Wanting but not obtaining.

What a laughable trigger this was.

Of all the people in the world, who hasn’t experienced times of “wanting but not obtaining”?

If it was merely about being unable to get what one wanted, wouldn’t Yun Yao be constantly experiencing “echoes” in this place of extreme scarcity?

But she wasn’t.

Hearing this, Qiao Jiajin’s expression became somewhat unnatural.

“Liar boy, idol girl, are you two hiding something from us?” He looked at the two suspiciously. “I may not like using my brain, but I’m not stupid. What exactly do you know about this place?”

Upon hearing this, Qi Xia’s expression became slightly troubled. He wasn’t used to lying to people who trusted him, and the current situation left him somewhat passive.

“Qiao Jiajin, before I answer you… I want to ask Yun Yao one final question.”

“Ask me?” Yun Yao was startled. “What is it?”

Qi Xia pulled Yun Yao aside and asked quietly, “If we… expose our ‘memories,’ what will happen?”

“What will happen…?” Yun Yao blinked, instantly unsure how to answer. “What could happen…? Should I praise you? You’re so amazing…”

“Hm?” Qi Xia was stunned, completely not expecting Yun Yao to give such an answer.

“I don’t understand—what’s wrong with exposing our memories?” Yun Yao asked. “We have memories of more cycles than others—isn’t that a good thing? Have you been hiding this fact all along?”

“I…” Qi Xia’s mind kept calculating. What Yun Yao said wasn’t without reason. Had Man-Sheep really conveyed false information?

“If you keep hiding it, how will you recognize your teammates?” Yun Yao continued asking. “That way, each cycle would be like a new beginning for you all. You’d never be able to get out.”

That’s right. Thinking about it carefully, “Heaven’s Mouth” had never followed this rule from the start.

If Chu Tianqiu had hidden his memories, how could he have possibly gathered everyone in the organization?

Qi Xia increasingly felt this was one of Man-Sheep’s schemes.

Because he had to fulfill the contract agreement and guide everyone to “actively, willingly, and calmly walk toward death,” he would add as many obstacles as possible on everyone’s path forward.

If someone truly believed those words, they would undoubtedly waste one cycle’s opportunity.

Fortunately, “Heaven’s Mouth” had arrived.

Their approach completely contradicted Man-Sheep’s, dispelling Qi Xia’s concerns.

“In that case,” Qi Xia turned to face Qiao Jiajin and Tiantian, “we’re already teammates. We should tell you the truth. What I’m about to say is extremely important—it concerns all of our survival. You must listen carefully.”

“Important…?” Tiantian was startled. “Then I don’t want to hear it…”

With that, she took a few steps back, retreating to a distance.

“What are you doing…” Qiao Jiajin stepped forward to pull Tiantian back. “Since liar boy and idol girl both know, that means this isn’t ‘information that’ll get you killed for hearing it’…”

“No thanks,” Tiantian waved her hands somewhat nervously. “I’m not a smart person to begin with. The less I know, the better. Qi Xia also said this information concerns everyone’s survival—I can’t bear responsibility for everyone’s survival…”

“This…” Qiao Jiajin didn’t know how to persuade her and cast a look at Qi Xia for help.

“Tiantian, it’s fine,” Qi Xia said. “Come listen with us. After all, you just want ‘Dao,’ right? I remember your goal. I won’t make things difficult for you.”

“I…”

Qi Xia spent roughly twenty minutes telling them everything in detail.

During this, Qiao Jiajin listened with great interest, showing unusual expressions many times. Though Tiantian was completely uninterested at first, after listening for a bit she was gradually drawn in—after all, what Qi Xia was describing was too incredible.

What did it mean that they would continuously live and die, die and live within ten days?

What did it mean that “echoes” would retain their memories?

“Damn…” After hearing everything, Qiao Jiajin was dumbfounded. “Liar boy, is everything you’re saying true?”

“This is everything I know so far,” Qi Xia said. “Qiao Jiajin, you and I didn’t just meet. In the last cycle, we were already comrades who depended on each other for life and death.”

“That’s not what I’m asking…” Qiao Jiajin blinked. “I want to ask—did I really fight a bear?”

Qi Xia paused, ultimately deciding not to bother with him.

“In any case, there’s nothing left to hide from you now,” Qi Xia said. “Yun Yao is an ‘echo.’ Her ability is ‘great fortune.’ And I’ve retained my memories, so I may also be an ‘echo,’ but I’m not clear what my ability is.”

“So this is what you’ve been talking about with ‘echoes’?” Qiao Jiajin thought for a moment and asked. “So it’s like special powers—card counting, seeing through things, hearing dice, stuff like that.”

Upon hearing this, Yun Yao immediately gave a negative answer. “Didn’t I say? ‘Echoes’ are a type of conviction. They’re latent.”

“Alright then…” Qiao Jiajin shook his head helplessly. “Latent is latent.”

When Yun Yao mentioned the word “latent” for the second time, Qi Xia seemed to understand something.

That is to say, “echoes” were actually a type of characteristic. They didn’t involve “activating powers.” Once you heard the “echo,” this ability would always exist—even when you didn’t want it, it would continue to exist.

Han Yimo was the best example.

He simply couldn’t shake off this “echo.”

As the four chatted while moving forward, they actually arrived at the venue where Qi Xia and the others had first descended.

The screen still displayed that unsettling sentence.

“I heard the echo of ‘Disaster Attraction.'”

Han Yimo’s “Disaster Attraction” had already lasted one day.

“Disaster Attraction,” Yun Yao looked up. “This is the second time I’ve seen this ‘echo.’ I just don’t know who the lucky one is.”

Lucky one?

Qi Xia sighed helplessly. He didn’t know whether Han Yimo was lucky or unlucky.

“So you know many types of ‘echoes’?” Qi Xia asked.

“I do know quite a few types. During the last cycle, no one teamed up with me, so Chu Tianqiu assigned me to guard the westernmost display screen. I was responsible for reporting the text on the screen to him every day. I guarded it for three consecutive days.”

“What…” Qi Xia’s eyes immediately widened. “You’re saying… last time you stayed by the display screen for three days?”

“Yes.” Yun Yao nodded. “The first three days were quite lively. ‘Echo sounds’ came one after another.”

“Tell me,” Qi Xia said urgently. “What ‘echoes’ did you see?”

Upon hearing this, Yun Yao touched her chin and said, “Are you very concerned about this?”

“I’m extremely concerned.”

Qi Xia knew that the names of “echoes” were very important. Most of the time, one could judge the other party’s ability through the name.

Yun Yao nodded, then slowly began, “First was the first day. Two echoes were triggered in succession. The first was called ‘Scapegoat.'”