Forbidden Zone of Deception

Chapter 207 Conspiracy
Muxu City, Changming District.

The aroma of lattes wafted from a Starbucks coffee shop on the street corner, and several high school girls took selfies in front of the shop, their cheerful laughter ringing out from time to time.

In this peaceful scene, the young women wearing wide-brimmed hats stand out.

Her Hermès scarf fluttered gently in the breeze, while her loose blue trench coat looked quite dashing, subtly outlining her heart-pounding curves as she walked.

After walking for a while, she stopped and looked at the sign of a shop in front of her.

"Meow Star" Pet Shop.

The shop's glass windows were spotless, and she immediately spotted a silver shaded British Shorthair cat dozing on the display stand.

The woman gently tapped the glass with her slender fingers. The cat immediately perked up its ears, but relaxed the moment it saw her, even rolling over and purring.

"It's kind of cute..."

As the woman pushed open the door, the shop owner, who was tidying up the cat food shelves, looked up. At that moment, a large orange cat suddenly jumped down from the cat tree, its fur standing on end, and hid under the cash register.

"Welcome." The shop owner cleared his throat and said, "Miss, please show me the SAN value test report within the last 72 hours, thank you."

"Um... I forgot to do it, I'm sorry," the woman said. "Could you please make an exception? I'll finish choosing the cat and pay and leave as soon as possible."

"I see..." The shop manager, seeing that there were no other customers in the shop and that this was Changming District, where there hadn't been a single case of memetic contamination for several years, said, "Alright then. What breed of cat would you like to see?"

The woman didn't answer immediately, but slowly walked towards the cat cage area. As she bent down to examine a Ragdoll cat, her scarf slipped down, revealing a faint blue tattoo on the back of her neck. The design was so bizarre that it sent chills down the shop owner's spine: it looked like a fluttering insect, but upon closer inspection, it became clear that... the insect's legs were twisted human fingers.

"Well, I want a quiet one that won't get sick easily. I'm quite busy, so I don't need to worry too much about raising a cat." The woman pulled her scarf tighter, covering the blue tattoo she had just seen.

"Oh, okay, okay."

The shop owner immediately began introducing the habits of various cat breeds, but his eyes involuntarily drifted towards the woman. Her hat covered most of her face, but it was still clear that she was a stunningly beautiful woman, easily a 10 out of 10.

Just as he was saying that "Ragdoll cats have a gentle temperament," the woman suddenly turned to the corner.

Inside was a rather unremarkable tabby cat. This little guy was usually a bit fierce, but at this moment it was unusually quiet, its amber eyes fixed on the woman, its pupils narrowed to two thin slits.

"Oh, this is a tabby cat, also called a Chinese domestic cat," the shop owner continued, "but it might not quite match the conditions you just mentioned..."

“I’ll take it. I feel a connection with it,” the woman said calmly. “Has it been vaccinated against feline triple vaccine yet?”

"Yes, it's been dewormed..." The shopkeeper's words stopped abruptly. The woman had already opened the cage door herself, and the fierce tabby cat obediently snuggled into her arms, even licking her fingers affectionately.

"Okay, sir, this cat costs 2000 yuan. We can also give you cat litter and a litter box for free... Have you ever owned a cat before?"

"I used to own Siamese cats and British Shorthair cats."

"Well, then I won't explain how you use the cat litter." The shop manager felt a vague sense of unease, only wanting the customer to pay and leave as quickly as possible. "Would you like to pay with WeChat or Alipay?"

"cash."

Unexpectedly, the woman took out a bulging wallet, pulled out a large stack of red hundred-yuan bills, and handed them to the shop owner.

The tabby cat in the woman's arms suddenly hissed, but the woman simply stroked its back, and the cat immediately calmed down.

"Hmm, let's name the child... Xiao Ye," the woman said softly.

Meanwhile, at the Jin Ding Hotel, less than five kilometers away from this pet shop...

Ye Yinghuo became happier and happier as she spoke.

"That Blood Spider's face turned green," she said with a sly smile, lightly flicking the glass of red wine in front of her. "He insisted on betting with me, haha, and in the end I just got a hundred Resentment Crystals for free! Captain Jiang, thank you so much!"

"Captain Jiang, I'm sorry you had to see this," Ye Xiu shook his head helplessly. "I've spoiled this kid; he speaks without any respect for his elders."

"No, your daughter seems very lively and cheerful." Jiang Jin could tell at a glance that with this LV5 tycoon protecting her, Ye Yinghuo probably hadn't suffered much hardship.

Meme contamination is highly contagious, so it's very common for parents and children, siblings, to become reincarnators simultaneously. Reincarnators who reach LV5 will go to great lengths to help their family members also reach LV5, and will use various methods to enhance their survival abilities. Ye Yinghuo's optimistic and cheerful personality clearly stems from the protection and support her father provides.

Liu Yan then took the opportunity to look at Li Yuanxiu, who was sitting next to Ye Yinghuo, and said in a soft but urgent voice, "Commander Li, I am a new witchcraft reincarnation practitioner. Could I... perhaps have the opportunity to learn from you about your experience in advancing to higher levels?"

The sorcerer is the rarest among the ten professions, so there are very few corresponding advancement guides. A high-level sorcerer like Li Yuanxiu is even rarer. Now that she has the opportunity to meet him, how could she not seek his guidance?
Li Yuanxiu glanced at Liu Yan and asked, "Miss Liu, are you following the conventional witchcraft route?"

“Yes, using gray nematodes as the natal Gu.” Liu Yan thought to herself, since they are both Gu, Li Yuanxiu has most likely been to Red Rust Town.

"So what types of Gu worms do you primarily use right now?"

Liu Yan described several types of Gu worms that she primarily controlled.

However, upon hearing this, Li Yuanxiu immediately shook his head.

"It's not about having as many types of Gu worms as possible. You should specialize in one or two types, integrate them into your natal Gu worm, and then plant Gu worms. The biggest difference between LV1 and LV2 is whether you have mastered the ability to plant Gu worms. At this stage, due to the different Gu worms, it's difficult for others to pass on their experience. If I were to tell you, it might actually hinder your advancement."

"Is that so?" Liu Yan quickly pressed, "Then regarding the selection of Gu worms..."

Do you know why the gray nematode is considered the natal Gu in conventional witchcraft?

"Hmm...it's because gray nematodes are considered a sign of severe pollution..."

"No. In the end, during the LV1 period, did the reincarnators truly understand what ominous pollution was? They even had a superficial understanding of rule pollution. The essence of the gray threadworm is that it is transformed from the Gu worm that mates with the body of the Ash Corpse Demon." Li Yuanxiu said something astonishing: "This is also the origin of the name Gray Threadworm. Integrating a successfully raised Gu worm into your natal Gu is equivalent to transforming your Gu worm into a living fragment of resentment. Only then can you truly grasp what ominous pollution is and be better able to adapt to the pollution layer."

Upon hearing this, Liu Yan couldn't help but show a look of sudden realization.

"That's it, that's it..."

So what she saw underground in Rusty Town was... an Ash Ghoul?

Ominous contamination is considered one of the most powerful forms of rule-based contamination. Its terrifying aspect lies in its ability to permeate the material realm to a great extent. One of the main ways an ordinary person can become a reincarnator is through inadvertent contact with ominous entities. The further one is from the outer ring-shaped zone, the more likely they are to come into contact with ominous entities.

The outer ring of Muxu City is a completely different world. The further away from the city center, the closer one gets to the pollution layer. Jiang Jin and Liu Yan now dare not go too far from the outer ring.

But Li Yuanxiu suddenly lowered his voice, gently pushed his teacup forward, and leaned closer, saying, "In comparison, the path of the mutation branch of witchcraft is even more difficult. Lady Pustules actually succeeded in traversing this path back then, but it also caused her backlash..."

"cough."

A soft cough interrupted him.

Li Tianshi sat at the other end of the tea table. His voice was not loud, but it caused a slight pause in the atmosphere of the entire private room.

"Don't speak carelessly in front of Commander Ye. The imperial court has now decided to completely eradicate the Insect Nest team." He said calmly, his tone devoid of emotion, yet it immediately silenced Li Yuanxiu. However, it was clear that his face was full of displeasure.

Ye Yinghuo pouted, clearly displeased with the interruption, and said to Li Yuanxiu, "It's okay, Yuanxiu, you can tell me later."

The conversation at the dinner table quickly turned to Long Xiangjun's experiences stationed in Japan.

Li Tianshi smiled and said, "We at Panshi have a partnership with Mitsubishi in Japan. Their Executive Director Sato said that during the Longxiang Army's stay in Yokoedo, military discipline was strict, and both public security and people's livelihoods improved significantly."

"This can be considered bringing glory to the country." Ye Xiu poured another glass of wine. "Let the little guys see what the grandeur of a great nation is like, with heavenly soldiers and generals!" A few low laughs echoed in the private room.

"If you ask me, we should just let those little devils fend for themselves!" Ye Yinghuo suddenly interjected, her voice filled with undisguised disgust. "The things they did back then, like in Jinling..."

"Firefly!" Ye Xiu frowned and said, "Don't talk nonsense!"

Ye Yinghuo pursed her lips and said, "Am I wrong?"

"Miss Ye is right!" Liu Yan smiled and came to her rescue: "However, I think we can't let our little life fend for itself. We still need to keep some things in reserve. I also want to see the finale of One Piece and Detective Conan."

Ye Yinghuo narrowed her eyes and said, "Oh, Miss Liu, was this intentional or accidental?"

The people in the private room burst into laughter.

Jiang Jin never expected that Liu Yan and Ye Yinghuo would hit it off so well.

Li Tianshi glanced helplessly at everyone, finally settling his gaze on Ye Xiu: "Commander Ye, it's normal for young people to be impetuous."

"My good-for-nothing daughter will be in your care from now on."

"sure!"

The atmosphere inside the private room was subtly shifting, with each person harboring different thoughts.

……

The night was as dark as ink. In a narrow alley on the edge of Changming District, the streetlights and surveillance cameras were old and in disrepair. There were a large number of unlicensed street vendors and restaurants with extremely poor hygiene conditions.

Deep in the alley, a Shaxian snack shop with a faded sign is still open for business. A picture of Shaxian steamed dumplings is pasted on the glass door, but the lights inside are dim and there are only a few customers.

The woman who had just bought the tabby cat went inside, chose the corner seat, placed the cat on the chair next to her, and gently scratched its chin with her fingertips. The cat comfortably squinted its eyes, clearly enjoying the moment.

These small shops rarely take the initiative to check SAN value test reports.

She didn't order any food; she just sat quietly, stroking the cat's back with her fingers as if waiting for someone.

Not long after, the shop door opened again. A tall man walked in, his hat pulled low, obscuring the upper half of his face. He glanced around, his gaze lingering briefly on the woman, before walking straight to the seat behind her and sitting down.

The two stood back to back, neither of them turning around.

"Hey, Miss Bai, aren't you afraid of being caught on camera when you come all the way to Changming District?" The man's voice was low, making sure only the woman behind him could hear him.

The woman chuckled softly, her fingers still teasing the cat: "Don't worry, this face of mine is fake. It's probably only about 30% as beautiful as my real face."

The man paused for a moment, seemingly observing his surroundings to make sure no one was paying attention, before continuing, "That's good. First, I need you to explain what the Old Nuclear Organization's operation this time means."

"Our wormhole and the Old Core only cooperate; we can't predict their actions, let alone interfere. I can assure you, just like with Liang Zhiyuan's death, Madam only learned about it afterward. Now, Madam has asked me to support you in the upcoming wedding..."

"The plan remains the same. But when the time comes, you must come to my aid and take me to your Zergling's home world."

The woman didn't answer immediately. Instead, she took a small piece of dried fish from her pocket and fed it to the tabby cat. The cat grabbed the fish, nimbly jumped off the chair, and crawled under the table.

"Well, as long as we complete the mission, everything will be fine." She finally spoke, her tone nonchalant. "Also, haven't you found out Sima Jin's whereabouts yet?"

The man shook his head, though the woman couldn't see him: "I don't know where he is now. I guess he might be dead."

"That's really..." The woman's voice held a hint of regret, but she quickly regained her composure. "How confident are you that you can succeed?"

The man pondered for a moment: "Seventy percent, I suppose."

The woman gave a soft "hmm" and tapped her fingertips twice on the table: "That's about right. Let's make this clear: if you fail, don't even think about joining our insect hive."

She paused, then added, "Also, keep an eye out for the newly appeared Lanruo Temple instance in Qingtan Community. If there's any new information, please let me know immediately."

The man did not answer, but nodded slightly, then got up and left.

The black cat jumped back onto the woman's lap, its tail coiling around her wrist.

The woman gently scratched the cat's chin and said, "Alright, let's go, Xiaoye, I'll take you to a new world."

The night grew darker and darker...

At the Dingyou camp, Blood Lord stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, holding a glass of red wine in his hand. The scarlet liquid swayed like blood under the light.

These past two days, his bloody team's reputation has been ruined, and wherever he goes, people look at him strangely.

"Jiang Jin... if you really have the ability to advance all the way, then we can all turn enemies into friends, and everyone will be happy. But if you perish along the way, whatever you've taken from me today, I'll make you pay back tenfold with interest tomorrow!"

At that moment, he noticed a black sedan slowly pulling up to the villa's entrance outside the window.

"Ah... the young lady has arrived."

The car door opened, and a pair of long, slender legs stepped out, high heels clicking crisply on the marble steps.

"Hey, can't you add a few more parking spaces here?"

"Miss Ye," Blood Lord greeted her as the villa door opened, a playful smile playing on his lips. "I heard you had dinner with the Nirvana team today? What brings you here?"

Ye Yinghuo looked up, her red lips slightly raised: "What, not welcome? Not only am I here, Nan Yin is here too."

"How could I not welcome you?" Blood Lord thought to himself, "Your dad's a Level 5, so whatever he says goes." He stepped aside and gestured for them to enter: "You're here to see Bernadette, right?"

Ye Yinghuo chuckled softly. At this moment, another short-haired woman, who seemed much more reserved, stepped out of the car and respectfully said to Blood Lord, "Blood Leader, I apologize for disturbing you."

Blood Lord knew that Di Nanyin was Ye Xiu's bodyguard for Ye Yinghuo, and also Ye Yinghuo's best friend, a hunter. The hunter, a versatile profession, was indeed well-suited for bodyguarding.

Like Blood Lord, Ye Xiu, as a Soul Master, placed soul imprints on the members of the Eternal Dream team. However, unlike Blood Lord, his soul imprints were much more binding, capable of completely brainwashing the team members, making them willingly die for him. The order given to Di Nanyin was to protect Ye Yinghuo at all costs, even at the cost of her own life.

Upon entering the villa, Bernadette had already come downstairs. Her graceful figure was clad in a long black lace dress, and around her neck was a string of ruby ​​necklaces—the ones that Blood Lord had personally placed on her neck for her birthday last year.

"It's an honor to have two beauties grace us with their presence." The Blood Lord's gaze lingered on Bernadette for a few seconds. "Have a good time tonight, and put the bill on my tab."

Ye Yinghuo, Di Nanyin, and Benadeta are a close-knit group of best friends. They became inseparable after a harrowing adventure together in a terrifying dungeon.

Blood Lord knew that Ye Yinghuo was about to get married, so she was planning to take her girlfriends out for a bachelor/bachelor party.

Ye Yinghuo walked over with a grin and took Bernadette's arm, saying, "Blood Captain, don't worry, we'll definitely take good care of your vice captain..."

Blood Lord chuckled, walked over, and reached out to smooth Bernadette's sideburns, saying, "Don't drink too much."

His fingertips brushed lightly against her earlobe, causing Bernadette to lower her head slightly, her ear tips turning red: "Mmm."

Blood Lord knew that these three best friends had gotten together, and tonight... they probably wouldn't be coming back.

(End of this chapter)