Ten Day Ultimatum

“I may not know this {Wen Qiaoyun},” Qi Xia started as he continued gathering the fragments on the ground, his tone light and unhurried, “but I have a feeling I’m stronger than she ever was.”

“You—” Terrestrial Horse was taken aback. “You’ve never even met Wen Qiaoyun. How could you possibly know how powerful she was?”

“Precisely because I’ve never met her,” Qi Xia replied, that unfathomable smile once again tugging at his lips as he chipped away at her mental defenses. “If I’m not mistaken, I’ve brushed against annihilation countless times, yet here I stand, still active in {End Point}, while Wen Qiaoyun has faded away.”

Terrestrial Horse studied Qi Xia’s eyes closely, as if trying to sift truth from provocation.

“This proves that the {path} I’ve carved out is stronger than anyone’s,” Qi Xia said. “If you’re willing to resist {that person}, then we’re on the same path. Even if I’m formidable, I still need the help of the {Earthly Branches}.”

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 Horse’s desolate figure and murmured softly, “The {mole} I planted is already in play... what comes after is yours to command.”

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. “I’ve already informed him of Wen Qiaoyun...Now, what comes next?”

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.

“Girly...” Ole Lu stepped forward and asked, “Why’re you all by yerself? Where are the others?”

“Hello da ge,” Zhang Chenze began with a smile, “I had a bit of a disagreement with them, so we went our separate ways.”

“A disagreement...?” Ole Lu nodded slightly, a hint of relief in his expression. “Ai, disagreements are nothing, as long as no one’s hurt.”

“Mm, thank you for your concern,” 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 Chenze’s 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. “What brings you here?”

“Chu Tianqiu, I have something to ask you. Can we have a moment together?”

“Of course.” Chu Tianqiu nodded before turning to Doctor Zhao, “Doctor Zhao, you may go attend to your work. I appreciate your effort with the matters we spoke of just now.”

Language Resource

“Okay.” Doctor Zhao’s face remained solemn as he nodded, then turned and walked into the teaching building.

Chu Tianqiu then turned to Zhang Chenze and gestured. “Let’s talk in my classroom.

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, “Did Yun Yao send you here?”

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.

“More or less,” Zhang Chenze replied. “But I’m not here to relay Yun Yao’s words. There’s something else I need to ask you about.”

“Go ahead, I’m listening,” Chu Tianqiu removed his glasses, then took a soft cloth from his shirt pocket to wipe them. “But I can’t promise I’ll tell you the truth.”

“Fine,” Zhang Chenze nodded, then asked, “Who is Wen Qiaoyun?”

That brief sentence struck like a thunderclap, sending ripples through Chu Tianqiu’s heart.

“Wh–Who did you just say?”

Zhang Chenze couldn’t help but pause in surprise. She hadn’t 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?

“{Wen Qiaoyun},” Zhang Chenze repeated. “You must know her, right? I want to know what happened between you two.”

“You...” Chu Tianqiu finished wiping his glasses and carefully replaced them on the bridge of his nose, then regained his composed expression. “How peculiar... It’s hard to believe anyone would still remember her name... And you... how did it come to your knowledge?”

“Perhaps it was mere coincidence,” Zhang Chenze replied straightforwardly. “An elderly man, whose memory had endured many years, informed me.”

“Is that so?” Chu Tianqiu let out a bitter laugh. “Such a person exists, huh?”

“So, are you going to tell me?” Zhang Chenze asked.

“Before I speak, may I inquire as to your motive?” Chu Tianqiu countered. “After all, Wen Qiaoyun is a figure already carved into the pages of history. Does knowing her story offer you any advantage?”

“It does,” Zhang Chenze nodded. “We 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.”

Hearing this, Chu Tianqiu slowly stood and gazed out the classroom window toward the sports ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) 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. “Chu 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.”

“Help...me?” Chu Tianqiu let out a bitter laugh as he stared outside. “You don’t even know what it is I want, and yet you claim you can help?”

“Then help Wen Qiaoyun,” Zhang Chenze corrected. “You are alive and well, but you should be aware that Wen Qiaoyun is not. Are you going to let her continue like this?”

Chu Tianqiu remained frozen for a long moment, then slowly turned to face Zhang Chenze, revealing eyes filled with utter despair.

“Lawyer Zhang, are you confident that once you know what I hold in my mind, you will be able to aid me?”