Chapter 926: My Goal

I know I’ve never lost my memory, but I’ve skipped several days of it. In Aries’ hands, my memories are like film reels—he casually cuts out parts, not only making me forget certain things but also fast-forwarding my life.

At this thought, I let out a bitter laugh. My life is indeed chaotic, fragmented memories and intermittent “life fast-forwards” all tangled around me. They seem random, yet they’re firmly controlled by Aries.

Even Azure Dragon once mocked my messy existence.

The day I left “Paradise’s Edge,” even the fake smile I always wore on my face disappeared. I was too disappointed in Chu Tianqiu.

I had once told many members of the “Extreme Path” that if they ever wanted to quit or felt cornered, they could turn to the benevolent leader Chu Tianqiu. For a long time, “Paradise’s Edge” was the fallback for the entire “Extreme Path.”

I even indulged in a few unrealistic fantasies.

I knew the path I walked with Brother Aries was perilous—it was a road of rebellion. If the Celestial Dragon discovered what Aries was doing, everyone connected to him would die without a burial. If that happened, I would do everything to protect all members of the “Extreme Path” and have them join “Paradise’s Edge.”

After all, Chu Tianqiu’s “Paradise’s Edge” was safe—at least in the eyes of the Celestial Dragon.

But fate is cruel. Aries, in such danger, didn’t collapse, while Chu Tianqiu, who had always worked for the “Participants,” did.

Could it be that the “Participants” are even more terrifying than the Celestial Dragon?

The reason I maintained my trust in “Paradise’s Edge” for so long was because of Aunt Tong.

She had never left since joining.

Even after Chu Tianqiu went to such extremes—even after he descended into madness and began creating humans—Aunt Tong still didn’t leave. Her stance was clear.

If the timing were better, I would have asked her: Does Chu Tianqiu still carry immense “good karma” now?

Will “Paradise’s Edge” one day reap blessings from his vast “good karma”?

Forgive my bluntness, but I see no such path. Rumors on the streets have already shifted—some say Chu Tianqiu is letting members of various factions die at will. He’s lost not just the qualifications of a leader but also its authority.

That’s how karma works. If Chu Tianqiu had done nothing, perhaps he wouldn’t be affected—his life would have neither blessings nor retribution. But he created an organization, deluded into leading everyone out of this hellhole. Whether he succeeds or not, the karma of others became his.

That day, Chu Tianqiu shared his unique perspective on creating replicas—a perspective that made me ponder deeply.

If escape from this place is truly possible, would I rather it be me, or the person called “Yan Zhichun,” who gets out?

“Yan Zhichun” has my memories, knows everything I’ve experienced. So I share Chu Tianqiu’s view.

Whichever “Yan Zhichun” escapes, it can be considered as me escaping. My experience differs from others—I’ve been replicated countless times already.

This isn’t hard to accept… We are all constantly being replicated here. Anyone who’s gone through a few cycles with their memories intact would realize this.

Our corpses remain here, while fresh lives rise anew.

The bodies pile up day after day; the stench grows thicker.

If we’re all replicas, how can we judge whose bloodline is purer?

I believe Aries must think the same. He’s replicated my life endlessly to carry out his tasks—he’s long since overcome this psychological barrier.

So I can split my life in two. If a replica truly escapes, let her return to the real world, live my tragic, self-loathing life, and reassure my parents. Once everyone is at ease, I can stay here.

After all, my best friend in this lifetime is here, as well as the closest thing I have to a mentor. I don’t want to leave.

If Brother Aries ever returns and we seize control of this “Land of Finality,” I’ll negotiate with him—I want a position of authority. I want to ensure the people here no longer suffer.

Thinking carefully, had Aries originally said, “I’ll help everyone escape,” I might not have chosen to aid him immediately. I know many here don’t want to leave—even my own desire to escape is faint.

But he spoke of seizing control, of becoming the ruler, of making me a founding elder.

It perfectly aligned with my vision. We don’t need to escape—we need to liberate this place.

Now, all that’s left is to wait for Aries’ return.

But Brother Aries… will you truly come back?

I’ve prepared for everything—I’ve even offered my life countless times.

Now, without “Paradise’s Edge” as a fallback, the “Extreme Path” has no choice but to crash headlong into the Celestial Dragon with you.

I’ll lead the “Extreme Path,” willing to shatter here for one last hope.

But can you appear sooner? Before I go mad, before Jiang Ruoxue goes mad, before the entire “Extreme Path” loses its mind?

I feel everyone’s at their limit, Brother Aries.

Even if you lied to me, it doesn’t matter.

I’ve made peace with it. Even if you return having forgotten everything, even if you’re just toying with my life again, assigning me grander trials—I’ll accept it.

I don’t want to wander aimlessly here. I said long ago—I’m not afraid of danger or hardship, only of losing purpose.

…

After the “Pegasus Hour,” I rested inside a building. At dusk, two women entered one after another.

Night deepened—perhaps they, too, wanted to stay here.

How strange. Even after a massacre like the “Pegasus Hour,” unfamiliar faces still survive.

It feels dissonant, as if everything in this world is bound by tangled causality.

Like how Aries deceived me countless times… yet I still wish he’d return to deceive me once more.

Enough… Brother Aries, at dawn, I’ll set out again. If even strangers here are striving, what right do I have to slack?

Even if you never return, it’s fine. I’ve memorized your ambitions. Starting tomorrow, I’ll walk your path.

I placed all my hopes in you from the beginning. But now I’m strong enough, Brother Aries. If you don’t appear, I’ll lead the “Extreme Path” to the “Train”—it’s our last chance to fight.

Watching the sun rise, I slowly stand. Perhaps everything is about to begin.

I am Yan Zhichun. I am the “King of the Extreme Path.”

I am the special “Participant” Aries personally recruited. I am the “Soul-Stealer.”

From now on, I’ll learn to lie like Aries.