Chapter 857: The Strange Powerhouse

So I choose to destroy the “Tao” in the hands of those without “Echo” as much as possible.

That way, they won’t remember me.

If the other person has an “Echo,” I try to avoid them.

In other words, I plan to apply these three challenges to three types of people. If someone looks like they’re already in bad shape, I’ll use “Soul Snatch” from the shadows to control them—even making them bash their head against a wall—so they sink deeper into despair without realizing why.

At the same time, I’ll participate in the games as much as possible, using my acting skills to make everyone lose. If the situation allows, I’ll destroy the “Tao” at the last moment.

As for… “recruiting strong allies,” I might need to make some changes.

Perhaps I need to find some lunatics to work with me.

Ten days later, I walked out of that absurdly simple interview room again and stood in front of the lonely building.

What intrigued me was that the long-haired girl passed by once more, turning her head to glance at me again.

What a coincidence—could her “spawn point” be right across from mine?

This time, she didn’t leave immediately. Instead, she slowed to a stop after seeing me, staring at me with an amused glint in her eyes.

I don’t like being stared at, so I averted my gaze, trying not to meet her eyes. But I could feel her gaze lingering—there was no escape.

“Do you need something?” I finally turned back to ask her.

“Me…?” The girl smiled, then took a step forward, testing my personal space. “I’m a little curious too. Do *you* need something?”

“Me… need something?” I frowned. “What’s this about? Weren’t *you* the one who stopped to stare at me? Why ask *me* if I need something?”

“No, the logic’s all wrong.” She shook her head, wearing a smile I couldn’t decipher. “I once told myself in the mirror: if someone truly needs me, let me appear before them. But I’ve shown up here twice now. Are you looking for me? What do you need me for?”

I couldn’t follow her words anymore. It was like reverse causality—she had flipped the logic.

It was as absurd as saying, “Because I fell today, there must have been a rock on the ground.”

“Last time I saw you, you were wearing a white dress and looked harmless, so I thought I had the wrong person,” she said, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Are you in some kind of trouble? I’ve never seen such a powerful ’cause and effect’—something strong enough to halt all my actions and pull me here. Is what you’re doing that important? Can I help?”

I didn’t understand, but she seemed… unhinged.

“I’m fine. Leave me alone.”

I turned and walked into the building, but she had absolutely no sense of boundaries—she followed me inside.

“Why so rushed?” she called after me. “Shouldn’t we introduce ourselves first? I’m Jiang Ruoxue. What’s your name?”

She was exactly the type of person I couldn’t stand—the kind who forces familiarity with everyone, disrupting my own rhythm.

“Say something,” she babbled behind me. “I really like girls like you. Should I just call you ‘wife’?”

I was about to retrieve the note I’d hidden in the last cycle, but her words made me freeze.

“Are you done…?” I snapped. “I don’t know you, I don’t agree with your ‘logic,’ and you’ve already made a terrible first impression. Those three things guarantee we’ll never be friends.”

“So you must not have many friends, huh?” Without hesitation, she dragged a chair over, dusted it off, and plopped down. “How can you decide whether someone can be your friend before even trying? Every ’cause’ leads to a different ‘effect.’ The fact that we’re both standing here means we share a special fate.”

“Oh?” I shot back. “But this ‘fate’ feels man-made, not destined.”

“Destiny *is* man-made,” she said, grinning. “What’s wrong, wife? Rejecting me so fast—are you shy?”

I never expected those words to come from a girl’s mouth. It was… indescribably weird.

“Don’t call me ‘wife,'” I said, scowling. “If you’re looking for one, try someone else. We’re not the same kind of person.”

“So you don’t like girls?” she pressed.

“I don’t like men either,” I said. “In this world, the only one I love is myself.”

“What a coincidence.” She scooted her chair closer again. “Me too.”

That’s when I realized—I might be in trouble.

When you don’t know someone’s motives, always assume the worst first.

“What do you want?” I asked.

“Why do you keep asking that…?” She sighed. “I told you—I sensed you desperately needed help, so ‘fate’ brought me here. But if you won’t explain your problem, how can I help?”

I… desperately needed help?

I couldn’t deny it—she was right. But *why* did she want to help me?

Seeing my silence, she added, “Whatever your plan is, just tell me. I can tell you’re no ordinary person—just a bit smarter and more cautious than most. But the scale of what you’re planning in your head… is it really that huge?”

“I…”

For the first time, I hesitated. Just when I needed help, this bizarre woman appeared out of nowhere. What was going on?

“Are you with ‘Aries’ too?” I asked.

“‘Aries’…” Her eyes lit up, eyebrows rising in excitement. “Interesting, interesting. So there’s a ‘Zodiac’ involved in this?”

I felt like I’d been played. She clearly knew nothing, yet she was sticking around.

I wondered if she had an “Echo.” I even considered using “Soul Snatch” to kill her.

“Hey,” she smirked. “Let me join you. Whatever you’re doing, I’m in. I’m strong—I’ll make things twice as easy for you.”

I rubbed my forehead. Was *this* the path I was meant to take?

Just moments ago, I’d thought about gathering a group of lunatics to help me—and now, here it was, happening already.

“Jiang Ruoxue,” I said, “what’s your ‘Echo’?”

“I am ‘Cause and Effect,'” she replied. “It’s because of this ‘Echo’ that we’ve met here. Isn’t it fascinating?”