Chapter 338: The Path of Destruction

"Shuangsheng Hua...?"

Qi Xia turned back to look at Zheng Yingxiong again. He felt that this child's ability was exceptionally outstanding. He was almost like a mobile "display screen," actually able to know the "Huixiang" names of others.

Qiao Jijin and Li Shangwu stared blankly at Qian Wu, watching him change from a woman to a man right before their eyes—a scene rarely seen even in movies.

"You... you're really a pervert, aren't you...?"

"No." Qian Wu shook his head. "I am 'Shuangsheng Hua' Qian Wu. One of my abilities is to change my own form."

At that moment, Qi Xia looked up at Qian Wu. Although his form had changed in an instant, in "Zhongyan Zhidi," nothing was truly unacceptable.

"Why can't we gather three thousand six hundred 'Dao'?"

Qian Wu paused to steady his breathing, then released his grip on Qi Xia's hand and leaned back to sit properly before replying, "Qi Xia, don't you find it strange? What is 'Dao'? Where does it come from, and what is it for? And what would happen if we gathered three thousand six hundred of them?"

"I don't know, but since someone set the rules, we should just follow them."

"You're wrong." Qian Wu shook his head. "I can only tell you that 'Dao' is the biggest scam in 'Zhongyan Zhidi.' Once a 'participant' collects three thousand six hundred of them, Tianlong and Qinglong will both appear. They'll erase everyone's memories, kill anyone in sight, and then reshuffle the entire 'Zhongyan Zhidi.' Everyone will be like they've just arrived here—that's what they call the 'way out.'"

Qiao Jijin and Li Shangwu slowly raised their eyebrows, sensing that things were more than they expected. It all seemed unbelievable, yet somehow inevitable. So, gathering three thousand six hundred 'Dao' wasn't a path to escape at all—it was a path to destruction.

"Qi Xia, you should know that 'Zhongyan Zhidi' has existed for possibly longer than our lifetimes. How could no one have collected three thousand six hundred 'Dao' by now?"

Qi Xia nodded silently. "That's true." He knew that even in his own past, he should have been able to gather that many, as long as he understood the rules well—it wouldn't have been difficult for him.

"As long as you've wandered here long enough, you'll notice that everyone's memories have a uniform gap." Qian Wu frowned slightly, as if recalling something painful. "Some people's memories last seven years, others five years, and some only two years."

Li Shangwu was slightly startled. "Are you saying... the reason everyone has memories aligned to these specific time points is because someone collected three thousand six hundred 'Dao' back then?"

"That's right." Qian Wu nodded. "In the 'Mao' team, some brothers retained five years of memories, and most only two years. The only one with more than seven years... is me."

Li Shangwu wanted to ask more, but Qi Xia quietly placed a hand on his arm, stopping him.

"Qian Wu, why have you managed to escape the 'reshuffle' every time? Seven years ago, five years ago, and two years ago—you've dodged them all?"

Qian Wu blinked, then took a cigarette from the pack on the table and lit it.

"My 'Huixiang' has a special effect that lets me escape during a 'reshuffle.'"

"So, what you're implying... is that your memories hold the entire history of 'Zhongyan Zhidi'?"

"No, as I said earlier, 'Zhongyan Zhidi' might have existed longer than either of us. I only discovered a way to escape the 'reshuffle' ten years ago, so I haven't retained anything from before that. But this method is my key to survival—I won't reveal it."

Qi Xia narrowed his eyes thoughtfully, lost in his own thoughts.

"Qi Xia, I've laid everything out for you this time because I want to hear your plan." Qian Wu sighed and continued, "If I think your plan is feasible, I'll bring all the 'Mao' with me and risk our lives alongside you."

"Oh?" Qi Xia rested his chin in his hand, carefully weighing the truth in Qian Wu's words, then said, "I remember the 'Mao' are mercenaries, right? You stay here taking money to do jobs, but now you want to get out?"

Qian Wu glanced at Song Qi, Zhou Liu, and Shijiu before answering, "This might only be known to us few..."

"What is it?"

"The participants in 'Zhongyan Zhidi' are gradually decreasing. If we don't find a way out soon, everyone will be trapped here forever. But rushing into a war with 'Tianlong' isn't wise—we're just waiting for the right opportunity."

"Is that so...?" Qi Xia tilted his head slightly. "You 'Mao' go from 'Wu' to 'Ershiyi'—that's exactly seventeen people. You say something that even ten thousand people couldn't do, seventeen can accomplish?"

"Back then, I didn't understand anything—I just followed you. But it's different now." Qian Wu took a slow drag from his cigarette and exhaled the smoke into the room. "Qi Xia, the 'Mao' is a well-trained team that can complete any mission."

"Then why not seek help from Chu Tianqiu?" Qi Xia asked. "He wants to kill 'Tianlong' more than you do, and the 'Tian Tang Kou' has nearly twice as many people as the 'Mao.'"

At those words, the 'Mao' members present showed looks of disdain. Zhou Liu even spat out the gum he'd been chewing onto the floor and glared fiercely at Qi Xia. "Tsk! What are you saying? The 'Tian Tang Kou' people are just rabble, no matter how many there are. They're not united—can't you see that?"

Qian Wu reached out and patted Zhou Liu on the shoulder, his form instantly shifting back to that of a woman. "Zhou Liu, there's no need."

"Tsk, Boss Wu, what kind of person is this?" Zhou Liu seemed unsatisfied and spat on the floor again. "I've been giving you face since we walked in—I haven't said a word until now, but is he even talking properly?"

Qian Wu frowned slightly. "Zhou Liu, pick up the gum. It's a mess to leave it on the floor."

Zhou Liu took a deep breath, gritted his teeth, and picked up the gum.

Qian Wu turned back to Qi Xia and said, "Qi Xia, I've always been curious—why did you join Chu Tianqiu's side? Do you two really get along?"

Qi Xia knew there was more to Qian Wu's words, so he just nodded. "Chu Tianqiu is an interesting person. He's hidden a lot from me."

"Yeah..." Qian Wu laughed. "It seems you also know that Chu Tianqiu isn't just at the 'two years' level."

"Of course not." Qi Xia laughed too. "Though he's been deceiving me, our ultimate goals don't conflict, so we can stay on the same side for now."