Chapter 887: Opposite Paths

“What do you want to say?” I asked.

“Zhi Chun, you're working for him, helping him... What if one day he treats you as a pawn? No... or maybe you already are... I'm worried that one day he'll replace you... because he'll always find someone stronger. I suggest you stay away from him early—he's not on the same path as us, and your current situation is very dangerous.”

Jiang Ruoxue's words made me fall into deep thought.

What a subtle feeling this was?

The more I learned about Bai Yang's power, the more fascinated I became by him.

That dangerous, exhilarating sensation...

That despair of “not being strong enough and getting abandoned”...

That tense urge to strive and catch up to his pace...

That anticipation of possibly dying at any moment or becoming stronger...

That chilling fear that gripped me just by looking into his eyes...

All these feelings captivated me completely.

I knew my judgment was right—as long as I stayed connected to Bai Yang, I would definitely grow stronger.

Bai Yang was like a massive, incredibly powerful double-edged sword capable of cleaving the heavens.

He was the “master” I had chosen.

“Zhi Chun... are you even listening to me?” Ruoxue asked from the side. “Don't follow Bai Yang anymore.”

“No...” I shook my head. “Ruoxue, I can't agree to that.”

“What?” Jiang Ruoxue's eyes flickered slightly.

“I can't agree. I'll keep helping Bai Yang,” I said, “until we see it through to the end.”

“You...!” Jiang Ruoxue looked anxious, and with her already pale, weakened face, she appeared even more ashen. “Zhi Chun... what's wrong with you? Didn't you understand what I just said...? Bai Yang and Tian Long are basically the same kind of person... Following him is too dangerous!”

“I know it's dangerous... but it's the path I've chosen.” I said, “Ruoxue... just leave me be.”

“You... you...” Jiang Ruoxue seemed furious. She gripped the wooden board and shakily stood up. “Do you think I want to meddle in your affairs...?”

Watching her like that broke my heart... Jiang Ruoxue had done so much for me.

Logically, I should agree to any request of hers—even if she asked me to end my life, I'd do it without hesitation.

But I couldn't break away from Bai Yang.

Not just me—the entire Ji Dao couldn't escape him either.

I wasn't as free-spirited as Jiang Ruoxue; I couldn't just do whatever I wanted. I only knew to strive toward what I desired.

Zhong Yan Zhi Di couldn't go on like this... The place was filled with overwhelming resentment and blood-soaked paths, with everyone slowly rotting away.

From their bodies to their spirits, they were all decaying... Someone had to change this.

If I gave up on Bai Yang now, I might live more comfortably for a while, but that would be it.

The resentment here would still soar, countless people would keep cycling endlessly, and everyone would continue to rot.

I couldn't just focus on the present; I needed to look further ahead.

I also wanted to free everyone.

“You're making me so angry... You've really made me furious...”

Jiang Ruoxue coughed violently a few times. I instinctively reached out to support her, but she pushed me away.

“Don't touch me.” Jiang Ruoxue said in an unusually cold tone.

“Ruoxue... don't be like this...”

“You choose.” After steadying her breath, she said to me, “Yan Zhi Chun, if I don't intervene, you'll really end up dead! Who do you choose—me or Bai Yang? If you're set on helping Bai Yang, I won't say another word. I'll leave right now.”

I'd never seen that look in Jiang Ruoxue's eyes... She was truly disappointed in me.

“Ruoxue...” I swallowed hard after hearing that. “Can we not talk like this...? You're not just the most important person to me in Zhong Yan Zhi Di, or my best friend—you're the only one I've ever been able to open up to in my life... You mean so much to me...”

“Do you even realize that...?” Jiang Ruoxue frowned and said to me, “Do you realize I'm someone you can confide in?”

She walked slowly forward, tears welling in her eyes.

“Yan Zhi Chun... We've known each other for so many years... Have I ever asked anything of you?”

For some reason, my mind could only recall the first time Jiang Ruoxue appeared, when she told me that because she knew we'd become good friends, she treated me like one from the start.

She lived up to her words, but I had let her down.

“I don't want anything! I'll go along with whatever you want to do! I just don't want anything bad to happen to you...!”

“I know, I know all that. But Ruoxue... Only Bai Yang has the power to free everyone!” I said, “No one else has the means. Are you okay with being trapped in endless cycles here...?”

“I don't want to hear that!” Jiang Ruoxue said, “What does 'freeing this place,' or 'layers of schemes,' or 'clever tactics' have to do with me?!”

“Ruoxue...”

“I just want you to stay alive! I want you to remember me! I want you to remember everything that happened in Zhong Yan Zhi Di! I don't want to see you one day, back to being closed off and ice-cold! And I don't want to suddenly find out you've become a native or a rotting corpse!”

“I'm sorry...” My head hung low, my heart aching. “I'm sorry...”

All I could say was “I'm sorry.”

Why didn't any books explain how to handle situations like this...?

I was never good at communicating... How was I supposed to deal with this...?

What principles or laws could take effect right now...? Who could help me?

I was truly heartbroken... I wanted to change this place with Bai Yang, free everyone, and make Jiang Ruoxue happy too.

“That Bai Yang has everyone dancing in the palm of his hand... How could he be a good person?” Jiang Ruoxue asked again, “Why are you so naive? He's schemed against the Sheng Xiao, the participants, and even you and me! How could he be a good person?!”

“Ruoxue... I'm sorry... Could you not be angry for now...?” I said with a trembling voice, “Even though Bai Yang used a lot of tactics... his intentions weren't just to scheme against others... Ruoxue, you...”

As soon as I finished speaking, tears streamed down my face.

Although I was talking to Jiang Ruoxue, I knew I was about to lose her.

I dug my thumbnail hard into the tattoo on my finger—maybe that was the last bit of strength holding me up.

“Yan Zhi Chun, you're going to keep helping Bai Yang, aren't you?” Jiang Ruoxue asked.

I didn't know what to do, so I reached out and grabbed her wrist... Her wrist was as cold as my palm.

“Okay... okay...” She nodded blankly, then wiped the corner of her eye. “I told you... That's just how I am... We get along or we don't... Yan Zhi Chun, let's leave it at that...”

That day, I said more words than I ever had in my life.

But I still couldn't keep Jiang Ruoxue.