Chapter 178: Nervous?

After assigning tactics to the group, the sky gradually darkened.

To be honest, Zhang Shan, Qiao Jiajin, and Li Xiangling didn’t really “discuss tactics” at all. They just did some exercise and chatted idly.

When Zhang Shan and Li Xiangling left, Qi Xia glanced around at the remaining people in the room, feeling a sense of irony.

Now, apart from himself, only Qiao Jiajin, Lin Qin, Han Yimo, and Dr. Zhao were left here.

In just two days, only these few remained.

And aside from Qiao Jiajin, none of them were normal.

Perhaps as Xiaoxiao had said, in the “Land of the End,” only those who could “Echo” had the right to survive.

“Qiao Jiajin,” Qi Xia called softly from the corner.

Hearing this, Qiao Jiajin walked over and sat beside him. “What’s up, trickster?”

“Tomorrow, your opponents will be the ‘Extremists,’ so I have a few things I want to tell you privately,” Qi Xia said.

“Like what?”

“Do you remember Aunt Tong’s lesson?” Qi Xia asked.

“Uh…” Qiao Jiajin scratched his head. “I remember some of it.”

“Yeah.” Qi Xia thought for a moment before saying, “The key to successfully triggering an ‘Echo’ is ‘belief.’ If you’re cornered, try to make your opponent doubt themselves.”

“Oh?” Qiao Jiajin pondered for a moment. “But how exactly would I do that?”

“I’m not sure either,” Qi Xia said, rubbing his forehead. “After all, we don’t know the specific rules of tomorrow’s game.”

“That’s fine. You’ll be there tomorrow, right?” Qiao Jiajin asked. “Not to participate, just to strategize from the sidelines.”

“Of course I want to strategize, but ‘Earth’ Zodiacs are particularly cunning. I don’t know if they’ll even give me a chance to speak.”

“Relax, I’ll show you what I’ve got tomorrow,” Qiao Jiajin said casually, patting Qi Xia’s shoulder. “No need to worry.”

“I don’t care how much you show off. Just remember—neither the ‘Extremists’ nor ‘Paradise Gate’ can be fully trusted,” Qi Xia whispered. “A ‘Earth-level’ game is dangerous, but it’s not necessarily a death sentence. Your ultimate goal is to survive. Even if you lose the game, it doesn’t matter. Understand?”

For a moment, Qiao Jiajin saw a reflection of Jiu Zai in Qi Xia.

Jiu Zai had once said, “Ah Jin, if you can’t win, just run. As long as you stay alive, that’s all that matters. Got it?”

“Don’t worry,” Qiao Jiajin said, snapping back to reality. “Trickster, even if the opponent is the Terminator, I can still twist off one of his arms.”

Even so, how could Qi Xia not worry?

Without deep cunning, how could anyone survive in the “Land of the End”?

The kinder someone was, the worse their fate here.

Qiao Jiajin wasn’t suited for this place.

As night fell, the group ate a simple meal, then pushed the tables together and lay down to sleep.

Qi Xia picked up a lighter and lit a fire for Han Yimo, hoping it would ease his claustrophobia. Then he placed the lighter gently on the door handle before sitting down in a corner far from the door.

Another day was about to end.

The good news today was that none of their teammates had been lost. The bad news was that Qi Xia had been targeted by the “Extremists.”

He had no idea what the days ahead would bring.

Late at night, Chu Tianqiu stood in the hallway and knocked on the window.

With an expressionless face, Qi Xia opened it.

“What is it?” Qi Xia asked.

“Qi Xia, he said, ‘I never left,'” Chu Tianqiu murmured.

The answer made Qi Xia freeze for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure. “I see.”

Without another word, Chu Tianqiu turned and left.

Qi Xia sat back in his chair and slowly closed his eyes.

He was exhausted. Countless threads in his mind were stretched taut, never allowing him a moment of relaxation.

“Xia, you know what? There are many paths in this world, and everyone has their own.”

“Yes, I know,” Qi Xia nodded in his sleep, tears glistening in the corners of his eyes. “I’ve always known.”

That night, the shadowy figure didn’t appear. The lighter on the door handle remained untouched until dawn, when a low knocking sound finally dislodged it.

“Wake up!” Zhang Shan shouted from outside.

Qi Xia’s eyes snapped open, and the others in the classroom slowly sat up.

Though staying in “Paradise Gate” was safe, the hard tabletops left their backs stiff and sore.

“Damn…” Qiao Jiajin stretched his limbs, feeling sore all over. “What time is it?”

“Stop sleeping!” Zhang Shan pushed the door open, and the lighter fell behind it. “Chu Tianqiu said that since ‘Earth-level’ games require paying the toll to learn the rules, we should go early to see what we’re dealing with.”

Qiao Jiajin yawned. “Fine, you guys go first… I’ll be there in three hours—”

Zhang Shan sighed, grabbed Qiao Jiajin by the neck, and lifted him off the table like a pet.

“Hey, hey, hey?” Qiao Jiajin blinked, suddenly much more awake. “Big guy, that’s a bit much, don’t you think…?”

“It’s urgent, so let’s get going!” Zhang Shan tossed Qiao Jiajin a pack of crackers. “Lao Qi, are you coming too?”

“Yes,” Qi Xia nodded. “I’ll go and help strategize.”

Han Yimo perked up. “Can I go too?”

Qi Xia hesitated. “No, not today. You go with Lin Qin and Dr. Zhao.”

“Huh?” Lin Qin raised an eyebrow. “Let him go with Dr. Zhao.”

Dr. Zhao startled. “What?”

“Uh…” Han Yimo didn’t expect to be rejected by so many people and looked awkward.

“Then it’s settled. The four of us will go,” Zhang Shan said.

With that, Qiao Jiajin slowly walked to the door, but when he turned around, he saw the other three hadn’t followed.

He was confused.

“What? Aren’t we leaving?” Qiao Jiajin yawned again.

“We are…” Zhang Shan nodded. “But are you seriously going shirtless?”

“Uh…” Qiao Jiajin looked down, realized he was bare-chested, and sheepishly went to put on his clothes.

After saying goodbye to the others, Qi Xia and the three participants set off under the pale yellow dawn.

The early morning in the “Land of the End” was strange—it wasn’t cold, nor was there the usual morning mist. Everything just seemed dimly lit.

They walked for about half an hour, and as the sky gradually brightened, they occasionally saw “locals” moving through the alleys.

The atmosphere along the way was oddly relaxed. Qi Xia felt something was off.

Looking at the three people ahead of him, their expressions didn’t seem like they were heading to an “Earth-level” game—more like they were going on a trip.

They were way too carefree.

Zhang Shan seemed to realize this too and scratched his head before turning to Qiao Jiajin. “Kid, are you nervous?”

“Uh… what?” Qiao Jiajin blinked.

“I asked if you’re nervous,” Zhang Shan repeated.

“Should… I be?” Qiao Jiajin was genuinely puzzled.

“Damn… what do we do?” Zhang Shan looked troubled. “Chu Tianqiu kept telling me to be extra careful in this game, but I just can’t get nervous. I was hoping you’d help set the mood.”

Qiao Jiajin yawned again. “Oh, is that it? Yeah, I’m super nervous.”

The yawn was so contagious it made Zhang Shan sleepy too.

“What about you, Li Xiangling?” Zhang Shan turned to the girl beside him.

“Me?” Li Xiangling smiled confidently. “My grandfather always taught me that composure is the most important thing for a martial artist. Even if Mount Tai collapsed in front of me, my heart wouldn’t waver. So I don’t really know what ‘nervous’ means.”