Chapter 561: My Insignificance

In this place, the me here and the me outside… who is the *fùzhì pǐn*?

Before I figure out a strategy, I have to clarify this fundamental logical issue.

Although I call them *fùzhì pǐn*, at the root of it, we are identical in every way, even down to our memories, so who is the real one, and who is the fake?

I can't find any difference between myself and them, because the "true me" disappeared seventy years ago when everyone died for the first time. Since then, I've been living in this strange state, persisting endlessly.

Now, both "me" and "me" believe we are the real one, but few people can truly understand this problem, since not many grasp the concept of *shēng shēng bù xī*.

Perhaps there's only one way to resolve this.

As long as one side dies, the other must be the real one.

Since the "me" outside hasn't figured this out, it's up to the "me" inside to make the choice.

Assuming all these deductions are correct, then if one "me" can turn to ash and never rebirth in the *zhōng yān zhī dì*, all the tragedies will end right here.

In that case, my memories will only remain outside the *zhōng yān zhī dì*, and there won't be anyone named Xu Liunian here anymore.

I'm not smart enough to find a way to free everyone or to destroy this place.

But I have found a way to free myself.

That way, countless "me"s will think they once escaped.

Seventy years, twenty-five thousand five hundred days, more than two thousand five hundred deaths.

Maybe those two thousand five hundred "me"s are all living happily now?

I'm the only one who's always been left behind. Since I can't find the "source" of this, I'll just plug up the "bottom."

I crushed the empty beer can in my hand, fully deciding on my tactic.

No matter whether this succeeds or not, I'm prepared to vanish completely in the *zhōng yān zhī dì*.

I might be the first *cān yù zhě* to actively disappear from the entire *zhōng yān zhī dì*, but before I leave, I'll do everything I can to pave the way for those who come after.

I want Qi Xia to fully create a living Yu Nian'an.

A Yu Nian'an who truly matches what he has in mind.

As long as Yu Nian'an is by Qi Xia's side, he will be unstoppable. He'll use his subconscious to send everyone out, then realize what I've realized, and lead everyone to turn to ash.

Yes, this is my own path.

That way, everyone can count as having "escaped," right?

It's just that this path I've chosen is very tragic for me. It doesn't have much direct connection to me; instead, it all depends on *shēng shēng bù xī*. If Qi Xia doesn't agree, I'll fail completely.

Qing Long wants to use *shēng shēng bù xī* to manage this place perfectly, Tian Long and Chu Tianqiu want to use it to become "gods," and I'm a bit more ambitious—I actually dare to dream of using *shēng shēng bù xī* to copy everyone to the outside.

That day, when I saw Zhang Chenze going to find Chu Tianqiu, I pretended to pass by the door. Maybe even heaven was helping me.

I happened to overhear the words "Wen Qiaoyun."

Let me venture a bold guess: Is it possible that Zhang Chenze had just seen Wen Qiaoyun, who had turned into a *diān rén*, and felt this was unfair to her, so she wanted to ask Chu Tianqiu about it?

If I'm right, she probably wants to know how, as a *diān rén*, she can turn back into a *liáng rén*, and Chu Tianqiu is very likely to mention me.

When she came out, I quickly tricked her into revealing her purpose with just a few words.

"I'm Xu Liunian. Are you looking for me?"

"I... how did you know?"

Zhang Chenze's expression was exactly as I predicted. How should I describe this feeling?

I can only say that in the *zhōng yān zhī dì*, there's a food chain of its own. Qi Xia and Chu Tianqiu can effortlessly manipulate me, and I can deceive others with just one sentence.

I told Zhang Chenze that we need to create a new "Wen Qiaoyun," and no matter what she looks like or what memories she has, as long as she's stronger than Qi Xia, she will be Wen Qiaoyun.

Zhang Chenze is Qi Xia's teammate; she's upright and easy to gain Qi Xia's trust, so having her handle this would be more successful than if I did it myself.

Besides, how could Qing Long assign such a tricky task to just me alone?

So I took another gamble. I told Zhang Chenze that I'd already arranged things on the *shēng xiào* side, and now we just need one last spark. If they can add that spark, this has a high chance of succeeding.

Looking at her expression, I knew she was wavering.

This is right. Qing Long needs helpers, and so do I.

The person with the least preserved memories has to stay at the bottom of the food chain.

As I said, even heaven is helping me.

As I was packing my things to go find Qi Xia, I happened to see Xiao Xiao and Jiang Ruoxue from the window. By rights, *jí dào* and *tiān táng kǒu* are mortal enemies, so if they're meeting, something must be up.

I leaned against the door and overheard their conversation.

The *tiān mǎ shí kè* is coming.

No, it's more like my *dōng fēng* is coming. As an ordinary person, to make my move amid these towering waves, I can only rely on the *dōng fēng*.

And this *tiān mǎ shí kè* will be my best opportunity to shine.

Qi Xia, being someone skilled in intellect, absolutely couldn't survive a two-hour chase. Could he possibly think that I'd be the one to save him in his moment of crisis?

I immediately left *tiān táng kǒu* and headed straight to the city's edge. To save Qi Xia during the *tiān mǎ shí kè*, I need my taxi.

This taxi is both our beginning and our end. I'll lay down all my "roads," then make a heroic sacrifice in this cycle.

I absolutely won't tell Qi Xia that I'm a *cān yù zhě*. I'll tell him "I come from hell."

Apart from that one truth, I might say a lot of lies.

As the saying goes, "When a person is about to die, their words are good," but I'm the opposite.

Qi Xia, I so hope you don't believe a word of what I'm about to say, but you have to.

Even if I've been lying to you all along, I have no ill intent.

My ultimate goal is for everyone to escape, even if it's by this strangest method of living outside.

I don't want to be a pawn anymore; I just want to be myself.

But will you remember my name?

I'm not anyone else; I'm not a pawn.

Qi Xia, if one day I completely disappear, you have to remember me.

My name is Xu Liunian.

I'm about to start lying to you.