“Huh?” Old Lü was taken aback. “What the hell is this about?!”
“You shouldn’t have followed us!!” Aunt Tong snapped. “You don’t know anything—going with us is just suicide!”
“Damn it, I don’t know now, but you could just tell me!”
“I… Ugh!!” Aunt Tong waved her hand dismissively. “If you knew, you’d die. It’s better to just live on…”
Qi Xia found the scene amusing and turned to Old Lü, asking softly, “I don’t quite get it either, Old Lü. Are you part of the ‘Extremists’?”
“Me? Definitely not,” Old Lü shook his head.
“So, are you protecting the ‘Extremists’ as a member of ‘Paradise’?” Qi Xia pressed.
“Why the hell would I protect the ‘Extremists’ as a ‘Paradise’ member?” Old Lü clearly didn’t understand the question. “I’m protecting Xiao Chan as myself.”
Qi Xia frowned slightly. “I don’t get it. You’re neither family nor teammates—why would you willingly step into danger? Don’t you know you could die?”
“Are you really this dense, kid?” Old Lü rolled his eyes. “Xiao Chan and I… we…”
“Oh.” Qi Xia nodded. “I almost forgot… That’s actually a pretty good reason.”
“What ‘good reason’…?” Old Lü and Aunt Tong exchanged glances. “You’re a strange one. Just because we’re old doesn’t mean we can’t want companionship. Love isn’t just for the young, you know.”
“My mistake,” Qi Xia said. “The old me might not have understood, but I do now.”
“If you understand, then help me convince her!” Old Lü urged. “Xiao Chan won’t let me go with her no matter what. I…”
“But that doesn’t add up either,” Qi Xia interrupted. “Old Lü, when we first met, you didn’t retain your memories. Logically, you and Aunt Tong haven’t known each other long. Could feelings really develop that quickly?”
“Hey! You!” Old Lü pointed at Qi Xia’s nose. “Aren’t you going too far? What does ‘time’ have to do with ‘feelings’?”
Qi Xia wanted to argue but found himself at a loss for words and fell silent.
Aunt Tong ignored Qi Xia and stared at Old Lü. “Old Lü, I’ll say this one last time. If you follow me again, I’ll never speak to you for the rest of my life.”
Hearing her speak so gravely, Old Lü fell silent for a few seconds before murmuring, “Fine. Xiao Chan, just tell me what you’re really planning to do. Once I know, I won’t follow you…”
“Promise?”
“Promise…” Old Lü nodded, his aged face crumpling like a child’s.
“We’re going to where the ‘Zodiacs’ live,” Aunt Tong said. “It’s a death sentence. Understand?”
“You…”
“Stop blocking the way,” Aunt Tong said coldly. “We’re going to die. Do you have any reason to die too?”
Old Lü lowered his head again.
Seeing his silence, Aunt Tong didn’t know whether to feel more heartbroken or relieved. She pursed her lips, then shoved Old Lü aside. “If you’ve got nothing to say, then scram. Go find somewhere to hole up.”
The push sent Old Lü stumbling back several steps until he collided with Qi Xia.
The ‘Extremists’ brushed past Old Lü and marched forward.
“Well,” Chen Junnan stretched lazily. “Mission accomplished. I say we bail too. Old Qi, don’t you have stuff to do?”
“Right.”
Qi Xia nodded and turned to leave, but Old Lü grabbed his arm.
“Kid Qi…”
Qi Xia turned back, expressionless. “What?”
“I know you’re smart… Can you help me?”
“Help you?” Qi Xia said. “I don’t have time right now. Ask me later.”
“No…” Old Lü clutched Qi Xia’s wrist desperately. “I don’t need much time—just give me an idea. I’m out of options here.”
“I thought you two had it figured out,” Qi Xia said, glancing at Aunt Tong’s retreating figure. “Do lovers lie too?”
“What—this isn’t a damn lie!!” Old Lü argued. “Xiao Chan just doesn’t want me to die, and I don’t want her to die either. We’re both stuck. Kid Qi, just tell me—how can I save her without her worrying about me? They’re heading straight into the ‘Zodiacs’ territory…”
Qi Xia frowned, mulling it over. “Sorry, but there’s no perfect solution. I suggest you find someone else.”
He turned to leave again, but Old Lü yanked him back, clearly desperate.
“Kid Qi! Kid Qi! I don’t need to come out unscathed!!” Old Lü pleaded. “Just tell me how to save her. That’s all I need…”
“The core issue is neither of you wants the other to die,” Qi Xia said. “Helping you would hurt her. So, are you sure?”
“…” Old Lü bowed his head in thought before nodding. “I’m sure. Even if Xiao Chan ends up heartbroken, she has to live. I feel like if she dies in the ‘Zodiacs’ territory… there won’t be a next time for her…”
Qi Xia fell silent for a long moment. The others watched him quietly, unsure what he was thinking.
“Kid Qi…”
Old Lü’s voice was a whisper, thick with desperation.
Qi Xia sighed. “If you don’t want to live and insist on going to the ‘Zodiacs’ territory, then become a ‘Zodiac.'”
“…Huh?”
Old Lü’s eyes widened slightly.
“Become a ‘Zodiac.’ At dusk, board the ‘Train’ legitimately—it’s where you belong anyway,” Qi Xia said. “But here’s my final advice: before you become a ‘Zodiac,’ achieve ‘Echo.'”
Old Lü stood frozen, his mind flooded with questions. But he quickly pushed most aside and asked the only one that mattered.
“How the hell… do I become a ‘Zodiac’?”
“Everything follows ‘Cause and Effect,'” Qi Xia said slowly, pointing at the abandoned Go club nearby.
The group followed his finger, confused.
“In there, you’ll find scattered tables and chairs. Search among them for your path to becoming a ‘Zodiac,'” Qi Xia said.
“Ah…” Old Lü stood dumbfounded, unsure if he understood. Finally, he squeezed out three words through gritted teeth: “Thank you…”
“Thank yourself.”
With a wave, Qi Xia led the others away.
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