Chapter 351: Division

“How bizarre…” Song Qi frowned as he looked at Chen Junnan. “Do you know Fifth Brother and Sixth Sister?”

“Of course, I know your Fifth Brother, but as for your Sixth Sister…” Chen Junnan glanced around the room. “Huh? Where’s Sister Dong? I should take her to meet an old acquaintance…”

Yun Yao hesitated for a moment. “Chen Junnan… do you only remember things from before today?”

“Before… today?” Chen Junnan exhaled deeply and walked to the window, checking the sky.

Yes, it was strange. He felt like he had just woken up, yet it was already afternoon.

“Xiao Chu… this ability of yours… sounds eerily familiar.” Chen Junnan turned back with a dark expression, staring at Chu Tianqiu.

“Oh? Does it resemble someone you know?”

“You know exactly what I mean. Earlier, I heard you all arguing about who should lead ‘Paradise.’ Now, it seems like you’re the only choice.” Chen Junnan said mockingly. “This madhouse full of lunatics… you’re the perfect fit to lead.”

“How embarrassing…” Chu Tianqiu chuckled. “Since you put it that way, I’ll reluctantly continue as the ‘leader.'”

Chen Junnan sneered and walked over to “his own” corpse. His expression was complicated as he stared at the body identical to himself, lost in thought.

After a moment, he reached into the corpse’s chest pocket and smiled faintly. Making sure no one noticed, he quickly pocketed whatever was inside. Standing up, he turned to Song Qi. “Xiao Song, are you heading back?”

“That’s right.” Song Qi nodded. “This was just a mission. Now that it’s done, there’s no reason to stay.”

“Let’s go together, then.” Chen Junnan said. “We can look for Sister Dong on the way.”

He then glanced back and asked, “Any idea which way she went?”

No one had a clue. Dr. Zhao and Han Yimo exchanged glances before whispering, “The girls went with Su Shan to join a game… I think they were heading to the ‘Earth-level’…”

“Su Shan…” Song Qi’s eyes flickered. “The one we tried to recruit multiple times but failed… now she’s with Chu Tianqiu…?”

“Don’t overthink it.” Chen Junnan waved a hand. “Su Shan would never side with Xiao Chu… She’s clearly with our Old Qi.”

Yun Yao studied Chen Junnan—his tone, his dismissive demeanor…

He still seemed like himself, yet he was also a brand-new person.

Chu Tianqiu wasn’t offended. He simply smiled and nodded. “True, I don’t know this Miss Su Shan, so she can’t be considered ‘with me.'”

“Ignore him.” Chen Junnan said. “Xiao Song, let’s go.”

“Wait…” A voice called out to Chen Junnan.

Turning around, he saw Xu Qian.

“What?” Chen Junnan asked. “Something up?”

“You…” Xu Qian hesitated, glancing at the corpse on the ground and then at Chen Junnan. Tentatively, she asked, “You don’t… remember me, do you?”

“Remember…?” Chen Junnan froze for a few seconds before scrutinizing her. “There’s no rule saying I have to know every pretty face in the ‘Land of the End,’ is there?”

Xu Qian’s eyes flickered before she slowly lowered her head. What the hell was going on?

Was this man even Chen Junnan anymore?

It felt like all her memories with him had fallen into a void.

In the “Land of the End,” “Echoes” preserved memories—without them, memories vanished.

Yet this Chen Junnan had somehow “skipped” their shared past. Even if he revived again, he’d never remember any of it.

Chen Junnan stared at the woman, baffled. After a moment, he patted Song Qi’s shoulder and muttered, “Let’s go,” pushing him toward the door. The two soon disappeared down the hallway.

The remaining group wore uneasy expressions, but Yun Yao was the most devastated.

None of this had gone as she expected, and her mind was in chaos.

How had Chu Tianqiu “copied” Chen Junnan?

His “Echo” was supposed to trigger only after witnessing the “End,” yet he’d just created a brand-new Chen Junnan right before their eyes.

What had he eaten earlier?

How had he killed the Earth-level?

Yun Yao had countless questions, but she knew—he had changed.

In the last three cycles, “Paradise” had become a cesspool under his leadership.

“Yun Yao…” Chu Tianqiu called her name, then glanced around the room. Seeing no one stood by her side, he smiled faintly. “You were just confused earlier, right? Everything you said was just a slip of the tongue. We’re still partners, comrades.”

Yun Yao thought for a few seconds before her expression hardened.

“Chu Tianqiu, I meant every word.” She replied. “If you’re staying as the leader of ‘Paradise,’ then from today onward, I’m out.”

The foul, rotting evening wind of the “Land of the End” blew in through the window, brushing past Yun Yao’s impassive face.

“Hmm?” Chu Tianqiu blinked, his gaze shifting slightly. “Yun Yao… leaving now? Don’t you think it’s a waste? We once promised to—”

“No, it’s not.” Yun Yao said firmly. “After what I saw today, I’m more convinced than ever that following you will never get us out. The Chu Tianqiu I knew is dead. The one standing here is a stranger—a madman who treats lives like weeds, who silently replicates his allies. It sickens me.”

At this, Chu Tianqiu’s face twisted with barely suppressed frustration. “Then… what do you want?”

“Like you said—I’ll go build a second faction.” Yun Yao walked to the table and grabbed Di She’s severed head. “From now on, I’ll uphold ‘Paradise’s’ original purpose: to wipe out all ‘Zodiacs’ and restore this world to its participants. If I fail and become a ‘Resident,’ so be it. I’ll have nothing to do with you.”

Chu Tianqiu’s brow furrowed. He grabbed Yun Yao’s arm and hissed in a low voice, “What nonsense are you spouting? Don’t you realize there are outsiders here—?”

“I don’t care.” Yun Yao said resolutely. “The ‘Extremists’ will find out about me sooner or later. No point hiding anymore—let’s lay it all out now.”

She turned to Yan Zhichun, who stood there smiling, and asked, “‘Extremist’—has your target changed? Are you going to kill me now?”

Yan Zhichun chuckled. “No. I don’t oppose killing ‘Zodiacs.’ Besides, you’ve already ‘Echoed.’ Killing you would be pointless.”