DD Black White [377-378] (Patreon)

Chapter 377: Mischief-Maker Vita

“Moreover, precisely because of the Holy Grail War’s influence, the spatial structure around Mingdu was already dangerously fragile. Once this spacetime channel formed, its stability far exceeded expectations. I’m afraid… it’ll be very difficult to shut it down in a short time.”

Herta continued explaining to Lu Jingming.

“And the consequences?”

Lu Jingming stared grimly at the chaotic passage in the distance that kept swallowing silhouettes and ruins, his brows tightly knit.

“Consequences? Now that’s interesting~”

Herta’s tone brimmed with anticipation.

“It’s possible nothing happens—the channel eventually stabilizes on its own or slowly closes. But it’s also possible the two worlds, because of this sturdy passage, will gradually draw near—or even… begin to merge.”

“Think about it. The two worlds also have alternate-world counterparts. I really want to know whether they can coexist, or if they’ll obey some law and ultimately converge into a single unique existence. That would be an unprecedented research topic.”

She cared nothing for the risks that might come with world-fusion; pure scientific curiosity had the upper hand.

“…Alright. I knew with a Masked Fool in the mix there’d be ‘surprises.’”

Lu Jingming shook his head helplessly.

Although Sparkle’s sudden stunt disrupted his plan, he felt neither panic nor anger.

Even if the two worlds really started to fuse—so what? He was confident he had the power to suppress all chaos.

His own strength was growing at a staggering rate, and with Jingliu, Acheron, and Herta by his side, what had he to fear?
Everything was still, ultimately, under control.

“But that Sparkle…”

Lu Jingming narrowed his eyes, looking toward the channel.

“Don’t let me catch you, or I’ll tan your backside into a blossom.”

…

Meanwhile, high in the sky, the fierce battle between Celenova and Feixiao was forcibly halted by this sudden earth-shaking upheaval. They each withdrew, staring in shock at the gigantic energy vortex and chaotic passage that had replaced Mingdu below.

Under Phantylia’s protection, Xu Tiantian gazed from afar at the devouring black chaos and his face went dark.

The channel, gradually stabilizing yet still radiating a terrifying pull, was clearly not something human power could easily erase.

This meant that Mingdu—the heart of the Sun Moon Empire—had been utterly and completely wiped off the map, with not even the possibility of rebuilding.

The Sun Moon Empire would have to find a new capital.

…

“Hahaha, surprise! A brand-new adventure begins! Everyone, have fun~!”

Sparkle stood at the edge of the energy maelstrom, excitedly waving at the massive chaotic channel. Her figure swayed in the howling gravity winds, as if she could be sucked in at any moment to continue her mischief in a new world.

Just then, a sharp gleam flashed in Vita’s eyes.

That stable channel to a parallel world—whose coordinates she had secretly observed and supplied, and which Sparkle had personally blown open—was to her a heaven-sent chance to slip Lu Jingming’s control and head for a new world of endless fun.

She quietly lowered her energy resistance, ready to let the pull carry her into the channel and make a clean getaway.

But the instant her body moved, about to turn into a streak of light—

“Tsk. Never a moment’s peace.”

Lu Jingming, who had been covertly watching her, let out a cold chuckle.

Of course he knew Vita and Sparkle were acquainted—and both were consummate chaos-gremlins. For Sparkle to make such a spectacle, he’d never believe Vita hadn’t provided precision coordinates and tech support using her eyes.

Almost as his words fell, Istaroth—who had been lazily spectating all along—lifted a single finger, as if she’d foreseen it.

In an instant, the space and time around Vita seemed to be severed from this chaotic spacetime by a higher rule, plunging into an absolute, total stasis.

The just-blooming smile of a plan succeeding froze on Vita’s face.

The sly glint in her eyes dimmed; even her thoughts felt as if someone had pressed pause.

The mecha beside her, who was also preparing to move, was likewise fixed in place by an invisible force, locked in a poised-to-bolt posture, unable to budge.

Trying to slip away in the confusion, Vita ultimately failed—subdued in an instant. Her scheme was ruthlessly strangled once more.

Lu Jingming turned his gaze to Vita, who had been utterly bound by Istaroth’s power, unable even to change her expression.

Time’s authority was pinning this little mischief-maker fast.

He gave a slight gesture.

Istaroth inclined her head; a ripple flickered in her golden eyes, and the suffocating stillness around Vita receded a touch—enough to restore her ability to think and speak—but her body remained as if cast in amber, unable to move at all.

“Miss Vita.”

Lu Jingming walked up to her with a seemingly gentle smile.

“How about we make a deal?”

Vita’s eyes turned slightly. Though her body was restrained, her mind whirred faster than ever.

A deal? When I’m at an absolute disadvantage, my life and death in his hands?

She kept her doubt off her face, answering only with her eyes to signal him to continue—curious to see what this handsome guy was plotting.

“Looks like you’re very interested in that open spacetime channel, and you want to use it to reach a parallel world, right?”

Lu Jingming spoke lightly, pointing to the slowly rotating, still-drawing channel in the distance.

“And I—”

His gaze shifted with interest to the sleek, powerfully contoured green mecha—Lone Planetfarer—standing nearby.

“—am very interested in your beautiful ride.”

A trace of comprehension flashed through Vita’s eyes, and a smile mixing mockery and curiosity tugged at her lips.

So he’d taken a fancy to her Lone Planetfarer.

How… amusing.

“Well?”

Lu Jingming kept it casual, as if it were a minor matter.

“You transfer Lone Planetfarer’s ownership and control to me. In return, not only will I take you through this channel to the parallel world, but I’ll also grant you temporary full freedom, so you can… have your fill of fun in the new world.”

He stressed temporary and have your fill, hinting that the freedom wasn’t indefinite, but enticing enough.

Vita narrowed her eyes, studying Lu Jingming like prey, and probed in her signature sing-song.

“Little brother, you do realize this Lone Planetfarer isn’t a physical object. Its existence relies on the manifestation of my concept—it is a fantasy that exists because of me. If I die, or if I so much as will it, it disappears. Even if you get ‘ownership,’ it’s just a moon in water, a flower in a mirror—meaningless.”

She paused, adding, “I don’t think someone of your insight would fail to understand that.”

With multiple Servants at his side, he should grasp the essence of Servants.

“Heh…”

Lu Jingming chuckled, calm and self-assured.

“You needn’t worry yourself over that, Miss Vita. Since I’ve proposed the deal, I have my methods and my confidence.”

For one who wielded True Authority, solidifying concepts into existence—elevating the unreal into the real—was no insurmountable task.

Even if Lone Planetfarer was originally a fantasy projection based on Vita’s power, as long as its concept was complete and clear, he could strip it from its dependency, grant it a foundation for independent existence, and make it an objectively real creation.

Once made real, Lone Planetfarer’s ownership would no longer be subject to Vita’s life, death, or will.

This seemingly offhand yet utterly confident statement jolted Vita.

For the first time, she truly reassessed the man before her. He seemed shrouded in a mist even her eyes could not fully penetrate.

“Interesting…”

Vita murmured. The binding around her receded like the tide—not because Istaroth lifted it, but because Vita triggered a hidden safeguard and burst the restraints.

She flexed her newly freed wrists, folded her arms, and for the first time regarded Lu Jingming with something like parity—curious, serious, as if to see straight through him.

“Little brother, you really do keep surprising me.”

Her tone had shed some of its earlier playfulness, gaining genuine interest.

“A man with secrets is always extra tempting to one’s curiosity.”

“Oh?”

Lu Jingming arched a brow, a teasing half-smile on his face.

“Ever hear the saying, Miss Vita? Getting overly curious about a man is often… the first step to falling.”

That half-jest, half-warning line touched a nerve or two.

Standing just behind Lu Jingming, Gu Yuena’s amethyst eyes narrowed at once, her icy gaze falling on Vita like a physical weight, a hint of draconic might seeping into the air.

Not only Gu Yuena—Firefly, who always stayed quietly by Lu Jingming’s side, also turned her eyes to Vita.

Even Castorice, who usually wore a gentle, all-forgiving smile, showed a barely noticeable ripple in her serene gaze. She glided half a step closer to Lu Jingming, subtly closing the distance.

Three women, different in style but each close to Lu Jingming, all focused on Vita at once. The air grew taut with a subtle, territorial tension.

Vita caught the reactions of Firefly, Castorice, and Gu Yuena, a crafty light flickering in her violet-red eyes.

Not only was she unafraid, she looked like she’d found something deliciously fun. Her smile grew even brighter, more playful.

She lightly licked her lips, her gaze drifting between Lu Jingming and the three protective women, her tone turning more ambiguous:

“Little brother, you really are interesting.”

For a mischief-lover like her, calm waters were the dullest thing. The more jealousy simmered and undercurrents surged, the finer the fun.

Seeing the trio on high alert, she didn’t hold back—quite the opposite. Some perverse impulse had taken over; the troll within was in full command.

“My, my, little brother, everyone around you… seems to care quite a lot about you.”

Vita deliberately drew out her words, honeyed and cloying.

Instead of retreating, she took a light step forward to close the distance with Lu Jingming. The move sharpened all three stares opposite.

She lifted slender fingers, as if casually dusting non-existent lint from Lu Jingming’s shoulder. Her fingertips traced an ambiguous arc through the air, almost brushing his collar.

The gesture looked nonchalant but was rife with provocation, every detail pricking at the onlookers’ nerves.

“Looks like getting you alone to talk deal details won’t be so easy.”

She tilted her head slightly, a few strands of gray hair falling. Her limpid gaze slid over Lu Jingming’s face, then feigned innocence as she glanced at ice-cold Gu Yuena, the unsteady-breathing Firefly, and Castorice whose smile was beginning to stiffen.

“Ladies, no need to be so tense~ Big sis is just here to discuss… serious business with your man.”

Gu Yuena snorted, silvery dragon phantoms faintly coiling around her as the elements stirred restlessly. She restrained the urge to blast this seductress away, squeezing out a few words through clenched teeth: “Stay away from him.”

Firefly said nothing, but the wingsheath changer in her hand trembled, as if she’d transform into SAM and ignite the stars the next second.

Her eyes locked on Vita’s fingers nearing Lu Jingming, her breathing quickening.

Castorice’s gentle smile nearly slipped. She took a soft breath, voice still mild but brooking no refusal: “Miss Vita, please mind yourself. Xiao Ming doesn’t like overly frivolous behavior.”

Faced with near-palpable hostility from three women, Vita only smiled more happily, as if dancing on a knife’s edge was exactly her thing.

Instead of backing down, she leaned in even closer—almost half her body touching Lu Jingming—and whispered in his ear, warm breath for the two of them alone:
“See how much they care about you, little brother~ Makes one jealous. But…”

Her tone turned tempting.

“Compared to being protected like this, don’t you want a more… thrilling adventure? Like ditching these little tails and going to that parallel world with big sis?”

Every word and move was pouring oil on the fire.

Chapter 378: Lone Planetfarer, Acquired

Vita deliberately made those ambiguous, intimate moves to provoke the three—testing their limits and watching how Lu Jingming would handle the tiny storm she’d stirred up.

To her, this was an entertaining improv performance, and Lu Jingming and the three jealous ladies were perfect cast members in her script.

Feeling the warmth at his ear and the almost-touching softness, and seeing the three girls close to blowing their tops, Lu Jingming couldn’t help a wry smile.

This Vita really was a consummate troublemaker and fun-seeker—unable to go a second without stirring the pot.

He lifted a hand—not to shove her away, but to use a subtle force to part her from pressing closer. He stepped back half a pace, opening just enough safe distance, and warned:
“Miss Vita, splendid performance. But before we talk about ‘thrilling adventures,’ let’s finish the proper deal. Lone Planetfarer’s ownership is still in your hands.”

He deftly brought it back to business, both calming the three on the verge of rampage and giving Vita a graceful out, lest the troll get a group beatdown.

Vita knew when to stop.

She giggled, stepped back elegantly, and resumed her enigmatic poise, as if she hadn’t been the one leaning in a moment ago.

“Alright, alright—business~”

She winked. “But remember, little brother, I’m still looking forward to that more thrilling adventure~”

That line made Gu Yuena, Firefly, and Castorice’s faces tighten; Gu Yuena shot Lu Jingming a fierce glare.

Vita’s eyes shone with crafty delight—like a child finally getting a favorite toy.

She knew she was not losing out. With a conceptual construct destined to dissipate once she left, she’d traded for a ticket to the parallel world, temporary freedom, and… this lively drama she’d sparked.

A buy-one-get-three fun bundle.

“So, your choice? It’s fine if you refuse. I won’t force you.”

Lu Jingming’s tone was meaningful. He indeed wouldn’t force Vita to hand over Lone Planetfarer—but if Vita died, wouldn’t Lone Planetfarer be ownerless? That wouldn’t be robbery, right?

“Alright, alright. Since little brother is so sincere.”

Vita spread her hands in feigned helplessness, her face all smug delight.

She traced a complex sigil in the air. A wisp of light flew from her fingertip into the core of the green mecha, Lone Planetfarer.

Instantly, Lu Jingming sensed a master-servant link between himself and Lone Planetfarer. Though its existential foundation would still need his Authority to reinforce later, the user rights had fully transferred.

“Here—your new toy.”

Vita patted Lone Planetfarer’s cold armor, tone light.

“Now, time for you to keep your promise. Little brother, when do we set off for the parallel world?”

Feeling the link to Lone Planetfarer, Lu Jingming nodded, satisfied. “We can go now.”

He turned to Lemuen, Istaroth, and Durandal: “Lemuen, I’ll leave the cleanup here—and Haiyuan City’s matters—to you for now.”

Originally, he’d planned for Firefly and Castorice to return to Haiyuan City with Lemuen for rest.

But before he finished, two pairs of expectant eyes locked on him.

Firefly was silent, but the usually hazy gaze now held firm resolve. She stepped up to his side, making her stance clear.

Castorice gently took his sleeve. She still wore her gentle smile, but her tone was firm.

“Xiao Ming, I want to go as well. One more person means one more layer of safety. And… it seems Miss Vita needs someone to keep an eye on her.”

She shot a meaningful look at Vita, who was watching with interest.

Gu Yuena said nothing, but snorted, arms folded. Her stance needed no words—of course she’d go.

Jingliu stood off to the side, expressionless as if it had nothing to do with her, but her presence alone spoke for her choice.

Seeing the worry, jealousy, and unyielding glint in Firefly and Castorice’s eyes, Lu Jingming’s heart softened.

He knew what they were thinking. More than fear of danger, they feared letting that fox spirit Vita run wild in the parallel world and steal his heart.

Facing their rare blend of insistence and coquettishness, he found he couldn’t refuse.

“…Fine.”

He sighed helplessly, the corner of his mouth curving in the faintest smile.

“You can all come.”

“Yay!”

Firefly cheered softly.

Castorice’s face stayed composed, but her eyes brightened and her taut posture eased.

The onlookers noticed.

Lemuen couldn’t help but snicker, nudging Durandal and whispering:

“Told you—Xiao Ming’s soft-eared. Especially when pretty girls ask, he’s helpless.”

Her face was all teasing big-sis energy, relishing the drama.

Durandal looked puzzled. She glanced at Lu Jingming and then the variously expressive women, frowning as she murmured to Lemuen:

“Aren’t we heading to a parallel world? Why is the atmosphere… odd? Shouldn’t team composition be optimized for combat efficiency?”

She clearly didn’t grasp the tangled emotional undercurrents.

Istaroth stayed her usual languid, disengaged self, even letting out a little yawn—as if this jealous squabble was less interesting than cloud shapes.

Only when her gaze briefly passed over Lu Jingming did a faint, elusive glimmer stir in her eyes, soon sinking back into calm.

Raiden Mei, for her part, had seen plenty—none of this surprised her. As for Wang Qiu’er, freshly re-fused with Tang Wutong and made whole, she had little interest in outside matters.

Jingliu, as Lu Jingming’s teacher, stood quietly with her sword, her cool face unreadable.

But her eyes, deep as a cold pond, missed none of the scene’s subtleties.

When she saw Lu Jingming relent and agree to bring Firefly and Castorice, she gave the slightest shake of her head, her lips curving in a faint, knowing, helpless arc.

She knew her disciple well—hard-hearted at times, soft at others.

For now, she was a calm observer of youthful entanglements—silent, yet seeing clearly.

Vita took it all in, her smile brighter than ever.

She leaned closer to Lu Jingming and cooed, syrup-sweet: “My, little brother, your harem lineup is massive Looks like this trip to a parallel world won’t be boring”

That remark drew several icy stares.

Lu Jingming shot her an exasperated look and chose to ignore the chaos-gremlin.

He steadied himself and nodded to Lemuen and the others staying behind: “I’m counting on you here.”

Then he turned and led the group—Gu Yuena, Firefly, Castorice, Jingliu, each with her own expression, plus Vita, beaming like it was a spring outing—into the stabilizing spacetime channel.

Lemuen waved with a smile, a sister’s concern mixed with the joy of watching a show.

Durandal remained stern, brows knit, still pondering optimal team composition.

Istaroth, as always, seemed detached, eyes unfocused, mind wandering.

As for Raiden Mei, she had no objection to not being brought along—if anything, she felt faint relief.

Her thoughts were elsewhere.

She lowered her head to a photo on her soul guide phone—just sent by Lu Jingming.

A woman under a red paper umbrella, standing in a misty rain—eight-tenths similar to her in looks, yet utterly different in air: a deeper solitude and chill, as if bearing the memories of myriad dead.

“Raiden…”

Raiden Mei whispered the name, fingertips brushing the screen.

She wasn’t unfamiliar with the idea of counterparts—be it world bubble theory or that similar figure from the Previous Era.

Even so, seeing another self so alike yet essentially different stirred an indescribable feeling.

She now wanted only to return to Haiyuan City, to meet this self called Acheron.

…

Within the spacetime channel, sensations were bizarre—colors and forms twisting, shattering, recombining against all reason, as if passing through a crevice between a kaleidoscope and a shattered mirror.

But for Lu Jingming, who’d once trod a parallel world via Cosmic Juggernaut, the familiar weightlessness and distortion brought a strange calm.

Though that earlier passage had been more stable, its cross-dimensional nature was the same.

A faint glow born of Herta’s use of Cosmic Juggernaut formed a shield, holding Gu Yuena, Firefly, Castorice, Jingliu, and the wide-eyed, giddy Vita steady, blunting the turbulence.

After who knew how long—an instant or an eternity—a stable light appeared in the chaos ahead, then rapidly expanded and swallowed them.

Solid ground came underfoot; the light around them grew gentle and steady.

A surge of primordial life—rich, fresh with soil and greenery—washed over them.

They’d arrived at the edge of a vast, boundless primeval forest. Ancient trees soared, crowns like canopies blotting the sky. In the distance, mountain ridges rolled in green, and the thunder of a great river could be heard.

The sky was a washed azure, sunlight dappling the ground through layered leaves.

The world’s energy was dense and hyperactive, yet untamed—wild.

“This is… the Star Dou Great Forest?”

Gu Yuena drew a deep breath. As the Silver Dragon King, her sensitivity to life-force and elemental energy was keenest.

The forest’s aura felt familiar—the rich life source like that at the core of the Star Dou Forest—but with subtle differences from her memories.

Lu Jingming scanned the surroundings, his spiritual sense rippling outward. He found no signs of recent humans or anomalous energies.

Clearly, the group pulled in earlier—Shrek Academy, Huo Yuhao, and many others—hadn’t landed with them. They’d likely been scattered randomly across this world.

“This is indeed the Star Dou Great Forest.”

He stepped to Gu Yuena’s side and confirmed, then explained:

“Only, this Star Dou in this parallel world may not be the one you know.”

He knew parallel worlds could diverge drastically in the details.

For example, the core of this forest—the Lake of Life—was currently home not to Di Tian and other ferocious beasts, but only to two hundred-thousand-year soul beasts: the Azure Bull Python and the Titan Giant Ape.

The so-called Ten Great Ferocious Beasts, the Silver Dragon King Gu Yuena—perhaps they never existed in this world’s history.

“Parallel worlds are countless—like different leaves on the same tree. The origins are similar, but the growth can diverge entirely.”

Lu Jingming said softly.

“Even if familiar people or things appear, their essence, experiences, and fate may be utterly different.”

Gu Yuena was silent a moment, tucking a strand of silver hair behind her ear.

She had already sensed the two powerful hundred-thousand-year auras at the Lake of Life. There was no trace of any ferocious-beast-level existence, and certainly no sign of another her.

That left her feeling both estranged and, inexplicably, relieved.

Otherwise, she truly wouldn’t know how to face her counterpart—remove the anomaly, or attempt coexistence? An unsolvable dilemma.

Lu Jingming couldn’t fully empathize with her inner tangle.

In his eyes, if another him existed, there was only one answer—kill or be killed.

His existence must be unique, not shared with any copy.

He faintly sensed, however, that for a variable like him, the chance of counterparts existing across parallel worlds was extremely slim.