Lin Qiu and Han Yimo were hiding behind a pile of overturned desks and chairs in the hallway.
They had been cut off from escape.
“Hey, hey, hey! Come out!” a man in a black trench coat shouted from a distance. “Let me see if you’re the ones we’re looking for.”
Lin Qiu’s face darkened as she cautiously peeked out to see who it was. But the next second, she caught sight of a small black object hurtling toward her, forcing her to duck back in fear.
**BOOM!**
A moderate explosion erupted among the desks and chairs, sending the two staggering.
“What the hell was that?!” Han Yimo exclaimed, covering his head in shock. “How did this happen?”
A small stone, still burning with flames, slowly rolled to Lin Qiu’s feet.
She picked it up and touched it—it was scalding hot.
“Was this what caused the explosion…?” A sudden realization struck her, and she raised her voice. “Are you from ‘Cat’?”
The attackers in the distance indeed paused. Their leader hesitated for a moment before shouting back, “Who’s there? Identify yourself!”
Lin Qiu remained behind cover but slowly raised both hands, showing her palms to signal no hostility.
“Long live the Jidao,” she declared.
Han Yimo beside her froze in confusion.
“Pleasure,” the leader responded indifferently. “The ‘Jidao’ are valued clients of ours. State your ‘Echo,’ and if we recognize you, we’ll leave you be today.”
Lin Qiu nodded slightly, triggering a deep, resonant chime in the distance.
“I am ‘Trigger,'” she announced. “Does anyone here know me?”
The moment she uttered the word “Trigger,” the expressions of the distant group shifted.
“Lin Qiu of the Jidao?” the leader tested.
“Yes.”
“My apologies for the earlier offense.” The leader waved his hand, signaling his men to lower their weapons. “I’m Song Qi from ‘Cat.’ We’ve met once before.”
Lin Qiu nodded and slowly stood up. “Pleasure…”
After confirming Lin Qiu’s identity, Song Qi pocketed the stone he had been holding. “Lin Qiu, our mission tonight is ‘Bloodbath at Paradise.’ You once helped me, so I’ll give you thirty seconds to escape. After that, no exceptions.”
Lin Qiu frowned slightly. “How much are they paying? I can offer more.”
“Lin Qiu, the price this time is beyond anyone else in the ‘Land of End,'” Song Qi replied, shaking his head. “Twenty-five seconds left.”
“There’s someone crucial here—he can’t die,” Lin Qiu insisted. “At least not now! He might be the one to destroy this place!”
Song Qi blinked, amused. “Lin Qiu, I recall you being part of the ‘Jidao.’ Why are you suddenly helping outsiders tear this place down?”
“I…” Lin Qiu scrambled for a solution but saw no hope. “Song Qi, I want out.”
Song Qi sighed. “Five seconds.”
Lin Qiu’s eyes dimmed with despair. “Song Qi, we can’t lose hope. None of us here can…”
“Three.”
“Please… That person really—”
“One. Sorry.”
The moment the count ended, Song Qi flicked a small stone from his pocket. The moment it touched Lin Qiu’s face, it detonated violently.
Before any scream could escape, Lin Qiu’s head was blown apart. Her body slumped lifelessly before Han Yimo.
Staring at the unrecognizable corpse, Han Yimo’s eyes widened in horror.
What the hell is happening?!
“One after another… You’re all either saviors or have secret identities… Shouldn’t *I* be the protagonist?!” His entire body trembled as he struggled to comprehend the situation.
How could the protagonist—who knew nothing—be facing such overwhelming danger?
Shouldn’t the plot unfold gradually?!
Where were the mentors supposed to save him?!
Where were the fortuitous encounters?!
“Hey… Lin Qiu… Get up. Didn’t you have a hidden identity…?” Han Yimo called out in panic. “People with secret identities don’t just die like that, right? Aren’t you supposed to save me…?”
But Lin Qiu was undeniably dead, never to rise again.
“You in the back, come out. No one leaves tonight,” Song Qi called.
There was no way Han Yimo would step out.
Even if death was certain, he wouldn’t walk into it.
But the man’s ability was too bizarre—anything he threw seemed to cause explosions…
“Explosions…?” In his panic, Han Yimo’s mind wandered.
He suddenly recalled a character from his own novel, who had died in a massive explosion, taking enemies with him.
Now he feared the same fate awaited him.
“Not coming out?” Song Qi, wary of Han Yimo’s unknown ability, stood back and tossed another stone.
He intended to blast away the barricade, but this time, the stone slipped perfectly through the gaps in the furniture—landing right beside Han Yimo.
“Huh?” Han Yimo turned to see the steaming pebble and paled in terror.
Before he could flee, his leg was blown apart in a gruesome explosion.
“AAAAAHHHHHHH!!!”
His agonized scream echoed as his thigh turned black and charred, smoke rising from the seared flesh.
“This isn’t right!!” Han Yimo wailed. “This isn’t right!! Someone save me! My savior… Qi Xia… Qi Xia!!”
But no one answered.
“Annoying…” Song Qi shook his head. “This reaction… Do you not have an ‘Echo’?”
He gestured to his men. “Kill him.”
Several black-clad figures stepped forward and swiftly ended Han Yimo’s life.
—
Qi Xia, Qiao Jiazheng, and Li Xiangling hid in a second-floor teacher’s office, unease gnawing at them.
The chaos outside wasn’t staged—it was real.
Just seconds ago, they had heard someone screaming Qi Xia’s name in desperation.
“What the hell is going on…?” Qi Xia muttered, peering through the door crack. “Was that Han Yimo…?”
“Liar…” Qiao Jiazheng finally stood after a long silence. “What do you think our chances are if we stay hidden here?”
“Less than one percent,” Qi Xia admitted.
He knew the attackers would find them eventually.
“So I’m joining the fight.” Qiao Jiazheng stripped off his shirt and tossed it aside.
Li Xiangling gasped. “Brother Qiao… You…”
“Once everyone in ‘Paradise’ is dead, we won’t stand a chance,” Qiao Jiazheng said. “If we fight now, we might survive.”
Qi Xia knew he couldn’t stop him, so he simply nodded.
But Li Xiangling grabbed Qiao Jiazheng’s arm. “Brother Qiao… Don’t go…”
“Hmm?” Qiao Jiazheng turned to her. “Martial Girl, don’t worry. I’ve got tricks up my sleeve.”
“I have a bad feeling…” Tears welled in her eyes. “Can’t you stay?”
“No…” Qiao Jiazheng shook his head. “There are still people I need to protect.”
He pushed the door open, scanned the hallway, and whispered before closing it behind him:
“Liar, Martial Girl—unless I knock, neither of you leaves this room. Got it?”
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage