Chapter 275: The Choice
The White Goat Brother didn't speak. He simply tapped the table and said, "Whatever, come eat."
The three of them said nothing, just nodded respectfully, walked over, and sat down around the table.
I rubbed my hands together, a little at a loss. I was starving, but this was someone else's home after all. Grandma always said that when visiting others, you shouldn't even ask for water, let alone...
"Come eat." The White Goat Brother tapped the table again, addressing me.
"Huh?" I swallowed my saliva. "C-Can I eat too?"
"Stop wasting words. When Brother Goat tells you to come, you come," Uncle Tiger said.
I nodded happily and walked over to the dining table.
I looked around—there didn't seem to be a seat for me. The White Goat Brother reached over, pulled out a chair, and placed it beside himself.
"Sit," he said.
"Thank you, brother!" I grinned.
Food. Finally. This was great.
I reached up to take off my mask, but White Goat Brother grabbed my hand.
"Don't take it off," he said, still cold. "Eat like this."
"Eat like this...?" I didn't understand. How was I supposed to eat while wearing this stinky mask?
"Remember, you can only take off your mask when you die," Brother Goat said again.
"Huh...?!"
I looked around at the people at the table. They were simply picking up food and shoving it into the mouths of their masks.
Wait—the mouth of this mask could open?
I tentatively touched the mask and found that, indeed, the mouth wasn't sewn shut. It could be used for eating.
Even though the mask smelled awful, it was still better than starving!
There was a mountain of food on the table—enough for ten people, at least. I grabbed a potato, peeled it, and took a bite.
Boiled. Soft and fluffy. A rich potato flavor. Delicious.
Grandma used to boil potatoes for me like this too.
"Silly child..." Uncle Tiger shook his head.
He reached over, took a chicken leg from Uncle Black Goat's plate, and handed it to me. "Eat this. Eat more meat."
"Hey..." Uncle Black Goat looked very displeased. "You're going too far, aren't you?"
"You're a goat. What business do you have eating meat?"
"Why can't a goat eat meat?"
"Stop fighting, stop fighting... hehe." Uncle Snake chuckled. "Keep bickering, and you'll get yourself killed."
I stared at the chicken leg on my plate, unsure what to do.
"There, there..." Uncle Snake patted my head. "Don't mind those two idiots. If someone gives it to you, just eat it."
I picked up the chicken leg and examined it. I only ever got to eat chicken legs during New Year's.
"Can I really...?"
"Of course!" Uncle Snake winked at me.
"Th-Thank you, Uncle Snake..." After I said that, I looked at the other two and added, "Thank you, Uncle Tiger and Uncle Black Goat too..."
"Look how polite this child is." Uncle Snake shook his head. "Go on, eat."
I nodded and took a bite of the chicken leg.
It was absolutely delicious. Today felt like New Year's.
Before long, the White Goat Brother spoke.
I noticed that every time he said something, everyone immediately stopped what they were doing and looked at him respectfully.
"Now then," he tapped the table, "hand over today's haul."
"Thirteen today." Uncle Snake was the first to pull a small pouch from behind him. "Thanks to Brother Goat's advice."
"Mm." Earth Goat nodded. "After I refined your game, it's nearly perfect. You'll probably be signing a contract soon."
"I got nine," Uncle Black Goat replied. "Brother Goat, you were right. The way humans deceive each other is truly ugly."
White Goat Brother pondered for a moment, then said, "Man-Goat, stop running your 'Guess the Fan Face' after two more rounds."
"What?" Uncle Black Goat was taken aback. "Brother Goat, you mean...?"
"Shift your focus," White Goat Brother said. "I've designed a new game for you. Take a look when you have time."
He handed a small notebook to Uncle Black Goat.
"A new game?" Uncle Black Goat flipped through the notebook and soon wore an expression of shock. "'Eight Trigram Fan'...? One hundred participants...?"
"It's just a preliminary idea," White Goat Brother said. "If you think it's too difficult, you can simplify it to 'Seven Emotions,' 'Six Desires,' 'Five Tones,' 'Four Seasons,' or even 'Three Powers.'"
Uncle Black Goat's expression grew visibly excited after receiving the notebook. It was a long time before he spoke again. "But Brother Goat, isn't this a 'Earth-Level' game...? I'm only a Man-Goat now..."
"Sooner or later," White Goat Brother said. "Prepare in advance."
"Brother Goat... Could it be that you..."
White Goat Brother waved his hand, cutting him off. Then he turned to Uncle Tiger.
The other two uncles also looked at him.
"Man-Tiger, how many did you collect today?" White Goat Brother asked.
"I... I actually..." Uncle Tiger lowered his massive tiger head, which looked a little ridiculous.
"Speak," White Goat Brother said gently. "Whatever it is, I can accept it."
Uncle Tiger was silent for a long time before speaking softly. "Brother Goat, I lost six..."
"Pfft—" Uncle Snake sprayed out a mouthful of rice and muttered quietly, "Losing Tiger."
"What the hell did you say?" Uncle Tiger roared, immediately standing up.
"Ooh... getting angry, getting angry..." Uncle Snake put on a scared expression, then winked at me. "Little Mouse, don't ever grow up to be like him when you're older."
Even though everyone looked a bit scary, I somehow felt very at ease.
Seeing that no one was paying him any attention, Uncle Tiger sat back down sulkily. "I'll find a way to pay back the debt I owe myself. No way I'm putting Brother Goat in a tough spot!"
"Do you think I'd be troubled over six 'Paths'?" White Goat Brother sighed. "Come to me after the meal. I'll give you new ones."
Uncle Tiger clearly wasn't happy to hear that.
"Brother Goat..." He looked up and adjusted his mask. "You don't have to go this far for us! If it weren't for us holding you back, you'd have ascended long ago!"
"Don't talk nonsense," White Goat Brother said coldly. "You sit at the same table as me. We're in this together."
Everyone slowly lowered their heads and fell silent.
I didn't know what to do either, so I put my hands under the table and carefully watched everyone.
"Even though I see you all as family..." The White Goat Brother suddenly looked at me. "But you, little girl, are an exception. Once you finish this meal, leave. Go wherever you want. Just don't stay in my sight."
"Oh..." I was startled, then I understood.
I had been staying in someone else's home. I must have been a burden.
"I'm... I'm sorry..." I stood up and said to the White Goat Brother, "Thank you, White Goat Brother, for giving me so much to eat. I'll go now..."
Before I could turn to leave, Uncle Tiger grabbed my shoulder.
"You've only eaten one potato and one chicken leg. You're not leaving." He looked up at the White Goat Brother. "Brother Goat, if this kid goes out there, she'll get herself killed."