140: Chapter 140 I said... How dare you!

"I know." Gu Changming's throat let out a gasping sound, his body arching as his forehead pressed against the back of Cheng Yubai's hand, repeating in a breakdown: "Blame me... it's all my fault..."

"Yeah... blame you..." Cheng Yubai's gaze settled on Gu Changming's pained and distorted face, using the last of his strength to finish his words.

"So Xiao Gu..." He coughed, blood foam surging from his throat, "You can't die... I want you to keep living, carrying this guilt, live on..."

Those two guys disappeared, Xiao Gu passed this trial and got the final reward... It wasn't easy, so don't become someone who gives up on themselves because of those who died.

Cheng Yubai's pupils began to lose focus, his voice so low it was almost inaudible.

"Be tormented by your conscience forever, and just live on like that, until the time human civilization successfully ascends..."

...

"Hmm? Boss Gu?" Cheng Yubai called out tentatively again.

For some reason, this young boss was always habitually lost in thought.

With that call, Gu Changming's attention was pulled back.

"Sorry, I remembered something," Gu Changming nodded politely.

"It's fine," Cheng Yubai said understandingly, then asked again: "Um... should we continue?"

He reached out and pointed to the panel prompt box in front of them:

[Choosing to exit now will still grant the corresponding rewards.]

Gu Changming glanced at it, his internal emotions fluctuating slightly, then nodded: "Yes."

"Alright." Cheng Yubai nodded, then gave Chen Shanshui and the other person behind him a look, signaling them to click accept.

Watching Cheng Yubai's actions, Gu Changming suddenly spoke:

"Teacher Cheng?"

"Hmm?" Cheng Yubai turned back in surprise.

Gu Changming explained, "Just now when you were fighting, I heard your teammate call you that."

"Oh." Cheng Yubai smiled, "That. Before the Assessment arrived, I was teaching in a middle school. But that guy never likes to call people by their names directly, so it became a habit over time." Cheng Yubai pointed at Chen Shanshui.

Gu Changming followed the direction of his finger, glancing at the joking Chen Shanshui and Sun Ye, a faint smile appearing on the corner of his mouth as well.

Then he looked back and continued: "Then did your students ever say you're a very kind person?"

"Probably not. At most, I'm just relatively good-hearted; I didn't punish them when they didn't complete their assigned exercises..." Cheng Yubai smiled.

"I think you're quite kind." There was a trace of imperceptible complex emotion in Gu Changming's voice.

Back then, even though he was clearly dying, he still thought about comforting him and making him live on...

Perhaps sensing his own emotional fluctuations, Gu Changming turned around before Cheng Yubai could respond, walking towards Chen Shanshui who was joking with Sun Ye.

Watching Gu Changming's back, Cheng Yubai blinked, feeling even more bewildered.

"Boss Gu."

Seeing him approach, Chen Shanshui grinned, revealing a bright smile.

"For the next stage of the trial, can you lend me your weapon?" Gu Changming stood still in front of him and reached out his hand.

"Huh?" Chen Shanshui was stunned, then looked troubled: "No, this... I'm used to this weapon. If I don't have it, my combat power will likely be greatly reduced."

"It's fine." Gu Changming pushed his hand forward a bit more, "In the next stage, I'll do it myself."

Chen Shanshui glanced at Sun Ye nearby, and Sun Ye looked back.

In that exchange of glances, they had already finished venting their internal complaints.

Then Chen Shanshui's eyes darted around. Seeing Gu Changming's serious expression, he hesitated for a moment before handing over the axe he was holding.

"Then see if it feels comfortable to use." Chen Shanshui grinned awkwardly.

Gu Changming reached out and took it. As the weapon entered his hand, a heavy sensation immediately came from his palm.

Weighing the weapon in his hand, Gu Changming's gaze gradually turned cold.

Certain emotions in his heart needed a more direct way to be released.

...

After everyone clicked confirm, the four figures flashed and were teleported to a new space.

It was a patch of damp jungle grassland.

Almost simultaneously, a semi-transparent prompt box appeared before them:

[Final Trial: Survive for two minutes against the Guide to achieve victory.]

[Hidden Rule: In the final trial, at least one person from the Trial Takers' side must survive to obtain the reward.]

...

Backstage of the Trial Grounds.

Watching the two pillars of teleportation light up before him, Barron's inner anxiety became increasingly apparent.

"What's wrong with you? You've been off since the beginning." Rogue squinted at him, his withered face showing impatience.

"Nothing." Barron shook his head.

Then, he couldn't help but glance at Gu Changming on the screen. He had watched all of the other's trials, and his strength wasn't particularly outstanding.

So... there shouldn't be any problems.

"Then let's go." Rogue didn't ask further and waved his hand.

The two stepped forward into the pillars of light.

White light flashed before their eyes. When their vision returned, they were already standing in the jungle clearing of the Assessment grounds.

Rogue habitually raised his chin, looking at the four people standing opposite. His withered mouth curled up, preparing to show his usual, condescending, playful smile.

But in the next second, Barron's confused voice came through, interrupting his preparation.

"Wait? Our strength... why is it so high this time?"

...

After stepping into the new Assessment grounds, Gu Changming's breathing uncontrollably quickened.

He stared intently at the clearing ahead.

Soon, two pillars of light appeared above the clearing, dazzlingly bright.

The light gradually dissipated, and two hunched, withered figures shrouded in dim light stepped out.

The moment he saw their silhouettes clearly, Gu Changming's hand gripping the handle of the Double-headed Axe suddenly tightened, his knuckles turning white as he trembled uncontrollably.

His breathing, his entire body was trembling uncontrollably at this moment...

Gu Changming didn't speak; he just walked straight toward those two figures.

Opposite him, Barron and Rogue also noticed Gu Changming's movement.

After tilting their heads, they also took out their grayish-white Bone Blades, preparing to meet the enemy.

But soon, they noticed something was wrong.

As the distance between them closed, the other's speed became faster and faster, eventually turning into an afterimage, like a grim reaper who couldn't wait to harvest their lives.

At this moment, the anger Gu Changming had suppressed in his heart for so long finally erupted, a heavy and violent aura forming around him.

Three meters.

The instant the distance between them closed to this point.

All the shackles of Gu Changming's rationality snapped.

"I say..."

He raised his head, his eyes blood-red, each word seemingly ground out from between his teeth.

"How dare you!!!"

Gu Changming roared, the sound exploding from his chest, every word soaked in hatred that was almost tangible.

The Double-headed Axe turned into a blurred dark light in his hands.

"Bang!!!"

A dull, tooth-aching thud of flesh and bone being instantly smashed and crushed by immense force suddenly echoed through the entire space.