An Impossible Mission
Bai Menkeke thought Xia Ying had gone crazy.
Completely crazy.
She shot to her feet. "What nonsense are you talking about? I just... I just ran off to have some fun while my brother wasn't home! Why should I have to... become Lu Chengwen's girlfriend?"
"How could you just say something so terrifying? I didn't do anything wrong. Why should I have to wrong myself like this!?"
"I don't care what you say! I will never be with someone like Lu Chengwen!"
Xia Ying looked at her. "We all saw those apocalyptic visions. Everyone who saw them bears responsibility. You did nothing wrong, but Heavenly Tribulation won't ask whether you were wrong, nor will it spare anyone just because they did nothing wrong. This is a war—a war beyond our understanding, one we have almost no experience fighting!"
"Every one of you witnessed its cruelty firsthand. Once those visions become reality... all your principles, likes and dislikes, your family, your clan, your so-called self-respect... will be meaningless."
Bai Menkeke knew Xia Ying was right.
But she simply could not accept it.
"But... but... but..."
She cried in desperation.
Xia Ying said, "You served as White Branch's stand-in. Didn't you learn anything at all? You're still this childish?"
"I'm not childish! I'm... I..."
Lu Chengwen stood up. "Enough! Xia Ying, you can't force her into something like this with lofty arguments. It's hard for any normal person to calmly accept this all at once in such a short time. Give her some time."
Xia Ying said, "Will Heavenly Tribulation give us time? If she can't accept it all at once, then what should she do? In the apocalyptic visions, none of you looked much different, which means it isn't far away. It could even be tomorrow."
"Should I