Die, Replay, Repeat

Chapter 271 - Fang Xiu's Plan

"I swear, I'm not lying! If you don't believe me, I'll vow right now—if I'm deceiving you, Fang Xiu, let me stay a virgin for life!"

Fang Xiu slowly withdrew the scalpel. He decided to trust her, at least for the moment.

Given Xiao Chuxia's behavior in the dream realm, that vow seemed serious enough.

“To make sure everything goes according to plan, we need to gather more lie energy,” Fang Xiu said, his voice calm and measured.

Xiao Chuxia rubbed her neck, feeling a slight shiver.

“How do we collect more? We've already get most of it in the dream realm. A person can’t just produce endless lie power. If that were the case, I’d be a fifth-tier psychic by now from lying over and over to just one fool!”

“Plenty of psychics are awake at headquarters, aren’t there? Some might even be fourth- or fifth-tier,” Fang Xiu replied with a calculating look.

Xiao Chuxia's eyes widened in shock. "Are you suggesting we deceive Joker and Fang Moli? This isn’t the dream realm anymore—they won’t fall for tricks so easily."

"Just stick to the plan as I explained," Fang Xiu said, unfazed.

…

The story shifted back to the main plotline. As planned, Fang Xiu successfully saved Luo Qingxin, Li Xiaoru, and Xiong Tianguang, and they joined forces to defeat Joker's clone.

"You three, go assist Fang Moli with the real Joker," Fang Xiu instructed.

Accustomed to Fang Xiu’s incredible foresight, the trio hesitated briefly, surprised. Xiong Tianguang, in particular, was reluctant to leave behind Fang Xiu's almost invincible presence. “Xiu, aren’t you coming?”

Fang Xiu shook his head. “I’ve got other matters to handle. Time is short—go, quickly.”

Seeing his resolve, they couldn’t argue. When the Foreseer said something was crucial, it always was.

With a nod, they left.

Fang Xiu turned toward Xiao Chuxia. “You remember the plan?”

Nervously, Xiao Chuxia nodded. “I do… but what if they catch me? Will I die? I’ve never tried lying to a fifth-tier psychic before.”

“You won’t die. Don’t worry.”

There was something reassuring in Fang Xiu’s calm tone. Despite her nerves, Xiao Chuxia felt herself relax. She wasn’t sure how he intended to protect her from a psychic of that level, but she trusted him. His confidence was unmistakable.

And he wasn’t lying. Xiao Chuxia was vital to his plan. If she died, he’d simply start over. In that sense, she wouldn’t really die.

…

Back on the battlefield…

Fang Moli and the others were struggling against Joker. Without Fang Xiu’s support, their situation was growing desperate.

The four fourth-tier psychics were clearly outmatched by Joker, a fifth-tier psychic.

The power gap wasn’t something sheer numbers could overcome.

“Hahaha! Is this the best the mighty captains of headquarters can do?” Joker’s laugh was wild and menacing as he looked at the five bloodied figures before him.

He felt that he was getting closer to destroying headquarters and realizing Zhou Qingfeng’s ultimate vision.

“Fang Moli, so what if you have the Xuanyuan Sword? Only a fifth-tier psychic can defeat another fifth-tier psychic!”

The group remained silent, but their faces were grim. Beneath their calm exteriors, despair was creeping in.

"Is this really it? Is headquarters about to fall?"

Only those who had battled a fifth-tier psychic could understand the vast gap between the fourth and fifth tiers. That gap was so much more daunting than the one between the third and fourth tiers.

Their once-mighty Domain abilities seemed useless against Joker’s overwhelming power.

Seeing the group's grim expressions, Joker’s laughter grew even more maniacal.

"Where’s your precious Foreseer now, huh? You all did so well against my clone, but now that you’re facing the real me, Fang Xiu’s nowhere to be seen! Hahaha... Looks like he’s already foreseen your headquarters' downfall and ran off to save himself!"

His mocking words hit hard, planting seeds of doubt in the group's minds. The uncertainty showed on their faces.

"Yeah, where is Fang Xiu?"

"He said he had something important to do, but seriously, what could be more important than this?"

"Could Joker be right? Did Fang Xiu foresee our defeat and bail on us?"

"Maybe he just helped us earlier to buy himself time to escape?"

Just as the doubt began to take root, a desperate scream echoed through the battlefield.

"Boss, save me!"

A figure, dark and shadowy, was speeding toward them—Ace of Spades!

But he looked nothing like his usual self. His shadowy form was shredded, full of holes, and he was barely holding himself together. He was on the verge of collapse, clearly teetering on the edge of death.

Joker’s smug expression shifted into a frown as confusion set in.

Before anyone could process what was happening, a wave of disturbing, mind-bending whispers filled the air.

The voices spoke in strange, chaotic tones, bringing with them a sense of madness and fear.

A suffocating energy blanketed the battlefield.

In horror, all eyes turned toward the source of the eerie whispers, and there, behind Ace of Spades, stood a massive creature—a grotesque mountain of writhing flesh.

It was Taotie.

The sheer presence of the creature made it hard to breathe. Atop the monstrosity's head, Fang Xiu stood tall, his expression unbothered.

"Ace of Spades, prepare to die!" Fang Xiu’s voice boomed. Obviously, he was the one controlling Taotie.

Taotie’s gigantic hand, massive enough to darken the sky, swung down with terrifying force, aiming directly for Ace of Spades.

Panic overtook Ace of Spades—his pale face and frantic scramble for survival showed just how terrified he was.

Watching this scene unfold, Fang Xiu couldn’t help but admire the spectacle.

Xiao Chuxia, disguised as Ace of Spades, had fully embraced the role. Her trembling and fearful reaction were nearly flawless, a testament to her talent for deception. She was, after all, a natural liar.

Still, Fang Xiu smirked to himself. Ace of Spades—or rather, Xiao Chuxia—was so convincing that he wondered if she was even acting at all.

If she knew what he was thinking, she would probably yell, "Maybe because... I’m ACTUALLY scared?"

Joker, seeing one of his top lieutenants being hunted down, couldn’t just stand by. The fate of his remaining forces was uncertain, and he had no room for hesitation.

He knew the Taotie before him was just a projection—he’d seen Fang Xiu use the same trick before during his battle with Yan Changshou.

In a flash, Joker’s expression hardened. With a single thought, he summoned a blood-red lightning bolt infused with his Mindflare power, crackling as it roared through the air.

The bolt shot directly at Taotie’s massive hand, striking with explosive force.

Translator's note: Is Xiu on the fifth tier now?