Chapter 328: Meeting Yan Zhichun

“What kind of ‘echo’ is this…?”

Chen Junnan tried to pull his right hand away from his neck, only to find that it seemed to have become someone else’s hand, completely beyond his control.

“Miss…” Chen Junnan gritted his teeth and said, “How can I convince you that I want to kill Earth Snake?”

“What does killing Earth Snake have to do with me?” The girl in white smiled faintly. “Do you even know who I am?”

Chen Junnan felt this girl was making things difficult for him. He hadn’t been active in the “Land of the End” for so many years—who knew which temple’s bodhisattva she was?

“Let go of me first…” Chen Junnan said. “I didn’t want to kill you, but aren’t you just inviting trouble for yourself?”

“But killing you costs me nothing,” the girl in white continued. “After all, you don’t even know who I am.”

“Wait… let me guess…” Chen Junnan felt his breathing becoming labored. “Let me guess who you are… alright?”

“Huh? Go ahead, then.”

“I’ve never heard of anyone whose ‘echo’ can directly control others, but I have heard of another scenario.”

“Oh?”

Chen Junnan forced out a grin and chuckled. “If I’m not mistaken… you’re also using your right hand to choke your own neck right now, aren’t you? You’re just putting on an act. If you choke me to death, you won’t fare well either.”

In the room, the girl in white, who was indeed using her right hand to choke her own neck, froze for a moment.

“You force others to mimic your actions…” Chen Junnan felt his breathing gradually recovering and continued, “And the method of control… if I remember correctly, it’s hearing your ‘voice,’ right?”

The girl in white sensed something was off. She had always been cautious during her years in the “Land of the End.” Anyone who learned of her “echo” had to die, and she always pretended to be an “unfortunate one” in front of other “echoers.” Only by doing so could she perfectly conceal her identity here.

But today, things seemed different.

This man seemed to know her ability.

Chen Junnan felt he was slowly regaining control of his right hand. It appeared the girl’s conviction was wavering.

“What’s your name?” the girl asked.

“Chen Junnan, at your service.”

The girl pondered carefully. Though she always asked for names before killing someone, she had never heard the name “Chen Junnan” before. Could she have missed killing someone?

Hearing the girl in white remain silent, Chen Junnan asked, “And how should I address you, miss?”

The girl paused for a moment before answering, “Yan Zhichun.”

“Yan… Zhi… Chun…?”

Silence.

An eerie quiet settled between them.

“What’s wrong…?” Yan Zhichun tapped the ceiling. “Why aren’t you speaking? Do you know me?”

“Ah, no…” Chen Junnan frowned. “I don’t think I know you… but something feels off…”

Chen Junnan was certain he had never seen this girl’s face before, but the name “Yan Zhichun” was definitely familiar—he had heard it somewhere.

But too much time had passed, and he couldn’t recall.

“I’m also curious,” Yan Zhichun said. “Chen Junnan, before today, you should have been the first person in the entire ‘Land of the End’ who could describe my ‘echo.’ Why didn’t I kill you back then? And how do you know about my ‘echo’?”

Chen Junnan snapped out of his thoughts, sensing something hidden in Yan Zhichun’s words. He played along, saying, “I think now isn’t the time to dwell on that, Sister Chun. Look, the fact that you didn’t kill me back then proves I wasn’t your target. Maybe we were even teammates many years ago.”

Yan Zhichun frowned, deep in thought. She was no ordinary figure in the “Land of the End,” and she wouldn’t believe Chen Junnan so easily.

But…

“Chen Junnan, since you managed to climb onto the ceiling, you must have found the ‘immortality method’ in this game, right?”

“Of course, Sister Chun,” Chen Junnan nodded. “Though I might not be as sharp as you, I’m no fool.”

“I’ve also found that ‘immortality method,'” Yan Zhichun said. “Even if you throw the iron ball at my head, I won’t die.”

“I’m not surprised you found it,” Chen Junnan replied. “I know you’re clever, but this time, my target isn’t you—it’s Earth Snake. I bet my life against that old snake, and I really want to kill him.”

Yan Zhichun lowered her head in thought before saying, “In that case… I might be able to help you.”

“Oh?” Chen Junnan instantly grinned. “You’re truly the living saint of the End, aren’t you? How can I repay you?”

Yan Zhichun smiled and nodded. “Of course… I need you to repay me for ‘all eternity.'”

“What…?” Chen Junnan was taken aback. “That’s a bit extreme, don’t you think? All eternity?”

“I want you to become an ‘Extremist,'” Yan Zhichun said. “From now on, swear to protect the ‘Land of the End.’ ‘Long Live the Extremists’ will be your creed. For as long as you have memories, you must never allow anyone to collect three thousand six hundred ‘Tao.'”

“Huh?” Chen Junnan felt his brain short-circuiting. “‘Extremists’…? I feel like… I’ve heard that term somewhere recently. Is this some newly popular faction? Are you the ‘Extremist King’?”

“‘Extremist King’ is too grand a title,” Yan Zhichun answered. “I’m just one of many ‘Extremists.’ Our existence is to ensure the ‘Land of the End’ remains unbroken.”

“Oh, I see.”

“You don’t sound surprised at all,” Yan Zhichun remarked. “I thought you’d ask something more insightful. Aren’t you curious why we protect this place?”

“I’m not curious about that,” Chen Junnan suddenly smirked. “I was never going to let anyone collect three thousand six hundred ‘Tao’ anyway. Even the person I trust most… I’d never let them succeed.”

“Oh…?” This time, it was Yan Zhichun’s turn to be stunned. “You… you’re…”

“Seems like you ‘Extremists’ are really interesting…” Chen Junnan relaxed and lay back on the ceiling. “Now I remember… that girl, she’s also an ‘Extremist.'”

“Oh?” Yan Zhichun smiled, as if understanding something. “So you know one of us?”

“I do, but I’m not sure if she considers me one of her own,” Chen Junnan chuckled. “Right now, I don’t belong to anyone. I’m just one of the few who’ve figured out the real ‘rules’ of this damned place. But I never expected you ‘Extremists’ to share the same goal as me.”

“So you’ve also stumbled upon the true ‘rules’ of this place by chance…?” Yan Zhichun paused before saying, “Then you’re practically a born ‘Extremist.'”