Chapter 1290: The Madhouse

Di Niu said, "Their mission has nothing to do with me. Qi Xia has given me the highest command authority, so I can only devise strategies based on my needs."

Chen Jun Nan nodded after listening. "My thoughts are no different from Lao Qi's... Regardless of whether we win or lose this time, those Sheng Xiao won't be able to get out anyway."

After speaking, he turned to Qin Ding Dong. "Dong Jie... you shouldn't keep overthinking things. The more you dwell on it, the more exhausted you'll feel. Since we're here, let's just focus on handling what's in front of us."

Qin Ding Dong lowered her head slowly after hearing this. "Chen Jun Nan, the Men in the Gongzuo Qu has disappeared, which means we have no way to reach other places. The Men in the Mian Shi Qu has vanished too, meaning even if we could resurrect there, we still couldn't get to the Zou Lang..."

"Dong Jie..." Chen Jun Nan interrupted her, "You're worrying too much. Even if someone really could resurrect outside or in the Mian Shi Fang Jian... that person wouldn't be the you of right now."

"I..."

"I'm sticking to what I said before," Chen Jun Nan continued. "I believe in Lao Qi. Even if you try everything to stop me next, I'll still break down the doors here. Whatever doubt you have toward Lao Qi, I have that much faith in him."

Qin Ding Dong lowered her head and pondered her final stance.

"I've known Lao Qi for so long..." Chen Jun Nan sighed deeply, "Everything he's done has never been for himself. If we don't help him... that kid will be all alone."

"So... do you understand?" Qi Xia turned to an empty spot and asked softly.

The illusion of Bai Yang paused but didn't speak.

Qi Xia stared at the empty spot for a moment before adding, "Take them directly there. You have no other choice now... Maybe you once..."

The illusion of Bai Yang smirked at the sight, as if looking at a complete madman. "How pathetic. You've been muttering to that empty spot since earlier. What, is there a second me there?"

"A second you...?" Qi Xia hesitated, then looked at Bai Yang and shook his head. "No... that's impossible... There's only the two of us here..."

After saying that, Qi Xia realized his words were off and lowered his head to correct himself. "There's only me here."

"So you really were talking to the empty spot," Bai Yang nodded. "In a room with only you, you've managed a three-person conversation. I suspect you won't make it to the end. Your mental state now is no different from the Yuan Zhu Min, or from all the lunatics I've seen in the Zhong Yan Zhi Di. This is the lowest level of madness—I thought you'd already passed this stage."

"Of course I'm not as calm as you... Being too calm is what led to my failure..." Qi Xia lifted his grayish-white eyes, now streaked with blood red, and looked at Bai Yang. "Bai Yang, can you touch me?"

"Oh...?" Bai Yang frowned slightly. "What do you think?"

"I guess you can't." Qi Xia slowly stood up. "That's really troublesome... I need to get hurt right now."

Qi Xia's words left Bai Yang a bit puzzled. "Getting hurt—will that make you more clear-headed?"

"Clear-headed...? I don't need to be clear-headed right now." Qi Xia shook his head. "But I need to cover myself in wounds. All the plans have to be executed step by step, and even these scars will become part of the plan."

He turned around, lifted the chair behind him with both hands over his head, and smashed it violently to the ground.

The chair shattered with a loud crash, and a few fragments passed through Bai Yang's body, scattering on the floor.

Qi Xia bent down, picked up a broken chair leg, and said softly, "Now that Lou Yi is freed, Tian Ji is perishing. All these rabble oppressing the Zhong Yan Zhi Di will leave only one person standing before dawn."

With that, he brought the chair leg to his forehead and struck it hard. Shards flew, and blood began to seep from his forehead.

Bai Yang, standing nearby, furrowed his brow as blood trickled from his own forehead at the same time.

Not far away, the Lou Yi were frantically searching for traces of Tian Ji. After scouring the corridor where Tian Ji was, they left a unit behind to launch a full assault on the long-haired Tian Ji and Tian Hou.

The rest of the Lou Yi turned their attention to the hallway of the Lie Che, where deep inside lay a mass of Yan Qiu—uncertain whether they were Dao or Tian Ji.

Then, like a tide, the grayish-white figures of the Lou Yi surged through the hallway.

Qi Xia wiped the blood from his forehead and picked up a second chair leg.

He paused for a moment and said, "The Men of the Lie Che to the outside world are all destroyed, never to be entered or exited again. Everyone will be trapped in place. Without the template of any Men, even Qiao Wu and Zan Pin won't be able to perfectly replicate. Before dawn, the only door leading outside will be the last one."

He extended his arm and smashed the chair leg against it with force, breaking it and causing intense pain that made him wince slightly.

Bai Yang slowly reached up to cover his own arm, watching Qi Xia in silence.

He felt things were starting to spiral out of control, but as the mastermind of this operation, Qi Xia seemed oblivious to the issue.

Di Niu and Chen Jun Nan split up on either side, wrecking all the Men. Qin Ding Dong had some reservations at first, but now that there was no turning back, she hesitated briefly before joining in, helping Jin Yuan Xun destroy the Men.

Perhaps it wasn't that she truly believed in Qi Xia, but rather in Chen Jun Nan.

Qi Xia picked up a third chair leg, thought for a moment, and said, "Qing Long will be held back by the strongest forces of the Zhong Yan Zhi Di. These two represent the fury of countless people; they'll drive Qing Long into his final desperate corner. Even if Qing Long somehow survives, Huo Shui will cross mountains and overcome all spatial barriers to reach him and end the battle once and for all."

With that, he gripped the chair leg in reverse and struck his chest, shattering it. Both Qi Xia and Bai Yang coughed.

"Hold on..." Bai Yang clutched his chest, his brows knitting tightly. "Are you really clear-headed right now...?"

Qi Xia didn't respond, just let out a deep sigh.

In the vast space of the train's cab, Zhang Shan and Qiao Jia Jin attacked Qing Long relentlessly from both sides. Although Qing Long was fully focused, these two were no ordinary opponents—every one of their strikes was cunning and precise.

They didn't understand why Qing Long still hadn't unleashed "Hui Xiang," but they knew their opportunity was limited. They had to use this time to unleash all their killing moves and subdue Qing Long as quickly as possible.