Chapter 30: Human Mouse
"Damn it all, another madman." Qiao Jiajin spat on the ground. "I feel like if we stay here long enough, we'll go crazy too."
Qi Xia was getting annoyed by this old man.
"Qi Xia, are you alright?" 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're joining, I'll go with you."
Hearing this, Qi Xia slowly stopped walking. He turned around and stared coldly at Lin Qin.
That look was exceptionally icy, startling Lin Qin quite a bit.
"Wh-what's wrong?"
"Lin Qin, what's your motive?"
"Motive?" Lin Qin asked back with some confusion. "Do I need to have a motive?"
Qi Xia stared into Lin Qin's eyes again and said, "What's your purpose in 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, and we shouldn't be companions."
Hearing Qi Xia's question, Lin Qin just smiled slightly 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 said 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's endured hardships for me, suffered for me. She's my entire reason for living. So I have to go back to her. That's my whole 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 leave."
Qi Xia frowned at Lin Qin. Although he didn't sense danger or lies from her, he still couldn't see through Lin Qin's intentions.
"Whatever..." Seeing that he couldn't convince this woman, Qi Xia could only turn around and continue walking forward.
Qiao Jiajin followed Qi Xia and spoke up, "Liar, we agreed. You've got the brains, I've got the brawn. Let's cooperate."
"Do you also have a reason you have to get out?"
"Yeah." Qiao Jiajin nodded. "I don't want to die, but I also don't want to just sit around waiting for it."
"Cooperation is fine, but I need to make something clear first." Qi Xia glanced at Qiao Jiajin and continued, "You and I have no prior bond. If in the end only one person can get out, I'll abandon you without hesitation."
"Damn... you don't have any sense of loyalty at all?" Qiao Jiajin shook his head helplessly. "You're really not likeable."
Hearing them talk, 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 godforsaken place.
Suppose she really returned to the real world, went back to her original life—then she'd go back to those dull days, warmly embracing those filthy old men.
Thinking about it that way... maybe "dying here" would be a good ending too.
"Tiantian, what's wrong?" Lin Qin asked.
"Nothing."
Leaving the square, the group came to a street on the other side.
It was different from the street near the Convenience Store. These seemed to be small residential houses, rows of low buildings arranged in a disorderly manner. It was unclear if anyone lived here.
After a few steps, the four of them saw another animal mask.
That person was standing at the entrance of an old room, hands behind their back.
Qi Xia walked straight toward them.
As he got closer, he saw that the person was wearing a huge rat mask, giving off a foul smell. But this person's build was very small and thin, not as strong as the other animal masks they'd seen before.
Qiao Jiajin asked, "'Rat Man,' right?"
The rat-headed person finally noticed the four of them, chuckled, and said, "I'm not a 'Rat Man.' I'm a 'Human Mouse,' you know."
Her voice was pleasant—a girl's.
This was probably the first time they'd encountered a female under an animal mask.
"Damn it, you're getting cocky..." Qiao Jiajin said impatiently. "I don't care what you are."
"Human Mouse is Human Mouse. Getting it wrong would be troublesome." The girl laughed. "It's rare for someone to visit me. Do you want to participate in a 'trial'?"
Qi Xia looked at the house behind Human Mouse and asked her, "What are the rules?"
"Rodent 'trial,' entry fee one 'Dao'." Human Mouse was 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.
Human Mouse turned around, pushed open the door, and walked in. It was a small warehouse.
"My game is called 'Warehouse Dao Hunt.' Right now, there's one 'Dao' in this room. One person enters. Find the 'Dao' within five minutes, and you win. That 'Dao' is yours."
Qi Xia felt something was off, so he asked, "What if we don't find it?"
"Don't find it?" Human Mouse chuckled. "If you don't find it... your entry fee is forfeit—you lose one 'Dao.'"
"Lose one 'Dao'?" Qi Xia was stunned. "That's it?"
"What else could it be?" Human Mouse looked at Qi Xia with confusion.
What's going on?
Qi Xia frowned and thought carefully. Entry fee one 'Dao,' winning gives one 'Dao,' losing loses one 'Dao.'
This game feels off. It sounds like neither will you gain more 'Dao' nor will you die from it.
If so, what's the purpose of participating in these games?
"Isn't this a good opportunity?" Tiantian said. "Let's take this chance to participate once. It'll help us 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 doesn't matter if I die."
"What kind of talk is that?" Lin Qin felt Tiantian's state wasn't right.
"Really." Tiantian said calmly. "I just figured it out. I feel like whether I get out or not, it makes no difference to me."
With that, she asked Qi Xia for one 'Dao' and handed it to Human Mouse.
"Is that enough?" Tiantian asked.
"Yes, entry fee received. The game will begin once you enter the room." Human Mouse nodded warmly. "Let me restate the rules. Right now, there's one 'Dao' in this room. If you find it and bring it out within five minutes, that 'Dao' is yours."
"Okay, I understand." Tiantian nodded again.
"Are you ready?" Human Mouse asked.
"I'm ready." Tiantian nodded.
"Very well." Human Mouse said. "Game begins. Good luck."
With that, she closed the door.