“No… that’s not it…” Xu Liunian pursed her lips. “He’s not what you think…”
“What’s the difference in the end?”
Chu Tianqiu let out a bitter laugh, then pulled a gold ingot from his pocket and tossed it onto the ground in front of Xu Liunian.
“Don’t even say ‘sin.'” Chu Tianqiu narrowed his eyes at her. “In my 28 years of life before death, I didn’t even do anything wrong—yet here I am. Tell me… who should I resent?”
“I really don’t know…” Xu Liunian said. “The only thing I’m certain of is that there are no innocent people on the ‘train’…”
“How can you be so sure?” Chu Tianqiu pressed. “You accuse us of ‘sin’ without knowing what it is. Do you, as ‘gods’ managing souls, not even need evidence?”
“I told you… these matters aren’t under my jurisdiction… I’m only responsible for ‘transport’…” Xu Liunian replied. “Even if you ask me… I truly…”
“Driving someone without ‘sin’ to madness—that’s your skill.” Chu Tianqiu’s voice darkened. “Tell me… what makes your ‘superior’s’ orders worth obeying?”
“Chu Tianqiu…” Xu Liunian had no idea how to explain, her tone pleading. “He really isn’t what you think… He truly is giving everyone a chance…”
“Where is this ‘chance’?” Chu Tianqiu demanded. “When your ‘superior’ abandoned this place, had anyone become a ‘god’ yet?”
“This…” Xu Liunian slowly lowered her head. “No…”
“He says he’ll create a ‘god’ and does it… He says he’ll abandon us and does it…” Chu Tianqiu burst into laughter. “Xu Liunian! On what grounds?! Are the tens of thousands here truly all sinners?! What if there are many like me, who never did anything wrong? Do you realize the magnitude of your atrocity?”
“Chu Tianqiu!” Xu Liunian cut him off. “All the souls here were taken directly from the path to hell—you were all meant to be obliterated!”
“Then you should have let us be obliterated back then!” Chu Tianqiu snapped. “What are we now?! Everyone talks about ‘surviving,’ but we’re already dead. Everyone talks about ‘escaping,’ but where exactly are we to ‘escape’ to? Everyone talks about becoming ‘gods,’ but how are we to fight against the two dragons who are already ‘gods’? It’s laughable… Even without those ‘dragons,’ our fate wouldn’t change.”
“But the truth really isn’t like that…” Xu Liunian’s voice grew faint, as if even she was beginning to doubt. “Back then, this space was just chaos… To give you all a sense of belonging, he built cities and created the sky…”
“Ridiculous.” Chu Tianqiu scoffed. “Create a comfortable environment, then make us watch as it turns into a living hell—what kind of torture is that?”
Xu Liunian knew their perspectives were irreconcilable. There was no convincing him.
From Chu Tianqiu’s—or any “participant’s”—point of view, this place was undeniably hell, bringing only seventy years of suffering and endless despair.
“Chu Tianqiu… I understand how you feel,” Xu Liunian said. “I can’t persuade you. But since the ‘mastermind’ behind this place can’t be found, I can atone in his stead.”
“How will you atone?” Chu Tianqiu challenged. “By disappearing in the next cycle, as you said? Is that your ‘atonement’?”
“It’s the only thing I can think of.” Xu Liunian sighed. “I’m just an ordinary person. I can’t do anything more.”
“I want you to live,” Chu Tianqiu said. “I want you to go out and ask him why he did this.”
“What…?”
“Aren’t you curious?” Chu Tianqiu pressed. “No matter how you look at it, this place must have taken immense effort to build. Why was it abandoned so suddenly?”
“But Chu Tianqiu…” Xu Liunian took a step forward, lowering her voice. “Time here is stagnant compared to the outside. No one knows how long it’s been…”
“Isn’t that perfect?” Chu Tianqiu countered. “It means if someone really can leave, your ‘superior’ should still be just outside, barely two steps away. You could ask him everything directly.”
Xu Liunian opened her mouth to protest but realized Chu Tianqiu’s logic was sound.
“Chu Tianqiu…” she murmured. “The only way out… is the ‘train.'”
“What…?” Chu Tianqiu froze. “You…?”
“This space is sealed.” Xu Liunian continued. “Only the ‘train’ can traverse it. Back then, I drove it through the void to enter this place. Now, it can leave the same way.”
“You’re joking…” Chu Tianqiu muttered. “You’ve known all along how to escape… and never said a word?”
“Yes.” Xu Liunian nodded. “There are many reasons… First, I shouldn’t let anyone leave—my ‘superior’s’ order was to kill everyone. Second, the ‘train’ is now fully controlled by the ‘Zodiacs,’ with the twin dragons at the helm. Third, the ‘train’ is severely damaged and can’t be operated. Fourth…”
“What’s the fourth?” Chu Tianqiu narrowed his eyes.
“Fourth… I only know the ‘train’ can leave this ‘Final Land,’ but not where it would go next.” Xu Liunian admitted. “Even if we escape, we might enter another space… one without cities, just endless darkness.”
Chu Tianqiu pondered this before nodding. “So even if we fight the ‘Zodiacs’ to mutual destruction, miraculously seize the ‘train’ from the ‘gods,’ miraculously get it running, and miraculously escape with everyone—we could still plunge into another ‘Final Land.'”
“Exactly.” Xu Liunian said. “That’s why I’ve never told anyone.”
“Hah…” Chu Tianqiu shook his head in resignation. “Did you really think silence would keep it hidden?”
“What…?”
“Just watch.” Chu Tianqiu said. “I suspect someone has already figured it out.”
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage