TDU Chapter 315
Chapter 315 Her Silent Hope
"Just as I suspected," Chen Junnan nodded. "What message did that old creep send?"
Yun Yao replied, "He said, {I am Terrestrial Snake, and I’m now joining this game. If you spare my life, all survivors will receive forty-eight Dào each.}"
"What…?" Chen Junnan frowned in confusion. "Is that old geezer insane? I’m right here guarding this place, and he just laid all his cards on the table?"
"Perhaps he’s not aware of your location?" Yun Yao asked.
"Impossible," Chen Junnan mused, stroking his chin. "I’ve contacted Terrestrial Snake through the person on my left. He definitely knows my position."
"Isn’t that even more baffling, then?" Yun Yao said, her brow furrowed. "He knows where you are, yet he still broadcasts such a message…"
Chen Junnan found it strange as well. That old creep Terrestrial Snake seemed desperate. Though this message could only be transmitted from {3} to {-1}, every person he managed to sway would tilt the odds in his favor.
Yet there was, of course, a second possibility—
That the one spreading this message wasn’t Terrestrial Snake at all.
Considering this, the situation grew even more terrifying.
It meant that somewhere between {-1} and {3}, a liar was at work.
This deceiver had seen through everything—not only anticipating Terrestrial Snake’s involvement, but also devising a scheme.
Their goal was to mislead everyone into believing that Terrestrial Snake’s position was at {3}.
‘But…’ Chen Junnan turned to glance at the wall on his right, ‘how is there a liar… among just a few people?’
Though he couldn’t see them directly, counting from his right were Yun Yao, the anxious female, and the taciturn male.
One of these three was lying.
Chen Junnan didn’t end the call but began to harbor suspicion toward Yun Yao.
Something about her behavior didn’t sit right.
Could it be that she had been deceiving him from the very beginning?
After all, the first question he received concerned Einstein, while Yun Yao’s initial question was {Are you female?}.
Could she have been lying from the very beginning?
A sudden thought struck Chen Junnan.
Before entering Terrestrial Snake’s game, Yun Yao had clearly said, {Seems you’re aware of Terrestrial Snake’s true nature. Being a grown man, do you truly expect Terrestrial Snake to let his guard down?}
Didn’t that alone prove Yun Yao’s familiarity with Terrestrial Snake?
She must have participated in Terrestrial Snake’s game before, or perhaps acquired his game guide from other teammates in {Passage to Heaven}.
The likelihood that she had been deceiving him all along was high.
But what was her true motive?
"Yun Yao..." Chen Junnan’s voice turned stern. This time, he didn’t call her {superstar}, but used her full name instead.
"What is it?" Yun Yao asked.
"Are you... lying to me?"
A pause.
"What..." Yun Yao faltered.
Chen Junnan settled back into his chair, crossing his legs with a calm yet commanding air. "I’m not one to dance around the truth. Let’s put everything on the table today. Since entering this game, I’ve been focused on keeping you safe... yet you’ve deceived me."
"I..." Yun Yao’s voice wavered, then softened. "So you’ve realized."
Chen Junnan hummed in acknowledgment. "So, why exactly? Do you intend to kill me?"
"I…" Yun Yao offered a resigned smile and replied, "I have no desire to kill you. But as I mentioned, I cannot place my trust in you. Therefore, I have resolved to face Terrestrial Snake myself."
"Ah?" Chen Junnan was momentarily taken aback. "I don’t quite understand. You—You deceived me because…"
"I find you somewhat naïve," Yun Yao remarked, "yet you appear to share a close bond with Qi Xia. If it is possible… then perhaps the two of you should destroy this place together. Qi Xia is... undeniably too important."
"What are you saying?" Chen Junnan felt a touch bewildered. "Superstar, what strange words are these? Do you not wish to escape?"
"Me?" Yun Yao gave a bitter chuckle. "Chen Junnan, I am unsure when it began… but my purpose is no longer {to escape}, but rather {to end all Earthly Branches}."
Upon Chen Junnan’s silence, Yun Yao continued, "Your words have awakened me. Though I am one of the leaders of {Passage to Heaven}, I have never challenged any Terrestrial-grade {Earthly Branches} to a life-staking gamble. Nor have any others within our ranks."
"Ah, this young master now understands," Chen Junnan said with a trace of relief. "Superstar, are you trying to be the hero?
"Me? Play the hero?"
"Let me guess… you feel you’ve lived enough," Chen Junnan said with a dry chuckle. "But you want to exit on your own terms, with at least some semblance of dignity."
Yun Yao was momentarily taken aback, then giggled. "You aren’t so naïve after all."
"What exactly happened? Weren’t you and Xiao Chu getting along fine?" Chen Junnan’s expression turned cold. "That punk gave you a hard time, didn’t he? You seem like you’ve completely lost faith."
At this, Yun Yao trembled slightly, a sharp sting in her eyes, but she held back her tears.
That day when she returned to {Passage to Heaven}, all she saw were corpses strewn everywhere.
Since the night {Cat} had mercilessly slaughtered nearly everyone in {Passage to Heaven}. The number of {Reverberatees} had dwindled once more, leaving {Passage to Heaven} reduced to little more than a hollow shell.
She had pursued this dream for two years yet her singular aim to {end all Earthly Branches} now felt increasingly unattainable.
"Chen Junnan, I truly wish to die here," Yun Yao confessed through tears. "Forgive my selfishness. This time, it’s either Terrestrial Snake’s life or mine. I will not permit any other outcome."
"So this is the real reason you followed me into Terrestrial Snake game…" Chen Junnan finally understood everything.
From the very beginning, Yun Yao had made her decision—she wanted to die here.
"That’s right," Yun Yao nodded. "Chen Junnan, thank you for giving me the courage to take this step forward."
"No, you can’t even let me die?" Chen Junnan asked in disbelief. "Would it not suffice if I kill Terrestrial Snake for you?"
"You…" Yun Yao hesitated. "Chen Junnan, haven’t I made myself clear? I no longer want to live."
"Here’s what I propose," Chen Junnan cleared his throat and coughed lightly. "Though I don’t know what that punk Chu Tianqiu did to you, from now on, you should stick with me and Ole Qiao. The two of us… oh, and Old Qi as well—we three won’t treat you unfairly."
"What…?"
"I have no idea what’s happened to you all these years, even that you’ve changed your orientation. But long ago, you were someone we liked," Chen Junnan said with a smile. "There’s no need to keep following people you shouldn’t. I heard you even got a little girlfriend this time, right? What happens to her if you die?"
Tian Tian’s lonely figure suddenly flashed through Yun Yao’s mind.
"Superstar, you and Tian Tian are the two girls at {End Point} who I feel the most sympathy for. Bring her along with you."
TL Note: Rant goes here ( •̯́ ₃ •̯̀)
