Chapter 155 Welcome Party
Qi Xia paused, his brow furrowing as he processed the words. "{Welcome party}?"
"Correct," Yun Yao nodded, her expression neutral. "It was supposed to be held last night, but we were out searching for Xiao Nian, so it got postponed until today."
"Is it really necessary?" Lin Qin interjected, her tone sharp. "We've already lost so many teammates... This {welcome party} feels far too ironic."
"I understand," Yun Yao replied, offering a bittersweet smile. "That's why I said it might be {a bit presumptuous}... But if it's not something you're interested in, it's no problem. You can rest, and I'll go ask the others."
Before Yun Yao could leave, Qi Xia called out to her. "What is the main purpose of this {welcome party}?" he asked, his gaze sharp and thoughtful.
Yun Yao paused, considering the question carefully. "It's mainly to introduce everyone to each other, to make our future actions smoother… Oh, and we'll also bring out beer to entertain everyone."
At the mention of beer, Qiao Jiajin stood up abruptly. "Damn... sounds like it's really important. We must go."
Han Yimo, on the other hand, looked confused. "How is it important?"
Han Yimo, still confused, looked at Qi Xia, clearly struggling to understand the significance of such an event.
Qi Xia let out a resigned sigh. "Do you think Boss Qiao has a profound reason for wanting to go? He might as well have the words {want to drink beer} written across his forehead."
"Yeah..." Qiao Jiajin chuckled awkwardly, scratching the back of his neck. "I’ve only had beer once in the last four years, and that was right before I died..."
Although Qi Xia was reluctant to attend the {welcome party}, he couldn’t dismiss Qiao Jiajin’s eagerness. The rare fervor left Qi Xia with little choice but to indulge him. He knew that it was not often that Qiao Jiajin took such a firm stance on something, so he decided to honor his wish this time.
As the four of them prepared to leave, Han Yimo insisted on bringing Doctor Zhao along. He argued that Doctor Zhao had been instrumental in saving him during his last cycle. Not only had the doctor stitched up his harpoon wound, but he had also engaged in endless conversation, keeping him conscious and anchored to the present. In Han Yimo's eyes, such actions could only be the mark of a genuinely good person, and he refused to leave him behind.
Qi Xia refrained from voicing an opinion on whether Doctor Zhao could be considered a good person. While his medical skills were undeniable—demonstrated by his calm professionalism when saving lives—his personal qualities remained shrouded in ambiguity. Human nature, after all, was complex and multifaceted; Qi Xia chose not to express his thoughts.
The {welcome party} was held in the school cafeteria.
All the cafeteria’s tables had been joined together to form two long, sprawling rows. The flicker of candlelight bathed the room in a soft, almost surreal glow. A wide array of food—canned goods, puffed snacks, dried fruits, and drinks—was spread out before them, an impressive spread given their circumstances. Qi Xia couldn’t help but wonder how Chu Tianqiu had managed to gather such an eclectic assortment of supplies. It was certainly a sight to behold.
The five of them found a place and sat down, each lost in their own thoughts as they observed the scene unfolding around them. Over thirty people had gathered, their conversations forming a low, continuous hum in the air.
At the front, Chu Tianqiu, Zhang Shan, and Yun Yao stood together, greeting the newcomers with practiced warmth and efficiency.
It seemed that the stories told by Specs and Kim Wonhun were true—everyone present had been recruited by Chu Tianqiu.
"Why haven’t I seen Teacher Xiao anywhere?" Lin Qin asked, her gaze sweeping across the room. "Did she go out?"
Qi Xia and Qiao Jiajin simultaneously turned their attention to Doctor Zhao.
"I don't know..." Doctor Zhao shook his head and admitted, "I haven't seen her for a while."
"It's better if she's gone." Qiao Jiajin picked up the drink on the table and looked at it, "That gal’s a pain in the neck."
Though he spoke dismissively, Qi Xia couldn't shake a feeling of unease.
Qiao Jiajin’s expression suddenly shifted from casual to serious as he surveyed the table. "Oh no... We’ve been made a fool of!" he exclaimed.
"Huh?" Han Yimo, who had been sitting beside him, jumped in alarm, his eyes scanning the room as if expecting trouble. "Wh—what happened? Who made a fool of us?"
Qiao Jiajin turned toward him, his expression now dead serious, almost as if the weight of the world had suddenly fallen upon his shoulders. "Writer lad," he began, lowering his voice with a dramatic pause, "there is no beer here! We’ve been cheated!"
Qi Xia’s eyebrow twitched, his irritation and disbelief almost palpable, the urge to slap some sense into him almost overwhelming. He turned to Qiao Jiajin, struggling to process the sheer absurdity of it all.
'This? This is what’s got you riled up?' The serious look on Qiao Jiajin’s face only made Qi Xia more baffled. 'Was {no beer} really more terrifying than a black bear?'
"Listen... you'd better not scare Han Yimo," Qi Xia persuaded. "He’s timid by nature. It’ll be troublesome if you frighten him."
"Timid by nature?" Qiao Jiajin’s voice was laced with mock surprise as he reached over to pull Han Yimo into a side hug. "Writer lad, with me and Swindler lad here, is there anything that can’t be handled?"
Han Yimo, caught off guard by the sudden gesture, blinked for a moment before a sheepish smile spread across his face. "Well, when you put it like that, it really does…"
After everyone settled into their seats, Chu Tianqiu, standing at the front with an air of composed authority, cleared his throat and addressed the collective.
"Everyone," he began, his voice smooth and poised, "Although we have met before, I believe it’s still important to begin with a proper introduction." He offered a courteous nod to the gathered crowd. "My name is Chu Tianqiu, and I am currently the head of {Passage to Heaven}."
With a graceful gesture, he extended his arm to the side. "This is Yun Yao, she is the deputy leader of {Passage to Heaven}. If I am not around, she will be the one making decisions regarding logistics, task arrangements, and everything else."
At this, everyone offered a round of applause for Yun Yao. Most of the attendees had encountered Chu Tianqiu before, but many had never met Yun Yao. The calm, unassuming nature of her presence, paired with the gentle smile she wore, made a positive first impression on everyone. There was something about her approachable demeanor that put people at ease.
"And to my left is Zhang Shan," Chu Tianqiu continued with a slight gesture toward the man beside him. "He is also a deputy leader of {Passage to Heaven}, primarily responsible for leading our team when participating in the games."
Zhang Shan nodded in silent acknowledgment.
Chu Tianqiu spoke again, his words carrying an air of reassurance. "Everyone, there is no need to feel overly constrained," he said, his eyes sweeping over the room. "This is the desolate land where our reincarnation never ceases. No matter how many times you die, I will always bring your body back to {Passage to Heaven}. You will forever remain part of this place."
His gaze grew a touch more intense as he continued. "Therefore, cast aside all worldly concerns. Here, we focus solely on achieving our ultimate goal." With that, he turned slightly, his eyes meeting Zhang Shan’s in silent communication.
Zhang Shan nodded in understanding and, without a word, moved two boxes of beer from beneath the table beside him, placing them on the surface with a firm thud.
"Today is a {welcome party}, so we will offer a generous spread of food and resources to entertain everyone. However, starting tomorrow, everyone will need to use {Dào} to purchase food. Those who find this arrangement unacceptable are free to leave {Passage to Heaven} at any time. We have no place for idlers."
Qiao Jiajin raised his hand silently at this time.
"What is it?" Chu Tianqiu inquired, his gaze shifting to him.
"Can {Dào} also be used to buy alcohol?"
"Yes," Chu Tianqiu replied with a nod, "though alcohol will be priced higher than ordinary substances."
"That’s no matter." Qiao Jiajin remarked with a confident smile, "I’m above the ordinary."
"Excellent." Chu Tianqiu smiled before continuing, "Starting tomorrow, Zhang Shan will be leading a team into a {Terrestrial}-grade game. As with all things, the higher the risk, the greater the potential rewards. Those of you who wish to participate should approach him directly. However, I must caution you: this game is not for novices. Only those who have retained their memories will be eligible to join."
Qi Xia’s mind flickered back to the second day of their last cycle. He vividly recalled that their first encounter with Zhang Shan had occurred precisely because he had been leading a team into a similar game, one held at a venue overseen by a {Terrestrial Ox}.
Zhang Shan distributed bottles of beer to each table, one for every person.
Since Qi Xia and Han Yimo didn’t drink, they handed their shares to Qiao Jiajin, who took them with visible enthusiasm. He bit the cap off with his teeth and drank several gulps, his face lighting up in delight, but after a moment, he looked a little disappointed. "Room temperature... not the greatest," he muttered.
"It’s good enough," Qi Xia replied, shaking his head slightly. "In an environment , chilled beverages are a luxury we can’t expect."