Chapter 1151: Each Has Their Own Karma
“Huh?” Old Lü was taken aback. “Why the hell not?”
“You shouldn’t be following us in the first place!” Aunt Tong said. “You don’t know anything. Going with us would just be walking to your death!”
“I sure as hell don’t know anything now, but you can just tell me!”
“I… Aiya!” Aunt Tong waved her hand. “If you find out, you’ll die. Better to just stay alive…”
Qi Xia found this scene quite interesting. He glanced at Old Lü and asked softly, “I don’t quite get it either, Old Lü. Are you part of ‘Jidao’?”
“Me? Definitely not.” Old Lü shook his head.
“So are you protecting Jidao as a member of ‘Heaven’s Gate’?” Qi Xia asked again.
“Why the hell would I protect Jidao as a member of Heaven’s Gate?” Old Lü clearly didn’t understand Qi Xia’s question. “I’m protecting Xiaochan as myself.”
Qi Xia furrowed his brow. “I don’t understand. You’re not related, not family, not teammates. Why are you willing to walk into danger? Don’t you know you could die?”
“Are you young folks really that dense or just pretending?” Old Lü shot Qi Xia a glare. “Xiaochan and I… we…”
“Oh.” Qi Xia nodded. “I almost forgot… That’s actually a decent reason.”
“What ‘decent reason’…?” Old Lü and Aunt Tong exchanged a look. “You really are a strange kid… Even at our age, we still want a companion. Does romance only belong to the young?”
“That was my oversight,” Qi Xia said. “Maybe I wouldn’t have understood before, but now I do.”
“Then help me talk some sense into her!” Old Lü pressed. “Xiaochan won’t let me follow her at all, and now I…”
“But that’s not right either,” Qi Xia interrupted again. “Old Lü, when we first met, you didn’t retain your memories. In theory, you and Aunt Tong have spent very little time together. Can feelings really develop in such a short time?”
“Hey! You!” Old Lü pointed at Qi Xia’s nose. “Are you going a bit too far, kid? What the hell does ‘feelings’ have to do with ‘time’?”
Qi Xia wanted to argue back but found himself at a loss for words. He closed his mouth.
Aunt Tong ignored Qi Xia and stared at Old Lü. “Old Lü, I’ll say this one last time. If you keep following me, I won’t say another word to you for the rest of this life.”
Hearing such a serious tone, Old Lü fell silent for a few seconds before speaking in a deep voice, “Fine, Xiaochan. Tell me what you’re planning to do. Once I know, I won’t follow you anymore…”
“Really?”
“Really…” Old Lü nodded, looking pitiful as a child despite his age.
“We’re going to the place where the ‘Zodiacs’ live,” Aunt Tong said. “This is a road to certain death. Do you understand?”
“You…”
“Don’t block the way,” Aunt Tong said. “We’re going to die. Do you have any reason to die?”
Hearing this, Old Lü lowered his head again.
Seeing him silent, Aunt Tong didn’t know whether to feel more sorrow or relief. She pursed her lips, then shoved Old Lü aside. “If you have nothing to say, then go find somewhere to stay.”
Stumbling back from the push, Old Lü bumped into Qi Xia.
The Jidao group left Old Lü behind and walked ahead.
“Alright.” Chen Junnan stretched. “Problem solved. I say we get out of here too. Old Qi, don’t you have things to do?”
“Sure.”
Qi Xia nodded and turned to leave, but Old Lü grabbed him.
“Qi boy…”
Qi Xia turned back, expressionless. “What?”
“I know you’re smart… Can you help me?”
“Help you?” Qi Xia said. “I don’t have time right now. Talk to me later.”
“No…” Old Lü gripped Qi Xia’s wrist tightly. “I won’t take much of your time. Just give me some advice… I’m at my wit’s end.”
“I thought you two had it figured out.” Qi Xia glanced in the direction Aunt Tong had gone. “Do people in love also lie?”
“This… this ain’t a lie at all!” Old Lü argued. “Xiaochan clearly doesn’t want me dead, but I don’t want her dead either… We’re both stuck in a dilemma… Qi boy, can you think of a way for me to save her without a scratch, and without making her worry about me? They’re going to the Zodiacs’ territory…”
Qi Xia frowned and thought for a moment. “Sorry, but how can there be such a perfect solution in this world? I suggest you seek help elsewhere.”
With that, he turned to leave again, but Old Lü pulled him back once more, clearly getting desperate.
“Qi boy! Qi boy! I don’t have to come out unscathed!” Old Lü said. “Is there a way for me to save her? Just save her, that’s enough…”
“The core conflict between you two is that neither wants the other to die,” Qi Xia said. “If I help you, I’m harming her. Are you sure about that?”
“This…” Old Lü lowered his head and thought for a moment, then nodded. “I’m sure… Even if Xiaochan will be sad, it’s fine. I have to let her live. I feel like if she dies in the Zodiacs’ territory… she won’t get another chance…”
Qi Xia stood there silently for a moment. Everyone around watched him quietly, wondering what he was thinking.
“Qi boy…”
Old Lü muttered one last time, his voice full of pleading.
Qi Xia sighed. “Since you don’t want to live and still want to go to the Zodiacs’ territory, then become a Zodiac.”
“…Huh?”
Old Lü’s eyes widened slightly.
“Become a Zodiac. Board the ‘train’ legitimately at dusk today. That’s where you belong.” Qi Xia continued. “But I’ll give you one final piece of advice: before you become a Zodiac, first ‘Echo’.”
Old Lü was silent for a long time, as if overwhelmed by questions.
But he soon set most of them aside and asked only one.
“How the hell… do I become a Zodiac?”
“Everything has its own ‘karma’.” Qi Xia slowly extended his hand, pointing toward the abandoned Go club beside them.
Everyone followed his gaze, puzzled.
“Inside, there are scattered tables and chairs. Find your path to becoming a Zodiac among them,” Qi Xia said.
“Ah…” Old Lü was stunned for a long time, not sure if he understood. Finally, he squeezed out three words through his teeth: “Thank you…”
“Thank yourself.”
Qi Xia waved his hand and led the group away.