Chapter 970: Black Sheep's Choice
Black Sheep turned midair and suddenly kicked out at Earth Ox's neck.
Earth Ox was jolted back several steps by the unexpected attack. After steadying herself, she stepped forward, knocking over several chairs along the way.
Earth Rooster quietly leaped up, deftly caught the chairs, and gently set them back on the ground.
"If you're going to fight, fight... just don't break the furniture," Earth Rooster muttered softly. "I picked these pieces carefully. I actually quite like them."
The two exchanged a few more moves, then after a heavy clash, both staggered back several steps. Neither seemed to have gained the upper hand.
Watching them stand there panting, facing off against each other, Earth Rooster finally sat down.
"Had enough?" she asked irritably. "Are we aiming for one dead today or two?"
Both their faces were covered in injuries—clearly a well-matched battle.
"What kind of man are you..." Earth Ox gritted her teeth, trying to steady her breathing. "Black Sheep, all your moves are eye-gouging, throat-locking, groin-kicking... I've been going easy on you, but every single one of your strikes targets a vital point."
"Did I ever ask you to go easy on me?" Black Sheep sneered. "I said from the start that I came to kill you. If you don't die, my brother's in trouble."
Earth Ox realized the Black Sheep before her wasn't someone to mess with. He truly seemed determined to kill.
"If you think this plan is bad, you don't have to follow my orders," Earth Ox said. "Let's both take a step back. Today, I'll pretend you were never here, and you'll pretend I never said anything. After all, blowing this up wouldn't be good for anyone."
"You..." Black Sheep frowned slightly upon hearing this. "Earth Ox, are you joking with me? If it were that easy, why would I want your head?"
"It really is that easy," Earth Ox said. "You're the one taking it too seriously."
"Bullshit!" Black Sheep cursed in anger. "If you hadn't been using Brother Sheep's name, I might have let this slide. But that idiot Money-Losing Tiger treats every word Brother Sheep says like a sacred command—even if it's something you made up on the spot. You just casually say it, but who's going to take responsibility if he gets himself killed?"
"Then go back and tell him it's fake," Earth Ox said. "Is that so hard?"
"Damn it..." Black Sheep's bright yellow goat eyes once again filled with killing intent. "You really piss me off. Now you're just flat-out admitting what you said was fake?"
"It was fake from the start," Earth Ox said. "I expect plenty of smart people here saw through it. So the fools will go die, and the clever ones will survive. But you... I really can't figure you out. You're clearly clever, yet you're furious on behalf of a fool?"
"Who do you think you are...?" Black Sheep took a slow step forward, clearly ready to fight again. "Even Brother Sheep wouldn't use a fake plan to send his own people to their deaths."
"I speak for White Sheep," Earth Ox said. "Whether you believe it or not, I have the highest decision-making authority in White Sheep's plan."
"What...?"
"To tell you the truth, White Sheep gave me the right to make 'on-the-spot adjustments' and to command freely," Earth Ox continued. "We've gathered too many people this time. The final plan doesn't need this many—only nine surviving 'Zodiacs.' So I need a few people to willingly die to create chaos, reducing our numbers while ensuring the entire plan proceeds accurately."
Black Sheep was stunned for a long moment, then slowly said three words: "Don't bullshit me..."
"What part is bullshit?"
"There are already nine people in our room," Black Sheep said darkly. "Didn't you say it yourself? The nine of us 'Zodiacs' are exactly like that initial interview room."
"But those selections are wrong," Earth Ox said. "There are three more teammates outside waiting to join. In other words, we have twelve candidates total. At least three people need to die willingly."
Black Sheep was stunned. Three more waiting to join...?
Could it be the Dragon, Snake, and Monkey?
"White Sheep doesn't want to be the villain, but I don't care," Earth Ox said again. "Even if my hands are stained with blood, I'll make sure White Sheep's plan succeeds."
Black Sheep slowly walked up to Earth Ox, and they stood face to face, staring at each other.
"Earth Ox, you're lying again," Black Sheep said. "When it comes to 'playing the villain,' Brother Sheep already has me by his side. I can handle all the dirty work. Who the hell do you think you are?"
"Is that so?" Earth Ox laughed. "Then if White Sheep told you to kill Earth Tiger right now, would you do it?"
"Exactly because Brother Sheep would never come up with a plan that puts people in such a dilemma that I call him 'Brother Sheep' with respect," Black Sheep said. "He's the only one who can make me truly submit. Don't act like a clown."
"So what...?" Earth Ox said. "I didn't come here to make friends with you anyway. It doesn't matter if you don't accept me."
Black Sheep thought for a moment, then grabbed Earth Ox's wrist. "Come with me now. I want you to tell Money-Losing Tiger to his face that the plan is fake, so he gives up."
"Dream on." Earth Ox shook off Black Sheep's hand. "My goal is to make him die. If his heart dies, the man himself won't die."
"You..." Black Sheep's face darkened. "Brother Sheep would never let you kill Money-Losing Tiger. He's not that kind of person."
"Not that kind of person?!" Earth Ox's voice suddenly grew intense. "What kind of person is he?! For decades, he's treated everyone's lives as chess pieces for his own plan. Countless people have died and been reborn, and reborn and died because of his schemes. Now it's just a mere Earth Tiger. At the final stage of the plan, a single Earth Tiger standing in his way... do you really think he cares?!"
"He..." Black Sheep fell silent.
"Saving Earth Tiger's life, or letting everyone get out—what do you think White Sheep would choose?" Earth Ox pressed. "White Sheep's plan doesn't need reckless people like him. I hope you'll know what's good for you too."
...
When Black Sheep returned to Earth Tiger's room, Earth Tiger was crouched on the floor, picking things up to eat.
As he shoved the scattered food into his mouth, he asked indistinctly, "Hey, Old Black, did you hear that? Damn, the next room sounded like demolition..."
Black Sheep said nothing. He pressed his hand to his forehead and slowly sat down.
"Oh man... Old Black, who'd you get into a fight with? Your goat head's all busted!"
Earth Tiger quickly wiped his hands on his suit and reached out to touch Black Sheep, but Black Sheep shoved him away unceremoniously.
"Damn it, you dead old Black, say something! Did you get beaten dumb?!"
Black Sheep thought for a long time, then spoke: "Money-Losing Tiger, I'll kill 'Heavenly Tiger' with you."