Qi Xia gazed silently out the window into the pitch-black night.
From time to time, he glanced up at the sky, then down at the ground, his fingers tapping lightly against the windowsill as his mind raced.
It was an eerily quiet night—one unlike any he had seen in decades.
The **Zodiacs** were silent. The **Ants** were silent. Even the **Participants** were silent.
Compared to the noise of Qi Xia’s thoughts, the entire **Land of the End** seemed deafeningly still.
A whirlwind of ideas spun through his mind as he meticulously calculated every possible scenario—both unfolding and yet to come.
Thankfully, his battle with **Tianlong** in the dream had restored more of his memories. Yet, many of those regained fragments felt like wandering through a void, as if his mind were a corrupted computer program.
*”The **Cats** should finalize their strategy tonight,”* Qi Xia mused inwardly.
*”Pity your options are running thin… No matter how you weigh it, only one path remains. After all, there are plenty of sharp minds among the **Cats**, and their reasoning will inevitably converge on the same conclusion—just as I’ve planned. Let events unfold naturally.”*
*”If all goes as expected, the **Zodiacs** will plunge into chaos tonight, their trust fractured. The **Zodiacs** I trust most will begin moving, disrupting the rebellion’s carefully laid schemes. Now, everyone will scramble to save themselves.”*
He stood up, staring out the window, his thoughts continuing. *”Only when faced with internal and external threats can people push their limits to the extreme. The moment one **Zodiac** strikes… chaos will spread. The **Train** will be reshuffled, and the **Celestials**—”*
Qi Xia turned his gaze to the corpse that had been lying motionless in the center of the classroom.
*”The **Celestials** have already begun dying.”* He swiftly simulated the next steps. *”At this point, how could **Tianlong** not want to see me…? And how could **Tianzhu**, who’s been dormant all this time, not receive orders to activate the **Puppets**…? If the **Puppets** are unleashed in front of **Qinglong**… how will you survive? And once the besieged **Earthlies** realize the **Celestials** can truly be killed—the gears will turn with unstoppable force.”*
All the groundwork had been laid for **Tianlong**. Even if he were a genuine god—let alone a self-proclaimed one—he could never anticipate someone spending so long orchestrating such a simple murder.
*”As for the **Extremists**…”* Qi Xia stroked his chin. *”They’re advancing along the predetermined track, steadier than any other faction… After all, this needle was forged from **Smithing**, and I shaped it into what it is now.”*
*”Every **Needle** is like a **Train** speeding down its rails—turbulent, yet steady. They’ll eventually collide with the true **Train** of the **Land of the End**…”* He pondered for a few seconds. *”But we’re still missing the fastest one…”*
Qi Xia glanced toward the door, his thoughts whispering: *”Chu Tianqiu…”*
*”Don’t disappoint me. Wen Qiaoyun’s resurrection didn’t drive you madder—instead, it restored a shred of your sanity. Why are you still so naïve? Must I tear her apart before your eyes?”*
A moment later, he shook his head. *”No… that won’t work. If I destroy Wen Qiaoyun, you’ll only hate me. If **Tianlong** destroys her, you’ll only hate **Tianlong**. That’s not enough.”*
*”You must hate yourself, the world, everyone… You need to feel utterly powerless. You must bear the weight of absolute despair, your eyes filled with an endless sea of Wen Qiaoyun’s corpses… That’s our only path forward.”*
In this twisted place, killing was saving, and saving was harming.
Qi Xia knew this team couldn’t afford overly kind hearts—and Chu Tianqiu was the perfect candidate for this plan, second only to himself.
Both of them would commit countless atrocities for the sake of “good deeds,” a rare sight unseen anywhere else.
*”Countless **evil deeds** forge **good karma**, thus actions are neither good nor evil, and karma neither grows nor fades.”* Qi Xia’s thoughts deepened. *”I seek neither **good fruit** nor **bad fruit**—only the **fruit** I’ve meticulously cultivated.”*
After a few more seconds of silence, Qi Xia nodded. *”Right… Chu Tianqiu… I shouldn’t underestimate you… Maybe you’ve already realized it?”*
Outside the door, the silence was absolute, as if all of **Paradise Port** had fallen into slumber.
*”One last chance… If Wen Qiaoyun challenges **Earth Dragon** to a death gamble tomorrow, I’ll lend you my aid… But if you insist on protecting her… then your train stops here.”*
Qiao Jiajin had been watching Qi Xia intently, waiting until his furrowed brow relaxed before speaking softly. *”Oi, conman… what side gig are you working on now?”*
*”I—”* Qi Xia blinked. *”Nothing. Just thinking.”*
*”Oh…”* Qiao Jiajin nodded, still eyeing him curiously.
In the silence that followed, footsteps echoed outside—Chen Junnan had returned, covered in dust.
*”Huh…?”* Qiao Jiajin raised an eyebrow. *”Handsome lad… why’d you come back in the dark? Isn’t it dangerous?”*
*”Ha…”* Chen Junnan shook his head. *”Long story. The streets were sprayed with some kinda bug spray—didn’t see a single **Ant**.”*
*”B-Bug spray?”* Qiao Jiajin blinked.
*”Anyway, mission accomplished—gloriously.”* Chen Junnan plopped into a chair. *”Finished both the official task and whatever secret one Old Qi didn’t mention. Got time? I’ll regale you with my heroic exploits.”*
Qi Xia rubbed his chin. *”After you left, did the **Cats** hold a meeting?”*
*”Ugh—damn it, how’d you know?”* Chen Junnan cursed. *”Course they did! When the strongest piece makes their move, everyone scrambles to react.”*
*”Good… It’s almost time.”* Qi Xia murmured.
*”Almost time…?”* Chen Junnan frowned. *”For what?”*
Qi Xia didn’t answer. Sure enough, a voice echoed in his ear seconds later.
*”Tsk… Big Brain.”*
*”Mm.”* Qi Xia responded softly. *”I’m here. Go ahead.”*
Qiao Jiajin and Chen Junnan immediately understood and fell silent, waiting.
Saturday cleared his throat. *”Tsk, I’m under **Silence**, so listen up.”*
*”Understood.”* Qi Xia replied.
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