"Witnessing the end..."
In that case, the trigger for Chu Tianqiu’s {Reverberation} is both stringent and consistent. First and foremost, he must exercise immense restraint, avoiding participation in any games for the entirety of the ten days, waiting patiently until the arrival of the {Final Day}. During this time, no matter how many of his companions perish, he must remain utterly indifferent.
Simultaneously, he must evade the relentless pursuit of {Judgment’s Domain}, employing every conceivable method to ensure his survival. In the end, he witnesses the annihilation of all things and vanishes alongside {End Point}.
"You really scared me yesterday," Yun Yao said. "Had you struck with that brick, you would have shattered any remaining hope for the common people of {End Point} to escape."
"Is that so..." Qi Xia's perplexity was far from alleviated. If what Yun Yao said about Chu Tianqiu was true, then he must be an extraordinary individual. Having been here for two years, at least 730 days, he has experienced no fewer than seventy-three cycles. Each time, he managed to survive and retain his memories.
With such calculated composure and resourcefulness, why would he have revealed such a glaring flaw yesterday? If Qi Xia had been from Judgment’s Domain, Chu Tianqiu would already be dead.
"I truly underestimated you..." Qi Xia whispered under his breath.
The group stopped by the roadside for a brief rest before making their way to the next game site.
Qi Xia turned to glance at him, his expression betraying a hint of awkwardness. "Uh... maybe find somewhere else," he said, gesturing toward the others. "There are girls here."
"Of course, of course." Qiao Jiajin nodded and immediately ducked into a nearby alley, leaving the remaining three to wait in place.
As Qi Xia pondered how he might perfectly replicate the events of the previous cycle to once again acquire his own {Reverberation}, he suddenly spotted the three men.
Green hair, blonde hair, and a bald head.
Jiang Ruoxue wasn’t with them; he had no idea where she was or what role she was playing.
As the three men drew nearer, Qi Xia’s expression shifted. The instant his gaze landed on the bald man’s face, he was flooded with memories of the moment when he and Ole Lu were killed. Pain flared in several spots on his body—his shoulder, his heart, his head.
This man had not only ruthlessly killed Ole Lu, but had also inflicted severe injuries on him.
Yun Yao observed Qi Xia’s troubled expression and asked, "What’s wrong? Are those men familiar to you?"
The bald man, not far away, nudged the green-haired man with his elbow. "A'Mu, we got company."
A'Mu flashed a slight smile, strolling straight up to the three of them. He spoke with a grin, "Friends! My friends!"
"Friends?" Yun Yao chuckled, "And who might you be?"
"I'm just a poor, unlucky passerby," A'Mu replied, shaking his head in resignation. "Apologies, but do any of you happen to have any {Dào}? We accidentally lost all of ours just now..."
While the two were talking, Qi Xia subtly scanned his surroundings.
Unfortunately, the area was too open. Without any weapons at hand and no nearby objects to use, how could he possibly take down these three people? This was truly the epitome of {a dragon compelled to fight on land shall face destitution}.
"Don't worry, we're not bad guys," A'Mu said, a smirk on his face. "You two ladies look stunning. How about we sit down and chat? Our base is pretty close to here." He took slow, deliberate steps forward and suddenly grabbed Yun Yao's soft, tender hand. "Beautiful, I, A'Mu, am known for being quite loyal. If you don't mind, we could get to know each other."
At the same time, the bald man reached out to touch Tian Tian's arm.
Tian Tian was used to this kind of situation and didn't even bother to move away.
"Sure, I can lend you a few {Dào}," Yun Yao said, pulling her hand back. With a nod, she turned and began rummaging through her purse. "It’s difficult to survive in a place ; helping each other is a must."
Tian Tian was visibly confused, her eyes fixed on Yun Yao with a questioning expression.
Qi Xia was lost in contemplation, wondering how best to handle the situation, when Yun Yao suddenly pulled out a bottle of pepper spray from her purse, and sprayed it into A’Mu’s face.
"AGHHH AHHH!" A'Mu never expected that the sweet-looking girl in front of him would suddenly make a move. He unknowingly inhaled the odd mist and felt an intense burning in his nose, followed by a relentless stream of sneezes and tears.
"Do you take me for a three-year-old?" Yun Yao swung her purse, hitting him over the head, then followed up with a kick, shouting, "You lost the {Dào} on your own, so why should I pick up the tab? And now you’re arrogantly asking to get to know me. Do you have any idea who I am?!"
Tian Tian stood frozen, watching the scene, momentarily unsure of what to do.
Qi Xia made a swift decision, delivering a powerful kick that knocked A'Mu to the ground. Without hesitation, he grabbed Yun Yao and Tian Tian, saying, "We can't afford to get entangled, run!"
He was aware that the others were all armed with knives, and if things got serious, injuries would be inevitable.
"Where do you think you’re going?!" The blond guy reacted instantly, pulling a folding knife from his pocket.
Reacting just as fast, the bald man took up a position behind them, blocking the path.
Qi Xia extended his arm to shield Yun Yao and Tian Tian behind him, his peripheral vision flickering between the two enemies.
Tian Tian was accustomed to such scenes. Though she was nervous, she still picked up a small stone from the ground and held it tightly in her hand. The most troublesome part of the situation was that they couldn’t afford to get injured, for if they did, they wouldn’t be able to treat the wounds, and the days ahead would mean certain death.
"Do you have any more sharp tools in your bag?" Qi Xia whispered to Yun Yao.
"Not really, just an ear pick and a nail clipper..." Yun Yao replied, "Will those work?"
"The ear pick will do," Qi Xia said, "It’s enough to ruin an eye."
A silent nod from Yun Yao preceded her quick and discreet motion, as she extended a small iron rod to Qi Xia. She seemed a bit flustered, never imagining that the people she had provoked were such dangerous individuals.
After taking the ear pick, Qi Xia realized he had been overly optimistic. Blinding a person wasn’t a difficult task, but the reach of the ear pick was very {limited}. By the time he manages to insert it into their eye, the enemy can also plunge their blade into his body.
"Fist...what the hell are you doing?!?!" Qi Xia gritted his teeth and shouted.
"First, break them, then take the {Dào}!" A'Mu screamed, his hand over his eyes. "Cut their tendons and leave them to die!" He then opened his swollen eyes, trembling as he reached for a folding knife in his pocket. But before he could move forward, a hand adorned with tattoos softly grasped his wrist.
"Hey, leng-zai, hold on," the tattooed figure said. "Let me explain."
A'Mu’s eyes widened in shock as he spun around. "Who are you?!"
"Relax now, there’s no need to get so tense; I’m just a {Little Fist}," the man said, his smile subtle. He then raised his head and gestured to the other two. "Put the knives down and hear me out."
A'Mu felt a wave of unease. There was a palpable, terrifying presence in the man's smile.