# Chapter 556: Game within Game within Game
After leaving that dark basement, I transformed back into my true face under the cover of night.
The air tonight carried an unusual scent, filled with the oppressive heat that precedes a storm.
But what was coming might not be a storm—it might be a rain of blood.
My palms were constantly sweating. Although I had no idea what Azure Dragon, Qi Xia, and Chu Tianqiu were planning, I knew this might be the only opportunity that belonged to me.
Even if the "Cats" really were about to attack here and slaughter all the members of "Heaven's Gate," I absolutely could not flee from this place.
After all, no matter how strong the "Cats" were, there was no guarantee they could one hundred percent kill Qi Xia.
I had to stay here and ensure that Qi Xia would definitely be killed. When he was on the verge of death, I would transform into the real Yu Nian'an.
This time, I would let Qi Xia see what I was capable of.
Only when I am here can you "Echo"—it's that simple of a principle.
I tucked my personal dagger into my waist, found an empty classroom in the school building, then plunged myself into that darkness, silently waiting for everything to unfold.
Not long after, noisy sounds came from the first floor. I hid by the window and looked down.
Across the courtyard, on the opposite first floor, someone had turned on a flashlight.
Qi Xia was Qi Xia after all. He had seen through Chu Tianqiu's plan ahead of time. Now he had gathered a large group of people, surrounding Chu Tianqiu in the classroom.
Among them were Yun Yao and Zhang Shan.
At this moment, in this place, Qi Xia had won a round and gained a point.
What would Chu Tianqiu do now?
The distance was too far, and I couldn't hear what they were discussing in the classroom. I only saw that after a short while, Chu Tianqiu handed the syringe in his hand to Dr. Zhao.
A moment later, the crowd actually dispersed, leaving only Qi Xia, Qiao Jiajin, and Li Xiangling in the classroom.
What was going on?
What had Chu Tianqiu used to defuse the crisis?
Had Qi Xia's move already been dodged by Chu Tianqiu?
At this point, Chu Tianqiu had won another round—one to one, a tie.
A large number of people poured out of the classroom, scattering in all directions as if searching for something.
If I wasn't mistaken... they were looking for me.
Although I wasn't as clever as Chu Tianqiu, things had become obvious enough that I should have guessed.
Whether the thing in his hand was poison or antibiotics, at this moment he could pin the blame on me.
He just had to tell everyone that I had imprisoned him and orchestrated everything myself. Then the blazing fire of the crowd's anger would shift onto me.
Chu Tianqiu making me lock the door every time was also waiting for this moment. If someone had discovered him locked in the basement earlier, I might have been in danger prematurely.
"What a terrifying night..." I muttered to myself, watching the noisy crowd across the way.
If I wasn't mistaken, on this night, three small games, three medium games, and three large games were unfolding simultaneously, all interwoven and entangled.
The three small games were: Qi Xia wanted to eliminate Chu Tianqiu, Chu Tianqiu wanted to eliminate me, and I wanted to kill Qi Xia.
The three of us formed a bizarre killing circle. Before striking, each of us had pretended to cooperate with the others, then unilaterally tore up the treaties on the same night, revealing our fangs.
The three medium games were: Qi Xia wanted to seize dominance of "Heaven's Gate," I wanted to provoke conflict between Qi Xia and Chu Tianqiu, and Chu Tianqiu attempted to bloodbath "Heaven's Gate."
When we executed these three medium games, each of us had deeper purposes. Killing the other was just a trigger. As long as we completed the medium games, the situation would take a big step toward our larger games.
As for the three large games...
Qi Xia wanted to escape this place, I wanted to destroy this place, and Chu Tianqiu wanted to become a "god."
After all, Azure Dragon once said that the paths chosen by Chu Tianqiu and Qi Xia would both threaten the position of "Celestial Dragon." Thinking about it this way, the only path left for Chu Tianqiu was to "become a god." Otherwise, there was no way he could shake "Celestial Dragon."
This is all the truth I could reconstruct with all my brainpower at this point.
If the two of them were even more terrifying than I imagined, and above the "large games" there was a "final game," then that was something I shouldn't be able to comprehend.
Even if my status was different from theirs, I was still a mortal.
Mortals cannot imagine things beyond their cognition. It's the same for you and me.
After the crowd scattered, I noticed people beginning to move toward the playground. A few seconds later, a violent explosion suddenly erupted from the playground.
Loud sounds of varying sizes came in succession—some like explosions, some like gunfire. This was clearly Song Minghui's handiwork.
The "Cats" had arrived.
Although everything was unfolding as Chu Tianqiu had described, I felt it wasn't time yet.
Qiao Jiajin was still in Qi Xia's room. I hadn't seen him in a long time, but from memory, he was very strong.
He carried the most authentic combat techniques, completely different from an actor like me who came from a martial arts background.
Qi Xia had never fully trusted me. The chance of me sneaking into the room and stabbing him with a knife was extremely slim. If Qiao Jiajin was also there, this mission was no different from suicide.
Several plans were sprouting in my mind...
If I directly disguised myself as Yu Nian'an and walked into the room, what were the chances of success?
Qi Xia naturally wouldn't lay a hand on me, but what about Qiao Jiajin?
Just as I was hesitating, I saw Qiao Jiajin walk out of the door and run solemnly toward the direction of the explosions.
He was joining the battle.
Ah, I had forgotten. That was just the kind of person he was.
Now my opportunity had truly come.
Amid the explosions and sounds of slaughter filling the air, I pushed open the door and entered the corridor. After walking a few steps, I looked down and found I was wearing a black leather jacket. My whole body was covered with painful burn scars.
Right now, I was Song Minghui.
Just then, hurried footsteps came from the corner ahead. Listening carefully, it was only one person.
I gripped my dagger and hid on the other side of the corner. When the figure appeared, I suddenly rushed forward, tackled them to the ground, and at the same time plunged the blade into their neck.
It was my most beloved Aunt Tong.
Although it was a pity we met like this, I was not Xu Liunian. I was Song Minghui. We were on different sides, and her death was fitting.
Her eyes widened as she looked at me until she completely breathed her last.
I stood up, shook the blood off my dagger, skirted around the chaotic battlefield, and passed through several "Cats." No one suspected me.
After about ten minutes, I arrived at Qi Xia's door and slowly closed my eyes.
The earlier explosion had injured me badly. This battle was unwinnable no matter what. I needed to come back quickly to save Qi Xia.
Right now, I am Qiao Jiajin.