Chapter Twenty: Protect the Toast!

“Who is the target?” Lin Yilin asked softly.

“A zombie,” Zheng Fan blurted out, then added, “About your age, maybe a little younger, but better figure than you, with a bold style. Looks fierce but is actually timid. Has a complicated family background, which is probably normal in the violent world. Overall, quite interesting.”

Lin Yilin nodded, pulled out her phone, and quickly skimmed through it. After a moment, she said, “Jiang Hui’s fourth daughter, Jiang Si?”

“I swear—wait, no, how can you pinpoint her with such vague description?” Zheng Fan was a bit surprised.

“The Xixi Keke Street is large, but it can also feel small. There aren’t that many things worth caring about in a day. Jiang Hui finally cornered his restless sister with the zoo’s help, but was ambushed by the Red Dragon Gang. Afterwards, the Red Dragon Gang was counterattacked by Jiang Si and chased by the zoo, with only a few members surviving.”

Lin Yilin recited the intelligence in a flat but rapid tone.

“Intelligence Lin Yilin, you’re too powerful,” Zheng Fan applauded.

He knew that to keep pace with her, he needed to work on becoming a ‘healthy Zheng Fan.’

“So that explains it. Jiang Si’s ability to turn the tables despite grievous injuries must have been with your help, Mr. Illusion. Congratulations on finding a second host body. Do you feel stronger now?” Lin Yilin asked.

Zheng Fan was momentarily stunned, then pulled a red bead from his pocket. “Does this count?”

“A red bead?” Lin Yilin was a bit surprised.

“After coming off Jiang Si, I found I had quite a few of these. Does it have something to do with your talking about getting stronger?” Zheng Fan gently placed the bead on the desk in front of Lin Yilin.

She reached out and touched it.

Previously, the black bead anomaly she tested could not be touched—only Zheng Fan himself could handle and use it.

If the anomaly represented the power of the black world, then the red bead must be…

Lin Yilin quickly made the connection.

“Not all illusions bind a single person,” she mused, explaining, “Though possession is the most basic way illusions grow, having only one host is too slow. Once illusions taste reality’s benefits, they crave more bodies and more contact with reality. The more they invade, the more exaggerated their growth.”

“But to be honest, when I possessed you, I didn’t really feel it,” Zheng Fan said bluntly.

“Probably because Mr. Illusion is already very strong, and I’m too weak,” Lin Yilin replied without any self-deprecation, simply stating the facts.

“Judging by the help they give Mr. Illusion, it seems the gangster heiress from the violent world is superior.”

“No,” Zheng Fan denied.

Lin Yilin looked at him, puzzled, unsure of where she had gone wrong.

---

“My understanding of this world still comes from you. Sorting through so much knowledge on my own would be troublesome and time-consuming—I’m not good at it. You help me far more than that zombie who only knows killing,” Zheng Fan said. “Intelligence Lin Yilin.”

Then he laughed, “Besides, personality-wise, you’re much more interesting. I want to know more about you.”

Lin Yilin stared at him, a bit dazed, then said, “Intelligence Lin Yilin really sounds awful. Could you please not call me that?”

“Depends on my mood,” Zheng Fan shrugged.

Lin Yilin lowered her head, playing with the red bead in her hand. “Glad I could help.”

“What did you say?”

“Nothing. I was saying this bead contains the power of the violent world, kind of like… a blood-red factor,” Lin Yilin deftly changed the subject, not wanting to linger on potentially awkward conversation.

She had mentioned the blood-red factor before when introducing the violent world to Zheng Fan.

It was a fundamental force from the violent world that increased a person’s violence index and drove them toward violence.

“Have you tried it?” Lin Yilin asked Zheng Fan.

“I fed one to Toast,” Zheng Fan said, pointing to the lively dog behind him.

“…Do you really like it?” Lin Yilin commented calmly.

Is it okay to give unknown substances to your ‘beloved dog’ at will?!

“I love it, but it bit me this morning when I got back,” Zheng Fan explained defensively.

Lin Yilin covered her forehead and fell silent for a moment, then set her emotions aside. “How are the symptoms?”

“Report, doctor: The patient was initially enveloped in a red glow, similar to overlapping with the violent world, then started howling passionately and charged at the sofa multiple times…”

“What!? My sofa!” Lin Yilin suddenly interrupted, springing up and rushing to inspect the sofa closely. She found bite marks on one corner of the single-seat sofa.

“…”

“I noticed its bite strength increased significantly, and its force improved. The frenzy lasted until the red glow disappeared, then returned to normal, but the increase remained,” Zheng Fan reported, hands in pockets, standing beside Lin Yilin, who was dazed on the sofa.

Lin Yilin remained silent for a long while before tilting her head back and swallowing the red bead whole.

The red glow enveloped her.

“Toast, come here,” Lin Yilin said coldly, drawing a gun. Her tone was icy, like a queen ready to judge a serious criminal.

---

Toast had been happily playing nearby but, hearing her voice, his perfect dog instincts told him trouble was coming, and he immediately bolted!

Lin Yilin anticipated this and the black worm-like creature in her hand suddenly lunged out, biting and strangling Toast, binding him tightly.

Amid Toast’s howls, a terrifying ordeal began in the office.

...

“Hmm—I can’t believe it, Mr. Illusion. These beads are essentially pure blood-red factors. After personal experience, I’m sure of it. Using one increases the violence index just like violent acts in the violent world. Yet on this basis, it doesn’t subtly alter the person’s character or thoughts, but compresses it into a moment of frenzy and rage,” Lin Yilin documented, her tone betraying her astonishment even as she faced such a divine artifact.

“Uh-huh,” Zheng Fan responded perfunctorily, watching Toast struggle while covered in flour trying to fill himself back up.

“If this stuff leaked out, even a hint of it could stir up bloody chaos in the capital city. Even if you, Mr. Illusion, are a black illusion, many would mercilessly target you for its benefits,” Lin Yilin continued, emphasizing the gravity of the situation.

“Uh-huh—three bags enough? Seems a little short; wanna crack a few more eggs?” Zheng Fan asked.

“Mr. Illusion…”

“Ah, what’s there to fear? When you get something like this, the first thought shouldn’t be ‘it’s dangerous to have,’ but ‘use it quickly to become someone others fear.’ If it’s this useful, you better eat more and shed that ‘chicken’ title sooner,” Zheng Fan said without looking back.

Lin Yilin didn’t know what to say but had to admit Zheng Fan’s words made sense.

Just then, the doorbell rang.

“Come in,” Lin Yilin called loudly.

The door opened to reveal Aunt Chen, the landlord, but Lin Yilin’s gaze quickly shifted to the weary-looking woman behind her.

“Xiaolin, this lady has some troubles. I brought her to see you,” Aunt Chen said, then peered inside again and couldn’t help but add, “Xiaolin, it’s tough to carry so many burdens alone. You’re young and keeping everything bottled up isn’t good—you need to vent, I know—but there’s no need to ruin a loaf of bread like this.”

Inside, Aunt Chen couldn’t see Zheng Fan, only a ruined loaf and flour scattered all over the floor.

Lin Yilin: “…”

That was… indisputable.