Chapter 1281: Another Path

Chapter 1281: Another Path

When Qiao Jiajin, Zhang Shan, and Chu Tianqiu arrived at the front of the train, they discovered that two more passages extended from both sides of the corridor, but everything was now in complete chaos.

From the right side facing the door, there came many sounds of fighting, as if people were battling in every room.

On the left side, there was a large pile of corpses, and Chu Tianqiu spotted Lao Lv among them at first glance.

He stepped forward and saw that Tong Yi was holding Lao Lv in her arms, gently singing a tune in the Shanghai dialect. But Lao Lv's body was completely colorless, and he could no longer hear.

Chu Tianqiu paused:“Tong Yi…”

“Shh…” Tong Yi stopped singing and raised a finger to her lips. “Keep it down.”

Seeing Tong Yi's red eyes and tear-streaked face, Chu Tianqiu swallowed all his words.

Naturally, he had countless questions in his heart. He didn't understand why Lao Lv was on the “train,” or why he had died in battle.

What were his last wishes?

Had his enmity been avenged?

“He shouldn't have died here…” Chu Tianqiu said.

Tong Yi lowered her head again and said with a bitter smile: “Chu Tianqiu… good child, your enormous Shan Ye has always been there. The Mu Shen is protecting you.”

“Mu Shen… will it lead us to victory?” Chu Tianqiu asked.

Tong Yi shook her head and said softly: “The Mu Shen will lead us to the destined ending.”

After hearing this, Chu Tianqiu nodded meaningfully and glanced at the nearby people.

Here, there were not only corpses of “participants,” but also of Sheng Xiao. The remaining people standing were all injured, looking as though they had endured a fierce battle.

“Tong Yi, your battle is over,” Chu Tianqiu said. “And ours is about to begin.”

“Go ahead… good child…” Tong Yi said, holding Lao Lv's body with a calm expression. “I see the Shan Ye shining brightly; it's guiding us to the final direction.”

Chu Tianqiu turned back to look at Zhang Shan and Qiao Jiajin. The two were standing at the door of the Qing Long room with their eyes closed, as if bracing for an upcoming storm.

They seemed to sense Chu Tianqiu's gaze and turned to look at him.

“Let's go,” Chu Tianqiu said. “I'll follow shortly.”

Zhang Shan nodded, reached out to push open the door, and Qiao Jiajin followed closely behind. The two entered Qing Long's room.

Chu Tianqiu took a deep breath. At this moment, he didn't feel nervous; his heart was unprecedentedly calm.

“Tong Yi, have you seen Qi Xia?” Chu Tianqiu asked.

“Qi Xia… no,” Tong Yi shook her head. “Child, you can wait here; the Mu Shen will guide him here—no, the Mu Shen will guide all who are meant to come.”

Qing Long rested his chin in his hand, quietly watching the two people who had opened his door and entered.

“Oh…?” He paused, then slowly furrowed his brows. These two were the people who had appeared in his illusion.

In that damn illusion, he had been locked in a bitter battle with them, and afterward, his “belief” had completely collapsed.

How absurd was that?

Fate had tilted the scales in his favor countless times; how could it reverse at the final moment?

He slightly moved his ears and indeed heard waves of “echoes.”

Now, even the long-vanished Ling Wen had returned; everything was tilting back in his favor.

“Tian Xing Jian, Po Wan Fa, and Shuang Sheng Hua… Ha.” Qing Long chuckled lightly. “It seems you've surpassed the ‘heaven level,’ which is quite good strength.”

“What are you babbling about?” Zhang Shan flexed his muscles. “Are we going straight at it, or do you want to choose a venue?”

After hearing this, Qing Long slowly stood up and stared at the two, saying: “What if you can't win?”

“Can't win?” Zhang Shan raised an eyebrow. “Then we'll just fight; if we can't win, we'll die.”

“Huh?” Qiao Jiajin was stunned. “Big guy, are you always this straightforward?”

“What else can I do?”

Qing Long shook his head after hearing this: “How about I give you another path?”

“Another path?” Zhang Shan looked at Qing Long with some suspicion. “You're at the end of your rope now; what path can you give us?”

“Ha…”

Qing Long ignored them and quietly walked to another door in the room.

Qiao Jiajin and Zhang Shan glanced at each other and didn't act rashly; they just quietly watched him.

Qing Long extended his hand and gently placed his palm on the door, followed by a slight tremor. The door shook off dust and opened in front of the three.

On the other side of the door was a huge, empty room. The scene that met their eyes was immaculately white. In the central square stood an unassuming tree, and in the distance, there were stairs leading upward.

A person who looked exactly like Qing Long was sitting on the throne at the top of the stairs. He was sideways, resting his cheek on his hand, with his eyes slightly closed, looking composed.

“Look…” Qing Long said with a smile, pointing to the person on the throne. “This is the person I've always been protecting… Tian Long.”

Upon hearing this name, Zhang Shan and Qiao Jiajin instantly frowned; the situation seemed to exceed their expectations.

“This door hasn't been opened in my memory for decades,” Qing Long said. “I absolutely won't let anyone approach Tian Long… After all, he represents the pinnacle of the entire Tao Yuan. If something happens to him, the whole Tao Yuan will change, so I have to protect him with my life…”

After hearing this, Qiao Jiajin paused: “But you've opened the door now.”

“Yes…” Qing Long nodded. “If it were people without any strength coming in, I wouldn't choose to open this door. If Tian Long died at their hands, it would be too suspicious. But you two are different; you really have the ability to kill Tian Long.”

Neither of them responded, as Qing Long's words were full of traps no matter how you listened.

“So even if Tian Long is killed by you, the people below will think it's ‘normal.’” Qing Long laughed maniacally. “Do you want to try…?”

After hearing this, Zhang Shan swallowed slightly. Although Qing Long seemed to be proposing some kind of cooperation, he felt the situation was strangely indescribable.

“Try… killing Tian Long?” he asked.

“That's right!” Qing Long nodded and stepped forward into the door. “You might not succeed in killing me, but killing Tian Long will succeed. You can steadily take his head; I'll even help you.”

Zhang Shan thought Qing Long was crazier than he imagined.

“Come in quickly!” Qing Long said. “Don't stay outside… Tian Long is right there!”

Zhang Shan thought for a moment and then stepped into the room. No matter what, the battlefield inside was more suitable for fighting than this small room.

Qiao Jiajin followed after a two-second silence.

“Look, he has no ability to resist at all!” Qing Long laughed. “If you're really not at ease, you can even kill Qing Long first and then challenge me; I'll wait right here! Secure one and strive for two, right?”