Qi Xia’s words almost made the Snake lose his balance.
“Today afternoon,” “rally how many human-level,” “take off the masks together.”
Each of these three phrases alone was enough to shock the Snake, yet now they formed a single, coherent sentence.
“Wait… I have too many questions…” The Snake steadied himself. “Is time really that tight? Are we acting this afternoon?”
“We might not even make it to the afternoon,” Qi Xia replied, glancing at the door he had come through. “The more people involved in a plan, the greater the variables.”
The Snake quickly assessed the situation—everything was moving too fast.
Just last night, he had been in his room, poring over a book of puzzles, when suddenly a letter was slipped under his door. Then, he found himself here as a “referee,” unsure if he’d survive this game, only to immediately confirm Qi Xia’s identity.
Before he could even process everything in his mind, he was dragged into an even bigger question.
“Today afternoon… rallying those ‘Zodiacs’…” The Snake scratched the foul-smelling mask on his face. “I do have some friends, but the timing is too tight. I’m not sure they’d agree.”
“They will,” Qi Xia assured. “It’s not a difficult task. Someone will be responsible for fighting Suzaku to the death, while you and the others only need to keep removing your masks to shake his faith.”
“Wait… shake his faith?” The Snake froze. “That’s all we need to do?”
“Exactly,” Qi Xia nodded. “It sounds complicated, but that’s the reality. Every time a Zodiac breaks the rules, Suzaku senses it immediately and must deal with it—otherwise, he’ll face punishment from Qinglong and Tianlong. Right?”
“Yes…” the Snake agreed.
“When Suzaku is locked in a life-or-death battle, and from afar, people keep ‘breaking the rules,’ he’ll inevitably be distracted. If he doesn’t handle it immediately, he’ll face disaster himself,” Qi Xia continued. “It may seem like a small contribution, but in a battle between humans and these demigods, it’s crucial.”
“I see…” The Snake seemed to understand. “No wonder you said we were swept into the tide of killing Suzaku, yet called us ‘assistants’…”
“Today afternoon, when the great bell is destroyed, that will be the signal,” Qi Xia mused. “Right now, Qinglong is in ‘Cangjie’s Game,’ so he can’t hear us. This is the only chance I have to tell you this.”
“But… two problems,” the Snake said. “First, I might die in this game and not even make it to the afternoon. Second, outside ears aren’t limited to Qinglong—how do I relay this message without being detected?”
“Then we solve them one by one,” Qi Xia replied.
“Solve…”
“Did Qinglong promise you anything?” Qi Xia asked. “How many people do you need to kill to survive this game?”
“Just one…” the Snake murmured. “If I kill one person, not only do I survive, but I can even be promoted to ‘Earth-Level.'”
“Kill one person to become ‘Earth-Level’…” Qi Xia narrowed his eyes. “Do you believe that?”
“I…” The Snake let out another bitter laugh. “Do I believe it? I don’t even know what to do anymore… Qi Xia, did you know? Brother Goat once told me that if I could solve all one hundred puzzles in this book, he’d return and help me become Earth-Level.”
“I know.”
The Snake patted the notebook on the table. “I never solved them, but I read them countless times. I treated them like Brother Goat’s diary, never even thinking about the answers.”
Qi Xia remained silent, staring intently into the Snake’s eyes.
“After reading them endlessly, an opportunity to become ‘Earth-Level’ suddenly appeared, and then I met you,” the Snake’s expression grew complicated. “For a moment, I was overjoyed… thinking Brother Goat had truly returned, that he remembered his promise to me. Even though I never solved the puzzles, because I read them so many times, he came back to help me become ‘Earth-Level,’ and we’d share a meal at the same table again. But then I was heartbroken, because he is him, and you are you.”
Qi Xia hadn’t expected such deep conflict within the Snake’s heart and momentarily struggled to find the right words to comfort him.
“I’m glad Brother Goat isn’t in danger, that he didn’t return to this place just for a scoundrel like me,” the Snake choked out. “But tell me… has Brother Goat vanished from this world? Will I never see him again?”
The room fell into a silence so deep it was as if they had sunk into the ocean. Neither spoke for a long time.
After a pause, Qi Xia nodded. “Yes, you won’t see him again.”
“So tell me… should I believe or not?”
The Snake picked up the notebook, as if about to say something, but his fingers suddenly went slack, and it dropped back onto the table.
“Brother Goat promised to make me ‘Earth-Level,’ and I believed him—but he’ll never return,” the Snake continued. “Now Qinglong promises me ‘Earth-Level.’ Should I believe it or not?”
Qi Xia raised a hand and lightly rubbed his forehead.
Perhaps, among the three of them—Earth Tiger and Earth Goat included—the Snake was the most sentimental.
His emotions were more delicate than theirs, and his bond with the White Goat was purer. So pure, in fact, that not even replacing the White Goat with Qi Xia could bridge the gap.
He only recognized the White Goat as his teacher.
He accepted that Qi Xia was not the White Goat, and the White Goat was not Qi Xia—a belief that aligned perfectly with the White Goat’s own words.
That was why the White Goat had personally entrusted him with this message before leaving.
Images flashed through Qi Xia’s mind—scenes from the dim, oppressive train where Earth Tiger and Earth Goat would bicker endlessly, and the Snake would always step in with a grin, smoothing things over.
He not only knew how to cheer up the Human Rat but also mediated between everyone, maintaining the harmony of their little family.
Now, without the Snake to mediate, Earth Goat and Earth Tiger must be at each other’s throats every day, threatening to “kill you” in every argument.
For the Snake, the White Goat was dead, the Human Rat was dead, and the family was scattered. His entire world—along with his heart—had shattered.
As the only “Human-Level” among the three, no matter how much strength he had, he had no way to use it.
In this state of extreme grief, Qinglong had extended the olive branch of “Earth-Level.”
Qi Xia quickly pieced it together. For the Snake, he had no choice but to believe this offer. Only by killing someone here and ascending to “Earth-Level” could things improve.
Then, he could stand proudly beside Earth Tiger and Earth Goat as a true member of the family.
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