Love, Gun, Cupid

Every day, Yang Xuemeng had to tell herself this. On that terrible night, she completed her transformation, betrayal, love-hate relationship, and final defeat. She lived inside the monster, watching "herself" fight with Lin Jiade, and her own arrest.

Then, when she woke up again, her perspective suddenly changed from third person to first person, and she regained control of herself... no, of the monster's body, which was covered in fur, like manipulating a large plush toy with its own body temperature.

There were no playing cards, no card-playing companions, no home, only crisscrossing iron fences, bright lights on 24 hours a day, surveillance equipment with no blind spots, fully armed guards, and strangely dressed superhumans.

Her quarters consisted of a bed so small that she had to curl up on her side to fit in, a toilet in the corner, and a pitifully small sink. The toiletries provided were all made of wood or plastic and lacked sharp edges.

Now, she is a female prisoner in the detention center in Linhai City, with an independent number and QR code. Others, whether guards or transferred female prisoners, always glance at her for a few seconds when they pass by, as if an African were seeing a leopard-headed zero-charged person and being extremely surprised.

Since she is an SSR-level suspect in the detention center, she naturally receives SSR-level treatment as well. Normally, an ordinary person would have a mental breakdown and confess to all crimes after being thrown into such an environment for about 50 hours.

People with supernatural powers can only last about 20 hours, because those thrown in here are first stripped of their supernatural powers by the detention center, much like throwing a good swimmer into the water and then removing their swimming skills.

Therefore, in this environment, once their pride and extraordinary powers fail, extraordinary individuals actually cannot last as long as ordinary people.

But Yang Xuemeng has been locked up here for two weeks. Not only has she not had a mental breakdown, but she looks better and better. She sleeps soundly under the light and grins foolishly, indicating that she has a wonderful dream.

What are you talking about? This is a detention center, not a place for you to go on vacation!

The guards felt a sense of professional humiliation. They had started the job because of the pay and their hatred of criminals, but seeing the unconvicted suspects suffering here gave them a great sense of pleasure.

After working for several years, they gained a deeper understanding of their job. They witnessed not only heinous fugitives but also innocent citizens being arrested. Their stance became ambiguous amidst the truth and falsehood, the black and white of the events. As a result, they skipped the execution of justice and directly extracted pleasure from the suspects' painful masks.

The higher the status, the deeper the background, the stronger the ability, the more famous the reputation, and the more beautiful the appearance of the suspects sent in, the stronger the pleasure the guards get from stripping them of everything and locking them in a small, cramped place. After all, there is a common part of human depravity, which is the desire to see those who are better off than themselves fall into the abyss.

That's why they experienced a strong sense of frustration with Yang Xuemeng. Surveillance is the monitoring of suspects in the detention center, and it is also their last layer of protection. Under surveillance, no guard dares to do anything to the suspects.

Hello, we meet again.

Yang Xuemeng was escorted to a special interrogation room and sat down. After being brought back and undergoing a brief examination at the hospital, she was transferred to the police station, where she stayed for twelve hours before being sent to the detention center.

For the first week, she was interrogated once a day. Yang Xuemeng answered honestly each time and was released. The next day, she was asked similar questions and answered them honestly again...

In the second week, the interrogations were changed to once every three days, and now it is the third week, with the intervals between interrogations getting longer and longer. This is not a good thing for Yang Xuemeng, because she only has the opportunity to speak when she is being questioned. Being isolated in a single room all day long is also making her feel uncomfortable.

"If you stick to your previous statement, then we can pretty much convict you and proceed with the execution."

This time, as soon as Yang Xuemeng entered, someone broke the rules and announced her fate. Yang Xuemeng looked at the newcomer with some confusion; it was an unfamiliar face.

"Pay-to-win sow," the woman introduced herself, "I just returned from my vacation in Suyab City, and was immediately transferred from Fuxing City to Linhai City by my superiors, once again to clean up your mess."

"again?"

"Ah, there's nothing to hide. After all, you know Lin Jiade. The last time was last November, and the time before that was last October. I was the one who handled the cases related to him."

"Lin Jiade... is he alright?"

“He’s a real pain… Ah, let’s not record this part, and turn off the camera too.”

After doing all this, the "pay-to-win" sow continued, "As for him personally, due to excessive use of stimulants and a series of injuries, he will probably need to be hospitalized for about a month."

However, the psychological blow he suffered was far greater than the physical injuries.

"?!"

"He won in the end, and I cannot reveal who he fought, but he paid a terrible price to defeat his powerful enemy, and he believes that you are one of the prices he paid. He only feels regret for not being able to save Teacher Yang."

“…I am not,” Yang Xuemeng said. “I am not the real Yang Xuemeng. My body is a monster, and my personality is a fake that was created by a poor female college student after she was devoured by the monster and is now residing inside the monster’s body. I am not worthy of his affection.”

"However, if you want to defend yourself, you can put all the blame on the monster, and you are an innocent victim who could not stop the monster from killing or notify others to take shelter. At most, you will be held accountable for your inaction in the series of monster cases."

Yang Xuemeng laughed self-deprecatingly: "What's the point? Anyway, the monster's crimes will still lead to its execution. The monster's death is equivalent to my death."

"Of course, the monster caused damage to Fuxing City in reality, and it must die to appease the anger of the superhumans (as for the deaths and injuries of ordinary people without power, since the number is only in double digits, they are included in the economic losses in the report), but you don't necessarily have to die."

"What...does this mean?"

"Lin Jiade has made a great contribution, but the Empire cannot reward him directly to avoid causing a commotion. It can only send the reward to him in a roundabout way. So when I asked him about the situation, he told me that if you are indeed living inside the monster, have a will independent of the monster, and are aware of everything, he hopes to convert part of the Empire's reward for him into the rescue of your soul from the monster's body."

“I… am not worthy.” Teacher Yang hugged her arms tightly. “I am a sinner, while he has a bright future.”

“I think whether it’s worth it is up to Lin Jiade to decide. I can attest that it was his own desire to make up for his regrets, not that someone forced him to come and save you.”

"So, this kind of thing is possible?"

"Yes, but the success rate is not guaranteed to be 100%, and the result of separation is not what you imagine."

"What do you mean?"

"The Empire has a technology that requires volunteers to offer their souls, with death row inmates given priority for understandable reasons."

If you agree, we will first have you experimented on, then execute your body, and then your soul will be transplanted into that technological achievement.

In doing so, you will bear the risk of the transfer failing, and that risk is the annihilation of your soul. Even if you succeed, you must pay the price for your past deeds, so you will continue to serve the Empire in a new form until you have atoneed for your sins.

“That’s good,” Yang Xuemeng said. “If I die, it’s my own fault. If I succeed, I can atone for my past sins. I’m different from monsters, but that’s just my subjective opinion. Objectively, I have indeed committed sins that cannot be washed away. Without punishment, I can’t get over that hurdle in my own heart.”

However, this is my fault alone, and I don't want to involve innocent people..."

"You mean your parents? They are fine. Your memory has been erased, and Yang Xuemeng's identity has been cancelled. There is no trace of her in the world."

Instead, they were a couple unable to have children. As they grew older and their longing for children intensified, they decided to adopt two children from an orphanage as a way to compensate for their pent-up familial affection.

Whether Yang Xuemeng survives in another form or dies during the experiment, the identity of "Yang Xuemeng" cannot exist. Thinking of this, Yang Xuemeng lowered her head. After being taken to the detention center for more than two weeks, she shed tears for the first time.

"That's good, that's good..." she whispered.

The "Pay-to-Win Sow" restored the recording and surveillance in the interrogation room. Under the interrogation of the shrewd Imperial civil servants, the criminals confessed without hesitation, their mental breakdown leading them to admit to all their crimes. Their final fate will be announced in a closed court, with no right to defense or appeal. This is what the "Pay-to-Win Sow" wants people to see.

After being returned to her single room, Yang Xuemeng closed her eyes. Two shadows were cast in her field of vision, but the guards were unaware of them.

“We’re about to die,” Ditao said, looking at Iphigenia. “I still don’t understand why you, the monster, would relinquish control of your body to a mortal?”

“The Holy Land has been destroyed. Without the energy replenishment from the Holy Land’s source, this body will slowly deteriorate and eventually die… Therefore, this is a ship that is about to sink, and Yang Xuemeng’s escape was the right thing to do.”

Di Tao was getting frantic: "She can run, but what about us?!"

“If you want to run, you can run with Yang Xuemeng,” Iphigenia said. “I am a monster, and even if I manage to escape, I will not be able to integrate into your society.”

For me, the Holy Land is my home, and this body is my home. If my home and home are destined to be destroyed, I am willing to stay until the very last moment and then perish with them.

Yang Xuemeng, I ruined your life, but I won't apologize for it. However, if there's a future, I'll choose someone else to ruin.

"What kind of reflection is this?" Yang Xuemeng said, both amused and exasperated. "I will not forgive you, and likewise, I hope we never see each other again."

Tonight's Arsenal vs. Tottenham match: choose between a win, loss, or draw. A bonus chapter for the correct prediction.

Epilogue Five

Hehuan returned home after a long absence, specifically five months. Those five months brought both surprises and shocks; she witnessed a boy who would never have appeared in her life change himself and, in turn, her life.

"I hope I never have to go through this again; it's really bad for my heart," she muttered to herself.

She discreetly took a taxi home at midnight, unaware that the driver, whose seat was surrounded by metal railings, was even more nervous than she was. After dropping her off at her destination, the driver breathed a sigh of relief.

When Hehuan returned home, she saw that the lights in her house were still on, and her parents were talking animatedly, looking quite well.

When she video-called them before, she saw that their complexion immediately changed after they were exonerated from the cult accusations, but at the time she thought it was due to the beauty filter effect of the phone camera... Indeed, power is the best way to maintain health.

When Hehuan's parents saw their daughter return, they rushed over, and Hehuan hugged them both. Hehuan handed her luggage to the servants she had hired... In modern imperial society, this person, often referred to as a personal assistant, sat for a while amidst her parents' warm greetings.

“Perfect timing, I have something I want to ask you,” Hehuan’s father said to her. “Some surprising news has come from Fuxing City, a mix of truth and falsehood.”

The truth that Hehuan knew, as a firsthand witness, was far more reliable than the rumors circulating outside. Hehuan's father, a politician whose comeback was almost certain, became excited, calculating what he and his allies could gain from this incident.

"If the Hart family's strength has not been severely damaged, and the future heir of the Hart family can climb back up after only two years of recuperation, then there is still a need to maintain the alliance with the Hart family."

Regarding the white dragon Jasmine you mentioned, who is vying for the Sigurdsson inheritance, our family can offer her some assistance. However, if a powerful figure enters the fray to compete, we must decisively abandon her.

And that young man you mentioned, you maintained a personal friendship with him, and through you, not in our family's name, you were able to provide him with appropriate assistance. He achieved incredible success, and I think that at this moment, there are just as many people in the empire who love him as those who hate him.

A person with nothing can take risks with him, but those of us who have achieved a certain status must proceed with extreme caution, after all, we have suffered an undeserved misfortune this time.”

To call it an undeserved disaster is a bit of a stretch. After all, Hehuan's investment in Jasmine started before Lin Jiade and Jasmine met. However, at that time, the investment was a private matter between Hehuan and Jasmine, and Hehuan didn't care much about it.

After Lin Jiade appeared, Jasmine showed a tendency to integrate into human society, demonstrating her controllability. With the urging from her family and Hehuan's own desire for Jasmine, the friendship between Hehuan and Jasmine became increasingly solid. Hehuan's family also indirectly provided some support behind the scenes, as an investment in the future.

Then, Ragnar Sigurdsson dragged Jasmine's family into a cult in an attempt to remove Jasmine's protector.

The Hehuan family could be said to have been implicated, but it cannot be called an undeserved disaster. However, politicians are often no different from young people who play video games: if we win, I'm the one who carries the team; if we lose, you take the blame; the mistake is never mine.

As for Lin Jiade's efforts to help and his promise to continue taking care of Hehuan even in the worst-case scenario, these were ignored by Hehuan's parents. They had long since become driven by self-interest and probably only showed their human side when facing their closest family members.

Hehuan didn't like this. In the past, she would either go back to practice her musical instruments or vocal music, or hide her thoughts and aversions in her heart. But people always change. After experiencing so many things, Jianlan's desire to change was particularly strong.

“I have a different opinion on this matter,” she said.

Her tone was gentle, but the surprise in Hehuan's parents' eyes was no less than when she said her ideal was to become a top-level magic researcher.

What image do I have in their eyes? Hehuan wondered.

Hehuan's gentle resistance quickly sparked an argument between father and daughter, which ended with her father leaving. At that moment, Hehuan saw a faint smile on her mother's face.

"Mom, you seem to enjoy watching Dad and I argue, don't you? You don't even try to persuade us," she said reproachfully.

“You and your father have the same temper. If a third party gets involved, you won’t want to lose face, and the argument will only get worse.”

The woman poured Hehuan a glass of hot milk and then said, "Moreover, I also hope that you two can have a good, hearty argument."

"Ok?"

"Before you started high school, you were always willing to share your insights with us, and your innocent and imaginative remarks often awakened the tenderness in our hearts."

However, after starting middle school, you gradually grew into a young woman, mingled with other children your age, and stopped wanting to communicate with us. You started having your own secrets.

I understand that everyone starts growing up by rebelling against their parents... During this stage, your father and I reduced the number of times we lectured you, and only talked to you about important matters concerning your life.

You are very obedient, always listening to every word without fail, which shows your compliance, but that's all you do. We can't see you giving any thought to what we say.

Not knowing what your child is thinking... I think every parent has experienced anxiety, including your father and me. Don't be fooled by his nonchalant attitude; he secretly researches what young women like in their spare time.

Hehuan stared wide-eyed incredulously and said, "So that's why the gifts I receive every year are either outdated clothes or low-end consumer goods that are a waste of money?"

"Well, that's how it is, but for your father's sake, please pretend you don't know anything about this."

He Huan felt that the world was truly absurd that a seasoned politician could be completely fooled by some marketing accounts that were selling "intelligence tax" in the beauty and fashion industry.

The woman continued, “The more obedient you are to us, the deeper our anxiety becomes. We don’t want to raise you into a puppet who only obeys his or her parents’ orders.”

So, when you unusually voiced your thoughts today, your father was both pleased and unhappy. He was pleased that he finally knew what you were thinking, but unhappy because he felt your ideas were wrong and that you were trying to break free from his control.

"On this point, I stand by my opinion," Hehuan said earnestly. "Because during the lowest point in my family, I also made mistakes, mistakes that were almost irreparable. I'm so glad that didn't come true, so my current thoughts are the result of my reflection."

Mom, although making allies is based on mutual benefit, winning them over requires genuine feelings. At least, I won't make friends solely for personal gain.

The woman neither agreed nor disagreed, and after watching her daughter drink the hot milk, she urged her to rest early. Hehuan took a bath, and when she returned, everything in her suitcase, except for her most private items, had been neatly organized and arranged.

Wearing the same pajamas as Li Xiaolang, she lay on the bed, closed her eyes, but couldn't fall asleep. The plan she had thought of before coming was repeatedly pondered in her mind. After polishing it for five minutes, Hehuan fell asleep.