Chapter 82: The Deception and the Execution

“Got it! Got it, got it, got it, got it—”

Envy’s face contorted in an ecstatic spasm as he scrambled off the ground like a dog in heat.

Why was the Heart of the Moon in that labyrinth? Who designed the magic array surrounding it? What was its purpose?

Envy knew nothing of these questions, nor did he care. All he knew was that he had won, he had survived, he had once again received heaven’s favor, and a brand new chapter of his life was about to begin!

The Consultant casually seized him by the neck, pressing him back down onto the hard ground.

Envy’s triumphant cheer abruptly transformed into a shriek of agony.

He writhed for a moment, twisting his head to an unnatural angle, and through the gaps in her fingers, he glared at The Consultant with resentful fury.

“Why are you hitting me! Lily of the Valley—no, I’ve already obtained the Heart of the Moon!”

The Consultant’s voice was soft, almost nonchalant.

“Yes, yes, my deepest congratulations. However, please do not be too hasty. Before the transfer, I must inform you that to merge with the Heart of the Moon, one must first—”

“Go to hell, you idiot! Do you think you can still give me orders? I’ll kill you first when I get out of here!”

Envy roared, his body dissolving into a soft, boneless mass. The Consultant, surprised, tightened her grip on the man’s neck, lifting him into the air, only to see his hands swing limply, completely devoid of strength.

It was then she realized that Envy was no longer inhabiting this body; he had transferred elsewhere.

To execute a transfer, Envy typically needed three to five minutes to cast the spell.

However, The Consultant was not adept at subtly perceiving magic, and thus failed to notice the small, clandestine movements the creature had made.

‘Possessing a peculiar talent for self-destruction… I wonder if that’s a curse or a blessing.’

She let out a faint sigh, her gaze piercing through the thick prison walls, looking out into the distant horizon.

“Nevertheless, the outcome will not change in the end.”

****

After retrieving the Heart of the Moon from the labyrinth, Lu Chen and Lily of the Valley immediately headed towards the castle, eager to rejoin The Consultant.

At first, Lu Chen covertly glanced at the sky, fearing that Arrogance might suddenly descend to snatch the Crescent Pendant. The goddess’s altitude had indeed lowered significantly, her figure clearly visible under the sunlight.

Yet, she showed no intention of intervening, remaining suspended high above, observing the land below. Only when Lu Chen looked up did she offer a smiling wave to her boyfriend, a gesture that invariably made the young man lower his head, disgusted and irritated.

He decided to stop looking at the sky, temporarily casting Arrogance from his sight, and instead focused his attention on Lily of the Valley by his side.

Even though she now held the key to saving her sister, the young woman was even more taciturn than usual. She hastened along the cobblestone path in silence, her hand gripping the pendant turning faintly white.

The warm sunlight gilded her hair with a hazy golden edge, yet her eyes remained fixed unwaveringly on the castle, on the direction where her sister lay.

The two arrived at the rear of the castle, opened a wooden door, and walked through a lush, green corridor, heading directly to the lounge.

Lily of the Valley extended a finger and tapped lightly on the door, her movement so gentle it seemed she feared disturbing a ghost.

“We’re back.”

A moment of silence followed from behind the door.

The young woman’s expression shifted, her eyes locked onto the doorframe, her shoulders trembling violently with fear. Just then, the door creaked open, and Gu Pan stepped out to greet them.

“Mm! Welcome!”

The little girl’s tone was light and lively, her condition visibly much improved from moments before.

Though she spoke to her sister, her gaze did not meet Lily of the Valley’s. Instead, it darted impatiently between the young man and the young woman, quickly locking onto the pendant dangling in Lily of the Valley’s palm.

Greed instantly flared in the girl’s eyes. She rushed forward, grabbing Lily of the Valley’s hand.

“That’s it! That’s it! Quick, give it to—”

Lily of the Valley looked down at her sister, her voice a soft murmur.

“You really are Gu Pan, aren’t you?”

The girl froze, her hands suspended in mid-air.

“Yes, of course. Sis, Sister, what are you talking about?”

Lily of the Valley knelt before her sister, her dull eyes meticulously examining the girl’s face. The little girl held her breath, rigid as a puppet, her lips twitching slightly.

The floral scent in the air gradually intensified, yet Lily of the Valley remained silently observant. The girl’s breathing grew erratic, her shoulders trembling even more violently. She bit down hard on her teeth, her gaze fixed on the pendant, a glint of ferocity flashing in her eyes as she raised her hands—

Lily of the Valley smiled.

“Alright, I believe you.”

‘Alright, I believe you.’

She spoke softly, interrupting the girl’s movement. Her face had been ashen ever since her clothes were torn in the third mirror, and it remained so now; yet, a faint smile played on her lips, like a child warmed by a hearth.

She held up the Heart of the Moon, presenting it to the girl. Envy, now wary, cautiously took the pendant, her expression immediately twisting into one of wild ecstasy.

“You foolish, vile, malicious imbecile, thank you for your hard work in finding the Heart of the Moon for me! After my ascension and transformation, I’ll kill you two fools second to celebrate—”

Envy’s words abruptly ceased. She suddenly realized there was no change within her, and the Crescent Pendant in her hand merely emitted a faint, quiescent magical aura.

“How could this be… Does it require some activation? That bastard Consultant never mentioned it!”

She lost all composure, stumbling back into the room in a panic, clutching the pendant before her eyes and desperately funneling dark purple magic into it.

Under the deluge of magic, the pendant reacted, beginning to tremble violently. Envy’s eyes lit up like a drowning person grasping at a straw, and she intensified her output once more!

*Crack.*

The pendant cracked, shattering into small pieces that fell to the floor. Envy stared blankly at the scattered fragments, realizing they were nothing more than bits of wood and paint.

“…This isn’t the Heart of the Moon; it’s just a fake made by Lily of the Valley.”

Envy suddenly grasped the truth, raising her head to glare at Lily of the Valley. She roared with savage fury.

“You damned, vulgar, lowly, shameless liar! To use such a despicable trick—”

A heavy rattan hammer whistled through the air, striking Envy directly in the face. She flew backward like a ragdoll, knocking over the small table and cake in the lounge, before crashing heavily against the wall.

Envy screamed, taking a moment to gather her magic and prepare for a counterattack in her collapsed state. But Lily of the Valley, utterly expressionless, had already surged forward, raising the rattan hammer.

Envy’s scalp prickled with terror, and she hastily reverted to Gu Pan’s voice.

“Wait, wait, Sister, it’s me—”

The young woman gritted her teeth, bringing the heavy hammer down on her sister’s vulnerable form, immediately pinning the girl to the ground. The girl struggled to raise her tiny hands, but was met only with a relentless, hammering rain of blows.

Blood splattered. The dull, rapid thudding grew more intense, louder and louder, then gradually subsided.

The girl was already unrecognizable. She moved her lips, emitting a faint, terrified plea for mercy.

“Save me…”

Lily of the Valley brought the heavy hammer down one last time. Envy’s hand dropped limply, only her chest still faintly rising and falling.

Blood flowed along the cracks in the floor, staining the fallen cake a reddish-brown. Silence returned to the lounge, broken only by the young woman’s erratic, trembling breaths.

Lily of the Valley gazed at the mangled Envy, then knelt on the ground like a broken puppet, the light in her dull eyes completely extinguished.

****

During the battle… or rather, the execution, Lu Chen quietly left the room and walked outside the castle.

He looked up at the sky and waved to Arrogance.

The young woman tilted her head in surprise, a smile playing on her lips. She descended gracefully to the ground, then walked elegantly towards the young man.

“What a coincidence. I was just taking a stroll here and never expected to run into you.”

“Why didn’t you come to retrieve the Heart of the Moon?”

“Well… I’m not entirely sure what you mean, but Morning Star has indeed designated me as the custodian of the Heart of the Moon. If you and Lily of the Valley happened to find the missing Crescent Pendant, the Guild would surely entrust it to me, wouldn’t they?”

The young woman blinked, feigning confusion.

“Is that all you wanted to ask me?”

Xia Shi’s voice resonated in the young man’s ear. Lu Chen suppressed the turmoil in his heart, staring at the young woman with an impassive face.

“I’ll be submitting the pendant and giving a statement with Lily of the Valley shortly, which will likely take half a day. But I’ll be free after that.”

“Would you like to take a walk with me?”

“A walk?”

“Yes. First, we could go to Sweet Bite to make up for this week’s cake, and then take a stroll on the beach. Would that be alright?”

The young woman gazed at the young man thoughtfully, then revealed a bright smile, extending her fair hand to him.

“Of course, I’m very much looking forward to it.”

Lu Chen took the young woman’s hand, feeling only a chilling coldness in his palm.

What would be the fate of those who believed a monster’s woven lies? Lily of the Valley had already provided a demonstration. Yet, he still couldn’t make up his mind.

He intended to clarify his thoughts and dispel all his uncertainties during their date tonight.