Chapter 768: Searching for a Way to Die
"Are you talking about Qi Xia...?" Xu Liunian asked, frowning.
"Who else could it be?" Chu Tianqiu replied. "I saw the answer in his eyes."
"But even if he knows this truth, it's useless," Xu Liunian said. "Just like I said... no one here can snatch back the 'Train' and fight against the 'Gods.' No matter what you do, it's futile."
"Is that so?" Chu Tianqiu nodded noncommittally. "Then we'll just have to wait and see."
After speaking, he gave Xu Liunian a meaningful glance and said, "Xu Liunian, I can kill anyone here at will because I know they'll come back in the next cycle."
Xu Liunian looked at Chu Tianqiu, not sure what he was getting at.
"So I don't want you to disappear completely," Chu Tianqiu said, word by word. "For the sake of that 'superior' of yours, there's no need to push yourself to such an extent. You don't need to leave entirely—just stay here."
Xu Liunian raised her head with a hint of sadness, her emotions incredibly complicated. She didn't know what Chu Tianqiu's purpose was in doing this, nor whether she should thank him for his heartfelt intentions.
"But Chu Tianqiu..." Xu Liunian said, "you still lied. I heard you killed Wen Qiaoyun."
"I..." Chu Tianqiu was taken aback, then turned to look into the distance.
"You said you kill people because you know they'll always come back... but when you killed Wen Qiaoyun, you knew she wouldn't be reborn," Xu Liunian said. "Every one of us lives in pain here. Why are you willing to let Wen Qiaoyun be freed, but not me?"
"Because you don't deserve it," Chu Tianqiu said bluntly. "Wen Qiaoyun was a victim here, and you are a perpetrator. Your identities are not equal, so I can't let you die so easily. Even if you die, I'll definitely drag you back here."
Xu Liunian listened and let out a bitter laugh. "I understand."
Chu Tianqiu said no more, just lowered his head to look at the school gate, where there seemed to be a slight commotion.
Zhang Shan and Old Lü were talking with a young man, their voices rising as if they were about to start arguing.
Chu Tianqiu had no choice but to turn and walk toward the school gate.
...
"I mean..." Zhang Shan scratched his head and said, "Kid, we can take you in, but you can't lie. After all, you were never one of our members before, and we have to be careful."
"I really didn't lie..." The young man scratched his head with a confused expression. "There's been a voice in my head telling me to come here... I don't even know what's going on... It's driving me crazy."
As the two were arguing, Chu Tianqiu slowly walked over.
He ran into Dr. Zhao on the way, exchanged a few casual words, and together they came to the young man.
The young man took one look at Chu Tianqiu's appearance and felt as if he had arrived at some extraordinary place.
"Hello," Chu Tianqiu said with a smile. "I'm the leader here. Who are you looking for?"
The young man looked to be at most eighteen or nineteen, equally confused. He glanced timidly at Chu Tianqiu, who was covered in blood, then cautiously asked, "Excuse me, is this place called 'Heaven's Gate'?"
"More or less," Chu Tianqiu replied. "Who sent you?"
"I... I don't know..." The young man scratched his head, feeling that something was off with his state. "Bro, I opened my eyes and was standing on the street... There was a voice in my heart telling me I had to come to 'Heaven's Gate'..."
"And what are you supposed to do here?" Chu Tianqiu asked again.
"To 'die,'" the young man answered. "I have no idea why this is happening... But that voice keeps ringing in my heart, making me feel like I'm going crazy. I thought maybe if I came here, it would be better."
"Are you not afraid of death?" Chu Tianqiu pressed.
"I am... afraid..." the young man nodded. "But bro... to be honest, I remember I already died."
Chu Tianqiu instantly latched onto the key point in the other's words, and the truth of the whole matter began to surface in his mind.
"Oh...? You say you're already dead, yet you still follow the voice in your heart to come to 'Heaven's Gate'?"
"I don't know if you believe me... but that's how it is..." the young man agreed. "I remember I died in a really terrifying place..."
"I believe you," Chu Tianqiu immediately nodded. "Strange things happen here all the time, so I extend initial trust to everyone."
"...Thank you," the young man nodded. "But bro... you guys don't seem like violent thugs either..."
Chu Tianqiu chuckled lightly upon hearing this. "Don't worry. Trust your subconscious. If your subconscious wants you to die here, then you must have your own way to die."
"Ah... no... that's not what I meant..."
The people around were somewhat baffled by the conversation between Chu Tianqiu and the young man. Old Lü quickly stepped forward to mediate and asked, "Kid, what's your name?"
"I'm... Cheng Aoyu," the young man answered.
"Alright, Cheng," Old Lü said. "Come inside and rest first."
Seeing Old Lü about to lead the young man into the teaching building, Chu Tianqiu called out to them again.
"Hold on."
"Huh...?" Xiao Cheng turned back to look at Chu Tianqiu.
"What is your 'Echo'?" Chu Tianqiu asked.
"I..." Xiao Cheng gave a slightly embarrassed bitter smile. "My 'Echo' is pretty useless. At best, I can give you good dreams."
"Don't sell yourself short," Chu Tianqiu said. "Your 'Echo' can't be more useless than mine."
"I'm just afraid my ability is too weak to be of any help to you..."
"Don't worry," Chu Tianqiu stepped forward and said softly. "If your ability was very useful to us, you might die right now."
"Ah...?" Xiao Cheng was startled by Chu Tianqiu's words, feeling as if he were still dreaming.
Although there weren't many good people here, it was rare for someone to show such strong hostility right from the start.
"It's best if it's useless," Chu Tianqiu said, reaching out to pat Xiao Cheng on the shoulder. "Useless people can live well here."
Xiao Cheng swallowed his saliva and said slowly, "Bro... I have 'Dream Entry.'"
Hearing those two words, Chu Tianqiu's pupils trembled slightly. He was stunned for a few seconds before saying, "You call this a useless 'Echo'?"
"Ah...?"
Chu Tianqiu thought for a moment, then asked, "You said you remember you already died. Do you remember where you died?"
Xiao Cheng replied somewhat timidly, "I don't know if it's just a dream... but I think I died in a place run by a ground monkey..."
"'Plum Sword Stakes' or 'Casino'?" Chu Tianqiu asked again.
"It's... the 'Casino'..."
Chu Tianqiu nodded upon hearing this. "You're lucky. You don't have to die today."
"What...?"
With that, he turned around and said to Dr. Zhao beside him, "I'll give you a map. Help me bring back his eyes."