Chapter 229 The Youth’s Determination



Tyler questioned himself, pondering what had driven the "Current Me" to choose to journey alongside Heloise.

Was it an aversion to remaining passive in confrontations?

Was it an urge to retaliate against the Earthly Ghost and the Shadow Serpent Society?

Was it a reluctance to miss out on such a naive, easily deceived pawn?

Or was it a refusal to stand by while Heloise, such a lovely girl, was exploited by the Earthly Ghost, oblivious to her plight?

Upon reflection, Tyler felt that he, the "Current Me", had been somewhat "naive" to have chosen to travel with Heloise and even attempt to save her. As for the "Future Me", who had been unaware of the contents of the "Future Death Scene", would undoubtedly have made an even more "naive" decision.

Yet, upon contemplation, an answer had emerged.

Tyler was almost certain that the "Future Me" too had undoubtedly chosen the path of saving Heloise.

However, despite making such a choice, the "Future Me" had still met his demise on the 8th of July.

This, undoubtedly, was not welcome news.

The "Current Me" and the "Future Me" were possibly walking the same path.

Everything that Tyler had done up to now, the "Future Me" had likely done as well. In other words, if he couldn't do better than the "Future Me", then the "Current Me" would be unable to avoid his doomed fate on the 8th of July.

For this reason, Tyler had to first clarify a question: What was his advantage compared to the "Future Me"?

(If the "Future Me" also knew about the "Parasitic Blood Serpent", then how did the "Future Me" die?)

Tyler was somewhat puzzled.

Even if he wished to save Heloise, they surely wouldn't die together if he failed... right?

(What exactly would happen in the next four days?)

(Did the "Future Me" not die from the "Parasitic Blood Serpent"?)

A conclusion that had once seemed certain was overturned upon Tyler's reconsideration.

​​He took out the photo of the "Future Death Scene", wherein he could only recognize two people: Tyler himself and the pure passerby Vanessa.

(If Heloise hadn't died by this time, then she shouldn't be too far away from me...)

Tyler sighed, his current prediction for the future was the most pessimistic one.

In this doomed future, he might not only fail to save Heloise, but also be killed by the enemy through other untraceable means.

To avoid repeating the same mistakes, from this moment on, Tyler must first contemplate what the "Future Me" would do in any situation, and then on that basis, ponder how he could do better than the "Future Me".

.

"Um... Meat... More... I can... Still..."

Just as Tyler was deeply engrossed in his thoughts, the sleeping Heloise turned over, seemingly dreaming about eating meat. Seeing the carefree expression on her face, Tyler couldn't help but laugh.

(Exactly, why am I so serious?)

(Haven't I always been treading on the edge of the blade?)

Thanks to Heloise, Tyler's mood lightened significantly.

Instead of constantly worrying and depleting himself, he might as well rest well and then give his best to challenge the impossible.

(No matter who the killer is, I won't let you kill me a second time.)

.

Simultaneously, within the Abyssal Empire, in a corner of the Temple of Myriad Demons, the Serpent Mage, the "Earthly Ghost", and the Falcon Mage, the "Heavenly Ghost", were clandestinely conferring.

"Heavenly Ghost... You may not take kindly to what I am about to say, but it needs to be said."

"Hiss, speak your mind."

"Do you think the young lady you sent to 'assassinate' our target is a bit... off? She turned an 'assassination' into a public spectacle, and even started sleeping in front of the target tonight. I feel like she's completely forgotten her mission."

The Heavenly Ghost's criticism left no room for the Earthly Ghost to save face.

However, although the Earthly Ghost felt stung by the critique, he really had no rebuttal.

Earlier, the Earthly Ghost had locked onto Heloise and the target's location using the Heavenly Ghost's information. He had immediately found a nearby serpent and updated Heloise with the latest appearance of the target.

The update was effective, and Heloise acted immediately. As expected, Heloise, who was even weaker than Splurt, was swiftly defeated.

The only unexpected turn of events was that the target didn't kill Heloise but decided to keep her alive.

This directly led to the failure of the Earthly Ghost's plan to poison the target using Heloise as a human bomb.n0Velusb.c0m

After the failure of the plan, the Earthly Ghost had hoped that the target would violate Heloise. If that happened, the unwavering Heloise would surely try to commit suicide. Upon her death, the Parasitic Blood Serpent would trigger a self-explosion and poison the target.

But according to the information provided by the Heavenly Ghost later, the target had no interest in Heloise at all. The two were getting along like friends, which was utterly unthinkable.

At this point, the Earthly Ghost could only pin his hopes on the last possibility.

"Hiss... Heavenly Ghost, I did it on purpose."

In order to save face, the Earthly Ghost deliberately put on a calm facade.

"Hiss... No matter what the 'target' plans to do next, as long as he is with Heloise, he has already fallen into my trap."

"What do you mean?"

"Hiss... There's a secret about the Parasitic Blood Serpent. In the final stage of infection, the rate of infection suddenly increases several times. Those who don't know this... Hiss... They absolutely can't guard against it."

"I see... So, is it possible to treat the infection?" the Heavenly Ghost asked.

"Hiss... There is indeed a way to treat the infection, but it requires a church and a statue of the deity. Hiss... I've already checked in advance. Delis Town doesn't even have a church, let alone a 'clergyman'."

After hearing the Earthly Ghost's reply, the Heavenly Ghost applauded in admiration.

However, while he was complimenting the Earthly Ghost on the surface, he was planning something else in his heart.

Since he was already involved in the tracking and surveillance, he had to take the opportunity to snatch the credit. Otherwise, it would be too sorry for his hard-working birds.

.

At the break of dawn, when the small creatures in the forest were waking up, Heloise had shyly completed another "Purification Ritual".

"O Messenger of the Benevolent Deity... Has the evil inside me... been completely expelled?" Heloise asked while dressing herself, still feeling shy.

She thought for a moment, suspecting that it was her own constitution that was the issue, so she added, "My power of the Nefarious Tiger King is of the dark faction, I wonder if it would affect the ritual?"

Heloise's two questions did not receive an immediate answer from Felix.

It was only when she had finished dressing and walked over to him that she saw the troubled look on his face, which made her worry as well.

"The purification is not complete yet, the situation is a bit complicated...," Felix pondered for a moment before continuing, "At least another seven consecutive 'Purification Rituals' are needed... Also, you can just call me Felix, no need for such an exaggerated address."

Felix's answer made Heloise's heart sink, it was as if a bolt from the blue had struck her.

— (What...?!)

— (That means... I have to... undress seven more times... in front of Felix...!)