Chapter 247 Fourfold Emotion
At the end of the staircase was a vast, empty underground casino.
Looking around, Qi Xia saw rows of identical machines, resembling gambling devices, lined up against the walls. The screens were flashing and showing content that was impossible to comprehend.
The casino's tables and chairs had been almost entirely cleared away, leaving only a long table in the center.
Terrestrial Goat slowly made his way to the middle of the room and stood in front of the table. In a calm tone, he began speaking, "Everyone, please step forward and stand in an orderly fashion."
The group slowly gathered around the table, the atmosphere heavy and tense.
"I will now explain the rules," Terrestrial Goat continued, his gaze sweeping over the crowd. "My game is called {Fourfold Emotion}, and it is an extremely simple game."
Qi Xia almost laughed out loud at Terrestrial Goat's words.
Fifty participants—an ‘extremely simple’ game of deception?
Terrestrial Goat pulled out four fans, opening them one by one in front of everyone.
Each fan had a distinct character written in regular script: {喜} (Joy), {怒} (Anger), {哀} (Sorrow), and {乐} (Happiness).
"These are the {Fourfold Emotion} fans," Terrestrial Goat said. "In my bag, there are four types of fans, each in equal quantity. At the start of the game, each participant will randomly receive three fans. Of course, the content of the fans will also be random. The rules for winning this game are equally simple..."
With the fans still in his hand, Terrestrial Goat walked over to a gambling machine against the wall. The crowd followed closely behind.
"This machine is called the {Pairing Machine}."
The group scrutinized the {Pairing Machine}, noticing that it had a button on either side and four holes in the center.
"{Pairing} requires you to find another teammate. Both of you must press the button on each side to start the pairing process," Terrestrial Goat explained as he pressed the button on the right side.
On the screen, Terrestrial Goat’s photo appeared, along with three smiling faces beneath it and the phrase: "Partner still to be confirmed."
"The three smiley faces indicate three remaining pairing attempts. Moving on..." Terrestrial Goat glanced around the crowd, his gaze landing on a tall woman. "Excuse me, could you come up for a demonstration?"
The woman nodded and stepped forward.
"Please press the button on the other side," Terrestrial Goat instructed.
The woman hesitated for a moment but extended her hand and slowly pressed the button. Her photo then appeared on the screen. At the same time, the text changed to: "Both participants in place, starting the pairing."
Terrestrial Goat pulled out two folding fans and handed them to the woman, explaining, "The essence of {pairing} is simple: both participants must insert two folding fans into the holes. Successfully managing to align the four emotions—{Joy, Anger, Sorrow, and Happiness} indicates victory and the privilege to leave."
Having spoken, Terrestrial Goat inserted two folding fans into the two holes on the machine. The tall woman beside him mirrored his actions, placing her own two folding fans into the holes.
The machine consumed the folding fans, and the screen displayed {Identifying...}.
After a brief moment, the text shifted to {Pairing Successful}.
Terrestrial Goat nodded, then turned back to the crowd, remarking, “Once the game commences, those who successfully pair will be permitted to leave.”
Upon hearing this, Qi Xia slowly furrowed his brow.
The rule itself is undeniably simple: if one can find a trustworthy partner, both individuals can depart unharmed. However, if that is the case, how can this be classified as a game of deception?
“Allow me to clarify beforehand.” Terrestrial Goat cast another glance at the crowd. “Each person is granted only three {pairing} opportunities, and regardless of success or failure, the folding fans used for {pairing} will be consumed. Should you fail to successfully pair three times, you will remain here to await your fate. Two hours from now, I will impose sanctions upon all those left behind.”
“Three times…?” The square-faced man beside Qi Xia seemed troubled. “We only got three foldin’ fans in total, an’ each {pairing} consumes two. How are we meant tae make three pairings?!”
"Excellent question," Terrestrial Goat nodded. "Half an hour from now, I will begin providing each of you with additional folding fans. Everyone here will have the opportunity to replenish their fans, and this will occur every half hour. A total of three replenishments will be made over the span of two hours."
"So that's how it is...?" The square-faced man seemed to grasp something. "So, in other words, the foldin' fans we hold will increase?"
"Exactly," Terrestrial Goat confirmed. "Any other questions?"
"How are the rewards calculated?" Qi Xia asked.
"Rewards..." Terrestrial Goat glanced at Qi Xia, then replied, "All those who successfully {escape} must wait quietly in the upper level until the game concludes. Once the game ends, each survivor will be able to exchange their remaining fans for rewards. For every extra folding fan left, you may exchange it for five {Dào}."
Qi Xia pondered this briefly.
For each remaining folding fan, five {Dào} could be exchanged… In other words, if one immediately found a partner to pair with at the start, even if the pairing succeeded, each person would only have one folding fan left in hand.
The folding fan’s exchange for five {Dào} would precisely offset the cost of admission—this was a transaction with a zero-sum outcome, hardly a lucrative deal.
To emerge {victorious} in the game and reap rewards, it’s essential to amass a great number of folding fans. Replenishing them every half hour would inevitably push the pairing time closer to the end of the game.
"Yo—You mean..." an older woman raised her hand and asked, "If we don't find a partner in the end, we’ll die here?"
"Precisely," Terrestrial Goat nodded, "I offer you rewards beyond those of the other {Earthly Branches}, and naturally, you must face the corresponding risks."
These words caused some people's faces to change. The game was a blatant exchange of life for {Dào}, but the rules, as they sounded, were straightforward—anyone could leave whenever they wanted.
However, Qi Xia still wore a heavy expression. An odd feeling continued to gnaw at him.
As the host of a {Deception Game}, this rule lacked the element of deception; it seemed more like a game that encouraged cooperation among participants.
"If all are clear on the rules, we will begin the game in ten minutes," Terrestrial Goat stated. "Kindly queue up in front of me to receive your initial three folding fans."
Qi Xia stood at the end of the line, slowly advancing with the crowd. He watched as each person collected their paper fans, then moved to the side. It seemed that everyone deliberately kept their distance from each other, and a few had already impatiently opened their fans to inspect them.
These people were too naive.
Since the fans were double-sided, when they opened them, nearly everyone nearby could see the text written on their fans.
Exposing one's cards was always a dangerous move, and this time was no exception.