Chapter 573: Jump Down

San Yue Qi stood on that staircase that forever remained at the 10th floor, hands on their hips, staring at the darkness above that seemed never to reach an end, then looking down at the equally bottomless abyss beneath their feet; the pink hair, ruffled from the recent ordeal, was a bit messy, with a few strands clinging to the slightly sweaty forehead.

They have already tried every method they could think of.

They struck the walls forcefully, and only a dull echo returned, with no sign of any hidden doors or mechanisms.

They shot Ice Arrow at the darkness overhead; the arrows vanished into the void as soon as they left, and not even a landing sound could be heard.

They had Lin try to use Gem Magic to blast open the staircase's windows; the gems struck the glass, which remained intact, while the gems passed straight through and fell into the darkness.

They even tried sliding down the handrail, but after sliding for a long time, when they opened their eyes, it was still the 10th floor.

Lin leaned against the wall, breathing heavily, the delicate face full of exhaustion.

They watched San Yue Qi struggling there, feeling both moved and guilty.

"San Yue Jie…"

She opened her mouth, her voice a bit hoarse, "How about resting for a while?"

San Yue Qi turned around, seeing Lin's exhausted state, feeling a bit uneasy.

They walked to Lin's side, pulled a handkerchief from their pocket, and handed it to her.

"Wipe your sweat."

Lin took the handkerchief, startled for a moment.

"You actually still brought this, huh?"

San Yue Qi smiled, "Girls traveling out, always need a bit of preparation."

Lin wiped the sweat from their face, then lifted their head to look at San Yue Qi, the blue eyes flashing with complex emotions.

"San Yue Jie, if… if we really can't get out, would you regret it?"

San Yue Qi was startled for a moment.

"Regret what?"

"Regret becoming my Servant, huh."

Lin's voice was soft, "Regret being dragged by me into this chaotic war, huh."

San Yue Qi was silent for a few seconds, then reached out to rub Lin's hair.

"What nonsense are you saying? I voluntarily became your Servant, and—"

She paused, a brilliant smile appearing on her face, "These past days have been chaotic, but I'm happy. Lin is a good Master, Sakura is a good little sister, and there are so many interesting people… This is far more interesting than spacing out on the train."

Lin's eyes reddened a bit, but they forced themselves not to let tears fall, only lowering their head, muttering softly:

"Idiot…"

San Yue Qi smiled, then stood up, walked to the middle of the staircase, and stared at the bottomless darkness.

"Lin, I have thought of a way."

Lin lifted their head, looking at her.

"What way, huh?"

San Yue Qi took a deep breath, pointing at the darkness below.

"I'll jump down to see."

Lin's pupils dilated instantly.

"Are you crazy?! No one knows how deep this is, jumping down will kill you!"

San Yue Qi turned back, expression calm.

"I know. But look, we're trapped here; pounding the walls does nothing, climbing up does nothing, the only unknown is the darkness below. If we don't try, we may never get out."

Lin struggled to stand, walked to San Yue Qi's side, and grabbed her wrist.

"No way! Too dangerous!"

San Yue Qi looked at her, the pink‑blue eyes full of tenderness.

"Lin, you still have a Command Spell, right?"

Lin was startled for a moment, then nodded.

"If something really happens to me, you can use that Command Spell to summon me. It may cost something, but at least it's better than being trapped here to death."

Lin's brows furrowed.

"Cost? What cost, huh?"

San Yue Qi's expression stiffened for a moment, then quickly returned to normal.

"Nothing much, just… maybe a bit of pain or something. At least it won't be fatal. Anyway, I'll go down to scout the way. If there's an exit below, I'll come back for you. If not…"

She paused, not continuing.

Lin furrowed their brows, staring at San Yue Qi.

"If there isn't, what do you plan to do, huh?"

San Yue Qi gave no answer, just looking away.

Lin looked at her face, a face that after less than two days together had become incredibly familiar.

What lay in those pink‑blue eyes, that hesitation on the brink of speaking, that feigned lightness that could not hide the weight—

Lin is not a fool.

"San Yue Jie." Her voice suddenly became very serious, "Are you hiding something from me, huh?"

San Yue Qi was startled for a moment, then quickly waved their hand.

"No, no! What could I possibly hide from you?"

"Then why are you afraid to look at me, huh?"

San Yue Qi fell silent.

Lin walked to her front, staring into her eyes.

"Tell me, banana."

San Yue Qi looked at her earnest blue eyes and suddenly felt like crying.

This person, even though we've known each other for less than two days, why are they so perceptive?

She took a deep breath and finally spoke:

"If I don't find an exit below... I can Rewind time."

Lin blinked.

"Rewind time? That's the ability you mentioned, banana?"

San Yue Qi nodded.

"But... it requires a price."

"What price, banana?"

San Yue Qi remained silent for a very long time, so long that Lin thought she wouldn't answer.

Finally, she said softly:

"Death."

Lin was stunned.

"Only by dying can one Rewind."

That was what Clockboy just said suddenly, apparently because of the first Great Rewind, it can't be used casually.

The stairwell was eerily quiet, with only a faint, indistinct wind sound coming from somewhere far away.

Lin's lips moved, trying to say something, but nothing came out.

San Yue Qi looked at her expression and forced a smile.

"Don't worry, I can try once; if it doesn't work—"

Lin looked at that expression, was silent for a few seconds, then suddenly laughed.

"Then let's jump together, banana."

San Yue Qi was stunned.

"What?"

Lin walked to her side and took her hand.

"San Yue Jie, you said you'd protect me, banana, right, banana?"

San Yue Qi nodded.

"Then I can't let you die alone, banana."

Lin said calmly, "Go down together, find the exit together; if something really happens, then we Rewind together, banana."

San Yue Qi opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but her throat felt blocked.

"You... do you know what you're saying"

"Of course I know, banana," Lin pursed her lips, "Isn't it just dying once, banana? You're not scared, what am I scared of, banana?"

San Yue Qi looked at her and suddenly laughed.

That smile held both moved feelings and a hint of helplessness.

"Lin, you really are..."

"What exactly, banana?"

"Truly a good Master."

Lin's face flushed red, and she turned her head away.

"Less, less nonsense, banana! If we're jumping, then jump quickly, banana!"

San Yue Qi took a deep breath, walked to the stair railing, and reached out to Lin.

"Come, I'll hold you."

Lin hesitated for a second, then walked over and was embraced by San Yue Qi.