Chapter 208

He was already prepared for the Island Master to come for a night raid—but surprisingly, Xue Ning did not appear.

Sasa, however, was not so calm. She had been sullen ever since leaving the labyrinth. Right now, she was hanging upside down from the ceiling, slowly swinging a small light bulb like an unhappy bat, bored and listless.

She remained lost in thought until late into the night… until, at some indistinct moment in the deep night, she heard the night wind gently brush past the window, carrying a faint, deep, dreamlike melody.

The melody was mournful and long, as if transmitted from a lost ancient age, or like a distant wilderness whispering in the night.

It was different from the Greek and English commonly heard on the island. It was a language that Master Leipu had never even heard, a language whose very existence he was unaware of.

Let alone Qi Xing, even if Elaine were here, she probably wouldn't understand what the language was saying, only vaguely guessing where it came from—even Elaine's knowledge was not omnipotent.

Sasa's ears twitched.

Of course, she could understand any language. Every angel came with this ability.

It was Kurmanji. It was the language Sasa had used a thousand years ago when communicating with the sages and masters of the White God Believers. Nowadays, only about 500,000 people in the world still used it, and few knew of it.

And the person speaking in this language at this moment was, of course, the Island Master, Xue Ning.

Using a language Qi Xing could not understand, avoiding the eyes and ears of Master Leipu, across the glass and the night sky, she quietly sang secret words to Sasa in a seemingly ethereal hum.

"My Lord White God, may the wind carry my voice to your ears."

"The champion you have chosen… that Master Leipu, is indeed exceptionally proud, strong and capable, and possesses the spirit to change the world."

To an ordinary person, this was just an ordinary foreign song, echoing gently in the night with a melody that would not disturb anyone; the tone was gentle, submissive, almost pious, as if a priestess of an ancient temple were praying under the moonlight.

"But at the same time, he is ultimately just a secular person, no different from ordinary people, who would treat you with hostility as a devil, or even disdain you."

The Island Master's sigh drifted in the singing,

"My God… if he does not believe in you or respect you, how can he be worthy of bearing your royal power? How can he be worthy of leading the new world?"

"How can such contempt, such ignorance be allowed? Should he not be taught the Truth of the universe?"

"Please allow me to offer you a meager bit of assistance. Even if I cannot forge a body for you to return to the human world, I wish to lay the foundation for your return."

She sang the last part in a low voice, her voice gradually fading away.

"Willing to be a servant of the White God, quietly awaiting your call."

The singing stopped, and the night returned to silence.

Sasa, having heard all of this, did not respond immediately, but just floated quietly in the darkness, frowning.

No one knew what she was thinking.

…Just like that, no other strange events occurred that night.

Early the next morning, the Blonde Girl and the Brown-haired Girl came as usual to deliver breakfast to Qi Xing and tidy up the room. Both of them looked normal, with no signs that anything unusual had happened last night.

"Master Leipu!"

The Blonde Girl remained as vibrant and enthusiastic as ever, hopping over to Qi Xing as soon as she saw him. The locals on this island seemed to have a very outgoing personality.

"Why, even though you've been on the island for two days, haven't you had █ █ with us yet?"

Before she had even finished speaking, she threw herself at him without any reservation, hugging Qi Xing's arm and rubbing against it, acting very intimately.

This time, Qi Xing didn't push her away directly; he just dodged back slightly and actually said patiently, "I don't [engage] with non…"

…Engage with what?

He stopped halfway through his sentence. Was he really going to say in front of these two girls that he wouldn't █ █ with non-virgins?

This statement probably wouldn't affect the Blonde Girl much; she had long since integrated into the values of Labrys Island and wouldn't care at all about the "humiliating" nature of such a statement.

But the Brown-haired Girl on the side was a different story.

She didn't come to this island truly "voluntarily." If he said such things in front of her… he was afraid it would leave even more unspeakable trauma in her heart.

After all, she didn't choose to lose anything; she was just arranged and sent here, and she couldn't survive without doing those things, so she had no choice but to adapt.

Thinking of this, Qi Xing changed the subject: "Me? I only want █ with love."

"Eh? Love?"

The Blonde Girl tilted her head,

"Intimate communication between people is a basic form of love, right? Come on, Master Leipu~ Let's just start with an █ █ relationship~ Maybe love will sprout later on~"

"That logic doesn't work for me."

…Even though he said that, Qi Xing had actually considered this problem occasionally. Anyway, he wasn't a virgin anymore, and he wasn't going to take everyone as a virgin and marry them back home.

The car in his own garage obviously had to be brand new; but if you were just taking a bus occasionally, only a madman would obsess over whether it was a new vehicle. If it was just for fun, it didn't really matter if the other person was a virgin…

…But Qi Xing always felt that if he thought that way, he would truly be corrupt, so he still had to refuse this temptation.

Even if morality was malleable, and even if external moral codes had no right to override his own moral concerns, the moral law within his heart was still real, wasn't it?

So no, hmm.

"Does the Island Master have any words to leave for me, or anything she wants you to convey?"

He changed the subject.

But both young girls shook their heads.

How strange, is this Island Master not playing by the rules?

Qi Xing had originally thought that since he was going to conquer the labyrinth today to get the silver coin, the Island Master would definitely come to cause some trouble to hinder him… Oh well, he'd just deal with whatever came his way.

Ten minutes later, he arrived at the entrance of the labyrinth ruins again.

He had long since shaken off the two young girls. If he really rushed into the labyrinth with them, Qi Xing definitely wouldn't be able to handle it.

"Is it really okay to go in with me? Do you still remember what the third door is?"

Only Sasa, floating above his head, retorted in annoyance.

"I was a bit hesitant at first, but at this point, I can no longer delay."

Qi Xing answered indifferently, his tone calm, having already made his decision,

"Bringing Elaine is certainly a solution, but I can't ensure she won't be in danger in this labyrinth. Rin's combat power is trustworthy, but she is just a friend and partner. If I did this and that to her for the sake of clearing the level, it definitely wouldn't do."

Sasa snorted coldly, her tone full of sarcasm: "The service is truly thoughtful. Then why don't you just grab that Island Master and bring her in to clear the level with you? If she dies, it's her karmic retribution; if you █ her, she'd probably even be begging for it."

"I chose you because no matter what I do to you, I won't have any psychological burden."

Qi Xing answered expressionlessly,

"Let's go."

—Although Qi Xing often gave the impression of being a brute or uneducated, when his external brain wasn't around, he wasn't someone who didn't think or understand anything.

In fact, he had already deduced the structure and logic of this labyrinth.

The first layer of the labyrinth was shedding clothes—could this be interpreted as taking off the shell of the social level? Revealing oneself in a non-social form, as a biological form?

The second layer of the labyrinth was exposing one's █ fetish—could this be understood as expressing the tendencies and desires suppressed behind morality, the "likes" and "tendencies" after no longer being bound by morality?

These were all about stripping away the "attributes given to people by society."

The third layer of the labyrinth, where behavior began to become intense, was [a room where you couldn't move forward without watching the other person █].

Both parties had to █ in front of each other.

…In other words, it was showing one's █ organs and █ to the other party.

Regardless of the layer, the essence was to dismantle human camouflage and boundaries layer by layer, forcing people to enter a state of complete Truth and complete essence.

Assuming this labyrinth required entering in pairs—Qi Xing didn't plan to test what would happen if he brought more people in, the risk was too great—then showing one's true essence to a companion was actually a very risky thing.

But as it happened, Sasa already knew most of Qi Xing's secrets, Qi Xing was curious about Sasa's secrets, and she was the source of all evil in this universe, so it was no problem!

Probably.

He stepped inside, his figure disappearing into the silver-white passage that seemed to devour everything. Sasa rolled her eyes silently above his head, but eventually followed.

The first layer, no need to say it again.

The second layer, Qi Xing tried, and found that the same answer could pass; the labyrinth didn't require a different answer every time. That was nice.

The third layer… [a room where you couldn't move forward without watching the other person █].

A look of fear had already appeared on Sasa's face: [Seriously, █ █?]

"█."

Qi Xing said calmly.

Even though this was an astonishingly shameful █ play…

…But seeing the expression on Sasa's face, where she was now both fearful and shy, and even a little █ excited,

Qi Xing's heart… was actually secretly feeling a little pleased.

[…You really are a pervert.]

[To actually █ █ in front of me… You are a super, massive █-tate…]

"Stop the nonsense. Don't you feel very █ █ yourself? We're even."

Just like that, the third layer was passed as well.

Even when they passed through the exit of the third layer, Sasa's face was still red, her eyes a bit shifty, her body trembling slightly, like a small animal that had been scalded, floating gently beside Qi Xing's shoulder, not even having the energy to unleash her usual sharp tongue.

The room structure of the fourth layer was no different from the first three; it was still smooth, pure silver walls, and a sign on the wall.

This time, the sign read:

[A room where you cannot move forward without actively touching the other person].

"Huh?"

Qi Xing couldn't help but be slightly stunned when he saw this,

"Isn't this much simpler than the previous two?"

After speaking, he reached out and directly touched Sasa's head.

The Loli Evil God clicked her tongue and, reluctantly, reached out to grab Qi Xing's finger.

That should work, right?

They stood in place and waited for a few seconds.

…But the room had no reaction.

No door opened, and no new prompt appeared.

One second, two seconds, three seconds.

The air was so still it felt frozen.

Until Sasa and Qi Xing both realized something.

"That's not right…"

Qi Xing frowned and rubbed his chin,

"It's not requiring 'touch'… it's 'actively'."

The "actively" on this layer—did not refer to the formal action, but rather—intent, desire.

This requirement might be even trickier than the first three layers.

Volume 5: Welcome to █ █ █ Paradise!: 191: Crossing the Boundary

Environment, Geographical Advantage

Even for top-tier powerhouses, these are also quite important factors.

If one encounters an enemy they cannot defeat with raw power, the first thing to consider is how to use wisdom to create an environment that can be utilized, set up a trap, and seize the initiative.

The leader of the Peacock Disciples, the master of Labrys Island, Xue Ning, had always been well-versed in this, skilled at manipulating everything invisibly like a puppet master pulling strings, without others even noticing.

Early this morning, Qi Xing shook off the Blonde Girl and the Brown-haired Girl, thinking he had shaken off the tracking and surveillance, and snuck into the labyrinth ruins.

But he didn't know that Island Master Xue Ning had actually snuck into the labyrinth in advance, lurking behind the silver walls, silently spying on this trial.

Why could she do such a thing? Of course she could do such a thing, but the specific reason is a story for another time.

Anyway, today when Qi Xing cleared the first three rooms, Xue Ning was peeking from behind the walls. She couldn't see Sasa, nor could she hear her voice, but she heard what Qi Xing said and saw his actions, and she could tell that none of Qi Xing's actions were a one-man show.