Chapter 1012: Arrivals

"This is quite a novel idea," Qinglong remarked. "You were originally a group aiming to escape, but in the end, you've given yourselves up?"

"Exactly," Dilong replied. "I've spent more time in Zhongyan Zhidi than in the real world... You know, my nightmares aren't just about you killing me, but also about me actually returning to reality."

"For you, 'returning to reality' is also a nightmare?"

"Of course it is." Dilong looked down at her scaled hands. "Now, the idea of going back to the real world for a job, tapping away at a computer to earn some money, sounds appealing. But I've even forgotten the keyboard layout. I don't remember how to unlock a phone, or what my family looks like, or their phone numbers... I'm not even sure if it's the red light or the yellow light that lets you cross the street. How are we supposed to go back to the 'real world' and live like that...?"

"In that case..." Qinglong nodded. "It seems that Fanren have it a bit more difficult."

"In my era, people who served three years in prison came out completely out of touch with society because new things popped up every day," Dilong continued with a smile. "Trends, internet memes, juicy scandals, AI developments... Some things, you don't even need three years away; just three weeks offline and you're left behind. But I've been here for decades. So, what's the point of us going out?"

"So, you're comparing this place to a prison?"

"It's similar, but not exactly," Dilong said. "Even prisoners in jail can read newspapers and books, keeping up with things 'outside' on a regular basis. But we can't do that at all. Every day, I think about which building might have scrap wood for a fire, where I might find leftover cans, what effects someone's Huiying has, or how many more Dao I can earn from someone's game. I even ponder what kind of injury would let me kill myself right away."

After finishing, Dilong looked down at her suit again: "Our way of life now is completely different from before. Back then, if my clothes got dirty, I wouldn't wash them right away; I'd calculate how many days until the next Huanmie to refresh them. Now, every day when I return to my room, food and clean clothes drop from the sky. My job is to 'manage Shengxiao,' and the Shengxiao's job is to kill people. All of this is totally beyond anything in normal life... Qinglong, how on earth am I supposed to go back?"

"That makes me even more curious," Qinglong said, resting his chin in his hand. "If all of you think this way, then Taoyuan should be more suitable for you. After all, you'd be immortal there, and you're more familiar with life here. So why help Qixia keep carrying out his 'plan'?"

"Maybe it's because we see the Shenxing in him," Dilong said. "That might be the only reason."

"Shenxing...?" Qinglong had never heard the term and furrowed his brow slightly.

"In my memory, everything Qixia does is without any thought for himself," Dilong said with a shake of her head and a smile. "He's like those 'holy mothers' that everyone on the internet in our era used to curse, but he actually lives it out... To break the Taoyuan you all created and return everyone to the real world, he's step by step turned himself into what he is now. He's about to reach the Zhongdian, and while we might have some emotions or complaints from the long time, no one would ever betray him. That's our bottom line."

"Even if it means dying?" Qinglong asked again. "He's about to reach the Zhongdian—are you all willing to die before that?"

"You've forgotten?" Dilong laughed. "We've already lived past our natural deaths! We're just a bunch of lingering patients now. It doesn't matter who dies before the Zhongdian. It's like knowing that in many years, people will travel to the stars and reach countless new worlds, but my lifespan won't last that long, so I don't feel regretful about it."

Qinglong finally understood why Qixia's teammates were willing to become Shengxiao and have steadfastly maintained his elusive and seemingly ridiculous 'plan' for so many years.

Because these people couldn't get out.

Their lives were made up of two parts: a small part from the real world, and a large part from Taoyuan.

If they were to leave Taoyuan and return to the real world now... they would be even more miserable than they are.

So, at an age where they could naturally die, they chose to 'end' their lives and devote themselves to Qixia's Shenxing.

They discarded their names, appearances, and all other information about being 'human' to become Shengxiao, which is no different from being dead.

"It's just like Yangqun Xiaoying..." Qinglong said. "Because Qixia has Shenxing, you all follow him to uphold that Shenxing..."

"Decades are enough time to understand a person," Dilong said. "We understand Qixia, just as we understand you and Tianlong. If everyone in Zhongyan Zhidi voted, Qixia would definitely get the most votes. If he becomes a 'god,' we'll all be ruled by him. If he becomes a 'devil,' we're willing to be ghosts under him. So, it doesn't matter what's behind that red door... If he's willing to take us there, it means that after his consideration, that hellish place is more suitable for survival than here."

Qinglong fell silent for a moment after hearing this, then asked softly: "Is this what you Fanren call 'brainwashing'? Qixia used his silver tongue to recruit a group of loyal subordinates."

"You're wrong," Dilong said. "First, we're not 'subordinates.' Second, Qixia has never demanded anything from us. Even on the path of Shengxiao, he gave us countless opportunities to defect. All of us chose this road willingly, with no one forcing or threatening us. That's the biggest difference between him and you."

"Interesting," Qinglong said gravely. "I never imagined that the most moving words I'd hear in my life would come from a Shengxiao right beside me."

"Thank you," Dilong said with a smile. "If you like a butterfly, you might try to catch it and hold it in your hand until it can't move. But Qixia also likes butterflies; he chooses to bow his head and plant flowers until they bloom magnificently, drawing butterflies from everywhere."

Qinglong lowered his head again, gazing at the crowds starting to move below, and said softly: "Dilong, let's make a private bet."

"A bet?"

"In this game, who do you think will be the final winner?" Qinglong asked.

"I think..." Dilong looked down as well. She first glanced at Chutianqiu, then at Qixia, and said with a smile, "I think the final winner will be all the 'participants'."