“Chu Tianqiu… although I’m not entirely clear on the mechanics of ‘Peculiar Objects,’ I think I have a rough understanding of how ‘Echoes’ work.”
Yan Zhichun continued, “If that girl named Tian Tian can ‘repair the display screen,’ theoretically, she should also be able to create ‘characters’ out of thin air, right?”
Chu Tianqiu nodded after hearing this. “That’s correct.”
“So, wouldn’t it be a breeze for them to gather twenty-eight ‘characters’?” Yan Zhichun felt there was a logical flaw in this. “The structure of a ‘character’ is clearly simpler than that of a ‘display screen.’ If she can repair the ‘display screen,’ why not just create ‘characters’?”
Chu Tianqiu frowned, deep in thought. He realized that Yan Zhichun’s reasoning, much like Wen Qiaoyun’s, could fill the gaps in his own logic.
“There’s a rare possibility,” Chu Tianqiu said. “Tian Tian might have a deeper understanding of the ‘display screen’s’ structure.”
“If what you’re saying is true—that Tian Tian knows more about ‘display screens’ than ‘characters’—then this repair is still incredibly difficult,” Yan Zhichun countered. “First, we’d have to confirm that Tian Tian can actually trigger her ‘Echo.’ Second, Qi Xia would have to predict that you’d actually smash the ‘display screen’ and then have Tian Tian perform a flawless restoration. And let’s not forget, the screen you destroyed isn’t just any ordinary display—it’s a touchscreen capable of writing characters. Would Qi Xia really stake the entire outcome of the game on such a slim chance?”
Chu Tianqiu had been pondering the feasibility of this scenario. When playing against Qi Xia, one had to prepare for even the most improbable possibilities.
Perhaps Qi Xia really had foreseen this step and had already begun training Tian Tian to hone her ‘Echo.’ After all, for a long time now, no one had reported seeing Tian Tian enter any game zones, which suggested she had been active elsewhere—yet she wasn’t in the ‘Preparation Area.’
So where was she?
“If we assume Tian Tian can indeed repair the display screen… then I have no choice but to go,” Chu Tianqiu said.
Yan Zhichun didn’t know how to dissuade him. The current situation was dire for both sides. Until Earth Dragon announced the final results, no one could predict who would win.
Tian Tian, who had been absent for so long, had now become the blade pressed against Chu Tianqiu’s throat. As long as her ability remained unseen, Chu Tianqiu could never rest easy.
Chu Tianqiu sighed. “Yan Zhichun, have you noticed just how terrifying Qi Xia really is?”
Yan Zhichun blinked. “How so?”
“Every single person on his team has played a crucial role in this game,” Chu Tianqiu explained. “Qi Xia oversees the grand strategy, Qiao Jiajin takes down Zhang Shan, Chen Junnan executes the tactics. I thought only those three would shine, but in the end, it wasn’t them who led to our defeat—it was the rest of his team.”
“Including that kid…?” Yan Zhichun asked.
“Yes, including Zheng Yingxiong,” Chu Tianqiu said. “Earlier, I noticed Chen Junnan, Han Yimo, and Qiao Jiajin had all awakened their ‘Echoes.’ I couldn’t understand how they achieved such stable ‘self-suggestion’ in such a short time. But then I remembered Zheng Yingxiong’s ability, and it all made sense. They didn’t need everyone to undergo ‘self-suggestion’—Zheng Yingxiong could simply ‘declare’ it for them.”
“‘Declare’…?”
“What would normally require each person to lie to themselves can now be accomplished by Zheng Yingxiong alone,” Chu Tianqiu answered. “Simplifying a difficult task to such an extent—truly making the most of every resource.”
Only now did Yan Zhichun realize how limited her understanding of the game had been. Focused on the frontlines, constantly seizing ‘characters’ from the enemy, she had no idea how the leaders on both sides had strategized.
“Then there’s Zhang Chenze, who infiltrated our ‘Preparation Area’ alone, steady-handed and fearless as she deducted our points,” Chu Tianqiu added. “And now, hidden in the shadows, the final trump card—Tian Tian, who can use ‘Peculiar Objects’ to ensure their team never loses.”
The more Chu Tianqiu spoke, the more resigned he became. He shook his head with a bitter smile. “Even Han Yimo, the mole we planted on their side, ultimately contributed to our defeat… How can a team be this perfectly coordinated? And then look at our side—fractured, each with their own agenda. When every single person on the opposing team is leveraging their abilities to the fullest, what kind of blade could possibly cut through their defenses and give us even a glimpse of victory?”
Yan Zhichun shook her head. As Chu Tianqiu had said, their opponents were like an impenetrable wall. Though they didn’t appear to be working together overtly, all seven of them were striving for ‘victory,’ attacking from seven different angles to create this situation.
“I’m not particularly skilled in leadership either,” Yan Zhichun admitted. “I’ve just always had people helping me.”
“‘Always having people help you’—isn’t that leadership in itself?” Chu Tianqiu chuckled. “There have been many times I wished someone would help me, but at every stage, it’s the same—no one understands what I’m trying to do. The fact that ‘Extreme Path’ has lasted this long might be due to the people helping you, but you still deserve credit.”
“Ha.” Yan Zhichun rarely allowed herself a faint smile. “I should’ve visited ‘Paradise Gate’ earlier to discuss leadership with you all night.”
“Too late for that now,” Chu Tianqiu said. “By the time you stepped into ‘Paradise Gate,’ it was already on its last legs.”
“Fair enough,” Yan Zhichun nodded. “So, as the ‘last string on a spent bow,’ what’s your next move?”
“Qi Xia has blocked every possible path,” Chu Tianqiu replied. “If I don’t go to the ‘River Zone’ to settle this with him, the outcome will no longer be in my hands—nor his. It’ll be up to Qing Long. And at that point, it’s no different from losing.”
“But if you go… does that guarantee you won’t lose?”
“At least there’s a chance of winning,” Chu Tianqiu said. “Don’t forget—there’s still a ‘mole’ from Qi Xia’s team hidden among us. I suspect that’s another trump card.”
Yan Zhichun sighed. She knew Chu Tianqiu didn’t trust her, so further explanation was pointless. “Alright,” she murmured.
“And even if we do lose…” Chu Tianqiu added, “I still have a ‘backup plan.'”
——
The moment Chen Junnan and Qiao Jiajin returned to the ‘Preparation Area,’ despite their severe injuries, they immediately began recounting everything that had happened to Qi Xia.
Qi Xia merely nodded calmly, as if he had already predicted most of it. He reassured Qiao Jiajin and Chen Junnan, telling them the game was nearing its end.
All that remained was one final gamble against Chu Tianqiu alone.
“Wait, Old Qi…” Chen Junnan said, “Our screen’s been smashed… Can we really still win?”
“Yes,” Qi Xia affirmed. “Just like how Chu Tianqiu came here to destroy our screen, there are many ways to win. We don’t necessarily need ‘characters’ to score.”
“Hey!” Chen Junnan leaned in and whispered, “I just thought of something—we still have Zhang Lijuan, right? Couldn’t she help us repair the screen?”
Qi Xia shook his head regretfully. “Unfortunately… Tian Tian’s ‘Echo’ isn’t strong enough yet, and there’s no more time for her to regain that strength. Besides, if the repair fails, we won’t even have a ‘broken display screen’ left.”
“If she can’t fix the screen… then what’s she doing now?” Chen Junnan asked.
“She has another task to handle.”
Chen Junnan couldn’t help but feel puzzled.
In this game, Zhang Lijuan didn’t need to create ‘characters’ or ‘display screens’… So what else could her task be?
He only remembered Qi Xia sending Zhang Lijuan away very early in the game. Had her ‘mission’ already begun back then?
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