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Proofreader: Arya

Reading this headline, Gu Qing Shan felt every last bit of blood in his body freeze.

Truthfully, ever since his return, he rethinked the events of his past life very frequently.

Because there were a lot of things to be suspicious about.

After going through several worlds, Gu Qing Shan noticed a certain truth.

——[Worlds Apocalypse Online], it forcefully obscured every method for humanity to become stronger against the demons.

In the past life, the main reason why humanity was destroyed in the end was because of this game.

At the most crucial moments of the war, no one could stand out to lead humanity against the Demon Lord.

Because no one had managed to breakthrough to Sainted realm.

———-the amount of EXP needed was so great that humanity actually had no way of accomplishing that feat.

As the apocalypse crept closer and closer, this towering sense of helplessness caused almost everyone to go into despair.

But then, why is it called the [Demon King Order]?

And what is [Kindling] supposed to be? (1)

Gu Qing Shan held his breath and read on.

Perhaps they wanted to get the words out as fast as possible, so there wasn’t much except an emergency alert.

[Triste had turned to the side of the demons]

[The fires of war has been lit again, the coalition forces of the 900 million World Layers are regrouping, the second full-scale war is about to begin]

[It has been confirmed, the Light of Dawn Triste brought Worlds Apocalypse Online: Kindling from the Fallen Zones, hiding it within her collection world. Using the call of the Bramble Birds as a front, she snuck it into Aboul]

[The Demon King Order is currently spreading in Aboul]

[If Worlds Apocalypse Online is allowed to spread, a large portion of World Layers would fall into the demons’ hands once again]

[We cannot allow Kindling to gather more power, and we definitely cannot let the Demon King Order rank up]

[Calling all Lord-class Combatants to join the resistance]

[We repeat, all those capable, take up your arms to stand up against the tinder of the Apocalypse!]

The emergency alert stopped here.

Gu Qing Shan stared at the newspaper on the War God UI, speechless.

He quickly glanced over the alert again.

It turns out the so-called [Call of the Bramble Birds] was Triste’s plot.

[Worlds Apocalypse Online: Kindling] was hidden inside Triste’s personal world.

Gu Qing Shan sighed.

The [Predictor of Fate] card was not wrong at all, I almost went into that world.

And after going in, myself included, everyone would have no choice but to become demonized.

Su Xue Er noticed the omen.

That’s why she wanted to stop me from entering that world.

But she was now the one who went in instead!

Gu Qing Shan suddenly stood up, pacing around the room.

Think.

I need to think.

Can I expose Triste now?

Highly unlikely.

The Light of Dawn Triste, famously kind throughout the entire 900 million World Layers, with countless Combatants from various worlds as her good friends.

While I’m a mere newcomer from a Scattered world.

No one is going to believe me.

Triste might be able to kill me on the spot with the excuse that I was badmouthing her.

Before Iron Fist Barry’s leg is healed, he might not even be a match for her.

Su Xue Er had already entered that world for quite some time.

Damn it, I need to think of a way to rescue her.

But there’s no way for me to go against Triste!

The difference in power is too great.

Gu Qing Shan was becoming more and more tense by the second.

At this point, a scared voice asked: “Excuse me… how are you, sir?”

Gu Qing Shan abruptly stopped.

He turned to where the voice came from.

The little girl was looking at him questioningly.

“I was talking to you just now, but you did not listen at all, sir” she explained.

“What did you tell me?”

“I want you to take me to the Justice Iron Fist Club to take refuge. As you know, being a wanted maid, I have no way to keep hiding from the pursuit of Bramble Bird royal family”

As soon as she said that, the little girl’s face changed.

She disappeared on the spot.

At the same time, the door of the room opened again.

Two teams of fully-armed guards came in.

They were exuding killing intent.

“Who are you!?”

One of the leaders sternly shouted.

Gu Qing Shan replied without changing his expression: “The Light of Dawn and the Spirit of the Holy Tree wanted me to stay here”

The guards were stunned

At this time, another group of guards came in.

They were the same guards who came into the green room before.

And they knew who Gu Qing Shan was.

“Misunderstanding! Misunderstanding! This personage is an esteemed guest who came here together with the Spirit of the Holy Tree” one of the guards hurriedly explained.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, madame Triste also gave him a medal and specifically told him to stay here”

The other leader turned to Gu Qing Shan.

Sure enough, he does have madame Triste’s medal in his hand.

There’s no mistaking it.

Unless madame Triste gave it out herself, no one would be able to obtain her medal.

All the guards calmed down.

In the first place, only guests would be in here, we have no one but ourselves to blame for being too impatient as soon as we saw an unfamiliar face.

“My sincerest apologies. Because the current situation was an emergency, we hope you will excuse our rudeness” the leader who shouted before apologized.

“It’s fine” Gu Qing Shan told them.

Then he thought of something, showing a curious look on his face: “What are you looking for exactly? If I happen to see it, it’ll be able to directly report it to you”

The guards exchanged looks.

He is madame Triste’s guest…

“We are currently looking for a royal family maid, she stole an important treasure of the Bramble Bird royal family and was now on the run” the guard leader replied.

“She should be about 10 years old, in fact, she was actually her Highness the princess’ personal maid”

“If you happen to see any suspicious little girls, please tell us right away”

“Definitely” Gu Qing Shan agreed.

The guards nodded, bowed in unison before quickly retreating outside.

Gu Qing Shan hurriedly said: “Wait a bit”

“Do you need something else?” the guard leader stopped his feet and asked.

“About that… I don’t really want to be here either, but the esteemed Light of Dawn and Spirit of the Holy Tree had me wait here, so I have no way to leave”

Gu Qing Shan shrugged helplessly.

“I’m afraid that others will come here to investigate, see me as an unfamiliar face and cause another troublesome misunderstanding”

The guards silently nodded as they heard that.

—–it’s true that they can’t keep rudely shouting at a guest, if they did that, what would become of the Bramble Bird’s etiquette?

This is madame Triste’s guest, someone brought here by the Spirit of the Holy Tree herself, if any guards who come here later cause any trouble, they might anger both of these esteemed ladies.

Thinking that, the guard leader was relieved.

He told the others: “Relay my orders, the royal green room has been checked twice, there is no need to investigate here anymore. Furthermore, there is an esteemed guest resting here, make sure no one else come to bother him”

“Yes!” the guards replied.

“Thank you” Gu Qing Shan clasped his fist.

“There is no need to, excuse us” the guard leader slightly bowed again.

This time, they really retreated.

The doors were closed again.

Pop!

The little girl appeared again.

She was sweating profusely and her breathing was heavy.

——seems like it wasn’t an easy task to avoid being detected.

“Thank you for your protection, you are a very considerate gentleman. I am forever grateful to you, sir” she spoke.

Even though she was clearly exhausted, she still made sure to solemnly curtsy to thank Gu Qing Shan.

Her etiquette was perfect without fault.

Gu Qing Shan stared at the little girl.

Originally I didn’t want to be involved in this, but there’s no other choice now.

I need to take every chance I get, for the sake of Su Xue Er’s survival.

Gu Qing Shan was quickly thinking, going through countless thoughts at once.

He was rethinking every minor detail of everything that happened since he started this journey.

He was giving his all to find a sliver of hope.

“Sir, you are now——–” the little girl wanted to speak.

“Please wait a moment, I have something I have to deal with first” Gu Qing Shan cut her off.

The paced around the room anxiously.

The little girl went silent as she observed him.

What is he in a hurry for?

Ah right, I heard their conversations as I was hiding here just now.

The Spirit of the Holy Tree brought him here.

He wanted to go into Triste’s collection world to find his girlfriend.

Then he must be worried for his girlfriend now?

The little girl slowly understood.

My request just now was cut off by the sudden guards.

Since the guards temporarily won’t return here to investigate again, I should wait a bit until he calms down and ask him to bring me and escape.

After all, he was the only person to not expose my existence during this long escape.

He is a member of the Justice Iron Fist Club!

Thinking that, the little girl quieted down.

Gu Qing Shan was pacing around the room as his mind quickly moved.

Firstly—–

The Light of Dawn, the Spirit of the Holy Tree, even the big rooster are all first-rate Combatants.

A mere maid would not be able to escape their senses.

Even when the little maid was soaked by my sudden spitting in her face, she still managed to maintain etiquette and calm enough to ask me how to deal with it.

The skin under her sleeves was smooth and milky white.

And she knows this miraculous skill to disappear—— this must be a top-rate secret technique, otherwise she would’ve already been caught.

Even when she right in front of my eyes, my inner sight couldn’t notice her.

As a cultivator, Gu Qing Shan had never seen such an impressive hiding technique before.

So this technique must be extremely precious.

Any organization would spare no effort to ensure a secret technique of this level to never be leaked.

Furthermore, such a high-leveled technique would require a lot of time to both comprehend and train to slowly master.

How would a mere maid accomplish this much?

So she must be someone else.

Considering everything that has happened until now, only one person has never appeared at the banquet.

Someone that can cause Triste such a headache wouldn’t be a little maid.

She must be the Bramble Bird princess!

Gu Qing Shan nodded slightly, forming a conjecture in his mind.

Then he started to think more about this.

——-let’s say this little girl was the real Bramble Bird princess, then why does she need to hide?

As the heir of the Bramble Bird royal family, there is no need for the Bramble Bird princess to fear Triste.

With a single word, there would be countless Bramble Birds willing to work for her.

But she really was running away.

If you follow this vein of thought….

The Bramble Bird royal family is done for.

In order words, Triste now holds the entire Bramble Bird race in her hand.

Triste had already turned to the demons’ side.

Which means, the calamity of Aboul was already happening.

Triste must have arranged a series of preparations in the shadows—— as Gu Qing Shan himself would have done the same.

Gu Qing Shan sighed dejectedly out of nowhere.

On his way here, he saw the entire Aboul Hotel immersed in an air of celebration as everyone enjoyed the Bramble Bird princess’ coming of age banquet.

This banquet was set to continue for 3 days and night.

—–but including the Spirit of the Holy Tree and the big rooster, who actually knows that the demons were already hiding in the shadow, preparing for a massacre?

Who could notice that the [Worlds Apocalypse Online: Kindling] was about to spread?

Gu Qing Shan’s heart sank again.

He felt that he was standing on a slowly sinking cruise ship, while no one else on it noticed anything at all.

Sighing, Gu Qing Shan continued to think.

Triste’s preparations… would there be any holes in them?

Since Triste and I aren’t on the same level, I can’t even tell what kind of preparations she made, let alone if there are holes in them.

So there’s no way to exploit this.

“Xue Er…” Gu Qing Shan muttered.

It was now getting harder for him to remain calm.

Triste herself was powerful, she already has the tinder of the Apocalypse, and the help of billions of demons in the shadows.

And I’m completely clueless about all of Triste’s preparations.

But Xue Er was already in that world, about to either die or be demonized.

What can I do about it?

Where do I find a solution?

Gu Qing Shan pulled out a bottle of liquor from the ice box, pushing it to his face.

The icy coldness helped him cool down.

Stay calm.

I have to stay calm!

Think about this more seriously!

Gu Qing Shan encouraged himself.

He took a deep breath, closed his eyes and once again went into thought.

To summarize everything, from the start until now, I only know a single thing.

That is Triste was now outside together with the Spirit of the Holy Tree, followed by the big rooster.

Such a simple piece of intel, even if I knew about it, how would it help?

…

Wait…

Gu Qing Shan turned around.

His gaze fell onto the little girl.

Note:

(1) Kindling: the original word can be translated as tinder or kindling, meaning “the start of a flame”. I chose not to translate it Tinder because of obvious reasons