Yu Yu was exceedingly cautious, especially after Zi Shu blurted out the possibility of the anomaly holding a grudge. Ordinary anomalies lacked intelligence, but this was a memory anomaly—it might actually be vengeful.
The small building loomed in her sights, and Yu Yu's heart brimmed with vigilance. Then… she was trapped in a strange domain.
Yu Yu: "…"
Seriously? That's how it works?
Prepared as she was, Yu Yu didn't panic when she realized she'd been snared.
But…
Where was everyone?
Where's my Wolf Wolf?! (voice trembling)
Even more shocking, her wristband was gone.
Did that mean the stream was dead too?
Composing herself, Yu Yu coolly surveyed her surroundings.
Hmm, vaguely familiar.
Through the floor-to-ceiling window, she saw a bustling, vibrant city.
This familiar scene was Huyu City from her memories.
She was on the 28th floor of a high-rise.
So, this was Azure Waves Headquarters.
Was this a scene the anomaly pulled from Shang Wei's memories?
Yu Yu took a few steps, then froze, catching a glitch in the glass's reflection.
This wasn't her.
The familiar, narrow eyes widened in surprise, and Yu Yu was genuinely stunned.
This was… Shang Wei?
She'd appeared as Shang Wei?
Yu Yu instinctively checked her hands, finding an unfamiliar pair.
What was this anomaly up to?
"Little Yu, you've got this."
After a few more steps, Yu Yu—or rather, Shang Wei—strolled into the training room with ease.
She saw Xiang Qin lifting weights, Zhong Ye on a treadmill, Shu Tu brimming with encouragement, and… her past self.
Yu Yu.
A youthful, radiant face, vibrant and unshadowed, beaming like a little sun.
Yu Yu felt a growing sense of unease.
What was this anomaly playing at?
The moment Shang Wei arrived, it was like flipping a switch—Yu Yu started… screwing up.
Despite Shu Tu's endless encouragement, it was futile.
It was as if the anomaly was deliberately showcasing her uselessness and stupidity.
Shang·Yu Yu·Wei folded her arms, watching for a bit before muttering, "Can you even play? What kind of trash dog anomaly is this?"
Me, the great Yu God, portrayed as this pathetic?
Sadly, no one seemed to hear her.
Xiang Qin and the others had drifted over at some point.
Xiang Qin: "You should cast first…"
She patiently guided Yu Yu.
Zhong Ye, true to form, slung cold taunts from the sidelines.
But from Shang Wei's perspective, her barbs lacked malice, merely her way of nudging Yu Yu toward better tactics.
Shang·Yu Yu·Wei pondered, finally dredging up this scene from memory.
It was ages ago—something she'd have forgotten without her sharp recall.
This was shortly after she'd joined the team. Gifted but not yet at her peak, she struggled to keep up with her teammates' prowess.
Despite Shu Tu's support, Yu Yu felt crushing pressure.
Especially from Zhong Ye—her words hit hard, and back then, Yu Yu lacked the confidence to snap back, bottling it up.
Xiang Qin was milder, but only slightly. When Yu Yu slipped, her calm but stern corrections stung.
Only Shu Tu remained consistently gentle and patient.
With a strange mood, Yu Yu watched her past self be coached, every emotion laid bare.
Frustration, guilt, sadness, quiet resolve.
She stood, arms crossed, for who knows how long until the scene shifted again.
She heard Shu Tu's voice: "Little Wei, your turn."
Shu Tu's tone with Shang Wei was markedly different.
Less warmth, more of a captain's unyielding authority.
Her fondness for Shang Wei was lukewarm, like for any teammate.
Considering their histories, Yu Yu doubted Shu Tu would warm to Shang Wei.
Each encounter likely stirred memories Shu Tu preferred to bury. Letting Shang Wei join was already generous.
So how had Shang Wei approached Shu Tu?
How had she convinced Shu Tu to give her a chance?
Yu Yu recalled Shang Wei starting humble and restrained, earnestly calling them seniors. But she'd changed—when, exactly, Yu Yu couldn't pinpoint.
The anomaly's reenactment offered a perspective Yu Yu had never experienced.
Was this the real Shu Tu or Shang Wei's memory of her?
If not, where were Shu Tu and the others?
And Zi Shu, Fuyu—where did the anomaly stash these "extra" actors?
And Wolf Wolf!
Summoned by Shu Tu, Yu Yu didn't want to go, but a pause brought a chilling sense of peril. A deep, abyssal malice lurked beneath, waiting to devour her at the first misstep.
If she didn't follow the script, she might die.
Fine, I'll play along—can't pretend I don't see it.
Shang·Yu Yu·Wei tried casting spells, but none worked. She donned a gaming headset and dominated virtually.
Her skills were rusty but quickly sharpened, going god-mode.jpg.
Removing the headset, she looked up. Shu Tu was still there, earnestly consoling her past self. Xiang Qin had returned to training, and Zhong Ye, true to form, mocked.
Yu Yu: "…"
What's this anomaly even trying to do?
Make her and Shang Wei swap lives?
Her phone rang. Yu Yu fumbled for it and answered.
"Shang Wei, when are you paying your mom's medical fees? I've given you half a month's grace…"
The voice droned on, leaving Yu Yu baffled.
Shang Wei was broke?
Didn't substitutes earn plenty?
She'd later hit the Sky Rankings—only less famous than Yu Yu.
Yu Yu hadn't paid attention to such things. After the call, she set it aside, resuming her role as spectator.
Let's see how you play this.
But each time her cue came, she had to perform, or that lurking malice would fixate on her.
Yu Yu sensed the anomaly's rules weren't quite like this, but it was acting this way for now.
What was its goal?
Where was its core?
This anomaly was so clever—would it bring its core here?
Yu Yu grew restless, but with spells unusable, she could only endure, observe, and wait.
The plot fast-forwarded to the day of the incident.
Back then, Yu Yu's eyes gleamed with clear, naive folly, striding naturally toward the training room.
Her first instinct was to kill the stream, but her wristband was missing.
Realizing seniors like Xue might be watching, Yu Yu donned a mask of agony.
I was wrong. So wrong.
The anomaly's true power is social death!!!
…Time to perform again.
Fascinatingly, she now stood where Shang Wei had stood.
She could see everyone's expressions clearly.
Xiang Qin's lowered gaze, distracted.
Zhong Ye's cold, detached stare.
Shu Tu's fists, clenched white.
Staff members' overt or subtle sneers, mixed with a few sighs.
And her past self.
Young Yu Yu's face was ashen, eyes blazing with anger and confusion, like a beast lost in a downpour, whimpering softly, unable to find home.
Step by step, it was a past etched deep in Yu Yu's memory, now replayed before her.
The crushing pressure and doubt from back then felt crude and laughable now.
Shu Tu's knuckles whitened from strain.
Xiang Qin's desk-tapping quickened—a tell of her unease.
Zhong Ye opened her eyes, and from Shang Wei's angle, Yu Yu saw her hesitation.
Yu Yu swept her gaze coolly, unmoved.
Was this Shang Wei's memory of the scene?
Why didn't it match her own recollection?
Yu Yu smirked disdainfully.
Did the anomaly think replaying this would break her with rage?
Should she play along?
Maybe bait it out?
With that, Yu Yu mimed empathy—anger, despair.
Then, her past self lunged. "Shang Wei, you filthy traitor!!!"
It was pure, untainted fury, mirroring her earlier clear folly.
Her role was to retort with venom, sneering, "I didn't expect a senior like you to stoop so low…"
But in that instant, Yu Yu caught a bug. She enveloped her younger self in a hug, gently patting her back, her voice soft and slow—
"Though you're clear and foolish, I don't mind."
It was like embracing her past self across five years.
She knew how desperately she'd craved a hug back then.
But she also knew this was the anomaly's domain.
The embrace broke swiftly.
She'd waited for this moment.
Yu Yu's Spirit surged, forcibly breaking free.
When she came to, she was seated at a desk.
One hand rested on a computer, the other was withered, claw-like.
She sank into thought.
The door opened.
Eerie "people" filed in, chanting in unison, "Yu Yu, return to our master."
In her Spirit senses, she felt split in two, separated by a translucent membrane. A thin, ugly green thing peered through the fragile barrier, its eyes gleaming with joy, greed, and malice.
Face to face, heart to heart.
Utterly hideous.
Yu Yu nearly wept.
When has Yu Yu ever endured such indignity?!
Reflexively, she swung a fist, but someone grabbed her.
Only then did she notice she was standing on someone.
That person raised narrow eyes. "Why are you so useless? Here to save me or to die?"
Yu Yu: "?"
You're mocking me?
Mocking your future master?
Bold little slave!
Hmph, this anomaly had improved since last time, now wielding domains.
If not for a flaw in its replication of Shang Wei's memories, Yu Yu might've been trapped.
Back then, Yu Yu had a quirky habit of rolling up one sleeve.
But she distinctly remembered not doing so that day.
Shang Wei likely hadn't noticed this detail.
Glancing at the computer's clock, Yu Yu was shocked—outside, mere seconds had passed.
How did it manage that?
Was her body already overtaken?
Shang Wei still fought to maintain that frail barrier. "Got any skills? If not, leave—don't hinder me."
Yu Yu looked down. "Did it read your memories?"
Shang Wei: "Dunno. I'm not it."
Yu Yu: "How'd it take your body? Face-to-face?"
Shang Wei: "…No. After failing to control me repeatedly, it dragged me into its domain."
"You probably went through it too?" Shang Wei said calmly. "It recreated my mom's past. I found no flaws, couldn't cast spells, and then this happened."
Yu Yu: "Flawless?"
Shang Wei pondered. "Dunno. Finding memory discrepancies might reveal flaws, but I didn't."
Yu Yu: "…"
Good thing she'd spotted one, however luckily.
Her body was likely still hers, then.
Otherwise, she feared the Grand Archon and others might remotely zap her upon seeing this.
Yu Yu groaned, "This thing's too ugly. How'd you isolate it?"
Shang Wei: "Imagined a membrane between us, and it appeared."
Yu Yu tried it, and it worked.
The ugly green thing next door took a hammer to the skull.
Shang Wei: "…?"
Yu Yu focused again.
The thing's head half-smashed under another blow.
Yu Yu avoided looking at it.
Even facing Wang Rui back then wasn't this horrific.
Ugly enough to cry.
She'd need Wolf Wolf to cleanse her eyes later.
Shang Wei, stunned, asked, "What's your Will?"
Yu Yu's eyes darted. "9?"
At that, the green thing screeched, "Impossible! Your Will was only 7!"
It remembered Yu Yu—even her Will stat.
Had it gleaned this much from Shang Wei's memories?
Or other players' too?
Unknown.
Yu Yu blinked innocently. "Can't I improve? Three days apart, and you should see me anew, right, ugly thing?"
You've got domains now; can't I boost my Will?
While Shang Wei held the membrane, Yu Yu's Will found gaps to hammer the thing relentlessly.
Truthfully, Yu Yu hadn't learned Guardian techniques, but Shang Wei's description was clear.
Imagine a membrane, and it forms.
Imagine a hammer, and it smashes.
Yu Yu pushed forward, and Shang Wei's other hand gradually regained function.
She stood slowly.
But the next second, she crouched, clutching her head.
Shang Wei: "Stop hitting! Outside! Those things! Quick, I'm dying!"
Yu Yu: "Let go—lend me some Spirit."
At the critical moment, she sketched a spell model—Fire Elemental!
Half-finished, as Yu Yu felt a stabbing pain, like a knife to her gut.
But the Flame Lord was clutch, completing the ritual itself and squeezing through.
It sensed Yu Yu's peril.
Searing heat scorched the room, reducing the "people" to ash in a blink.
Yu Yu watched the dancing Flame Lord, itching to kiss it.
Love you, Firefire!
She kept hammering the anomaly. The ugly thing hadn't expected Yu Yu's Will to grow, thinking it had her cornered.
Shang Wei fought to survive, struggling to carry her mom out.
Too hot, so hot, she'd burn alive.
Can this Fire Elemental back off?!
Yu Yu spared a Feather Fall for her mom.
But at the doorstep, her mom's eyes snapped open.
Pure black, brimming with malice, she grinned and seized Shang Wei's throat.
In that instant, Shang Wei's Will membrane shattered.
Yu Yu's Will patched it instantly.
Still, the thing grazed her a few times.
Yu Yu: "***!"
Idiot Shang Wei!
But unexpectedly, the ugly thing screeched first.
It tried to flee.
Something in Yu Yu's memories spooked it, and its first instinct was to run.
Yu Yu hadn't expected the anomaly to bolt like that, but…
Shang Wei froze, clutching her head, tears streaming.
Yu Yu, nearly choked out, yelled, "Shang Wei!"
She tried to snap her back.
You're dying! Why are you crying?!
No response.
She shouted again—still nothing.
Yu Yu stopped yelling, stomping her. "Moron, trash, useless!"
"Foolish, worthless, deadwood!"
"Emotional, unfit for greatness!"
Furious, Yu Yu acted.
Great Fireball
Battle over.
"Mom!"
Shang Wei's heart-wrenching wail echoed.
Fearing interference, Yu Yu seized control, multitasking, and bolted outside.
"Senior!!!"
Save Yu!!!
Your adorable little Yu Yu's about to croak!!!
Felix, puzzled by Yu Yu's sudden halt, heard the cry.
The silver wolf shot forward like light.
Shu Tu froze.
What was that?
What was Yu Yu shouting?
She instinctively glanced at Yu Yu.
Just then, Yu Yu slumped sideways.
Zi Shu's pupils quaked. "How?!"
They'd barely seen the house, taken a few steps—mere seconds—how could…?
No, that wolf!!!
Fuyu: "!!!"
Xiang Qin, Zhong Ye: "!!!"
NPCs invading Blue Star!!!
Shang·Yu Yu·Wei: "Senior, wahhh!"
Felix circled her, keeping her at bay, silver-white light flickering. "Will Aura isn't hard. Your Will's enough—learn it next time."
Yu Yu: "! Grab the anomaly—it's escaping!"
Felix startled, then chased it.
Luckily, the ugly thing was truly weak.
Senior caught it swiftly.
Whether it used a domain was unclear, but Felix seemed fine the next second.
Of course—anomaly had no memories of her.
Meanwhile, the stream exploded: [!!!]
Xue: [How?! How did Felix breach the world barrier?!]
Feng Ye started hyperventilating.
They were losing it.
Was this their Silver Moon celestial wolf?
Were they dreaming?
Feng Ye gulped oxygen. [Felix?]
She queried the Council, getting a reply.
[Fe! Li! Ks!]
Just then, the Duchess strolled by. "Teacher, what's wrong with my sister?"
Feng Ye's face twisted, suppressing rage. "Your sister ran off with someone."
The Duchess oh-ed, glancing away to resume training.
Ran off? She'd find her way back.
She's a grown wolf.
Yu Yu, in Shang Wei's body, scurried to her own, circling. "What do I do? How do I get back?"
The stream went berserk, Felix sealed the anomaly, and Yu Yu spun in panic.
Felix returned, sighing, "Not its core, sadly."
She deadpanned, "Try probing your body with your Spirit."
Moments later, Yu Yu scrambled up, patting her precious body.
Phew, no pain.
She cast Healing on Shang Wei, then casually pried the Bronze Leaf from her palm, pocketing it.
Xiang Qin: "…"
Zhong Ye: "…"
You're seriously pocketing that leaf?
Shang Wei stirred, but Yu Yu slapped a Sleep spell on her, dragging her out like a dead dog.
Her prize.
Besides her, Shang Wei had no claim to it.
Yu Yu: "Xiang Qin, bury her mom—by the door."
Zhong Ye gaped. "You just killed her?"
Yu Yu, icy: "She was an anomaly. Should I let her choke Shang Wei?"
Zhong Ye was speechless.
Yu Yu: "That choke hurt. Her neck's probably bloody."
Good thing her mom's nails were short.
On the return drive, Shu Tu was still behind the wheel.
Fuyu kept glancing outside, thrilled.
This was Wolf Wolf!!
Could she bring her favorite NPCs out too?!
Yu Yu leaned by the window, griping, "Seniors, this anomaly's downright dirty. I didn't expect it to pull that."
She'd invited Senior Jin Che for guidance, expecting tips.
Who knew she'd dance with death in mere seconds?
Contamination check: 27.
Just from that brief touch.
Jin Che: [That's anomalies. Each is unique. Even the weakest can fell a mighty spellcaster. You got lucky surviving. Don't be so reckless next time.]
Yu Yu opened her mouth. "…Got it."
She didn't feel reckless, but she hadn't grasped this anomaly's rules.
Why could it unleash domains so freely?
Ugh, these days, even anomalies were so competitive.
Crossing the small bridge, Yu Yu spotted the pretty cat from afar.
What'd she say earlier?
If the cats were still here, kidnap, don't buy!
They must love her!!!
That's why they stayed!!!
"Shu Tu, Shu Tu…"
Shu Tu slowed, also tempted.
The black cat was pure ebony, soft and glossy, with pink ears—stunningly beautiful.
Zi Shu: "Cats here? Could it be an anomaly?"
Fuyu: "Strays aren't that clean. Something's off."
Yu Yu locked eyes with the black cat, conflicted. "But I feel it likes me!"
"Look, it's staring!"
Night Sovereign: "…"
Yu Yu, unwilling, stretched out her hand. "If you love me, jump into my arms."
Come on, come on!
Join me, and your cat life's set!
Yu Yu hinted wildly, brimming with hope.
Night Sovereign stayed silent.
The cat averted her gaze.
Yu Yu wailed, "It doesn't love me?!"
Shu Tu, also smitten, could only drive on.
Zi Shu: "Love it? Let it go, or Big Cat'll chomp Pretty Cat."
Fuyu whispered, "Would Wolf Wolf chomp Big Cat?"
Her voice was soft, but celestial wolves have sharp ears.
Felix: "…"
Thanks, I don't eat raw stuff.
Fuyu: "But didn't that black cat just… disdain you?"
It had pointedly looked away, so human-like.
Yu Yu: "Impossible! Absolutely not!"
Meanwhile, by the bridge, Erisbo sneered, "Didn't you say you'd infiltrate the little runt's side? That was your chance—why pass?"
Night Sovereign, calmly: "…No love."