# Chapter 843: The Detour
Azure Dragon stared at Qi Xia's eyes for a long while, then said softly:
"I knew someone like you would be in 'Zhongyan Land,' I should have chosen to possess 'Mind Reading' back then, after all, I really want to know which of your words are true."
"Probably won't help much," Qi Xia said. "'Celestial Serpent' couldn't see through me, even if you had 'Mind Reading' you probably wouldn't gain much advantage."
"Even Mind Reading can't handle you...? How do you manage that?" Azure Dragon asked.
"Very simple," Qi Xia said. "First, you need to be able to think of countless things simultaneously. When 'Celestial Serpent' reads a massive amount of information, they have no way to process it, and the brain briefly shuts down."
"But even so... if he could calm down, he could still sort through all your thoughts," Azure Dragon said. "Even if you're thinking of a hundred things at once, it doesn't matter. He could spend more time to understand your intentions."
"But I have a second safeguard," Qi Xia said. "From the moment I set foot on this land, I began speculating about the origins and truth of everything. But I have a bad habit."
"What...?"
"I never draw conclusions," Qi Xia said. "Every path leads to countless answers, so I never make a definite conclusion about anything. I try to keep every possibility present in my mind simultaneously. This helps me make more choices, and also helps confuse 'Celestial Serpent's' judgment."
"Never draw conclusions..." Azure Dragon muttered to himself. "That is to say, even if 'Celestial Serpent' reads your thoughts, they'll only read countless questions and uncertain answers."
"Yes... so I really wish you had 'Mind Reading,'" Qi Xia said. "It would help me think through some questions I can't find answers to."
Azure Dragon didn't respond after hearing this. He just stared at Qi Xia for a while, then said: "Qi Xia, no matter what reasons you give, we've reached a crisis of trust now."
"Oh...?" Qi Xia nodded blankly. "I've already said this much... and you still don't trust me?"
"I don't know if you remember, but the two of us have made many deals before, but this time is different," Azure Dragon said. "After all, you now have the conditions to become a 'Dragon.' Even if you talk until the sky falls, I can no longer fully trust you."
"What a pity," Qi Xia said. "Mutual suspicion is the worst thing for cooperation."
Azure Dragon snorted coldly, then turned around: "If you don't want to become a 'Dragon,' that's best. Our deals and plans remain unchanged. But now I have to take complete defensive measures to guard against your sudden betrayal."
"Sorry to hear that," Qi Xia said. "I'll have to prove myself through my actions."
Azure Dragon flicked his sleeve in displeasure, then vanished from the rooftop. The 'Silence' that had surrounded the two of them also disappeared.
Seeing Azure Dragon gone, Qi Xia let out a long sigh, then composed himself and walked downstairs.
Having stayed on the rooftop for too long, Chen Junnan seemed a bit worried and was about to go upstairs to check, just in time to meet Qi Xia coming down.
"Lao Qi... staying on the rooftop so long, chatting with ghosts and gods again?" Chen Junnan stood on the stairs, looking up and asking.
"Something like that," Qi Xia nodded.
"Young Master suggests you play more with humans," Chen Junnan said. "Those things have no consistency."
Qi Xia didn't speak, just sighed, then said: "Where's the person I need to see?"
"Hey!" Mentioning this suddenly got Chen Junnan interested. "Lao Qi! I was just about to ask you, do you want a wife? That sister seemed like a good match for you!"
After saying this, Chen Junnan paused for a second. He felt like he had said something similar before, but couldn't remember when.
"A match...?" Qi Xia frowned. "Stop messing around. Where is she?"
"Oh! Follow me."
Chen Junnan waved his hand and led Qi Xia to the second floor of the teaching building, then to the room at the very end of the corridor. He reached out and pushed the door open.
Yan Zhichun, dressed in white, stood inside, her back to them, looking out the window.
Chen Junnan wanted to make a few jokes, but turned his head and saw Qi Xia looking at Yan Zhichun with an unusually serious expression. He knew not to be careless, so he kept his mouth shut, waited for Qi Xia to enter the room, then closed the door from outside.
Hearing sounds behind her, Yan Zhichun turned around and met Qi Xia's gaze.
After staring into those gray-white, goat-like eyes for a few seconds, Yan Zhichun's expression changed.
First, she was puzzled for a few seconds, then showed a surprised expression, and finally nodded as if understanding.
"These eyes... it's really you?" Yan Zhichun said. "Yang Ge...?"
"Correct," Qi Xia nodded. "When I saw you before, I didn't remember who you were. But now it's different."
Yan Zhichun paused for a moment after hearing this, then let out a relieved sigh: "What the hell... I really thought you were dead."
"I won't die that easily," Qi Xia said. "Yan Zhichun, you've done well all these years. It's time for the final step."
"How... do you know I've done well?"
"Because the name 'Jidao' is too famous," Qi Xia chuckled. "There's a woman in 'Jidao' called Xiaoxiao. She left a very deep impression on me during the time I lost my memory. She beat the unconscious Qiao Jiajin and Tiantian to death right in front of me, making me instantly loathe this place and loathe 'Jidao.' That despair came at just the right time. It's also the result of your persistent efforts. I'm very pleased."
Yan Zhichun smiled sheepishly after hearing this: "Yang Ge, you're too kind. That 'despair,' to put it bluntly, was passed from yourself seven years ago to yourself now. I was just an intermediary."
Qi Xia nodded after hearing this: "Also, I really like the name 'Jidao.' It's very fitting as a 'Needle.' But speaking of which... do you have your own 'Needle'?"
"Yes," Yan Zhichun said seriously. "I learned a lot from you, Yang Ge. Whether it's 'Cat' or 'Heaven's Gate,' I've always had my people there."
"Very good," Qi Xia nodded. "Tomorrow morning, I'll go participate in 'Earth Dragon's' game. You'll come with me then. Also... have all those people start moving."
"Alright," Yan Zhichun nodded. "I'll make arrangements tonight."
"You've worked hard all these years," Qi Xia nodded. "Let the upheaval begin."