Chapter 745: Covered in Thorns
Qi Xia squinted after listening, pondering for a moment.
The harpoons flying through the air, the "Disaster," the injured Han Yimo, the doctor in need of medical equipment, and the person who had said those words back then...
"In that case, there really was someone who immediately suggested going to a nearby convenience store to find something that could save people..." Qi Xia revealed a strange smile. "Ha... how interesting. So someone had already started interfering back then. She... was one of 'Qinglong's' people?"
"Oh?" Chu Tianqiu turned his head. "Who? That 'Extreme Path' person who appeared in your room?"
"Who else could it be...? This is truly fascinating!" Qi Xia twisted his head to look at Chu Tianqiu with a manic expression. "We might be standing at the closest point to turning the tables in history. In my fragmented memories, I don't recall Qinglong ever interfering."
"But is Qinglong some kind of saint?" Chu Tianqiu pressed on. "Every time he intervened before, it got us killed. How do you know it's any different this time?"
"Because he went through a lot of trouble. If he wanted us dead, he wouldn't have gone to such lengths," Qi Xia replied, then changed the subject. "But... Chu Tianqiu, when did you find out that Wen Qiaoyun was in that convenience store?"
"I..." Chu Tianqiu's expression gradually turned cold. "I would rather not have remembered that person was Wen Qiaoyun. I wish she had just been an ordinary native. After all, I conducted those filthy experiments on her. I couldn't explain why I would develop such feelings for a native. But when I remembered she was Wen Qiaoyun... I almost lost all my sanity."
"So what happened to her?" Qi Xia continued. "Why haven't all my memories returned? Only a little over half?"
"Ha..." Chu Tianqiu's cold expression vanished instantly, replaced by a wild look in his eyes. "Unfortunately for you, Qi Xia, you were too late."
"Oh?"
"I killed her."
"Wen Qiaoyun... is dead?"
Chu Tianqiu looked down at his own hands and said hoarsely, "In theory, I shouldn't have been able to strangle a native with an 'Earth-level' physique... but you know what?"
He slowly brought his hands together, as if tying a knot in the air.
Then he pulled them apart, his expression cold.
"When I choked her like this, she didn't resist at all."
Chu Tianqiu tightened his grip in the air. "All she muttered was, 'Don't cry, don't cry.' She just lightly patted my arm. She was comforting me even until her death, without any attempt to break free. The tighter I squeezed, the softer her voice became... until she suffocated to death, still patting my arm... Qi Xia... I killed her with my own hands... I threw away the last shred of my humanity. Not only did I kill someone, I killed the person I loved most."
Seeing Chu Tianqiu's trembling hands from the effort, Qi Xia said expressionlessly, "You know what killing a 'Madman' means, don't you?"
"It means she can never appear again... I know." Chu Tianqiu nodded. "That was exactly my goal."
"So you've always been like this?" Qi Xia asked. "Sorry, I never took you seriously before."
"It's really ridiculous," Chu Tianqiu said, lowering his head. "Before, I wanted to lead everyone out of here. I compiled a large amount of game strategies. To trade for food for my so-called 'comrades,' I even personally went to make deals with the 'Earth Dragon.' He asked for eyeballs from corpses. I walked this land searching for the strong, unconditionally tolerating the weak 'Echoes.' To give them hope of escape, I even wrote a survivor's manual myself. I did everything I could. I risked my life for others countless times, only to end up with teammates dying and losing my memory over and over. I was even doubted for my leadership abilities. Why do you think that is?"
"This is the path you chose," Qi Xia said. "The path you chose was never smooth. It had thorns you couldn't see."
"The path I chose was the one Wen Qiaoyun left behind," Chu Tianqiu said. "I think I really have gone mad. Not only did I destroy the path, I killed the guide."
"But she's liberated. We're not."
Chu Tianqiu let out a bitter smile.
"Yes, Qi Xia." He slowly lowered his tensed hands and whispered, "She's liberated. She no longer has to live here in a daze, nor does she have to turn into red powder floating in the sky. She's just sleeping forever."
"But that makes things difficult for me," Qi Xia said. "Without her key, how am I supposed to recover my memories?"
"Oh...? Strange." Chu Tianqiu looked at Qi Xia. "You want to recover your memories... what does that have to do with Wen Qiaoyun? The way we lost our memories is clearly different. You don't need her as a 'key,' do you?"
"And how do you know the method to recover my memories?" Qi Xia sneered. "Have we reached the point where we need to lay all our cards on the table?"
"Yes. For the past few decades, you've never looked me in the eye." Chu Tianqiu nodded. "But I've been watching you all along. You're far too intriguing."
"Is that so?" Qi Xia replied ambiguously.
Chu Tianqiu pulled two yellowed slips of paper from his shirt pocket and slowly handed them to Qi Xia. "Want to take a look?"
Qi Xia took them indifferently and unfolded them.
One slip read, "I must make Qi Xia obtain an Echo." The other read, "I absolutely cannot let Qi Xia obtain an Echo."
The handwriting on both slips was clearly from the same person—and that person could only be Chu Tianqiu himself.
"Why is that?" Chu Tianqiu asked. "I usually only write notes to remind myself of important matters. But what happened back then... that made me write two completely contradictory notes?"
"What?" Qi Xia handed the slips back to Chu Tianqiu. "Your memories haven't fully returned either?"
Chu Tianqiu put the slips back in his shirt pocket and looked up at the sky. "My memories are all floating in the sky, searching for their owner. I'll remember eventually."
"That's not strange," Qi Xia shook his head. "It's just that my 'Echo' changed, so your attitude changed accordingly. That's all."
"Nonsense." Chu Tianqiu interrupted. "Are you telling me that your 'Echo' changed from 'Spiritual Hearing' to 'Endless Vitality'? Would I really need to write a note to remind myself of something like that?"
"Is that wrong?" Qi Xia asked.
"No matter which of those two 'Echoes' manifested in you, I would never write 'I absolutely cannot let Qi Xia obtain an Echo,'" Chu Tianqiu said, his cold, crazed eyes fixed on Qi Xia. "What exactly did you conceal... that made me write that sentence?"
(Tomorrow marks the final cycle of this year. Stay tuned:
- [Bilibili] The official theme song "Ten Days' End" is now available. Listen and look for MV Easter eggs.
- [TikTok] Popular cosplayers are hosting a Zodiac transformation challenge. Join in!
- [Weibo] Multiple renowned illustrators are interpreting the Zodiac games. Super chat activities never stop! (Complete tasks to unlock surprise voice Easter eggs for Qi Xia, Qiao Jiajin, and Chen Junnan; custom Weibo ID badge titles; exclusive Easter egg effects.)
- [Fanqie] The third phase of the anniversary celebration begins. Post comments to share 1 billion coins + signed books/signed cards!)