Chapter 842: A Rift?
Qi Xia's brow twitched almost imperceptibly before he revealed an unusually reassuring smile.
"The idea that I want to become a 'Dragon' is too absurd," he said calmly. "After all, becoming a 'Dragon' means becoming someone like you, which doesn't make sense to me."
"You're still pretending..." Qing Long's expression gradually twisted. "I should have realized it long ago, from the moment the name 'Yu Nian'an' appeared... The fact that you're standing here in such an uncanny state clearly means you came prepared."
"Perhaps you don't understand, Qing Long," Qi Xia rebutted. "Yu Nian'an is my wife. She exists in the real world and in my heart. That has nothing to do with me becoming a 'Dragon.'"
"Don't you know yourself? You've gathered both 'Yin' and 'Yang' into one body... What audacity." Qing Long's eyes slowly turned angry. "Do you have too big an appetite... If I hadn't exposed you here, were you planning to replace both Tian Long and me alone, becoming the supreme ruler of this place?"
"You're mistaken." Qi Xia's tone remained calm as he guided Qing Long. "Think about it. Me becoming a 'Dragon,' becoming the 'Leader of the Zodiacs,' has no practical effect. After all, I have no attachment to this land. That goal obviously lacks motivation."
"But your demeanor has changed," Qing Long said. "Qi Xia, you deliberately hid all your emotions to make your words seem unruffled, but that makes you more suspicious. Because the usual you would never speak like this."
"Then how do I usually speak?" Qi Xia asked.
"Like this." Qing Long pointed at Qi Xia's mouth. "Throwing out a question to stump me—that's more your style. In my memory, all your words are highly aggressive, mostly rhetorical questions. Why have you suddenly switched to declarative sentences? What are you hiding?"
"You're right," Qi Xia nodded. "It seems you're also well-versed in negotiation tactics. So I have to choose my words more carefully. I just want you to know that what I'm saying is true, so I'm using as many declarative sentences as possible. This way, I'm not aggressive, and you can trust my words more easily."
"But I can no longer trust you, Qi Xia. As you said, you might indeed kill 'Tian Long,' but you're also trying to kill me," Qing Long said. "I can't take that risk, and I won't let anyone replace me. Now I will turn you into an indigenous dweller and then kill you completely."
"Wait a moment." Qi Xia frowned. "Qing Long... I think you've really lost your head. At a time like this, why are you suddenly ready to fall out with me?"
"Because I see through you," Qing Long said. "You think you're so deep and cunning, plotting to trick both me and Tian Long at the same time. This is the fate you deserve."
"No." Qi Xia shook his head, and his words were once again full of aggression. "How cowardly are you, to fear the mere thought of my wife? Does my longing for my wife threaten your position?"
"Otherwise?" Qing Long said. "The Yin-Yang energy on you is becoming more and more obvious. This is not only a characteristic of 'Dragon,' but also your path to death."
"Sigh..." Qi Xia helplessly shook his head. "Qing Long... have you ever asked yourself one question... Can I really kill you?"
"What?"
"I can kill 'Tian Long' because he is asleep... But how can I kill you?" Qi Xia asked. "Why are you so lacking in confidence in your own strength?"
Upon hearing this, Qing Long slowly narrowed his eyes, realizing that what Qi Xia said was actually true.
"Now the arrow is on the string, but you're about to cut the string. What a pity," Qi Xia said again. "At least let me try. What if I really can kill 'Tian Long'?"
"Qi Xia... you are truly a dangerous person," Qing Long said. "If you didn't want to become a 'Dragon,' how could you have this strange aura on you? You've clearly been planning for a long time... You deceived everyone, preparing to become a 'Dragon' and then rule here completely."
"No wonder you think that way," Qi Xia nodded. "Because I have Yu Nian'an in my heart, you think I have 'Yin and Yang in one body.' That sounds reasonable."
"It's already reasonable," Qing Long said. "What excuse do you have now?"
"This isn't an excuse. I'm just helping you recall the answer to this matter," Qi Xia said. "Don't worry, it must be a misunderstanding."
Upon hearing this, Qing Long just snorted coldly and remained silent.
"Qing Long..." Qi Xia suddenly thought of something and slowly raised his head. "If I remember correctly... you've preserved all the memories of the 'End Land' since its creation, right?"
"What are you trying to say?" Qing Long frowned.
"I just want you to think carefully," Qi Xia said. "Besides the time we stood here yesterday... when did you ever tell me that becoming a Dragon requires 'Yin' and 'Yang'?"
Qing Long paused slightly, then quickly recalled past events.
The situation was indeed as Qi Xia had said. Two 'Yang' had never stood at such a height before, so he wouldn't have mentioned the theory of 'Yin' and 'Yang.'
The only people who knew about this besides himself were Tian Long.
Tian Long slept all day. Qi Xia hadn't lied down for seven years to avoid meeting him. How could he possibly know?
"So think it over. I don't even know the 'prerequisite,' so how could I make the 'necessary decision'?" Qi Xia said in a low voice. "Now I'm about to put the knife to Qing Long's neck. If you really kill me here because I miss my wife... I don't even know whose loss is greater."
After hearing this, Qing Long indeed found the matter suspicious.
Yes, based on everything he had heard, seen, and remembered, Qi Xia didn't know the conditions for forming a 'Dragon.'
This piece of information was only known to himself and Tian Long throughout the entire 'End Land.' If he hadn't told Qi Xia, only Tian Long could have revealed it to him.
But revealing this information was no different from exposing a weakness. Tian Long had no reason to go such a roundabout route. If he really wanted someone else to replace him, it would be easier to just kill himself.
"Qing Long, I suspect this is Tian Long's plan to drive a wedge between us," Qi Xia said.
"What?"
"Think about it... I clearly don't know the conditions for forming a 'Dragon,' yet I stand before you as 'one body of Yin and Yang,' successfully angering you..." Qi Xia said. "What a close call. We almost fell for it."
(Happy New Year to all my readers!)
(As a Shandong native and someone who's getting older, there's too much to do during the New Year. In the past two days, I've barely been able to find a few hours to write. Today and tomorrow will be single updates. I've been busy for over a year without much rest, so I'm taking the chance to slack off a bit. Apologies to everyone. Hope you all eat well, drink well, and have fun! Happy New Year again!)