Chapter 857: The Strange Strong One
So I chose to destroy the "Dao" held by those who had no "Echo" to the greatest extent possible.
That way, they wouldn't remember me.
If the other party had an "Echo," I would try my best to avoid them.
In other words, I planned to apply these three difficulties to three different kinds of people. If their condition already seemed dire, I would use "Heart-Snatcher" to control them from the shadows—even making them smash their heads against a wall—so that they would fall into deeper despair without understanding why.
At the same time, I would participate in the games as much as possible, using my acting skills to make everyone lose. If the situation allowed, I would destroy their "Dao" at the last critical moment.
As for... "recruiting the strong," I might need to make some changes.
Maybe I needed to find some lunatics to work with me.
Ten days later, I emerged once again from that absurdly simple interview room and stood in front of the solitary building.
What piqued my curiosity was that the long-haired girl walked past me once more, and this time she turned her head to glance at me again.
What a coincidence in this world—was her "spawn point" right across from mine?
This time, she didn't walk away immediately. Instead, upon seeing me, she slowly stopped and stared at me with an intrigued expression.
I didn't like being stared at. I could only look away, trying not to meet her eyes, but I could feel her gaze lingering, impossible to avoid.
"Is there something you need?" I turned back and asked her.
"Me...?" The girl laughed, then took a step forward, testing my personal space. "I'm a bit curious too. Do you have something to say?"
"Do I... have something...?" I found her strange. "What's this? Didn't you take the initiative to stand here and look at me? Why are you asking me if I have something?"
"No, the logic is all wrong." The girl shook her head, revealing a smile I couldn't decipher. "I once told myself in front of a mirror: if someone desperately needed me, I would appear before them. But I've ended up here twice now. Could it be that you're looking for me? What do you need me for?"
I started to lose track of what she was saying. It felt like she was reversing cause and effect—using the result to deduce the cause.
It was as absurd as saying, "Because I fell today, there must have been a stone on the ground."
"Last time I saw you, you were wearing a white dress and looked harmless enough. I thought I had misjudged you." The girl tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and smiled again. "Are you in some kind of trouble? I've never seen such a powerful 'Cause and Effect' that could halt all my actions and drag me here. Is what you're planning really that important? Can I join in?"
Even though I didn't understand her, she seemed completely unhinged.
"I'm fine. Leave me alone."
I turned and walked into the building, but she had absolutely no sense of boundaries and followed me inside.
"Why are you in such a hurry?" she called from behind. "Shouldn't we at least introduce ourselves properly? My name is Jiang Ruoxue. What's yours?"
She was exactly the type of person I couldn't stand—acting overly familiar with everyone, throwing off my rhythm.
"Say something," she kept chattering behind me. "I kind of like girls like you. How about I just call you 'darling'?"
I was about to grab the note I had hidden from the previous cycle, but her words made me freeze mid-motion.
"Do you ever stop?" I snapped back. "I don't know you, I don't agree with your 'logic,' and you've already given me a terrible first impression. These three points make it impossible for us to be friends."
"So you must have very few friends, huh?" She pulled a chair over without any hesitation, dusted it off, and plopped down. "How can you decide in advance whether someone can become your friend? Every 'cause' in this world leads to a different 'effect.' The fact that you and I are standing here at the same time means we share a special fate."
"Is that so?" I retorted. "But I feel like this fate is man-made, not heaven-sent."
"But heaven's will is also man-made." She grinned at me. "What's wrong, darling? Are you blushing because you're too shy to accept me?"
I never thought I would hear such words from a girl's mouth. It felt indescribably strange.
"Don't call me darling," I said with a frown. "If you're looking for a sweetheart, go find someone else. I'm not your type."
"So you don't like girls?" she asked again.
"And I don't like men either," I said. "In this world, I only love myself."
"What a coincidence." She dragged her chair closer to me. "Me too."
It was only then I realized I might be in trouble.
When you have no idea what someone's goal is, you should assume the worst from the start.
"What do you want?" I asked.
"Why do you keep asking that..." She shook her head helplessly. "I told you, I felt that you desperately needed help, so 'fate' brought me here. But if you won't tell me your problem, how am I supposed to help you?"
Desperately needed help?
I had to admit she hit the mark—I really did need help. But why would she want to help me?
Seeing my silence, she continued, "Whatever your plan is, just tell me about it. I can tell you're no ordinary person, just a bit more clever and cautious than most. But the plan you're brewing in your mind—is it really that huge?"
"I..."
I began to hesitate. At the exact moment I needed help, a strange woman appeared before me. What was going on?
"Are you from 'Aries'?" I asked.
"'Aries'..." She sounded excited, her eyebrows shooting up. "Interesting, interesting. So this involves the 'Zodiac' after all?"
I felt like I had been set up. She clearly knew nothing, yet she was stubbornly staying here.
I had no idea if she had an "Echo," but I was even considering using "Heart-Snatcher" to kill her.
"Hey, listen," she said with a sly grin. "Let me join you. Whatever you need to do, I can help. I'm very strong—I'll definitely make things twice as easy for you."
Hearing that, I touched my forehead. Was this the path I was supposed to take?
Just moments ago, I had thought I needed to gather a bunch of lunatics to help me, and now it had come true so quickly.
"Jiang Ruoxue, what's your 'Echo'?" I asked.
"I am 'Cause and Effect,'" she said. "And it's precisely because of this 'Echo' that we two met here. Isn't that wonderful?"