Check out my new translation!
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"Don't come any closer!"
The moment Yelan saw Victor Wang, her first reaction was to draw her bow and nock an arrow.
But when Yanfei and Xiao appeared behind him, despair flickered across her face. If these people joined forces, even if she weren't injured—and even if they were copies—she had little chance of winning.
Yanfei quickly waved her hands. "Yelan, don't be nervous! We're all real!"
"Who knows…"
"Just hear me out. We went through a lot—basically, that's what happened."
After hearing Yanfei's explanation, Yelan finally lowered her bow, though the vigilance in her gaze did not ease, especially when it landed on Victor Wang.
A sinking feeling rose in Victor Wang's chest. "Your copy seemed to know Zhiqiong. Do you know where she is now?"
"I know. Of course I know. But before I take you to her, listen carefully—"
Yelan stared straight into Victor Wang's eyes and said, clearly and firmly, "Stop saying those awful things to Zhiqiong."
"…"
"She didn't insist on risking her life. I'm the one who discovered her talent for exploration. I invited her to work with me to uncover certain truths. I dragged a normal person into danger and failed to protect her. That's my fault—not hers."
"…"
"Follow me."
After a short walk, the space Yelan occupied reached its end.
"So you really met my copy… Was Zhiqiong hurt this badly by me?"
"Ah. Yeah. You did that."
"…"
Her pupils trembled.
Zhiqiong's entire right side of her adventurer's uniform had been shredded. Her upper body was nearly bare, with only Yelan's Whitesilk Mantle draped over her to cover what mattered…
That garment—stolen by Yelan from "Regrator"—was originally intended as tribute to the Tsaritsa. Pure white, fragrant, made from the pelt of an exotic ancient monster… Now it was drenched in blood, dyed a harsh, jarring red.
Where the Whitesilk Mantle could not reach, Zhiqiong's pale skin was carved with fierce, storm-like scars—almost like fine scales etched across half her body. At her waist and abdomen, the wounds were so severe that flesh was torn open, faint ribs visible beneath.
Those were the marks left by an Erosion Blast explosion—normally enough to pulverize stone. Yelan must have done everything she could in the instant she sensed it, yet still…
Zhiqiong herself lay unconscious, gravely wounded.
"Because I wanted to find Zhiqiong… because I wanted to scold her… this space granted my wish? Heh… how ridiculous…"
Victor Wang attempted to approach, but Yelan stepped protectively in front of Zhiqiong.
"How is she?"
"Medicine is keeping her alive for now, but she won't last long. We need to find a way out as soon as possible."
"Come with us. I can take you out."
"...You found Boyang—the one who acted with the Yaksha Bosacius. He was one of my ancestors. Hundreds of years ago, he and his brother brought the powerful artifact, the Fantastic Compass, into this place. In the end, he, the first Yaksha under the Geo Archon—Bosacius—an entire group of Millelith, and the Fantastic Compass were trapped here forever. His brother returned, but mentally broken. And now you say you can take us out?"
"Trust me."
"Trust…" Yelan gazed into his dark eyes. There was no time left for hesitation. "Fine, I'll see what you can do. I hope you're not wasting my time."
The space Yelan had been trapped in was riddled with holes blasted open in the cliff walls—some containing portals, some leading to tunnels, and some clear failures. In desperation, Yelan had tried everything she could. Only one wish the space refused to grant: the wish to leave.
Returning to the Fantastic Compass chamber, everyone finally regrouped.
"My external artifact is almost entirely water-based. Everyone will need to sit on the boat and stay still. Don't resist. Once all of you are inside, I'll take you out of this space."
"Why not use my Serenitea Pot? That sounds more comfortable than your artifact…"
"No. Only mine will work. It's the key to getting everyone out."
After confirming no one was missing, Victor Wang took out a small boat from his artifact. It was not large enough for everyone, so Lumine provided a Waverider.
The small boat was absorbed into the [Endless Thirst] effortlessly.
On the Waverider, Yelan hadn't expected this experience. Though reluctant, she eventually ceased resisting. But one person had not responded.
The Waverider had more space and a better-sealed cabin. Lumine and Zhiqiong—both injured—were aboard with their attendants. Lumine and Paimon offered no resistance…
Paimon asked curiously, "Why isn't anything happening?"
"It's Zhiqiong. She's unconscious…"
"Huh?! How could—"
"I'll try again."
Those inside the cabin felt a wave of psychic force sweep over them.
"Could it be… Zhiqiong can't leave? No, no! I take it back, no jinxing…"
"I'll try again…"
Victor Wang closed his eyes, gazing into the Waverider's true form, reaching for that weakened soul.
"Zhiqiong… answer me… answer me…"
"Don't stay silent… let me take you out…"
"Please."
It was as if the words truly reached her. A tiny ripple appeared in the darkness.
Seizing the moment, Victor Wang absorbed the Waverider into the [Endless Thirst]. In an instant, the mysterious space emptied, leaving only him behind.
He exhaled deeply. His taut nerves finally loosened. Just now, he had feared that Zhiqiong, unconscious as she was, might never respond—or worse, that this Zhiqiong was a fake…
"Senior."
Figures appeared at both portals: on one side was the silent Xiao; on the other, Zhiqiong—barely able to stand, bleeding through wounds too numerous to count.
"Senior, did you know? Before you arrived, none of us encountered many copies. Only Bosacius… created from the combined obsessions of me, Lumine, and Xiao. First, because we never imagined this space could create copies; second, because your imagination… might be a little too strong. Saying you hurt me isn't wrong. Lumine was also injured because of you."
Zhiqiong coughed blood as she spoke her accusations.
"Senior, do you know that your presence here has only made things worse? If you hadn't come, no one might have gotten hurt. You're completely unnecessary. Do you understand that?"
The Xiao Victor Wang was truly wary of had already donned his mask. He vanished in an instant. The next moment, a pair of wind blades—powerful enough to tear the world—swept toward Victor Wang from the side.
"Don't hold back anymore. Tear this space apart!"
At the critical moment, with a roar that seemed suppressed for ages, the [Endless Thirst] erupted with black light. The radiance spread outward, corrupting everything it touched: the ground, Xiao's spear, and even the venomously glaring Zhiqiong—everything fractured like shattered glass, falling piece by piece into the black glow.
When nothing remained except that darkness, the fragments collapsed inward, all absorbed into the [Endless Thirst].
Victor Wang had not taken a single step, yet he now stood beneath the Nail of the Chasm once more.
He looked at the deep pit that had already vanished.
"My problems… doesn't need to be repeated."