Chapter 287: My Trial

The three of us sat with our heads down, not saying a word.

Everyone seemed unable to accept that this day had truly arrived.

Bai Yang Gege saw us all staying silent and instead stood up with a smile, saying:

"Actually, I don't want to leave either, but I've been here for so long... it's time to go out and see."

"Hu Shushu..." Hu Shushu said in a low voice, "I-I told you before... you should go if you need to... you don't have to worry about us... after all, we're just burdens..."

That remark was like a pen dipped in ink, deepening the sense of loss in our hearts.

"You're not burdens—on this Lieche, you're my family," Bai Yang Gege said. "I'm leaving soon, and before that, I don't want to hear any sad words."

"Hu Shushu..." Hu Shushu's voice was choked with emotion, "They say once you become 'Tian,' you can freely come and go here... but we don't know what the other side looks like or even their name... how am I supposed to find you? How will I know if you've really left or come back?! I..."

"Hu, I promise you," Bai Yang Gege said. "After I become 'Tian,' I'll definitely come back to see you. When I return here... I'll leave a mark for you. I'll draw sheep horns everywhere I go, to guide your way."

"Really...?" Hu Shushu asked.

"Really." Bai Yang Gege nodded. "If by then you've reached 'Diji,' I'll come visit your game in person and see how far you've come."

"Good!" Hu Shushu suddenly stood up. "Bai Yang Gege! We've got a deal... if I become 'Diji,' I won't kill anyone until I hear from you!"

"Ha!" Bai Yang Gege gave a bitter laugh. "Hu, is this punishing me or yourself?"

"I don't care!" Hu Shushu waved his hand. "We've made the deal! I'll keep waiting for your news!"

"Alright." Bai Yang Gege nodded.

After saying that, Bai Yang Gege turned to look at She Shushu.

He was silent for a moment, then pulled a thick notebook from his pocket and handed it to She Shushu.

"Bai Yang Gege... what's this...?" She Shushu asked.

"I owe you something," Bai Yang Gege said. "So I've paved a path for you too."

"What...?"

"I've written down a hundred challenges," Bai Yang Gege said. "If one day you can answer them all, I'll come back and find a way to make you a 'Di She.'"

"A hundred challenges..." She Shushu took the notebook and lowered his head silently. "Bai Yang Gege... you're not just comforting me, are you? With my mind... how could I ever solve the puzzles you've written?"

"It'll happen one day." He smiled at She Shushu. "This is our agreement—we've made it clear."

She Shushu gave a bitter smile: "Bai Yang Gege... you're about to leave, yet you're still thinking of us... Are you afraid we'll lose our drive to move forward...?"

Bai Yang Gege didn't answer; he just shook his head and said: "I need you two to promise me one more thing."

"What thing...?"

"Take care of Shu for me," Bai Yang Gege pointed at me. "Remember what I said— in this world, only we can discipline her. No one else is allowed to."

Hearing that, I couldn't hold back any longer.

Tears streamed down inside my mask, making me feel awful.

Bai Yang Gege was leaving.

The Bai Yang Gege who gave me food, a place to stay, never minded that I couldn't earn "Dao," and always stood up for me—he was leaving.

I would never see him again.

On this Lieche, no other "Shengxiao" would care for me like that.

"Bai Yang Gege..." I stood up, crying so hard I could barely breathe. "Bai Yang Gege... can you tell me your real name... can you tell me what you look like...?"

Hu Shushu and Hei Yang Shushu had ignored me before, and now Bai Yang Gege was leaving too.

He slowly walked over, gently patted my head, and pulled me into his arms.

"There, there, Shu... don't cry," he said softly. "You don't need to know what I look like or my name, because when I see you, I'll recognize you right away. By then, you'll find out I'm not this goat-like voice anymore."

"But I don't want you to go..." I clutched tightly to Bai Yang Gege's clothes, feeling that if I let go now, I'd have nothing left.

"You need to grow up," Bai Yang Gege said. "Without me... can you earn 'Dao'?"

"I... I can..." I sobbed continuously, my heart aching.

"Then stop crying—I'll give you something good." Bai Yang Gege reached into his pocket and pulled out two "Dao." These two looked old, their color a bit darkened from age. "Shu, these 'Dao' are my lucky charms, given to me by my two best brothers. I've carried them all these years, and now I'm passing them to you."

"Lucky charms...?" I carefully reached out and took the two "Dao," as if holding my whole world.

"Next time we meet, pay me back with interest—ten in total," Bai Yang Gege said with a laugh. "Then we can have a proper chat. Can you promise me that?"

"I can!" I nodded vigorously.

That night, we watched Bai Yang Gege cross the entire Lieche, and even Hei Yang Shushu, whom we hadn't seen in a long time, came out to pay his respects.

All the "Shengxiao" respectfully stepped out and stood on both sides of the corridor, welcoming the birth of a "Tianji."

Their expressions were complex, but I just kept crying.

We saw Bai Yang Gege vanish in a burst of golden light, completely leaving the Lieche.

Hu Shushu put his arm around me and said softly: "Little Shu... I'll reach 'Diji' as soon as I can... from now on, I'll bring you snacks every day... just wait a few more days..."

I buried my head in Hu Shushu's belly and cried even harder.

The three of us were left without a teacher, and I was without Bai Yang Gege.

After that, Hu Shushu, She Shushu, and I were assigned to different new teachers' rooms.

Looking at that large group of unfamiliar brothers and sisters, I felt very uneasy. I'm someone who can't earn "Dao" every day, so naturally, I wouldn't be favored by the new teacher.

In a place like this, only Bai Yang Gege never looked down on me.

I thought of Bai Yang Gege constantly, and the two "Dao" he left me were my only solace. I often stared at them in a daze.

Bai Yang Gege has been gone for over ten days now...

He must have returned to the real world by now. How wonderful... I'm... I'm happy for him.

Though I say I'm happy... I suddenly feel like crying for no reason.

Bai Yang Gege... what do you really look like, and what's your name?

When we meet again, can you let me hear your true voice?

By then, will Hu Shushu and She Shushu have become "Diji" too? I wonder if we'll still eat at the same table? Will Hu Shushu still give me chicken legs?

I was lost in thought when I saw two men and two women approaching from a distance.

Ahhh! Participants!

The first batch of participants after I perfected the rules!

I have guests here!

Bai Yang Gege! Just you wait!

I'll definitely earn ten "Dao" and won't let you down! Next time we meet, I'll surprise you for sure!

I'm Shu Hua... no, I'm Shu.

I'm Bai Yang Gege's most cherished student—I'm starting my "examination" now!