Qi Xia, noticing Qian Wu’s enthusiastic reception of Officer Li and Qiao Jiajin, naturally sensed something was amiss.
“Qian Wu, did you really not know us before?” Qi Xia asked.
“There’s no need to discuss that right away,” Qian Wu replied, looking at Qi Xia. “You sure are carefree. Your life is in my hands, and all you care about is whether we’re old acquaintances?”
Qi Xia nodded in agreement and met Qian Wu’s gaze. “You’re right. Whether we’re old acquaintances doesn’t matter. You said you wanted to see my ‘attitude’—how exactly do you plan to do that?”
“In ancient times, Cao Cao and Liu Bei ‘discussed heroes over wine.’ Today, I, Qian Wu, and you, Qi Xia, will ‘determine the end in silence.'”
Qi Xia tapped the table lightly, his expression calm. “So… are you Cao Cao or Liu Bei?”
“I’m the one in charge here, so naturally, I’m Cao Cao.”
“Interesting.” A smirk played on Qi Xia’s lips. “Cao Cao and Liu Bei drank to discuss heroes because Cao Cao wanted to see if Liu Bei harbored ambitions to conquer the world. Little did he know, Liu Bei would deceive him with sweet words.”
Qian Wu said nothing, merely smiling as he watched Qi Xia.
Leaning forward slightly, Qi Xia fixed Qian Wu with a piercing stare. “Then tell me… do you think I’m Liu Bei?”
“Qi Xia, you’re certainly not Liu Bei,” Qian Wu chuckled. “And I know you don’t want to rule this world.”
“Oh?” Qi Xia leaned back and straightened up. “Seems you understand me well. So, how will you determine my attitude?”
“Qi Xia.” Qian Wu’s expression suddenly turned serious. “I want to know what your ‘final plan’ is.”
“My… final plan…” Qi Xia’s gaze hardened as he studied the other man. “What are the odds I’d reveal my plans to you?”
“Do you have anyone left to trust?” Qian Wu countered. “Here… how far can you go relying only on yourself?”
Qi Xia glanced subtly at Qiao Jiajin and Li Shangwu before smiling faintly. “I’ve never relied solely on myself.”
“Even if you bring everyone you trust, you’ll still fall at ‘Tianlong’s’ feet.” Despair flickered across Qian Wu’s face. “Haven’t there been enough tragedies here already…?”
Qi Xia stiffened slightly. “You’ve seen Tianlong?”
“Not just me…” Qian Wu’s expression darkened. “Qi Xia, every single person in the ‘Land of the End’ has seen Tianlong.”
“What…?”
“That year, you led all the surviving ‘participants’ in a final battle against Tianlong…” Qian Wu said wistfully. “It was the first time I saw you—and the first time I saw ‘Tianlong.’ But we lost horribly, utterly crushed without a chance to fight back.”
Qi Xia slowly stood up, stunned that Qian Wu had retained memories from so long ago.
“A final battle against Tianlong…?” Qi Xia’s lips trembled slightly. “What happened? What was the nature of the fight?”
“It was a simple game.” Qian Wu exhaled. “No one expected Tianlong would use the most basic ‘Scale Game’ to make you, us, and all the participants suffer a devastating defeat.”
“What…?”
“We can’t provoke that man.” Qian Wu frowned. “He’s neither human nor an ‘Echo.’ He wields magic—like a true god.”
“Magic…?” Qi Xia’s brow furrowed. Though he’d encountered many ‘Echoes’ here, the idea that ‘Tianlong’ possessed actual magic was hard to swallow.
Qiao Jiajin and Li Shangwu exchanged glances, silently assessing the truth of Qian Wu’s words.
Qian Wu raised both hands, palms up. “Qi Xia, if you had to weigh two sides—where the heavier side wins—who do you think would tip the scales? Ten thousand ‘participants,’ or just ‘Tianlong’ and ‘Qinglong’?”
“You mean…”
Qi Xia paused for half a second, instantly visualizing the scene.
Ten thousand participants on the left side of the scale, ‘Tianlong’ and ‘Qinglong’ on the right—yet the participants lost.
That simple game had crushed them all.
“They embody ‘the Way,’ while we’re just mortals…” Qian Wu murmured. “With ‘Qinglong’ guarding him, even if all ten thousand were ‘Echoes,’ we’d never defeat ‘Tianlong.’ And we’ll never achieve ‘Full Echo’ anyway.”
After a long silence, Qi Xia asked, “When… did this happen?”
“About ten years ago.” Qian Wu’s voice was steady. “Very few remember. Those who retain their memories are executed by Qinglong himself.”
“What…?” Qi Xia frowned. “Ten years ago?”
“Only a handful might recall now, but they’ve all gone into hiding, waiting for the right moment.” Qian Wu lifted his eyes to Qi Xia. “I think that moment is you.”
“Is that so?” Qi Xia’s gaze remained skeptical. If what Qian Wu said was true—that anyone with memories had to conceal them—why was he revealing everything?
“You still don’t believe me.” Qian Wu shook his head. “Qi Xia, after your failed bet with Tianlong, the ‘Echoes’ scrambled to escape. Most didn’t survive the slaughter, but a few with unique abilities got away and lived.”
Every word from Qian Wu tightened Qi Xia’s chest. He sensed no lie, yet the absurdity lingered.
Tianlong and Qinglong—one the leader of all ‘Zodiacs,’ the other the chief of ‘Divine Beasts’—openly massacring ‘participants’?
“If you want me to believe you, answer one question,” Qi Xia said.
“Go on.”
“What was the ‘stake’ in my bet with Tianlong?”
Qian Wu shook his head silently. “I don’t know.”
“Then you’re lying,” Qi Xia retorted. “You were part of that bet but don’t know what was wagered?”
“No, I’m not lying.” Qian Wu’s expression remained earnest. “Qi Xia, I told you—it was my first time seeing you. I wasn’t close to you. I was just one of many ‘participants’ backing you up while you faced Tianlong. I didn’t hear what was said.”
Qi Xia found no flaw in Qian Wu’s words. At least for now, the logic held.
“I need to understand Tianlong better,” Qi Xia said, shifting the topic. “I need to know my enemy.”
“Qi Xia, I know you won’t listen, but I have to warn you—that man is beyond us.” Qian Wu’s frown deepened. “Ordinary people can’t even meet him, let alone demand anything from him.”
“Meeting him is easy.” A faint smile touched Qi Xia’s lips. “I’ve gathered 3,600 ‘Dao.’ Soon, I’ll see Tianlong.”
“Wh—”
Qian Wu, Zhou Liu, and Song Qi’s expressions faltered. Even Shi Jiu’s conviction wavered, nearly breaking his ‘Silence.’
“Qi Xia! Absolutely not!” Qian Wu shouted in alarm. “You mustn’t collect 3,600 ‘Dao’! It’s all a massive lie!!”
Qian Wu grabbed Qi Xia’s arm—and in the next moment, his body transformed, shifting from a woman’s form into a man’s, now identical in build to Qi Xia, though his face remained unchanged.
Zheng Yingxiong, still hidden behind Qi Xia, murmured under his breath, “I smell the strong fragrance of ‘Twin Flowers.'”
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage