Chapter 140: Facing the Human Dragon
After letting those three people go, Qi Xia's expression remained somewhat somber.
He didn't know who was right between him and Qiao Jiajin, but no matter what, he couldn't let Tiantian kill someone for him.
"Where do we go next?" Qi Xia asked.
Yun Yao pulled a map out of her bosom upon hearing this. It had been given to her by Chu Tianqiu before they set out.
After carefully examining it, she said, "Not far from here, there's a 'Tiger.' Want to go check it out together?"
"A 'Human Tiger'?" Qi Xia asked.
"Yes." Yun Yao nodded. "In the first few days after entering the Land of Endings, Chu Tianqiu rarely arranged for people to participate in 'Earth-level' games. After all, we need to conserve strength; the latter days are the main event."
"Oh?" Qi Xia paused. "Why?"
"Because after going through the early trials, the 'Echoers' gradually awaken. It's much easier to play 'Earth-level' games then."
"I see." Qi Xia nodded.
"But there are special circumstances too," Yun Yao said. "Although Chu Tianqiu doesn't care much about 'Dao,' in order to recruit powerful people for 'Heaven's Gate,' he would always have strong players lead teams to participate in games that award 'Dao' during the early phase."
Qi Xia recalled the first time he met Zhang Shan, who had brought Old Lü and the small-glasses guy to participate in the Earth-Ox game.
"In that case, let's go take a look at that 'Tiger,'" Qi Xia nodded. "I've never experienced a Tiger game before."
Qiao Jiajin had also shaken off the gloom and become cheerful again. "Conman, Tiger—sounds like it's meant for me, right?"
"Yeah, it sure does." Qi Xia nodded, casting a helpless glance at Qiao Jiajin. "You're incredibly formidable, but can you put your shirt on first?"
Only then did Qiao Jiajin realize he was still shirtless. He had thrown his clothes on the ground during his one-on-one fight with Baldie and hadn't picked them up yet.
"Oops, my bad." Qiao Jiajin grinned awkwardly, walked over, and picked up his shirt to put it on.
...
The group walked for about ten or so minutes, following the map as they turned into a very secluded alley before finally spotting a Zodiac.
But it wasn't a "Tiger" at all.
It was something even more frightening than a "Tiger."
"It's a Dragon..." Qi Xia squinted, muttering to himself. "What's going on?"
Yun Yao was also puzzled at that moment.
"Huh? A 'Human Dragon'?" She looked down to confirm her map, which clearly indicated a "Human Tiger."
Qi Xia took the map to examine it. Although the drawing was somewhat simple, the key information was clear, including where to turn at each intersection.
Yet based on this map, the game room they had reached was the Human Dragon.
"Do you want to participate in my game? Free admission," said the man wearing a stitched-up mask.
"Don't join. Let's go." Qi Xia said coldly, turning to leave.
"Hold on, Conman..." Qiao Jiajin grabbed Qi Xia and asked, "What's wrong with 'Dragon'? What's the difference from 'Tiger'?"
"I don't know," Qi Xia shook his head. "I only know someone told me: first, don't mess with 'Heaven'; second, don't provoke 'Dragon.'"
Although Qiao Jiajin didn't quite understand, he knew he had to trust the "brain." "Alright, forget it then."
The two were about to leave when they noticed Yun Yao standing still in place.
"Idol, aren't you coming?" Qiao Jiajin asked.
"I think this is a rare opportunity," Yun Yao said. "We've only encountered a 'Dragon' once in the city center, so I want to find out what kind of game the 'Dragon' is."
"But I have a feeling 'Dragon' is very dangerous," Qi Xia said. "I suggest you reconsider."
"What is 'dangerous' to us?" Yun Yao asked with a bitter smile. "Even if this game kills us, do you think that's dangerous?"
"This..."
Qi Xia frowned, feeling that Yun Yao had a point.
No matter how difficult these games were, they only caused death.
But now he knew there was nothing to fear about "death."
As long as it didn't involve gambling with life, all participants were absolutely safe. Besides, the Human Dragon game had free admission—in other words, they had nothing to lose.
Qi Xia lowered his head in thought for a moment, finding the only suspicious point was Chu Tianqiu.
Why did he give them the wrong map?
Could he be more foolish and careless than Qi Xia had imagined?
"Yun Yao, you said you've seen a 'Dragon' before. What kind of game was it?" Qi Xia asked.
"It wasn't me who saw the 'Dragon'; it was Chu Tianqiu," Yun Yao said softly. "He said the 'Dragon' asked him some trivia questions. He didn't answer them all correctly, so he failed."
"Trivia... questions?" Qi Xia's pupils moved. "Yun Yao, are you joking with me?"
"Why would I lie to you? That's exactly what Chu Tianqiu said."
Qi Xia started thinking again.
Strange. Everything was too strange.
Among the twelve Zodiacs, the Dragon was born a god with immense magical power.
According to the "Human Pig," the Dragon was absolutely not to be provoked.
Yet its game was "trivia questions"?
"Qi Xia, wait for me here," Yun Yao said. "I want to go check it out myself."
Tiantian and Qiao Jiajin turned to look at Qi Xia, unsure of his plans.
But for Qi Xia, he had no other path to take.
To find out Chu Tianqiu's true intention, he had to throw himself into the "Human Dragon" game.
Was Chu Tianqiu trying to use the Human Dragon to get rid of him?
But Yun Yao was with him right now. If there was danger, what about Yun Yao?
Qi Xia slowly closed his eyes, emptied his thoughts, and thought carefully.
"Chu Tianqiu... what are you scheming?"
On the other end, Chu Tianqiu hummed a classical tune, tapping his fingers to the beat.
"Qi Xia... what will you choose?"
The two were far apart, but their thoughts clashed like swords and blades.
Before long, Qi Xia opened his eyes. "Yun Yao, I've decided to go with you."
"Huh?" Yun Yao turned her head. "No need. I can go alone."
"No, I'll go with you," Qi Xia said. "Let Qiao Jiajin and Tiantian wait here."
Yun Yao couldn't argue with Qi Xia, so she could only shrug helplessly and walk up to the Human Dragon.
Qiao Jiajin and Tiantian exchanged a helpless look.
"We want to participate in the game," Yun Yao said to the Human Dragon.
"No," the Human Dragon shook his head. "At least four people are needed."
"Four?"
Hearing this, Qiao Jiajin slowly walked up.
"Conman, where do you think you're going without your 'fist'?"
"Qiao Jiajin, don't act reckless. I feel something's off about this," Qi Xia said with a frown. "You and Tiantian wait here. We can wait for two more passersby."
"No way. Let Tiantian wait here by herself," Qiao Jiajin shook his head. "If we're going, we're going together."
"Stop messing around!" Qi Xia frowned deeply. "I can't let anything happen to you again!"
"'Again'?" Qiao Jiajin was stunned. "I don't get it, but same here—I can't lose my 'brain' again."
"What the hell..." Qi Xia didn't understand either. "Didn't we agree you'd listen to me? I'm telling you to stay here and not act tough."
Qiao Jiajin completely ignored him and took a step forward. "Conman, you know what? A man can live without his 'fist,' but he can't live without his 'brain.'"
"You..."
At that moment, Tiantian also stepped forward and said, "Take me too. There might be a use for me."
Qi Xia was torn.
He didn't want to see Qiao Jiajin and Tiantian get hurt, especially since the memories of the previous cycle were still fresh.
But if the game was really "trivia questions," then bringing a few more people wouldn't matter—there was no real danger.
After thinking for another moment, Qi Xia looked up and asked, "Human Dragon, what type of game is yours?"
"Team cooperation," the Human Dragon replied without hesitation.