Failed to Transmigrate, I’m Back Again - Chapter 28

“Sister Pei, let’s go kill someone! Tell me, who do you want to kill?”

Now that the anxiety of time passing was gone, Tang Wuyun was brimming with fighting spirit. She looked at Pei Yinxi with eager anticipation, awaiting her instructions.

Pei Yinxi and Bai Jin exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with confusion.

“Kill someone?” Pei Yinxi chuckled, then spread her hands in resignation. “I only have the ability to assimilate people.”

It was truly infuriating. The Messenger Faction could only assimilate people. The thought that the Teacher had resisted assimilation three times made her feel like there was no hope of winning this game.

Tang Wuyun froze.

“Huh? So none of the six eliminated players were taken down by you guys?”

Jiang Wenfei and Luo Xiting had been eliminated by her, while Shi Zhimiao had eliminated Zhang Rui.

As for Lu Yangming, Li Bing, and Zhang Ting (who had been eliminated before Luo Xiting), Tang Wuyun had previously assumed they were victims of infighting within the Messenger or Teacher Factions.

But now she was being told that the Messenger Faction hadn’t eliminated anyone at all.

Tang Wuyun wrinkled her nose in mild disdain. “Wow…”

How utterly useless.

It seemed her Sister Pei still didn’t realize that the Students she had assimilated could help her kill people.

Pei Yinxi sighed deeply. “Among those eliminated, everyone except Zhang Rui was one of us. We couldn’t possibly turn on each other.”

“We still don’t know how Zhang Rui eliminated us.”

Tang Wuyun exclaimed again, “Wow…”

Her clueless Sister Pei still didn’t realize there was a third faction in the arena.

With so many members in the Messenger Faction, how could their information be so outdated? Had they never found any crucial clues?

But perhaps there was another possibility.

The information Qiao Mian had shared about the Student’s ability was likely unique.

Zhang Rui’s identity was now clear: she was a Teacher.

That meant only three Teachers remained.

Bai Jin nudged Tang Wuyun’s arm, a hint of exasperation in her voice.

“What’s with all the ‘wows’?”

Tang Wuyun shook her head with a tsk, raised her eyebrows, and crossed her arms smugly. “Aiya, as Sister Pei’s most loyal sidekick, I have two bombshells to drop on you.”

She held up two fingers and waved them in front of the pair, her face beaming with pride.

Pei Yinxi chuckled at Tang Wuyun’s mischievous expression and nodded in agreement. “Tell us.”

Tang Wuyun excitedly pulled them into the shade of a tree. “First, you have to tell me who’s on our Messenger Faction team.”

She clicked her tongue in disdain.

While eliminating players on the Messenger side was difficult, at least their team information was public knowledge.

How could they have made such a mess of this?

It’s truly embarrassing.

Pei Yinxi replied, “The original six Envoys were me, Ji Mingyin, Luo Xiting, and Jiang Wenfei.”

“I assimilated Jin Jin and you. Luo Xiting assimilated Lu Yangming. Jiang Wenfei assimilated Li Bing and Wen Xianfeng. Ji Mingyin assimilated Zhang Ting.”

Tang Wuyun’s mind raced as she processed the names, struggling to keep track of the unfamiliar ones.

“So, Ji Mingyin and Sister Xiting only assimilated one person each, wasting one Assimilation opportunity each. And both times, it was on Shi Shuwu. Am I right?”

Realizing Shi Shuwu had wasted two of their opportunities, Tang Wuyun suddenly felt a strange sense of pride.

Pei Yinxi nodded. “That’s right. And you just eliminated Xiting. So, can you tell me how you managed to eliminate her?”

She remembered that Tang Wuyun’s identity was a Student.

Tang Wuyun gave Pei Yinxi a thumbs-up, immediately showering her with praise. “Sister Pei, you’re so sharp! You’ve hit the nail on the head!”

Without holding back, she shared all the information she knew with the two of them.

Pei Yinxi and Bai Jin listened, their jaws dropping in astonishment.

Multiple factions? Superpowers?

Tang Wuyun laid out all the known information, analyzed it, and summarized:

“The three of us, plus Ji Mingyin and Wen Xianfeng, are the only remaining Envoys in the game.”

“Excluding the two known Students, the Teacher faction members must be Shi Shuwu, Tan Hao, and Lu Ya.”

Bai Jin patted Tang Wuyun on the shoulder admiringly. “Looks like you weren’t just thinking about romance when you were with Shi Shuwu.”

Tang Wuyun: “……”

Pei Yinxi carefully considered the information Tang Wuyun had provided, then asked for clarification: “So, Students can eliminate Teachers, right? We don’t need to keep trying to Assimilate them?”

Tang Wuyun nodded. “Yes, yes, Zhang Rui was taken down by Miaomiao.”

She couldn’t resist adding, “Are we really supposed to rely on a Assimilation skill that only refreshes every two hours to deal with a Teacher who can resist multiple Assimilations?”

Moreover, this skill was currently only available to the initial Envoys, Pei Yinxi and Ji Mingyin.

Bai Jin explained, “There are exclusive Missions for Envoys. Completing them grants rewards that can instantly refresh the Assimilation skill.”

She added, “Sister Xiting had just claimed her reward when you took her down.”

Tang Wuyun blinked innocently. “I was just learning.”

Changing the subject, she asked, “Bai Jin, do you have any clues?”

Bai Jin nodded. “Yes, I’m still searching for clues.”

Tang Wuyun countered, “Have you never considered being Assimilated? Your superpower wouldn’t disappear.”

Bai Jin’s eyes lit up as she immediately understood.

Pei Yinxi also realized what Tang Wuyun meant.

Bai Jin: “But my symbol is a Pentagram.”

“A Pentagram…” Tang Wuyun’s body stiffened imperceptibly. She deliberately avoided mentioning that the Healing-type Student had a healing superpower.

“I don’t know. I’m not sure what abilities you’d gain after being Assimilated.”

Tang Wuyun vaguely brushed the matter aside.

She wasn’t lying; she genuinely didn’t know what abilities a Healing-type Student would gain after Assimilation.

She had even complained to Qiao Mian about why Healing-type Students couldn’t resist Assimilation, given their supposedly strong specialization.

Pei Yinxi: “Let’s not dwell on that for now. First, we need to test if we can actually use superpowers.”

With that, she produced a card.

“I just got this. At first, I couldn’t understand why there was such an elimination rule, since I can only Assimilate people. But now it makes sense.”

Tang Wuyun leaned over to examine the card.

It contained Tan Hao’s exclusive elimination condition:

A silver water gun is hidden beneath a small tree near Sun Moon Lake. Eliminating Tan Hao requires hitting him with the water gun from a distance of eight meters.

A special note indicated that only Attack-type Students could use the water gun, which explained why Pei Yinxi hadn’t understood it.

Tang Wuyun: “This doesn’t seem too hard.”

Just squirt him with the water gun.

A quick ambush would do the trick.

Tang Wuyun reached for the card, ready to eliminate Tan Hao immediately.

Ding!

The students’ watches chimed simultaneously with a notification.

Tang Wuyun’s face darkened as she read the message.

Bai Jin: “It seemed easy before, but now it’s complicated.”

The moment Tang Wuyun took the card, Tan Hao’s elimination condition had been publicly revealed.

Pei Yinxi remained optimistic. “It’s okay. At least it proves Wuyun’s guess was right.”

The Assimilation-type Student could indeed eliminate others, as the card hadn’t displayed this notification when it was in her possession.

The group immediately rushed to Sun Moon Lake to prevent Tan Hao from getting the water gun first.

Meanwhile, Shi Shuwu had just completed her exclusive Teacher Mission and obtained a Time Absorption Device.

Since Students posed the greatest threat to Teachers, she decided to find Shi Zhimiao and Qiao Mian immediately.

As for Tang Wuyun, she would spare her for now.

Shi Shuwu remained unaware that Tang Wuyun had already joined the Messenger Faction.

At the same time, after Tang Wuyun shielded her from Pei Yinxi, Shi Zhimiao reunited with Qiao Mian.

Qiao Mian handed her the newly acquired card.

“Here, this is the reward for completing the mission—the Difference Elimination Condition.”

Shi Zhimiao took the card. “Let’s save this for last. First, we need to find the information about the exclusive elimination method.”

Qiao Mian nodded in agreement.

She glanced down at her watch. “I can only heal Assimilation-type Students who have been assimilated for less than an hour. So I’ll need to find Tang Wuyun later.”

That girl had completely overplayed her hand, claiming she would “enter the game herself.”

Now Qiao Mian ran at the sight of her, terrified that if Tang Wuyun couldn’t be saved, she would be eliminated first.

Shi Zhimiao raised an eyebrow. “She’s just putting on a good show. The truth is, her own time is running out, so she’s trying to exploit a bug.”

And do a little spying on the side.

While Tang Wuyun was searching for a water gun, she encountered Wen Xianfeng, who was being “hunted” by Lu Ya.

Since Lu Ya’s Time Absorption Device was lethal to them, the two women chose to pretend they hadn’t seen anything.

Tan Hao’s elimination announcement sounded half an hour later.

In the end, Tang Wuyun emerged victorious, but Bai Jin had sacrificed herself along the way.

Tan Hao possessed a Time Absorption Device, and Bai Jin, unable to resist Pei Yinxi’s command, had shielded Tang Wuyun from the damage.

Tang Wuyun trembled.

Could subordinate Envoys really be used like this?

Sister Pei’s ruthless decision-making truly made her the perfect candidate for a major villain.

Pei Yinxi smiled warmly at her. “Well done.”

Tang Wuyun: “…I think so too.”

She watched Bai Jin and Tan Hao leave, maintaining a calm facade while her heart screamed inwardly.

Ahhh! When is Qiao Mian coming?! Why isn’t Qiao Mian here yet?!

Five minutes left! If she doesn’t come now, I won’t be able to save her!

I can’t resist Pei Yinxi’s commands either! What if I get dragged into shielding her from bullets next time?!

Tang Wuyun kept glancing at her watch.

The Qiao Mian she had been mentally summoning finally appeared with two minutes to spare, breathless from running.

Tang Wuyun was so moved she almost cried.

Glancing at Pei Yinxi, who seemed deep in thought, she quickly pretended to stop Qiao Mian, forcefully grabbing her arm.

“Hey! Don’t run!”

Taking advantage of the moment, Qiao Mian slapped Tang Wuyun hard on the forehead.

“Let go!” she yelled, playing along.

Tang Wuyun was stunned by the slap.

Is this Healing-type Student’s healing method a bit too rough? she thought to herself. Why the forehead slap?!

Qiao Mian chuckled inwardly. It’s not like I aimed for her forehead specifically. I just slapped whatever was closest.

Pei Yinxi approached the pair.

“What are you two… doing?”

Tang Wuyun’s back stiffened. “Sister Pei, stop her! Qiao Mian has Time Reduction Cards. We need to take them from her and Miaomiao.”

Qiao Mian’s eyes widened. What?!

Tang Wuyun is such a dog!

I ran all this way to save her, and she’s trying to screw me over?!

And she’s right! I do have Time Reduction Cards on me!

Without hesitation, Pei Yinxi reached for Qiao Mian’s bag.

Enraged, Qiao Mian slapped Tang Wuyun’s arm. “Get off me, b1tch!”

Tang Wuyun seized the opportunity to release her grip, pretending she’d lost her hold and letting Qiao Mian go.

Qiao Mian bolted.

Tang Wuyun called out to Pei Yinxi to join the chase.

Pei Yinxi grabbed her arm.

“Forget it. Let’s find Shi Shuwu. I’m short on time. Ji Mingyin said Shi Shuwu’s Assimilation resistance opportunities are exhausted. We need to find her.”

Tang Wuyun blinked. “Exhausted?”

How could that be? Did Ji Mingyin’s Assimilation skill refresh?

But Shi Shuwu knew Ji Mingyin’s identity. Why would she let herself be assimilated so easily?

Pei Yinxi continued, “Remember when Yaya was chasing Wen Xianfeng?”

“He’s the Pentagram pattern. You know Poisoned Milk? Ji Mingyin said he discovered that his superpower after being assimilated was identical to the Envoy’s Assimilation skill, but it could only be used once.”

Tang Wuyun stared at Pei Yinxi, her gaze wary.

If she can recognize the Pentagram as the Poisoned Milk skill, how could she not know I was a Healing-type Student before being assimilated? How could she not know about Healing-type Students’ abilities?

Tang Wuyun suspected she’d been exposed.

“Let’s go. Stop spacing out,” Pei Yinxi urged, her expression perfectly normal.

“Okay.”

Tang Wuyun temporarily suppressed her suspicions. Pei Yinxi hadn’t mentioned any terms like “Healing-type Student,” so perhaps she truly didn’t know.

By the time they found Shi Shuwu, over twenty minutes had already passed.

Qiao Mian and Lu Ya had been eliminated one after another.

The countdown on Tang Wuyun’s watch, which had paused when her identity reverted to Student, resumed ticking down. It now showed only one hour remaining, but in reality, she had only half an hour left.

Only five people remained on the field.

When they arrived, Shi Shuwu was confronting Shi Zhimiao.

Ji Mingyin arrived belatedly a few minutes later.

All five players were now present.

Tang Wuyun secretly sized up Shi Shuwu, realizing she was the last Teacher standing.

The atmosphere grew tense.

The only one truly anxious was Tang Wuyun, with her dwindling half-hour lifeline.

Tang Wuyun: “……”

She broke the silence first. “Stop standing around! Can’t you just start fighting already? I’m in a hurry.”

Shi Shuwu glanced at her, having already noticed her standing with Pei Yinxi. “Switched factions?” she asked.

Tang Wuyun shrugged. “Yep.”

Shi Shuwu didn’t believe her. Under the others’ puzzled gazes, she pulled out the Time Reduction Card Tang Wuyun had tried to steal earlier.

Tang Wuyun: “……”

Ding!

By the time the notification sounded, Tang Wuyun had already sidled up to Shi Zhimiao.

Tang Wuyun bowed deeply to Shi Shuwu, her voice dripping with sincerity. “Oh, thank you so much!”

This gave her an extra half-hour of time.

Pei Yinxi: “……”

While not entirely unexpected, she couldn’t quite decipher Tang Wuyun’s motives.

If Tang Wuyun was here to cause trouble, why had she also provided so much valuable information?

“Care to explain?”

Tang Wuyun tapped her wristwatch, feigning helplessness. “You guys took all my Time Reduction Cards! I’m out of time…”

She had merely squeezed out an extra hour.

And while she was in the Messenger Faction, she had leaked information to accelerate the elimination process.

Now that only five players remained, the single hour she had left would likely suffice.

Tang Wuyun couldn’t resist boasting, “I’m definitely the MVP of this whole game!”

As soon as the words left her lips, everyone immediately averted their gaze, refusing to look at her.

The already tense atmosphere ignited with her remark.

I can’t take this anymore. Time to clock out.

Shi Zhimiao dodged Shi Shuwu’s attack and hurled the water balloon she had obtained from her exclusive elimination reward at Ji Mingyin, instantly eliminating her.

Pei Yinxi used Ji Mingyin’s elimination to refresh her Assimilation skill. For a split second, she hesitated between assimilating Shi Zhimiao and assimilating Shi Shuwu, ultimately choosing Shi Zhimiao.

Meanwhile, no one in the arena paid any attention to Tang Wuyun, whose time was running out.

Feeling ignored, Tang Wuyun refused to accept her fate. She rushed over and grabbed Pei Yinxi’s arm.

“Sister Pei! I can do it! Choose me!”

Pei Yinxi: “……”

While assimilating someone who willingly offered themselves would be convenient…

But…

Pei Yinxi tugged her arm free. “Let go.”

Tang Wuyun stubbornly clung on. “Why wouldn’t you want someone who’s practically begging to be assimilated?”

Pei Yinxi pushed her away. “I can’t stand the sight of you. Get lost.”

Tang Wuyun stubbornly refused. “No!”

The two still locked in their stalemate exchanged awkward glances. “……”

Shi Shuwu clicked her tongue in annoyance. “Tsk!”

Shi Zhimiao echoed her. “Tsk…”

Neither could tolerate this nonsense.

Shi Zhimiao’s elimination conditions proved slightly more complicated. In the end, Shi Shuwu moved faster. The cube-like Time Absorption Device attached to the back of Shi Zhimiao’s hand, and the announcement of her elimination immediately reverberated throughout the arena.

Tang Wuyun: “…I’m done for.”

She was the last remaining member of the Student Faction, a lone, withering seedling.

Pei Yinxi glanced at Shi Shuwu, who clearly had no intention of letting herself be assimilated, and fell silent.

So, in the end, it was down to Tang Wuyun…

Pei Yinxi sighed and turned her head, meeting Tang Wuyun’s gaze.

Tang Wuyun promptly released her grip. “Politely declined, okay?”

She quickly retreated, adding with mock seriousness, “Your earlier rejection hurt my feelings. I’ve decided to go solo.”

Pei Yinxi: “……”

So Tang Wuyun had actually been trying to stop her earlier.

Shi Shuwu, tired of the stalling, pulled another identical device from her bag.

Tang Wuyun’s composure shattered. “Where did you get so many of those?!”

Shi Shuwu tossed the device in her hand. “How much time do you have left?”

Tang Wuyun admitted honestly, “…Less than an hour, probably.”

She still had Shi Zhimiao’s unactivated elimination condition, but it could only eliminate one person. Moreover, it wasn’t easy to trigger; the target had to say the exact phrase, “True or false, I don’t believe it,” without error.

Tang Wuyun pointed at Pei Yinxi, signaling Shi Shuwu. “Go ahead. I believe you.”

Pei Yinxi glanced at Shi Shuwu, pondering how to successfully hug her ten times.

She stood no chance; Shi Shuwu would never let her embrace her.

And indeed, Shi Shuwu swiftly eliminated her with practiced ease.

“Amazing, amazing!” Tang Wuyun clapped enthusiastically for Shi Shuwu.

Shi Shuwu’s eyes sparkled as she smiled back.

Pei Yinxi, annoyed, patted the back of Tang Wuyun’s head as she left.

Tang Wuyun grinned and waved goodbye.

Now only she and Shi Shuwu remained in the arena.

Shi Shuwu crossed her arms and tilted her chin at Tang Wuyun. “What about that skill of yours? The one where you can eliminate me just by saying a few words?”

Under the midday sun, Tang Wuyun shielded her eyes with her hand. Instead of answering, she countered, “Don’t you have that Time Absorption Device anymore?”

Shi Shuwu shrugged. “Nope. Too lazy to find it. I can just drag this out until you’re exhausted.”

The two stood facing each other in the sunlight, locked in a tense stalemate.

Tang Wuyun suggested, “Why don’t we find a place to sit and chat? I’ve still got over ten minutes left.”

Shi Shuwu: “Chat about what?”

Tang Wuyun grinned. “Anything. See if I can talk you to death.”

For the next ten minutes, Shi Shuwu listened to Tang Wuyun’s absurd ramblings.

For example…

Tang Wuyun: “Let me tell you, when I was eighteen, I ran away from home and met Sister Pei. That year, we became sworn sisters.”

Shi Shuwu: “But you’re sisters even without the oath.”

Tang Wuyun continued her nonsense: “Actually, I’m younger than you.”

Shi Shuwu’s eyes lit up: “Really? What good news!”

“So, you’ll call me ‘elder sister’ now!”

Tang Wuyun: “……”

Undeterred, Tang Wuyun persisted: “I’ve had eighteen relationships, each one different.”

Shi Shuwu: “Ah, I see. Impressive.”

Tang Wuyun: “Some were older, some were younger.”

Shi Shuwu: “Ah, even more impressive!”

Tang Wuyun gritted her teeth, her fists clenched tightly, and dropped her final bombshell: “I wet the bed last night!”

Her face flushed crimson as she spoke.

She was truly going all out to win!

Shi Shuwu’s eyes widened in horror: “No wonder you were so hostile when you saw me this morning! You were afraid I’d find out about…”

Tang Wuyun immediately cut her off: “Shi Shuwu!”

Shi Shuwu struggled to suppress a laugh. “Hmm?”

Tang Wuyun endured as long as she could. “Actually, there’s another me in this world.”

Shi Shuwu played along perfectly. “Where?”

Tang Wuyun stomped her foot in frustration, the stone tiles ringing with the impact.

She took a deep breath. “Forget it! I’m a bit unwell and prone to rambling. Just pretend you didn’t hear anything.”

Shi Shuwu nodded, still chuckling. “Mhm, I understand.”

Tang Wuyun clutched her head in anguish. Aaaaaah!

She was so furious she felt like she might twist herself into knots.

“Shouldn’t you have asked if I was telling the truth first? Then you could have said you didn’t believe me!”

Tang Wuyun’s composure completely shattered. Shi Shuwu was playing by her own rules!

Shi Shuwu chuckled softly.

“Truth or lie, I don’t believe it.”