“I…”
Han Yimo was completely bewildered by this sudden, emotionally charged moment.
“Chen Junnan… Before, I only knew you were always causing trouble, but I never thought deep down you…”
“That’s all in the past. But now my sworn brother tells me you’re a mole… What do you expect me to do?” Chen Junnan asked solemnly, his voice heavy. “What exactly can I do?”
At this moment, Han Yimo felt like he’d seen a similar plot in a movie, but he couldn’t recall the next lines.
“And don’t think I haven’t considered switching sides,” Chen Junnan continued. “But the problem is, that person is my brother. I can’t leave. Even if he’s walking the wrong path, I’ll stay by his side.”
“I… I think I get it now,” Han Yimo scratched his head. “So you’re also…”
“That’s why I can only entrust this to you…” Chen Junnan shook his head, cutting Han Yimo off. “I can’t help you, and I can’t help him eliminate you either. One side is my brother, the other is the ‘Light of Justice’ in the ‘Land of the End.’ Staying neutral is the best choice I can make.”
Han Yimo stood frozen for a long time before finally squeezing out three words: “Thank you…”
“No need.” Chen Junnan waved his hand. “The few words Old Qi whispered to me earlier were, ‘Han Yimo is a mole sent by the other side. Interrogate him thoroughly here, and if necessary, beat him up.'”
“Wha—?”
Han Yimo hadn’t expected his cover to be blown. Luckily, Qi Xia, like the villains in books, preferred to have his underlings handle things after uncovering the truth—giving protagonists like him a chance to escape death.
“You know I can’t bring myself to do it.” Chen Junnan turned back, his expression unusually sorrowful. “But if he comes back and finds no signs of torture… your situation will be even more dangerous.”
Han Yimo gulped and said, “Chen Junnan, it’s fine. Just knowing you care is enough.”
“Sigh…” Chen Junnan exhaled. “So even though I can’t do it… I still have to put on a show for Qi Xia. You understand, right?”
“Yeah, I get it.” Han Yimo nodded. “The ‘bitter flesh’ tactic.”
“Then… apologies in advance?”
“Go ahead.”
Han Yimo never expected Chen Junnan to hit so hard. With one punch, he knocked him to the ground and started stomping on him mercilessly.
Still, if it was just for show… getting a little hurt was understandable.
But as Chen Junnan kicked him, he kept muttering things like, “Damn mole,” “Spreading rumors, huh?” “Murdering families, you bastard?” and “You’re a damn curse on people!”—sounding a little too convincing.
Sure, a performance had to be thorough… but was *this* level of thoroughness really necessary? There wasn’t even anyone else around to hear it.
“Oww… enough… enough already…” Han Yimo blocked Chen Junnan’s blows and wheezed. “Do you really have to act *this* real?”
Hearing this, Chen Junnan quickly crouched down and helped Han Yimo up, his face full of concern. “Sorry… Did I hit you too hard?”
“The force isn’t the issue…” Han Yimo rubbed his sore arms. “It’s the things you were saying… It felt like you *actually* wanted to beat me up.”
“You’re wrong…” Chen Junnan said. “It’s *because* I couldn’t bring myself to do it that I had to shout those things to psych myself up. Like chanting ‘one, two’ during a tug-of-war—just slogans, no real meaning.”
“Is that so…” Han Yimo stood up, stretching his aching limbs. “Well, you’ve beaten me, interrogated me… Qi Xia shouldn’t suspect anything now, right?”
“Don’t worry about that.” Chen Junnan nodded. “Remember, I’m on your side now. If Qi Xia *does* get suspicious, I’ll definitely help smooth things over for you.”
“Whew, that’s a relief.” Han Yimo smiled. “I was just worrying about how to dismantle Qi Xia’s team from the inside. With your help… it’s like adding wings to a tiger.”
Han Yimo felt the plot was unfolding perfectly. Often, protagonists couldn’t accomplish such difficult tasks alone—they *needed* allies along the way. Things were clearly looking up.
Chen Junnan was his first ally. As the saying goes, “No discord, no concord.” Memories of his past interactions with Chen Junnan surfaced, piecing together a clumsy, melodramatic subplot in his mind.
But Chen Junnan, hearing this, felt he hadn’t kicked Han Yimo hard enough. *Dismantle Qi Xia’s team from the inside?*
Didn’t that mean sending the entire team to their deaths?
But it didn’t matter. Chen Junnan knew Qi Xia had kept Han Yimo in the preparation zone for two reasons.
First, to prevent news of Qiao Jiajin’s critical condition from leaking. Second, to exploit “Disaster Calling” for victory.
As always… Qi Xia didn’t need Han Yimo’s consent to use him. His “Echo” was already being wielded like a weapon.
“Wait…” Chen Junnan suddenly froze, realizing something eerie. “Can Han Yimo’s ‘Echo’ even be used *here*?”
…
Qi Xia arrived at the far-right room. Though it was on the edge of the map, it still had four “doors.”
Except the one on the rightmost wall was black. At the start of the game, Earth Dragon had said exiting through these meant “desertion.”
At the moment, Sweet was standing inside, eyes closed, deep in thought.
“Sweet,” Qi Xia called softly.
She turned immediately, locking eyes with him.
“Why did you leave the ‘preparation zone’…?” A hint of caution flashed in her gaze.
“I need to cross the river, so I passed by.” Qi Xia replied. “I wanted to check on your progress.”
“Not good…” Sweet relaxed slightly but shook her head. “It’s too hard to ‘Echo’ here.”
“Is that so?” Qi Xia nodded. “But since we can’t hear the ‘Bell,’ maybe you’ve already ‘Echoed’ without realizing it?”
“Huh?” Sweet blinked. “Is that possible…?”
“Try it.” Qi Xia said. “You still have your ‘word’ on you, right?”
“I…”
Han Yimo was completely thrown by this sudden, emotionally charged scene.
“Chen Junnan… before, I only knew you were always causing trouble, but I never imagined that deep down you…”
“That’s all in the past,” Chen Junnan replied in a low voice. “But now my good brother tells me you’re a spy… What am I supposed to do? What can I possibly do?”
At that moment, Han Yimo felt like he had seen a similar plot in a movie, but he couldn’t remember the next line.
“Don’t think I haven’t considered defecting to the other side,” Chen Junnan continued. “But that person is my sworn brother. I can’t leave. Even if he’s walking the wrong path, I’ll stay by his side.”
“I… I think I’m starting to understand,” Han Yimo scratched his head. “So you’re also…”
“So this matter can only be entrusted to you…” Chen Junnan shook his head, cutting him off. “I can’t help you, and I can’t help him eliminate you. One is my brother, the other is the ‘Light of Justice’ in the Land of Endings. Staying neutral is the best choice I can make.”
Han Yimo stood frozen for a long moment before finally squeezing out three words: “Thank you…”
“No need,” Chen Junnan waved his hand. “The few words Old Qi whispered to me earlier were: ‘Han Yimo is a spy sent by the other side. Interrogate him thoroughly here, and if necessary, beat him up.'”
“Huh…?”
Han Yimo hadn’t expected that he had already been exposed. Fortunately, Qi Xia, like the villains in books, always had his subordinates handle things after uncovering the truth, allowing the protagonist—blessed with plot armor—to narrowly escape death.
“You know I can’t bring myself to do it,” Chen Junnan turned around, his expression filled with sorrow. “But if he returns and finds no signs of torture, your situation will become even more dangerous.”
Han Yimo swallowed hard and said, “Chen Junnan, it’s alright. Just knowing how you feel is enough for me.”
“Sigh…” Chen Junnan said. “Even though I can’t bring myself to hurt you… I still have to put on a show for Qi Xia. You understand, right?”
“Yes, I know,” Han Yimo nodded. “A ‘bitter flesh scheme.'”
“Then… I apologize in advance?”
“Go ahead.”
No matter what, Han Yimo never expected Chen Junnan to hit so hard. With one punch, he knocked him to the ground and began kicking him mercilessly.
But since it was all an act… getting hurt was to be expected.
However, as Chen Junnan kicked him, he kept muttering, “You damn spy,” “You damn rumor-monger,” “You damn family killer,” “You’re nothing but a curse.” It all sounded a bit too convincing.
Even though the show had to go on… was it really necessary to go this far? There was no one else around to hear it.
“Ouch… that’s… that’s enough,” Han Yimo said, blocking Chen Junnan’s attacks. “Do you really have to act this realistically?”
Hearing this, Chen Junnan quickly crouched down to help Han Yimo up, his face full of concern. “I’m sorry… Did I hit you too hard just now?”
“Whether it was hard or not is one thing…” Han Yimo rubbed his arm. “But those words you were saying… it almost felt like you genuinely wanted to beat me up…?”
“You’re wrong…” Chen Junnan said. “It’s precisely because I can’t bring myself to do it that I had to chant some slogans to motivate myself. It’s like shouting ‘one, two’ during a tug-of-war—just a chant, nothing more.”
“Really…?” Han Yimo stood up, stretching his sore limbs. “You’ve beaten me and interrogated me… Surely Qi Xia won’t suspect anything now, right?”
“Don’t worry about that,” Chen Junnan nodded. “Remember, I’m on your side now. If Qi Xia really becomes suspicious, I’ll definitely find a way to speak up for you.”
“Whew, that’s a relief,” Han Yimo said. “I was just worrying about how to dismantle Qi Xia’s team from the inside. With your help… it’s like adding wings to a tiger.”
Han Yimo felt the current plot was very logical. Often, the protagonist alone couldn’t accomplish such a difficult task, but they would always meet like-minded companions along the journey. It seemed everything was moving in the right direction.
Chen Junnan was his first teammate. As the saying goes, “No discord, no concord.” Memories of his past interactions with Chen Junnan surfaced in Han Yimo’s mind, piecing together a poorly acted emotional drama.
But upon hearing this, Chen Junnan felt he hadn’t kicked hard enough. Han Yimo actually wanted to dismantle Qi Xia’s team from the inside?
Didn’t that mean he wanted everyone on the team to die?
But it didn’t matter. Chen Junnan knew Qi Xia had left Han Yimo in the preparation area for two reasons.
First, to prevent news of Qiao Jiajin’s severe injury and coma from leaking. Second, to find a way to use “Calamity” to win the game.
As always… Qi Xia didn’t need Han Yimo’s consent to set his plans in motion. His “Echo” effect had already been weaponized.
“Wait…” Chen Junnan suddenly froze, feeling like he had stumbled upon a bizarre question. “Can Han Yimo’s ‘Echo’ be used here?”
……
Qi Xia arrived at the rightmost room. Although it was already at the edge of the map, the room still had four “doors.”
However, the “door” on the rightmost wall was black. Before the game started, Earth Dragon had said that exiting through these “doors” meant “routing.”
At that moment, Tian Tian was standing in the room with her eyes closed, lost in thought.
“Tian Tian,” Qi Xia called softly.
Hearing her name, Tian Tian immediately turned around and met Qi Xia’s gaze.
“Why did you leave the ‘preparation area’…?” Her eyes flickered with caution.
“I need to cross the river and happened to pass by your room,” Qi Xia replied. “I wasn’t sure how you were progressing, so I came to check.”
“It doesn’t seem possible…” Tian Tian relaxed slightly but shook her head. “It’s too hard to ‘Echo’ here.”
“Really…?” Qi Xia nodded. “But since we can’t hear the ‘bell,’ maybe you’ve already ‘Echoed’?”
“Huh?” Tian Tian was taken aback. “Is that even possible…?”
“Give it a try,” Qi Xia said. “Do you still have your ‘character’ with you?”
“Yes…” Tian Tian nodded and took out her “Guard.”
Qi Xia nodded, pulling a handful of chains from his pocket and handing them to Tian Tian.
“What’s this for?”
“Use these extra chains to reshape the ‘character’ on you,” Qi Xia explained. “If it works, it might mean you’ve already ‘Echoed.'”
“But I don’t know the structure of those ‘characters’…” Tian Tian said.
“Just try. There’s no harm in it,” Qi Xia reassured her. “And like I said, the ultimate goal isn’t for you to forge the ‘character,’ so even if you fail, it’s fine.”
Tian Tian nodded, placed the chains on the ground, and closed her eyes.
Qi Xia slowly bent down.
He picked up the chains from the ground and then laid out the “Guard” he had taken from Qiao Jiajin.
Qi Xia reached into his pocket and handed her a handful of chains.
“What’s this for?”
“Use these extra chains to reshape the ‘word’ on you.” Qi Xia explained. “If it works, it might mean you’ve ‘Echoed.'”
“But I don’t know how those ‘words’ are constructed…” Sweet hesitated.
“Try anyway. No harm done.” Qi Xia reassured. “And like I said, the goal isn’t just crafting ‘words.’ Even if you fail, it’s fine.”
Sweet nodded, placing the chains on the ground and closing her eyes.
Qi Xia slowly bent down.
“I…”
Han Yimo was completely thrown by this sudden, emotionally charged scene.
“Chen Junnan… before, I only knew you were always causing trouble, but I never imagined that deep down you…”
“That’s all in the past,” Chen Junnan said in a low voice. “But now my good brother tells me you’re a spy… What am I supposed to do? What can I possibly do?”
At that moment, Han Yimo felt like he had seen a similar plot in a movie, but he couldn’t remember the next line.
“Don’t you think I’ve also wanted to defect to the other side?” Chen Junnan continued. “It’s just that he’s my sworn brother—I can’t leave. Even if he’s walking the wrong path, I’ll stand by him.”
“I… I think I’m starting to understand,” Han Yimo scratched his head. “So you’re also…”
“So this matter can only be entrusted to you…” Chen Junnan shook his head, cutting him off. “I can’t help you, and I can’t help him get rid of you. One is my brother, the other is the ‘Light of Justice’ in the Land of the End. Staying neutral is the best choice I can make.”
Han Yimo stood frozen for a long moment before finally squeezing out three words: “Thank you…”
“No need,” Chen Junnan waved his hand. “The few words Old Qi whispered to me earlier were: ‘Han Yimo is a spy sent by the other side. Interrogate him thoroughly here, and if necessary, beat him up.'”
“Huh…?”
Han Yimo hadn’t expected that he’d already been exposed. Fortunately, Qi Xia, like the villains in books, preferred to have his subordinates handle things after uncovering the truth—giving the protagonist a chance to narrowly escape death.
“You know I can’t bring myself to do it,” Chen Junnan turned around, his expression particularly sorrowful. “But if he comes back and finds no signs of torture… your situation will be even more dangerous.”
Han Yimo swallowed hard and said, “Chen Junnan, it’s alright. Just knowing how you feel is enough for me.”
“Sigh…” Chen Junnan said. “Even though I can’t bring myself to hurt you… I still have to put on a show for Qi Xia. You understand, right?”
“Yes, I know,” Han Yimo nodded. “The ‘bitter flesh scheme.'”
“Then… I apologize in advance?”
“Go ahead.”
No matter what, Han Yimo never expected Chen Junnan to hit so hard. With one punch, he knocked him to the ground and then started kicking him relentlessly.
But since it was all an act… getting hurt was to be expected.
Yet as Chen Junnan kicked him, he kept muttering, “You damn spy,” “You bastard spreading rumors,” “You murderer who killed families,” “You’re nothing but a curse.” It all sounded a bit too convincing.
Even though the show had to go on… was it really necessary to go this far? There was no one else around to hear it.
“Ouch… enough… that’s enough…” Han Yimo said, blocking Chen Junnan’s attacks. “Do you really have to act this realistically?”
Hearing this, Chen Junnan quickly crouched down to help Han Yimo up, his face full of concern. “I’m sorry… did I hit too hard just now?”
“Whether it was hard or not is one thing…” Han Yimo rubbed his arm. “But those things you were saying… it really felt like you actually wanted to beat me up…?”
“You’re wrong…” Chen Junnan said. “It’s precisely because I couldn’t bring myself to do it that I had to chant some slogans to motivate myself. It’s like yelling ‘one, two’ during a tug-of-war—just a chant, no real meaning behind it.”
“Really…?” Han Yimo stood up, stretching his sore limbs. “You’ve beaten me and interrogated me… surely Qi Xia won’t suspect anything now, right?”
“Don’t worry about that,” Chen Junnan nodded. “Remember, I’m on your side now. If Qi Xia really becomes suspicious, I’ll definitely find a way to speak up for you.”
“Whew, that’s a relief,” Han Yimo said. “I was just worried about how to dismantle Qi Xia’s team from the inside. With your help now… it’s like adding wings to a tiger.”
Han Yimo felt the current plot was very logical. Often, the protagonist alone couldn’t accomplish such a difficult task, but they would always meet like-minded companions along the journey. It seemed everything was moving in the right direction.
Chen Junnan was his first teammate. As the saying goes, “no discord, no concord.” Memories of his past interactions with Chen Junnan surfaced in Han Yimo’s mind, piecing together a clumsy, sentimental drama.
But after hearing this, Chen Junnan felt he hadn’t kicked hard enough. Han Yimo actually wanted to dismantle Qi Xia’s team from the inside…?
Didn’t that mean he wanted everyone on the team to die?
But it didn’t matter. Chen Junnan knew that Qi Xia leaving Han Yimo in the preparation area likely had two purposes.
First, to prevent news of Qiao Jiajin’s severe injury and coma from leaking. Second, to find a way to use “Calamity” to win the game.
As always… when Qi Xia laid out his plans, he didn’t need Han Yimo’s consent. His “Echo” effect had already been weaponized.
“Wait…” Chen Junnan suddenly paused, feeling like he had stumbled upon a bizarre question. “Can Han Yimo’s ‘Echo’ even be used here?”
……
Qi Xia arrived at the rightmost room. Although this room was already at the edge of the map, it still had four “doors.”
However, the “door” on the rightmost wall was black. Before the game began, Earth Dragon had mentioned that exiting through these “doors” meant “routing.”
At that moment, Tian Tian was standing in the room with her eyes closed, lost in thought.
“Tian Tian,” Qi Xia called softly.
Hearing this, Tian Tian immediately turned around, her eyes meeting Qi Xia’s.
“Why did you leave the ‘preparation area’…?” Her gaze flickered with caution.
“I need to cross the river and happened to pass by your room,” Qi Xia replied. “I wasn’t sure how you were progressing, so I thought I’d check on you.”
“It doesn’t seem possible…” Tian Tian relaxed slightly but shook her head. “It’s too hard to achieve ‘Echo’ here.”
“Really…?” Qi Xia nodded thoughtfully. “But since we can’t hear the ‘bell,’ isn’t it possible you’ve already achieved ‘Echo’?”
“Huh?” Tian Tian was taken aback. “Is that even possible…?”
“Give it a try,” Qi Xia said. “Do you still have your ‘character’ with you?”
“Yes…” Tian Tian nodded, taking out her “士” (shi).
Qi Xia nodded as well, pulling out a handful of chains from his pocket and handing them to Tian Tian.
“What’s this for?”
“Use these extra chains to reshape the ‘character’ on you,” Qi Xia explained. “If it works, it might mean you’ve already achieved ‘Echo.'”
“But I don’t know the structure of those ‘characters’…” Tian Tian said.
“Just try. There’s no harm in it,” Qi Xia reassured her. “And like I said, the ultimate goal isn’t for you to forge the ‘character,’ so even if it fails, it’s fine.”
Tian Tian nodded, placed the chains on the ground, and closed her eyes.
Qi Xia slowly bent down.
He picked up the pile of chains from the ground and then laid out the “士” (shi) he had taken from Qiao Jiajin.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage