“Knowing too much, you might experience a fate worse than death.” Yu Nian’an said. “Ask what you should ask, don’t ask what you shouldn’t.”

“O… okay…”

Xiao Cheng nodded somewhat frantically. Although Yu Nian’an hadn’t answered directly, it was equivalent to having given the answer.

But what on earth was going on?

There were actually so many people in the “Land of End” who could “enter dreams”?!

Could it be that “Echoes” weren’t unique?

“You said he merely waved his hand and razed the entire city to the ground…?”

Xiao Cheng turned his head in disbelief and looked at Qi Xia, who was heartily devouring his meal in the living room.

“That means Brother Qi’s mental state didn’t just develop a crack at all… but rather a ‘complete collapse’…”

“No, the problem really does lie with that crack.” Yu Nian’an said. “If it were just the entire city turning into nothingness, perhaps Qi Xia would still be somewhat lucid. That crack is the main reason causing Qi Xia’s confusion. After all, this house is the last line of defense Qi Xia built for himself.”

“Then why didn’t you let me…” Xiao Cheng paused and changed his words. “Why didn’t you patch it up yourself…? You can create objects here at will—patching up that crack would be effortless for you!”

Upon realizing he had no hope of survival, Xiao Cheng shifted his attention to Qi Xia.

This man was extremely powerful. If he could regain his lucidity, he could lead everyone to overcome all obstacles. Since death was inevitable either way, he might as well do one last good deed before dying.

But the current situation was still somewhat strange. A “Guardian” in Qi Xia’s heart refused to patch up that crack and allowed Qi Xia to lose his reason.

Just what was she guarding?

After hearing this, Xiao Cheng slowly lowered his head. He knew Yu Nian’an was right. If Qi Xia was someone capable of battling “Heavenly-Dragon,” then rashly entering his psychological world was tantamount to seeking death.

“I’m exhausting myself running around for each chance to obtain an ‘Echo,’ yet there are already people on this land battling ‘Heavenly-Dragon’…”

“Don’t be disheartened.” Yu Nian’an spoke to comfort him. “There are many roads in this world, and each person has their own path. You just chose different roads—that doesn’t mean you can’t reach the destination.”

Xiao Cheng seemed to receive enlightenment from these words and nodded slightly.

“If it were possible, I would also hope you could get out alive, but is that realistic?”

Yu Nian’an wiped her hands completely clean, then opened the kitchen drawer, took out a small mirror, and gently handed it to Xiao Cheng.

Xiao Cheng accepted it without understanding, then turned his hand to look. His entire person froze in place.

The himself in the mirror had no face.

He tremblingly reached out his hand and lightly touched his own flat facial plane. He could see, could hear, could converse, yet now he couldn’t feel any facial features.

When exactly did this happen…?

Was it because he had stayed in this dream realm for too long, or did everyone who entered this space become like this?

Xiao Cheng pondered for a long while before finally showing an expression of giving up. He then looked up and said: “Sister Yu, once Brother Qi wins this ‘decisive battle,’ we’ll all be saved, right?”

“Who is ‘we’?” Yu Nian’an raised an eyebrow, as if she didn’t understand Xiao Cheng’s meaning.

“I mean… all the ‘Participants.’ As long as ‘Heavenly-Dragon’ is defeated, we ‘Participants’ who’ve been reincarnating here will all be saved, right?”

As his words fell, an unusual silence filled the room.

Xiao Cheng had previously envisioned countless answers. He thought Yu Nian’an would either agree or deny, or directly assert that Qi Xia simply couldn’t win against “Heavenly-Dragon,” but none of these anticipated responses appeared.

He had thought of every situation except Yu Nian’an having this bizarre reaction.

Yu Nian’an raised her slender, pale fingers to lightly cover her lips, then let out a “pfft” and laughed.

That smile was like she’d heard the joke of the century. It caused beautiful curves to appear between her brows and eyes. She swayed back and forth with delight, her laughter echoing unstoppably throughout the room.

And under this bout of laughter, Xiao Cheng gradually became ice-cold all over.

“Sister Yu…”

Looking at Yu Nian’an’s gentle smile, Xiao Cheng’s pupils flickered slightly. Although she hadn’t said anything, he couldn’t help but feel he was shrouded by some conspiracy: “What are you laughing at…?”

“Oh my…”

After more than ten seconds, Yu Nian’an shook her head with a smile: “Xiao Cheng, oh Xiao Cheng… you’re really an interesting person…”

“Interesting…?” Xiao Cheng’s scalp felt somewhat cold. He sensed that things were truly operating on a level he couldn’t touch at all. “Sister Yu, what exactly do you mean? Isn’t Brother Qi representing the ‘Participants’ in a decisive battle against ‘Heavenly-Dragon’…? If he wins…”

Yu Nian’an didn’t answer. She only pointed out the window.

“Xiao Cheng, look.”

Xiao Cheng slowly turned his head. His gaze passed through the kitchen door and looked toward the living room window.

Outside was still vast expanses of dark red flesh and blood. All the flesh had clearly visible pulses that were currently beating.

And on the sky made of flesh walls, a gigantic pupil was looking around everywhere.

Yu Nian’an took a step forward and slowly gripped that rope: “Xiao Cheng, you once disturbed a person’s mental state because you destroyed a blade of grass. But the entire city in Qi Xia’s heart has been destroyed. Do you know what this represents?”

Xiao Cheng didn’t speak. He only stared blankly at that city of flesh and blood.

Yu Nian’an slowly placed the rope loop around Xiao Cheng’s neck. To make him more comfortable, she even deliberately adjusted the angle of the loop.

“And following Qi Xia’s instructions, I built a blood-stained city in his heart, using my own bones, flesh, and blood to recreate every single building here.” Yu Nian’an said in a low voice. “You yourself have ‘entered dreams’—can you sense what the future will be like?”

“I…”

Xiao Cheng couldn’t guess at all. After the world in a person’s heart was completely destroyed, then rebuilt into a new one using flesh and blood… what would he be like?

Would he be able to accept this city at the bottom of his heart?

No… this question seemed not quite right. Qi Xia now appeared to have completely accepted it…

This city was no different from the real world to him.

“Xiao Cheng, do you think such a person would truly collapse completely because of that crack?”

“Sister Yu… just what are you plotting…?”

“Let me ask you again… do you think someone so ruthless to himself would represent all the ‘Participants’ in a duel with ‘Heavenly-Dragon’?”

*Knock knock knock.*

Knocking sounds suddenly came from outside the house. Both Xiao Cheng and Yu Nian’an paused slightly.