Starting with a Breakup: Why Is the True Heiress My Possessive Ex? - Chapter 30

The goat’s body was rapidly consumed by black energy.

Its flesh shriveled and dissolved little by little until it began collapsing into darkness.

Su Qingya stared without blinking.

She was afraid the creature wouldn’t die so easily and remained ready to strike again at any moment.

Then—

Her body suddenly trembled even harder.

The silhouette hidden within the black mist was changing.

No matter how she looked at it…

It resembled a human being.

The goat…

Might actually have been a person.

The realization sent a wave of nausea rushing to her head.

She began shaking uncontrollably.

Instinctively, she clutched Xu Nian’s arm.

“Nian Nian…”

“I killed someone.”

“I think…”

“I really killed someone.”

“Calm down!”

Xu Nian grabbed Su Qingya by the shoulders and shook her several times.

There was no response.

Su Qingya remained trapped in overwhelming panic.

Xu Nian called her name repeatedly.

Nothing changed.

With no time left to think, she remembered something she had seen in movies.

She raised her hand and slapped Su Qingya firmly across the face.

Pain could sometimes bring people back to reality.

Especially pain directed at the head.

Su Qingya froze.

She stared blankly at Xu Nian, completely stunned by the slap.

Xu Nian paid no attention to her expression.

She immediately continued,

“Qingya.”

“Listen to me.”

“You didn’t kill a person.”

“That was a monster corrupted by paranormal influence.”

“You attacked to protect both of us.”

“You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“…A monster?”

“That’s right.”

“If you don’t believe me, look again.”

Slowly, Su Qingya turned her gaze toward the remains.

Most of the body had already been devoured by the black energy.

What remained no longer resembled a human at all.

Only the outline of some twisted creature lingered.

Gradually, the tension in her chest eased.

The fear consuming her finally began to fade.

At that moment, Xu Nian felt something activate inside herself.

It was an indescribably strange sensation.

Words.

Language.

Instinct.

Everything intertwined.

So this is Mockery…

Using language to distort another person’s perception.

Guiding them.

Deceiving them.

Making them accept a fabricated reality.

That explained why the rules repeatedly warned people never to converse with clowns or others likely connected to the Joy Pathway.

The moment someone accepted their guidance…

They would unknowingly step into the reality those beings created.

Xu Nian suddenly felt her understanding of her own pathway deepen.

Then she looked back toward the corpse.

In her own vision…

It had always been a human body.

It had never once appeared as a goat.

Just moments ago, it had desperately demanded their tickets.

Perhaps…

Anyone who lost their ticket eventually became like this.

Her thoughts immediately drifted toward the employees in red uniforms at the entrance.

They had enthusiastically encouraged visitors to hand over their tickets in exchange for lottery prizes.

If those people truly served the Fluxbeasts…

Then transforming humans into animals might well be one of the Joy Pathway’s abilities.

Losing a ticket meant losing protection.

Without it…

The Fluxbeasts could manipulate victims however they pleased.

Xu Nian was only a one-star Emotiopath.

According to everything she knew, higher-ranking members of the same pathway possessed overwhelming authority over those beneath them.

Until she became stronger…

Avoiding direct contact would be the wisest choice.

Once she sorted through her thoughts, she looked again toward the remains.

By then…

Nothing recognizable remained.

The darkness had consumed everything, leaving behind only an unidentifiable residue.

So this is Fear’s power…

Its destructive capability was terrifying.

Fortunately, she and Su Qingya had already reconciled.

If that spear had ever been aimed at her…

She doubted she could have survived.

[Fear Value: 52%]

Even while thinking, Xu Nian kept one eye on the pendulum ride.

It continued swinging overhead.

The passengers seemed completely unaware of what had just happened below.

“Nian Nian…”

“Yes?”

“My face hurts.”

Su Qingya covered the spot where Xu Nian had slapped her.

Her large eyes brimmed with tears as she looked pitifully at Xu Nian.

After Xu Nian’s explanation, she had completely recovered from her earlier state.

Now she was simply a wronged little girlfriend seeking comfort.

“I hit you pretty hard…”

“I didn’t have a choice.”

“You looked like…”

Xu Nian hesitated.

She couldn’t bring herself to say it.

For a moment back there…

Su Qingya had looked almost possessed.

What kind of pathway could cause something like that?

A high-ranking Fear Fluxbeast?

If Xu Nian ever encountered a powerful Joy Fluxbeast herself…

Would she literally laugh herself to death?

The thought alone was horrifying.

“I know…”

“But…”

Su Qingya lowered her head.

Xu Nian immediately understood.

She leaned closer and gently blew on the reddened cheek.

“There.”

“The pain’s gone.”

Then she softly kissed the swollen spot.

Su Qingya flinched from the lingering sting but didn’t resist.

Instead…

She rather enjoyed it.

Xu Nian’s fox heritage left her tongue unusually soft.

Its tiny papillae were smooth and harmless, making the sensation unexpectedly pleasant.

Just then—

A young man dressed in a blue uniform walked over.

His gaze landed on the two girls before a faint smile appeared.

“Good afternoon.”

“Are you visitors?”

“Is there anything I can help you with?”

Xu Nian immediately pulled away from Su Qingya.

A trace of annoyance flashed across her face.

Su Qingya looked equally displeased.

Though mixed with caution.

“Who are you?”

“Who am I?”

The employee looked puzzled.

“That’s a strange question.”

“I’m the attendant responsible for this attraction.”

“What else could I possibly be?”

“I’ve been sitting over there the whole time.”

“Didn’t you notice me?”

Xu Nian and Su Qingya exchanged bewildered glances.

They hadn’t.

In fact…

They had checked multiple times.

The area wasn’t large.

There was no way such a grown man could have escaped their notice.

Before they could ask further, he frowned.

“Speaking of which…”

“Who are you two?”

“We’re visitors.”

“We’re temporarily watching the attraction.”

“The employee who was here earlier went to the restroom.”

“She should be back soon.”

“…Temporarily watching it?”

He repeated the words slowly.

His confusion deepened.

“There’s only one attendant assigned to this pendulum ride.”

“What do you mean by ‘filling in’?”

“If you’re going to lie…”

“At least make it believable.”

“Huh?”

Xu Nian and Su Qingya stared at one another again.

“That’s impossible.”

“Then where were you just now?”

“I already told you.”

“I’ve been over there the entire time.”

“I never left.”

He pointed toward another waiting area near the entrance.

“Didn’t you see me?”

“No.”

Su Qingya immediately shook her head.

“Something’s wrong.”

“We’ve been here since the beginning.”

“We never saw you.”

While Su Qingya questioned him, Xu Nian’s mind raced.

Another Fluxbeast ability?

Then Su Qingya asked another question.

“If that’s true…”

“How did you see us?”

The employee answered matter-of-factly.

“I watched you walk in from the entrance.”

“And the moment you arrived…”

“You started flirting with each other.”

“I can tell your relationship is very good.”

“But honestly…”

“Isn’t making out in front of me a little disrespectful?”

Neither girl had the energy to feel embarrassed.

Instead, Su Qingya hurriedly continued,

“What about the goat?”

“There was a huge talking goat.”

“Didn’t you see it?”

“The goat?”

The employee looked increasingly impatient.

“What strange things are you talking about?”

“This is an amusement park.”

“There are no animals here.”

“If you want to see animals…”

“You should visit a zoo.”