Chapter 296: One Person, One City

Anxin Hotel was where my livestreams began, and where I first met Xiaofeng.

To unravel the mystery back then, I casually lied and promised to protect her for the rest of her life. I never expected that lie to become a karmic knot I couldn't untie.

A wave of panic washed over me as I looked at Xiaofeng, even though she was only giving me an ordinary look.

Lu Xing had set up the Seven-Star Labyrinth Array on top of the dam. Trapped within the formation, I knew a single careless step could send me plunging right off the edge.

I tried to move closer to her. Through the array, I could see her face and figure, but I couldn't hear what she was saying.

The rainstorm battered her. Blue veins stood out starkly beneath her pale skin. She was far too weak—like a flower on the verge of withering.

I shouted from within the array, not understanding why I was losing my composure. We shared very few memories, yet every single one played vividly in my mind. Was it because we hadn't been apart for long enough?

"It breaks my heart to watch! You're so pathetic. Haha, you're both even more pathetic than me!" Lu Xing spouted madly. Standing in the middle of the dam, he stared out at the monstrous floodwaters. "Twenty years! Twenty years in the making, and this day has finally arrived!"

He paced along the dam's corridor to measure the distance. Once he found the right spot, he pulled a palm-sized Double-Faced Buddha Statue from his coat. The statue was entirely translucent but lacked facial features—its face only had a few holes, and the spots for its heart and the back of its head were completely hollow.

"The Buddha's Eight Consciousnesses—Eye, Ear, Nose, Sound, Mind, Body, Intent, and Storehouse—return to your places!" Following a specific sequence, Lu Xing inserted the seven consciousnesses he had gathered from various locations. Only the mind-consciousness remained unplaced.

"Senior Brother, quickly bring me the final mind-consciousness!"

Lu Xing held his hand out toward Qiu Ren, but Qiu Ren avoided his gaze. "I was too late. By the time I reached Xinhu High School, the mind-consciousness had already been taken by Gao Jian."

"How could he possibly know where the mind-consciousness was?! The Buddha's arrangements are foolproof; it's absolutely impossible!" Lu Xing's expression drastically changed. With a sudden error cropping up at the final moment, panic set in.

I took in everything happening outside. Relying purely on my own strength, it would have been impossible to find the Double-Faced Buddha Mind-Consciousness. Xinhu High School was far too large—who could have guessed where that statue was hidden?

"Primal Destiny Divine Fiends, I never expected you to be the one to help me in the end." If I hadn't entered the Nightmare shaped by the memories of the Primal Destiny Divine Fiends, I wouldn't have known where the mind-consciousness was. What goes around comes around. The Two-Faced Buddha had ruined Yuan Chen's entire life, and at the final juncture, Yuan Chen dealt the Buddha a fatal blow.

Truth be told, the Two-Faced Buddha was truly formidable and executed his plans flawlessly. But even the best-laid plans have a flaw. He probably never imagined that the Primal Destiny Divine Fiends would indirectly reveal the location to me through the Dream Realm.

Looking back, that infinitely looping Nightmare contained far too many hidden details. It was intricate and thoroughly intertwined, with all the scheming and plotting unfolding within the dream.

"Gao Jian! Hand over the mind-consciousness!" Lu Xing took the initiative to tear off two pieces of Talisman Paper. The pressure on me instantly eased. Although I still couldn't get close to him, my mind cleared, and my five senses returned to my body.

"Do you think that's possible?" The sarira-like Double-Faced Buddha Mind-Consciousness was right in my pocket, but I would never hand it over today. The lives of millions were in my hands. No matter what Lu Xing said, I couldn't give it to him—even if I died.

"Look what you've done!" Lu Xing drew his knife and glared at Qiu Ren before walking over to Xiaofeng. "Gao Jian, give me the mind-consciousness. I'll let Xiaofeng go and allow you both to leave."

"Stop kidding yourself. Your words are as worthless as a fart, Lu Xing. Not even a ghost would believe you."

Infuriated by my response, Lu Xing ground his teeth. "You won't give it to me? Then I'll carve her up!"

Lu Xing shoved his way next to Qiu Ren. Gripping the knife in one hand, he locked his other hand around Xiaofeng's throat.

Frail and weak, Xiaofeng had absolutely no room to resist in Lu Xing's grasp. Her feet were still bound by ropes, leaving her completely immobilized.

My eyelid twitched. The worst-case scenario had occurred: I was forced to choose between Xiaofeng and a million lives. I originally thought I would choose to protect Jiangcheng without hesitation. But at this moment, I realized Xiaofeng already occupied an important place in my heart—not out of romantic love, but because of that single promise I had made.

She had already suffered all the hardships of the mortal world. Heaven seemed exceptionally unfair to her.

"Sacrifice Xiaofeng to protect Jiangcheng? Protect those bastard lapdogs? Protect the Jiang family? Protect Chen Jianguo? Protect the people who framed me as a murderer, treated me like a wanted criminal, and wished nothing more than for me to die?"

The scene of being universally condemned five years ago surfaced in my mind. Not a single person had spoken up for me. The entire city had stood against me.

Why should I protect a city like that?

Reaching into my pocket, I grasped the Double-Faced Buddha Mind-Consciousness and slowly pulled it out.

"Alas, if you become a demon, no Buddha dares to deliver you. Let it go. Do not end up like I did." A voice suddenly rang out from atop the spirit platform. I couldn't hear it clearly; it felt like a hallucination.

"Gao Jian!" A familiar voice rang out from the other side of the dam.

"Captain Tie, why are you here?"

"Aren't you under armed police custody? Sneaking out is against the law!"

"Captain, it's dangerous! You can't go up there."

"Bang!"

A gunshot drowned out all the noise. The crowd fell silent, leaving only a forceful, unquestionable female voice: "Everyone, get out of my way!"

The iron gate leading to the top of the dam was kicked open. A female police officer, soaked to the bone and wearing only her uniform, stood on the dam's corridor with her gun raised.

The torrential rain rolled off the brim of her hat, only washing her police badge until it gleamed even brighter.

"Gao Jian, I'm late!"

Mixed feelings surged in my heart. I turned my head. "Senior Sister..."

I wasn't as alone in this city as I had imagined. Ever since I became an Underworld Live Show Streamer, many people had gathered around me, forging bonds with me.

Er Gou, Blind Liu, Balding Uncle, Mr. Gu, Daoist Priest Xianqing, Sakurako, Yi Yi, and Tie Ningxiang.

Being a city-wide wanted fugitive had made me the target of public scorn, but it was also a touchstone. Even when I became a wanted criminal, there were still people willing to believe in me and follow me.

Even if it was just for their sake, I had to protect the Lanjiang Dam.

"Give me the mind-consciousness!" Lu Xing pressed the knife against Xiaofeng's neck, his expression growing increasingly frenzied.

Looking at Xiaofeng's pained face, I gripped the mind-consciousness tightly in my hand and ultimately did not pull it out.

"Do you not care about her life? Do you know how much she likes you? She calls out your name even in her dreams, and this is how you treat her?" Lu Xing patted Xiaofeng's cheek with his knife. "Gao Jian, oh, Gao Jian, how can you be so heartless? My sister truly was blind to actually believe your promise!"

With every word Lu Xing spoke, Xiaofeng's face grew a fraction paler. By the end, I could no longer tell if it was tears or rain on her face.

"Did you know that right before it got dark today, my sister still held out hope for you? She thought you would definitely come to save her. And the result? You're far too cruel. Did you run all the way here in person just to tell her that you're choosing to abandon her? Is my pitiful sister just a toy to you? No, I'm afraid she's not even a toy. Do you also think she's just a worthless wretch and a burden?"

"It's useless, Lu Xing. No matter what you say, I will not give you the mind-consciousness." I was very calm. I never considered myself a smart person; the only reason I had survived so many livestreams was that I never let terror and horror strip me of my reason.

Pausing for a moment, I looked at Xiaofeng. If I saved the entire city, she would be the only person I owed.

"Xiaofeng, my promise to you has never changed. Today, I swear upon the river: if I cannot save you, then I will die with you!"

My gaze softened. Looking into Xiaofeng's eyes, I suddenly recalled the first time we strolled along the riverbank.

The great river, unchanging for a thousand years, flowed slowly. On one bank lay a world of sounds, colors, dogs, and horses; on the other, an emptiness as desolate as the edge of the world.

A hint of color returned to Xiaofeng's eyes, and she used all her strength to cry out my name: "Gao Jian!"

"Shut up!" Lu Xing reached out and clamped his hand tightly around Xiaofeng's throat. "You shameless wretch. Disgusting. Both of you disgust me!"

Despite his words, he sheathed his sharp knife and nudged Qiu Ren with his elbow. "Senior Brother, you were the one who lost the mind-consciousness. Now go get it back for me."

"Me?" Qiu Ren's arms were completely broken, and the wound on his belly was still bleeding. Suddenly shoved by Lu Xing, he almost fell to his knees.

"Go. Kill Gao Jian and take back the mind-consciousness you lost!" Lu Xing's words were dripping with cold indifference, completely devoid of emotion.