Chapter 859: Deducing Cause from Effect

“What? Dangerous?” She looked at me curiously. “Are you going to confess to me?”

“I!” I sighed helplessly and continued, “Haven't you always wanted to know what I'm doing? Now I'll tell you.”

“Oh…?” She pulled over a chair and sat down, then looked at me with eager anticipation. “Go on, tell me.”

Right now, I really needed a trustworthy teammate, and Jiang Ruoxue was a good choice.

Although I didn't know what the “Yinguo” and “Huixiang” were for, at least I'd have someone to discuss strategies with.

Jiang Ruoxue's way of thinking was completely opposite to mine, so maybe she could come up with some clever idea.

So, I quickly explained what had happened to me. I told her I'd been chosen as a teammate by a “Shengxiao,” and that the ultimate goal of this “Shengxiao” was to overthrow the “Dingdian” here.

Next, I took out the note and showed her the three challenges left by Aries.

“Do you have any ideas?” I asked.

Jiang Ruoxue examined the note with those three lines, her expression much like mine.

These three tasks weren't something one or even both of us could accomplish alone.

“Are these three things absolutely necessary?” she murmured to herself. “Is this why I'm here?”

“For me, they are, but not for you.” I shook my head. “If you have any thoughts, feel free to share them. If not, that's fine too. Or if you think I'm too dangerous and want to leave, I won't object.”

“Who did you learn to talk like that from?” Jiang Ruoxue asked irritably. “You've got me so flustered that I can't think straight anymore.”

“I…” Hearing that, I lowered my head silently. “I'm sorry, I really haven't communicated much with people before, so I always say the worst things upfront.”

“Try to change that when you talk to me from now on.” Jiang Ruoxue glanced at the note and waved it off casually. “As for your problem… I do have an idea.”

“What idea?” I perked up immediately. “Tell me quickly.”

“Beg me.”

“Ah…?”

Jiang Ruoxue flashed me a mischievous grin. “See? That's how good friends talk. You can use your style with anyone else, but not with me.”

“Fine… alright.” I awkwardly smoothed my hair. “So, tell me then.”

“Aren't you going to beg me?” Jiang Ruoxue pretended to be profound as she gazed at the ceiling. “If not, you could call me 'Dad' instead.”

“You…” I was so annoyed that I swung my hand and slapped her arm, but it just made her laugh.

“Ha! That's it!” Jiang Ruoxue said. “When you talk to me, if you use all kinds of tricks and negotiation tactics, you might lose me as a friend. In front of me, just say whatever you want and do whatever you feel like. It's not disrespect—it's showing closeness.”

Only then did I understand what Jiang Ruoxue meant—yes, I always guarded myself carefully against everyone, even those I was ready to open up to.

I thought I'd learned so much, but I never realized something as basic as social interaction needed Jiang Ruoxue to teach me.

“Zhi Chun.” Jiang Ruoxue pointed to the note in front of us and turned serious. “You always say I can't sort out logical relationships, so why don't you try thinking my way for once.”

“Your way of thinking…?” I pondered for a moment. “Do you mean 'starting from the effect to find the cause'?”

“Exactly.” Jiang Ruoxue nodded. “You've been thinking about these three problems for so long and still haven't figured out the 'cause,' so why not start directly from the 'effect' and give it a try.”

“I… don't really get it.”

I shook my head—Jiang Ruoxue's way of thinking was just too abstract for me to use right away.

“Think about it like this…” Jiang Ruoxue paused for a few seconds before speaking slowly. “Suppose a few years from now, in the 'Zhongyan Zhidi,' there's a group that goes around disrupting others from collecting 'Dao,' doing all sorts of insane things to spread despair, and every member is a 'Huixiang' expert… Why would that be?”

“Ah…?”

So, this was “starting from the effect to find the cause”?

Still, Jiang Ruoxue's suggestion gave me a fresh perspective. Yes… if there was such a group operating in the 'Zhongyan Zhidi,' what would be the reason?

What was their motivation?

“It's not quite right.” I frowned. “We need another condition…”

“What?”

“Because what we're doing is so dangerous, these people would need a way to avoid being targeted and wiped out by other forces.” I thought for a moment and said, “So, they should operate as 'solo fighters'… maybe not even knowing each other. That would be the safest. Even if one gets captured or killed, they wouldn't know where the others are.”

“I see, that makes it even more thorough.” Jiang Ruoxue nodded, then looked up and asked, “So, what would be the purpose of this group?”

Following Jiang Ruoxue's line of thought, I quickly pondered it. Yes… since this group couldn't cooperate, they wouldn't need team spirit…

What they needed was something more abstract—they needed…

Faith.

A “faith” that didn't require working with others, something deeply ingrained and perfect for solo operations.

Like how ancient emperors, though mere mortals, called themselves “Tianzi” to command loyalty.

People would shout “long live the emperor” and fight desperately for him, even if they'd never met him.

That was the power of faith.

As long as I could create a lie they believed in, I could get them to work for me anywhere.

But what lie should I create…?

“Wait…” I reached up and lightly touched my forehead, feeling my train of thought narrowing. “I don't need a lie… I need to tell them the 'truth'…”

“Ah?” Jiang Ruoxue turned to me. “Have you figured it out? The 'cause' of this.”

“Thanks to you…” I nodded. “I've got it—this is the path that suits me best. I don't need to build a team; I just need to tell the strong ones I encounter the 'truth' about this place… that if we collect three thousand six hundred 'Dao,' everything will start over. That way, they'll naturally fall into despair! They'll take it upon themselves to interfere with those collecting 'Dao,' and eventually, when I bring together people with the same goal… they'll form the strongest 'team'.”