TDU Chapter 337
Chapter 337 The Ruse of Dào
Qi Xia observed Qian Five’s warm hospitality toward Officer Li and Qiao Jiajin, and immediately came to a realization.
"Have we really never crossed paths before, Qian Five?" Qi Xia asked.
“There’s no need to discuss that right now,” Qian Five replied. “You seem rather carefree, considering your life rests in my hands—and yet your priority is to know whether we are old acquaintances?”
Qi Xia nodded in acknowledgment, then looked at Qian Five. “You’re right. Whether we are old acquaintances is irrelevant. You said you want to gauge my {attitude}. How exactly do you intend to do that?”
“In ancient times, Cao Cao and Liu Bei {discussed heroism over wine[1]}; today, I, Qian Five, and you, Qi Xia, shall {determine End through silence}.”
Qi Xia tapped his fingers on the table calmly. “Then… who are you—Cao Cao or Liu Bei?”
“Since I’m the biggest presence here, I am naturally Cao Cao.”
“Interesting.” A slight smile tugged at Qi Xia’s lips. “Cao Cao’s intent in discussing heroism over wine was to test whether Liu Bei harbored ambitions to dominate the world, yet he was deceived by Liu Bei’s insincere rhetorics.”
Qian Five said nothing, only smiling quietly at Qi Xia.
Qi Xia leaned in slowly, his gaze piercing as he fixed it sharply on Qian Five. “So, tell me... do you see me as Liu Bei?”
“Qi Xia, you certainly are not Liu Bei,” Qian Five smiled. “I know you have no desire to dominate this realm."
“Oh?” Qi Xia shifted back in his seat, posture straightening. “If you truly know me, how do you plan to gauge my attitude?”
“Qi Xia.” Qian Five’s expression shifted abruptly, her tone serious. “I want to know what your {ultimate plan} entails.”
“My… ultimate plan…” Qi Xia’s eyes darkened as he stared back. “How probable is it that I’d reveal my plan to you?”
“Is there anyone you can still put your faith in?” Qian Five inquired. “In this place… how far can you go alone?”
Qi Xia glanced subtlety at Qiao Jiajin and Officer Li beside him, then smiled. “I have never relied on myself alone.”
“Even if you bring every person you trust, in the end you’ll fall beneath the feet of {Celestial Dragon},” Qian Five looked utterly despondent as he said, “Haven’t we seen enough tragedies here?”
Qi Xia was momentarily taken aback. “You’ve seen {Celestial Dragon}?”
“More than just me,” Qian Five’s expression darkened with sorrow. “Qi Xia, every person here at {End Point} has seen {Celestial Dragon}.”
“What…?”
“That year, you led all the surviving {participants} to a decisive battle against {Celestial Dragon}…” Qian Five said with a wistful tone, “That day marked my first encounter with you and with {Celestial Dragon}. Unfortunately, we suffered such a heavy defeat that there was no way to retaliate.”
Qi Xia slowly rose to his feet, never having imagined that Qian Five had preserved such memories for so long.
“A decisive battle against {Celestial Dragon}…?” Qi Xia’s lips moved slightly. “What was the situation? What was the nature of the final battle?”
“It was a straightforward game,” Qian Five remarked. “None of us foresaw {Celestial Dragon} using such a basic {Scale Balance Puzzle} to wipe out you, us, and all the {participants}.”
“What…?”
“We must never provoke that man,” Qian Five warned, furrowing her brow. “He is neither human nor {Reverberatee}; he commands extraordinary powers, much like a true god.
“Extraordinary powers…?” Qi Xia frowned deeply. Even after encountering numerous {Reverberatees}, he found it hard to come to terms with {Celestial Dragon} possessing extraordinary powers.
Qiao Jiajin and Li Shangwu exchanged glances, silently weighing the truth in Qian Five’s words.
Qian Five extended both hands, palms facing upward. “Qi Xia, if you put ten thousand {participants} on one end and {Celestial Dragon} and {Azure Dragon} on the other, who would outweigh the other?”
“You’re implying…”
Qi Xia pondered for half a second, instantly picturing the scene.
Ten thousand stood on the left side of the scale, {Celestial Dragon} and {Azure Dragon} on the right—but the {participants} lost.
This simple game led to their utter defeat.
“They possess {Dào} within, but we are just ordinary humans.” Qian Five said. “With {Azure Dragon} as his enforcer, even if all ten thousand were {Reverberatees}, they could never defeat {Celestial Dragon}. Especially considering that not everyone among us can trigger {Reverberations}.”
After a brief silence, Qi Xia inquired, “When… did this happen?”
“Roughly ten years ago,” Qian Five replied calmly. “Very few remember this event, and anyone who retains that memory is personally executed by {Azure Dragon}.”
“What…?” Qi Xia pondered briefly. “Ten years ago?”
“Perhaps only a few still remember this, but they’ve all hidden themselves away, waiting for the right opportunity." Qian Five looked up at Qi Xia. “I believe that opportunity is you.”
“Is that so?” Qi Xia’s gaze remained skeptical. If what Qian Five said was true, that everyone with memories must hide them, why was she revealing everything now?
“It seems you still don’t believe me,” Qian Five shook her head. “Qi Xia, when you lost the wager against {Celestial Dragon}, the {Reverberatees} present used all their powers to escape. Most perished in the massacre, but a few with special abilities survived.”
Each word from Qian Five tightened something inside Qi Xia. He sensed no falsehood, yet the absurdity weighed heavily.
{Celestial Dragon} and {Azure Dragon}, one leader of all {Earthly Branches}, the other head of the {Sacred Guardians}, actually conducting a public massacre of {participants}?
“If you want me to believe you, you’ll need to answer a single question,” Qi Xia said.
“Speak.”
“What was the {stake} when I wagered with {Celestial Dragon}?”
Qian Five shook her head. “I don’t know.”
“Then would that not constitute a falsehood?” Qi Xia remarked. “Having engaged in this bet, how could you remain unaware of what was truly at stake?”
“No, I am telling the truth,” Qian Five replied earnestly. “Qi Xia, as I said, that was my first encounter with you. I was merely one of many {participants} supporting you from behind while you stood at the front facing {Celestial Dragon}. I have no knowledge of your conversation.”
Qi Xia found no flaw in her words; at least, the logic held for now.
“I want to understand {Celestial Dragon} better,” Qi Xia shifted tone. “I need to know my opponent.”
“Qi Xia, I know you won’t heed warnings, but I must tell you... that man is beyond our resistance,” Qian Five frowned. “Ordinary people can’t even get a glimpse of him—how do you expect to demand anything from him?”
“Meeting him isn’t difficult,” Qi Xia’s lips curled into a faint smile. “I’ve gathered three thousand six hundred {Dào}. Soon, I will face {Celestial Dragon}.”
“Wha—” Qian Five, Zhou Six, and Song Seven all looked somewhat flustered. Beside them, Nineteen’s resolve wavered, nearly withdrawing his {Sound Insulation}.
“Qi Xia! You mustn’t!” Qian Five shouted anxiously. “Do not collect three thousand six hundred {Dào}! {Dào} is nothing but a grand scam!”
She grabbed Qi Xia’s arm, and in the following second, her body morphed from female to male. His face remained the same, but his build was an exact match to Qi Xia’s.
Zheng Hero remained hidden behind Qi Xia, murmuring softly, “I smell the dense fragrance of {Conjoined Identity Bloom}.”
TL Note: Pronouns ahhhhhh.
Also, I know I used ‘Ambivalent Identity Bloom’ for the name of Qian Five’s Reverberation in chapter 290, but Molly pointed out a better name, so here it’s now Conjoined Identity Bloom.
Footnote:
[1] Discussed heroism over wine (煮酒论英雄) - In 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms', Cao Cao invites Liu Bei to his private garden to drink warm liquor while discussing politics. During their conversation, Cao Cao boldly declares that only he and Liu Bei are true heroes of the time, subtly testing Liu Bei’s ambitions. Aware of the underlying probe, Liu Bei feigns fear as thunder strikes and drops his spoon and chopsticks, pretending to be startled to mask himself as clumsy and unworthy.
Here’s the scene from the 1994 version - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rM7uz6CsMkY
