TDU Chapter 472
TL Note: Yay, thank you for the 129th five-star rating! Just one more and Iโll release an extra chapter as thank you~ If you want to write a positive review that would also be an additional release ๐ ๐
edit: we did it! 130th five-star! This is the promised chapter ^^ enjoy!
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Chapter 472 Wen Qiaoyun
โI may not know this {Wen Qiaoyun},โ Qi Xia started as he continued gathering the fragments on the ground, his tone light and unhurried, โbut I have a feeling Iโm stronger than she ever was.โ
โYouโโ Terrestrial Horse was taken aback. โYouโve never even met Wen Qiaoyun. How could you possibly know how powerful she was?โ
โPrecisely because Iโve never met her,โ Qi Xia replied, that unfathomable smile once again tugging at his lips as he chipped away at her mental defenses. โIf Iโm not mistaken, Iโve brushed against annihilation countless times, yet here I stand, still active in {End Point}, while Wen Qiaoyun has faded away.โ
Terrestrial Horse studied Qi Xiaโs eyes closely, as if trying to sift truth from provocation.
โThis proves that the {path} Iโve carved out is stronger than anyoneโs,โ Qi Xia said. โIf youโre willing to resist {that person}, then weโre on the same path. Even if Iโm formidable, I still need the help of the {Earthly Branches}.โ
Terrestrial Horse said nothing, continuing to gather the fragments in silence, her expression suggesting her thoughts had drifted somewhere unreachable.
Qi Xia waited quietly. When it became clear she had no intention of responding, he stood, placed the fragments he had collected onto the nearby {Wooden Ox and Flowing Horse}, and turned to leave the frigid basketball court.
He had done what needed to be done, and said what needed to be said.
At the doorway of the arena, Qi Xia glanced back at Terrestrial Horseโs desolate figure and murmured softly, โThe {mole} I planted is already in playโฆ what comes after is yours to command.โ
He carried a chill with him as he made his way through the foul-smelling streets to reunite with the {Cats}, and together they set off toward where Qian Five was located.
In a shadowed corner, unnoticed by anyone, Terrestrial Horse lifted the corner of her mouth, revealing an unsettling smile. โIโve already informed him of Wen QiaoyunโฆNow, what comes next?โ
โฆ
Zhang Chenze took nearly the entire morning to reach the gates of {Passage to Heaven}.
Her purpose was clear: not only to question Chu Tianqiu about Wen Qiaoyun, but also to find Xu Liunian.
If her plan went smoothly, she might discover through these two a method to revive {indigenous inhabitants} back into {participants}. In doing so, they could awaken Qiaoyun, a tremendous aid who would help bring them one step closer to escaping.
Standing guard at the {Passage to Heaven} were Ole Lu and Auntie Tong. Upon seeing Zhang Chenze return, the two only furrowed their brows slightly.
Zhang Chenze had left yesterday with several others, and now she returned alone. Something was clearly amiss.
โGirlyโฆโ Ole Lu stepped forward and asked, โWhyโre you all by yerself? Where are the others?โ
โHello da ge,โ Zhang Chenze began with a smile, โI had a bit of a disagreement with them, so we went our separate ways.โ
โA disagreementโฆ?โ Ole Lu nodded slightly, a hint of relief in his expression. โAi, disagreements are nothing, as long as no oneโs hurt.โ
โMm, thank you for your concern,โ Zhang Chenze replied with a smile, bypassing Ole Lu and Auntie Tong as she entered the sports field. A few steps in, she saw Chu Tianqiu and Doctor Zhao standing at the teaching building entrance, deep in discussion.
Behind Chu Tianqiu stood the adolescent named Kim Wonhun. When the three noticed Zhang Chenzeโs return, they only turned slightly to offer a polite nod in acknowledgment before resuming their conversation.
And Zhang Chenze strolled forward with complete indifference, entering the circle of their conversation.
Chu Tianqiu gazed at her for a long moment, then smiled with calm elegance. โWhat brings you here?โ
โChu Tianqiu, I have something to ask you. Can we have a moment together?โ
โOf course.โ Chu Tianqiu nodded before turning to Doctor Zhao, โDoctor Zhao, you may go attend to your work. I appreciate your effort with the matters we spoke of just now.โ
โOkay.โ Doctor Zhaoโs face remained solemn as he nodded, then turned and walked into the teaching building.
Chu Tianqiu then turned to Zhang Chenze and gestured. โLetโs talk in my classroom.โ
โฆ
Chu Tianqiu pushed open the classroom door, instructed Kim Wonhun to wait at the doorway, and proceeded inside with Zhang Chenze following.
He dragged over a chair and sat down. Before Zhang Chenze could speak, he asked first, โDid Yun Yao send you here?โ
Zhang Chenze knew precisely the nature of Chu Tianqiu. Like a supreme adversary in a courtroom, any attempt to hide the truth could swiftly turn against her. She nodded without hesitation, admitting the truth.
โMore or less,โ Zhang Chenze replied. โBut Iโm not here to relay Yun Yaoโs words. Thereโs something else I need to ask you about.โ
โGo ahead, Iโm listening,โ Chu Tianqiu removed his glasses, then took a soft cloth from his shirt pocket to wipe them. โBut I canโt promise Iโll tell you the truth.โ
โFine,โ Zhang Chenze nodded, then asked, โWho is Wen Qiaoyun?โ
That brief sentence struck like a thunderclap, sending ripples through Chu Tianqiuโs heart.
โWhโWho did you just say?โ
Zhang Chenze couldnโt help but pause in surprise. She hadnโt expected that even someone as calculating and composed as Chu Tianqiu could betray a flicker of emotion. What exactly was his relationship with this Wen Qiaoyun?
โ{Wen Qiaoyun},โ Zhang Chenze repeated. โYou must know her, right? I want to know what happened between you two.โ
โYouโฆโ Chu Tianqiu finished wiping his glasses and carefully replaced them on the bridge of his nose, then regained his composed expression. โHow peculiarโฆ Itโs hard to believe anyone would still remember her name... And youโฆ how did it come to your knowledge?โ
โPerhaps it was mere coincidence,โ Zhang Chenze replied straightforwardly. โAn elderly man, whose memory had endured many years, informed me.โ
โIs that so?โ Chu Tianqiu let out a bitter laugh. โSuch a person exists, huh?โ
โSo, are you going to tell me?โ Zhang Chenze asked.
โBefore I speak, may I inquire as to your motive?โ Chu Tianqiu countered. โAfter all, Wen Qiaoyun is a figure already carved into the pages of history. Does knowing her story offer you any advantage?โ
โIt does,โ Zhang Chenze nodded. โWe have located Wen Qiaoyun and want to awaken her. Since you know her, you must also know she once led all the {participants}. She would certainly help us escape from here.โ
Hearing this, Chu Tianqiu slowly stood and gazed out the classroom window toward the sports field.
Though his face remained unreadable, Zhang Chenze sensed something strange in his posture. He seemed profoundly desolate.
Seeing that Chu Tianqiu remained silent, Zhang Chenze pressed on. โChu Tianqiu, in the real world I am a lawyer. If you are willing to tell me everything, I will do everything I can to help you.โ
โHelpโฆme?โ Chu Tianqiu let out a bitter laugh as he stared outside. โYou donโt even know what it is I want, and yet you claim you can help?โ
โThen help Wen Qiaoyun,โ Zhang Chenze corrected. โYou are alive and well, but you should be aware that Wen Qiaoyun is not. Are you going to let her continue like this?โ
Chu Tianqiu remained frozen for a long moment, then slowly turned to face Zhang Chenze, revealing eyes filled with utter despair.
โLawyer Zhang, are you confident that once you know what I hold in my mind, you will be able to aid me?โ
TL Note: Rant goes here ( โขฬฬฏ โ โขฬฬฏ)
