Chapter 799: In the Heart

“What should I do… Monkey…?” Zheng Yingxiong murmured through tears, his face streaked with sorrow. “Did you see it? That ‘Tao’… it’s gone…”

The Monkey glanced in the direction where the ‘Tao’ had disappeared, then gently placed a hand on Zheng Yingxiong’s shoulder, his voice steady and low.

“Every ‘Tao’ here is ultimately just a fleeting speck in this chaotic world.” He sighed softly. “There are countless ‘Tao’—no one will miss a single lost one. The old ones fade, and new ones are forged in their place.”

“But… but here!” Zheng Yingxiong clutched his chest, his voice breaking. “It hurts so much…! I can’t breathe sometimes… I feel so lost…”

The Monkey’s eyes flickered for a moment, as if recalling a distant memory.

Her voice, her smile—still vivid in his mind.

With another sigh, the Monkey pressed his cold palm over Zheng Yingxiong’s hand, still clutching his chest. Despite surviving here for over a decade, this boy still carried the mind of an eight-year-old. He had been denied the education he deserved, yet burdened with sorrows no child should bear.

“You won’t lose it again,” the Monkey said, forcing a smile. “The world is vast. We all lose things. But if you keep them in your heart, they’ll never truly be gone.”

“Really…?” Zheng Yingxiong looked up, his tearful eyes searching the Monkey’s face.

“Mm. Watch.”

The Monkey lightly tapped Zheng Yingxiong’s chest, then clenched his hand into a fist, as if pulling something out. Slowly, he brought it to the boy’s eyes, blew gently on it, and turned his palm over—revealing a radiant ‘Tao,’ shimmering with light.

“As long as you remember her, she’ll always shine… right here in your heart.”

Zheng Yingxiong took the ‘Tao’ carefully, nodding thoughtfully. “The things that matter… they stay inside us.”

“Exactly,” the Monkey agreed. “As long as someone remembers, she’ll never truly vanish.”

“I understand now…”

“Let’s continue the game,” the Monkey said. “My turn.”

“Okay.”

Zheng Yingxiong cradled the ‘Tao’ in his hands as the Monkey reached into the box and took out the last one, placing it on the table. The box was now empty.

By the rules—*whoever takes the last ‘Tao’ wins*—the victory belonged to the Monkey.

“You won,” Zheng Yingxiong said.

“Not necessarily,” the Monkey countered, shaking his head. “Whether I won… you should confirm that yourself.”

“Huh?”

Confused, Zheng Yingxiong watched as the Monkey tapped the now-empty box lightly.

“Trust yourself,” the Monkey murmured.

Realization dawned. Zheng Yingxiong reached into the box, fingers brushing against its corners—until he felt a small, crumpled paper. His eyes glimmered faintly.

“Whether I won doesn’t matter,” the Monkey said. “Someone will win here eventually. And for me… it doesn’t matter who.”

Zheng Yingxiong withdrew his hand, gripping the paper tightly before nodding. “I see.”

“My journey ends here, but yours doesn’t,” the Monkey said. “Go on. Leave your ‘ticket’ with me.”

“I won’t stop,” Zheng Yingxiong declared. “Even if I lose every last ‘ticket,’ I won’t stop!”

“Mm.”

“I’ll keep moving forward—with ‘Sword’ and ‘Swallow’!” Tears still fresh on his face, Zheng Yingxiong met the Monkey’s gaze with steely resolve. “Until someone wins this place!”

“I believe in you.”

—

Outside, Yun Yao and the others had barely waited ten minutes before Zheng Yingxiong emerged from the room.

He looked like he’d cried his heart out, yet his spirits seemed oddly lifted—as if a weight had finally been lifted from his chest.

The Monkey followed him out, stepping back to his post by the door as if nothing had happened.

“Hero, are you okay?” Tian Tian scanned him with concern.

“I’m fine, sis,” Zheng Yingxiong replied. “Don’t worry.”

Him calling her *sis* made the Monkey glance at Tian Tian.

She did resemble someone from the past—only her eyes held a deeper sorrow.

“But I’m sorry…” Zheng Yingxiong added. “I lost two ‘Tao.’ Only one’s left now.”

He uncurled his palm, revealing a single, gleaming ‘Tao.’

“Keep it,” Tian Tian said. “Since you used it in the Monkey’s game, let it be a memento.”

After a pause, Zheng Yingxiong nodded. “Thank you, sis…”

Neither he nor the Monkey mentioned what had transpired inside. They exchanged one last glance before looking away.

It was a reunion neither had wished for—and a farewell where names could never be spoken.

“Let’s go, sis,” Zheng Yingxiong said. “To find the person you’re looking for.”

“Right.” Yun Yao picked up a rusted iron rod from the ground and tossed it into the air.

It spun wildly before landing upright for a brief moment, then toppled—pointing in a clear direction.

“Leave it to luck,” Yun Yao said. “First toss led us to Hero. This time, it’s our turn.”

They set off, following the rod’s guidance.

Before leaving the alley, Zheng Yingxiong turned back one last time. The Monkey gave him a slight nod.

Just as he’d said—his journey ended here.

Only Zheng Yingxiong could move forward now.

Once out of the alley, Zheng Yingxiong pulled out the crumpled paper from the box—words Gu Yu never got to say.

He remembered the Monkey fussing with the box before the game. *This must be what he was preparing.*

Unfolding the note, he read:

*”Zheng Yingxiong, seek ‘Causality.’ The path she chose may be the right one. No matter what happens, never become a ‘Zodiac.’ Farewell.”*

His fingers traced the word *farewell,* an indescribable ache settling in his chest.

Looking up at the three girls ahead, he knew it was time to make a choice.

Though he’d sworn never to join another group… these were people he could trust.

“Sisters.”

He raised the note, calling out to them. “There’s something I need to discuss.”