Chapter 1256: Parting of Ways

"Can't laugh...?"

The three of them looked at Di Shu, their expressions equally troubled.

Di Shu sighed and said gravely, "Haven't any of you realized that I'm completely unrelated to this 'Zao Fan'?"

"What...?"

"I've been deceiving all of you leaders," Di Shu said. "There's no need to treat me as a friend anymore."

"Deceiving...?" Chu Tianqiu paused. "What did you deceive us about?"

"I'm not Qi Xia's teammate from any period..." Di Shu murmured. "I'm not even his student or friend. Tian Long Qing Long never wronged me, and I don't hate them. Everyone has their own reasons to 'Zao Fan,' and even those without reasons have been pulled in by you all for various causes... But not me. Qi Xia just happened to pass by my game area and left me three golden kumquats."

The group watched Di Shu, feeling a sense of sadness.

"I'm probably the most out of place among us, right?" Di Shu gave a bitter smile. "To put it bluntly, I jumped into this torrent on my own. Even without Qi Xia, I would have gone after Zhang Xia or Li Xia—anyway, I was determined to 'Zao Fan'."

"I still feel a bit confused," Chu Dao said. "In that case, our goals are ultimately the same. You want to rebel, and we do too. So where does this idea of deceiving us come from?"

Di Shu turned his head to glance at the two "Tian Ji" in the distance, his expression still cold.

"My goal has always been just one thing: to kill Tian Shu," he said quietly. "When I learned that someone was planning a 'Zao Fan,' I was more eager than anyone else because I know how to stir things up. As long as I joined this team and spun some lies about 'killing Tian Shu being the top priority,' people would willingly risk their lives for me. For that purpose, I even spent time looking into Bai Yang's story."

"So, you had no prior connections with them...?" Chu Tianqiu asked again.

"Not entirely. One of the 'Zao Fan' members happened to be my former teammate, but we often argued, so our relationship wasn't great." Di Shu sighed. "From the moment I joined this team, I thought about it—I wouldn't mind betraying everyone at the final moment. Regardless of whether this 'Zao Fan' plan succeeds or fails, I'll always come out safe. If I can kill Tian Shu, that's ideal; if not, I'll wait for the next opportunity."

"So what?" Chu Tianqiu said with a shake of his head and a smile. "The opportunity is right here now. Even if you make up some lies on the spot to egg us on, I'll just pretend all your earlier words were a joke."

"No, it's precisely because you're all like this that I don't want to play anymore." Di Shu said. "I've been lying the whole time, while you've all been telling the truth, and it's really wearing me down. Ever since I joined this 'Zao Fan' plan, every troublesome person I've met has opened up to me completely. I'm exhausted. All I've been doing is stirring the pot..."

The three of them seemed to understand what Di Shu meant, but in this context, it felt a bit too dangerous.

"So from now on... I'll handle my own business without troubling any of you," Di Shu said. "All the 'Sheng Xiao' I met in that 'Zao Fan' room were decent. This time, I'll show some mercy and not betray them. This is my personal grudge with Tian Shu—I'll settle it myself."

"You're quite the man," Zhang Shan said. "But I don't get it—why do you keep emphasizing that you're a 'wall grass'?"

"Usually, ignorant people like to show off their knowledge, and poor people like to flaunt their wealth," Di Shu replied. "What people talk about all the time might be what they lack the most. From the first time I called myself a 'wall grass,' it was to remind myself not to get too emotionally involved with those 'Sheng Xiao,' but I failed."

The three of them fell silent after hearing that. They hadn't known Di Shu for long, but they could tell he was a good person. Though his words were sharp, when Zhang Shan and Qiao Jijin were connecting through the "Shuang Sheng Hua," only Di Shu had used his own life to hold the line.

Qiao Jijin and Zhang Shan naturally needed to conserve their strength to head to the "Che Tou," but in this environment, once they parted ways, it would be forever.

"Alright." Chu Tianqiu was silent for a few seconds before nodding. "I don't think you're just trying to play the hero. I'll respect your decision."

Qiao Jijin also nodded. "I understand that feeling. Your own enemy... if you can't take them down with your own hands, it always leaves you feeling empty inside."

"That's exactly it." Di Shu responded with a serious expression. "If any of you step in and kill Tian Shu for me, my entire journey would lose its meaning."

Zhang Shan shrugged helplessly. "Well then, you better stay focused, kid. Remember to aim for his chin."

Di Shu reached up to straighten the tie on his chest. "I will. Goodbye, leaders. The road is wide—we'll part ways here."

With that, he went off alone, heading toward the two "Tian Ji" in the distance.

"Damn, are we really not going to help him?" Zhang Shan stared at Di Shu's retreating figure. "Earlier, a few 'Di Ji' could gang up on him, and now it's two 'Tian Ji'."

"Everyone has their own choices," Chu Dao said. "He's already made up his mind. Even if he dies there, at least he'll die doing what he truly wants."

"Ah..." Zhang Shan sighed.

"Besides, we all have our own burdens," Chu Tianqiu continued. "I'm carrying the expectations of everyone in 'Tian Tang Kou,' and you..."

Zhang Shan could only look downcast upon hearing that. He knew the expectations on him were even greater than those of "Tian Tang Kou."

"...So we can't afford to take more risks in this situation." Chu Tianqiu shook his head. "Let's leave it to him."

Qiao Jijin wasn't listening to their conversation; he just glanced at the door nearby and then asked, "So, should we find a place to lie low for a bit?"

Chu Tianqiu looked at the door after hearing that. Faint voices of conversation came from inside, indicating that there were still "Sheng Xiao" in the room.

"There will probably be more 'Tian Ji' showing up," Chu Dao said. "Di Shu mentioned 'counterpart kills,' even though he knows it's fake, not all the 'Zao Fan Sheng Xiao' might realize that. The best scenario is for all the 'Tian Ji' to be tied up by the 'Zao Fan Sheng Xiao,' so the three of us can head straight to the 'Che Tou'."

"Using 'Di Ji' to block 'Tian Ji'—no matter how you look at it, that's a ridiculous tactic..." Zhang Shan sighed. "But let's hope it works."

Qiao Jijin casually pushed the door open a little. It wasn't locked, and a girl's voice came from inside:

"...Guess what Tutu said to me in the end? She said the person she likes has always been the neighbor, Ren Zhu! Oh my god, I was so mad. If you don't like someone, just say it earlier!"

"Ah? Is that really what she said? That's way too much..."

The voices suddenly stopped as the two "Sheng Xiao" inside stared blankly at the doorway.