Chapter 115 Deranged People
But every decision Terrestrial Horse made seemed to be calculated with terrifying precision.
He hadn’t left a {car door} for Xu Liunian, so as the two cars scraped against each other, Terrestrial Horse smashed his own window, reaching out to grab Xu Liunian.
Realizing the danger, Xu Liunian quickly dodged, knowing that her opponent had gone mad—he intended to kill her right here, right now.
When he failed to grab hold of her, Terrestrial Horse quickly shifted tactics. Instead of continuing to try to seize Xu Liunian, he latched onto the door frame of her car. In that moment, he abandoned the driver's seat of his own vehicle, choosing instead to sit in the passenger seat, holding tightly to Xu Liunian’s car.
His powerful physique burst forth with boundless strength, {hooking} his own vehicle onto hers.
When the opponent turned, he turned; when the opponent accelerated, he did the same.
This was what it meant to stake one’s life against a {Terrestrial}. Not only does one need exceptional intellect, but they also had to face the overwhelming strength of the {Earthly Branches} and their maddened, unpredictable nature.
Xu Liunian was, after all, an ordinary person. She tried many ways, but nothing could dislodge Terrestrial Horse's grip from her car. All she could do was drive forward with terror in her eyes, speeding ahead.
There was no mention of {murder} in the {rules}.
With that thought, she had no choice but to accelerate even further. Since a head-on confrontation was futile, she could only rely on {speed} to win, staying true to the original rules of the game.
Fortunately, Xu Liunian’s driving skills were solid. As she sped forward, she repeatedly rammed her car into the opponent’s vehicle. Since Terrestrial Horse’s arm was caught between the cars, it was soon crushed into a bloody mess.
She thought this would force him to let go, but she had underestimated his determination.
Terrestrial Horse had never intended to keep that arm from the start. Even as his limb was mangled beyond recognition, exposing yellowed bone, a strange smile crept across his face. He clung to Xu Liunian's car with an iron grip, his body leaning out of his own vehicle.
Xu Liunian trembled uncontrollably at the monstrous figure before her, utterly powerless to stop him.
"So you actually dared to stake your life against us? Do you have any idea how much we want to survive here?" This was the last thing Xiao Nian heard.
On the speeding cars, Terrestrial Horse killed Xu Liunian.
The absurd race ended in less than thirty seconds after it began. They didn’t even make it to the first turn before one of the drivers was dead, and the competition was forced to end prematurely.
As Chu Tianqiu finished telling the story, Yun Yao wore a look of profound sorrow. She slowly stood up, gazing out the window, and said, "Qi Xia, do you know what our first reaction was when we saw Xiao Nian die?"
"What was it?" Qi Xia asked.
"It was {we need to change our tactics next time}," Yun Yao said with a bitter smile. "This place is truly terrifying. In one cycle after another, we've completely lost our fear of {death}."
Chu Tianqiu spoke up at that moment, "And our teammate Xiao Nian... hasn't shown up since that day."
After hearing this story, Qi Xia’s mind was left in a state of disarray.
"This is what you mean by {not currently considering staking against Terrestrial-grades}?" Qi Xia asked. "You haven’t killed a single Terrestrial-grade opponent up to this point?"
"Correct," both of them nodded.
"Then what about {Celestial}-grade?" Qi Xia pressed. "Your tactics sound far from complete. {Celestial}-grades are more difficult than {Terrestrial}-grades, if you can’t even kill a {Terrestrial}, why set this plan in motion at all?"
"That’s..." Chu Tianqiu pondered for a moment before speaking. "Qi Xia, we’ve been in {End Point} for over two years now. During that time, we’ve combed through nearly every corner of the city, yet we’ve never encountered any {Celestial}-grade {Earthly Branches}."
Qi Xia furrowed his brows slightly and asked, "So, what you’re implying that... there are no {Celestial}-grades here?"
"I wouldn’t say I’m certain," Chu Tianqiu replied. "This is just the extent of what we know."
Qi Xia nodded quietly, his understanding beginning to take shape.
Now it’s obvious why Zhang Shan avoided staking his life in {Terrestrial Ox}’s game. The current {Passage to Heaven} organization was cautious and hesitant, forced to contend only with {Mortal}-grade {Earthly Branches}. They believed that if one fails to stake their lives against {Terrestrial}-grade {Earthly Branches}, the loser will be completely wiped out from {End Point}.
But Qi Xia was aware that the reality was far different.
"Since both of you are willing to divulge {confidential information} to me, allow me to return the favor," Qi Xia's expression gradually turned grave. "This piece of information has the potential to completely upend your entire plan."
"What?" The two of them exchanged uncertain glances, confusion evident in their eyes.
"I’ve seen Xu Liunian," Qi Xia said. "She hasn’t been {eliminated}; she became an {indigenous inhabitant}."
Chu Tianqiu was completely caught off guard by this revelation, momentarily stunned. "A {indigenous inhabitant}?" He asked in disbelief, "You mean... become one of the {deranged}?"
"Oh? Is this how you refer to them here… {common people} and {deranged people}?" Qi Xia nodded thoughtfully. "From what you’ve described, she certainly qualifies as a {deranged}. However, she lingers between the {common} and {deranged}; it seems there’s still hope for her."
Yun Yao immediately stepped forward, urgency in her voice. "Where is she? I need to find her!"
Chu Tianqiu nodded as well, adding, "Qi Xia, Yun Yao and Xiao Nian were very close. If Xiao Nian is still in {End Point}, please let her know… {Passage to Heaven} will remember this gratitude."
Qi Xia nodded and then asked, "Do you have paper and pen? I’ll draw a map for you."
Yun Yao reached into her bag and pulled out a small notebook that emitted a subtle fragrance.
"It’s quite far from here," Qi Xia said as he quickly sketched on the page. "There’s a main road leading out from here, which stretches almost across the entire city. If you follow it north for about 25 to 30 kilometers, you’ll find an old, dilapidated black building with a worn-out taxi next to it. Xu Liunian should be there. But that’s from the previous instance, so I’m not certain she’s still there now."
The two of them took the map Qi Xia had drawn in disbelief, their expressions shifting uneasily. The distance was considerable, making it almost unreachable for someone without special means.
"Tianqiu, what do you think?" Yun Yao asked.
"No matter whether she’s there or not, even if there’s a glimmer of hope, we have to send someone to find her," Chu Tianqiu said sternly. "Yun Yao, the car in the back yard is nearly ready. Take Specs and Kim Wonhun with you. Even if Xiao Nian has become a {deranged person}, we will find a way to bring her back."
"Got it!" Yun Yao’s demeanor shifted, and she quickly grabbed her bag, rushing out the door.