DD Black White [399-400] (Patreon)

Chapter 399: Sparkle Surrounded

The demigoddess of the ocean encountered the Sea God’s inheritance—Cerydra could hardly believe the Sea God would have no designs.

As expected, the Sea God had indeed set his sights on Hysilens, intending to pass his godhood to her.

As a former empress who once ruled a domain and understood the essence of power, Cerydra instantly saw through the opportunity and necessity hidden within.

They were outsiders, memories bound together by negative energy, dependent on the Holy Grail and their Master to exist.

Though powerful, they were ultimately under someone else’s control, and their existence was far from perfect.

But becoming a god—condensing divinity with this world’s rules, reforging one’s being with vast divine power—what did that mean?

It meant true independence.

It meant breaking all external shackles, truly existing as a complete, immortal lifeform.

Moreover, the Sea God’s authority over the oceans was a perfect match for Hysilens’s primordial power.

If successful, Hysilens could regain her power as an ocean demigod. Even if the Sea God was only a first-rank god, Hysilens could quickly elevate the position to God King.

With this, they’d finally have the means to survive in this world.

Meeting Hysilens’s questioning gaze, Cerydra gave the faintest nod.

Receiving this affirmation, Hysilens looked back at Bo Saixi, who maintained a respectful gesture, eyes full of hope and resolve.

“Alright, I accept the Sea God’s Nine Trials.”

Before the Sea God Temple, the sunlight was just right, and the sea breeze brought the distant sound of waves, as if heralding the birth of a new Sea God.

…

In the afternoon in Heaven Dou City, sunlight lazily filtered through the thinning clouds onto the bluestone-paved streets.

Though the city had experienced the turmoil of a dynastic change, it did not appear desolate. Instead, there was a peculiar calm, the air thick with a stagnant energy unique to the changing of eras.

The Spirit Empire’s takeover was still new, but their touted, civilian-friendly policies had begun to take effect.

Street vendors still hawked their wares, carriage wheels rumbled, and pedestrians chatted. There was less of the old panic from nobles’ carriages dominating the roads, and more cautious curiosity.

For most commoners, whether the flag above changed from a swan to a six-winged angel mattered far less than whether tomorrow’s table had an extra piece of meat.

The Spirit Hall’s reputation, built over centuries among the people, now served as the most effective stabilizer, making the transition of power smooth at the grassroots.

The real undercurrents and resistance mostly hid behind the closed doors of former noble mansions and certain sects’ shadows.

In this seemingly ordinary street scene, a strikingly red figure darted through the crowd like a dancing flame spirit—out of place yet utterly at ease.

She was a young girl, clad in fiery red of a most unusual style, nothing seen in any part of Douluo Continent.

Her steps were light, almost skipping, her black hair bouncing playfully with her movements.

Her bright, lively eyes brimmed with curiosity and excitement. She glanced everywhere—at candy figures from street vendors, sparks in the blacksmith’s shop, some curious accessory on a passerby—as if everything in the world drew her interest.

Her lips always held a sly, happy smile, and she hummed a tuneless yet lively ditty. Anyone could see she was in a fantastic mood.

Yet, the strangest part was not her clothes or behavior, but the way those around her seemed to not notice her at all.

She moved boldly among the crowd, yet it was as if an invisible barrier kept her apart.

Rushed pedestrians instinctively avoided her, but no one gave her a second glance. Vendors’ eyes passed over her as if she were air.

It wasn’t deliberate ignorance—some force made their brains automatically filter out the too-bright red, making her a reasonable blank spot in everyone’s vision.

At that moment, atop a nearby rooftop, a tall figure stood silently.

Lu Jingming, dressed in black, let his clothes flutter gently in the breeze.

His deep gaze pierced the noise below, locking precisely onto the lively red figure in the crowd. A faint smile curled his otherwise calm face.

“Finally found you, Sparkle.”

He muttered to himself, so quietly only he could hear.

The red-dressed girl below, frolicking like a wild horse, was none other than the Masked Fool—Sparkle—who had blown open a space-time passage in Mingdu City, upending meticulously laid plans in a single stroke.

At this moment, she was using her signature ability, born of the Path of Elation, to dampen her presence and fool both mortals and ordinary soul masters.

This power played with perception, enough to let her pass through most places like a ghost.

Unfortunately, this clever trick was as obvious as sunlight to Lu Jingming, completely exposed.

Lu Jingming’s gaze followed the red figure.

This troublesome imp, as he’d labeled her in his mind, was utterly unpredictable.

She delighted in ruining others’ plans and sowing chaos.

The longer she roamed free, the higher the risk of unforeseen trouble. Who knew if she’d get bored and throw the world another surprise, blowing up his or someone else’s schemes?

Seizing this unstable variable as soon as possible was undoubtedly the wisest choice.

He had to take down this mischievous girl.

Below, Sparkle seemed completely unaware.

She hummed even more cheerfully, then turned off the main street into a quiet alley.

Tall walls cast deep shadows, isolating the noise outside.

The moment she entered, her pure curiosity melted away, replaced by a radiant grin of smug excitement.

Thinking back to Mingdu City, to when she blasted open the time-space passage, to the shock she’d probably caused the mastermind and the anger that might have appeared on Celenova’s icy face, a rush of indescribable pleasure shot up her spine.

The thrill of smashing carefully laid, seemingly flawless plans was unmatched.

To shatter every set track, to watch people scramble and fume—

“Pfft…”

She couldn’t help but laugh out loud, then quickly covered her mouth, shoulders trembling as she tried to suppress it.

Her beautiful eyes curved into crescents, sparkling with pure joy.

Truly, this was the height of fun!

Sparkle was still riding the high of her orchestrated chaos, her lips quirking up as she imagined the countless frustrated faces left in her wake.

She didn’t even notice the shadow quietly blocking the alley entrance.

Or perhaps, with her foxlike cunning, she had noticed—she just didn’t care.

“Masked Fool.”

A crisp, determined female voice broke the silence.

Firefly stood there, gripping a uniquely shaped winged device, face serious and eyes sharp, locked on Sparkle.

“Surrender now, or you’ll die.”

Only then did Sparkle seem to notice, patting her chest in exaggerated shock and feigning fright, her tone full of mockery:

“Oh my, who could it be? Turns out it’s the Stellaron Hunters’ tin can—Sammy, right? So scary! I’m such a coward, please don’t frighten me~”

Firefly frowned, remembering Lu Jingming’s warning:

“Don’t engage in conversation. Capture her directly.”

Knowing the Masked Fool’s greatest talent was unsettling others with words, Firefly didn’t hesitate a second longer.

“Boom—!”

Fiery energy and mechanical parts unfolded in a flash, transforming the petite girl into the armored mecha Sam.

Without warning, her metal fist, wrapped in crimson energy, blasted toward Sparkle.

The alley wall cracked under the shockwave.

But the devastating punch merely passed through Sparkle’ body.

Her figure rippled like a reflection struck by a stone, then shattered like glass.

With a crisp sound, she turned into countless floating motes of light, disappearing without a trace.

All that remained was a faint, mocking sense of joy.

An illusion.

Firefly stood her ground, unsurprised.

She’d long known the infamous Masked Fool wouldn’t be caught so easily—her attack was just a test.

Almost simultaneously, in another nearby alley, the real Sparkle revealed herself, a smug smile on her lips.

But the smile froze.

Ahead stood another figure—a girl wielding a giant purple scythe, its blade curved in a deadly arc, radiating ominous light.

She was willowy, her face hidden in shadow, but her calm eyes reflected the Styx itself—this was Castorice, the demigoddess of death.

Castorice said nothing, nor did she make any threatening moves.

She merely raised her eyes, and a deep, viscous purple domain spread from her feet.

Where the purple passed, even light was swallowed; moss withered instantly, the air turned icy, and a dead silence swept toward Sparkle.

“Tch!”

Sparkle cursed inwardly, “I hate these silent types who just go all out.”

Castorice was no brute, but she was faithfully executing Lu Jingming’s orders—deal with Sparkle directly, no need for words.

As the death domain closed in, Sparkle’ figure again scattered into motes of light.

Her real body escaped once more.

Using such high-level illusion and space techniques twice in a row consumed her greatly.

She dared not linger, flickering through the city shadows, trying to escape the area.

But just as she thought she was safe, a suffocating pressure crashed down, like an invisible mountain.

The space ahead twisted, and a stunning silver-haired, purple-eyed figure appeared.

Gu Yuena floated above the ground, seven colored orbs representing the elements rotating around her, exuding overwhelming power.

Gold, green, blue, red, yellow, black, and silver interwove, making her seem a true goddess of elements.

Just standing there, her draconic aura and the tide of elements made the air thicken, and Sparkle’ energy felt sluggish.

Sparkle’ face twitched again.

Against Firefly and Castorice, she could have countered, but found it troublesome.

But this woman… she truly could not win.

“Time to run.”

Sparkle instantly activated her joyful path, trying to create an illusion and slip into a spatial rift.

Her illusions were exquisite. As her real body slipped into the rift, even Gu Yuena’s elemental orbs paused, losing their target.

But at that moment—

Clang!

A clear sword hum echoed, chilling the very air.

A sword energy, refined to the extreme, sliced into the space where Sparkle hid.

“Ugh!”

Sparkle gasped as the space around her froze, the icy sword intent forcibly breaking her escape and dragging her out, stumbling.

Not far away stood Jingliu, silver hair cascading, ice crystal sword in hand, exuding glacial cold.

Her blood-red eyes locked onto Sparkle without emotion, her killing intent and sword aura freezing Sparkle in place.

In front, Jingliu’s sword; behind, Gu Yuena’s pressure; left and right, seemingly no way out—no, not quite.

Chapter 400: Masochist Sparkle

As Sparkle reeled, thinking of how to escape, a warm, strong hand suddenly landed on her shoulder from behind.

Her whole body froze, blood turning to ice.

She could sense the terrifying presence behind her.

Lu Jingming had appeared behind her like a ghost.

He didn’t use force. Instead, with an irresistible yet oddly intimate gesture, he pulled the petite Sparkle into his arms, holding her tight.

The warmth and softness of the girl in his arms, her fresh scent—yet Lu Jingming’s heart was as calm as an ancient well.

He lowered his head, lips almost touching her sensitive ear, and whispered in his cold, magnetic voice:

‘Hello, Sparkle. You think you can just run after your little prank? Aren’t you underestimating me?’

His tone was calm, yet colder than Jingliu’s sword, more suffocating than Castorice’s death domain.

Sparkle knew—this time, the butterfly who thrived on chaos had truly fallen into a carefully woven web.

Trapped in Lu Jingming’s arms, feeling Gu Yuena’s draconic might, Jingliu’s freezing sword intent, and the silent encirclement of Firefly and Castorice, Sparkle’ ever-reckless mind finally began to run at full speed.

Fight back?

A joke—any one of Gu Yuena or Jingliu could flatten her, never mind the others and the inscrutable Lu Jingming.

Run?

She’d tried—but in the face of overwhelming power and a prepared ambush, her illusions and space tricks weren’t enough.

The wise submit to fate. The Masked Fool loved mischief, but she wasn’t stupid.

Almost instantly, the shock at being exposed faded from her face, replaced by a pitiful, tearful look. She squirmed in Lu Jingming’s grip, her voice soft and pleading:

“Uuu… Brother Lu, I know I was wrong~ really, I do, please let me go? I surrender, I promise I’ll be good and never cause trouble again.”

Her big, expressive eyes tried to squeeze out tears, her tone seemingly sincere.

But Lu Jingming just looked at her blankly.

He knew this imp well—her promises were flimsier than bubbles; her surrender was a stopgap.

Without a truly memorable lesson, she’d forget the pain and cause even bigger disasters next time.

“Wrong?”

His voice was flat, emotionless.

“Just saying sorry isn’t enough.”

Before she could react, he spun her around, pressing her face-down over his knee, her red-dressed rear exposed to all.

“What are you—?!”

Panic finally entered her voice as she struggled.

His answer was a raised hand, coming down hard.

Smack!

A sharp slap echoed in the alley.

Sparkle went blank, her mind wiped clean.

Only when the burning pain exploded did she realize—

She, the Masked Fool Sparkle, was… being spanked?!

Utter humiliation!

Smack! Smack! Smack!

Lu Jingming didn’t stop. The slaps were steady, not too hard, but enough to hurt and shame.

He wanted to break all her pretenses, to make her remember the lesson.

Firefly and Castorice, even the cool Gu Yuena and Jingliu, all showed odd expressions.

Firefly subconsciously turned away, shoulders shaking as she suppressed laughter.

This scene was, for the Masked Fool, almost too dramatic.

At first, Sparkle was mortified, struggling and sobbing, but Lu Jingming held her easily.

The pain brought tears to her eyes.

But gradually, a strange feeling began to grow inside her.

She was the Masked Fool, a traveler of joy and chaos.

All things, noble or base, order or chaos, could become fuel for her joy.

And now—such humiliation, pain, helplessness, and the subtle thrill of powerful onlookers—

Wasn’t this a new, twisted, and ultimate kind of joy?

“Ah…!”

But her cry was different now, a tremble and an odd undertone.

Lu Jingming paused, seeing Sparkle’ face, now twisted in a morbid, yet strangely enchanting, smile.

Her eyes were glazed, but deep within burned a twisted excitement. Her lips curved maniacally.

Lu Jingming: “???”

He froze, hand in midair.

He’d seen much, but even he was stunned.

He knew Masked Fools were crazy, but not to this extent.

This wasn’t just shameless—it was terminal.

Especially with Sparkle’ blushing face—even Lu Jingming felt his scalp tingle, loosening his grip.

This punishment… was going somewhere he’d never expected.

Firefly, Castorice, and the others’ smiles vanished, replaced by shock, speechlessness, and deep wariness.

They realized the Masked Fool was even more troublesome and incomprehensible than they’d thought.

Sparkle used the chance to slip away, staggering to her feet.

She rubbed her still-burning rear, but her smile only grew more warped, her gaze glued to Lu Jingming like she’d found a fascinating new toy.

“Brother Lu… today’s lesson—I’ll be sure to remember it~”

Her voice was sweet yet husky, dangerously so.

For the first time, Lu Jingming felt uncertainty—was capturing this imp really the right choice?

She was like an uncontrollable flame—the more you tried to douse her, the more wildly she burned.

He’d planned that if she fought too hard, he’d simply eliminate her.

He was never hesitant—if someone threatened his plans, he’d destroy them without mercy.

But now, things had gone completely off-script.

Not only did Sparkle surrender, after her initial shock, she even seemed tamed, waving a white flag.

Even during that humiliating punishment, she simply whimpered, body trembling—but behind her eyes, there was no humiliation or anger, only a strange, kindled light.

This utterly illogical reaction shattered his intent to kill.

Lu Jingming sighed inwardly.

It’s just… different.

If it were anyone else, they’d be ashes by now.

But this was one of his 2D waifu, someone he’d gazed at through a screen on countless nights.

This one-sided bond left him with unnecessary patience.

Honestly, Sparkle’ actions were outrageous, her explosion tearing open the walls between worlds—a disaster by any measure.

But in the end, it didn’t cross his bottom line—no one he cared about was harmed, his core plans weren’t ruined.

This kind of mischief, while troublesome, was within his tolerance.

In fact, opening a stable passage between worlds had long been part of his plan—Sparkle just forced it ahead in the most dramatic way.

Like Vita, another headache, Masked Fools could be troublesome, but if guided right, might become useful.

As Lu Jingming weighed pros and cons—

Sparkle, recovering from her ordeal, wasn’t discouraged. Her eyes shone as if she’d discovered treasure.

Failed? Captured? Humiliated?

None of that mattered.

What mattered was this man—Lu Jingming.

He not only saw through her flawless plans, but gathered such powerful, unique followers.

He himself was shrouded in mystery—strong, enigmatic, dangerously attractive.

To follow him, to cling to him—there would be more, greater, and more unimaginable excitement.

That was far better than playing little pranks alone.

So, under Lu Jingming’s surprised gaze, Sparkle lifted her still-flushed face and grinned, her tone full of unconcealed interest:

“Oh my Looks like I’ve finally met a really tough opponent!”

She sang the words, eyes sparkling.

“So… my esteemed, powerful captor, what will you do with me now?”

She winked, lashes fluttering, a hint of challenge and anticipation in her look.

“Will you lock me up in some dark, damp cell? Or… keep me by your side, under your strict watch?”

Her tone was playful, her attitude not one of fear, but eager anticipation for whatever might come.