NOVEL WEB chapter 24
24:
Once a secret is shared, it soon ceases to be one. Mo Xiaotian has now penetrated the protagonist’s group. Despite the fans of Wu Mingbai and Mo Xiaotian clashing fiercely on the forums, their relationship isn’t as bad as it appears.
In a sense, they could be considered ‘frenemies.’
If their relationship were truly bad, Jiang Tianming and Lan Subing wouldn’t allow Mo Xiaotian to join them.
Once Jiang Tianming tells Wu Mingbai and the others about today’s events, it might not be long before the Ironwood Man and Mo Xiaotian find out too.
A leaky ship will lead to harm; letting a villainous organization know that one has yet to fully master their superpower, which is still in its growth phase, could bring endless trouble.
“Comic Consciousness” isn’t foolish; upon hearing Su Bei’s words, it immediately understood his concerns. Thinking about the situation with that organization, it agreed with Su Bei’s caution, “You’re right to be careful.”
What “Comic Consciousness” didn’t know was that its response inadvertently provided Su Bei with significant information.
Its agreement with Su Bei’s view confirmed that the Black Lightning organization indeed liked to forcibly recruit children whose superpowers were not fully developed. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be so worried.
So, did Mo Xiaotian join voluntarily?
From his recent behavior, he seems utterly loyal to the organization, but Mo Xiaotian is a person of strong justice. Would he be devoted to a villainous organization?
Su Bei could only think of one possibility—he had been brainwashed.
If his guess was correct, then this was clearly advanced information. Information that, once the truth was uncovered, would give readers a deeper understanding of his superpower.
Reflecting on the matter of supernatural abilities, Su Bei tossed the freshly crafted gear of fate into the air. At the same moment, he felt a significant drain on his mental strength. According to this rate of depletion, just as he had surmised, he could currently predict the fates of no more than three individuals at the same time.
Moreover, the prophetic gear of fate wasn’t something that could appear at any given moment. No matter how much mental strength remained, only one could be summoned each day. Of course, if he merely absorbed the aura of fate without activating it, then there was no limit to the number.
The next second, the delicate gear vanished, and two lipsticks appeared in the air. The lipsticks clashed like blades, sparking a full-blown martial display with a crackling fury. After about half a minute, they both disappeared into thin air.
Su Bei: “?”
Everyone else was dumbfounded.
What in the world was that?
After a lengthy silence, Su Bei gathered his scattered emotions and began to analyze what he had just witnessed.
When he absorbed the aura of fate with the gear, Su Bei had chosen the first cell in the direction the pointer indicated. According to his deduction, the direction of the pointer was where the impending trouble would arise. And the closer the timeline within, the sooner the event.
This meant that the event he had foretold wouldn’t be too far off. If nothing unexpected occurred, it should be by tomorrow, considering the handover of the criminal and the celebration banquet were the biggest events he could think of in the upcoming period.
Two lipsticks fighting—what did that signify? Were there girls who would come to blows recently?
?()
No, no, no, Su Bei shook his head swiftly. First of all, his prediction was only about Jiang Tianming; logically, it should concern him. Secondly, the only girl currently around Jiang Tianming was Lan Subing. Would Lan Subing get into a fight with someone else? The thought itself felt discordant!
Perhaps his line of thinking was wrong. Lipstick didn’t necessarily represent girls. Right, the most direct symbolic meaning of lipstick should be the mouth; two mouths clashing meant a quarrel.
“Will Jiang Tianming get into an argument with someone tomorrow?”
It made sense, and Su Bei was almost certain of this guess. Thinking about it, there was a good chance that Jiang Tianming and others would end up arguing with Sun Father and Sun Mother during the criminal’s handover tomorrow.
Of course, there might also be a quarrel for some reason at their celebration banquet.
“After all, the main melody of youth is all about making noise and fuss,” Su Bei mused.
Upon hearing this, “Comic Consciousness” couldn’t help but retort: “You talk as if you’re so old.”
Su Bei smiled and remained silent. Indeed, he wasn’t old, but who could say otherwise since he had already died once? If he hadn’t become cannon fodder, hadn’t been sought out by “Comic Consciousness,” hadn’t gotten involved in the plot, then he would surely still be an optimistic and cheerful fifteen-year-old boy.
Reflecting on this, he couldn’t help but sigh, yet quickly regained his composure. In other comics, the protagonist starts saving the world at six years old; at fifteen, he was already an overage savior.
Replenishing his spirits, Su Bei took out his phone and opened the post he had made on his personal page. After some time fermenting, the post now had many replies.
“Li Tao and Su Bei’s Source of Information”
【…】
【No.1: The poster must be an analysis freak, what you said makes so much sense!】
【No.2: I also think Su Bei might be surveilling the school】
【No.3: Seriously, isn’t this a bit too conspiracy theory-ish?】
【No.4: Poster, you’re awesome, I’ll say it first!】
【No.5: Just came in and saw a long passage, I’ll read it first, hope there’s a conclusion by the time I’m done.】
【No.6: Poster, we’re on the same wavelength, I’ve been suspecting Su Bei’s source of information too. Your analysis seems the most logical to me, too many coincidences can’t just be coincidences.】
【…】
【No.27: So what exactly is Su Bei’s source of information? The poster only analyzed that Su Bei has another source, but didn’t say what it is?】
【…】
Seeing the question from No.27, Su Bei immediately replied.
【Oracle No.44 (Poster) replies to No.27:
Regarding this, the comic provides too little information, but I think it might be related to Su Bei’s special ability. His ability is connected to fate, and since he can see fate, it seems normal that he could see a bit more ()】
In no time, the post had many more replies.
【No.45 replies to No.44: Hahaha, I believe it】
【No.46 replies to No.44: I thought the poster was serious, turns out to be a joker, huh?】
【No.47: Hahahaha】
【No.48: Should I say it or not, does the original poster have a point, huh?】
【No.49: The original poster’s analysis does make sense, I also think it’s a certain usage of his superpower.】
【No.50: If what you’re saying is true, then Su Bei’s superpower is way too strong, right? Able to predict, to surveil, and previously some have said this power might have offensive capabilities. A trinity? Keep in mind he’s only just awakened not long ago!】
【No.51 replying to No.50: Not necessarily, maybe he awakened earlier, not everyone awakens at 15, you know.】
【No.52: Both beautiful and strong… I hope the old thief won’t make him suffer again, right?】
【No.53: The person above has mastered the old thief’s patterns, but alas, I just love the beauty-strong-tragic combo.】
【No.54: I love it too! Beauty and strength without tragedy would be meaningless!】
【……】
【No.55: Speaking of which, could Su Bei’s source of information possibly be some organization behind him?】
【No.56 replying to No.55: What kind of organization could monitor every move of the school? Could it be that Su Bei’s backing is the school itself?】
Upon reading the content of post No.56, Su Bei raised an eyebrow. Wow! He hadn’t thought of that brainwave. Not bad, worth considering for himself.
【Seer No.57 (original poster) replying to No.56: That’s indeed one possibility, sometimes the least likely answer happens to be the truth.】
What followed was a burst of laughter, clearly, no one took his reply seriously. But Su Bei didn’t mind; he only wanted to leave an impression.
A single impression might not change the readers’ thoughts, but what about the first, the third time?
As long as he shows enough tendency in the comics, there’s no worry that no one will analyze in that direction.
Continuing to browse other posts, Su Bei, with a spectator’s amusement, clicked into a post that was clearly in the midst of an argument.
《Is Mo Xiaotian royalty? The old thief’s desire to add drama for him is spilling out of the screen.》
【Little Yama Little Ichiro No.0: rbt, I really don’t understand what this character is doing in the comic? Playing dumb? He can’t do anything, has to have everything explained to him, and even deliberately annoys Wu Mingbai, I’m getting angry on behalf of Wu Mingbai!
And yet, the old thief gave him a superpower that could get him into Class A, isn’t that favoritism? It was even more obvious in the first panel, the spotlight was directly placed on him.】
【The spotlight should have been on Wu Mingbai, right? If it weren’t for adding shine to Mo Xiaotian, they’d probably have let Wu Mingbai trip up the murderer!】
【No.1: I don’t know about others, but the original poster is definitely a fan of Wu Mingbai.】
【No.2: Big brother is right.】
【No.3: Big brother is right.】
【No.4: Big brother is right.】
【No.5: Big brother is right.】
【Little Yamato No.6 (original poster) replies to No.1:
I am indeed a fan of Wu Mingbai, but what does that have to do with my criticism? Mo Xiaotian is royalty; let’s not derail the topic!】
【No.7: It’s fine, isn’t it? They’re not meant to be the same character, and their bickering is quite amusing, isn’t it?】
【No.8: I also think Mo Xiaotian is royalty, and the plot is too much. You say he and Wu Mingbai are not the same character, but at least on the surface, both are of the lively and cheerful sort. The old thief is clearly letting him ride on Wu Mingbai’s popularity!】
【……】
【No.21: Fans of Wu Mingbai, don’t lose your cool. Our Mo Xiaotian is innocent and adorable, unlike some who are duplicitous. Speaking of piggybacking, I think you’re the ones doing it, how dare you leech off our little angel with your black hearts?】
【No.22 replies to No.21:
Little angel, you *****! You dare *****!】
【No.23: Upstairs, Wu’s old lady has lost her cool.】
【No.24 replies to No.23:
You’re the one who’s *****!】
【No.25: It’s definitely Mo Xiaotian leeching off Wu Mingbai’s popularity. Could it be the more popular one leeching off the less popular?】
【No.26: Mo Xiaotian has always had the character of a protagonist, he will inevitably surpass Wu Mingbai’s fans!】
【……】
【No.67: The argument is so fierce, why hasn’t the admin deleted the post yet?】
【No.68: Selling sunflower seeds, cigarettes, mineral water, and now orange cats, ragdoll cats, Siamese cats!】
【No.69 replies to No.68: I’ll take a ragdoll cat.】
【No.70: Let’s quietly promote our monster couple here, Mo Xiaotian × Wu Mingbai, the super topic is already set up, investing won’t be a loss!】
【No.71: You’re so bold above…】
【No.72 replies to No.70: You ****, go die ****!】!