Xu Liunian was startled and quickly turned around.
She had arrived early at “Paradise Gate” to search for someone, only to find that people inside were constantly being slaughtered. Unable to fight against such overwhelming power, she had no choice but to hide nearby.
Just now, when she saw Qi Xia enter, she suddenly changed her mind and prepared to approach him under a different guise. But to her surprise, Qi Xia was followed by five others, completely derailing her plan. Now, she had to deal with the people in front of her first.
Yet before she could come up with a new strategy, she froze, staring at the group before her.
As the saying goes, “You search far and wide for what you need, only to find it right under your nose.”
The very person she had been desperately seeking—Qiao Jiajin—was standing right before her.
“What’s up, Sis Xu?” Chen Junnan said with a serious expression. “If you want to transform, go ahead. Just pretend we’re not here. We’re just passing by.”
“Qiao Jiajin,” Xu Liunian called out. “I need to talk to you.”
Qiao Jiajin blinked in confusion, glancing at Chen Junnan and Tian Tian before turning back to Xu Liunian. He pointed at himself, puzzled. “Me?”
“Yes. Can we talk in private?” she pressed.
“But I don’t really know you,” Qiao Jiajin scratched his head. “Why not just say whatever it is right here?”
Xu Liunian studied the group—Chen Junnan, Qin Dingdong, Zhang Lijuan, and an unfamiliar young boy.
For a moment, she realized how unreasonable her request must seem. These people were clearly a tight-knit group, while she stood alone. If that was the case… could she even achieve what she wanted?
“Qiao Jiajin,” Xu Liunian took a step forward, her expression grave. “I have a way to completely free this place. If you’re willing to help, we can end all of this right here.”
“Huh?” Qiao Jiajin frowned. “Say what?”
Chen Junnan and Qin Dingdong exchanged a glance, their expressions darkening.
Qin Dingdong quickly stepped in. “Alright, alright, our Jiajin gets it. You can go now, kid.”
Chen Junnan wrapped an arm around Qiao Jiajin’s shoulders. “Yeah, yeah, don’t mind her, Old Qiao. She’s just selling something. Let’s not listen, okay?”
“Wait… what?” Both Qiao Jiajin and Xu Liunian were stunned.
Seeing the situation devolve into chaos, Xu Liunian grew desperate. She pushed past them and snapped, “You all know about this method… but you’re keeping it from Qiao Jiajin?”
“We know, we know,” Chen Junnan said dismissively. “We’re not buying, thanks.”
As he spoke, he tried to pull Qiao Jiajin away.
How could he not know the method Xu Liunian was referring to?
Back when he and Qin Dingdong had stood on the rooftop, listening as Qi Xia uttered the words “endless cycle,” he had already sensed something ominous.
“Terminus” was like a massive prison, trapping everyone in an “endless cycle.”
If all of this was truly because of Qi Xia, then a single word from Qiao Jiajin could change everything—but what consequences that might bring, no one could say.
“What the hell are you all doing…?” Xu Liunian grabbed Chen Junnan’s arm. “Do you really want to keep reliving this hell forever…?”
Chen Junnan stopped, turning to face her. “Xu Liunian… drop it. Whatever Old Qiao thinks, I won’t allow it.”
“It’s just one sentence!!” she shouted. “At the very least… shouldn’t we try?”
Qiao Jiajin was utterly lost. “What sentence? What are you talking about?”
“I said no,” Chen Junnan repeated. “Go do whatever else you want.”
“Why…?” Xu Liunian’s voice trembled. “If we can break free, it’ll all be over! None of us will have to suffer anymore… Why won’t you even try?”
Qin Dingdong watched the desperate girl with a pang of sympathy.
Even as she pleaded, if things went as she wished… she, too, would vanish.
Who in the world would beg for a result that held no benefit for themselves?
“Fine.” Chen Junnan sighed. “If you really want an answer, here it is. First, we don’t even know if all of this is because of Old Qi—or if Old Qiao’s ‘Lawbreaker’ ability would even work on it.”
“That’s why we should—”
“Second,” Chen Junnan cut in sharply, “you have no right to decide the fate of others. There are thousands of people in ‘Terminus.’ How can you be sure they all want to disappear? That they all want ‘liberation’? What if they don’t? What if they choose to stay?”
Xu Liunian lowered her head. “Because they can’t retain their memories… that’s why someone who remembers must make the choice for them—”
“But to them,” Chen Junnan countered, “you’d just be some stranger swooping in, claiming to act in their best interest while erasing them from existence. How is that any different from a villain?”
“But you know I’m right…” she whispered. “Isn’t this the most direct and effective solution?”
Chen Junnan didn’t answer, his gaze heavy.
“The real versions of us might have already escaped…” Xu Liunian’s voice cracked. “We’re just copies, waiting to be freed… Why do we have to suffer like this? Why do they get to leave… while we’re trapped here?”
“Stop,” Chen Junnan said firmly. “For all we know, the ‘real’ us never escaped either. And if we die now, that’s it. Besides, Old Qiao isn’t some tool for you to use. He has his own mind.”
Xu Liunian fell silent.
After a long pause, she finally looked up. “Neither of us can convince the other. So let Qiao Jiajin decide. Deal?”
“Oh?”
“Just this once,” she said. “This plan hinges on his power anyway. If he refuses, it’s over. So if he says no, I’ll never bring it up again.”
Now the choice was back in Qiao Jiajin’s hands—and he was more confused than ever.
“What the hell are you all on about? What’s this ‘one sentence to freedom’ nonsense?” He glanced between Chen Junnan and Xu Liunian. “What does any of this have to do with me?”
Chen Junnan hesitated before answering. “Old Qiao… we suspect everyone’s stuck in this endless cycle because of Old Qi’s ‘Endless Cycle.’ And you’re the ‘Lawbreaker.’ Would you be willing… to use your power to break this curse?”
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