Chapter 355: The Guide

Aunt Tong walked to the center of the room and helped Old Lü, who was lying on the ground, to his feet.

“Oh dear… Old Lü, are you alright?” She looked at the portly man with concern.

“I’m fine, I’m fine…” Old Lü shook his head. “Don’t let this fat fool you—I can take a hit when it counts.”

“Always playing the tough guy…” Aunt Tong’s expression stiffened slightly as she leaned closer to him.

Noticing her unease, Old Lü fixed his gaze on her eyes and asked, “What’s wrong with you?”

“Huh? Nothing… It’s just a bit embarrassing to say…” Aunt Tong frowned. “Maybe it’s just my imagination…”

“Imagination?” Old Lü felt something was off. “Xiao Chan, even if it’s just your ‘imagination,’ tell me. What happened?”

Aunt Tong hesitated for a long moment before pulling Old Lü closer and whispering, “I… I just felt like that young doctor was touching me…”

“What…?”

Old Lü studied Aunt Tong. While he did fancy this somewhat refined woman of his age, he wasn’t delusional.

Aunt Tong wasn’t particularly attractive, and her figure had started to thicken. It was hard to believe that the dignified young doctor would take liberties with her.

“Xiao Chan, are you sure…? He really touched you?” Old Lü asked.

“That’s why I said it might just be my imagination…” She shook her head. “It lasted barely two seconds—I couldn’t tell if it was intentional or accidental…”

Old Lü nodded. “Hah, two seconds? Then it’s probably just your imagination.”

“Mmm…” Aunt Tong responded vaguely before hiding behind Old Lü and falling silent.

Han Yimo remained quiet for a long time before turning his head to look at Dr. Zhao.

“You… really plan to join him…?” Han Yimo muttered. “You’re making the wrong choice…”

“Oh?” Dr. Zhao glanced at him with an uneasy expression. “Can you really tell? Every decision we make here leads to an unknown outcome. How can you judge what’s right or wrong?”

“Either way, siding with them is wrong…” Han Yimo turned away, scanning the room. “What kind of fate awaits those who join the ‘supporting cast’ faction? Especially one clearly made up of villains… Even the ‘Seven Black Swords’ won’t spare them. Do you really think they’ll lead you to the grand finale?”

“Grand finale? You’re the one who’s lost it,” Dr. Zhao retorted. “You’re like a deranged gambler, ready to stake everything on Qi Xia. But have you even asked him? Does he even want you?”

“He *has* to accept me.” Han Yimo declared. “Our ‘roles’ bind us together. He’s the ‘Savior,’ and I’m the ‘Protagonist’!!”

“Can you snap out of it…?” Dr. Zhao frowned. “Don’t you realize why Qi Xia abandoned you?”

Watching Han Yimo’s state, Chu Tianqiu slowly curled his lips into a smile.

This man was insane—perfect.

Only someone this unhinged could unleash the most powerful ‘Echo.’ He didn’t need to be as irrational as the natives nor as lucid as a normal person. Lingering on the edge of madness was ideal.

This was the state of a ‘Perfect Resonator.’

A man who could wield flying swords, a man who could shake the earth.

This ability was nothing short of heaven-sent—the greatest harvest of the day.

“Han Yimo… right?” Chu Tianqiu grinned. “After listening to you for a while… I can’t help but feel you’ve overlooked something.”

“Overlooked something?” Han Yimo slowly raised his head, locking eyes with him.

Only then did the others notice the same frenzied gleam in both their gazes.

“Exactly… I’ve never quite understood.” Chu Tianqiu adjusted his glasses and asked softly, “You said *you’re* the ‘Protagonist,’ correct?”

“Yes…” Han Yimo nodded. “Haven’t you all realized I’m the ‘Protagonist’?”

Chu Tianqiu’s smile widened. He stepped forward, closing the distance between them, and stared straight into Han Yimo’s eyes. “Then what are you afraid of?”

“What?”

“You’re the ‘Protagonist’—what’s there to fear?” Chu Tianqiu repeated. “What story’s hero can’t survive without their ‘Savior’? Now’s the time for you to carve your own path, isn’t it?”

Han Yimo blinked slowly, finding a strange logic in Chu Tianqiu’s words.

“Though we’re all just insignificant ‘supporting characters,’ once you join us, we’ll become part of the ‘Protagonist’s faction,’ won’t we? I’m genuinely curious—when a story reaches its climax, who stands a better chance of surviving? The ‘Protagonist’ or the ‘Savior’?”

With each question, Han Yimo’s resolve wavered further.

“What you’re saying… makes sense…” Han Yimo nodded. “Once the ‘Savior’ leaves me, his story ends… The real focus is *my* journey from here…”

“Precisely.” Chu Tianqiu nodded. “You don’t need the ‘Savior’ anymore. What you need is *me*—I’m your ‘Guide.'”

“Guide…?”

“I’ll fully understand your ‘Echo’ and help you maximize its potential.” Chu Tianqiu patted Han Yimo’s shoulder. “You don’t need to overthink anything. Just follow me.”

“But… but the ‘Savior’—”

“What if he’s the villain?” Chu Tianqiu cut in. “What if this arc is about the ‘Savior’s betrayal,’ where he turns against you in the end? Would you show him mercy?”

“I…”

Han Yimo had never considered that possibility. The man who once saved him from peril… could he really betray him?

Thinking about it, it wasn’t impossible.

Such twists were common in stories.

The protagonist’s initial ‘mentor’ often harbored ulterior motives, eventually defecting to the antagonist’s side.

But would Qi Xia really be that kind of person…?

“No rush.” Chu Tianqiu smiled. “I’ll give you time to think it over. If you’re willing to join ‘Paradise Spire,’ the brightest future awaits you.”

After speaking, he glanced at the disarray in the room and sighed. “Enough of today’s theatrics. Let’s all return to our duties as if nothing happened.”

The crowd remained silent, their thoughts unreadable.

“Jin Yuanxun, later, help me return the two heads to their proper places.” Chu Tianqiu instructed. “Old Lü and Dr. Zhao, if you have time, bury Chen Junan’s body.”

He paused before reassuring them, “Don’t let these minor incidents distract you. Remember our goal at ‘Paradise Spire’—’Escape.’ In the days ahead, keep gathering game strategies.”

Chu Tianqiu turned away, slipping his hands into his pockets. But as he took his first step, his fingers brushed against something hard.

Frowning, he pulled it out and examined it—his expression shifting instantly.

In his palm lay a gleaming golden ingot.

“What…?”

After a brief moment of thought, he discreetly tucked it back into his pocket. Just as he turned to speak, he noticed Yan Zhichun pulling an identical ingot from her own pocket.

Their eyes met. Yan Zhichun smirked slightly. “Something on your mind, leader?”

Chu Tianqiu stared at the ingot in her hand, deliberating before replying flatly, “Nothing.” Then he pushed open the classroom door and left.