Chapter 1095: No Disobedience Allowed
Qi Xia nodded. "Tell me the rules."
Upon hearing this, Qinglong flicked his sleeves and strode to the back of the massive wall. The others followed suit after seeing this.
When they got a closer look, they discovered something else hidden behind the enormous wall—a smaller screen and a "Phoenix-Beak Script Terrace."
"Qi Xia, this is our 'Script-Forge Platform,'" Qinglong said. "We'll take turns writing down three rounds of 'words' here, with each round deciding a winner."
"Oh?" Qi Xia examined the setup, noting how similar the rules were to those of the "Cangjie Chess," and then nodded.
"I'll have Xuanwu randomly select a word from all the ones we've previously created. Then you and I will use that word as the 'blueprint' to create new words."
"'Blueprint'?"
"Correct," Qinglong said. "The new words we create must incorporate part or all of the blueprint."
"Fine." Qi Xia nodded. "And how do we decide who wins based on the new words we create?"
"Simple—every word we create must meet the requirements."
After saying this, Qinglong waved his hand, and an old wooden box descended from mid-air.
"This box contains twenty requirements written inside," Qinglong said. "Before each round of word-making, you and I will take turns drawing a requirement. That will be the requirement for that round's word creation. We'll draw a total of three times."
Qi Xia looked at the wooden box and couldn't help but curl his lips.
Three "requirements" to create three "words"?
He smiled and looked up again at the pitch-black sky.
"Interesting. Qinglong, where did this wooden box come from?"
"Oh?" Qinglong paused. "I'm no longer a 'mortal.' Is it that strange for me to have such an item appear?"
"It's not that," Qi Xia replied, still gazing at the sky. "Earlier, we looked up several times and didn't see anything hanging up there. Could there be a 'door' in the sky?"
"You..." Qinglong frowned with displeasure. "What does this have to do with the game?"
"No, nothing," Qi Xia answered. "Then let me ask this... Since this game has never been revealed to the public, why did you prepare separate rules and props for gambling with lives?"
"Good question." Qinglong laughed. "Naturally, I prepared them to kill you in this game."
"That's too bizarre," Qi Xia said. "Earlier, on the rooftop, you told me and Chu Tianqiu that you wanted us to settle things in a fair fight, to see who truly deserved to become a 'god.' Yet behind the scenes, you've readied props to gamble our lives."
"Heh." Qinglong shook his head. "So what? I set the 'rules' here. Is there anything wrong with adjusting them according to my needs?"
"It's definitely not right," Qi Xia replied. "In my opinion... even you are afraid of those 'ears.' Are you worried that if the 'Celestial Dog' learns about your despicable behavior, there will be problems?"
Qinglong squinted but said nothing.
"So in a place where he can't hear, you resort to such underhanded tricks," Qi Xia said. "Even if you don't want to admit it, if all the 'Heavenly' level rebels unite against you, it would be a very tricky situation for you, wouldn't it?"
"Qi Xia." Qinglong said, "You should know that we are in a 'mutually beneficial' relationship."
"Yes."
"So don't try to anger me," Qinglong said. "Our deal will end one day, and there will come a time when I can no longer tolerate you. Then, even if I have to abandon the deal, I will definitely take your life."
"I only spoke the truth. Why are you so angry?" Qi Xia asked.
Qinglong snorted coldly and continued, "Is there anything else you need to confirm about the 'rules'?"
Before Qi Xia could speak, Chen Junnan raised his hand from a distance. "I do."
Qinglong frowned at Chen Junnan. "What's your question?"
"After this 'life gamble' ends..." Chen Junnan's eyes discreetly glanced at Xuanwu, "If you lose, will this thing kill you?"
Upon hearing this, Xuanwu paused, her eyes flickering for a few seconds, then said, "I cannot disobey Qinglong."
"Huh?" Chen Junnan was so irritated by this answer that he laughed mockingly, looking at Qinglong with a sneer. "Then what's the fucking point of playing?"
Qinglong snorted. "Xuanwu is my subordinate. Her inability to disobey me is her bottom line."
"Does that even sound like something a human would say?" Chen Junnan said. "If we lose, we die. If you lose, she can't disobey you. You're playing on god mode against us?"
Qinglong had never expected Chen Junnan to question Xuanwu before the game, and it infuriated him. Reluctantly, he put on a false front and said:
"Fair enough. Since it's a 'life gamble,' we should seek fairness."
He smirked and turned to Xuanwu. "This time, you may disobey me."
"This time..." Xuanwu repeated the words. "I can kill you?"
Xuanwu's demeanor became visibly excited. Her whole body trembled slightly, and she muttered to herself:
"Kill you... that would be wonderful..."
Qinglong frowned. "How so?"
"If I kill you... would I be liberated?" Xuanwu asked, her voice trembling. "If I don't kill you, you'll kill me instead, right?"
Anyone who had ever seen Xuanwu realized that this was the first time she had spoken so much. Her excitement was palpable.
Qinglong felt that Xuanwu's state was off and said, "Don't overthink it. Only this time."
"Once..." Xuanwu trembled slightly, her face hidden behind her thick hair, making it impossible to see her expression. "Only this once..."
Upon hearing this, Qi Xia curled his lips and said, "Shouldn't we let Xuanwu choose the 'blueprint' for us?"
"'Blueprint'..." Qinglong nodded. "Yes."
After understanding the rules, Xuanwu slowly walked over to the pile of scattered "words" and began to rummage through them.
During this time, Qi Xia and Qinglong stood facing each other, staring into each other's eyes without moving.
Soon, they heard a rustling sound from Xuanwu's direction. It didn't take long before the noise stopped, and Xuanwu picked up a chain with two radicals attached.
"Good... this is good..." Xuanwu murmured. "Finally, a 'word' I recognize—'eight'..."
Qinglong and Qi Xia turned to look. In Xuanwu's hand was the word "soldier" (兵).
"Fine," Qinglong said. "This 'word' will be the 'blueprint' for this life gamble."
"No problem."
"From now on, every 'word' we create must contain either 'hill' (丘) or 'eight' (八), or both parts," Qinglong said. "If that's acceptable, we can draw the requirement for this round of word-making."
"Wait." Qi Xia interrupted. "Since you added a rule, I want to add one too."