The end of the world is approaching, I'm handing myself over to the country.

The woman seemed to be in a very good mood, completely unaware of the man with shining eyes sitting on a rock not far away.

Lin Xiu's Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed hard.

He subconsciously looked around.

The surrounding area was a pile of rocks, with a wide-open view, and apart from the woman, there was no other person in sight.

A gust of wind blew by, stirring up sand and dust that stung people's eyes.

A crazy idea began to grow and spread uncontrollably in his mind, instantly taking over his entire attention.

His five fingers suddenly clenched, his knuckles tensing.

"No...no!"

"How could I have such a thought..."

Lin Xiu's reason was making a final struggle.

However, Ling'er's face, Sun Ye's "pale and tired" face, and the words "three days later" echoed repeatedly in his mind like a curse.

"But without the Source Crystal, I won't be able to see you again, Ling'er. Tell me, what should I do?"

Lin Xiu's chest heaved violently, and his heavy breathing was particularly clear in the silent air.

His gaze was fixed on the bag in the woman's hand. It was no longer just a bag of source crystals, but his only hope of seeing Ling'er again!

"I want to see you again..."

"Ling'er..."

"I'm willing to give up everything, even if the world scorns me!"

Lin Xiu's body trembled slightly with excitement and nervousness.

He looked at his hands, and at the woman who was getting closer and closer.

He suddenly stood up from the rock, the last trace of hesitation on his face replaced by utter madness.

"Ling'er, please don't blame me. Everything I've done... was for you!"

He used a voice only he could hear to find a sacred and inviolable reason for the crime he was about to commit.

Lin Mo, with God's-eye view, quietly watched this scene.

Watching Lin Xiu go through the entire process from despair to struggle, and then to making a decision, he unusually refrained from making any comments.

But there was an indescribable chill in that indifferent gaze.

next second.

Lin Xiu made a move.

He was no longer the dejected and desperate man, but a lone wolf driven to the brink of despair, ready to deliver a fatal blow.

He tiptoed silently toward the woman humming a tune, slowly approaching her step by step.

The world seemed to be slowed down.

Lin Xiu could almost hear his own heart pounding like a drum.

"I did all this for you, please don't blame me." Lin Xiu clenched his fist and murmured silently, as if to encourage himself.

Nearly.

closer.

He could even smell the perfume emanating from the woman.

The bag containing thousands of source crystals was within his reach, swaying gently with the woman's steps, each collision seeming to exert a fatal temptation on him.

He raised his hand, which trembled slightly with nervousness.

It's now!

Just grab the bag and run with all your might!

If you gain the upper hand, the other party definitely won't be able to catch up!

His body was already leaning forward, his fingers spread, ready to pounce at any moment.

The woman's humming stopped abruptly the moment her right hand was extended.

She sensed someone behind her.

A chill ran from her tailbone to the back of her head. She turned around abruptly, her right hand already gripping the hilt of the short knife at her waist with lightning speed. Her whole body was like a fully drawn bow, full of aggression.

What are you doing?

Her questioning was sharp and wary; in this desolate pile of rocks, any stranger who suddenly approached from behind was tantamount to a death knell.

Lin Xiu felt as if his throat was stuffed with cotton, and he couldn't utter a single word.

He looked into the woman's hostile eyes, at her tense body, and at the half-drawn, gleaming dagger.

A wave of immense shame and self-loathing washed over him, making him almost want to disappear on the spot.

Just as the woman thought he was about to launch an attack and was preparing to strike first regardless of everything, she saw Lin Xiu slowly open his hand.

In his palm lay a Source Crystal.

The woman's posture, poised to fight to the death, froze.

"Huh? What's this?"

Lin Xiu forced out a smile that looked worse than a grimace, his voice hoarse.

"These are your lost items."

The woman's gaze shifted back and forth between his embarrassed face and the source crystal.

Vigilance, confusion.

The woman's facial muscles twitched slightly: "Thank you."

Before she finished speaking, she stepped forward and snatched the source crystal from Lin Xiu's hand with lightning speed, then turned and ran without looking back.

That hurried figure quickly disappeared from Lin Xiu's sight.

When the figure could no longer be seen, Lin Xiu felt as if all his strength had been drained away in an instant. He could no longer hold on and collapsed weakly onto the cold ground.

He failed.

He failed to snatch the Source Crystal and was unable to prepare a "generous gift" for Brother Sun Ye.

Three days later, he could no longer see Ling'er.

Yet... he also strangely felt a sense of relief.

Lin Xiu looked up at the empty, blindingly clean sky, and a bleak smile appeared on his face.

"Ling'er, I know you must be watching me, I can feel you..."

"Am I disgusting and a failure? I can't even do this little thing right."

"But just now, I felt like I wasn't myself anymore."

His voice carried a barely perceptible sob.

"But I will definitely try my best."

......

three days later.

In the same old spot, Sun Ye leaned irritably against the stained door panel, glancing every now and then at the long dirt road stretched out in the setting sun.

An impatient man's voice came from behind the door.

"Brother Ye, it's past the agreed time. Is that guy not coming?"

Sun Ye took out a cigarette from his pocket, lit it, and took a deep drag, but the irritation he felt couldn't be exhaled with the smoke.

"Just wait and see."

His voice carried an undeniable confidence, as if he had everything under control.

"That kid will definitely come. Once he's tasted success, no one will let go!"

He had seen too many people like Lin Xiu. As long as they were given a sliver of false hope, they would rush towards it like moths to a flame, only to be burned to ashes.

Even so, looking at the sky, which was already well past the agreed time, he began to feel uncertain.

Did I misjudge this time?

That guy seems quite devoted; he doesn't seem like the type to give up easily.

Behind the door, the man let out a sneer, full of mockery.

"Looks like that's all the love that kid has."

Sun Ye's face darkened, and he was about to start cursing when a blurry black dot suddenly appeared at the end of his vision.

The black dot is moving rapidly in its direction.

Sun Ye's tense nerves relaxed instantly, and a surge of triumphant joy welled up in his heart.

"See? They've come after all."

He quickly composed himself, suppressing his joy and reverting to his inscrutable composure.

He lowered his voice and whispered a commanding tone towards the door:

"Alright, shut up, all of you."

"Get ready, target is here."