Realizing that if he didn’t separate them soon, the two would probably collapse into tears on the spot, Qi Xia stepped forward and pulled them apart.
Qin Dingdong guided the visibly distraught pair to sit on chairs, letting them calm down.
“Hanging is fine,” Qi Xia said to Earth Snake. “I’ll help you. I’ll tie it tight so you can better experience ‘near-death.'”
“Sure, sure,” Earth Snake nodded. “You’re the only one who can touch me, so thanks. Just don’t tie a permanent knot—I don’t actually wanna die.”
“Don’t worry. If I’m helping you hang, I won’t let you die.”
“Exactly, exactly. Who actually dies from hanging?”
As the two walked out with the rope, the remaining three in the room froze in place.
Qiao Jiajin and Chen Junnan had already regained their composure, but their faces were now filled with even more confusion.
“Uh…” Qiao Jiajin glanced at Chen Junnan. “Should we go help or stop them…? I don’t really get—”
Chen Junnan chuckled and shook his head. “I envy their mutual dedication to insanity.”
Qin Dingdong immediately kicked at Chen Junnan, who nimbly dodged.
The three of them waited idly in the room for Qi Xia and Earth Snake to return from their hanging session.
Chen Junnan couldn’t sit still. Less than a minute later, he got up and wandered around the room.
He walked to a corner and examined the piles of books, finding them oddly intriguing.
Each corner held a different genre. The northwest corner was stacked with tragic classics—*The Butterfly Lovers*, *To Live*, *Camel Xiangzi*—all familiar titles. The northeast corner was filled with comedy works, even including four-panel comics. The remaining southeast and southwest corners held piles of science books and psychology texts, respectively.
However, all the books looked incredibly worn, as if they’d been flipped through countless times.
“I’m kinda curious about this old guy’s game now,” Chen Junnan mused. “What the hell is all this?”
Qin Dingdong followed his gaze and replied, “I think ‘books’ are the rarest treasure in this damned place.”
“How so?”
“This hellhole has zero entertainment. In times like these, ‘books’ keep people from going insane.” Qin Dingdong explained. “Wei Yang once told me that if you read enough, knowledge becomes your flesh and blood, part of your very being. Even if you lose your memories one day, your subconscious will still remember the content.”
Chen Junnan and Qiao Jiajin exchanged glances. They had heard Wei Yang’s theory before—and it seemed Qi Xia was actively applying it.
“But someone like me…” Chen Junnan sighed. “Even if I read, I’d just skim for fun. If I could study like Lao Qi, I’d have a damn master’s degree by now.”
“Heh.” Qiao Jiajin grinned. “When I was a kid, the only thing I liked about books were the pictures!”
“Who the hell didn’t?” Chen Junnan laughed. “I once drew stick figures on Du Fu’s portrait.”
“Blasphemy, blasphemy!” Qiao Jiajin teased. “Next time, draw on some foreign dude.”
“No next time,” Chen Junnan scoffed. “Who goes back to school after graduating?”
Watching them banter, Qin Dingdong sighed. “If only you two had half of Qi Xia’s work ethic.”
Chen Junnan shook his head. “I know I’ll never catch up to Lao Qi no matter how hard I try, so I’ve given up on surpassing him. I’ll just follow his lead. I can shine in other ways.”
Just then, the hanging duo returned. Qi Xia’s rope had clearly been tied tight—Earth Snake was gagging as he staggered back inside.
Qi Xia patted his back. “I thought snakes’ necks weren’t weak spots? How come you’re struggling so much?”
“You little bastard…” Earth Snake coughed. “You nearly strangled a ‘Land-Level’ just now… Are you out of your damn mind?! What kind of knot was that?”
“If you hadn’t called my name earlier, I would’ve strangled you outright. Killing a ‘Land-Level’ is no small feat.” Qi Xia said coolly. “You should thank me for being merciful—that knot was impossible for you to undo.”
“Fine… you little bastard…” Earth Snake wheezed. “No one’s dared to touch me in years since learning my ability…”
Chen Junnan cringed at Earth Snake’s manner of speech. “You don’t sound that old, yet you keep calling Lao Qi ‘little bastard’? What’s your problem?”
“Do *you* look old?” Earth Snake shot back. “Don’t you call yourself ‘Young Master’? What’s the difference?”
“None of your damn business!” Chen Junnan snapped. “I thrive in the light, unlike you shady snake.”
“Then why are you policing me?!” Earth Snake retorted. “I thrive in the dark, and I love calling people ‘little bastard.’ Deal with it.”
“You—!” Chen Junnan scowled. “Fine, call him whatever. But wasn’t hanging *your* idea? Now you’re complaining about Lao Qi’s tight knot?”
Earth Snake shrugged. “I wanted to hang earlier, and now I want to blame him. I do what I want. Who the hell are you to stop me?”
“I’d love to skin your scaly ass.”
The two bickered relentlessly until Qi Xia pulled Earth Snake aside to sit down.
“Anyway, don’t worry about me,” Earth Snake said, catching his breath. “My life motto is: *Not perfection, but pure indulgence.*”
“Ha!” Chen Junnan sneered. “Mine is—”
“Who asked you?!” Qin Dingdong kicked him again, cutting him off. “Are you two doing self-introductions now?”
“I’m just pissed,” Chen Junnan muttered. “Lao Qi! Is this guy really who you were looking for?”
Qi Xia didn’t answer. Instead, he studied Earth Snake, who was still recovering, and asked, “Are you the one I need?”
Earth Snake’s golden eyes flickered. “Depends on my mood… I told you, I do what I want. If I’m in a bad mood, I might even forget who you are…”
“I’m done hearing that,” Qi Xia said coldly. “No more thinking for you. *I’ll* do the thinking now. Don’t worry about whether you *want* to—just tell me if you *will*.”
“You…?” Earth Snake blinked. “What do you want me to do?”
“What I once asked of you.” Qi Xia’s voice was steel. “I’ve tolerated your whims long enough. But if you keep indulging them now, I’ll throw you off this ship.”
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