Chapter 287: My Trial

The three of us kept our heads down, none of us speaking.

It felt like none of us could really accept that this day had finally come.

Seeing our silence, Brother Goat stood up with a smile and said, “Honestly, I don’t really want to leave either, but I’ve been here for too long… It’s time for me to go out and see the world.”

“Brother Goat…” Uncle Tiger murmured, his voice low, “I… I told you before… You should go when you need to… Don’t worry about us… We’re just dead weight anyway…”

His words were like a brush dipped in ink, deepening the gloom in our hearts.

“You’re not dead weight. On this ‘train’… you’re my family,” Brother Goat said firmly. “I’ll be leaving soon, and before I do, I don’t want to hear any sad words.”

“Brother Goat…” Uncle Tiger’s voice cracked slightly, “They say once you become a ‘Heaven,’ you can come and go as you please… But we don’t even know what you look like, or your real name… How am I supposed to find you? How will I know if you’ve left or come back?! I—”

“Tiger, I promise you,” Brother Goat interrupted gently. “Once I become a ‘Heaven,’ I’ll come back to see you. When I return… I’ll leave you a mark. I’ll draw goat horns everywhere I go, guiding your way.”

“Really…?” Uncle Tiger asked hoarsely.

“Really,” Brother Goat nodded. “And if, by then, you’ve become an ‘Earth,’ I’ll personally visit your game and see how much you’ve improved.”

“Deal!” Uncle Tiger suddenly stood up, his voice fierce. “Brother Goat! We have an agreement… If I reach ‘Earth,’ I won’t kill a single person until I hear from you again!”

“Hah!” Brother Goat let out a bitter laugh. “Tiger, are you punishing me or yourself with that?”

“I don’t care!” Uncle Tiger waved a hand dismissively. “We’ve agreed! I’ll wait for your message, no matter how long it takes!”

“Fine.” Brother Goat nodded.

After a pause, he turned to Uncle Snake.

Silently, he pulled a thick notebook from his robe and handed it over.

“Brother Goat… What’s this…?” Uncle Snake asked hesitantly.

“I owe you,” Brother Goat said softly. “So I’ve paved a path for you too.”

“What…?”

“I’ve written down a hundred difficult problems,” Brother Goat explained. “If you can solve every single one someday, I’ll return and find a way to make you an ‘Earth Snake.'”

“A hundred problems…” Uncle Snake took the notebook, lowering his head. “Brother Goat… Are you just trying to comfort me? With my brain… how could I ever solve all your riddles?”

“You will, one day,” Brother Goat smiled at him. “This is our promise. We’ve agreed on it too.”

Uncle Snake let out a weak chuckle. “Brother Goat… Even when you’re leaving, you’re still thinking about us… Are you afraid we’ll lose our way without you?”

Brother Goat didn’t answer. Instead, he shook his head and said, “There’s one more thing I need both of you to promise me.”

“What is it…?”

“Take care of Mouse for me,” Brother Goat said, gesturing toward me. “Remember what I always say—no one but us has the right to discipline her. No one else.”

Hearing that, I couldn’t hold back anymore.

Tears streamed down my face inside my mask, making it hard to breathe.

Brother Goat was leaving.

The one who gave me food, shelter, never looked down on me for failing to earn “Dao,” and always stood up for me—he was leaving.

I would never see him again.

On this train, no other Zodiac would ever care for me the way he did.

“Brother Goat…” I stood up, sobbing uncontrollably. “Brother Goat… Can’t you tell me your name? Can’t you tell me what you look like…?”

Uncle Tiger and Uncle Snake had already stopped paying attention to me, and now Brother Goat was leaving too.

He walked over slowly, gently patting my head before pulling me into a hug.

“It’s alright, Mouse… Don’t cry,” he whispered. “You don’t need to know my face or my name, because when I see you again, I’ll recognize you instantly. And you’ll realize… my voice won’t sound like a goat’s anymore.”

“But I don’t want you to go…!” I clutched his robe desperately, as if letting go would mean losing everything.

“It’s time for you to grow up,” Brother Goat said softly. “Without me… Can you earn ‘Dao’ on your own?”

“I… I can…” I hiccupped through my tears, my chest aching.

“Then stop crying. I have something for you.” Brother Goat reached into his robe and pulled out two pieces of “Dao.” They looked old, their color darkened with age. “Mouse, these two ‘Dao’ are my lucky charms. My two closest brothers gave them to me long ago, and I’ve carried them ever since. Now, I’m giving them to you.”

“Lucky charms…?” I carefully took them in my hands, as if holding my entire world.

“When we meet again, pay me back tenfold,” Brother Goat chuckled. “Then we’ll have a proper talk. Promise?”

“I promise!” I nodded vigorously.

That night, we watched Brother Goat walk the length of the train. Even Uncle Black Sheep, whom we hadn’t seen in ages, came out to pay his respects.

All the Zodiacs stepped out of their rooms, lining the corridor in solemn silence, witnessing the birth of a new “Heaven.”

Their expressions were complex, but I was the only one still crying.

We saw Brother Goat vanish in a flash of golden light—gone from the “train” forever.

Uncle Tiger wrapped an arm around me and murmured, “Little Mouse… I’ll reach ‘Earth’ as fast as I can… I’ll bring you snacks every day… Just wait a little longer…”

I buried my face in his stomach and sobbed harder than ever.

The three of us had lost our teacher, and I had lost my Brother Goat.

After that, Uncle Tiger, Uncle Snake, and I were sent to different new teachers.

Facing a room full of unfamiliar faces, my heart pounded with unease. I could never earn “Dao,” so naturally, none of them liked me.

In a place like this, Brother Goat was the only one who never looked down on me.

I missed him constantly. The two pieces of “Dao” in my hand were my only comfort, and I often found myself staring at them, lost in thought.

It had been over ten days since Brother Goat left…

He must be back in the real world by now. That’s good… I’m… I’m happy for him.

Even as I told myself that, tears welled up again.

Brother Goat… What do you really look like? What’s your real name?

When we meet again… Will you let me hear your true voice?

By then, will Uncle Tiger and Uncle Snake have become “Earths”? Will we still be able to eat together at the same table? Will Uncle Tiger still give me chicken legs?

Lost in thought, I suddenly noticed two men and two women approaching in the distance.

Ah! Participants!

The first group after I refined the rules!

I have guests!

Brother Goat! Just you wait!

I’ll earn those ten “Dao”! I won’t embarrass you again! Next time we meet, I’ll shock you with how much I’ve grown!

I’m Shu Hua—no, I’m Human Rat.

I’m Brother Goat’s favorite student, and now… my “test” begins!