I'll also work hard to conquer the dungeon today.

Chapter 372, Section 1.24: The Scam
Bertias's lips curled slightly, and his tone softened again as he softly asked Lan Xiao, "Xiao-mei, would you like to come with me?"

Lan Xiao was stunned, completely unexpected that Bertias would say such a thing.

only……

Is it really possible?
She couldn't afford the gamble.

Her emerald eyes stared at the hand, a hint of struggle in them.

Seeing that Lan Xiao hadn't made a move for a long time, Bertias had a sudden realization.

He stepped forward, knelt down, and hugged Lan Xiao, whispering in her ear, "As expected, no one will choose me..." His gentle voice carried a hint of lingering tenderness, ambiguity, and obsession, like the cry of a sinner in the depths of hell, pleading for hope but only receiving despair.

Lan Xiao moved her body, and the next second she felt a pain in her back.

"It won't hurt, sweetheart. I just wanted to see if your heart was as red as a human's." Beltias whispered gently in Lan Xiao's ear, his tone so tender and affectionate, yet his words were so cold and ruthless.

His long, slender, and perfectly shaped hand pierced Lan Xiao's body from behind, grabbing her heart, which had already stopped beating, and pulling it out without hesitation, as if venting his anger.

A gentle breeze lifted his hood, revealing his handsome face.

His bluish-gray eyes were now cold and devoid of any emotion. He stared intently at the dark red, unbeating heart, a mocking smile playing on his lips.

"It really is cold." Bertias took a few steps back, decisively moving away from Lan Xiao.

Lan Xiao opened her mouth and reached out to try and take back her heart, but the moment she touched it, Bertias crushed it and threw it on the ground in front of her like trash.

"Speaking of which, there's something I forgot to tell you." Bertias looked at Lan Xiao with a gentle smile, her tone very tender, but the smile never reached her eyes.

"Actually, I've been deceiving you from the very beginning. I deliberately approached you and tested your feelings. I also know you're very suspicious, so I deliberately revealed my background to try and gain your sympathy."

Actually, I wasn't in pain. Although I was humiliated at first, I killed all of them, and all the grudges were long over.

You don't actually believe that, do you? How naive, Lan Xiao.

I didn't originally intend to get close to you, but you look so much like him, and your rejection made me curious about why, so I couldn't resist approaching you. But unfortunately, you're ultimately different. He's an angel, and you're a demon.

Bertias casually wiped the blood from his hands onto his cloak.

He crouched down slightly, looking directly at Lan Xiaoping, his blue-gray eyes filled with only indifference and ambiguity.

He parted his thin lips slightly and said, "Thank you for playing a good role with me." After saying that, he left without hesitation.

Lan Xiao stared blankly at Bertias's departing figure, gazing at her beautiful, silky, long, blue-gray hair. Her vision gradually blurred, and crystal tears slid down her cheeks, falling to the ground drop by drop.

The flames behind her had gone out sometime ago. She looked down at the crushed heart on the ground. She reached out shakily to touch it, but collapsed before she could reach it.

Something in my pocket is vibrating.

She laboriously reached out and took it out, then pressed the answer button.

A familiar, slightly playful, clear voice came through the microphone, "Ah, ah, can you hear me?"

"Hmm..." Lan Xiao responded, her voice weak and nasal.

"Xiaoxiao? What's wrong? Did someone bully you? Who made you cry?" His tone was concerned but with a hint of teasing, yet it gave Lan Xiao a very warm and friendly feeling, just like family.

"No..." Lan Xiao's voice was very soft. She tried to make a sound and try to stay awake.

“Tell me if you get bullied, okay?” he added. “Okay.” Lan Xiao nodded, lying on the ground, tears streaming down her face uncontrollably. She could only look up at the azure sky, letting the tears soak her golden curls.

"How is the situation? Have you found out anything?"

“I can’t beat Mu Yegui… Ling Tong’s abilities are related to fire… Ke Ya’s abilities are more musical, but she can’t use them because of the dungeon restrictions…” Lan Xiao tried her best to tell the information she knew, but avoided talking about Beltias.

“And what about Bertias?” he asked again.

Lan Xiao was silent for a few seconds before speaking, "Having become the Crown Prince, he... has no disloyalty towards the Association..."

"I see," he said with a sudden realization, but then his tone shifted, becoming gentle yet tinged with a hint of danger, "But Xiaoxiao's lie to me made me very sad."

He didn't say that Lan Xiao's words had deceived him.

"I..." Lan Xiao gasped for breath, struggling to say something, but suddenly couldn't speak.

"But it's okay, I've forgiven Xiaoxiao. Even good kids can be rebellious sometimes. All you have to do is address the root cause of her rebellion." He continued, his voice still gentle and smiling, completely devoid of any sense of danger.

"..." Lan Xiao did not answer him, but she vaguely understood the meaning behind those words.

Sure enough, before Lan Xiao could answer him, he asked softly and gently, "Xiao Xiao won't let me down, right?"

“Mm.” Lan Xiao nodded. No matter what happened, she would not let this person down, because it was this person who pulled her out of the abyss of darkness, her light, her faith… her god.

“Then, Xiaoxiao, go and kill Bertias, no matter how long it takes, bring me his head. Good child, I know you can do it, this is your only task.” The coldness in his tone was only for a moment, and the next second it returned to its gentleness, full of tolerance as if coaxing a child.

"I understand... I will complete the mission... Shui Qi..." Lan Xiao slowly closed her eyes and uttered her last words.

"Good boy, as expected of my Grim Reaper." Shui Qi chuckled and hung up the call with satisfaction.

The surrounding paper-cutting scenes had disappeared at some point, leaving only a barren expanse of yellow earth beneath him.

Lan Xiao lay on the ground with her eyes closed, her clothes stained with dark red blood, making it impossible to see their original color.

A black butterfly landed quietly on her pale, bloodless fingertips.

A series of light footsteps came from afar, growing closer and closer until they finally stopped beside Lan Xiao.

"This body is broken again and needs to be repaired." The deep, languid voice was as intoxicating as fine wine, and the slow pace of his speech carried a hint of helplessness.

He exuded a strong, alluring smell of alcohol, and despite wearing a white sacrificial robe, he didn't seem to mind picking up Lan Xiao's dirty body in his arms.

Black butterflies fluttered their wings and flew beside the man, scattering specks of phosphorescent powder that shimmered with a black light.

"Don't worry, it'll be fine soon." The man casually offered a perfunctory reassurance, seemingly talking to no one, before carrying the body away.

The black butterfly followed closely behind the man, as if afraid of losing him.

The black phosphorus powder was sprinkled in the air but was instantly dispersed by the breeze.

Snowflakes, like goose feathers, drifted down from the sky, as if trying to cover up everything that had happened before.

Question: What exactly is the relationship between Lan Xiao, Shui Qi, and Dionysus?

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(End of this chapter)