TDU Chapter 294
Chapter 294 Unfortunate One
"Chen Junnan," Qi Xia called, stepping forward to sit between him and Qin Dingdong.
Qin Dingdong looked somewhat displeased, her expression indicating something unsettling had transpired in their previous conversation.
"Ole Qi... Is there something you wish to ask me?" Chen Junnan inquired with a carefree tone. "This young master is in high spirits today and will gladly answer any questions."
Qi Xia, showing no reservations, nodded and asked, "Chen Junnan, have you ever encountered a {Celestial-grade}?"
"Of course." Chen Junnan nodded confidently. "Not just me, but you, Dong jie beside you, and Ole Qiao—we all have."
The moment {Celestial-grade} was mentioned, Qin Dingdong’s expression shifted. She seemed to recall a particularly horrifying scene, her face suddenly growing cold as ice.
"Unfortunately, I have no recollection," Qi Xia murmured. "If I did... then I’d know the right way to deal with them."
Qin Dingdong sighed. "Qi Xia, of course you have no recollection."
"Hm...?" Qi Xia furrowed his brow, casting a questioning glance towards her.
"The part I enjoy most is... that I can always amuse myself by teasing you," Qin Dingdong said, offering a rueful smile. "Qi Xia, we've encountered each other countless times, and your responses never fail to be charming."
Qi Xia felt a creeping unease as he mulled over Qin Dingdong's words.
"Countless times...?" Qi Xia turned back to look at Chen Junnan. "What is she implying?"
Chen Junnan sighed softly and explained, "Ole Qi, you were once an {Unfortunate One}. Every time, we had to reintroduce ourselves to you."
"Hmm...?" Qi Xia paused. "{Unfortunate One}...?"
Qin Dingdong clarified, "This term applies to those who could never awaken their {Reverberation}. These individuals are far from rare at {End Point}."
"However, this time, your behavior seems rather unusual..." Chen Junnan and Qin Dingdong both turned their gaze toward him. "I’ve been meaning to ask you... Ole Qi, did you manage to trigger your {Reverberation}?"
"I did," Qi Xia answered.
His simple response caused both of them to furrow their brows.
"You actually managed to trigger your {Reverberation}?" Chen Junnan stood, astonishment coloring his words. "No wonder I've always had this nagging feeling something was off... Ole Qi, what precisely is your {Reverberation}?"
"It should be called {Endowing Life Without End}." Qi Xia nodded.
Chen Junnan and Qin Dingdong exchanged a grim look.
"I didn’t catch that," Chen Junnan scratched his ear with his pinky finger. "There was earwax blocking my ear. Could you say that again?"
"{Endowing Life Without End}." Qi Xia repeated.
"Quit pulling my leg, punk," Chen Junnan sighed and sat down beside him. "Endowing Life Without End… You couldn’t even come up with a better lie?"
"What?" Qi Xia looked at them in confusion. "What’s wrong with {Endowing Life Without End}?"
"It’s impossible for a person’s {Reverberation} to be an chengyu*," Chen Junnan shook his head, saying, "That’s just absurd. Do you realize what four words mean? With that kind of force, even glass would probably shatter—"
(TL: chengyu; 成语 - a type of traditional Chinese idiomatic expressions, most of which consist of four Chinese characters. Basically Chen Junnan is saying his Reverberation name is too long.)
He was cut off mid-sentence as both Chen Junnan and Qin Dingdong's expressions shifted.
They’ve found him—the one Celestial Horse and Celestial Tiger were after.
"Ole Qi... you’re the one with the {massive Reverberation}..." Chen Junnan stared at him in disbelief. "You’re saying you’re... {Endowing Life Without End}? What kind of ability do those four words represent?"
Qi Xia recalled Chu Tianqiu's words and replied,"I’m not entirely clear on it myself. I lost consciousness when my {Reverberation} triggered, but according to Chu Tianqiu... it seems I have the ability to make people {live}."
"Make people... live?" Chen Junnan thought for a moment. "Are you saying you can make anyone immortal?"
"No..." Qi Xia shook his head. "I believe {live} is meant in the strictest sense. Even after death, they’re still compelled to live."
Chen Junnan and Qin Dingdong simultaneously looked toward the sports field.
There, a dark mass of corpses lay, among which were over thirty bodies of just Qiao Jiajin and Li Xiangling.
"Even after death...they’re still compelled to live..." Chen Junnan forced down a swallow and smiled bitterly. "Ole Qi, with this ability... looks like I’ve become unnecessary."
Before Qi Xia could respond, a sudden pain surged through his head. It took him a few seconds to gradually adjust.
"Chen Junnan... I have another question," Qi Xia said, pressing his forehead. "What kind of power do you possess? What exactly is {Penalty Proxy}?"
Chen Junnan gave a faint smile. "Simple as can be, Ole Qi. If it’s in my line of sight, and misfortune strikes, then it’s this young master, I, who takes the hit."
"That doesn’t sound like a particularly useful {Reverberation}," Qi Xia remarked. "And yet you’ve managed to come this far with it?"
"I... am useless?" A trace of disappointment flashed across Chen Junnan’s face. "If you truly are {Endowing Life Without End}, then it seems I really have no worth..."
"Qi Xia..." Qin Dingdong interjected, "Although this bastard, Chen Junnan, is a total jerk, of all people, you can't say he's useless."
"Hmm?" Qi Xia turned to look at Qin Dingdong. "So you have recollections of many past cycles?"
"Exactly," Qin Dingdong replied. "This fool has been dying in your and A’Jin's place all this time. Anyone else can say he's useless, but you two can't."
"Is that so..." Qi Xia gave a brief nod, as though the source of his headache had just been revealed. But, he swiftly returned to the matter at hand and faced Chen Junnan. "Chen Junnan, how would you describe your competence level?"
"Competence level...?" Chen Junnan was momentarily taken aback.
"I want to understand your performance in games," Qi Xia added. "And I’d like to know how much trust I can put in you going forward."
This question seemed to stump Chen Junnan.
Qin Dingdong smiled lightly upon hearing this. "To put it simply, Qi Xia, this bastard is neither as clever as you nor as strong as A'Jin."
The moment those words were spoken, Chen Junnan’s displeasure was evident.
"Dong jie, what an incredibly unkind thing to say," he grumbled.
"Am I wrong?"
"Allow me rephrase it for you," Chen Junnan turned to Qi Xia and said, "Ole Qi, let’s put it this way: I’m better at fighting than you and smarter than Ole Qiao."
Qin Dingdong rolled her eyes dramatically.
"Oh...?" Qi Xia smiled faintly after hearing this. "Is that so?"
"Yes, this young master is still quite capable," Chen Junnan declared. "Don't you believe me?"
"I believe you," Qi Xia replied. "But I need you to prove it."
"Alright, how do you want me to prove it?" Chen Junnan nodded.
Qi Xia recalled what Terrestrial Tiger had said earlier, then slowly spoke, "Chen Junnan, come with me tomorrow. I would like you to participate in a game with me."
"Participate in a game together?" Chen Junnan pondered for a moment, then shook his head. "Ole Qi, there’s no need. I can handle it myself."
"You...want to handle it yourself?" Qin Dingdong quickly realised this matter was slipping out of hand. "Hey! You bastard, did you already forget your {priorities}? Those two Celestial—"
"Dong jie, now is not the right time." Chen Junnan interrupted with a smile, "I’m currently having Ole Qi reassess me. Whatever the matter is, we’ll discuss it once I get back from Terrestrial Snake's game venue."
"Terrestrial Snake…?" Qin Dingdong was immediately taken aback, "I’ve told you… there’s no need to bother that Terrestrial Snake—"
"No, he picked the wrong person when he thought he could mess with you."
Qi Xia gave a nod and remarked, "Chen Junnan, do you intend to go unaccompanied?"
"Ole Qi, let me reintroduce myself."Chen Junnan said after a brief pause, his smile tinged with bitterness. "For me, teaming up with others is extremely dangerous. This young master’s sympathy runs too deep, and I could easily be dragged down by idiots. If I don't want others to die, then it’s me who ends up dead."
Qi Xia nodded after hearing this, "So… you truly intend to face this alone."
"Exactly." Chen Junnan nodded, "Old Qi, try not to act alone tomorrow. I’ll be heading out alone in the morning to look for Terrestrial Snake."
With that, he cast Qi Xia a look full of unspoken meaning.
Chen Junnan hadn’t anticipated the presence of {Endowing Life Without End} in such a cursed place. It seemed… the entirety of {End Point} was about to undergo a massive upheaval.
TL Note: Just to clear things up, the {priorities} Qin Dingdong was referring to was Chen Junnan’s promise to Celestial Horse—the one where he would help her look for the source of that massive Reverberation.
