracked ground in front of her and the sudden wide river that had formed, Zi Di clenched her teeth and led the people to attack the Central Tower.


    The group was moved, but still hesitated.


    At this critical moment, the substitute cooperated with her again, “Just now, the Holy Emperor imparted a revelation to me!”


    The substitute pointed at the river and made a decision.


    The team set off once more.


    First by swiftly moving boat, then they had to go ashore.


    With numerous obstacles, just as they were about to give up, unexpected support arrived.


    It was Jia Sha!


    They were still alive.


    Zi Di instructed Hei Juan not to reveal their identities lightly.


    But although Hei Juan agreed on the surface, due to concern for his own life, he still secretly explained everything he knew to Jia Sha.


    With Jia Sha’s help, Zi Di and the others entered the Alchemy Factory, went through the workshop, the Molten Lava Battlefield, and entered into the Central Tower.


    The Tower Spirit’s plea for help surprised her greatly, and without much hesitation, she stepped forward to fight Jia Sha.


    However, in the end, she still fell short of success.