Chapter 316: Pinokangni Chapter (5)

"\"If this means their departure, I will, \" Xing's sincere answer."

"\"Hmm… what if there is a vast dream, so realistic that it is indistinguishable from reality. There is no birth, parting, or death there; everyone can obtain the happiness and fulfillment they deserve and live forever in joy. \""

"Huang Quan continued to ask: \"May I ask, would you be willing to dwell within it? \""

"\"Regardless, I do not wish to live in a dream, \" Xing shook his head."

"\"Then… if this beautiful dream shatters, everything will depart, every person in their memories, those smiles and tears, fulfilled and unfulfilled promises… all will ultimately march toward the predetermined end. If at the start of the journey you already knew the destination…\""

"\"May I ask, would you still embark on this journey? \""

"Xing's gaze was steadfast: \"I will forge ahead without hesitation. \""

"Huang Quan said expressionlessly: \"I know this is difficult; there's no need to rush a decision. I have said… the answer is not important. So back to the original question… May I ask, do you still remember me? \""

"\"No, this is our first meeting, \" Xing remained confident."

"\"…I understand, \" Huang Quan nodded, \"The golden dream is about to stir. In the coming long night, you will likely encounter many setbacks, witness numerous tragedies, and finally… your vision will contain only black and white. \""

"\"But trust that in that black-and-white world there will be a fleeting speck of red, and when you make your choice, it will appear again…\""

"——"

"Spiritual energy at 100%."

"\"Master, did you understand what she said? \" Long Tao stared blankly at Ling Huan Xinlong."

"\"N-no, I didn't understand at all…\" Ling Huan felt his CPU was about to overheat; each word of the woman's speech he recognized in isolation, but when assembled he couldn't grasp a single sentence. She seemed to have said everything and yet nothing, as if speaking riddles."

"\"What are 'long night', 'golden dream', 'black and white'… could they be metaphors? \""

"This woman called Huang Quan clearly hasn't met Xing for the first time; who would ask such questions right away? Moreover, she seems very familiar with Pinokangni… could she be from the Tongxie family?"

"But whatever she metaphorized, Ling Huan concluded from her words—Pinokangni is far from the simplicity Xing imagined; combined with what the young brother and sister with halos over their heads said, this dream surely hides an unknown tragedy."

"\"Master, could there be a possibility… that this Miss Huang Quan is testing Xing? \" Long Tao whispered."

"\"Testing? \""

"\"Exactly, Miss Huang Quan is a sea‑roving ranger, like a knight traversing the galaxy. She hasn't only questioned Xing; she asks anyone she deems suspicious, and if the answer displeases her or shows hostility, she…\""

"Long Tao did not continue, and made a tightening gesture around his solemn neck."

"\"Hey hey hey… are you a ranger or a murderer? Judging friend or foe this way, Miss Huang Quan is probably already wanted within the sea‑roving ranger ranks, right?! \""

"——"

"\"Huang Quan gripped her long sword tightly; as she lightly brushed the edge of Xing's garment, time suddenly became viscous. \""

"\"And you, must chew over its meaning—then return to the waking world. \""

"\"Huang Quan slowly lifted her head, those eternally indifferent eyes… shedding a tear of blood. \""

"Xing turned back in confusion, wanting to ask the meaning of her words, but before the question formed, a searing pain exploded from her abdomen."

"\"Crimson. \""

"\"This was Xing's final perception before losing consciousness. She felt herself plunging rapidly, falling into a cold lake, suffocating bit by bit. \""

"\"…Xing passenger? \""

"\"Pam's voice suddenly pierced the darkness. \""

"Xing snapped her eyes open, fingers digging deep into the train seat leather. A cold sensation brushed her face—not blood, but two streams of tears that had fallen at an unknown time."

"Pam looked at her with concern: \"What's wrong? W-why did you suddenly start crying? \""

"\"I dreamed of a riddler speaking nonsense…\""

"——"

"One Punch Man."

"\"What a hardcore wake‑up service…\""

"\"Speaking of which, just this one slash is already far stronger than those S‑rank heroes in the association, right? \""

"\"Are you alluding to the fourth S‑rank, Thus line: Yuanzǐ Wushi? Heh, I admit he's strong in Z City, but in the universe… I can only say he still needs training. \""

"\"Hey! Do you have no regard for your life? Thus line: Yuanzǐ Wushi himself is right here! \""

"\"Is that real…! I hope he doesn't hear! I'm withdrawing! \""

"\"…\""

"In the ramen shop, diners set down their chopsticks and chatted. At a second‑floor table, a few disciples of the Sword Saint and their master stared blankly at the sky‑screen; chopsticks trembled slightly, a half‑cooked onsen egg slipped from the tip, creating a tiny ripple on the noodle broth."

"\"Hey hey, did you see clearly just now? Her sword‑drawing motion…\""

"Thus line: Yuanzǐ Wushi strained to recall Huang Quan's slash; he couldn't remember where the woman drew her sword. In his memory she only tightened the scabbard, her finger resting on the hilt, with no other movement."

"Could it be because of the dream?"

"Disciple Jiehe An shook his head; not only could he not see the sword‑drawing, he felt Huang Quan moved as if strolling, and as she walked, Xing behind her was cut down."

"\"Master, since we can't see clearly, why not ask…\" Jiehe An lowered his voice, pointing his thumb at a man nearby who was buried in his rice."

"——KING."

"Thus line: Yuanzǐ Wushi, upon entering, immediately noticed KING dining by the window. He didn't intend to disturb him, but since such an interesting scene unfolded on the sky‑screen, he had to talk to the ultimate weapon hailed as \"the strongest human. \""

"(He's riddled with flaws… could he be trying to lure a hidden monster to attack him, then counter‑kill? That's so KING, a truly meticulous man…)"

"Thus line: Yuanzǐ Wushi praised him in his mind while leading his disciple to sit opposite KING."

"KING, slurping his noodles, stared blankly at Thus line: Yuanzǐ Wushi, having no idea why the guy was there."

"\"KING, you also witnessed Huang Quan's sword‑draw in the sky‑screen just now, right? \" Thus line: Yuanzǐ Wushi smiled slightly, \"We didn't see the woman's sword‑draw clearly; you're called 'the strongest human', you should have seen it, right? \""

"\"Draw the sword? \""

"KING frowned, \"Draw what sword? \" Just now, while eating noodles and watching the sky‑screen, he was so absorbed that chili oil hit his throat; by the time he recovered, Xing had already awakened."