Chapter 936: Eighteen-Mile Train

"We still have a second mission," Yan Zhichun replied, "Compared to ours, this one is very simple for you."

"Simple...?"

Zhao Yisheng thought carefully after hearing this. No matter what he had to destroy himself, it was indeed simple.

"You're right..." He nodded, "As long as it's an 'item'... that shouldn't be a problem. If there's any danger, Han Yimo can protect me."

"Protect you?" Yan Zhichun raised an eyebrow, "No need. By then, there will be a large number of people protecting you, and each one will be stronger than 'Zhao Zai'."

"Hold on..." Han Yimo frowned after hearing this, "What exactly do you mean? Are you letting me go or not?"

"Of course, you're going," Yan Zhichun said with a smile, "After all, it's someone I trust most who asked you to go. Even if you're 'Zhao Zai', there must be a reason for your existence."

"I still feel weird about this..." Han Yimo sighed, "Anyway... come get us tomorrow, okay?"

"I'll come get you," Jiang Ruoxue said, "Rest well tonight."

After seeing off these two external contractors from "Ji Dao", Yan Zhichun lowered her head expressionlessly. So much had happened today.

Although they were at the final stage, many unknowns still lingered in her mind.

For example, why had Bai Yang set up such a massive scheme?

For example, what would happen after destroying the giant bell, and could everyone really board the "Lieche"?

The "Lieche" itself was an illusory concept—invisible and formless, yet as deep as a corridor.

It would open countless doors in the "Zhongyan Zhidi", but no one could see where the "Lieche" actually was.

Such a strange thing allowed people to enter and exit freely.

The only thing Yan Zhichun was worried about now was whether the "Lieche" was too vast in scale.

Based on known conditions, since it appeared as a corridor with wooden doors and rooms on both sides, its length could exceed her imagination.

As Bai Yang had said, not only would the "Canyuzhe" step out from the "Lieche" on the first day of each cycle, but all the "Shengxiao" would also reside on it.

There were about ten thousand "Canyuzhe" in this city. Assuming nine people per room, at least over a thousand rooms would be needed.

No train in the world could be that large. If each city had ten thousand people, then five cities would require over five thousand five hundred rooms altogether.

Even more frightening, each room had three "Mianshi Shengxiao". Even if they died each time and didn't need space, the number would still reach a staggering sixteen thousand or more.

Add to that nearly a thousand "Renji Shengxiao" hosting the games, several dozen "Diji Shengxiao", over ten "Tian", and four "Shen Shou".

So, would the "Lieche" have around six thousand rooms in total?

Assuming all rooms are distributed on both sides, with each room three to four meters wide, the length of the "Lieche" would be about three thousand rooms' width—at least nine kilometers, possibly up to twelve kilometers.

A colossal object over nine kilometers long, constantly circling or stationary in the "Zhongyan Zhidi", yet unseen by anyone.

In that case... what was the principle behind the "Lieche"? Where was it actually located?

"I almost forgot... it's also holding countless 'Luyu' captive up there..." Yan Zhichun thought to herself.

Her expression quickly turned serious.

She had thought "Ji Dao" was already a massive and mature organization.

But even with their few hundred loyal and capable members, all of whom could luckily kill their way onto the "Lieche", they would still face an army of thousands.

They had to navigate through that narrow, nine-kilometer length, evade all enemies, rendezvous as quickly as possible, and finally find "Hei Yang". No matter how she thought about it, this was extremely difficult.

"Yang Ge..." Yan Zhichun thought silently, "You'd better have paved the way for us... I have no way to turn back now."

At that moment, Zheng Yingxiong's nose twitched slightly, as if sensing something, and he turned to look at Yan Zhichun.

Jiang Ruoxue couldn't feel Yan Zhichun's thoughts, but she could tell from her expression that something was amiss, so she asked softly, "Zhichun... you're not showing up tomorrow?"

"I can't go on the first mission," Yan Zhichun said, "Qi Xia wants me to join him in the 'Di Long' game."

"Is that necessary...?" Jiang Ruoxue asked, puzzled, "He has plenty of capable people around him. Why specifically ask you to go with him?"

"I don't know," Yan Zhichun shook her head, "But even if he hadn't asked, I wanted to join him in a game."

"Why?"

"First, for so long, I've never truly been his 'Zhanyou'. This might be my only, and last, chance. Only by becoming his 'Zhanyou' can I truly believe in him."

"Okay..." Jiang Ruoxue seemed to understand Yan Zhichun's obsession. For all this time, she had seen herself as a loyal dog, just missing an opportunity to fight alongside Bai Yang.

Even if it was just in one game, that would count as his 'Zhanyou'.

"Second... I want to know if Qi Xia is really in his 'full sheng status'." Yan Zhichun continued, "He wants us to execute the plan first thing tomorrow morning, but I think that's not feasible..."

"Not feasible...?"

"I'm deciding to postpone the plan to the afternoon," Yan Zhichun said, "That way, after I participate in the 'Di Long game', you and Zhou Liu will have the morning to assemble the team, but don't start acting—follow my instructions for everything."

Yan Zhichun had her own reasons for this. After all, according to Bai Yang, they needed to hide after destroying the giant bell and screens, then head separately to the eight locations to board the "Lieche".

If they destroyed the equipment early in the morning, it would alert the higher-ups, and everyone might have to evade for a whole day, greatly increasing the risk of death. If they did it in the afternoon or evening, they could head straight to those eight "Shengxiao" locations right after, making the two plans seamless.

But this all depended on whether Qi Xia could handle what came next.

Jiang Ruoxue slowly frowned after hearing this: "Zhichun... now that we're at this point, are you suddenly delaying the plan...? Won't this differ from what 'he' arranged...?"

"In the field, orders from superiors can be adapted," Yan Zhichun said, "I have no other choice. Qi Xia's condition is off... If I can't confirm he has the strength to take over the plan, I can only protect 'Ji Dao'. Otherwise, we're no different from moths to a flame."

Jiang Ruoxue thought for a long time and finally nodded: "Alright..."

"Don't stay here tonight," Yan Zhichun said, "Go find Zhou Liu and tell her it's time. Tomorrow, you two act together, and I'll issue all instructions to her."