Although everyone harbored their own thoughts, they ultimately decided to join “Paradise Entrance” together.
After all, most people knew nothing about this world, and now that someone was confidently promising them a way “to get out,” it was only natural they’d want to see for themselves.
Just as Jin Yuanxun was about to lead the group away, Qi Xia caught sight of a small path beside the square.
He had been down that path once before—it led to the safest game in “Terminal Land.”
One “token” for another, with no danger whatsoever, like a leisurely sightseeing trip.
If possible, Qi Xia wanted to see Rat again and apologize to that child.
“Everyone, go ahead with Jin Yuanxun. I’ll catch up later,” Qi Xia said quietly, stepping to the back of the group.
Jin Yuanxun frowned. “Brother, you’ll catch up? Do you even know where our organization is?”
Realizing his slip, Qi Xia quickly corrected himself. “Ah, I forgot to ask. Can you draw me a map?”
Jin Yuanxun nodded, pulling out a pre-prepared map from his pocket and handing it to Qi Xia. “Our base is in a school-like building. I drew this earlier.”
Qiao Jiajin eyed Qi Xia thoughtfully. “Oi, liar, what’re you up to?”
“Just taking a look around nearby,” Qi Xia replied. “Won’t take long.”
“I’ll come with you,” Qiao Jiajin said, glancing warily around. “This place feels off.”
“With me?” Qi Xia gave him a puzzled look.
“Yeah, didn’t we team up?” Qiao Jiajin grinned. “You’re my ‘brain.’ If you get lost, I’ll never make it back.”
Qi Xia nodded, reassured. Even if Qiao Jiajin didn’t remember the past, he was still himself.
“In that case…” Jin Yuanxun stepped forward. “Brothers, I’ll take the others ahead. Stay safe.”
…
“So, liar, where are we going?” Qiao Jiajin stretched lazily.
“Follow me.” Qi Xia led him down the path, his expression calm.
They wandered the narrow alleys for a while as Qi Xia searched his memory for Rat’s little warehouse.
That tiny storage space had held all of Rat’s hopes. She must have scavenged scraps from everywhere, meticulously designing her game.
And Qi Xia had destroyed it all.
If he could see her this time, he’d offer some advice to improve the game—help her earn more “tokens” as an apology.
“Strange…” Qi Xia scanned the street but saw no one outside any buildings. “Did I take a wrong turn?”
“Looking for something?” Qiao Jiajin asked.
“I…” Qi Xia hesitated. Though he trusted Qiao Jiajin, he still didn’t reveal his memories. “No, just wandering.”
As they rounded a corner, something dark lay sprawled across the road ahead.
Qi Xia froze, a bad feeling creeping in. He took a step forward, but Qiao Jiajin yanked him back.
“Oi, liar—hold up.”
Qiao Jiajin shielded Qi Xia, cautiously approaching.
A small, blackened corpse lay on the ground.
Her face was twisted and grotesque, skin peeling and dissolving into foul yellow pus.
From her abdomen bloomed a putrid, rotting flower of flesh.
“How…?” Qi Xia stared in horror at the tiny figure.
It was unmistakably Rat—yet she was dead.
Qiao Jiajin crouched, covering his nose. “The body’s past bloating, already decomposing. She’s been dead at least ten days.”
“Ten days?” Qi Xia’s chest tightened. “You’re saying she died ten days ago?”
“Maybe longer,” Qiao Jiajin said, stepping back. “The stench here is off. This whole city might be full of corpses.”
Qi Xia moved closer, a dull ache pulsing in his mind.
Why had everyone else revived—but not Rat?
Did she not have the “right” to resurrect?
But even Goat had come back. Why was Rat, another “Zodiac,” still here?
“Liar, did you know her?”
Know her…
Qi Xia didn’t know how to answer.
He didn’t even know her name. They’d only met once, in chaos. And if not for him, she wouldn’t be lying here.
He plucked a small dark-red flower from the roadside and placed it on Rat’s chest.
If she’d had a choice, she might’ve wished they’d never met.
“I didn’t know her. Just sad to see a child dead like this,” Qi Xia said. “Let’s go.”
Though confused, Qiao Jiajin followed his “brain.”
Three steps in, Qi Xia suddenly stopped.
“What’s wrong?” Qiao Jiajin asked.
Qi Xia turned back, staring at Rat’s corpse.
Something felt off.
He scanned the area—nothing but spilled pus around her.
Where was the mask?
Frowning, Qi Xia wondered: If this scene had been frozen for ten days, why was the mask missing?
Stolen? Or taken by “Vermilion Bird”?
Even with his memories intact, Qi Xia still knew nothing about this place.
To uncover the truth, he’d have to see Chu Tianqiu.
“Never mind. Let’s regroup with the others.”
They left the alley, returning to the now-empty square.
Qi Xia glanced up at the screen again—the same message:
*”I hear the echoes of ‘Calamity.'”*
“Echoers” he’d seen before never lasted this long. Han Yimo’s ability truly was unique.
As he studied the screen, Qi Xia noticed numbers carved into the display’s pillar:
**87**
He traced the digits with his fingers.
These numbers were everywhere in the city. What did they mean?
“I have too many questions for Chu Tianqiu.”
Turning away, Qi Xia suddenly found himself face-to-face with a withered, smiling old man.
The man stood on tiptoe, his body like a gnarled dead tree.
His wrinkled face inched closer to Qi Xia’s.
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