Chapter 6: The Avatar Is Me
“I say…”
Wang Ming was about to comment on the improbable couple he’d just seen when he turned around and didn’t find the breathtakingly beautiful man.
Wang Ming: “…”
Instead of the man, he saw a mirror.
Wang Ming: “…”
I don’t remember a mirror being here, he thought.
He stepped forward and looked at his reflection, seeing no difference from his morning reflection. Just an ordinary-looking guy, he thought.
After looking, he instinctively stepped back from the mirror, only to see another mirror layered on top.
And another.
And another.
This wasn’t a stutter in Wang Ming’s internal monologue. Looking up, he saw countless golden mirrors stacked upon each other, reaching to the heavens, forming a colossal pillar of mirrors!
That thick pillar, it must support the heavens! Wang Ming marveled.
Before he finished marveling, the pillar began to slowly move.
Wang Ming: “!”
“Earthquake!” he shouted.
He then saw the ant and elephant, now back in human form, staring at him with a “Is this guy crazy?” expression.
Wang Ming: “…”
Focusing back on the pillar, he saw it moving rhythmically, as if… breathing.
“What are you yelling about? There’s no earthquake, that’s the Crown Prince,” the ant said, turning around to explain.
Wang Ming: “…”
“What crown prince?”
As Wang Ming was utterly confused, a deep, commanding voice boomed from above, like the roar of an ancient beast.
“You fool, that’s a dragon!”
The ant shrank back, and the elephant instinctively hugged him, then they both recoiled, disgusted.
Wang Ming: “…”
I think their divorce might not be happening.
As he thought this, the pillar vanished, replaced by the beautiful man.
“Crown Prince.”
The ant and elephant greeted him. The beautiful man nodded in return.
Wang Ming: “…”
“Your nickname is Crown Prince?” Wang Ming asked.
“No, I really am a Crown Prince,” the beautiful man said.
Wang Ming: “…”
“You can call me that,” the beautiful man continued.
Wang Ming: “…”
“No,” Wang Ming said. “I oppose feudal superstition.”
The breathtakingly beautiful man: “…”
Wang Ming: “…”
“I believe in equality for all. Why should I call you Crown Prince?” Wang Ming argued.
“I think your belief in equality doesn’t contradict my title,” the beautiful man said. “You’re right that all are equal, because I’m not human.”
Wang Ming: “…”
I’m at a loss. I don’t know how to logically refute him, Wang Ming lamented, realizing he needed a logic class, even a paid one. Free online courses would be ideal, of course.
As Wang Ming internally repeated “next time,” the Crown Prince sighed.
“My name is Ao Chen,” the beautiful man said.
Wang Ming: “…”
If he’s a living Crown Prince, why not “Ao Crown Prince,” “Ao Heir Apparent,” “Ao Below One, Above Ten Thousand”? Why Ao Chen?
Wang Ming’s brow furrowed in confusion as he stared at Ao Chen. Ao Chen ignored him, clearly not intending to explain his name’s origin.
Wang Ming: “…”
Forget it. I just need his signature on the divorce papers. I don’t need to know how his parents named him. It’s the same as the baffling names some parents give their kids these days, he thought.
Wang Ming then decided it was best to remain uninvolved, finding that much more pleasant, and let the matter go.
“Crown Prince? You’ve come!”
As Wang Ming calmed down, he heard a strong voice greeting them.
He looked and saw a burly man approaching, his gold necklace dazzling everyone.
“This is the Director of the Red String Office,” Ao Chen whispered to Wang Ming.
Wang Ming: “…”
Like a matchmaker? Wang Ming thought, deciding to call him “Matchmaker Lao” internally.
“Rare guest! Rare guest!” the burly man approached, greeting Ao Chen familiarly.
“So, are you here for another investigation?” the burly man asked Ao Chen, completely ignoring Wang Ming.
Wang Ming: “…”
Wang Ming was used to being ignored when he was with others. Besides, standing next to such a strikingly handsome man, their visual resolutions seemed different.
As Wang Ming mused, he heard Ao Chen speak.
“I’m here to sever a red string,” Ao Chen stated.
“Oh,” the burly man nodded.
“What?!” The burly man yelled.
Wang Ming: “…”
I wonder what his real form is. Is he related to a squawking chicken? Wang Ming thought, impressed by the yell’s power.
“Your Highness, you’ve hidden yourself away from the world, and yet you’ve become bound by a red string?!” the burly man exclaimed in disbelief, shaking his head and sighing.
“Oh my God, this is incredible!”
“Wait a minute,” Wang Ming said. “You still believe in God after all this? You’re probably from a different system…”
The burly man: “…”
Ao Chen: “…”
“I’m just expressing my surprise dramatically, young man, don’t overthink it,” the burly man dismissed his comment. “Oh, who is this guy?” he gestured towards Wang Ming, suddenly remembering.
“He’s the one bound to me by the red string,” Ao Chen answered frankly.
The burly man: “…”
“Ah!?” The burly man exclaimed again.
“This is it?!” The burly man pointed at Wang Ming, incredulous, confirming with Ao Chen.
Wang Ming: “…”
“What? The avatar is me, unsatisfied?” Wang Ming asked.
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