Chapter 908: The Gate of Life and Death

I swallowed hard and looked at the young man.

He seemed accustomed to helping people with similar issues, but this time, the situation had clearly spiraled beyond his control.

Why did Aries insist on having him present during such a crucial conversation with me?

No matter how experienced this young man was, he was visibly terrified now.

Indeed, if not for his expression, I would have forgotten how shocking Aries’ words always were—though I had long grown accustomed to them.

“So what?” Aries asked. “Are you backing out of the deal?”

“No, not backing out,” the young man shook his head. “I still won’t breathe a word of your conversation, but I can’t participate further. If I do, not just me—even ‘Cat’ will be in mortal danger.”

He exhaled as if relieved, seemingly about to withdraw the strange force surrounding us, but Aries reached out and grabbed his arm.

“Wait,” Aries said. “Are you really going to tarnish ‘Cat’s’ reputation like this?”

“This isn’t about ‘reputation’ anymore,” the young man replied. “‘Cat’ has survived all this time by staying neutral. If we’re caught serving ‘rebels,’ our very nature changes. I can’t gamble with ‘Cat’s’ future.”

“‘Cat’s’ future **is** me,” Aries said darkly.

“What…?” The young man froze. “You?”

“You can listen now,” Aries said. “Go back and tell Qian Wu that this time, the ‘Zodiac’ knows ‘Cat’s’ final mission. He’ll explain the rest.”

The young man fell silent, clearly skeptical of Aries’ words.

Honestly, not just him—even I found it hard to believe.

These black-leather-clad figures were common on the streets, but they rarely appeared around Aries. I thought Aries was already stretched thin—he couldn’t possibly have time to lead another organization.

“You’re now carrying ‘Cat’s’ mission,” Aries said. “This task must be completed, or ‘Cat’s’ reputation will suffer irreparably. I’m in a hurry—choose now.”

The young man narrowed his eyes, thought for a few seconds, then said, “Fine. I’ll stay till the end, but I need an extra safeguard.”

With that, he drew a dagger from his waist. Sensing danger, I immediately activated my **Conviction**, bracing for an attack on Aries. But in the span of a second, the young man flipped the blade toward himself—and lunged at his own ears.

**Snap!**

Aries grabbed his wrist just before the blade could pierce his eardrum.

The young man’s force was no joke—he wasn’t bluffing.

What the hell was this?

I was baffled. Was he really about to deafen himself just to avoid hearing us?

For a moment, I thought this group’s **Conviction** might even surpass the **Extremists’**.

“Unnecessary,” Aries said. “This is just self-torture.”

“Sorry… I can’t trust anyone,” the young man whispered. “All I know is that I can’t betray Brother Wu. If ‘Cat’ falls because of me, I’ll never atone. So let me take this ‘win-win’ approach.”

A slight frown crossed Aries’ face before he finally released his grip.

A soft “Thank you” escaped the young man’s lips before he decisively drove the blade into his ear.

A flash of pain crossed his face. He wobbled unsteadily, barely managing to stay upright before giving us a pale nod.

Aries sighed. “I didn’t expect everyone to be doing so well.”

“Huh?” I glanced at him.

“Never mind, Yan Zhichun. Maybe this is for the best,” Aries said. “From now on, what I’m about to say will soon be known only to you in all of **Terminus**. You’ll be my sharpest **Needle**.”

“I’m a **Needle**…?”

This was the first I’d heard of it. Ever since meeting Aries, my role had blurred—sometimes a pawn, sometimes a subordinate, even a dog or a tool.

Yet Aries called me “one of his own,” and now, a powerful **Needle**.

“Exactly,” Aries said. “I need all my **Needles** aimed at Qinglong and Tianlong’s weak points.”

“What do you want me to do…?”

Aries stared at me, silent for a long moment, before speaking. “After destroying the giant clock and the display, lead everyone to hide and evade pursuit. Then, reach these eight locations—before nightfall.”

He handed me a pre-drawn map outlining nearby roads, marked with characters for the Earthly Branches: **Zi, Chou, Yin, Mao…**

“This is…?”

“These are the locations of eight **Zodiacs**,” Aries said. “Spread your people near them. When they finish their shifts, enter the **Train** through the portals beside them.”

“**What?!**”

No wonder… No wonder Aries called the first task “simple.”

Compared to the second, the first **was** too easy.

“The **Train**—isn’t that where the **Zodiacs** gather?! Can regular people even enter?!”

I practically shouted—probably the first time I’d ever lost my composure like this.

“Correct. The **Train** is full of **Zodiacs**, but no rule says **Participants** can’t enter. After all, we came from the **Train**,” Aries said. “Boarding is just step one. There’s more.”

“Wait—I don’t even understand step one yet,” I said. “Why these eight locations?”

“Because these eight **Zodiacs** likely won’t attack you,” Aries replied. “They’re like you—**my people**.”

“I still don’t get it. If they’re allies, wouldn’t one suffice?” I voiced my doubts. “Splitting up across eight spots means we can’t support each other and risk being picked off. And even if we enter the **Train** from different points, we won’t regroup immediately. So why scatter us?”

“Embarrassingly,” Aries shook his head, “I can’t confirm if all eight are truly allies.”

“What…?”

“Yan Zhichun, I’ll be blunt,” Aries said, his gaze icy. “Out of the eight, one is a fake. Seven are **Gates of Life**, one is a **Gate of Death**. Spreading out ensures survival—if you bet wrong on a single gate, it’s total annihilation.”