Chapter 30 Mortal Mouse
"Hahm-ga-caan, another lunatic." Qiao Jiajin spat on the ground, "I feel like if we stay here too long, we'll go crazy too."
Qi Xia was deeply unsettled by the old man.
"Qi Xia, are you okay?" Lin Qin asked.
"I’m fine," Qi Xia said, steadying himself. "These people can't deter me. I'm going to participate in those {games}. You don't need to accompany me."
"I'll go with you," Lin Qin declared resolutely. "No matter which {game} you enter, I'll be by your side."
Hearing this, Qi Xia halted, turning to gaze at Lin Qin with a cold, penetrating stare.
His gaze was icy, sending a shiver down Lin Qin's spine.
"Motive?" Lin Qin asked, confused. "Do I need any motive?"
Qi Xia stared into Lin Qin's eyes. "Why did you approach me? By any logical reasoning, you should be with the other team. The three of us are different from you, not to mention becoming comrades."
Upon hearing Qi Xia's question, Lin Qin smiled faintly and replied, "I've mentioned before, I'm quite intrigued by you. I want to understand what's on your mind."
"I want to escape from this place," Qi Xia stated firmly. "I've repeated many times that I want to leave and reunite with my wife. She can't live without me. Do you understand?"
Lin Qin blinked and replied softly, "I understand."
"My wife is Yu Nian'An. She has suffered on my behalf and endured criticism for me. She's my other half, and I just want to return to her. That's all I desire. Is that clear enough?"
"Now that you know what I'm thinking, aren't you going to leave?" Qi Xia's tone remained cold.
Lin Qin bowed her head slightly, pondered for a while, and responded, "I'm sorry, I still can't leave for some other reasons."
Qi Xia frowned as he gazed at Lin Qin. Despite not sensing any danger or deceit from her, he couldn't discern Lin Qin's true intentions.
"Do as you wish..." Qi Xia, realizing he couldn't persuade her, turned away and resumed moving forward.
Qiao Jiajin trailed behind Qi Xia and remarked, "Swindler Lad, we've agreed—you've got the brains, and I've got the strength. Let's team up."
"Do you, too, have an irresistible reason to get out?"
"Yes," Qiao Jiajin nodded. "I don't want to die, and I refuse to accept my fate."
"Cooperation is fine, but let's get one thing straight," Qi Xia glanced at Qiao Jiajin and continued coolly, "You and I aren't friends. If it comes down to it and only one of us can make it out, I won't hesitate to leave you behind."
"Damn... Have you no sense of loyalty or sacrifice?" Qiao Jiajin shook his head in disbelief. "You're truly unlikeable."
Hearing their conversation, Tian Tian lowered her head in silence.
Everyone seemed to have a clear goal.
But in comparison, what was she doing?
Suppose she truly overcame all obstacles and escaped from this hellhole.
Even if she returned to the real world and resumed her former life, she would have to live a bleak existence, passionately engaging with those dirty old men.
Thinking about it this way... perhaps {dying here} wouldn't be such a bad final destination.
"Tian Tian, what's wrong?" Lin Qin asked.
After leaving the plaza, they found themselves on the street on the other side.
This area was markedly different from the street with the convenience store. It was lined with small houses arranged in a crisscross pattern. It was difficult to determine if anyone lived here.
After walking a few steps, the four of them spotted another figure wearing an animal mask.
The person stood at the door of an old house, hands behind their back.
Qi Xia walked straight towards them.
As he approached, he noticed the figure wearing a large, foul-smelling mouse mask. Unlike the robust figures he had seen in animal masks before, this person had a noticeably thin stature.
Qiao Jiajin was the first to speak and asked, "{Mouse Mortal}, right?"
The mouse-headed figure finally acknowledged the four of them, chuckling lightly before responding, "I'm not {Mouse Mortal}, I'm {Mortal Mouse}."
It was a girl, and she had a rather pleasant voice.
This should be the first time that everyone encountered a female under an animal mask.
"Puk-gaai, don’t get ahead of yourself..." Qiao Jiajin angrily retorted. "You think I care what you are?"
"Mortal Mouse is Mortal Mouse," the girl replied with a giggle. "It could be troublesome if you use the wrong name. It's rare for someone to visit my place. Do you want to participate in the {trial}?"
Qi Xia looked at the house behind the Mortal Mouse and then asked her. "What are the rules?"
"Mouse category {trial}, admission is one {Dào}." Mortal Mouse explained with the patience of a seasoned salesperson. "You won't find a lower-difficulty trial in any other district."
"So, what kind of game is behind you?" Qi Xia inquired further.
Mortal Mouse turned around, opened the door, and walked in, revealing a small warehouse.
"My game is called {Warehouse Dào Seeking}. There's currently one {Dào} hidden in this room. Only one person can enter at a time. If you find the {Dào} within five minutes, you win, and the {Dào} will be yours."
Qi Xia sensed something amiss and pressed on, "What happens if we can't find it?"
"If you can't find it?" Mortal Mouse giggled, "Your admission becomes void, and you forfeit a {Dào}."
"Forfeit a {Dào}?" Qi Xia was taken aback. "That's all?"
"What else could happen?" Mortal Mouse asked, looking at Qi Xia with confusion.
Qi Xia furrowed his brow, contemplating carefully. Admission is one {Dào}. Win, gain one {Dào}. Lose, lose one {Dào}.
This game seems rather inconsequential. It appears there's neither a way to gain {Dào} nor any real risk involved.
In that case, what's the point of participating in these games?
"Isn't this a chance worth taking?" Tian Tian interjected. "Participating once will give us a better understanding of our situation."
"But..." Qi Xia hesitated, still uncertain about the purpose of winning such a game.
"I'll go first," Tian Tian said, turning to Qi Xia. "It doesn't matter if I die."
"What are you talking about?" Lin Qin interjected, noticing that Tian Tian's mindset seemed off.
"Trust me." Tian Tian said calmly, "I've realized that whether I get out or not, it doesn't make any difference at all."
With that, she asked Qi Xia for a {Dào} and handed it to Mortal Mouse.
"So, that's all there is to it?" Tian Tian asked.
"Yes, {admission} has been received. The game will start when you enter the room," Mortal Mouse nodded enthusiastically. "Let me reiterate the rules. There is a {Dào} in this room. If you find it and bring it out within five minutes, the {Dào} will be yours."
"Okay, I understand," Tian Tian nodded.
"Are you ready?" asked Mortal Mouse.
"Ready," Tian Tian nodded.
"Very good," said Mortal Mouse. "The game has begun. I wish you luck."
She then left the warehouse and closed the door from the outside, leaving Tian Tian alone in the dimly lit room.