Chapter 684: The Flood
The group stared in silence at the four large characters on Xiao Cheng's back.
What was "The Beginning of the Overthrow"?
What was about to be overthrown?
"Tsk... wait, wait a minute..." Chen Junnan scratched his head. "Old Qiao, don't you think these words sound familiar?"
"Of course they're familiar." Qiao Jiajin nodded. "That liar once said these very words. Back then, we were waiting outside that 'Land of Pigs' game site for the Transformed guy and his team to come out. You forgot?"
"Damn... was that something Old Qi said himself back then?" Chen Junnan seemed to recall something. "Yeah, I think so... Old Qi said, 'When I fully understand the Land of Eternity, that will be the beginning of the overthrow,' right?"
"That's about how it went." Qiao Jiajin nodded again.
The two of them stared at the characters on Xiao Cheng's back, feeling something was off.
Why would something Qi Xia had said appear on Xiao Cheng's back?
Tiantian pondered for a moment, then said softly, "Could it be that someone in the dream... carved these words onto Xiao Cheng's back?"
Although Tiantian's reasoning made logical sense, it sent chills down everyone's spine.
"You mean, someone carved these words directly into his flesh just to send us a message...?" Chen Junnan was stunned. "Is there someone that ruthless in Old Qi's dream?"
"That's not all..." Qiao Jiajin's hand, which had been touching Xiao Cheng's neck, moved slightly. His expression grew grim. "This guy's neck is broken. Whoever did this was merciless."
Chen Junnan studied Xiao Cheng's corpse more closely and found that he had indeed suffered extensive injuries. Not only was his left arm cut open and his right hand twisted off, but his back was covered in carvings, and even his neck was snapped.
Had he endured inhuman torture in Qi Xia's dream?
Looking at it from another angle—if there was a deranged killer in Qi Xia's dream... could Qi Xia's fate be any better?
Thinking of this, Chen Junnan quickly moved to Qi Xia's side and patted his face. "Hey... Old Qi? Stop dreaming, man. Your dream is way too dangerous."
Qi Xia's body swayed slightly, appearing to be sleeping peacefully.
"Damn it..." Chen Junnan and Qiao Jiajin exchanged glances, completely at a loss.
Di Hou stood up, grabbed Xiao Cheng's ankle, dragged him across the floor leaving a trail of blood, walked to the door, opened it, and tossed the corpse out.
"You..."
Everyone stared at him, dumbfounded.
"A dead body in a small shop is bad for business. Seeing red brings you all good fortune."
Di Hou replied nonchalantly, then picked up a mop and began cleaning the floor. "Today's gambling session is over. Feel free to leave."
"What do you mean, 'over'...?" Chen Junnan sensed something amiss. He pointed at Qi Xia. "Brother Monkey, didn't you have an 'interest relationship' with Old Qi? What's the situation now? Is the 'interest' over?"
Di Hou's attitude was indeed quite different from before. He looked relieved, yet also resigned. After seeing the four characters on Xiao Cheng's back, he was eerily calm.
"The 'interest' between him and me should be a matter between him and me. It has nothing to do with you all, does it?" Di Hou swept his gaze across the group and then asked solemnly, "Are you all Qi Xia's current teammates?"
Tiantian was about to answer but felt something was off.
What was meant by "current teammates"?
Chen Junnan patted Tiantian, pulled her behind him, stepped forward, and said, "Who we're teammates with should be our own private matter. That's got nothing to do with Brother Monkey, right?"
"Fair enough." Di Hou nodded. "I can only give you all one piece of advice..."
Di Hou extended his long-haired finger and pointed at his own eyes. "Keep your eyes wide open. Don't let someone sell you out while you're still thanking them."
"What do you mean...?" The group looked at Di Hou with confusion.
Di Hou just shook his head slightly and said slowly, "Everyone, as the saying goes, 'Whoring, drinking, and gambling all lose, only gambling brings returns.' If you enjoyed today's experience, please recommend us to your friends—"
"Don't give me that bullshit." Chen Junnan took a step forward and stood right in front of Di Hou. "Brother Monkey, if I'm not mistaken... we're pretty much socks on the same line, aren't we?"
"You mean 'grasshoppers on the same line'?" Di Hou sneered. "Looks like you know quite a bit. Are you one of Qi Xia's confidants?"
"That 'one' you used is interesting." Chen Junnan said. "You seem to know quite a bit yourself."
"So what if I know a lot?" Di Hou glanced at Qi Xia from the corner of his eye. "Everyone, someone has brought the flood here. I smell danger. We might all drown. You'd better prepare to fly off in different directions when disaster strikes."
"Fly off in different directions when the flood comes?" Chen Junnan grinned mischievously and scratched his head. "My apologies. I didn't realize you were a noble Western monkey."
"What?" Di Hou was startled, not understanding.
"You didn't remember a single thing your ancestors taught you." Chen Junnan shot back. "In Western legends, whenever a great flood comes, they either pray to gods and wait to die or build a big boat and run away. But what did our ancestors do?"
Di Hou pursed his lips, staring at this troublemaker.
Chen Junnan took another step forward, locking eyes with Di Hou as he said coldly, "When the flood comes, running is bullshit. Fight it!"
After these words, Di Hou's pupils constricted slightly.
"Fight...?"
"You planning to keep running forever?" Chen Junnan said. "Running wherever the flood spreads? Instead of staying pathetic, why not lend Old Qi a hand at a time like this?"
Hearing this, Di Hou lowered his head slightly, a hint of mockery flashing in his eyes.
"Lend him a hand..." He shook his head repeatedly, as if hearing something utterly absurd. "It's precisely because I always held that thought that I now feel so ridiculous..."
"Oh?"
Di Hou slowly raised his head to look at Chen Junnan, then swept his gaze over the others behind him. "I suspect Qi Xia doesn't want to leave at all. He's been playing us all like pawns. He'll get us all killed."
These words landed heavily, plunging everyone present into silence.
"I don't get it..." Chen Junnan said. "Ever since we entered this place, you've been insisting that Old Qi doesn't want to leave. What's your angle? Didn't Old Qi tell you himself that he wants out?"
"Then what's his reason for leaving?!" Di Hou glared. "Everyone who wants out has their own reasons. What's Qi Xia's reason?"
"You..." Chen Junnan wanted to say "to find his wife," but the words stuck in his throat.
"He's lying to you all..." Di Hou gritted his teeth. "He's deceived all of us... Do you know what he—"
**BOOM!!**
At that moment, a dull thunderclap sounded from outside the door, making Di Hou tremble all over.