Chapter 138: Killing

Qi Xia, Tian Tian, and Yun Yao all turned their faces away.

The scene before them was truly unbearable to watch.

To put it nicely, it was a “one-on-one fight.” To put it bluntly, it was a one-sided beating.

The bald man was like a child who had just learned to walk, completely defenseless against Qiao Jiajin.

There was no referee for this match, so no one would step in to stop whatever moves either side used.

Qi Xia found Qiao Jiajin strange—it was as if he became a completely different person every time he fought.

This had happened the first time they entered “Paradise Port” too. His eyes would suddenly turn cold and ruthless.

“B-Big bro…” Ah Mu stammered in fear, finally realizing the gap between his own strength and the other man’s. “Stop… If you keep going, he’s really going to die…”

Qiao Jiajin stopped. The bald man swayed unsteadily on his feet, blood dripping from his mouth.

“Apologize.”

Dazed, the bald man stretched out his hands as if in a pleading gesture, his swollen lips barely forming the words: “S-Sorry…”

Ah Mu and the blond quickly rushed forward to support him, their eyes filled with terror.

“Get lost. Don’t let me see you again.” Qiao Jiajin waved them off.

Ah Mu and the blond nodded frantically and turned to leave with the other two.

“Hold it.” Qi Xia’s expression darkened as he called them to a stop. He knew their nature—if they left, there was a good chance they’d go kill someone else.

Qiao Jiajin turned back, puzzled. “What’s wrong, Scammer?”

“These people are a menace,” Qi Xia said. “We can’t let them go.”

With that, he picked up a folding knife from the ground and slowly walked forward.

Qiao Jiajin frowned and raised a hand to block him.

“Scammer, put the knife down.”

“What?”

“I said put it down. Fighting is one thing, but no knives.”

Qiao Jiajin knew all too well what happened when knives were involved—his own life had been derailed at eleven because he’d killed someone with one.

A flash of killing intent flickered in Qi Xia’s eyes, but he steadied himself and turned to Qiao Jiajin. “They’re far more ruthless than you think. We can’t let them live.”

“Have you really thought this through? This is murder,” Qiao Jiajin said in a low voice.

“They’ll just come back,” Qi Xia replied. “I just want nine days without them interfering.”

“Still no.” Qiao Jiajin kept a firm grip on Qi Xia’s wrist. “Scammer, I’ve already taught them a lesson. If you’re still angry, go kick them a few more times. But no killing.”

“You—” Qi Xia hesitated. Qiao Jiajin’s gaze was dead serious—this wasn’t a joke.

“Whether they can revive or not, once you start killing, there’s no going back,” Qiao Jiajin said, slowly taking the knife from Qi Xia’s hand. “‘They’re dangerous, so I’ll kill them’—that mindset is the real danger. We’re humans, not animals. Once you get used to that thought, you can never return to the real world.”

Qi Xia closed his eyes.

The irony wasn’t lost on him. In the last cycle, he’d tested Qiao Jiajin with the question, “Do you think killing to take ‘Dao’ is acceptable?” Only after Qiao Jiajin refused did he feel safe bringing him on as a teammate.

Now, just days later, Qi Xia’s mindset had completely changed.

As Qiao Jiajin had said, once he grew accustomed to the idea of killing, he’d fully assimilate into the “Land of the End,” no different from the Zodiacs.

And if they ever returned to reality, he’d be doomed to live with blood on his hands.

“Qiao Jiajin, even if we don’t kill, someone will kill us,” Qi Xia said coldly. “You carry ‘justice,’ but not everyone here does. What happens when everyone else thinks killing is normal?”

“Leave it to me. I’ll handle it,” Qiao Jiajin said.

“For how long?” Qi Xia’s expression darkened. “What if you die?”

“I…” Qiao Jiajin sighed, a helpless look crossing his face. “Scammer, I’m not as smart as you, so I can’t think that far ahead. All I know is you can’t kill now. I won’t allow it.”

The situation had reached a stalemate.

The duo, usually the most unbreakable of partners, now stood divided.

Tian Tian watched them with sorrow. Neither was wrong—they were just being driven mad by this place.

Here, did they even have the luxury of still seeing themselves as human?

With that thought, she stepped forward and took the knife from Qiao Jiajin’s hand.

“I have an idea,” Tian Tian said softly.

The two turned to her, confused.

“I’ll do it,” she said gently. “You don’t need to struggle with this. I’ll be the one to kill.”

“Wha—” Qiao Jiajin froze. “Sweetheart, this isn’t about who does it! Do you want to be a murderer?”

“I don’t care,” Tian Tian shook her head. “Maybe this is why I exist. Even if I return to the real world, my life will still be bleak. Honestly, the best outcome for me is to die somewhere no one knows me—no pity, no mockery.”

Qi Xia blinked. Things were taking a dark turn.

“So…” Tian Tian gave a bitter smile. “I don’t care if I kill. Tell me who, and I’ll do it. Just don’t take me with you when you leave.”

With that, she walked toward the three men.

Ah Mu had injured his back, the blond had a dislocated arm, and the bald man was barely conscious from the beating. They had no idea what Qi Xia’s group was discussing—they could only watch as the woman approached, dagger in hand.

“Ah Mu… this doesn’t look good,” the blond muttered. “Is she gonna kill us?”

“N-No way…” Ah Mu stammered. “We apologized and took the beating… and we didn’t even hurt anyone… Why would they…?”

“Should we run…?”

“But…” Ah Mu glanced at Qiao Jiajin. If he really wanted them dead, where could they run in their condition?

Tian Tian stopped before them, raising the knife. Her hands trembled, her entire demeanor fragile.

“B-Big sis…” Ah Mu swallowed hard. “What are you doing?”

“I just want to do something for the people who trust me,” Tian Tian said, voice breaking. “I’m sorry.”

Though her hands shook, her strike was decisive. Just as the dagger aimed for Ah Mu’s abdomen, Qi Xia yanked her back.

The knife clattered to the ground. Ah Mu collapsed in fright.

“Enough, Tian Tian…”

Qi Xia’s heart twisted as he pulled her close. She trembled violently in his arms—utterly terrified.

Yes. This was killing.

Looking into someone’s eyes as you drove a blade into them.

“It’s over,” Qi Xia said softly. “We don’t need this.”

He gently guided her aside, then looked at the three terrified men. They were badly injured—they wouldn’t be causing trouble for days.

“Let it go today. You’re on your own.”