Chapter 505: 2.2 Main – Pinokangni (176)

"Hold my hand and come with me. We… will leave here," Huang Quan tightly grasped the elder's hand, "You will walk a very long, very long road, and all you see in every direction will be darkness. But do not fear, because you will see, at the end of that road there will always be a hint of red."

"That is the color of Existence; you must follow it, and it will guide you out. In this way, you will surely be able to reunite under the sun."

"Thank you…"

"May death end your long dream… and guide you back to the waking world."

——

Genshin.

"This person is… Tie Ernan!"

Yue Ruixi, dreaming, was surprised and covered her mouth.

"Oh my~ I didn't expect that the elder who has always accompanied Miss Huang Quan is actually a companion of Mihail," Divine Son squinted, "It seems Mr. Tie Ernan's experiences are truly bizarre: not only did he board the train and encounter a swarm of insects, he survived, joined the Sea‑Patrolling Rangers, and took part in a campaign against the Extinction Overlord…"

Mr. Tie Ernan not only had great luck, but was also sufficiently fortunate and bold; after escaping the insect swarm he didn't even think to stop, and actually killed a commanding spirit with his team… even General Jingyuan of Luofu, who at the time was merely an incarnation of Huanlong.

"... what a spectacular life."

Ying set down the dumpling milk in her hand and sighed softly. To have experienced so many grand events with a mortal body is enough to make life worthwhile. Perhaps the only regret is not having seen Mihail one last time before death.

If they could meet again, I fear they would have endless things to say to each other, wouldn't they?

But if he can learn of his relics beneath the spring, and through Huang Quan ultimately aid the pioneering juniors, that would be enough to comfort him.

——

Xing opened his eyes.

A faint water sound came from below his feet, the icy surface lapped his ankles, forming weak ripples. All around there was no light, no wind, only an endless expanse of darkness.

In the distance, a massive Black Hole floated in the Void, like a silent gigantic mouth, devouring every possible hue.

"Welcome to the Horizon of Existence…" Huang Quan gazed at the distant Black Hole, "This is one of the myriad manifestations of the dormant nameless, yet also the exit for the awakened to bid farewell to the Void. Because, let us make our final farewell here."

Xing followed Huang Quan's guidance forward, and many people's shadows flickered beside them. When they reached Huang Quan's side, they sighed softly: "Indeed, why does life slumber… we still do not know the answer to that question, yet we must awaken from this dream. Leave here, and then… let Pinokangni awaken from the dream."

"... May I witness the power you hide?"

"As I said, our plan is to let them choose self‑rescue. I ask, under what circumstances will a person resort to self‑rescue?"

Huang Quan slowly turned around: "The answer is… being trapped in a desperate situation."

"Just like a drowning person in the deep sea, when both body and spirit are under crushing pressure, pain, confusion, and despair follow. And I also believe… even though human frailty may cause them to pause, when they truly cannot move forward, humanity will inevitably try to save itself. And now… Pinokangni has enough heroes to lead them onward."

——

Offer blessings to the beautiful world.

"May I understand it this way: Miss Huang Quan intends to cut down everyone in the dream with a single slash, forcing them to awaken," Akua said, resting her chin and thinking seriously.

Hezhen scratched his head: "... perhaps that's what it means?"

"... then she herself is Pinokangni's desperate situation! No wonder the Dream Master looks down on her; in my opinion, we might as well not wake ordinary people at all, and let Miss Huang Quan deal with Divine Lord Day, wouldn't that be better?"

"I also think this is better," Huihui recalled that not long ago Miss Huang Quan said Divine Lord Day possesses a commanding spirit‑level power; using a commanding spirit against a commanding spirit is a sound strategy, just as they dealt with Huanlong before. Once Divine Lord Day is completely eradicated, the Dream of the Great One should automatically be lifted.

The key is, Miss Huang Quan's strength will likely suppress Divine Lord Day single‑handedly; after all, the Void's destiny is not affected by order, and that annoying Dream Master has already been sacrificed together with the Oak lineage's 100,000 people, so there is now no one left to bind her limbs!

"I don't think we have to cut Divine Lord Day down necessarily, do we? You two radicals..."

Hezhen glared resentfully at the two girls in front of him; they had just fallen into the Dream of the Great One, where he was drinking and dating with several beautiful adventurers, only to be physically awakened by Akua.

Akua's dream was absurdly bizarre: she dreamed that the Demon King died from diarrhea caused by indigestion, yet could not return to Tianjie in the dream, so she awoke amid painful wails.

Huihui dreamed that she possessed a constitution that could unleash infinite explosive magic; as for Dacnis… she seemed to dream of a hundred men taking turns beating her. So even now in deep sleep, her face remains flushed, breathing rapid, unwilling to wake in the Dream of the Great One. Moreover, thanks to her defense, no one present could force her awake by any "physical" means.

——

Before departing, Huang Quan asked Xing three questions again; the riddle‑like queries from their first meeting now have answers from Xing. Huang Quan is pleased that Xing has made a decision, and hopes Xing will cherish this feeling.

"If the Void is life's most primal fear and tremor, any lofty belief appears insignificant beneath its shadow… then behind that shadow must exist the most intense source of light in the world."

"Just as every life marching toward death grows fervently, toward the end of the Void…"

"We chase that primordial light."

The old man's body gradually faded, and his voice grew faint.

"Clearly within the Void, yet tasked with watching people leave the Void… what an absurd and meaningless mission."

Huang Quan's voice was calm yet unwavering, "But someone must fulfill it. As for the meaning you speak of… even without it, haven't I still arrived at this point?"

"Even if the future you forge may not belong to you?"

"It may not belong to me, but it will surely belong to someone."

The old man sighed deeply, "Your past must have been so arduous… In that case, let me do something meaningless… Finally, tell me your name."