Chapter 482: Echoes of Fate

Across from Lu Xin, Doll remained silent, saying nothing.

She still wasn’t much of a talker, yet her expression clearly held something more.

Lu Xin couldn’t tell if it was sorrow or a stirring of emotion, but he keenly noticed that Doll’s once transparently clear eyes now held an extra gleam—perhaps light, or something even more complex. That extra spark made her usually vacant face seem unexpectedly alive.

“You seem like a girl who isn’t deeply connected to this city—or even this world,” he said.

Lu Xin, who was just as tongue-tied, knew he was the only one who could say this to her now.

So he made a careful effort to be clear: “I know that even the people following you understand that if we sent you to that place without explanation, you wouldn’t refuse. Still, I want you to understand before you go…”

“I’m not sure how to make you understand, so all I can do is let you feel it.”

“These are things I believe are truly worthwhile, which is why I share them with you.”

“Only once you feel them can I ask you this question…”

“…”

He gently looked at Doll and said, “Are you willing to protect them?”

Doll fell silent, deeply pondering the question. After a long while, she gave a gentle nod.

Lu Xin felt an immediate sense of relief.

Even though he knew that without his effort, a direct question might have yielded the same answer.

But after helping her understand, her nod carried a different meaning.

He felt as if he’d accomplished something truly remarkable.

Yet before a smile could grace his face, Doll suddenly fixed her gaze on him once more.

Her eyes were resolute and inquisitive, filled with sincerity.

“And what about you?”

Lu Xin was momentarily stunned.

……

……

After a brief pause, Lu Xin grasped what Doll meant.

She was refreshingly simple.

So simple that every choice came out pure and true.

Regarding whether to accept Qinggang’s plan, Doll was naturally willing to protect Qinggang. Yet, she held onto her own principles, her eyes silently questioning his opinion.

Doll was a girl who wished to safeguard Qinggang but wouldn’t forsake her own life or dreams.

Once Lu Xin understood her inner thoughts, he couldn’t help but feel respect for her.

He realized that this day had taught Doll something as much as it had taught him.

Doll, in her own way, had imparted wisdom to him as well.

……

After thoughtful deliberation, he smiled and replied:

“If you’re asking whether I’m willing to let you agree to it, then here’s my answer…”

“Personally, I really love this city.”

“I think life is pretty good now; work hard and you’ll be richly rewarded.”

“Even a child without a family can thrive in a place with swings and fruit trees.”

“No lovely girl would sell her soul just to complete a mission…”

“The people here, even though they know just how weak they are, still choose to stand tall and fight against corruption…”

“…”

“Sure, I’m not perfect yet, but everyone around me is striving.”

As he spoke, a warm smile spread across his face: “And I, too, want to protect this way of life.”

Doll looked at Lu Xin with earnest intensity.

When she saw his smile, a trace of confusion flickered across her face.

Yet she could feel the sincerity in his words.

Then she nodded again, and slowly her face brightened into a smile.

“But I have to answer you honestly…”

Before Doll could speak further, Lu Xin continued softly, his expression calm and sincere: “Once you choose to become a Spiritual Overlord, you might have to stay here forever, while I…”

He paused before gently adding, “I might not remain in Qinggang permanently.”

“After all, I have things I need to do. And as much as I feel I’ve given my all, I must admit…”

“Perhaps I’ll never truly be one of them…”

“…”

At that, Doll’s expression froze, a surge of indescribable sorrow welling up in her eyes.

……

……

In the back vehicle, countless anxious eyes watched the car ahead, waiting for an answer.

For people of their stature, such anxious restlessness was unusual.

“What does it mean that Single Soldier brought Doll here to see all this?”

Others, too, shared this worry—even those who hadn’t come along—they were waiting for an explanation.

Someone repeatedly called via video, anxiously asking, “We could have chosen not to seek Single Soldier’s opinion, yet we did. We could have had Doll agree immediately, but we took such a winding path. We…”

Professor Bai, seated in the back, closed his eyes and ignored the frantic inquiries.

Only Mr. Su was responsible for handling these matters.

His round face, every muscle taut enough to reveal strict lines, said coldly:

“If that’s the case, there’s no need for further questions. You were the ones hesitating on this project, and now you’re the ones anxiously awaiting results. If you’re so desperate to decide, do you really think you can rest easy?”

The person on the other end snapped, “We’re just worried…”

“You’re not just worried—you’re panicking!”

Mr. Su, showing an uncharacteristically ruthless side, replied, “You’re only anxious because you can’t control this matter yourselves.”

The other side fell silent, unable to respond.

Mr. Su stared at the phone and said, “Once the results are out, I’ll let you know immediately.”

“But you must understand that this matter is not in your hands right now.”

“And it never will be.”

“The Heaven’s Kingdom Plan belongs to Qinggang—not to any single Ability User and certainly not to any one of us.”

“…”

After saying that, he ended the call without a trace of expression.

Then he sat quietly, suddenly letting out a deep sigh, pulled out a handkerchief, and wiped the sweat off his forehead.

“Has it really been that long?”

Unable to hold back, he grumbled quietly to Professor Bai beside him, “We’ve almost circled the Main City…”

“A little delay isn’t so bad,” came the reply.

Professor Bai, though seemingly lost in thought, was the first to answer Mr. Su.

“The longer it takes, the more it shows how much they value this matter.”

“…”

“Oh, come on, don’t say that now…”

Mr. Su pounded his thigh and complained to Professor Bai, “I’d rather hear solid facts from you. I trusted you enough to negotiate with the others and get everyone to agree on launching this project. But, old Bai, honestly, ever since we agreed on this, my heart’s been in my throat…”

“There’s just too much uncertainty…”

“Every little change feels like a bungee jump…”

“Old Bai, don’t sleep on me. Open your eyes and see this—look at my physique now…”

“I weigh two hundred jin at sixty-five. How can you let a man like me bungee jump every day? Have some mercy!”

“…”

“Not to mention bungee jumping.”

Professor Bai, clearly exasperated, finally opened his eyes, looked ahead, and sighed softly, “Bungee jumping at least comes with a safety rope. But now, even without one, we have to take a blind leap…”

“Do you really think we have a choice?”

“Some things just can’t be explained to others…”

“A Spiritual Overlord is bound to appear.”

His voice grew heavy and solemn: “Ever since the Technology Church left those materials—or rather, ever since they began targeting Happy Town—a door was opened. The Fourth Step, as mentioned by the Moon Eclipse Research Institute, was fated to take center stage under the Red Moon. This isn’t about whether we want it; it’s destiny.”

“Even if we decide not to create the Heaven’s Kingdom Plan ourselves, a Spiritual Overlord will come to Qinggang…”

He paused, his expression touched with an indescribable emotion, and whispered, “When some wild Ability Users arrive in Qinggang and use their fourth-level abilities to seize control, do you really think we’ll have a chance to fight back?”

Mr. Su suddenly fell silent, his fingers clenched tightly together.

After a moment, he spoke again in a slightly hoarse voice, “It’s just like… Sea Country, isn’t it?”

“Maybe even worse than that.”

Professor Bai replied softly, and after a moment added,

“I’ve always said that Qinggang is fortunate—not because of the materials we scavenged from the Technology Church.”

“In fact, the coincidence of these materials emerging makes me uneasy.”

“Even now, I’m not sure if it’s a blessing or a challenge.”

“…”

“…”

“When I say we’re fortunate, it’s because of many other factors…”

“Like Single Soldier, like Doll, like you and me, like everyone in this city…”

“If Single Soldier doesn’t support our plan, we won’t have any chance of executing it. Without Doll, the Heaven’s Kingdom Plan will leave many uneasy. If we hadn’t considered the plan from the start, even with those materials in hand, we wouldn’t have figured out how to use them wisely…”

“Qinggang is now more dangerous than walking a tightrope. One wrong step and our good situation could vanish.”

“But given where we are now, we can believe that…”

“This situation is what we deserve.”

“…”

Mr. Su listened in stunned silence, his throat churning, and after a moment said, “I’m just trying to smooth things over. I can’t really discuss these matters with you now, but honestly, after all this, hasn’t that answered my question earlier?”

Professor Bai, with a helpless shake of his head and a quick brush of his hair, laughed, “Does it even matter?”

“Just like the last words that Single Soldier sent—hardly anyone’s final wishes came true. But…”

“This way of life is what we desire to see…”

“As long as most people cherish and love this way of life,”

“we needn’t worry about it not being protected.”

“…”

“…”

In the front compartment, Lu Xin noticed a trace of sorrow in Doll’s eyes.

At the moment she had already made a very important decision, hearing that he was about to leave caused a conflicted look to cross her little face—a look almost unbelievable on Doll. After all, inner conflict stems from choice, and Doll’s desire for this world has always been minimal.

Looking at her expression, Lu Xin suddenly felt a spark of happiness.

After a moment of silent admiration, he took her hand and smiled, “I might not stay here forever.”

“But if I do leave for a long time, I will always find my way back.”

“And that place will always be here.”

“…”

Doll blinked, clearly understanding this time, and a delighted smile gradually spread across her face.