Eating Melons Until I Saw News of My Own Death — Chapter 124

"Woo——"

The blare of sirens sounded incessantly over the city.

Armand looked up at the dark green night sky, a smile curling at the corner of his mouth. "Aly is truly remarkable. She actually did it."

After entering the affluent district, Tang Li had located the families corresponding to the twelve gates leading from the slums to the commoners' district. Only through the energy terminals within these families could the corresponding gates be opened.

"Woo——"

In the First World, Ye Huai let out a light scoff. "Don't act as if you were completely in the dark. Without your help, would their progress have been so smooth?"

Armand wore an innocent expression. "I didn't do anything."

Someone standing behind the trio sneered. "No point arguing with someone love-struck. Even a dog wouldn't want to eat his brains."

"As long as A'Li likes it."

Standing beside Tong Yang, a person from the United Government shouted, "The Slaughterers? What are you doing here? Armand, does the opening of the gates have something to do with you..."

Before the man could finish his sentence, the person behind the First World's Tong Yang suddenly flung a shard of glass. It bypassed Tong Yang and swiftly slit the throats of the other several men.

Blood sprayed out with a "squelch." Tong Yang slightly closed her eyes, feeling the warm liquid splatter on her eyelids.

"Sis! Sis!"

Yang Miao, covered in special particles, struggled in the grasp of the First World's Tong Yang. Some particles fell from her body like dust, dissipating into the air.

Tong Yang didn't seem surprised. She looked down to check Meng Xiao's condition—injured, but not fatally, for now.

"She's too young. She doesn't participate in the game," Tong Yang stated.

The First World's Tong Yang casually tossed Yang Miao to Armand. "I know."

Tong Yang asked, "What do you intend to do?"

The First World's Tong Yang countered, "Where are your companions?"

"They're busy. I'm the only one here."

Ye Huai's identity hadn't been exposed. No one would suspect that the representative from the parallel world actually hailed from the Third World.

The First World's Tong Yang narrowed her eyes slightly, speaking ambiguously, "Is that so."

"Only you, all alone here. Should I believe that? Or shouldn't I?"

"What do you think?" Tong Yang shot back.

It was absolutely impossible for Ye Huai's identity to be discovered. The First World's Tong Yang was most likely bluffing.

The First World's Tong Yang chuckled softly. "So it really is just you alone."

"So, what's your plan? Hand Yang Miao over to the United Government?"

The First World's Tong Yang shook her head. "That would mean you're all dead for sure. No fun."

"But your companions aren't here. What a predicament," the First World's Tong Yang said leisurely.

Tong Yang remained silent, wanting to hear her plan.

"Got it." The First World's Tong Yang suddenly remembered something. "The United Government and the First World won't give up on making the descendants of the first-generation androids the temporal anchors. Once the energy cores fuse, if a channel isn't established promptly, an energy storm will erupt, throwing all three worlds into chaos. How about we play a hunter game instead?"

"Whoever is stronger becomes the hunter. Victory is achieved by hunting down the other."

Tong Yang pressed her lips together, hating the idea of becoming prey, but she had no other choice.

The First World's Tong Yang continued, "You and I are the ultimate prey. The game ends immediately if either of us dies. If you win, I'll return her to you. If you lose, I'll hand her over to the United Government. One important note: until the outcome is decided, I won't allow anyone to disrupt the game."

Tong Yang looked at her, saying nothing.

Although she didn't know who was executing the top-secret mission, Wu Pingxue had said they only needed to facilitate the fusion of the energy cores, create chaos for the First World, make them panic and buy time. That was enough.

The First World's Tong Yang's threat probably held no weight. Even if Tong Yang and the others all died here, the plan would still succeed.

So, as long as she could stall the First World's Tong Yang, there was no need to worry about other aspects.

The First World's Tong Yang said, "Tong Yang, I am you, and you are me. Don't think of me as too kind-hearted."

Tong Yang's expression froze, her brow furrowing. "What do you mean?"

"You know I can ignore the barriers between worlds, moving freely among them, right?"

"Pioneer" officers injected with high-quality gene serums could all ignore the limitations of magnetic field energy.

"You've been to the real world?" Tong Yang's voice turned grave.

During this period, the First World's Tong Yang had hardly appeared, staying unusually quiet. She hadn't caused trouble on a whim as she'd claimed she would. Tong Yang knew things wouldn't end so simply, but she hadn't expected her to go directly to the real world.

The First World's Tong Yang smiled gently. "I said I wouldn't let anyone ruin the game I've been looking forward to for so long."

She sat up straight, removed her white cat-faced mask, revealing features identical to Tong Yang's.

"Those who break the game's rules should be punished. The outcome between the First and Third Worlds must align with the result of our game. Otherwise, even if you complete your mission, everyone in the real world will die."

Tong Yang's heart sank. "What have you done?"

"The Third World also possesses magnetic field energy. Since you're unwilling to develop it, I helped you. If the game rules are broken, the Earth's self-destruct sequence will activate. That's the first program I set. Since I'm the only one controlling it for now, its power is immense."

Tong Yang clenched her teeth. "Are you insane? You'd kill everyone in the real world?"

The First World's Tong Yang replied, "If you follow the game's rules, I won't do that. Even if you fail, at least some people will survive."

"You're a complete lunatic!" Rage surged in Tong Yang's heart. She hadn't anticipated the First World's Tong Yang interfering here.

"So you must abide by the game's rules," the First World's Tong Yang said with a laugh.

"Full fusion of the energy cores is approximately fifteen minutes away. Fifteen minutes from now, the game officially begins."

"I'm very much looking forward to it."

With that, the First World's Tong Yang and her group left the banquet hall.

Simultaneously, all eleven gates in the slums were opened. Countless slum dwellers poured through the passages into the commoners' district.

The previous bombing of the slums, along with the actions of Mi Qi, Bai Sining, and others who had used her name to resist the United Government, had already caused the slum dwellers to lose all trust in the authorities.

Yang Miao's disappearance and the influx of slum dwellers threw the banquet into utter chaos. The United Government immediately dispatched forces to suppress the situation. The scope was likely too vast, involving even some androids.

Yang Miao, taken by them, would be in no immediate mortal danger. There was no need to worry about her. Instead, the problem Tong Yang faced was exceedingly thorny; she couldn't possibly solve it alone.

Tong Yang didn't delay. She informed everyone currently on their missions.

He Jingjing said, "I've already found Jingjing. I'll be back soon."

Tang Li said, "We've destroyed the energy terminals in the families. We're on our way."

Destroying the energy terminals of eleven families was not something Tang Li could accomplish alone. Aside from Mi Qi, who remained in the slums, all other members of the "Spiders" rushed to the scene. Chu Shiyu, Xu Junyue, Tang Shuyan, and several individuals from the Z-country military also participated.

Upon learning of this, Ye Huai immediately informed the real world, telling them to brace themselves.

Once the self-destruct sequence was initiated, it could not be canceled. No one had anticipated things would escalate to this point, including Wu Pingxue.

The existence of Tong Yang from the First World was simply too formidable; it was impossible to circumvent her to complete their plan.

Upon hearing this, Wu Pingxue couldn't help but sigh. "To think we'd be tripped up by Tong Yang of the First World."

The self-destruct sequence activates once its trigger conditions are met. They had no way to preemptively divert the magnetic field energy to another spacetime. Even if they somehow managed it, the real world would be utterly destroyed.

They could not break the rules of the game. Even though the energy core was fully integrated and the anchor point fell upon Yang Miao, it was fortunate that the parallel world, being ambitious, had temporarily made the First World its primary target. This meant that even if Tong Yang and the others died in the game, the real world could still cling to life for a while longer.

However, no time traveler had revealed the location of the magnetic field energy. Perhaps, before they could discover it, humanity in the real world would already be extinct, conquered by the parallel world.

Ye Huai said, "The parallel world believes the United Government has discovered their plan to control Yang Miao and sanction the First World, and that they've hidden Yang Miao away. I'm afraid they'll soon start fighting over control of the energy core."

"I understand." Tong Yang leaned against the wall, looking up at the eerie green sky, his mood unnervingly calm.

At this point, aside from engaging in the so-called "Hunter Game" with Tong Yang of the First World, they had no other choice.

If the First World and the parallel world fought, it would at least deplete both sides' strength, buying more breathing room for the real world.

"Mr. Du asked me to relay a message: do your utmost and leave the rest to fate. The real world stands or falls with us."

Tong Yang asked, "Where are you?"

"The restroom."

Tong Yang chuckled softly. "Go back."

"Back where?" Ye Huai's voice faltered.

"Home."

Tong Yang had no intention of letting Ye Huai participate in the so-called game. With things having developed to this extent, there was no need for him to stay here any longer.

There was a long silence on the other end of the line, suddenly broken by a suppressed cough.

Coughing is something that cannot be fully suppressed. Despite Ye Huai's efforts to appear fine, the coughs became wracking, as if he were trying to cough up all his internal organs.

Tong Yang listened quietly. After a few minutes, the coughing finally subsided.

Ye Huai's respiratory tract was already severely compromised.

"I don't want you to die here. What if... we succeed?" Tong Yang said calmly.

Ye Huai said, "I love you."

"I know." Tong Yang lowered his gaze. "Me too."

"I want to stay with you."

"I'll do my best. Go back and wait for me," Tong Yang replied.

After a few seconds, Tong Yang added, "If I don't make it back, before the world ends, please look after Tong Le for me. Don't let him repeat the same mistakes. What happened after May 18th doesn't need to happen again. I couldn't bear it."

In 2036, Tong Le had already broken away from the real world's timeline because of this. The next Tong Le must not do the same.

Ye Huai's voice grew hoarse. "I won't let him do that. But I will."

Tong Yang smiled faintly. "Why bother?"

That they had managed to come this far was already a matter of perfect timing, geographical advantage, and human unity. Trying again might not yield the same results.

Tong Yang said, "Go home, before the energy core fully integrates."

His physical condition was too poor. Staying here would only become a burden to Tong Yang.

"I'll wait for you," Ye Huai murmured hoarsely.

Tong Yang nodded. "I know."

Tong Yang hung up the phone and checked the time. Only five minutes remained until nine o'clock.

In the "Netizen Gossip 007" group chat, the atmosphere was buzzing.

[I'm here! I'm here!]

[We'll meet tomorrow!]

[So excited!!]

[It's still early. Should we meet up first?]

[No way! As loyal sidekicks to Sister Tong, how could we abandon her!]

[Good point!]

[See you tomorrow!]

See you tomorrow.!

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