After staring into Qi Xia’s eyes for a long time, Yan Zhichun finally nodded seriously, “Yes… you’re right… Brother Yang, I spoke out of turn.”

“Good that you know,” Qi Xia said. “Yan Zhichun… you may not know what kind of terrifying experiences I’ve endured to reach this point today. I hope to ‘win’ more than anyone else. Even if I’m the only one left here, I still hope to ‘win.'”

“I understand…” Yan Zhichun nodded. “Brother Yang, the plan proceeds as usual. I’ll go arrange things right away.”

Just as Yan Zhichun was about to leave, Qi Xia called out to her again, “Wait.”

“What…?”

“There’s no need to trust Baiyang too much,” Qi Xia said.

His single sentence left Yan Zhichun completely stunned.

“What do you mean ‘don’t trust Baiyang too much’…” Yan Zhichun clearly didn’t understand. “Brother Yang… you… aren’t you…”

“We’re both me, yet I can’t trust myself,” Qi Xia said. “Working together with someone you can’t trust will inevitably be full of variables, no matter how you think about it.”

After hearing this, Yan Zhichun stood in place for a long time—not because what Qi Xia said was so difficult to understand, but because Baiyang had once said exactly the same thing.

What an absurd situation this was…?

Baiyang was Qi Xia, and Qi Xia was Baiyang.

This was clearly a collaboration across time and space, a shocking chess game that could only occur in the “Land of End” and was worthy of being recorded in the annals of history…

Yet they didn’t trust each other.

The reason seemed to be that they each thought the other… wasn’t as smart as themselves?

“That’s not the real me,” Qi Xia interrupted Yan Zhichun. “I wouldn’t be so contemptuous of intelligent people. His foolishness lies in his arrogance. Rather than believing in him, you should believe in me. After all, he won’t come back again, while I’ve always been here.”

“I, I understand…”

After hearing this, Yan Zhichun thought for a long time before finally leaving the room.

Qi Xia turned back to look out the window.

Before long, a head poked into the room, “Yo!”

Qi Xia turned to look—it was Chen Junnan walking in with a mischievous grin.

“Old Qi… did you bully that young lady? Why did she have that expression when she walked out?”

“Boring…” Qi Xia said. “Why would I bully her?”

“Either way, that girl looked unhappy,” Chen Junnan said. “That girl seems quite capable. What’s her status?”

“King of Extreme Path,” Qi Xia answered.

“Whoa~~~~~”

Chen Junnan let out a loud yell that made Qi Xia’s eyebrows furrow repeatedly.

“Can you be serious?” Qi Xia said. “I happen to have something to discuss with you.”

“Alright, alright,” Chen Junnan put away his frivolous expression and asked seriously, “What are your orders, boss?”

“I need to know if ‘Cat’ has been reborn,” Qi Xia said. “Help me go check the prison.”

“You…” Chen Junnan paused. “Old Qi… you even with ‘Cat’…”

“I need Qian Wu,” Qi Xia said. “He shouldn’t be dead. He should still be in prison right now.”

“Are you really okay, kid…” Chen Junnan looked at Qi Xia with some concern. “In such a short time, you’ve already used the same trick so many times… even ‘Heaven’ couldn’t do this, right?”

“I have no choice,” Qi Xia replied. “I’d like to rest too, but not right now.”

“Sigh…” Chen Junnan let out a sigh. “Fine, this young master will go take a look. If it’s a ‘living cat,’ what should I say? What about a ‘dead cat’?”

“As long as Zhou Liu and Qian Wu are still there, it’s not a ‘dead cat,'” Qi Xia said. “Have Zhou Liu contact me.”

“Got it, understood,” Chen Junnan waved his hand. “This young master is heading out first. Don’t save dinner for me today.”

After briefly greeting Qi Xia, Chen Junnan set off toward the gradually setting sun.

…

When Yan Zhichun returned to her classroom, Jiang Ruoxue’s voice could be heard from inside. She seemed to be conversing with someone.

After standing at the door for a few seconds and discovering that the other person seemed to be a child, she could only push the door open with a puzzled expression.

Jiang Ruoxue was helplessly conversing with a little boy who appeared to be only eight or nine years old. The little boy wore a crown on his head and had a dirty bedsheet draped behind him like a cape.

“Oh my, Zhichun, you’re finally here,” Jiang Ruoxue said. “Come help persuade him. I can’t convince him.”

“Persuade?” Yan Zhichun raised an eyebrow and looked at the little boy.

Jiang Ruoxue reached out to touch the little boy’s head, directing his gaze toward Yan Zhichun, then said, “Little brother, there’s no use talking to me. This is my boss. Whatever you need to say, tell her.”

Yan Zhichun said nothing, staring at the strange boy in front of her for a long time, genuinely unsure why he was dressed this way.

“What do you want?” she asked bluntly.

“Sister, are you the leader of ‘Extreme Path’?” the little boy asked. “My name is Zheng Yingxiong. I want to join ‘Extreme Path.'”

“Impossible. Leave,” Yan Zhichun said.

“Ah…?”

Hearing Yan Zhichun’s response, Jiang Ruoxue couldn’t help but laugh, “Pfft… Haha… Zhichun, what are you doing…”

“What?” Yan Zhichun looked at her. “Isn’t that what you meant?”

“Well, yes, but…” Jiang Ruoxue shook her head. “You’re being a bit too cold. What if you scare the child?”

“‘Extreme Path’ isn’t some charity organization. What’s the point of having this kind of kid join?” Yan Zhichun continued with a stern face, speaking to Zheng Yingxiong. “Don’t waste our time. We still have important matters to discuss. Please leave quickly.”

“I won’t leave,” Zheng Yingxiong said with a resolute expression. “I have reasons why I must join ‘Extreme Path’… You can’t just send me away because I’m young, right? My memories are longer than many people’s!”

“That still doesn’t work,” Yan Zhichun decisively refused. “Unfortunately, your timing is bad. ‘Extreme Path’ is about to face a major event. Since the future is uncertain, I won’t allow anyone to join now.”

“A major event…?” Zheng Yingxiong was startled. “Sister, if there’s a major event happening, then I need to join even more.”

“What?” Yan Zhichun felt this child in front of her was indeed somewhat special.

Zheng Yingxiong pulled a crumpled piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to Yan Zhichun. On it was clearly written a line of text:

“Zheng Yingxiong, go find ‘Karma.’ The path she has chosen is very likely to be correct. From now on, no matter what happens, absolutely do not choose to become a ‘Zodiac.’ Farewell.”

After reading it, Yan Zhichun slowly frowned, “Whose handwriting is this?”

“My older brother’s,” Zheng Yingxiong said. “He’s a ‘Man-Monkey’ here. Do you know him?”