Translator: Cinder Translations
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A small broken tree branch lay quietly on the table.
An Xuan sat beside it, staring at the branch. No one knew what he was thinking.
Xia Meng wanted to speak to him several times, but in the end, the words always got stuck in her throat, forcing her to swallow them back down.
She had been right there when An Xuan snapped Zuo Jing's fingers one by one. If not for the sound of the rain covering the noise, the crisp snapping would have surely aroused suspicion.
But at the same time, An Xuan had exposed himself.
At the very least, everyone now knew that he and Zuo Jing were acquainted—that they had entered this nightmare together as teammates.
But so what?
It didn't matter.
After all, the evidence Zuo Jing had protected with her dying breath was enough to identify the killer. Clutched tightly in her palm was a broken tree branch.
Why had she taken the branch from her mouth and held onto it so desperately before she died?
That was not normal.
Unless this branch had a special meaning. More specifically, unless this branch was her final message.
Her silent accusation against the murderer!
"It's You Qi," Xia Meng said in a deep voice.
It was a long time before An Xuan finally nodded. He didn't look heartbroken—at least, he didn't cry or show any pained expression. He simply sat there in silence.
But that silence made Xia Meng feel that he was difficult to approach.
She wasn't close to An Xuan or Zuo Jing; at most, they had a temporary cooperation. She had no idea what kind of relationship An Xuan and Zuo Jing had. But from the way this man was acting, it was probably not a simple one.
Wisely, she did not ask. She didn't disturb him.
Because there was no need.
"Do me a favor." An Xuan suddenly spoke.
"Watch Jiang Cheng for you?" Xia Meng wasn't surprised at all. Their conversation was as bland as a cup of boiled water. "Make sure he doesn't interfere with you."
An Xuan nodded. "I'll be counting on you."
Exhaling softly, Xia Meng glanced out the window. Then, in an unusually rare tone, she said, "Do whatever you want." She placed her hands behind her head and continued, "I don't know anything anyway."
"I didn't see anything, didn't hear anything," she added, looking straight at An Xuan. "When we get out of here and your people ask me how You Qi died, I'll know nothing."
"Or…" She thought for a moment. "I could say Jiang Cheng did it." She added, "And that Fatty. They did it together."
"That might bring you trouble." An Xuan took the branch and tucked it into his clothing. He turned back to her and said, "I'd advise you not to do that."
Xia Meng studied him with a strange look before nodding. "Go on."
"Jiang Cheng's identity is special." An Xuan paused for a moment before continuing, "In this mission, his survival takes priority over yours."
Xia Meng's expression changed immediately. Just as she opened her mouth to ask a question, An Xuan cut her off.
He spoke quickly, as if making final arrangements. "In other words, we can sacrifice ourselves for you. But at the same time, if both your lives are in danger, then your sacrifice is inevitable."
"Why?" Xia Meng asked immediately. "Who? Who gave this order? Your Execution Division's higher-ups?"
An Xuan shook his head. "No." He locked eyes with her and said, "Higher than that."
Xia Meng's heart tightened.
A moment later—
"Why are you telling me this?" She stared at him intently. "This… should be classified information, right?"
She knew a little about the history of the Night Watchers. It was a history written entirely in blood.
An organization of that scale was held together not only by unwavering belief but also by strict discipline.
Rumors said there was even a special group within the organization dedicated to punishing those who broke their original oath, betrayed their teammates, or leaked information. And according to legend, their methods were as gruesome as medieval European torture.
"Consider it your reward for helping me." An Xuan's calm tone eased some of her discomfort. "Besides, you've already noticed that Jiang Cheng isn't an ordinary person, haven't you?"
Flashes of past events surfaced in Xia Meng's mind—every encounter with Jiang Cheng during the mission, playing out one by one. She was thinking, analyzing, and judging.
She wasn't the type to trust people easily, but she also couldn't think of a reason for An Xuan to lie to her.
After this mission, the two of them would probably never cross paths again.
There was no reason for him to create trouble for himself.
"This is all I can tell you." An Xuan didn't look at her. His gaze was fixed on the window, where the rustling of leaves sounded particularly irritating. "And this is all I know."
Xia Meng pressed her lips together. She wasn't willing to let it go. The information An Xuan had given her completely contradicted what she had been told.
Before coming here, Uncle Gong had told her something entirely different.
According to the plan, she was supposed to be the central figure in this mission.
The Deep Crimson's target was her.
That meant her survival should have been the highest priority.
She had come fully prepared.
She had three cards to play.
Jiang Cheng and Fatty were her open cards—used to take the brunt of the Deep Crimson's attacks, as well as threats from ghosts, NPCs, and any other hostile players.
The newspaper containing clues was her hidden card—when and with whom she shared its information depended solely on maximizing her own interests.
Then there were An Xuan and Zuo Jing.
These two members of the Night Watchers' Execution Division were her trump cards. Unless absolutely necessary, she wouldn't use them. They lurked in the shadows, silent as assassins waiting in the night.
With one goal.
The Deep Crimson.
They existed to counter the Deep Crimson, and they had come specifically for it.
(End of the Chapter)
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