“Ah! What are you doing?!”

Xiao Ran cried out in alarm, but the tall figure had no intention of letting her go.

She delivered dozens of consecutive slaps before finally slowing down.

“Qi Xia and Qiao Jiajin won’t hit women, but I will.” Yun Yao said, breathing heavily. “Do you have any objections?”

“You fucking…”

Xiao Ran gritted her teeth and tried to push Yun Yao away, but Yun Yao grabbed her arm again and rewarded her with three more slaps.

“Say it again!” Yun Yao roared. “Try saying anything about Tiantian again!”

Xiao Ran’s cheeks turned bright red from the beating. She looked both angry and in pain.

“Zhao Haibo!!” She screamed. “Someone’s hitting me—can’t you see?! Did I let you touch me for nothing earlier?”

Only then did Doctor Zhao finally react and hurriedly stepped forward to pull Yun Yao away.

Just as he was about to touch Yun Yao, two strong and powerful hands pressed down on him.

Qi Xia and Qiao Jiajin stood to his left and right, blocking his path.

“Doctor Zhao.” Qi Xia called out. “Let the girls settle their own business. Let’s not interfere.”

“Yeah, yeah, Doctor Zhao.” Qiao Jiajin smiled. “Don’t interrupt during a one-on-one fight.”

Doctor Zhao’s face showed conflicting emotions. “But… but you two…”

“Or do you want to have a one-on-one with me?” Qiao Jiajin asked with a smile. “I have time right now. I can take you on.”

“I…” Doctor Zhao looked at Qiao Jiajin with difficulty, then at Xiao Ran on the ground, not knowing what to do.

Yun Yao delivered another dozen or so slaps, leaving Xiao Ran with no ability to fight back.

“Sister! Stop hitting me! Stop!” Xiao Ran wailed. “Your man is awesome! Your man is awesome, okay?!”

Slap!

“That’s wrong. Say it again!” Yun Yao said angrily.

“You’re awesome! You’re the most awesome!”

Slap!

“Say it again!!”

Xiao Ran was completely bewildered. “Sister… what do you want me to say?”

Slap!

“Say it!”

Slap!

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry!” Xiao Ran wailed loudly. “I shouldn’t have talked about her like that. I was wrong! I’ll never do it again!”

Yun Yao indeed stopped hitting her.

Xiao Ran breathed a sigh of relief.

“Say it ten times.” Yun Yao said.

“What?”

Slap!

“I told you to say it ten times!”

Under Yun Yao’s “friendly negotiation,” Xiao Ran apologized a full ten times.

“Remember this well—watch what you say here. Someone can deal with you!” Yun Yao viciously yanked Xiao Ran’s hair as a warning before finally standing up slowly.

She looked down and saw that her own hands were also bright red.

“Idol girl, are you okay?” Qiao Jiajin asked.

“I’m fine, just my hands hurt a bit.”

“Oh, then I’ll take you to apply a cold compress.” Qi Xia raised an eyebrow. “It wouldn’t be good if they swelled up.”

“Yes, yes!” Qiao Jiajin quickly nodded, and the two helped Yun Yao out of the room.

Doctor Zhao awkwardly helped Xiao Ran up from the ground, not knowing what to say.

Xiao Ran’s eyes looked like they were about to bleed.

“Damn it… who does she think she is?!” She bit her teeth and discovered her mouth was full of blood. She spat viciously onto the ground and muttered, “I’m definitely going to kill you…”

Qi Xia used bottled water to wet a towel and slowly wrapped it around Yun Yao’s hand.

“That Xiao Ran is really too despicable…” Yun Yao paid no attention to the redness and swelling on her hands and continued angrily. “How can there be such despicable people in this world? I’m so furious! We’re both women, but I can’t understand a single thing she said!”

Qi Xia nodded. “If you had acted one second later, I would have been the one hitting her.”

“Forget it.” Yun Yao sighed. “If you had hit her, that woman would definitely have made a huge fuss, ruining your reputation while playing the victim. It’s like ‘a toad jumping on your foot’—it doesn’t bite, but it disgusts you.”

“Doesn’t matter. I don’t care about reputation.” Qi Xia shook his head and poured more water on Yun Yao’s towel.

“That still won’t do.” Yun Yao said. “When this kind of thing really happens, the audience will only believe the weak party is right. I’ve experienced this once before, so after thinking it over, it was best for me to beat her up.”

Qi Xia nodded but changed the subject. “I’m guessing that Xiao Ran won’t let this go. Don’t team up with her in the future. Be careful she stabs you in the back.”

After hearing this, Yun Yao nodded silently. “You’re right. I’ll be careful.”

As the three were chatting near the washroom, an older woman suddenly walked toward them.

Qi Xia had an impression of this woman.

She wore a Buddha pendant and a Jesus figure around her neck, and today she had added a string of prayer beads on her wrist.

“Auntie Tong?” Yun Yao stood up and smiled happily. “Is something wrong?”

“Little Yun…” The woman called Auntie Tong nodded kindly. “I heard that many people weren’t able to retain their memories this time, so I’m planning to continue my classes. Will you come listen?”

“Ah…? I…” Yun Yao showed a troubled expression. “Maybe I won’t go… I have my memories…”

Qi Xia and Qiao Jiajin looked at Yun Yao and the older woman with confusion.

“Classes?”

Seeing that Qi Xia was interested, Auntie Tong quickly stepped forward and grasped Qi Xia’s hand.

“Amitabha, God bless you. Young man, you look very devout. Would you like to come listen to my class?”

“I’m devout?” Qi Xia smiled bitterly and helplessly. “Auntie, you’re not very good at reading people. I’ve never believed in gods in all my years.”

Auntie Tong’s face still showed a smile. “But young man, if there are no gods in this world, then how do you explain this place?”

“This…”

The older woman’s brief question stumped Qi Xia.

She turned to look at Qiao Jiajin and sized him up from head to toe. “Young man, it looks like you don’t believe in gods either?”

“Auntie, you’re really not very good at reading people.” Qiao Jiajin said awkwardly. “I’ve been worshipping Guan Gong for over ten years.”

“Well, it doesn’t matter.” The older woman shook her head. “This afternoon I’m teaching in the northern classroom. I’ll explain to everyone the origins of ‘The End’ and the principles of ‘Echo.’ If you have time, you’re all welcome to come.”

“What?!” Qi Xia was stunned. “Auntie, you know the origins of ‘The End’ and the principles of ‘Echo’?!”

After speaking, he looked at Yun Yao, but Yun Yao showed a helpless expression.

“Yes, this is all arranged by the True God.” Auntie Tong nodded. “Buddha has always been compassionate and will help us understand all the intentions of the Holy Mother.”

Qi Xia felt that the older woman before him believed in a bit too much.

In just a short time, he had heard “God,” “Buddha,” “True God,” and “Holy Mother.” She had almost covered all the world’s mainstream religions.

“Actually, I also…” Just as Qi Xia was about to decline, the older woman grabbed his hand.

“Young man, if you want to survive here, you must eliminate the distracting thoughts in your heart.”