Chapter 1039: The Protagonist's Predicament
"Let me put it this way, Sister Qiaoyun..." Han Yimo swallowed and continued, "No matter what happens with Old Zhao, I'm definitely on your side."
"What does that even mean?" Wen Qiaoyun was thoroughly amused by Han Yimo. "Is this... a pledge of loyalty?"
"Of course it is... Sister Qiaoyun..." Han Yimo said with the utmost sincerity. "You might not know this, but my situation right now is really awkward!"
Wen Qiaoyun found it amusing. "How is it 'awkward'?"
"It's like... Sister Qiaoyun, you seem like a cultured person. You must have read a lot of novels, right?" Han Yimo asked.
"I..." Wen Qiaoyun was clearly taken aback by this logic. "First of all, I don't have a very high level of education. And secondly, I don't think being cultured has anything to do with reading novels. There are professors who love novels, and scientists who don't."
"Ah, well, you know what I mean!" Han Yimo said. "I've run into a bad mentor... I'm talking about Qi Xia. Qi Xia was originally my 'savior,' but I've come to realize he doesn't have his whole heart set on me. Instead, he has his own ideals and ambitions... His ambition is too great. He's the typical villain archetype, you understand, right...?"
Wen Qiaoyun was silent.
"If a villain like that is given the chance to grow, he could become a demon that brings disaster to the world. And as the protagonist, I have to find a way to stop all of this." Han Yimo was practically gesticulating wildly. "But my abilities are limited right now. The only thing I can do is go undercover in Qi Xia's team and try to dismantle him from the inside... I'm just saying, if you've read a lot of novels, you'll know there's a certain logic to what I'm doing... Do you understand?"
Wen Qiaoyun remained silent.
"Sister Qiaoyun, you haven't seen much of the world, so I won't blame you for not getting it." Han Yimo continued. "You just need to know that the situation is extremely critical. If I can't take your 'word' away from here, I'll lose Qi Xia's trust once I'm out. Then it'll be even harder to dismantle their team from the inside! If you lose to me now, it's not just for my sake—it's for everyone, and for yourself too! Give me the 'word' on you now, and all the common people of the 'Land of the End' will be grateful to you!"
As Han Yimo gave his impassioned speech, a few droplets of spittle nearly flew into Wen Qiaoyun's face.
After hearing him out, Wen Qiaoyun looked to the side, scratched her head lightly with her fingernail, and cleared her throat almost imperceptibly.
Absurd.
Was today a little too absurd?
First Chen Junnan, now Han Yimo.
Could it be that this place called the "Land of the End" had no normal people left?
Or was it that only people like them could have survived this long...?
After a long moment, she slowly spoke. "Han Yimo, there's something I don't quite understand."
"Go ahead."
"I've heard from them..." Wen Qiaoyun said in a low voice. "That everyone here has been in a cycle of reincarnation. So I haven't just appeared out of nowhere—I've simply lost my memories."
"Right, right, that's how it seems. It's a reincarnation setting," Han Yimo replied.
"So a lot of people know me, and a lot of people remember me," Wen Qiaoyun said.
"Yes, that seems to be the case. You're a prominent figure." Han Yimo thought for a moment and added, "Like an ancient powerhouse."
"Then my question arises from that." Wen Qiaoyun said. "Your 'commander,' Qi Xia—he should know what kind of person I am, right?"
"Yes, he probably does. He knows you."
"Qi Xia knows me, and he knows you. And yet here I am, losing to you." Wen Qiaoyun said. "Are you sure that if you go out with my 'word,' it won't make him even more suspicious?"
"Ah...?"
Han Yimo seemed to catch the implication of her words, but he hadn't expected her to be so direct.
Wen Qiaoyun reached out and slowly picked up the coin the wild boar had left on the table. One side was engraved with "A" and the other with "B." It seemed to be cast from pure copper—one side smooth, the other rough.
"Han Yimo, just this 'coin guessing' game... If we were to play fifty rounds in a row, how many do you think you could win?"
As she spoke, Wen Qiaoyun tossed the coin high into the air, then swiftly slapped it down onto the table.
"I'm guessing 'heads.' What do you think?" Wen Qiaoyun asked.
"I... I..."
Before Han Yimo could respond, Wen Qiaoyun lifted her hand. It was indeed "heads."
Under Han Yimo's stunned gaze, Wen Qiaoyun casually tossed the coin again and slapped it back onto the table.
"Han Yimo, this time it's 'tails.'"
"You..."
Wen Qiaoyun lifted her hand. It was undeniably "tails."
Han Yimo was completely baffled by her actions. This was supposed to be "guessing the coin," but Wen Qiaoyun seemed to be "reading the coin."
She tossed the coin a third time, caught it in her hand, and held her fist out in front of Han Yimo.
"Your turn to guess," Wen Qiaoyun said.
Han Yimo stared at her clenched fist for a long time before forcing out two words: "Tails."
Wen Qiaoyun turned her hand over and pressed the coin onto the table. "You guessed wrong," she said softly.
She lifted her hand for the third time. It was "heads."
Han Yimo realized that she didn't even need to see the coin to know whether it was heads or tails. At this rate, his chances of winning were less than one percent.
"Sister Qiaoyun... how did you do that?" Han Yimo asked.
"That's a good question." Wen Qiaoyun said. "Great author, to me, that question sounds exactly like 'Can you deliberately lose to me?' Do you think I'll tell you before the game is over?"
This time, it was Han Yimo's turn to be silent.
He felt strangely like a supporting character.
Seeing that Han Yimo wasn't speaking, Wen Qiaoyun added, "I do have a suggestion, though. Much more reasonable than yours. Want to hear it?"
"What...?" Han Yimo asked.
"You admit defeat now and give me your 'word.'"
"Huh?!" Han Yimo found this utterly absurd. "What kind of suggestion is that...? I told you, if I go back without a 'word,' I'll definitely..."
"No, you won't." Wen Qiaoyun said. "The only normal result for Qi Xia would be for you to lose to me here. Otherwise, when he asks you how you won, how are you going to lie to him?"
"Well..."
"I've completely seen through this game now. Continuing it would be a waste of time. I suggest you just hand over your 'word' obediently."
Han Yimo hesitated for a moment, wearing a troubled expression, then said, "But if I don't have a 'word'... how am I supposed to continue the next game?"
"Didn't you say Qi Xia trusts you?" Wen Qiaoyun smiled. "Then he'll definitely give you another 'word.' You bring that new 'word' and hand it over to me. That way, your team will lose two 'words.' And by then, I'll be completely convinced that you're on our side. Deal?"