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The central path of the labyrinth leads straight to the other end, with countless intersections leading to other paths, but the Missiontakers do not take any of the sideways.
At the very end, a wall formed by more blobs of changing colours blocks their way, leaving them having to turn either left or right.
A-Two tells them, “we’ve walked both directions and didn’t find anything.”
He followed behind Lin Qin and Xü Beijin the whole way, and is rather quiet. Besides when he is needed, he isn’t one to initiate a conversation.
This is the first time he’s spoken since the Missiontakers split up, only speaking because the wall necessitates directions.
Lin Qin has been supporting Xü Beijin the whole way. Even though the young man didn’t look so pale anymore since entering the labyrinth, Lin Qin still doesn’t let him go.
He has moved his hand from supporting Xü Beijin’s arm down to his hand.
They’re holding hands.
Xü Beijin is actually a little bit embarrassed, but noticing that A-Two is keeping some distance away quite appropriately, he can’t help but first be relieved, but then be even more agitated.
What in the world?! Is it that obvious between him and Lin Qin? Aren’t they here on a grand quest to save the world?! Why is this Missiontaker staying so far away?
Lin Qin has also noticed A-Two staying away from them, and is both surprised and happy about it.
He glances over at Xü Beijin next, and asks, “are you trying to find something in the labyrinth?”
“First, the others need to figure out the truth,” Xü Beijin thinks then responds, “the next step, will be to find a specific person.”
“Who?”
Xü Beijin shakes his head and doesn’t answer directly. Instead, when they’re at the end of the central path, Xü Beijin says, facing the flashing wall, “we need to walk behind this wall.”
“Behind?” A-Two goes wide-eyed for a moment, then says, “let me think… I think there’s a path there, from the left side.”
Xü Beijin nods and says, “let’s go…”
A-Two leads the way next, taking them to where, cardinally, it would be behind the wall when facing the central path.
A-Two is wondering what there could be behind the wall.
They’ve been to this Nightmare a few times but haven’t found anything there. It was more empty corridor and turns.
Yet when they make another turn to go forward, Lin Qin suddenly interrupts to say, “this is the wrong direction.”
“Wrong direction?” A-Two is stupefied, and says, “but…”
He looks back and tries to recall all the paths they’ve taken so far since entering, but the more he does, the more he finds himself confused.
He realises, he’s lost his sense of direction in this labyrinth.
He does remember the path, but whether it leads to where he thinks they’re going, is questionable.
“So…” A-Two, uncertain, asks, “did this labyrinth get built with this misdirection built in? Are the angles subtly off from being right angles? Or, are these flashing colours causing some disorientation in our brains…”
A-Two starts glancing over at Lin Qin by this point.
Of course, he isn’t doubting Lin Qin; first off, this crownless King of the bottom floor always seems to have something about him that makes people feel reassured. That’s how strange his powers are.
Second off, Xü Beijin said they need to go behind this wall, but A-Two has been there and didn’t see anything. So he’d rather believe that they went somewhere wrong rather than Xü Beijin being wrong.
Though this brings up a question – if this labyrinth confuses direction all the same to enemy and friend alike, then why is Lin Qin immune?
Xü Beijin, meanwhile, isn’t at all surprised by what definitely isn’t the first time Lin Qin has demonstrated his special senses. He’s always acted with capabilities beyond what other Missiontakers can achieve, but no one has taken notice, that’s all.
Partly, it’s because Lin Qin isn’t aware or knows why, and also partly, because he has stayed on the bottom floor all these years.
Then there’s the fact that, despite all his strange qualities, people have always ended up ignoring it one way or another. It’s quite jarring when pointed out, frankly.
XĂź Beijin is remembering his earlier speculations.
Lin Qin… he has to be special, hasn’t he?
Then he takes a deep breath and examines Lin Qin with worrying eyes. This is probably a question he would only have an answer to after he finds NE.
Or possibly… He could look for NE together with him.
It might be safer, both for him and for Lin Qin… And maybe you can also call this his whim. If anything were to happen on his way to NE…
“Lin Qin…”
While A-Two is still worrying about the directions ahead, he hears XĂź Beijin call out to Lin Qin with a solemn tone. So he looks over as well.
Lin Qin asks casually, “what’s up?”
“If I am going to die, would you be willing to join me?”
“Of course,” Lin Qin, both astonished and elated, says, “I’d be really, really glad to.”
Xü Beijin then gives Lin Qin a really complicated look, telling him, “you don’t have to, you know.”
“No way!” Lin Qin suddenly starts shooting off angrily, “I just agreed to! When you die, I’ll follow you!”
Xü Beijin “…”
Not sure whether to tear up or just laugh at this point, he just sighs, and tells Lin Qin, “I see.”
Lin Qin still looks worried, though, asking, “do you really understand? You can’t do dangerous stuff behind my back… You can’t! You must let me know!”
Though his words are forceful, he is also powerless; powerless, just as he was when XĂź Beijin appeared outside of this labyrinth with his skin as pale as a ghost. He swears his heart stopped beating for a second there.
The person he loves is suffering where he can’t see, but he isn’t willing to tell him either. He merely brushes off the issue on his body.
Lin Qin is angry, but he cannot lash out on XĂź Beijin either.
However, he thinks Xü Beijin cannot… cannot just be like that. He cannot just keep everything from him anymore. They’re so close together now…
Lin Qin is glaring at Xü Beijin, with slightly puffy eyes, trying to look intimidating, but it looks more like he’s going to cry instead.
It’s probably the first time Lin Qin has experienced such intense emotions. He stares at Xü Beijin, and finally says, “if I didn’t know I really like you, I’d definitely think you are an evil enemy,” he thinks some more, then says, “yeah, I’ll brawl with you.”
Xü Beijin “…”
Lost for words, he just says, “I’ll brawl with you later.”