Chapter 684: The Flood

A group of people fell into silence as they stared at the four large characters on Xiao Cheng’s back.

**What is the “Beginning of the Subversion”?**

**What exactly is being subverted?**

*”Hiss… wait, hold on a second…”* Chen Junan scratched his forehead. *”Old Qiao, doesn’t this sound familiar to you?”*

*”Of course it does,”* Qiao Jiajin nodded. *”The conman said something like this before. Remember when we were waiting outside that Earth Pig’s game venue for the shapeshifter and his team to come out? You forgot?”*

*”Damn… So Qi Xia himself said that?”* Chen Junan seemed to recall something. *”Yeah, I think so… Qi Xia said, ‘When I fully understand the Endgame, that will be the Beginning of the Subversion,’ right?”*

*”That’s about how it went,”* Qiao Jiajin agreed.

The two of them stared at the words on Xiao Cheng’s back, sensing something off.

Why would Qi Xia’s words appear on Xiao Cheng’s back?

Tiantian pondered for a moment before speaking softly, *”Could it be that someone in the dream… carved these words onto Xiao Cheng’s back?”*

Though her logic made sense, the thought sent a chill down everyone’s spine.

*”You’re saying someone carved words into his flesh just to send us a message…?”* Chen Junan blinked. *”Is there someone that extreme in Qi Xia’s dream?”*

*”Not just that…”* Qiao Jiajin’s hand, resting on Xiao Cheng’s neck, moved slightly, and his expression darkened. *”This guy’s neck is broken. Whoever did this was brutal.”*

Chen Junan took a closer look at Xiao Cheng’s corpse and realized he had suffered severe injuries—his left arm was slashed, his right hand twisted, his back covered in carved words, and his neck snapped.

Had he endured inhuman torture in Qi Xia’s dream?

And if there was a sadistic murderer in Qi Xia’s dream… what did that mean for Qi Xia himself?

Alarmed, Chen Junan rushed to Qi Xia’s side and patted his face. *”Hey… Old Qi? Stop dreaming already, your dream’s way too dangerous.”*

Qi Xia swayed slightly, seemingly in deep sleep.

*”Damn it…”* Chen Junan and Qiao Jiajin exchanged glances, unsure what to do.

Meanwhile, Earth Monkey stood up, grabbed Xiao Cheng’s ankle, and dragged his body across the floor, leaving a bloody trail before tossing him out the door.

*”You—”*

The others stared at him in shock.

*”Dead bodies bring bad luck to small businesses. May fortune favor you all.”*

Earth Monkey replied nonchalantly, then picked up a mop and began cleaning the floor. *”Today’s game is over. You’re free to leave.”*

*”What do you mean ‘over’…?”* Chen Junan frowned, pointing at Qi Xia. *”Monkey Bro, didn’t you have some ‘mutual interest’ with Old Qi? What’s the situation now? Is the ‘interest’ gone?”*

Earth Monkey’s demeanor had indeed shifted—he seemed both relieved and resigned. After seeing the four words on Xiao Cheng’s back, he was eerily calm.

*”The ‘interest’ between us is our own business. It has nothing to do with the rest of you,”* Earth Monkey scanned the group. *”Are you all Qi Xia’s current teammates?”*

Tiantian was about to answer but hesitated.

*What does he mean by ‘current teammates’?*

Chen Junan patted her shoulder, pulling her behind him before stepping forward. *”Who we team up with is our own private matter. Shouldn’t concern you, Monkey Bro.”*

*”Fair enough,”* Earth Monkey nodded. *”But let me give you all a piece of advice…”*

He raised a long, hairy finger and pointed at his own eyes.

*”Keep your eyes wide open. Don’t get sold out and still thank the person for it.”*

*”What do you mean…?”* The group exchanged confused glances.

Earth Monkey merely shook his head slowly. *”As the saying goes, ‘Feasting, drinking, and whoring all lead to ruin—only gambling brings returns.’ If you enjoyed the experience, do recommend our establishment to—”*

*”Cut the small talk,”* Chen Junan stepped forward, standing right in front of Earth Monkey. *”Monkey Bro, if I’m not mistaken… we’re basically socks on the same rope, right?”*

*”The phrase is ‘grasshoppers on the same rope,'”* Earth Monkey sneered. *”Seems like you know quite a bit. Are you one of Qi Xia’s trusted men too?”*

*”That ‘too’ of yours is very telling,”* Chen Junan smirked. *”You seem to know a lot yourself.”*

*”What does it matter how much I know?”* Earth Monkey glanced at Qi Xia from the corner of his eye. *”Listen, someone has unleashed a flood. I can smell danger in the air—everyone here could drown. You’d all better prepare to scatter when disaster strikes.”*

*”Scatter when the flood comes?”* Chen Junan grinned sarcastically. *”My apologies, didn’t realize you were a noble Western monkey.”*

*”What?”* Earth Monkey frowned, confused.

*”You’ve forgotten the wisdom of our ancestors,”* Chen Junan retorted. *”In Western myths, whenever floods came, they either prayed to gods or built big boats to flee. But what did our ancestors do?”*

Earth Monkey pursed his lips, staring at this defiant young man.

Chen Junan took another step forward, his voice icy.

*”When the flood comes, running’s useless—you tame it!”*

Earth Monkey’s pupils contracted slightly.

*”Tame… it?”*

*”You planning to keep running forever? Fleeing wherever the flood spreads?”* Chen Junan pressed. *”Instead of living like a coward, why not lend Qi Xia a hand at this critical moment?”*

Earth Monkey lowered his head slightly, a mocking glint in his eyes.

*”Lend him a hand…”* He shook his head repeatedly, as if hearing something absurd. *”That’s exactly what I used to believe—and now I realize how laughable I was…”*

*”Oh?”*

Earth Monkey lifted his gaze, first at Chen Junan, then at the others behind him.

*”I suspect Qi Xia never intended to leave. He’s been playing us all like puppets. He’ll be the death of us.”*

His words struck like a hammer, plunging the room into silence.

*”I don’t get it…”* Chen Junan frowned. *”Ever since we got here, you’ve insisted Old Qi doesn’t want to leave. What’s your angle? Didn’t he tell you himself he wants out?”*

*”But what’s his reason for leaving?!”* Earth Monkey’s eyes blazed. *”Everyone who wants to escape has a purpose—what’s Qi Xia’s?”*

*”He—”* Chen Junan almost blurted out *”to find his wife,”* but the words caught in his throat.

*”He’s lying to you all…”* Earth Monkey gritted his teeth. *”He’s deceived every one of us… You don’t know what he—”*

**BOOM!**

A deafening thunderclap erupted outside, making Earth Monkey flinch violently.