TDU Chapter 341
Chapter 341 Contrary to Qi Xia
Qian Five froze at Qi Xia’s words.
"Qi Xia, have you forgotten what I told you? If you gather 3,600 pieces of {Dào}, {Celestial Dragon} and {Azule Dragon} will inevitably appear. They won’t say a word before starting a massacre; that’s when everything will be upended."
"So I won’t even have a moment to speak?" Qi Xia asked.
"A moment…?" Qian Five hesitated for a moment. "Qi Xia… this was your plan? You madman… you knew from the beginning that gathering 3,600 pieces of {Dào} wouldn’t get you out—"
"Indeed. I intend to engage in a life staking-gamble against {Celestial Dragon}," Qi Xia said. "Does that sound feasible to you?"
"I can’t say..." Qian Five replied, tension in her voice. "As I’ve told you, {Celestial Dragon}’s power is utterly inhuman. He could reduce you to mush with a single gesture. Even if you get the words out at the last second, there's no guarantee he’ll stop."
"Is that so…?"
"Many {Earthly Branches} also employ unscrupulous methods, and ultimately kill the initiator midgame," Qian Five said worriedly. "Ten years ago, you merely lost a game, and the consequences were already tragic. If you lose a {life-staking gamble}—"
"Could it get any worse?" Qi Xia interrupted. "As you said, there’s no other path left to take. Facing {Celestial Dragon} in a life-staking gamble is our last resort."
"If you lose, you might not even remain an {indigenous inhabitant}… instead, all traces of your existence could be completely erased…"
"I don’t believe that’s the case," Qi Xia shook his head. "I once heard that {Celestial Dragon} and I have bad blood between us. He supposedly hates me to the bone. And yet, for some reason, I’m still alive and kicking. So I suspect he’s either unable to erase me, or… each time he does, I return ten days later."
"Fine, even if he can’t erase you…" A trace of worry lingered on Qian Five’s face. "He can still turn you into an {indigenous inhabitant}. If that happens, you’ll never be able to return to normal again."
Though repeated often, the phrase always sounded odd to Qi Xia.
After all, he had once seen someone revert from an {indigenous inhabitant} back to a {participant}. He’d thought it wasn’t a unique case. But why, after spending so long in {End Point}, did everyone claim with such certainty that {indigenous inhabitants} could never revert?
"So no one has ever witnessed an {indigenous inhabitant} turn back into a {participant}?" Qi Xia asked to confirm.
Upon hearing the question, Qian Five fell silent. Song Seven, standing nearby, could only step in and say, "Qi Xia, truth be told… we once had a teammate who, due to a personal vendetta, staked his life against a {Terrestrial-grade} opponent. In the end, he lost his sanity and became an {indigenous inhabitant}. After we located him, we tried every possible method to bring him back, but after an entire year, we still failed."
"Hm…That long?" Qi Xia asked, his tone indifferent.
Qian Five nodded. "A {indigenous inhabitant}’s {sanity} is seized by {Vermilion Bird} personally. Unless you can get it back from him, there’s absolutely no way to recover."
Qi Xia suddenly recalled how Vermilion Bird had taken Xiao Ran’s sanity right in front of him. So all the {indigenous inhabitants} were his handiwork?
Qian Five’s words sparked a new speculation in Qi Xia’s mind. Could it be that Xu Liunian’s abrupt return to being a {participant} had been the result of Vermilion Bird reappearing and restoring her {sanity}?
Was that even possible?
He had died in Xu Liunian’s taxi. What exactly had transpired after that?
Who else had arrived besides {Vermilion Bird}?
Why did Xu Liunian not only return to being a {Participant}, but even go on to assume the role of Chu Tianqiu in {Passage to Heaven}?
What was Chu Tianqiu plotting?
"How very interesting…" A faint smile tugged at the corners of Qi Xia’s lips. "Yes… this is more like it. Your plans need to be at least this elaborate to be worthy of joining forces with me."
Just as Qian Five was about to speak again, Nineteen abruptly interrupted him.
"Five ge, time’s almost up," he said, wiping the sweat from his brow. "Let’s adjourn the meeting for now."
"Very well," Qian Five nodded, then gave everyone a meaningful look. "Please be cautious with your words. From this point on, what you say may be overheard by the {Celestials}."
A few seconds later, the {Sound Insulation} that had enveloped the entire room dissipated.
The collective fell into a hushed stillness—no one quite knew what to say next.
After a brief pause, Qian Five finally spoke. "Would any of you… like to join {Cats}?"
Officer Li glanced between Qi Xia and Qiao Jiajin, then obligingly asked, "And what exactly do you {Cats} do?"
"We’re mercenaries; we work for whoever pays."
"So you all earn {Dào} your own way?" Officer Li inquired.
"No." Qian Five answered with practiced ease, as though he’d addressed this question countless times. "We don’t require {Dào}. What we take is real currency."
"What…?" Officer Li was taken aback. "How do you manage that?"
"Of course, we collect it from the real world," Qian Five said with a smile. "As long as you wire us money in reality, in your next cycle, we’ll risk our lives for you."
"Huh?" Officer Li blinked, clearly bewildered. He glanced at Qi Xia, his thoughts a tangled mess. "I don’t quite get it… We’re not even from the same era. How am I supposed to wire you money?"
"We {Cats} span a range of forty years, past and future." Qian Five took out a cigarette and offered one to Li Shangwu, who accepted it without a word. "Might I ask, officer, which year are you from?"
"I’m from—" Li Shangwu paused briefly, then looked up. "When did I ever say I was an {officer}?"
Qian Five calmly lit Li Shangwu’s cigarette, then replied, "Should I make up a reason? Something like, {you look like one}?"
Officer Li couldn’t help but chuckle. "And what’s the real reason?"
Qian Five gave a small laugh as well. "We go way back. I know who you are."
Officer Li fell silent for a moment before answering, "I’m from 2010."
"Perfect," Qian Five nodded, gesturing toward the young woman beside him. "Zhou Six here is from 2009. Her family can receive the transfer on your behalf. If you ever need our services, find her—she’ll risk her life for you."
Zhou Six gave Li Shangwu a cursory nod, barely sparing him a glance before resuming her indifferent gum-chewing.
"You’re not lying to us… are you?" Officer Li’s expression turned cold as he fixed his gaze on Qian Five. "If we send you money from the outside world, can you really receive it?"
"What do you mean…?" Qian Five looked at Li Shangwu with a hint of confusion. "{Cats} have been around for nearly seven years now. Why would there be any need to deceive anyone at this point?"
"You’re saying…" Officer Li once again cast a sidelong glance at Qi Xia, then cautiously asked, "It’s possible for us to meet… out there?"
TL Note: Very confusing now, since Officer Li had no way of contacting our mc during the previous return. I wonder what’s going on….
