Chapter 964: A Bizarre Plan
"I don't get it…" Di Hu (Earth Tiger) asked blankly. "Aren't those so-called 'Destroyers' supposed to be 'Participants'?"
"Yes," Di Ji (Earth Chicken) replied. "They should be 'Participants.'"
"Then why would they bring 'death'?" Di Hu was a bit puzzled. "Aren't we on the same side…? Are those 'Destroyers' planning to kill us?"
"I… I'm not sure." Di Ji added, "But White Sheep did say so."
Di Shu (Earth Rat) listened and narrowed his eyes, feeling that there were indeed too many doubts in this statement. "Leaders… if Brother Sheep said that the 'Participants' might encounter the 'Gate of Death,' I could still understand it—it would mean there's a traitor among us who would kill those so-called 'Destroyers' on the spot. But Brother Sheep said that we 'Zodiacs' would encounter the 'Gate of Death'… Doesn't that mean that on that night, one of our 'Zodiacs' won't be able to return to the 'Train'?"
"Yes." Di Ji nodded again. "After thinking it over these past few days, I feel that this is exactly what White Sheep meant. Once the plan begins, one of our 'Zodiacs' will die in 'Peach Blossom Spring' and won't be able to return."
"But why…?" Di Shu asked again. "We all know that if a 'Participant' dares to attack a 'Zodiac,' 'Xuanwu' will immediately descend from the sky and kill those 'Participants.' Even if 'Xuanwu' doesn't arrive in time, with our 'Earth-grade' physique, how could we possibly die out there…?"
After speaking, he glanced at Di Tu (Earth Rabbit). "Big Rabbit, you've probably suffered a very violent attack from a 'Participant' before, right?"
"That's right." Di Tu nodded. "That was probably one of the most powerful offensive 'Echoes' in all of 'Peach Blossom Spring.' Anything he threw could cause an explosion, but even though he fought with his life on the line, I still didn't die."
"That's the problem," Di Shu said. "Leaders… if we don't figure this out, it's inevitable that everyone will feel uneasy. What kind of 'death' is waiting for us? This clearly isn't the work of a 'Participant,' is it?"
Everyone present began to ponder. A 'Zodiac' unable to enter the gate after work hours… what exactly was blocking them?
Seeing that none of the 'Zodiacs' could answer this question, Di Shu slowly stood up again and said in a low voice, "Leader Ji, I have one more personal question I'd like to consult you about…"
"Go ahead," Di Ji said.
"What if a certain 'Zodiac' among us doesn't see any 'Destroyers' at all throughout the entire process… what should they do?"
Di Shu made a bold assumption. He believed that the 'Zodiacs' who could receive the 'Destroyers' should be the eight 'Zodiacs' on the map he had seen once—and he himself was not on that map.
Similarly, Black Sheep, Money-Losing Tiger, and Tall Horse were not on that map either.
Among the nine people in the room, four might not receive any 'Destroyers' at all, and the three who truly might die were not even in the room.
Had this plan been announced too early?
"No 'Destroyers' seen…" Di Ji finally shook her head. "Brother Sheep never mentioned that scenario… The rest will have to adapt on the fly. After all, our mission lies not only outside the 'Train' but also on the 'Train' itself."
Hearing this, Di Niu (Earth Ox) took a step forward and said to the group, "Next… I will introduce the second phase of the 'mission' after we board the 'Train.'"
"What is it…?" Black Sheep extended a finger to tap the table before asking casually, "Do we also have to protect those 'Participants'?"
"No need," Di Niu said. "I'll handle that matter myself. Everyone else has other related tasks."
"You'll handle it…?"
Black Sheep furrowed his brows slightly, pondering the truth of her words. After all, those 'Destroyers' were his helpers for liberating the 'Ants.'
But this unfamiliar Earth Ox claimed she would protect them… did she have the same task as him?
"Everyone, after those 'Participants' board the 'Train,' you need to quickly gather the people you trust and head to the 'Celestial-grade' rooms."
"Head to the 'Celestial-grade' rooms…?" Di Shu was startled. "You mean the room where they hold meetings at the front of the train?"
"No, it's their own rooms," Di Niu said. "According to White Sheep, on that day, the 'Celestials' will be scattered in their individual rooms, and you will need to carry out 'one-on-one elimination.'"
Di Ji was slightly stunned upon hearing this. She turned her head and looked at Di Niu with a very strange expression.
"Fuck…" Di Hu cursed under his breath after hearing it. "'One-on-one elimination'…? One-on-one?"
Everyone present began whispering among themselves. After all, many of them were here with the goal of killing their immediate superiors, but they had never imagined such a brutal method as 'one-on-one.'
"It doesn't have to be strictly 'one-on-one,'" Di Niu said. "I told you, you can gather people you trust and go all out, killing your 'Celestial' as quickly as possible."
"This is really fucking bold…" Di Hu muttered to himself. "Did Brother Sheep really say that…?"
"Yes," Di Niu nodded. "That's the plan White Sheep told me."
Di Ji frowned, clearly wanting to say something, but she glanced at the others in the room and ultimately kept her mouth shut.
"Sigh… hold on…" Di Hu paused. "There's no 'Sheep' among the 'Celestials'… Hey, Old Black! You and I will team up! Let's go kill that 'Celestial Tiger.'"
Black Sheep narrowed his eyes and thought for a few seconds. "I… won't go."
"Huh?" Di Hu was stunned. "Hey! You damn Old Black, why are you being so awkward when it's time to divide work? If you don't come, I'll really die."
"Then die," Black Sheep said. "I've always wanted you dead anyway. This is a perfect chance."
"You son of a bitch…" Di Hu cursed angrily. "You're really not loyal."
"Leader Niu…" Di Shu seemed to have spotted another issue. "I don't know if my memory is failing me… but there's no 'Snake' in this room… 'Celestial Snake' is a very troublesome enemy. Who's going to deal with him?"
"I don't know," Di Niu said again. "Probably White Sheep will arrange someone specifically to kill Celestial Snake, but that's not within the scope of this plan."
"Yeah… what kind of question is that anyway?" Di Hu grunted. "Shouldn't the real question be 'Can we actually kill a Celestial or not?' Those bastards have 'Echoes.'"
Di Niu nodded at that. "Yes. They have 'Immortal Arts' and 'Divine Powers,' which is an enormous challenge for us as well. So I want to ask everyone here… can you tell me the truth?"
"The truth…?"
Di Niu swept his gaze across the group and asked in a deep voice, "Who among us here actually carries an 'Immortal Art'?"