TDU Chapter 351
TL Note: Thank you whoever just gave this novel its 97th five-star rating one NovelUpdates! This chapter is for you <3
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Chapter 351 Severance
“How peculiar…” Song Seven brows knit together as he glanced at Chen Junnan. “You’re acquainted with both Five ge and Six jie?”
“I definitely know your Five ge, but I don’t know if that Six jie of yours—” Chen Junnan scanned the room. “Huh? Where’s Dong jie? I was supposed to take her to meet an old acquaintance...”
Yun Yao paused. “Chen Junnan... do you only remember things before today?”
“Before today...?” Chen Junnan sighed and walked to the window, glancing at the sky.
Yes, and oddly so. It felt like he had only just opened his eyes, and yet the day had already slipped into afternoon.
“Xiao Chu... this ability... feels rather familiar.” Chen Junnan turned back with a serious expression, staring at Chu Tianqiu.
“Is that so? Does it remind you of someone you know?”
“You know well enough.” Chen Junnan’s tone was edged with scorn. “I heard all of you arguing over who should lead {Passage to Heaven}, and now it’s clear—you were the only choice. In this madhouse of lunatics… who better to command than you?”
“This does put me in a delicate spot…” Chu Tianqiu smiled. “But seeing as you’ve spoken so sincerely, I shall, however reluctantly, remain {leader} a while longer.”
Chen Junnan sneered, then approached his {own} corpse. He looked at the body identical to himself with a complicated expression, lost in thought.
After a short moment, he reached into the chest pocket of the corpse and smiled slightly. Seeing that no one noticed, he quickly retrieved the item from the pocket, then stood up and said to Song Seven, “Xiao Song, are you heading back?”
“Yes,” Song Seven nodded. “Now that my mission is completed, there’s no need to stay here any longer.”
“Then let’s go together, we can look for Dong jie en route.” After saying that, Chen Junnan turned to the others and asked, “Does anyone know which direction Dong jie went?”
No one present had a clue. Doctor Zhao and Han Yimo exchanged glances and lightly replied, “The girls followed Su Shan to participate in a game...likely a {Terrestrial-grade} one…”
“Su Shan…” Song Seven’s eyes flickered briefly. “The one we dug for several times but never found, now joined Chu Tianqiu?”
“Nonsense,” Chen Junnan interjected. “How could Su Shan have sided with Xiao Chu? She’s clearly aligned with our Ole Qi.”
Yun Yao studied Chen Junnan closely. The way he spoke, the disdain etched into his features…
He seemed like the same man, yet somehow also a brand-new person.
Chu Tianqiu showed no anger at Chen Junnan’s words—he simply smiled and nodded. “Indeed, I am not acquainted with the young lady named Su Shan, so it wouldn’t be accurate to say she’s with me.”
“Pay him no mind,” Chen Junnan said dismissively. “Xiao Song, let’s go.”
“Just a moment…” a voice urged Chen Junnan to halt.
He looked back at the figure, uncertain who she was.
“What is it?” Chen Junnan asked. “Something wrong?”
“Do…” Xu Qian hesitated, then glanced at the corpse on the floor and back at the Chen Junnan before her, tentatively asking, “Do you no longer remember me?”
“No longer remember…?” Chen Junnan stood silent a moment before appraising Xu Qian. “Is there a mandate that I must know every fair maiden at {End Point}?”
Xu Qian’s eyes flickered briefly before she slowly lowered her head. What on earth was going on?
Was this man really Chen Junnan?
It seemed to Xu Qian that every memory she shared with Chen Junnan had fallen into a fissure.
In the realm of {End Point}, only those possessing {Reverberation} can hold onto their memories; without it, remembrance fades. Yet this Chen Junnan had seemingly {leapt beyond} all memories related to her. If he were to be resurrected again next cycle, he still would not recall what had transpired.
Chen Junnan looked at the woman before him, his expression unreadable. After a moment, he turned and patted Song Seven lightly, whispering “Let’s go,” before gently pushing him and turning to leave the room.
The two soon disappeared down the corridor.
Those remaining were all unsettled, none more so than Yun Yao.
Nothing that had happened so far had been what she expected, and her mind was in utter chaos.
Why was Chu Tianqiu able to {replicate} Chen Junnan?
His {Reverberation} was supposed to only activate after witnessing the {End}, yet now, before everyone’s eyes, he had {replicated} a brand-new Chen Junnan.
What had he eaten just now?
How had he managed to kill those Terrestrial-grades?
Yun Yao had countless questions she wanted to ask Chu Tianqiu, but she knew he had changed.
In the last three cycles, {Passage to Heaven} has been mired in deep turmoil, stirred by this very man.
“Yun Yao…” Chu Tianqiu called out her name, then glanced at everyone in the room. Seeing that no one supported her, a faint smile appeared on his face. “This time, it was a moment of folly. Your prior words were unmeant, yes? We remain comrades and allies in the days to come.”
Yun Yao mused quietly for several seconds, her expression solidifying into unwavering resolve.
“Chu Tianqiu, not a single word I say is without purpose,” she replied steadily. “If you are to continue leading {Passage to Heaven}, then from today onward, I am withdrawing.”
The putrid, rancid evening breeze from {End Point} drifted in through the window, brushing past Yun Yao’s impassive face.
“Hm?” Chu Tianqiu paused slightly, his gaze subtly different than before. “Yun Yao… don’t you think it’s a pity to leave now? We once agreed that we would—”
“It is not ‘a pity’,” Yun Yao interrupted firmly. “After witnessing your actions today, I’m more convinced than ever that following you means no chance of escape. The Chu Tianqiu I knew is dead. What remains is a madman I do not recognize. For him, human lives hold little value; his indifferent, swift duplication of comrades—all of this fills me with grief.”
At her words, Chu Tianqiu’s expression betrayed an unrestrained sense of disappointment. “Then… what is it that you want?”
“Just as you said, I am free to establish a second organization.” Yun Yao strode to the table, gripping the head of {Terrestrial Snake}. “From now on, I will carry out {Passage to Heaven}’s founding ideals myself, purging the realm of {Earthly Branches} and delivering the {participants} a land untainted. If someday I fail and become an {indigenous inhabitant}, you will bear no responsibility for it.”
Chu Tianqiu’s brow furrowed as he grasped Yun Yao’s arm tightly, whispering solemnly, “What nonsense are you spouting? Don’t you realize there are outsiders still present...?”
“Doesn’t matter,” Yun Yao replied firmly. “{Judgment’s Domain} will find out about me sooner or later. Instead of hiding forever, it’s better to be upfront now.”
She turned to look at the smiling Yan Zhichun and asked, “{Adherent}, has your aim shifted? Do you intend to kill me now?”
Yan Zhichun laughed faintly. “No, I have no objection to eliminating {Earthly Branches}. Besides, you’ve already triggered your {Reverberation}; taking your life now would be to no avail.”
TL Note: While Chu Tianqiu is a complete lunatic, I like to think he still cares for Yun Yao, which is a plus for me.
