Chapter 484: 2.2 Main – Pinokangni (155)

Assassin Wu Liuqi.

"Face‑to‑face showdown... what is he actually thinking?"

With only a single star core, Qingfeng still doesn't think Xingqiri can stand up to the Train Group. Moreover, they wield the Alliance Jade Sign and can summon the celestial ship army. The only thing Qingfeng can think of is the Dream Master—the mastermind who has been plotting in Pinokangni for countless years; he must still have some hidden cards.

"Could it be the Infinite Husband? But the Train Group has already been watched by Xipei of Harmony; as someone who has been seen by the Star God, would he also be hunted by the Infinite Husband?"

Although eager to know, Qingfeng temporarily set aside that curiosity; at present, only two matters are crucial: first, the chance to meet the leader alone; second, to continue comprehending the sword technique left by the woman named Jingliu.

These days Qingfeng has been trying to replicate Jingliu's sword skill—unfortunately the progress never meets his expectations. He isn't sure whether the leader is also studying it; given his understanding of the leader, he won't miss any chance to become stronger.

Moreover, under Xipei's gaze a moment ago, Qingfeng clearly felt his consciousness briefly hazy and heard a strange harmony—if Harmony's great power can affect him, then other shadow assassins besides the leader would also be affected to some degree.

... Could this be leveraged in the assassination phase?

Qingfeng fell into contemplation.

——

"\"For that reason, in the upcoming showdown—he will certainly give his all. \""

"\"He seems so upright... \" Xing scratched his head.

"\"You, why did you chicken out? \" Sanyueqi placed both hands on his hips, \"We've even dealt with the cataclysmic Extinction Overlord; a mere 'Order' is certainly no problem! \""

"Jizi is certain that the star core cannot be ignored under any circumstances, but Liuying expressed concern: behind Xingqiri lies the massive consciousness nurtured for centuries by the Festival Star, and the emotions of countless people birthed in dreams have become the cradle of Order's beautiful dream."

"\"By harnessing the will of an entire world to usher in a Star God's birth... this showdown is far from a mere clash of strength. For Pinokangni's future, it cannot be only you who fight on the stage. \""

"Sanyueqi sensed something off in Liuying's words: 'You? What do you mean? Aren't you leaving with us...?'"

"Jizi stepped forward to explain: 'I think Miss Liuying means she has to rush to another battlefield.'"

"'Hmm.' Liuying nodded, '... Before departing, the Slave of Destiny told me this journey would grant me unforgettable gains. The script he gave is only a few lines, yet impossible to ignore. One line reads... I will experience three deaths in the Land of Dreams.'"

"Sanyueqi, astonished, covered his mouth: 'Three—three deaths?! That must be in quotation marks...'"

"'The first is pain akin to death; my body was pierced by a dormant blade, giving rise to all subsequent stories. The script will certainly come true, but its form... will only reveal when that page is turned.'"

"'But now I have grasped the meaning of the second death and will put it into action. If all goes well, this will provide you with a crucial clue.'"

"'Only by winning this battle does Pinokangni have a future. Only then will the yet-to-come third, also final, death... not manifest in the worst possible way.'"

"'The worst form, isn't that...'"

"Jizi nodded: 'True death... everyone in Pinokangni will forever sink in the beautiful dream of Order.'"

——

Re: Starting Life in Another World from Zero.

"I see, the 'script' Ailiuo gave does have certain variables during execution."

"The fireplace in Luozivaar's manor crackled, and Caiyue Su looked up at the expressions of those in the sky dome, feeling very curious about Liuying's 'three deaths' discourse."

"In other words, as long as the second death is handled properly, the third death occurring is irrelevant. If the second death is mishandled, the third will bring the worst outcome."

"Betty curled up on the single sofa, gently closing the magic book in her hands, 'It really is a script... how the result appears depends entirely on the actors' interpretation.'"

"Although she was very curious about Liuying's 'second death' actually referred to, what concerned her most at the moment was not Liuying but Xingqiri and Dan Heng and their group."

"Huangquan explicitly said she hopes the Train Group can leap out of this star system; considering her strength comparable to the Imperial Envoy, this woman must have foreseen some major danger... a danger that also troubles her."

"Combining Xingqiri, Betty naturally associated him with the Dream Master's plan."

"Could Huangquan slay Xingqiri with a single blade from the real dimension?"

"Betty's idea was simple: although Xingqiri is formidable in dreams, being both Order and Harmony, in the real dimension he's just an ordinary flesh body in a daydream hotel. If the assassination could be completed from outside, that troublesome 'chicken‑wing boy' would be completely dealt with."

"Miss Huangquan can split Pinokangni's heavens in half with a single slash; surely dividing Xingqiri in half would be no trouble either."

——

"Liuying temporarily parts ways with everyone here."

"She stood alone in the hot‑sand sub‑venue, lowering her head to stare at her palm—there a prism‑like transformation device floated, its core flickering like fireflies. The moment her fingertips curled, the device unfolded several light wings, and a scorching flame enveloped her."

"\"I dreamed of a scorched earth, a new bud breaking through the soil, blooming toward the sunrise, whispering softly to me... \""

"The girl's cheek cracked with molten‑gold fissures, yet her gaze never wavered, until her entire body was sheathed in assault armor, a torrent of scorching flame spewing from her chest, turning into a crimson streak that vanished into the sky."

"\"'Firefly darts at flame, reborn toward death. May we meet again in the lucid reality.'\""

"\"On the other side, the Stars also rode the surging Sulda toward Pinokangni's sky, straight to the final destination—the Pinokangni Grand Theater. \""

"..."

"In the night, the blade‑driven sports car sped along the road; he placed his hand on the steering wheel and said lightly, 'Dreamland, Pinokangni. May you find the answer you seek there... or liberation.'"

"'...' Liuying inhaled deeply, 'You mean those three deaths?'"

"It was Silver Wolf who told me. I only regret they aren't in my script."

"'I want to keep living, but I'm not afraid of death. The opposite of death is immortality, which has never... been what I seek. Everyone eventually dies, I am no different. Death is like a script, an unavoidable fate. Yet precisely because of that... we must choose our own burial ground.'"