Chapter 908: The Gate of Life and Death

I swallowed hard and looked at this young man.

He seemed to often handle similar problems for people, but this time, the situation was clearly beyond his control.

Why did Bai Yang have to have him present when discussing such important matters with me?

No matter how experienced this young man was, he was now completely terrified.

Yes, if it weren't for the expression on his face, I would have forgotten how every word from Bai Yang was always so shocking—though I had long since gotten used to it.

“Then what?” Bai Yang asked. “Are you going to break the contract?”

“No, it's not about breaking the contract,” the young man shook his head. “I still won't leak a single word of your conversation, but I can't be involved in what's coming next. Otherwise, not only I, but even 'Mao' will face deadly consequences.”

After saying that, he let out a sigh of relief, as if preparing to dispel the strange barrier surrounding us, but Bai Yang reached out and grabbed his arm at that moment.

“Wait a minute,” Bai Yang said. “Are you sure you want to damage 'Mao's' reputation like this?”

“It's no longer about reputation,” the young man replied. “The reason 'Mao' has survived until now is because of our neutrality. If we're serving the 'rebels,' then our nature changes, and I can't gamble with 'Mao's' future.”

“'Mao's' future is me,” Bai Yang said gravely.

“What...?” The young man was slightly stunned. “You?”

“You can listen now,” Bai Yang said. “Go back and tell Qian Wu that this time, the 'Sheng Xiao' knows about 'Mao's' ultimate mission, and he'll explain the reason to you.”

After hearing this, the young man fell silent, clearly not believing Bai Yang's words.

Yes, not just him—I didn't quite believe it either.

Truth be told, while people in black leather outfits are often seen on the streets, they rarely appear around Bai Yang. I thought he was already busy enough and didn't have extra time to lead an organization.

“You're already carrying 'Mao's' mission,” Bai Yang said. “This task must be completed, or it will seriously damage 'Mao's' reputation. I'm in a hurry, so you choose for yourself.”

The young man slowly narrowed his eyes, pondered for a few seconds, and then said, “Fine, I'll stay until the end, but I need an extra layer of insurance.”

With that, he pulled a short knife from his waist. I sensed trouble and quickly activated my “Xin Nian.” I thought he was going to attack Bai Yang, but in just a second, he flipped the blade in his hand and thrust it toward himself, aiming straight for his own ear.

Smack!

Bai Yang grabbed his hand just as the knife tip was about to pierce his ear canal.

The young man's strength was immense, and he didn't seem to be joking at all.

What on earth was he doing?

I was confused—this young man was actually choosing to deafen himself just to avoid hearing our conversation?

I even felt that this organization's “Xin Nian” was stronger than that of “Ji Dao.”

“There's no need,” Bai Yang said to the young man. “This is just tormenting yourself.”

“I'm sorry... I can't trust anyone,” the young man replied. “I only know I can't let down Wu Ge. If 'Mao' falls because of me, I'll never be able to atone for it in this life, so let me use this 'twofold solution.'”

Bai Yang furrowed his brow slightly and finally released his hand.

The young man softly said, “Thank you,” and decisively plunged the knife into his ear canal.

He showed a flicker of pain, then swayed as if losing his balance, staggering for a while before barely steadying himself. His face pale, he nodded to us in acknowledgment.

Bai Yang sighed helplessly and said, “I didn't expect everyone to be doing so well.”

“Hmm?” I looked at him.

“Never mind, Yan Zhi Chun, this is for the best,” Bai Yang said. “The things I'm about to say will soon be known only to you in the entire 'Zhong Yan Zhi Di.' You will be my strongest 'needle.'”

“I'm a 'needle'...?”

This was the first time I'd heard that term. Ever since I met Bai Yang, my sense of myself had become vague and uncertain—I sometimes thought I was a pawn, other times a subordinate, or even a dog or a tool.

But Bai Yang saw me as one of his own, and now he called me a strong 'needle.'

“That's right,” Bai Yang said. “I need all the 'needles' to strike at the vital points of Qing Long and Tian Long.”

“What do you want me to do...?”

Bai Yang looked at me and, after a long silence, said, “After destroying the Ju Zhong and the Xian Shi Ping, lead everyone to hide and escape the pursuit. Then, head to these eight locations, and make sure to get there before nightfall.”

Bai Yang handed me a pre-drawn map, which showed the road conditions in the nearby area and marked certain spots with the words “Zi Chou Yin Mao.”

“This is...?”

“These are the positions of the eight 'Sheng Xiao,'” Bai Yang said. “Take everyone and scatter them near these eight people. When they finish their work, go through the portals near them and enter the 'Lie Che' together.”

“Ah?!”

No wonder... no wonder Bai Yang said the first task was simple.

Yes, compared to the second task, the first one was indeed too straightforward.

“'Lie Che' isn't... isn't that where the 'Sheng Xiao' gather?! Can ordinary people even go in?!”

I cried out in shock, which was probably the first time I'd lost my composure in my memory.

“That's right, 'Lie Che' is full of 'Sheng Xiao,' but there's no rule saying 'participants' can't enter 'Lie Che,' because we originally came from there,” Bai Yang said. “Entering 'Lie Che' is just the first step; there's a second step.”

“Wait a minute... I still don't understand what you mean by the 'first step,'” I said to Bai Yang. “Why enter 'Lie Che' from these eight locations?”

“Because these eight 'Sheng Xiao' are unlikely to attack you,” Bai Yang replied. “They, like you, are on our side.”

“I still don't get it... If they're on our side, wouldn't one be enough?” I voiced my doubt. “If I scatter all my people across eight locations, not only will we not be able to support each other, but we could also be taken out one by one. So why spread them out like that? And if we enter 'Lie Che' from places so far apart, how will we regroup inside right away?”

“To be honest, it's embarrassing,” Bai Yang shook his head. “Because I can't be sure which of these eight isn't on our side.”

“What...?”

“Yan Zhi Chun, I'll tell you the truth,” Bai Yang said, lifting his cold gaze to me. “Among these eight on our side, one is a fake—that means seven 'Sheng Men' and one 'Si Men.' Scattering your team is ultimately to preserve as many lives as possible. If you only wait at one 'Men' and guess wrong... it would mean total annihilation.”