Chapter 1216: Unexpected

Hei Yang stared expressionlessly at the “participants” before him. These people seemed to have come up with some method to ensure everyone could gain “Hui Xiang.”

This gave him a perfect opportunity to get a general idea of who the key figures were and who were expendable pawns. After all, if they ended up in a real fight with Tian Niu, they would need both human shields and combatants.

“That’s about it,” Su Shan nodded to the crowd. “I can see ‘Bo Wen’ on all of you. As long as you remain steadfast, you’ll find that you can still achieve ‘Hui Xiang.’”

As she spoke, she felt a strange sensation in her eyes. Yan Zhi Chun also noticed—her pupils were now shimmering like dazzling gems.

Su Shan paused, and indeed, she began to see faint “Bo Wen” on everyone. What was happening? She had been telling them about the “Bo Wen,” but she had always felt like she was lying. Why could she see it now?

Ever since the “Ju Zhong” was destroyed, everyone’s abilities had started behaving erratically.

“Once you’re ready, let’s go,” Hei Yang said, turning and heading towards the room where Qing Long was located.

After a few steps, an old, worn door to his front right slowly creaked open. Qi Xia led a group out from within.

He and Hei Yang exchanged glances, their expressions complex, as if they wanted to say something but couldn’t in that moment.

Hei Yang bowed his head slightly in acknowledgment to Qi Xia, then continued straight ahead.

Qi Xia shifted his gaze from Hei Yang and scanned the crowd of “Ji Dao” members behind him. Sure enough, Qian Wu was among them.

“Qian Wu…”

“I’m here to complete the final task as a ‘Shuang Sheng Hua,’” Qian Wu said, lighting a cigarette and offering the remaining half-pack to Officer Li.

“Alright,” Qi Xia nodded. “Then let Qing Long enjoy what’s coming.”

After speaking, Qi Xia looked again at the people behind Qian Wu, his eyes quickly settling on the strange old man. It was the first time in a long while that Qi Xia froze in place.

Everything had proceeded according to plan, yet this tightly woven scheme seemed to have a small but significant flaw.

What a ridiculous coincidence—this old man, whom he had personally killed, turned out to be a “Ji Dao.”

A man he was supposed to kill, yet his subconscious had somehow saved.

Would this flaw lead to unforeseeable consequences? If there was any risk, he wouldn’t hesitate to kill the old man right now in front of all the “Ji Dao.”

Even if everyone else’s actions were steered by various destinies towards a set path, this old man was the exception.

He might be the only variable in this entire plan.

But if he killed him now… how would he keep the other “Ji Dao” committed to their fate?

“Hold on…” Qi Xia furrowed his brow, thinking it over. Considering what had happened with Chen Jun Nan earlier, if the old man had been reborn now, his memories were likely fragmented.

He probably didn’t remember what he had dug up…

So, for the time being, things were safe.

“Old Qi, what are you looking at?” Chen Jun Nan asked.

“I’m looking at our chances of victory,” Qi Xia replied. “Hopefully, nothing goes wrong.”

With that, Qi Xia stepped forward, deliberately positioning himself in front of the old man.

The old man just glanced at Qi Xia casually, noticing nothing amiss, and the group passed by him quickly. A few familiar faces exchanged looks with Qi Xia, but only Qian Wu stayed behind.

After greeting Zhou Mo and the others, Qian Wu stood beside Qi Xia, waiting for something.

Once the crowd dispersed, Qi Xia turned his head and saw the illusory figure of Bai Yang standing by the door opposite.

The figure said nothing, just watched him quietly.

Combined with the unexpected appearance of the old man, a sense of unease began to spread in Qi Xia’s heart.

“The thing I hate most in my life is anything that goes beyond my expectations…”

“Mumbling about what, Old Qi?” Chen Jun Nan asked from behind.

“Chen Jun Nan…”

“What’s up?”

“Am I going crazy?” Qi Xia asked.

Chen Jun Nan turned to Qiao Jia Jing beside him, and the two weren’t sure how to answer.

Did he really think he was normal?

“Hey… uh… how presumptuous,” Chen Jun Nan said with a laugh. “Old Qi, do you feel something’s off about yourself?”

“I keep seeing things that shouldn’t be there,” Qi Xia replied.

“You’re just sick,” Chen Jun Nan waved it off. “I think you should sit down somewhere. Did you overexert yourself?”

Qi Xia frowned slightly, unable to find any logic in Chen Jun Nan’s words. “What does that have to do with overexertion?”

“Getting sick is all about exertion,” Chen Jun Nan replied.

The atmosphere fell silent for a few seconds.

“Uh…” Qiao Jia Jing scratched his head. “Jun Nan, I think we’re hearing different versions here…”

“Old Qiao, say less.”

“Oh.”

Qi Xia stroked his chin, then glanced at the illusion of Bai Yang in front of him. He felt like he was on the brink of losing his mind—the sightings of Bai Yang were becoming more frequent.

“You know, I think you’re right,” Qi Xia said to Chen Jun Nan.

“Of course,” Chen Jun Nan nodded. “I’m always right.”

“I’m really not fit for action right now,” Qi Xia said, turning to Qian Wu. “The fighting is up to you. Just do as we agreed.”

“Got it.”

“Huh?” Qiao Jia Jing was stunned. “As we agreed?”

Qi Xia took a deep breath and said, “I’ll stay here and wait. This isn’t the time for me to move. I have to make sure no other surprises happen.”

“What about us…?”

“You can choose to stay or do as you like,” Qi Xia said. “As for the fighting, if you want to take down Qing Long, go with Qian Wu.”

“Take down Qing Long…” Qiao Jia Jing turned to Qian Wu. “So, if I go with you, I can fight Qing Long?”

“Yes,” Qian Wu replied.

“Qing Long’s the big boss on this ride, right? Once he’s down, everything’s over?”

“Right,” Qi Xia nodded. “For you all, that would end it. I still have my own tasks. Fist, remember those two words I mentioned for the ‘trick’?”

“I remember,” Qiao Jia Jing nodded, tapping his temple. “Deceiver, I’ve got a good memory. I need it for my grudges and gratitude.”

“Good…” Qi Xia paused. “You’ve been through a lot all this time.”

“No worries,” Qiao Jia Jing laughed. “I’ve been a guest here for so long, and now I finally get to spar with the top dog. I couldn’t ask for more. Deceiver, you just rest here. By the time you wake up, Qing Long will be done for.”