Chapter 1065: The Bell Tolls
"That's great..." Tiantian breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this. "If he can 'Echo,' then he can help Qi Xia."
Zheng Yingxiong nodded after listening, feeling as if he wasn't really lying, but rather trying his best to help others.
He felt like he had become the most effective statue at the center of a wishing well. As long as he spoke, whoever he wanted to be rich would become rich—how could that be considered lying?
"Hero, little brother, do you want to act together later?" Tiantian asked.
"No." Zheng Yingxiong shook his head. "I feel like some kind of seal here is being lifted. I'm gradually able to smell everyone's scent."
"Is that so?" Tiantian nodded. "That's great. It's a good thing our team has you."
"Mm... Sister, you go ahead. I'll take my leave now."
Zheng Yingxiong left Tiantian's room and quickly determined his next target.
Now that the advance rehearsal was over, he had to find Han Yimo immediately. After all, this was the simplest task. Only by completing this step could he then go and have a few words with Chen Junnan.
But Zheng Yingxiong never expected that when he found Han Yimo, Chen Junnan was standing right there beside him.
The two of them were both waiting in the "Preparation Zone." Han Yimo looked a bit bruised and battered, as if he had been through something.
Now Zheng Yingxiong was in a bind...
The simplest task and the most difficult one were standing together... What should he do?
"What's up?" Chen Junnan asked. "Come back from the front lines with some advice?"
Zheng Yingxiong scratched his head and quickly began calculating his next move. The best approach was, of course, to call Han Yimo aside to another room and announce his "Fragrance."
But how could Chen Junnan just let the two of them leave without asking a single question?
Seeing that Zheng Yingxiong hadn't said anything for a long time, Chen Junnan gradually sensed something was off.
He slowly walked over, bent down with a smile on his face, and asked, "Little brother, is something bothering you?"
Zheng Yingxiong frowned upon hearing this. "Chen Junnan, you're being a bit creepy."
"Your grandpa, call me 'big bro'!" Chen Junnan reached out to pat Zheng Yingxiong's head, but Zheng Yingxiong turned and dodged.
Zheng Yingxiong knew that dragging this out any longer wouldn't work. If he didn't come up with a plan soon, he'd be suspected before he could even try to win over Chen Junnan. So he took a deep breath and said, "Chen Junnan, I'm not here for you. I'm here for him."
He pointed at Han Yimo standing nearby.
"Me...?" Han Yimo was taken aback.
"Yes." Zheng Yingxiong nodded. "I have something to say to him, so we need to go to the next room."
Chen Junnan's expression turned a bit unnatural upon hearing this. He felt the situation might be getting awkward now, because there was a very tricky problem staring him in the face—
Did Zheng Yingxiong know that Han Yimo was a mole...?
Chen Junnan had quite a few concerns. First, he was afraid that Zheng Yingxiong would blindly trust Han Yimo, causing the team to suffer. Second, he was worried that Zheng Yingxiong had already seen through Han Yimo's identity as a mole and would expose him on the spot.
Right now, Han Yimo's state of mind was balanced on a razor's edge. The team couldn't trust him too much, nor could they publicly expose him.
Although it seemed everyone except Han Yimo himself knew he was a mole, that mole had to be allowed to continue his work steadily and confidently.
If Han Yimo ever realized his identity was completely blown, he would likely choose to defect to Qi Xia's camp in order to save his own skin. If Han Yimo actually started to become loyal to Qi Xia, it would be a catastrophic blow to the others. Some people could neither be enemies nor allies—they could only be moles.
"Wait... wait a minute... kid." Chen Junnan reached out to placate Zheng Yingxiong. "If there's something to discuss... why not say it right here, face to face? I could also offer some advice."
Zheng Yingxiong thought to himself, "Just as I expected." Getting Chen Junnan to let go was indeed a pipe dream.
"Chen Junnan... this matter..." Zheng Yingxiong stammered, "It's not convenient to talk about in front of you. I need to speak with Han Yimo alone."
Chen Junnan thought, "Oh no." Just from that phrasing, it was highly likely that what Zheng Yingxiong was about to do had something to do with the "mole."
Han Yimo looked at the two of them with puzzlement, sensing the tension in the atmosphere.
But he had no idea what they were talking about, so he just stared at them blankly.
"How about this..." Chen Junnan said. "You tell me what your conversation will be about. If I'm not interested, your little master here won't go."
Zheng Yingxiong paused for a moment, then said, "It's about the 'Echo.'"
Upon hearing it was about the "Echo," Chen Junnan knew the matter was basically settled. After all, Han Yimo's "Echo" was "Calamity," which was also the most powerful weapon in this game—though that weapon was limited to enemies of "Calamity."
If Zheng Yingxiong wanted to talk to him alone, it was naturally about "Calamity." But now, how could he quietly persuade Zheng Yingxiong to give up?
Neither of them could think of a good way out, and they just fell silent for a long time.
"Forget it..." Zheng Yingxiong sighed. "I already knew this wouldn't work."
Zheng Yingxiong knew he couldn't handle Chen Junnan, but to avoid failing the task too miserably, he at least had to get through to Han Yimo.
"Won't work...?"
"Chen Junnan, I'll be honest with you," Zheng Yingxiong said. "Right now, I just don't want to talk to you. I only want to talk to Han Yimo."
"Huh? Why's that?" Chen Junnan said. "Does your little master here look like he's bad at conversation?"
"I just don't want to talk to you. Go wherever you like." Zheng Yingxiong reached out and grabbed Han Yimo. "Come with me. I really do have something to tell you."
The moment he grabbed Han Yimo, a strong wave of scent hit Zheng Yingxiong's nose again. He turned his head and saw that the smell seemed to be coming from Qiao Jiajin, who was lying against the wall.
The odor was so thick it felt almost tangible.
It was the rich fragrance of "Breaker of All Methods."
It seemed that this person had, in his sleep, touched upon his own "opportunity" and was now one hundred percent convinced that he had obtained an "Echo."
Zheng Yingxiong immediately covered his nose and said in a muffled voice, "Han Yimo, hurry up."
Seeing the two of them leave the room as if fleeing, Chen Junnan seemed to realize something... Why did that kid Zheng Yingxiong cover his nose and run away?
Chen Junnan lifted his own arm and sniffed it, but didn't catch any smell.
Zheng Yingxiong arrived at the next room, steadied his breathing, and said to Han Yimo, "I caught your Fragrance... You've already 'Echoed.'"
"Huh?" Han Yimo was stunned for a moment, then after a few seconds, he spat out a few words: "What do you mean I've 'Echoed'? Who are you...?"
"I..."
Zheng Yingxiong blinked and began patiently explaining his ability, telling the other that he was the "Great Bell" around here, capable of knowing everyone's "Echo."
The reason he had pulled him out of the room was precisely because the others hadn't yet "Echoed," and saying it in front of them might make them feel inferior.