Chapter 260 Your Life
Qi Xia glanced at the electronic clock on the wall; the game had already been in progress for fifty-seven minutes.
In three minutes, the second {replenishment} would arrive.
But the current situation was tricky. If Qi Xia's guess was correct, no one in the arena would be able to bring out even a single {Dào}. How would the replenishment take place next?
Over the past few minutes, four more teams had escaped, leaving a total of thirty-two people in the arena.
Theoretically, there should be at most twenty-two {Sorrow} left.
‘Wait... that’s wrong…’
Qi Xia smiled faintly. The square-faced man had been deceived by him and had invested two {Sorrow} into the machine.
There were only twenty {Sorrow} left in circulation now.
This time, Terrestrial Goat did not take out the massive briefcase bag but instead produced a small pouch.
From within, he retrieved four folding fans, opening them one by one and laying them out neatly on the table.
One {Joy}, one {Anger}, one {Sorrow}, and one {Happiness}.
As the crowd looked on in confusion, he reached for the small chalkboard, wiping away the previous writing with a handkerchief. Then, from the pocket on his chest, he pulled out a piece of chalk and carefully inscribed a new sentence before tossing the chalk onto the table.
Everyone turned their gaze to the board.
Written upon it were the words: "Each folding fan requires two fans for exchange."
The phrasing was somewhat convoluted, but the meaning was clear enough.
Trade two fans… to obtain one of the fans on the table?
Qi Xia immediately grasped the implications. This rule was tailored for participants like himself, those who had started with three identical fans. Otherwise, few would be willing to exchange two fans merely to acquire one.
Qi Xia shook his head and was about to turn away when a sudden thought struck him.
‘Wait a moment…’ He turned back, scrutinizing the bizarre scene before him.
A small chalkboard, a table, folding fans, and Terrestrial Goat.
Terrestrial Goat was clearly a participant… and yet, here he was, brazenly conducting business in the open?
What authority did he have to replenish everyone’s fans?
‘…So that’s how it is?’
A bold hypothesis took shape in Qi Xia’s mind—whether it was the fifty-two fans from the first round or the four now laid upon the table—they were most likely free.
And that chalkboard? Nothing but a deception. If this exchange were truly part of the {rules}, it wouldn’t be handwritten on a simple chalkboard. The very fact that it was written in such an impermanent way suggested it was an improvised measure—one meant to adapt to changing circumstances.
Since Terrestrial Goat had assumed the role of an umpire from the very beginning, no one dared to defy him. Whether it was three {Dào} per fan or two fans in exchange for one, all of these transactions ultimately funneled directly into Terrestrial Goat’s pockets.
This was his deception within the game.
Qi Xia took a deep breath and slowly approached the table.
Terrestrial Goat, seeing someone step forward, regarded Qi Xia with an indifferent expression before uttering a few words, "Feel free to make your selection."
Qi Xia nodded but made no move to take any of the fans on the table. Instead, he reached out and picked up the piece of chalk.
Terrestrial Goat’s brow furrowed slightly. "What do you think you’re doing?"
"The same as you," Qi Xia replied.
Hearing this, Terrestrial Goat’s eyes narrowed ever so slightly.
With chalk in hand, Qi Xia made his way to a spot far from Terrestrial Goat, and scrawled on the ground: {One for one}.
Then, he unfolded his four non-{Sorrow} fans and placed them onto the ground. After a brief moment of contemplation, he also pulled out his dagger and stabbed it into the ground in front of him.
His peculiar actions quickly caught the attention of others.
"Hey! That guy over there is offering one-for-one trades!"
"He's cheaper than Terrestrial Goat!"
A crowd began to gather around Qi Xia, noticing the four fans laid out before him.
Joy, Anger, Anger, Happiness.
Every variety was present—except {Sorrow}.
The dagger planted before him gave an air of intimidation, making it clear that he was not to be trifled with.
A middle-aged woman eyed Qi Xia warily and asked, "Can we exchange with any type of fan?"
"Yes," Qi Xia nodded. "All fans are up for trade."
"Can I trade my {Joy} for one of your {Anger}?" she inquired further.
"Of course." Qi Xia promptly picked up an {Anger} fan and handed it over. "Here."
His straightforwardness made the woman hesitate, but after a moment’s deliberation, she took out her {Joy} fan and exchanged it for the {Anger}.
Qi Xia gave a nod and placed the newly acquired {Joy} back onto the ground.
"Everyone," he announced, his voice steady and clear, "this trading stall will be open for half an hour. Once time is up—or if I decide to stop—the exchange will end."
Terrestrial Goat watched the scene unfold, then slowly stepped away from his table and strode toward Qi Xia’s makeshift stall.
The gathered onlookers instinctively parted, clearing a path for him.
Qi Xia rose to his feet in an unhurried motion, locking eyes with Terrestrial Goat.
"Are you tired of living?" Terrestrial Goat asked, his voice calm yet laced with menace.
"I settled my affairs before coming here. Do you really think I’d be afraid of threats?" Qi Xia replied without the slightest hesitation.
For the first time, a flicker of murderous intent surfaced in Terrestrial Goat’s otherwise impassive gaze. He knew—Qi Xia had seen through the entire game.
The two men stood no more than half a meter apart, the tension between them thick and suffocating.
Terrestrial Goat exhaled slowly. "Shut down your stall," he said, his tone heavy with warning, "or I won’t be so courteous."
"Courteous?" A glint of cold intent flashed through Qi Xia’s eyes. "Do you think I’ve been showing you any?"
"Others seek {Dào}, but what I want more… is your hide." Qi Xia chuckled. "With it, I can finally meet the person I wish to see."
A sense of foreboding surged through Terrestrial Goat as Qi Xia’s lips slowly parted, speaking with deliberation, "Terrestrial Goat, I want to stake my—"
Before Qi Xia could complete his sentence, Terrestrial Goat's hand, thick with black fur, came down violently on his mouth. With a firm grip on Qi Xia’s chin, he was immediately struck with the sensation of labored breathing.
"You punk… are you insane?!" Terrestrial Goat’s eyes widened in fury. "Do you even know what grade I am?"
Qi Xia couldn’t speak, but his eyes still carried a trace of amusement, a gaze that sent a chilling premonition coursing through Terrestrial Goat’s veins.
What kind of gaze was that?
Terrestrial Goat’s grip tightened ever so slightly—he could feel it, the undeniable urge to kill this man immediately…
Qi Xia slowly reached into his pocket and pulled out a folding fan. With a crisp {snap}, he unfurled it right before Terrestrial Goat’s eyes.
A bold {Sorrow} was written across its surface!
The sheer mockery of the act made Terrestrial Goat’s bloodshot eyes blaze with fury.
"Who… are you?" Terrestrial Goat leaned in, his voice low and dangerous. "A man without even a {Reverberation} dares to stake his life against me… Where do you get the nerve?"
Qi Xia shook his head forcefully, and Terrestrial Goat loosened his grip.
Coughing twice, Qi Xia slowly lifted his gaze, a smile curving his lips.
"{Reverberation}…? I have no use for such things while traversing {End Point}… All they do is disrupt my focus."
Terrestrial Goat stared at the man before him, confusion flickering in his gaze.