The ground snake continued to scream in agony, clawing at his own face as Xu Qian watched in horror as deep bloody gashes formed.
“What’s wrong with that old man?” Chen Junnan, unable to see anything, asked anxiously.
“He… seems to be having a breakdown,” Xu Qian replied, puzzled.
“No way, that’s just ridiculous,” Chen Junnan shouted over the phone. “A big shot like ‘Lord of the Earth,’ and he’s the one freaking out when *I’m* the one gambling my life? I’m not even losing it yet!”
“So… what do we do now?” Xu Qian asked. “Just wait for him to finish breaking down?”
“No way!” Chen Junnan shot back. “Make him take the phone again.”
“Again?” Xu Qian let out a bitter laugh. “You’re not trying to scare him to death, are you?”
“What’s there to be scared of? We’ve already brought up gambling our lives—how much worse can it get?”
Xu Qian nodded, stretched the phone cord, and took two steps forward.
“Uh… Ground Snake, he still wants to talk to you…”
The ground snake stiffened, staring blankly at the phone in Xu Qian’s hand.
“Wh-what does he want?!” the ground snake shrieked. “This kid’s trying to kill me! *She’s* coming! She’s going to be here any second!”
“Qian-jie, just ignore him. Shove the phone in his face,” Chen Junnan instructed.
Xu Qian had no choice but to slowly extend her hand, offering the phone. Finally, the ground snake snapped, snatching it away.
“What the hell do you want?!” the ground snake roared hoarsely into the phone. “Gambling your life?! Do you even have the guts?!”
“Hey, don’t get worked up,” Chen Junnan said with mock seriousness. “At your age, you should watch your health. There’s no surveillance here—if you drop dead, I’ll have no way to explain it.”
“You… you…” The ground snake was panting heavily, regret gnawing at him. He’d known Chen Junnan was trouble, yet he’d carelessly let him in.
Who could’ve guessed this cocky punk would dare challenge a *Tian-level* to a life-and-death gamble?
“Kid… why are you doing this?” the ground snake asked, voice trembling.
“Since you asked, rules say I should lay it all out for you,” Chen Junnan said, picking his nose. “Not long ago, a pretty lady came to play your game. She refused to do something disgusting with you, so you slapped her four times. Ring any bells?”
“What?!” The ground snake couldn’t believe his ears. “Are you insane?! I just slapped her—I didn’t do anything else! And you’re gambling your life over *that*?!”
“Listen to yourself, old man. Is that even human?” Chen Junnan’s tone turned sharp. “You got enhanced strength, and you use it to hit women? Tell me, didn’t the other Zodiacs beat the crap out of you when you were one of them?”
“Y-you… Even if I was wrong, you’re overreacting!” the ground snake bellowed. “Do you even realize that if I become a participant, there’ll be no ‘question master’? *She* will come!”
“That crazy woman?” Chen Junnan laughed. “Let her come. We’ll have a nice little chat.”
“L-Listen… I’ve got a compromise,” the ground snake stammered. “A way for both of us to survive all forty-eight questions. Nobody has to die, and afterward, I’ll even give you extra—”
“Oh?” Chen Junnan pretended to consider it. “Sounds tempting. But what about those four slaps?”
“I-I’ll hit myself back, okay?!”
“Huh? That works?”
“Y-yeah…” the ground snake agreed.
“Do it.”
At Chen Junnan’s command, the ground snake raised a hand and slapped himself hard across the face.
***SMACK!***
Xu Qian stared, dumbfounded.
“That one doesn’t count,” Chen Junnan said, still picking his nose, phone wedged between his ear and shoulder. “Not loud enough. Again.”
Gritting his teeth, the ground snake took a deep breath and slapped himself even harder.
***SMACK!***
This time, the sound was sharp enough to reach Chen Junnan’s ears.
“Now *that’s* more like it,” Chen Junnan nodded. “Old man, that’s one. Three more to go. Hit.”
***SMACK!***
The ground snake was genuinely afraid now. If he didn’t comply, this man might shatter his delusions of grandeur.
“Again.”
***SMACK!***
***SMACK!***
After four brutal slaps, the ground snake’s face was swollen.
The last time he’d been slapped like this… was by that damn white-furred Earth Goat.
“S-satisfied?” the ground snake hissed through clenched teeth. “Four slaps repaid. Now listen to me, and we’ll—”
“Nah, I don’t agree,” Chen Junnan cut in cheerfully.
“What?!”
“Your ‘let’s all live happily ever after’ proposal? I veto it,” Chen Junnan stretched lazily. “Let’s start gambling our lives.”
The moment the words left his mouth, a sinister wind howled through the arena.
“You bastard…” the ground snake cursed, eyes darting around in panic. His first instinct was to run—but after two steps, he stopped.
No. Running meant certain death. Staying might not guarantee defeat.
This was all that punk’s fault…
Slowly, he raised his gaze to the sky, where a bizarre figure had appeared.
A figure shrouded in long, unkempt hair, standing midair as if gravity didn’t exist.
The ground snake swallowed hard, his forked tongue flickering uncontrollably.
The figure lifted a pale hand, parting the curtain of hair to reveal a gaunt face and naked body. She glared down at the ground snake and hissed:
**“I am Xuanwu.”**
Hearing her dangerous voice, the ground snake could only force a breath and play dumb.
“Wh-what brings you here?”
“I sensed this arena has triggered a life gamble with no referee present. I have come to fulfill that role.”
So… there was no escaping it after all.
“B-but…”
The ground snake’s voice trembled. He’d spent too long drowning in debauchery, forgetting the dangers a Zodiac could face.
“Ground Snake, you will participate,” Xuanwu commanded coldly.
“C-can we wait a little longer?” The ground snake’s eyes darted, scrambling for an exit.
“No.”
Xuanwu descended, landing silently beside the central podium.
The ground snake knew there was no running now. His only hope was to outwit the game.
After a brief moment of thought, a grotesque smile twisted his swollen face.
Yes… it had been too long since he’d last changed the game. He’d nearly forgotten his own failsafe.
This reckless fool was still too green. He’d overlooked one crucial detail.
What was the ground snake now?
A *Tian-level* Zodiac.
Even if that massive sphere fell straight on him, it might not kill him outright—he’d tested it on himself when designing the game.
He might get hurt, but death wasn’t guaranteed.
A *Tian-level* was still a *Tian-level*. Their physical prowess far surpassed any ordinary participant.
And *that* was his ultimate trump card.
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