“Do you know about my past…?” Yun Yao frowned and asked, “Do you also know Tian Tian’s story?”
“Not just that…” Chen Junnan chuckled, “‘Strong Luck’ and ‘Clever Objects’—both are indispensable for us.”
“Clever Objects…?” Yun Yao lowered her head in thought for a moment before saying, “I understand. Let’s team up this time. Maybe you can help me find the motivation to live again.”
“Ha!” Chen Junnan laughed. “Now you’re talking.”
“But…” Yun Yao’s tone shifted. “Even though I lied to you a few times before… this time, I didn’t.”
“What?!” Chen Junnan’s heart, which had just settled, instantly leaped into his throat.
“The question I just received was indeed this one,” Yun Yao said. “Earth Snake really seems to be on our right.”
“In that case…” Chen Junnan said, “It can only mean that old bastard Earth Snake is far dumber than I thought. He’s truly desperate.”
“So, what do we do next?”
“This time, we can only choose ‘No.’ Otherwise, the iron ball won’t return, and you’ll be in danger,” Chen Junnan said. “Leave it to me.”
The two hung up. Chen Junnan calculated the position of the iron ball and decisively pressed “No.”
The iron ball’s current coordinate was “2.” It had to return to “3,” or the next round would be far too dangerous—after all, Yun Yao was a “0.”
After a moment of thought, Chen Junnan dialed Xu Qian’s number.
“Qian Jie…” he mused, “Did you pass the question down earlier?”
“Isn’t that obvious?” Xu Qian snapped back. “I just saw Earth Snake participating in the game with my own eyes! How could I not pass it down?”
“Right.” Chen Junnan felt like he was overthinking again, but after what happened with Yun Yao, he now suspected everyone of lying.
He really wished Qi Xia were here right now—that man could see through any lie in an instant.
“Qian Jie, help me pass this question down…” Chen Junnan pondered for a moment before saying, “‘Choose No, let Earth Snake die.'”
“W-Wouldn’t that be too blunt?” Xu Qian said.
“Is bluntness bad?” Chen Junnan retorted. “Our top priority is to let everyone know Earth Snake is in the game and then kill him.”
There was a long silence on the other end before Xu Qian finally spoke. “I think your approach might be a bit extreme.”
“What?”
“Have you considered the possibility… that not everyone here wants Earth Snake dead?”
Those words were like a needle piercing a balloon, instantly rupturing Chen Junnan’s train of thought.
Right!
He’d made a huge mistake!
This was a bet between him and Earth Snake—like a game of “high or low.” The outcome of their life-or-death wager was like the dice in the cup, and the other participants each had their own preferences for “high” or “low.” They’d bet on whoever they thought had the best odds.
Not everyone would bet on Chen Junnan.
If they all attacked Earth Snake but failed to kill him, the aftermath would be disastrous.
“So that’s how it is…” Chen Junnan laughed. “Got it. I thought everyone here was a fearless warrior, but turns out there are plenty of cowards.”
“What?”
“Qian Jie, can you do me a favor?” Chen Junnan asked.
“What favor?”
“Don’t answer the next call. I want to talk to the person to your left.”
“Huh?” Xu Qian was once again stunned by Chen Junnan’s idea. “Is that even allowed? I-I’m not dead yet. If I don’t answer…”
“My question is already done. You won’t be breaking any rules—you’re just choosing not to answer. Relax.” Chen Junnan chuckled.
Xu Qian had no choice but to comply. After all, she was already an “accomplice” in Earth Snake’s gamble. For her, not killing Earth Snake would only make things worse.
At least she wasn’t a participant in the life-or-death bet. Even if she died, she’d probably just reset.
Soon enough, Xu Qian’s phone rang. She ignored it, letting it ring ten full times.
On the eleventh ring, the call abruptly cut off.
Apparently, the phone system operated mechanically—regardless of whether the person in the room was dead, if no one answered after ten rings, it would automatically move to the next person.
Chen Junnan waited patiently until the call was finally picked up.
“H-Hello?” A nervous-sounding man’s voice came through—just as Xu Qian had described.
“Hey there, big bro.” Chen Junnan greeted him cheerfully.
“Wha—?!” The man nearly jumped out of his skin. “W-Who are you?! Where’s the girl before me?”
“If you don’t mind, big bro, I can be that girl.”
The nervous man fell silent for a long moment before asking in a trembling voice, “Is… is she dead?”
“How could she be?” Chen Junnan realized this guy still hadn’t grasped the rules. “Maybe she just wasn’t feeling well and didn’t want to answer, so the call came straight to you. Hope I’m not interrupting?”
“What do you want?”
“I just wanna chat…” Chen Junnan laughed. “Big bro, what question did that girl pass to you?”
The man opened his mouth to answer but then hesitated.
“Why are you asking?” he countered. “Shouldn’t you already know what question she posed?”
“Oho, sharp, aren’t we?” Chen Junnan grinned. “Let me be honest—the girl before you? I killed her. I’m in a life-or-death bet with Earth Snake, and right now, I’m seeing enemies everywhere. Anyone suspicious has to go.”
“Wha—?!” The man panicked. “Y-You killed her?!”
He glanced around his enclosed space, suddenly feeling anything but safe.
“You don’t believe me?” Chen Junnan chuckled. “Do you know why you’re talking to me right now? Think back to the rules.”
The man hesitated. The rules did state that calls only forwarded if the previous room’s occupant died and didn’t answer.
“Y-You really killed that girl? She… She was always so nice, keeping me updated on everything…”
“Oops, my bad.” Chen Junnan said flatly. “But if I can kill one by mistake, I can kill another. So, big bro—wanna die?”
“N-No, of course not!”
“But this is a critical moment in my bet with Earth Snake.” Chen Junnan’s voice hardened. “Everyone has two options: serve me or die. Because my ‘Echo’ is freaking ‘Wall Phasing.'”
“Wha—?!” The man shot up from his chair. “Y-You can phase through walls?!”
“Yep.” Chen Junnan lied without batting an eye. “Just wait—I’ll phase over and kill you right now.”
“N-No need!” The man forced a laugh. “You’re scarier than Earth Snake. I’ll definitely side with you.”
“Good. Then I’ll show you mercy.” Chen Junnan leaned closer to the phone. “From now on, you’re my underling.”
“Huh?”
“When my call comes through again, don’t answer.”
“B-But… not answering?”
“Or would you rather die?”
“N-No, no, no…”
Chen Junnan knew this man was too timid to influence the game’s outcome. He could safely be ignored. With that settled, he initiated the third round of calls.
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