Chapter 17: Photographer Ziyu – The Emergence of the Savior

“I didn’t come here for that.

I came for you,” Lou Chen said, his eyes fixed intently on Yu Ziyu, selectively ignoring his sarcasm.

“But I’ve now realized that you don’t seem surprised at all by the appearance of this kind of monster.”

As his words fell, his gaze landed on the shredded flesh and blood.

The scene was exceptionally gruesome.

But honestly, Lou Chen didn’t care what had become of the monster—his only target now was the pale, slender young man standing before him.

The carpet directly in front of his boots had soaked up blood, forming a pool like a twisted mirror, reflecting Yu Ziyu’s figure into a mysterious world.

His dark form sank into the scarlet.

Yu Ziyu looked up, noticing Lou Chen watching him with a probing gaze.

“Just as I thought,” Lou Chen murmured.

“You’re not afraid at all.”

“If you were a photographer like me, you’d find nothing frightening about this scene at all,” Yu Ziyu said coldly.

“After all, we judge an image not by how horrifying or grotesque it is, but by the value the scene brings.

So there should be nothing in this world that can scare me.”

Lou Chen took a step closer.

He exuded an aura unique to those in power.

This aggressive approach made Xiao Zhang, watching from the sidelines, instinctively step back.

He shrank his neck.

But Yu Ziyu, facing this directly, stood motionless, expressionlessly sizing up the captain of the Supernatural Management Bureau.

“What is it?”

Yu Ziyu said with disgust. “Stay away from me.”

“…”

Lou Chen’s eyes held a sharp emotion.

His voice was firm. “So, you’re a player.”

“What?”

Yu Ziyu frowned at this.

He noticed Lou Chen’s train of thought was very leaping.

Especially his tone carried an arrogance and pride that ordinary people couldn’t sense.

Despite those people affectionately calling him captain earlier, thinking he was approachable and well-liked, Yu Ziyu could see through him at a glance.

After all, they had briefly been teammates before.

Oh, why did he think of that again?

This was supposed to be buried memory.

For some reason, Lou Chen had become the one that slipped through the cracks.

He would find another opportunity to completely erase this memory from this guy’s head.

“You were once a player in the Land of Desire Amusement Park.

You stayed there,” Lou Chen said, staring fixedly at him.

“So you already knew I would come, and you understand very well what it means.”

“…I’m curious, what makes you so arrogantly certain that I’m a player?”

“Intuition,” Lou Chen pressed his lips together.

“Not bad,” Yu Ziyu crossed his arms expressionlessly.

“Does your intuition tell you it’s time to leave now?”

Hearing this, Lou Chen smiled silently.

Then he brushed back his rain-soaked hair.

“My intuition tells me I have to say everything in one go, because you won’t give me another chance to speak alone.

Just like your agent said, those people will disappear from your life, right?”

Xiao Zhang received a sharp glare from Yu Ziyu for no reason.

He then strenuously pretended he didn’t exist.

“Good that you know you won’t be an exception.”

“Listen to me, our great photographer.”

Lou Chen walked up to him, gently brushing aside the stray hair on Yu Ziyu’s forehead so their eyes could fully meet.

“Since you were once a game player, you know how dangerous and lethal those monsters are.

Joining us is for your own protection.”

“Is that so?

I think it’s just asking for trouble.

As for the ‘savior’… engrave this on your epitaph—I don’t have the spirit of self-sacrifice to save others.”

Strictly speaking, monsters that posed a great threat to humans were, to him, like tigers whose claws and fangs had been pulled, turning into large, tame, affectionate cats.

Yu Ziyu didn’t need to worry about their visits at all.

And Yu Ziyu really hated the way Lou Chen called him “photographer.”

“About half an hour ago, the Land of Desire Amusement Park successfully updated.

You must have seen the news too,” Lou Chen said, tucking a strand of black hair behind Yu Ziyu’s ear, his gaze heavy.

“All old players, new players, and monsters saw the bold announcement.

It has already pointed out that you are that person.”

Yu Ziyu’s first reaction was to say what did that have to do with him, then he realized what it meant.

The corner of his mouth twitched. “Pointed out me?”

He immediately opened his game panel.

Right at the top, there was indeed a line of bleeding red text highlighted.

It twisted like a worm crawling across the panel, as if afraid someone might miss it.

The game panel was only visible to the player himself, so he wasn’t worried about Lou Chen discovering his identity card displayed two roles.

“Photographer Ziyu—the emergence of the ‘Savior’.”

Yu Ziyu said calmly, “Oh.

It didn’t say my name.”

“But for those with ability, it’s not very difficult to find out Ziyu’s real identity,” Lou Chen frowned.

“Your situation is dangerous.

Maybe next…

I’m not trying to scare you on purpose, but you really are Pride’s primary target.”

“…”

Yu Ziyu was rarely stunned for a moment.

He didn’t think he would want to kill himself.

Perhaps because he was rarely speechless and didn’t blurt out a sarcastic remark, Lou Chen interpreted his silence as worry and fear.

“Don’t be afraid.”

Yu Ziyu said, “I’m not afraid.”

He just found it speechless.

“Before, I couldn’t figure out why Jealousy sought you out, why other monsters feared you, why players lured you to the ritual.

Now I know,” Lou Chen paused, stating his conclusion.

“Because you are the core of this whole story.

They’re afraid you’ll end the game prematurely, so they want to hurt you.”

“Anyone who has cleared the game knows that the rules are an unbreakable truth.

So, the only human who can kill Pride is you.”

Although the game park was a living hell, no one—not even a boss-level entity—could violate the rules there.

And the rules stated that the savior and Pride could only kill each other.

Lou Chen’s final words were very firm, especially conspicuous in the empty villa hall.

Paired with his deep eyes, it carried a persuasiveness that compelled belief.

He seemed utterly convinced of this conclusion, and it drove others to have to acknowledge his words.

Xiao Zhang let out a gasp.

He was clearly convinced.

Yu Ziyu continued to be silent, his expression almost unable to hold.

Lou Chen’s logic was self-consistent.

If he weren’t Pride himself, he might even believe it.

“I don’t believe it.”

“No, you have to believe it.

We all need you.”

Lou Chen stepped forward again.

Yu Ziyu looked at him coldly.

“Do you need me, or do ‘we’ need me?

Me being considered that person—isn’t that your fault?”

If Lou Chen hadn’t said he was the savior, the game probably wouldn’t have chosen him.

Hearing this, Lou Chen was quiet for a long moment, slowly rubbing his fingers as he rephrased.

“…As early as two years ago, right after I escaped the game, I started dreaming about you frequently.”

Yu Ziyu: “…”

Two years ago?

Frequently dreaming?

Lou Chen relaxed, because Yu Ziyu had finally shown interest in what he was saying.

“So, I think the game itself chose you, not me…”

“Are you done?

If you’re done, you can leave.”

But soon, Yu Ziyu interrupted Lou Chen’s words with an icy tone.

He was quite moody.

Lou Chen took a deep breath—this photographer was different from anyone he had ever dealt with.

He was too special, leaving him at a loss.

“Have you ever thought that the person who gave you that ability, the one you’re looking for, would want you to do this?” he tried earnestly.

Yu Ziyu had seemed to imply that he initially got involved in these events to find that person.

Lou Chen hoped this would work.

But it was destined to disappoint him, because that person was fabricated by Yu Ziyu.

Even if he existed, the answer would probably be the same.

“If that’s the case, then he’s a complete idiot.”

Yu Ziyu said without any politeness, pushing Lou Chen towards the door.

“He disappears, dumps the responsibility on me, deliberately puts me in danger—then I have no need to look for him.

Since he’s so selfish, and I don’t have a generous heart either, ending it like this is the best choice.”

Lou Chen: “…………”

This wasn’t going as he had anticipated.

Logically, shouldn’t a normal person show sadness, then choose to continue searching, seeking an answer?

Yu Ziyu’s perspective on things was as strange as his photographic works.

He seemed exceptionally emotionally thin, not bound by emotional ties, nor could he be morally blackmailed.

Who was he?

Why had he become like this?

No one would willingly remain a bystander unless they felt there was no need to participate.

Or perhaps, he had already compromised, grown tired of resisting.

But Yu Ziyu’s personality was sharp and aggressive; he clearly didn’t belong to this category.

If he could solve this mystery, it might be the key to persuading him.

Lou Chen frowned deeply.

He lowered his head slightly, looking at this delicate, handsome young man, trying to find the reason for his aloofness on his porcelain-like face.

But he failed, because Yu Ziyu had locked all his emotions beneath a layer of ice.

But it didn’t matter; Lou Chen had to try.

So, after observing for a few seconds, he came to a vague conclusion.

“Maybe someone you once helped hurt you because of it.

But this time is different.

Since you can feel emotions like jealousy, you could be influenced by evil Pride.

That’s not a good thing for you.

I’m worried you might be changed by it…”

Yu Ziyu directly interrupted him.

His tone was mocking as he crossed his arms and sneered, “No one is worthy of changing me.

The only thing people get from me is hurt.

Anyway, sorry to disappoint you, but the person you’ve been dreaming about is exactly such a selfish, despicable, and reclusive freak.”

“I’m not disappointed, and I don’t think you are that,” Lou Chen said calmly, not getting provoked.

Yu Ziyu was slightly taken aback.

“Although I’d really like to slam the door in your face, unfortunately, it needs to recuperate now,” he said stiffly.

Then, Yu Ziyu turned expressionless. “So, you can leave.”

He truly seemed impervious to reason.

At this, Lou Chen took a deep breath.

He stared intently at Yu Ziyu and said softly, “But… you’ll consider it, won’t you?

Will you?”

“…”

Yu Ziyu subconsciously glanced at the game panel, which he hadn’t closed.

The interface was frozen on the second points mission.

[Limited-time mission: Announce to the world that you possess the power to rival Pride (Time remaining – 7×23:00) (Reward points: 1000)]

1000 points…

His dark eyes flickered.

This number of points was quite high—high enough to even tempt him.

Once he accumulated 10,000 points, these people would have no way to find him ever again.

He wouldn’t have to experience such boring things anymore.

“Depends on my mood,” he said indifferently.

At least he hadn’t refused outright.

Lou Chen smiled at him.

Then he turned, thrust his hands into his jacket pockets, and walked off into the rain.

But just as he turned, he noticed a flash of dark green disappearing from Yu Ziyu’s sleeve.

This presence made him frown.

A shadow suddenly crossed his heart.

The seventh-floor boss, Pride, also seemed to have such a pet…

But he had no chance to ponder it, because Yu Ziyu wouldn’t want to see him lingering here.

So, he simply continued walking away in his boots, full of worry.

He didn’t notice Yu Ziyu staring thoughtfully at his back.

Once Lou Chen’s tall figure had disappeared, Xiao Zhang cautiously approached.

He touched his nose and muttered, “Savior… how does that feel…”

“Are you that free?”

Xiao Zhang: “…”

“I just developed the film for the Power submission.”

Yu Ziyu turned his head, mercilessly enslaving him. “Quick, help me edit the photos, or I’ll deduct your salary.”

Xiao Zhang pulled a long face.

Yu Ziyu ignored his expression.

He just thought coldly: Even if he has to earn points as the savior, he doesn’t want to cooperate with others.

And compared to the former, he personally thinks the seventh-floor boss, Pride, can make an appearance first.