Five? Lin Beichen showed a look of confusion. He knew that the fake Five he had seen before had already been blown up. Shouldn't the real Five be one of those three? Why was he being singled out for mention?
However, Li Congjing did not explain his doubts but continued, "Joseph and I have another child we recognize, although that child might not know of our existence." As she spoke, a trace of maternal tenderness appeared in her eyes. But such an expression on a face that seemed like a fourteen or fifteen-year-old girl made Lin Beichen feel a bit strange.
"I hope you can find that child, extend his life, and tell him the name we chose for him—Li Wensu." Li Congjing continued, "He might now be known as Black Robe, or some may call him Eleven."
Lin Beichen nodded, indicating he had remembered. Li Congjing gave him a deep look, then handed him something like a recording device. "There are two audio files in here, one was for me, but I've deleted it. The other was recorded by Joseph specifically for you."
"You might find what you're looking for in here." A naive smile appeared on Li Congjing's face, contrasting sharply with her previous emotions. As she was about to leave, Lin Beichen couldn't help but call after her, "Is this all the wealth you mentioned?"
Li Congjing turned back, a mischievous yet sincere smile on her face. "That's right, this is all my wealth." After saying this, she turned and skipped away like a carefree child after school. Watching her departing figure, Lin Beichen couldn't help but feel a sense of bewilderment. She seemed entirely unconcerned about him attacking her.
As he watched Li Congjing walk further away, Lin Beichen returned to the bushes. The sweat-covered Flying Eagle looked at him and asked, "Lin Beichen, are you really going to help this woman?"
Lin Beichen nodded, his face showing determination. Then he turned to look at the others, also sweat-covered, and said, "In that case, let's all listen to what's inside this recorder."
He opened the recorder, and Joseph's voice emerged.
After a series of words, Joseph mentioned his expectations and hopes for Lin Beichen, hoping he could explore the world beyond fate and see where the path beyond technology would lead.
Lin Beichen was shocked upon hearing this; he realized there might be something special about him, something Joseph seemed to have seen through. That is—he possessed a unique system.
Lin Beichen nodded lightly to show his understanding.
Those around him could only be observers; they could grasp the meaning of Joseph's words but could not empathize with them.
"The so-called crossing of thresholds is nothing more than exchanging life for power. Some people with mediocre talent and limited potential find their powers weak and their life consumption slow."
"But I, with extraordinary talent, stood out from a young age, meant to be a perfect tool. It should have been so."
"But those two never expected me to be too smart. My rate of life consumption was four times that of a regular person."
"In other words, where others live a day, I live four days."
"Now, deeply feeling my end is near, I've decided to die by your hand today. After all, in a sense, you're the true transcender."
Joseph sneered, showing disdain for Li Congjing's father's arrogance.
Lin Beichen heard this and did not reply.
He knew nothing of what Joseph spoke, feeling like a blind man, lost and at a loss.
This feeling was distressing, but he had no words to reply. He could only consult the person named Five in the future.
As Lin Beichen was lost in thought, Joseph proudly began to speak again: "Next, I will tell you the root cause of the failure of those arrogant people."
Lin Beichen glanced at Flying Eagle and the others, falling silent. Although Joseph was a killer and psychologically perverse, he exuded an irresistible personal charm. Lin Beichen actually felt respect for him, a notion that was ridiculous but hard to suppress. He continued to listen to Joseph's words, who, though deceased, still controlled everything.
"I understand the unpredictability of human nature, even if I knew Li Congjing would fall in love with another, I couldn't stop it." Joseph spoke lightly, but Lin Beichen could feel his deep affection for Li Congjing.
"Betrayed by the one I love most, I can die without regrets." Joseph spoke of his own death with a joking tone.
"For someone as strong as me, taking a couple with me in death is only normal." He casually decided the fate of two significant figures.
Lin Beichen listened silently, deeply feeling Joseph's strength.
"The end of fate I set for everyone is betrayal," Joseph said, then lapsed into thought, "Lin Beichen, do you know? For people like us, it's the unpredictable things that are truly captivating. Because I couldn't figure out Li Congjing's heart, I accepted my death. Yet, as my life neared its end, I discovered a way to win her back."
"My life is irretrievable, and the plan is already in motion," he spoke of incomparable pain, "Do you understand the feeling of believing you are in control, only to find you're just a plaything of fate? Even though I know, fate does not exist."
Joseph's voice gradually faded, and just as the others thought it was over, he spoke again with a smug tone, "Almost forgot to mention, regarding this thing about continuing to burn life after crossing the threshold, only you all know. Of course, there's also my beloved Miss Li. The pain I caused her is a compensatory gift for making me struggle between love and letting go for so many years, enjoying the pleasure of entanglement with her and the sorrow of foreseen separation. After all, from beginning to end, I am a bad person."
Li Qiao stared at the calm mid-aged man opposite him, standing behind him for a long time.
Li Qiao wanted to speak but had already missed the opportunity. The greasy middle-aged man's left hand held a gun, with smoke rising from its muzzle.
Li Qiao let out a bitter laugh and fell to the ground, defeated. "I...thought..." he murmured, but it was already irrecoverable.
Outsiders may not understand why, but Li Qiao knew very well.
This greasy middle-aged man had once been Joseph's capable mercenary team member, his close confidant.
Thus, when Ji sent him over, Li Qiao was completely without guard. After all, who would guard against a brother-in-law who deeply loves their sister?
However, at this moment, the middle-aged man's face was solemn. He turned coldly to look at Ji, "Where is the treasure you mentioned?" Ji looked back indifferently and slowly walked over to Li Qiao's side. The middle-aged man witnessed all of this but did not hinder.
The air between the greasy man and the middle-aged man, filled with tension, was palpable. The middle-aged man felt the long-forgotten fear of a weaker being. He squinted his eyes, then forced a laugh asking, "What do you intend to do?" The greasy man remained silent, and the atmosphere grew even stranger.
"Do you know why it's only me and Li Qiao here?" The greasy man suddenly questioned.
The middle-aged man, namely Miles, chuckled lightly in response, "I really don't know." It was apparent he was stalling for time.
"Because the others are all hiding, watching you." The greasy man revealed the answer.
Miles pulled a corner of his mouth; he had long noticed those gazes.
But once they entered this place, there was no retreat. He suspected that since Joseph's death, those soldiers uninvolved in the rebellion had fallen into the hands of Li Qiao and the others.
This road was Joseph and Li Congjing's secret passage, narrow and easy to defend but difficult to attack.
Sadness flashed across Ji's face as he felt regret for Li Qiao.
"Your past feelings for Li Congjing, the Master saw through them absolutely clear. Yet, he didn't kill you because he viewed you as a child who didn't understand, you being the only family she had, not wanting her to be hurt again." Ji's words were filled with reminiscence, "The Master once intended to pass the mantle to you, but you were greedy, cruel, and short-sighted. You thought you were in control and supremely intelligent, but you were actually exceedingly foolish. The Master gave you all a chance to make mistakes, yet none of you cherished it.