Qi Xia had a dream.
He dreamed he was walking step by step down a long corridor.
Countless wooden doors lined both sides, slowly opening as he passed.
The “Zodiacs” emerged from the doors one by one, standing by the thresholds and watching him.
They neither spoke nor moved, only fixing their pupils on Qi Xia.
Yet Qi Xia didn’t stop walking, continuing forward without pause.
His heavy footsteps echoed sharply against the rotting floorboards.
The path seemed endless.
*What’s going on…?* Qi Xia muttered weakly.
His vision blurred, and the stench of decay filled his nostrils.
If this was a dream, why could he smell it?
*Where am I?*
He stared blankly at the surrounding Zodiacs, but his feet refused to halt.
Was this path… nearing its end?
*”Wake up.”*
A voice whispered in his ear.
*”Hey, wake up!”*
Qi Xia jolted awake, sucking in a sharp breath.
But as he took in his surroundings, he slumped back into his seat, exhaling in relief.
This cycle was over.
He let out a bitter laugh. Compared to the last time, he’d made progress.
After all, last time he’d died on the fourth day. This time, he’d made it to the fifth.
How ridiculous.
A ten-day cycle, yet he couldn’t even last half of it.
*”Kid, what’s wrong with ya? You on somethin’?”* The taxi driver beside him asked nervously.
Qi Xia didn’t answer, just pressed a hand to his forehead and stared out the window.
He felt disoriented, his memories tangled.
He distinctly remembered being tortured by Xuanwu—so why had he seen Yu Nian’an there?
A hallucination?
Or… was Yu Nian’an really in the *Land of Finality*?
The crisp autumn wind carried its unique scent into his lungs, reminding him he was alive.
No matter how tightly his nerves had been wound in that place, today, he could rest.
But where was he supposed to go now?
Jinan?
Home?
If this was a world without Yu Nian’an, he’d rather return to the *Land of Finality*.
Lost in thought, his phone buzzed in his pocket.
Few people had his number—it was probably spam.
But when he checked the screen, the caller ID made his eyes widen.
**A**
*”An?!”* He froze for a second before carefully answering.
*”Hello?”*
*”Xia, have you arrived?”*
It was Yu Nian’an’s voice.
Her voice always soothed him like autumn wind rippling over water.
*”I—I… I arrived?”*
*”What’s wrong?”* She laughed. *”Are you in Jinan yet?”*
*”Ah… I…”* His pupils trembled, his body shaking slightly.
Only one thought filled his mind now—
He needed to know if he’d gone insane.
Swallowing hard, he said slowly, *”An, I don’t know where I am… Let the driver talk to you…”*
Then he handed the phone to the dark-skinned, sunglasses-wearing driver beside him.
*”Huh? What? Me?!”* The driver blinked. *”Kid, we’re on the highway—this ain’t safe!”*
*”Talk to her!”* Qi Xia’s voice was ice-cold.
*”The hell—? Fine, fine, I’ll take it!”* The man grumbled, then barked into the phone, *”Yeah? Who’s this?”*
*”Hello, sir. Have you reached Jinan yet?”*
*”Oh, almost there, miss. ‘Bout ten minutes ‘til the exit.”*
*”Please drive carefully.”*
*”Yeah, yeah, relax.”*
Qi Xia stared at the driver in shock.
He could talk to Yu Nian’an.
She wasn’t a hallucination.
After hanging up, the driver chuckled. *”Wife checkin’ up on ya, kid?”*
Qi Xia clutched his phone, emotions churning.
After a long pause, he turned. *”Turn around.”*
*”Huh?”*
*”I’m not going to Jinan.”* He shook his head. *”I was wrong. I never should’ve gone there.”*
*”Kid… you—”*
*”I’ll pay the full fare. Every cent.”* His gaze was fixed outside the window—he just wanted to go home and see Yu Nian’an.
*”Alright, fine…”*
The driver took the nearest exit, then turned back toward Qingdao.
Qi Xia stayed silent the whole way, dreading a repeat of last time—of traffic jams stretching endlessly on the highway.
But to his surprise, everything went smoothly.
The car soon pulled up to his apartment complex.
After paying the fare, Qi Xia stood outside, staring up at the building.
His heart pounded.
Not even facing the most dangerous *Earth-level* game had made him this nervous.
Was Yu Nian’an really inside?
Would the apartment still bear no trace of her when he opened the door?
He stood frozen for five full minutes, bracing himself for the worst, before forcing his legs to move.
If he didn’t prepare mentally, he knew he’d shatter completely this time.
He’d already accepted her disappearance—he just begged fate not to toy with him again.
The third floor wasn’t high, but he dragged his steps as long as he could before finally reaching the door.
Hands shaking, he pulled out his key and inserted it into the lock.
*”Don’t mess with me… please.”* He gritted his teeth. *”Torture me all you want, but not like this… not with her.”*
His voice faded, his movements slowing.
He didn’t have the courage to turn the key.
When Qi Xia opened his eyes again, they were brimming with tears.
He was breaking.
If despair awaited him again, how could he—just a human—keep living?
*Click.*
The doorknob turned on its own.
Yu Nian’an peeked out cautiously, wielding a frying pan like a weapon. *”Who—who’s there?”*
Qi Xia stared at her, speechless.
*”Xia?”* She lowered the pan, blinking. *”You scared me! I thought it was a burglar! Weren’t you in Jinan?”*
Tears spilled over as Qi Xia rushed forward and pulled her into his arms.
Her voice, her smile, the scent of her hair, the warmth of her body—
All of it was real.
*”An…”* His voice cracked. *”It’s so good to see you.”*
Confused but gentle, she stroked his hair. *”What’s wrong, Xia? Was it a rough few days?”*
*”Yes—no…”* He held her tighter. *”As long as I can see you, even hell wouldn’t be hard.”*
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