RPDH Chapter 17

After a bit of banter with her roommate, Li Li went to clear her desk. She ate her cafeteria takeout as she opened the forums.

The forums were lively today thanks to the explosive update last night.

[Aloof Cowlick Li fanclub check-in!]

[Yi Ming and Li, the brainless and brooding duo. Is B&W finally going down the well-worn shounen plotline?]

[Analysis: Li’s past is a big deal]

[Tang is like a little black cat]

[Spoiler: Li fanart. Come give this lonely child a hug already]

[How do you think the Desolate Dragon arc will end with the obvious power disparity]

[Speculation: How powerful is the Tide Organization?]

The amount of fan creations and analysis posts saw an obvious increase. After two dramatic moments, ‘Li’ even started to have his own fanclub.

However, Li Li remembered her doubts while reading the update and went to check that analysis on Qing Yuchen first.

Actually, she had some thoughts of her own. From her point of view, Qing Yuchen wasn’t just investigating ‘how the news got out’, but also ‘who was this Rank A newcomer?’.

Since she literally popped up out of nowhere, his search was doomed from the start. Even if Qing Yuchen somehow got a list of all the Rank A ability users in the Empire, he wouldn’t be able to find out where she came from.

Therefore, the results Qing Yuchen obtained must be the recipient of the letter sent by Father Tang, that organization called ‘Tide’.

Still, she was interested in the readers’ opinions.

[Analysis: What Qing found out] hot

1st Comment (Original Poster)

In the previous manhua chapter, the head of Tarnished Bronze, Qing Yuchen, began an investigation into how Tang’s whereabouts leaked.

[Manhua screenshot.jpg]

We already know from the beginning of the arc that Tang’s father tried ask the ‘Tide’ organization for help rescuing her through a letter. However, this letter never reached them. It was Copout Sunfish’s ever-fluctuating luck value that let him find it and give it to Little Corgi.

And once Qing received news that Father Tang was the one who sent this letter, he didn’t investigate further. Even his expression was very interesting.

[Qing Yuchen’s sombre side profile.jpg]

It’s obvious he already knew who Father Tang was mailing his letter to.

Therefore, Qing Yuchen most likely investigated at the post office and eventually learned of Little Corgi’s identity.

No wonder.

2nd Comment

?? What are you talking about, OP?

3rd Comment

My hands just balled into fists.

4th Comment

Didn’t he learn that Little Corgi came to save Tang because her father sent the letter?

Things match up with the letter then, right?

[Wise corgi eyes.jpg]

…

31st Comment (Original Poster)

Yes, Father Tang sent the letter, but Tide evidently never received it.

We only know this because of the 3rd person omniscient perspective. Qing doesn’t.

32nd Comment

So? What does this mean then?

We need an OP that explains everything in one go next time.

…

102nd Comment (Original Poster)

Qing’s perspective: Tang’s father sent out a letter. Then someone came to take Tang away.

Therefore, he must have thought the letter reached its recipient!

Calling it now: I’ll eat my keyboard if Little Corgi hasn’t been mistaken for a Tide member.

103rd Comment

Makes sense.

This mysterious Tide organization has appeared too many times to be a coincidence. I’m going to go out on a limb here:

The letter mentioned that Tang’s father betrayed Tide.

When Tang was just an ordinary person before accepting the bloodline inheritance, so Tarnished Bronze had no reason to target her. Therefore, the reason their attention was drawn must be Tang’s father. It’s because of her father that Tang has been imprisoned by Tarnished Bronze.

Therefore, I speculate that Tang’s father was somehow involved with Tarnished Bronze before his death.

At the same time, Tarnished Bronze knows of Tide. That’s how Qing knew right away who Tang’s father asked for help after learning he sent a letter.

And judging from Qing Yuchen’s expression, he might be wary of that organization.

104th Comment

In that case, what in the world does that make Tide?!

105th Comment

A mysterious organization…they must be a later-stage boss even stronger than Tarnished Bronze!

…

That was about it for any noteworthy content. Li Li blinked as she read the analysis while having lunch. She couldn’t help but start to tap her chopsticks on the desk absentmindedly.

Eventually, she sighed sadly. Why did she have a feeling she would be shouldering the blame?

Li Li found this scenario more than likely based on the odd feeling she was getting in the manhua world.

Call it intuition if you must. She got such bad vibes from Qing Yuchen that she wouldn’t be surprised no matter what he did…

After all, he was a sociopath with a blatant disregard for human life.

The red that bloomed before her eyes that day came to mind again. Li Li immediately lost her appetite. She emptied out her lunchbox and continued to scroll.

[Fanart of the Desolate Dragon trio]

1st Comment (Original Poster) V●ᴥ●V〜☆

Couldn’t help but pet them.

[Chibi Li and Yi Ming strolling the streets with Tang in the middle.jpg]

[Tang wants to buy candied fruit skewers. Yi Ming hesitantly agrees, Li refuses.jpg]

[Crying Tang.jpg]

[Li draws a sugar man for Tang.jpg]

[The trio continue strolling.jpg]

2nd Comment

I knew they looked like a family of three during the update!

Warm and gentle Mom Yi Ming, aloof + impassive Dad Li, and a spoiled little Baby Tang!

3rd Comment

I’m getting diabetes! Nice job, OP!

4th Comment

…The fruit skewer vendor isn’t Qing Yuchen, is it?

Don’t eat anything he gives you, ah!

5th Comment

Hahaha I like the previous commenter’s headcanon

Chibis are so cute and healing.

Li Li liked the post before flipping through the other discussions. She discovered the readers seemed particularly willing to let their imaginations run wild.

[Analysis: Li’s past is a big deal]

1st Comment (Original Poster)

A civilian. An orphan with no last name. A prisoner of an ability user trafficking organization.

This dude must be the universe’s punching bag. Still, there’s one thing I find odd.

Why would Qing Yuchen remember the name of a piece of merchandise?

2nd Comment

Is it possible that Qing Yuchen doesn’t know who Li is, he just wants to badmouth Little Corgi?

3rd Comment

Previous commenter, please leave OP some face.

4th Comment (Original Poster)

…Hear me out guys.

Everyone knows Tarnished Bronze is being backed by the aristocracy.

And what’s their favourite pastime?

Ability research, ah!

5th Comment

Are you saying this character is not only a friendless orphan prisoner but also an experiment subject?

Damn. What a pitiful second male lead we have here.

6th Comment

I still think Qing Yuchen just said that to anger Little Corgi.

Qi is just another low-rank. There’s nothing special about him.

7th Comment

That can’t be, right? B&W wouldn’t be that angsty.

…

Unfortunately, the OP was beaten into silence by the masses despite his valiant efforts due to there being no evidence for his claims.

Li Li read through the entire thing as a joke. She never felt like the OP was talking about her.

The manhua was the manhua, and reality was reality. She was self-aware enough to distinguish between them.

Besides, her mom was in such good shape that she went to exercise with the other ladies in the square every morning.

She clicked on the [Tang is like a little black cat] post next, only to discover the war going on in the comments.

Li Li held no ill will towards that dark-haired, green-eyed little girl. She left after not seeing anything useful.

[B&W fan creation data analysis]

1st Comment (Original Poster)

In summary, local tsundere Li is in first place, taking up half of all fan creations made during the indicated period!

Need more! More!

2nd Comment

We will light a candle for every artist and author who lost their account for their contributions to the fandom.

3rd Comment

Who doesn’t like the gap moe appeal of tsunderes, especially ones who are vulnerable and injured!  I got a better look at the confused, lonely child behind Li’s mask! He’s pushing all my buttons!

4th Comment

I’m the candy Li handed over in the last update! I rolled around in Li’s hand! I’m in Li’s heart!

5th Comment

Me, I want to be Li’s doggy! He can tease me however he wants!

Pet me! Come on, come on, come on!

Woof woof woof woof!

6th Comment

Wife material!

7th Comment

Husband material!

8th Comment

Damn, you guys are something else lol

What are you trying to do to my boyfriend!

Hugging my Li tight

9th Comment

Hey, what’s with all the pants on the floor here?

…

Li Li smiled blandly. She didn’t read a single fanfic they were referencing.

The forum admins were diligent, taking down such posts within a minute of their posting. It was a race against time to even get through the tags.

It was on her latest refresh that she stumbled upon a new post.

[Spoiler: OOC domineering Rank A bigshot x Fragile kuudere flower Li]

When she refreshed again and tried to take a look, it was gone.

Li Li: ….En?

What kind of ship was that? Just the name alone was weird!

…

The day passed quickly. It was soon night again.

As the clock struck midnight, the final day of her mall access arrived.

[Updating data. Total popularity value: 3682]

[Preparing for transmigration.]

[Channel established. May you become a popular character who breathes new life into the manhua.]

She was going to gamble.

The instant her eyes snapped open, she found herself back in the dim hallways of the Tarnished Bronze HQ. A slightly cool breeze blew past her cheeks as she sprinted along.

Yi Ming was in front of her, flashing behind a black-robed subordinate to strike the back of his head.

Tang was on his back. The little girl who had never used her ability after the bloodline inheritance clung quietly to Yi Ming’s back, glancing at Li Li with her turquoise eyes from time to time.

They arrived at the first-floor main hall filled with bronze columns.

The exit to the stronghold was within sight.

Li Li glanced down, her dark eyes staring past the subordinates in Yi Ming’s way to even further beyond.

100 popularity has been deducted. Remaining balance: 3582]

[Item [Red Dot Map] purchased successfully. Countdown: 10:00]

The dots representing Yi Ming and Tang automatically switched to green while the subordinates remained red.

Meaning they had no intention of yielding.

A sparse scattering of red dots surrounded them. It was a far cry from that night.

However, this was more like the prelude to something big.

A faint smile graced her lips when she saw two red dots approaching from behind.

Who could be coming over at a time like this after Qing Yuchen’s instructions?

Was it that Rank C and Qing Yuchen himself?

A Rank B ability user would totally dominate over any Rank D ability user. If not for the quirk to Qing Yuchen’s ability, an ordinary person like her wouldn’t even have a chance to use items from the mall.

What was he up to?

The bronze columns in the hall suddenly liquefied and encased them in a wall.

Li Li turned around.

Under the white incandescent lights, she spotted that Rank C ability user on the stairs leading to the second floor on the far side of the hall. Beside him was someone she hadn’t seen before.

The dark blue-haired newcomer wore a uniform with pure silver hems. He seemed to be in his 50’s. Three icicles rotated around him as he kept his hands behind his back.

The man regarded them with a dismissive, arrogant look.

Was he planning to kill them in one shot with the ice?!

The air in the hall cooled at an unnatural rate, until it felt like the depths of winter. Li Li heard her teeth chattering.

That was unquestionably the ability user Qing Yuchen invited over to deal with the ‘Rank A’.

Was he Rank B? A? Even S?

They were really rolling out the red carpet here!

Yi Ming retreated until he could touch the alloy walls trapping them here. Right before he could dismantle everything in one fell swoop and flee with Tang and Li Li.

“Your adoptive father taught you to know your own limits, right?” Li Li suddenly asked.

With his back to the teen, the young man smiled emotionlessly at the ability user above on the stairs.

She had no intentions of leaving just yet.