Chapter 30: The Human Rat
"Damn it, another lunatic." Qiao Jiajin spat on the ground. "I feel like if we stay here long enough, we'll go crazy too."
Qi Xia was irritated by this old man.
"Qi Xia, are you okay?" Lin Qin asked from the side.
"I'm fine." Qi Xia steadied himself. "These people won't stop me. I'm going to participate in a 'Game.' You don't have to follow."
"I'll go with you," Lin Qin said. "No matter what 'Game' you join, I'll go with you."
Hearing this, Qi Xia slowly stopped walking. He turned back and looked coldly at Lin Qin.
His gaze was exceptionally icy, startling Lin Qin.
"What... what's wrong?"
"Lin Qin, what's your motive?"
"Motive?" Lin Qin asked back, a little confused. "Do I need a motive?"
Qi Xia stared into Lin Qin's eyes again. "Why are you getting close to me? No matter how I think about it, you should be following the other group, right? The three of us aren't on the same path as you. We shouldn't even be companions."
Hearing this question, Lin Qin just smiled softly and said, "I told you, I'm very interested in you. I want to know what you're thinking."
"I want to get out." Qi Xia answered without hesitation. "I've said it many times. I want to get out and see my wife. She can't live without me. Do you understand?"
Lin Qin blinked and replied, "I understand."
"My wife's name is Yu Nian'an. She endured hardship for me, suffered for me. She is my everything. So I have to go back to her. That's my entire thought. Is that clear enough?"
"Clear enough."
"Now you know what I'm thinking. Aren't you going to leave?" Qi Xia said coldly.
Lin Qin lowered her head slightly, thought for a long time, and then replied, "Sorry. For certain reasons, I still can't go."
Qi Xia frowned at Lin Qin. Although he didn't sense any danger or lies from her, he still couldn't see through her purpose.
"Suit yourself..." Seeing that he couldn't talk sense into this woman, Qi Xia turned and kept walking forward.
Qiao Jiajin followed Qi Xia and said, "Conman, we agreed. You have the brains, I have the brawn. Let's work together."
"Do you also have a reason you have to get out?"
"Yes." Qiao Jiajin nodded. "I don't want to die, but I also don't want to just sit here and wait for death."
"Cooperating is fine, but I need to make this clear first." Qi Xia glanced at Qiao Jiajin and continued, "You and I have no prior relationship. If there's only one spot to get out in the end, I won't hesitate to abandon you."
"Damn... you have absolutely no sense of brotherhood?" Qiao Jiajin shook his head helplessly. "You're really unlikeable."
Hearing the conversation, Tiantian silently lowered her head.
Everyone seemed to have a clear goal.
But compared to them, what was she doing?
Suppose she really overcame all obstacles and got out of this damn place.
Suppose she really returned to the real world, to her former life. Then she would go back to those gloomy days, embracing those filthy old men with enthusiasm.
Thinking about it this way... maybe "dying here" wasn't such a bad destination after all.
"Tiantian, what's wrong?" Lin Qin asked.
"Nothing."
Leaving the square, the group arrived at a street on the other side.
Unlike the street with the convenience store, this one seemed to have small residential buildings—rows of low houses arranged irregularly. It was unclear if anyone lived here.
After a few steps, the four saw another animal mask.
This one stood at the door of an old room, hands clasped behind its back.
Qi Xia walked straight toward it.
As they got closer, they saw it was a huge rat mask, emitting a foul smell. But this person's body was very thin and small, not as strong as the animal masks they'd seen before.
Qiao Jiajin asked, "'Rat-Man,' right?"
The rat-head finally noticed the four people in front of it, then laughed and said, "I'm not a 'Rat-Man,' I'm a 'Human Rat,' okay?"
Her voice was very pleasant. It was a girl.
This was probably the first time they'd encountered a woman underneath an animal mask.
"Screw you, don't get cocky..." Qiao Jiajin said irritably. "I don't care what you are!"
"Human Rat is Human Rat. Getting it wrong would be a problem." The girl giggled. "It's rare for anyone to visit my place. Do you want to participate in a 'Trial'?"
Qi Xia looked at the house behind the Human Rat and asked her, "What are the rules?"
"A rodent-type 'Trial.' The entry fee is one 'Dao.'" The Human Rat spoke like a very patient salesperson, gently introducing it to them. "You won't find a 'Trial' this easy in other districts."
"So what's the game behind you?" Qi Xia asked again.
The Human Rat turned and pushed open the door, stepping inside. It was a small warehouse.
"My game is called 'Warehouse Seek the Dao.' Right now, there is one 'Dao' in this room. One person is allowed to enter. Find the 'Dao' within five minutes, and you win. That 'Dao' is yours."
Qi Xia felt something was off, so he asked further, "What if we can't find it?"
"Can't find it?" The Human Rat burst out laughing. "If you can't find it... your entry fee is forfeited. You lose one 'Dao.'"
"Lose one 'Dao'?" Qi Xia froze. "That's it?"
"What else could it be?" The Human Rat looked at Qi Xia with confusion.
What was going on?
Qi Xia frowned and thought carefully. Entry fee: one 'Dao.' Win: get one 'Dao.' Lose: lose one 'Dao.'
This game felt very off. It sounded like you wouldn't gain more 'Dao' nor die from it.
If so, what was the purpose of participating in these games?
"Wouldn't this be a good opportunity?" Tiantian said. "We can take this chance to participate once, to better understand our situation."
"But..." Qi Xia was still doubtful. Even if they won this game, what would it prove?
"I can try first." Tiantian turned back to Qi Xia. "It's fine if I die."
"What kind of talk is that?" Lin Qin felt Tiantian's state was off.
"Really." Tiantian said calmly. "I just figured it out. I feel like whether I get out or not, it doesn't really make any difference."
With that, she asked Qi Xia for a 'Dao,' turned around, and handed it to the Human Rat.
"Is this all right?" Tiantian asked.
"Yes, entry fee received. The game will start as soon as you enter the room." The Human Rat nodded enthusiastically. "Let me reiterate the rules. Right now there is one 'Dao' in this room. If you find it and bring it out within five minutes, this 'Dao' is yours."
"Alright, I understand." Tiantian nodded again.
"Are you ready?" the Human Rat asked.
"I'm ready." Tiantian nodded.
"Very well." the Human Rat said. "The game begins. Good luck."
After she finished speaking, she closed the door.