Yandere Levelling in Her World-Chapter 175 - 176: Meiling’s Desire

Meiling stumbled back, her heart hammering so hard it felt like it would tear out of her chest.

"Y-you…" Her voice cracked. "That's impossible."

The man before her was still kneeling, chains dangling broken and lifeless around him. Golden light washed over his figure, too bright at first. Meiling raised an arm to shield her eyes, squinting as the glow slowly softened.

"Stop… stop shining like that," she muttered. "What are you?"

The light dimmed, as if responding.

Her breath caught.

The face beneath it was familiar. Too familiar.

Black hair, longer than she remembered. His face was sharper, cheeks sunken, skin marked with old scars and exhaustion. His shoulders were broader, his body lean but worn, like someone who had survived endless battles without rest.

And it was the man she dreamed about every night. It was the man that took her virginity.

It was none other than Ren.

But not her Ren.

"No…" Meiling whispered. "This is a trick. A hallucination. I died, didn't I?"

The man slowly raised his head. His movements were stiff, like every motion hurt. When his eyes met hers, they softened.

"You came here," he said quietly, his voice hoarse. "So you are the first one to witness me, my dear Meiling."

Meiling froze.

Her legs trembled. "You… you spoke."

He smiled faintly. It was a tired smile, filled with relief and something close to sadness.

"I was wondering how long it would take before one of you showed up," he said.

Her heart screamed at her to run. To turn around and flee from this impossible scene.

But her feet would not move.

"This is not real," she said, shaking her head. "You're not Ren. Ren is… Ren is younger. You are an hallucination."

The man chuckled softly. "It doesn't matter what I am, mortal girl."

That laugh hit her harder than any blow.

Tears welled up in her eyes. "Stop it," she whispered. "Stop talking like him."

The man lowered his gaze. "I cannot. Because I am him. You will understand soon enough...but I want your help now. He wants me. Ren is in danger."

Silence stretched between them.

Meiling took a step back. Then another.

"This is some kind of illusion," she said desperately. "A trial. Or a punishment. Or maybe I'm already dead and this is hell."

She looked around at the breathing walls, the pulsing floor. "Yeah. This definitely feels like hell."

The man shook his head. "You are not dead."

She snapped her gaze back to him. "Then what is this place?"

"A prison," he answered. "For me. And for something far worse. This land itself is a prison for us. We played with the universe too much and we are being punished for it/"

Her hands trembled as golden threads flickered around her fingers. "Then why do you look like Ren?"

He lifted his eyes again, meeting her gaze directly. "Because I am a Ren who failed."

Her chest tightened.

"What are you talking about?" she asked. "Where is the Ren I know?"

The man inhaled slowly. "Alive. Still fighting. Still ignorant. He needs me."

He looked at her carefully. "Still lustful."

Her throat went dry.

"Take me to him," he said softly. "He is the only one who can save this world."

Save it from what?

The words formed in her mind, but before she could speak, something twisted deep inside her.

A sudden heat surged through her body.

Meiling gasped and clutched her chest. "What… what is this?"

Her heart pounded, blood rushing through her veins like fire. Her gaze snapped back to the kneeling man, and her breath hitched.

Desire.

Raw, overwhelming desire.

At the same time, a violent rage surged up, sharp and suffocating.

Kill him.

The thought was not hers, yet it felt natural.

Her vision blurred red.

"Get away from my head!" she screamed.

Golden light exploded from her body.

Imperial Qi roared to life.

The threads shot forward like spears, sharp enough to pierce anyone. They aimed straight for the man's chest.

"Meiling!" the man shouted.

At the last instant, her body froze.

Her eyes widened in horror as she realized what she was doing.

"No!" she cried.

She forced the threads to shift. Instead of piercing flesh, they wrapped around the black chains binding him.

Crack.

The chains shattered like brittle glass.

The force knocked the man forward. He collapsed onto the pulsing ground, coughing violently.

Meiling staggered back, clutching her head. "What the hell was that?" she gasped. "Why did I want to kill you?"

"You will understand soon enough! Take me back to Ren...wherever he is. He shouldn't meet her without me. Only you can prevent this loop from happening again."

Meiling had no idea what this man was muttering about, but she understood one thing: she was actually going insane.

***

Drain was laughing so hard she had to clutch her stomach.

Ren stood a few steps away, back pressed to the cold concrete wall, eyes fixed on the main entrance of the safe zone. His posture was stiff, alert, every muscle tense. Only his face betrayed him, twisted into pure annoyance.

"Can you stop laughing?" Ren hissed. "You will blow our cover."

Drain tried. She really did.

She covered her mouth, shoulders shaking, but the moment she looked at him again, she lost it.

"Ren," she wheezed, "you look… you look like a scarecrow with big boobs."

Ren glanced down at his chest.

Two shallow metal bowls were stuffed under his uniform, uneven and clearly improvised. One sat slightly higher than the other.

"I did what I had to do," he muttered. "Now stop."

Drain wiped a tear from her eye. "You did not have to use bowls."

"They were the only option."

"They are dented."

Ren clenched his jaw. "If you laugh again, I am leaving you here."

Drain straightened, forcing herself to calm down. "Alright. Alright. Serious mode." 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

She took a deep breath.

Then snorted again.

Ren shot her a glare so sharp it could cut steel.

"Drain."

"Sorry," she said quickly, raising her hands. "I am done. I promise."

They both fell silent, listening.

The safe zone gate stood ahead, massive steel doors sealed shut for now. Guards moved along the walls. Spotlights swept the area in slow arcs. Beyond the gate, the outline of buildings glowed faintly with artificial lights.

A different world.

Drain leaned closer to Ren, lowering her voice. "You are really committed, huh."

"I do not have a choice."

She smirked. "You could have chosen smaller bowls. That size doesn't match your body."

Ren ignored that.

For a moment, they just waited.

Then Ren spoke quietly. "I have been hearing a lot about Judith."

Drain glanced at him, surprised by the sudden shift and Ren could notice the way her face changed as soon as he mentioned the name, but she kept her true feelings hidden. "Judith?"

Ren nodded. "Her name is everywhere. People whisper it even outside. Reforms. Purges. Arrests. Some call her a savior."

Drain hummed. "And some call her a tyrant."

Ren let out a short chuckle. "Love of the people, they say."

Drain tilted her head. "You do not believe that?"

Ren shook his head slowly. "Nobody does anything without a reason."

Drain studied him. "So you think she has an inner motive."

"She has to," Ren said. "Power does not move for free. Whatever she is doing, it benefits her somehow."

Drain crossed her arms. "Or she really believes she is fixing something."

Ren glanced toward the gate. "Belief is just another reason."

Drain did not argue.

The sound of engines cut through the night.

They both stiffened.

A convoy approached from the outer road. Military trucks first. Then a dark SUV. Behind them, few jeeps which were surely not traders.

Drain peeked around the corner. "This is it."

Ren nodded. "Stay sharp."

They adjusted their uniforms quickly. Drain pulled her cap lower. Ren straightened his posture, forcing his shoulders in, trying to sell the illusion.

The gate guards moved into position.

Orders were shouted. Vehicles slowed.

The massive doors began to open with a deep metallic groan.

Drain leaned close. "Follow my lead."

They merged into the flow, slipping behind a group of soldiers escorting the group. Ren kept his head down, copying their pace.

Everything felt too open. Too exposed.

They were halfway to the checkpoint when a voice called out.

"You."

Drain froze.

Ren felt his heart drop.

A female soldier stepped in front of Drain, eyes sharp, scanning her face.

"I have not seen you before," the soldier said. "Which unit are you from?"

Drain's went stiff.

Ren saw it instantly. The tension in her shoulders. The slight hesitation.

The soldier frowned. "Well?"

Ren stepped forward before Drain could speak.

"She is with me," Ren said.

The soldier turned to him. "And you are?"

Ren swallowed.

He pitched his voice higher.

"A-auxiliary unit," he said, forcing a terrible imitation of a woman's tone. "We were reassigned this morning."

Drain nearly choked.

The soldier raised an eyebrow. "Your voice sounds strange."

Ren coughed. "A virus I got from those junkies."

Silence.

Ren felt sweat slide down his back.

The soldier stared at him for a long second, then quickly backed down. "Fuck...you shouldn't have come to work. Don't give me those junkie diseases. I'm out."

She waved a hand. "Next time take a leave if you're sick,"

"Yes, ma'am," Ren said quickly, voice cracking again.

The soldier stepped aside.

Drain let out a breath she had been holding.

"Thank you," she said calmly.

They moved on.

Once they were out of earshot, Drain leaned in. "That voice was awful."

Ren muttered, "Now we are even."

Drain smiled faintly.

They followed the guards toward the gate as it fully opened.

Light spilled out from inside the safe zone.

Ren lifted his gaze and froze.

A jeep rolled past them slowly.

In the back, two women sat with their hands cuffed.

Ren recognized them instantly.

Kyouka.

Nina.

His breath caught.

For a split second, his mind went blank.

They looked worn. Dirt streaked their clothes. Faces hard but unbroken.

Ren felt something twist in his chest.

Like seeing a perfect meal after starving for days.

His lips twitched, almost smiling.

Then reality slammed back into him.

Handcuffs.

Arrested.

Guards everywhere.

Talking to them now was impossible.

Dangerous.

Ren lowered his head quickly, forcing his expression blank as the jeep passed.

Drain noticed his change. "You know them."

Ren nodded once. "Yes."

"Friends?"

"…Yes."

Drain did not ask more.

They crossed the threshold.

The moment they entered the safe zone, Ren felt it.

The air changed.

Clean.

Bright lights illuminated wide streets. Buildings stood intact. Markets buzzed with controlled activity. People walked without fear.

It was a paradise compared to the wasteland outside.

Ren stared, stunned.

"So this is New Norbata," he whispered.

Drain exhaled softly. "It's an exact recreation of society before the incident."

Ren's gaze drifted deeper inside.

Past the streets.

Past the walls.

His chest tightened.

"Kyouka," he muttered under his breath. "Is it you who is in danger…"

He paused.

His voice dropped even lower.

"…or is it you, mother. I sure hope I won't see her again. I hate every single thing about her."

The gate closed behind them.