Chapter 553: Join?

I understood the implication in Xiao A's words. She was warning me not to do anything stupid, paving the way for her plan to ally with me. After all, of the six surviving live show streamers, I had irreconcilable conflicts with the three who weren't Traitors. If I broke ties with the Traitors as well, I wouldn't just be facing pressure from the Live Show—I'd also have to constantly guard against threats from my peers. Isolated and helpless, I would easily become a sacrificial lamb in the clash between factions.

I lowered my head slightly. 'Xiao A is likely using this to warn me,' I thought. 'What she's saying might not be entirely true either.'

Mixing truth with lies kept people guessing. It was a common tactic among live show streamers.

Xiao A gestured to Xia Chi. The two exchanged a glance, and Xia Chi understood implicitly. Stepping between Xiao A and me, he said, "Streamer, your entry into the dream this time might seem ordinary, but it's actually the most critical of all your broadcasts. You'll make a crucial decision here. I hope you'll listen carefully to what I'm about to say, and then make your choice cautiously."

"Let's hear it." I was wearing a mask, so no one could see my expression. They wouldn't be able to deduce anything from my tone alone.

"First, let me tell you a few things about the Deep Dream Layer so you have a clear picture." Xia Chi only spoke after receiving Xiao A's permission. "The Deep Dream Layer is divided into two parts: the core area and the peripheral area."

I nodded slightly. Chen Jiuge had said the same thing, so they probably weren't lying.

"The core area is extremely dangerous. Even the Live Show hasn't set foot there, so we don't need to consider it. We are currently in the peripheral area." Xia Chi dug a pen and paper out of a pile of garbage and casually drew a diagram shaped like a cake. "The peripheral area is massive, practically boundless. The territory we Traitors have explored so far only accounts for about one ten-thousandth of the total."

"One ten-thousandth?" My eyes widened. The Deep Dream Layer was much larger than I had expected.

"Such a vast expanse breeds all sorts of monsters and terrifying entities beyond ordinary human imagination. Exploring unknown territory is extremely dangerous, so our area of activity is limited." Xia Chi flashed his trademark smile. "Perhaps you're wondering why Ye Bing happened to appear in the Lightless District after entering the dream. Why did she happen to appear on our Traitors' turf? How could she stumble upon a one-in-ten-thousand probability?"

"You brought Ye Bing into the Deep Dream Layer?" I instantly understood. This broadcast had likely been a setup from the very beginning.

"Calm down. It's not easy to arrange a meeting with you, so we had to resort to this. Besides, you should actually be thanking us. Ye Bing was trapped in her own dream by a nightmare. If Xiao A hadn't stepped in to take her away, she probably would have died in her own dream and been replaced by it." As Xia Chi spoke, he snuck a glance at Xiao A's expression.

"So, I should be thanking you?" Only now did I truly calm down. Something had been wrong with this broadcast from the very start.

"No need for thanks." Xia Chi patted my shoulder. "Don't be nervous, we mean no harm. Actually, we didn't expect things to go so smoothly either. Taking Ye Bing was just the first step. The second step was using her to lure you into the dream, setting up this conversation."

Hearing this, I suddenly realized something was amiss. "You only brought Ye Bing into the Deep Dream Layer, and did absolutely nothing else?"

"We didn't. We don't actually care whether she lives or dies. You were the only person we wanted to see." Xia Chi didn't notice the shift in my tone. "What's wrong? Is there a problem?"

"Nothing..." Beneath the mask, my face had grown extremely grim. The Traitors had simply brought Ye Bing into the Deep Dream Layer to lure me into a meeting. They assumed I'd entered the Deep Dream Layer because I cared about her. But that wasn't the case at all. My primary reason for coming here was the broadcast task from the Live Show!

That meant the Live Show likely knew everything. Not only had they failed to intervene, but they had taken advantage of the situation to arrange a broadcast!

I still remembered my sheer horror in the hospital restroom when I first received the task information. I had originally planned to reject the broadcast, leave my Live Show Phone behind, and enter Ye Bing's dream alone.

Yet right at that moment, I'd received the task prompt from the Live Show. Only then did I realize the broadcast task was exactly what I was already planning to do.

The more I thought about it, the more terrifying it became. It was as if the Live Show had known everything in advance and capitalized on it. Not only had it made it impossible for me to refuse the broadcast task, but it had also used the Live Show Phone to locate the true hiding place of these Traitors.

A drop of cold sweat slid down the edge of my mask. I calmly wiped it away, slipped my hand into the pocket holding my Live Show Phone, and unconsciously covered the microphone.

"Let's get straight to the point. You went through all this trouble to lure me into the Deep Dream Layer, so what exactly do you want to discuss?" I didn't want to stay here any longer. Terrifying thoughts were flashing through my mind. Right at that moment, several consecutive sounds echoed from inside my Liver Aperture.

A visible green halo emanated from my body, spreading outward.

"Damn it, why is it acting up now!" I was a bit nervous and stole a glance at Xia Chi and Xiao A, but neither of them paid it much mind. Instead, the returning thoughts outside were stimulated by the green light, fluttering excitedly through the air.

"What are you hiding on you? This is the second time it's happened, right?"

Xia Chi asked casually. I didn't want to dwell on the subject, so I simply replied, "That's my secret. Just get to the point."

After speaking, I directed my consciousness to look inside my Liver Aperture. The cracks on the Dream Cocoon were multiplying; I estimated it wouldn't be long before it shattered completely.

"Alright, back to the main point. We lured you into the Deep Dream Layer this time primarily because we want to join forces." After receiving Xiao A's nod of approval, Xia Chi smiled. He looked extremely confident, as if convinced I would agree.

"Join forces? With you?" Even though I'd always harbored grievances against the Underworld Live Show and had entertained thoughts of betrayal, I still hesitated now that it was time to make a choice. "If I betray the Live Show and ally with you, what's in it for me? Don't give me empty promises. I want to see tangible benefits."

Everything came down to profit. In the face of sufficient benefits, nothing was immune to betrayal.

"Once you join us, we'll provide you with a way to alleviate the Plum Blossom Gu Poison so you'll never have to participate in those damn broadcasts again. You won't have to struggle on the line between life and death anymore. You can break free from the Live Show's control and enjoy your freedom."

After Xia Chi finished speaking, a long moment passed before I opened my mouth. "That's it? Is that all?"

"Is that not enough? Every broadcast is a dance on the edge of life and death, pushing a person to their absolute limits. Once you join us, you won't have those restrictions. Your safety will be guaranteed."

Cowering in the Deep Dream Layer, unable to leave, could hardly be called freedom. Being forgotten by everyone and remembered by only a select few wasn't freedom either. As far as I was concerned, it was no different from death.

Of course, I didn't refute Xia Chi directly. Instead, I asked, "Aside from freedom, is there anything concrete?"

"Rights and obligations go hand in hand. If you want to gain something, you have to pay a price." The one speaking was Xiao A. Women were naturally more perceptive than men, and she had already picked up on a hint of dissatisfaction in my words, prompting her to speak up. "You've experienced multiple broadcasts, so you should know how the Live Show treats us. In its eyes, a streamer is just a tool. It doesn't care whether you live or die; it only cares about profit."

I completely agreed with Xiao A, but that wasn't enough of a reason for me to betray the Live Show. After all, in the eyes of the Traitors, I might just be a tool as well. We were all just gathered here for our own interests, nothing more.

"Think it over carefully before you answer. We possess the true core secrets of the Live Show. If you decide to join, we can tell you a truth you would absolutely never expect." Xia Chi also chipped in to persuade me. Both Traitors fixed their eyes on me.

"The truth?" Honestly, I was a little tempted, but reason told me that betraying the Underworld Live Show would be a terrible decision.