Chapter 1171: Just Fate

“Phew… Sweetie, finally found you.”

Yun Yao walked in, saying, “I was so worried… Are you okay?”

Sweetie was currently bandaging Qiao Jiajin’s fists. The wounds on Qiao Jiajin’s body were not only numerous but also extensive, with some concentrated on his cheeks, making the bandaging quite difficult.

“I…” Sweetie smiled at Yun Yao and paused her movements. “I’m fine. It’s dangerous outside—why come looking for me?”

“Nothing much, just worried you might get bullied.” Yun Yao walked in and sat down as if she didn’t notice anyone else.

“Yo, superstar.” Chen Junnan greeted while turning to Zhang Chenze. “Ms. Lawyer, maybe let me handle this myself? I’m feeling a bit flustered here.”

“It’s fine. You can’t do it alone.” Zhang Chenze shook her head. “I may not be great at bandaging, but at least I can stop the bleeding.”

“The idol’s here,” Qiao Jiajin laughed. “Don’t worry, with us around, who’d dare bully Sweetie?”

Yun Yao glanced around the room, her gaze settling on Qi Xia, who had just stepped out from inside.

“Qi Xia… You’re here too.” She gave him a complicated look. “What are you all doing here?”

“Taking a breather,” Qi Xia replied. “How’s the situation outside?”

“Outside… My god…” Yun Yao took a deep breath before continuing, “When I left, the giant bell was destroyed. Baihu seemed to have gone mad, screaming about looking for ‘Qiao Wu.’ Xuanwu also showed up but was lured away by a group wearing leather jackets.”

“Good.” Qi Xia nodded, confirming his suspicions.

“The streets are in complete chaos now…” Yun Yao said. “I’m worried about tonight.”

“Why?”

“This isn’t just a ‘disturbance’ anymore. Some people, for reasons unknown, have started attacking anyone on the streets to steal ‘Dao.’ They don’t even know why everyone’s gathered, yet they’re resorting to violence—as if chaos is their only goal…”

“Normal.” Qi Xia said. “Many wars start as small-scale riots under the banner of ‘justice.’ Once enough people are involved, the scope expands, and the reasons become increasingly absurd.”

“So you’re still bold enough to stay in such a large building?” Yun Yao added. “Violence will likely reach here soon. Nights like this are dangerous.”

“Don’t worry, we won’t be here by nightfall,” Qi Xia said.

“What…?”

“Yun Yao, what led you here?” Qi Xia asked. “Was it ‘Strong Luck’?”

“Yes.” Yun Yao nodded. “I tossed a lipstick and told myself, ‘I’ll go where I most want to be.’ It led me here.”

“‘Where you most want to be’…” Qi Xia suddenly understood the significance.

“Yo-ho!” Chen Junnan chuckled. “Superstar, is Sweetie really that important to you?”

“At least that’s what the lipstick told me,” Yun Yao replied. “I was genuinely worried about her.”

“Maybe what you truly wanted was something else,” Qi Xia mused. “If fate brought you here, you must have a role to play.”

“Hmm…?”

“Tonight, you’ll come with us.”

“Where exactly are you all going?”

“Come to think of it, I’ve never seriously brought this up before,” Qi Xia said. “Now that the entire ‘Land of the End’ is in chaos, and the ‘ears’ probably aren’t on me, it’s time to give you all a choice.”

Chen Junnan and Qiao Jiajin found Qi Xia’s words odd. At such a critical juncture, what choice was there to make?

But they quickly realized he might be addressing Zhang Chenze, Sweetie, and Yun Yao.

“I’ve planned something major—to lead everyone out of the ‘Land of the End’ and back to where we should be living.” Qi Xia said. “For me, the more people who join, the better. After all, everyone here is an ‘Echo,’ and you never know when your abilities might be crucial.”

“Lead everyone… to escape?” Yun Yao froze, glancing at Sweetie and Zhang Chenze.

Though neither had spoken of their real lives, Yun Yao could tell from their eyes that they didn’t want to leave.

“I…” Zhang Chenze took a deep breath. “Qi Xia… ‘Back to where we should be living’… You mean…”

“Exactly what you think,” Qi Xia confirmed.

Zhang Chenze’s expression wavered, then twisted into a frown, as if wrestling with an internal struggle.

After a long pause, she said, “I… can accept that.”

“Good.” Qi Xia nodded. “You’re a purely rational person. I respect your choice.”

“I want to face what I must.” Zhang Chenze nodded. “I want to go back and try—maybe things will turn out for the better.”

“You’ll succeed.” Qi Xia nodded at her before turning to Sweetie. “What about you?”

Sweetie’s expression was calmer than anyone else’s, as if she hadn’t even considered the plan’s feasibility.

After a few seconds, she asked, “So where are we going tonight?”

“‘The Train,’” Qi Xia answered. “Where all the ‘Zodiacs’ gather.”

“Can I die there?” Sweetie asked.

“You…” Qi Xia had expected this but still didn’t know how to respond.

“Sis, what are you saying?” Chen Junnan interjected. “What problem requires death to solve?”

“I won’t allow it,” Yun Yao said firmly. “If we’ve come this far, why choose death when we could leave?”

“Leaving or staying makes no difference to me.” Sweetie shook her head. “I’m not like Lawyer Zhang… She’s willing to fight her fate, but my nature is to endure. I can’t go back.”

“Even now?” Zhang Chenze asked. “After all you’ve been through, all the life and death you’ve witnessed… You still think you can’t overcome something as trivial as fate?”

“I…”

“I think the lawyer’s right,” Qiao Jiajin nodded, taking the bandage from Sweetie to wrap himself. “Sweetie, Trickster said we won ‘Cangjie’s Game’ thanks to you. Do you realize who you beat? The other side was full of monsters.”

Sweetie froze, feeling a surge of encouragement.

“You’ll succeed too,” Qi Xia said. “It’s just ‘fate.’ I’ve spent decades doing all this to prove that we can defy it.”

“Qi Xia…” Sweetie looked up at him, her eyes filled with complexity.

“If you’ve all decided…” Qi Xia said, “rest here for now. Dusk is coming, and I’ll lead you onto ‘The Train.’”