Legend Management Bureau Chapter 412

[ … words ]

Time did not give Du Yu an answer, but the Saint did.

The Saint quickly arranged the division of labor. It was an incredibly melodramatic intervention scheme.

It had to be said, the mission sounded extremely haphazard.

Du Yu knew that even if the Saint’s experiences differed from his own, their minds worked the same way. He would never hold such a perfunctory prep meeting; the Saint was definitely plotting something.

During the meeting, Xiao Nian even asked the Saint why they still needed to use the Portal when they had the Descent Equipment.

The Saint’s answer was simple. He stated that the Portal was much faster, while the Descent Equipment would only be used for monitoring. He needed to keep an eye on the screens to ensure that Du Yu’s future remained unchanged.

“If the mission objectives are clear, split up and get ready,” the Saint said. “A Can, A Kui, A’jiao, and Jin Jianglang, stay behind. I have something to discuss with you.”

Hearing this, the others went their separate ways, returning to their rooms to gather supplies.

A Can, A Kui, Jin Jianglang, and Xie Yujiao sat down, looking a bit confused.

The Saint took a deep breath and spoke slowly, “I have another mission for the four of you. It’s not something everyone needs to know, which is why I singled you out.”

The four of them exchanged glances, their expressions growing serious.

“Brother Saint, what is it? As long as you give the order, we will gladly go through fire and water,” A Can declared earnestly.

The Saint seemed to have made a monumental decision. It took a long time before he finally opened his mouth to speak:

“I want you to… go and kill my past self.”

“What?!” the Can Kui Brothers exclaimed. Xie Yujiao looked baffled, while Jin Jianglang’s face remained utterly stern.

“A Can, A Kui, do you remember? You owe me a favor, and now it is time to repay it.” The Saint looked at the two with unwavering resolve. “As long as you kill my past self, your debt of gratitude will be wiped clean.”

The two shook their heads vigorously. A Can immediately spoke up, “We can’t do that! Brother Saint, you saved our lives! There is absolutely no way we could ever lay a hand on you.”

“This is my request,” the Saint replied. “I have thought about this for ten years. There is no way I can convince my past self, so I need outside power. Among the seven of us, you two brothers listen to me the most, so this mission can only be entrusted to you.”

Jin Jianglang pondered for a moment before looking at the Saint: “Then why did you ask me to stay?”

“When A Can and A Kui succeed, I need you to cut my Threads,” the Saint said with a smile. “Because this is a classic Grandfather Paradox. Without your help, A’xiang’s brother, the Can Kui Brothers will never be able to kill my past self.”

Jin Jianglang instantly understood what the Saint meant.

If the Saint killed Du Yu, then Du Yu could never become the Saint. Naturally, there would be no one to go back and kill Du Yu. It was indeed a textbook Grandfather Paradox.

And Jin Jianglang’s task was to sever the mutual connections of this paradox. He was to let time automatically repair the anomaly of the Saint’s existence.

“But what makes you think I’ll agree?” Jin Jianglang said coldly. “If you die… Little Xiang will be heartbroken.”

“That is exactly why I need you,” the Saint replied. “A’xiang’s brother, did you know? A’xiang told me she liked me today.”

Off to the side, Xie Yujiao froze for a moment.

Jin Jianglang showed absolutely no surprise upon hearing this. He merely let out a soft sigh. “I am Little Xiang’s brother. How could I not know what she’s thinking?”

“But she can’t love someone like me.” The Saint shook his head, his expression incredibly complicated. “I destroyed this world with my own two hands. To ask me to stand upon the ruins and corpses, holding A’xiang’s hand… I can’t do it. For ten years, my heart has been overflowing with remorse and bitter regret. I am constantly thinking: if only I had done this, or if I had done that, maybe everything would be different.”

“And so?” Jin Jianglang asked expressionlessly. “So you spend every day with the Zhongli Chun in your heart, completely ignoring Little Xiang’s feelings?”

“That was a lie.” The Saint offered a bitter smile. “I didn’t actually retreat into my inner world. Instead, I spent every day trying to formulate the perfect countermeasure. I ran through countless simulations in my head and realized that ‘killing myself’ was the only optimal solution. But I knew that no matter who went to kill my past self, A’xiang—the one closest to me—would definitely step in to stop it. So, I took advantage of this opportunity… I sent A’xiang, Xiao Nian, and Liu Ling through the Portal to make their mission seem real, while the four of you will use the Descent Equipment to execute the ‘real plan.’ This way, it will be absolutely safe.”

After speaking, the Saint looked at Shiranui Jinjiro and added, “By the time the three of them realize what’s happening… I’ll have already disappeared.”

Du Yu looked at the Saint with a hesitant expression. If that were true, his and the Saint’s experiences were indeed different. Was the person displayed on the Descent Equipment’s screen actually him?

Jin Jianglang frowned and said to the Saint, “Two problems. First, Little Xiang is a Great Pivot with the constitution of a Time Master. Even if I sever your Threads, it doesn’t guarantee she will forget you completely. Second, your existence affects every life in this world. I have no way of predicting what your Threads will look like… Even so, do you still want to try?”

“Yes,” the Saint nodded. “At least we will have tried. If we don’t even make an attempt, we’ll have no chance at all.”

The Can Kui Brothers and Jin Jianglang fell into silence once more.

The Saint, however, continued speaking on his own: “The time of descent this time needs to be set in the most chaotic scene possible, preferably a battlefield where multiple people are clashing with magic. I’ve tentatively chosen the final stages of the ‘Legend of the White Snake’. At that time, your enemies will include Du Yu, A’xiang, and Gorgon. I will now tell you their respective weaknesses…”

Xie Yujiao slowly stood up and looked at the Saint. “Saint, haven’t you forgotten something?”

“Forgotten… what?” The Saint was a little puzzled. “What did I forget?”

“Did you keep me here just to listen to your plan?” Xie Yujiao said, looking displeased. “Don’t you need to convince me too?”

The Saint looked at Xie Yujiao, finding it somewhat amusing. “A’jiao, everyone else requires persuasion, but not you. I know you will definitely help me. Your mission this time is to research a magic formation as quickly as possible—one that can block anyone other than us from entering the Legend. That way, we will be absolutely sa—”

“I’ll definitely help you?” Xie Yujiao asked, slightly annoyed. Interrupting the Saint, she added, “You mean I’ll definitely kill you? What makes you say that?”

“Because… I also like A’xiang,” the Saint said, enunciating every single word.