Chapter 282: Born in Sin

“Brother Goat… what did you say?”

Brother Goat frowned and glared at me. “The game I designed for you was meant to either win two ‘Tao’ or leave you with nothing. Tell me, how did you earn just one ‘Tao’?”

“I… I…” I lowered my head and told him everything that had happened that day.

I said that my mind went blank the moment I saw people, completely forgetting the script I had prepared. But to keep the game going, I improvised a simple one—and somehow, I actually earned something.

“I’m disappointed in you.” Brother Goat stood up. “You don’t need to stay here anymore.”

“Huh…?” I was terrified.

It seemed like Brother Goat suddenly didn’t want me anymore.

“Brother Goat… that’s too much…” Uncle Tiger also stood up. “Even though she didn’t follow your plan, she still earned ‘Tao’… and she did better than me…”

“What I mean by ‘disappointed’…” Brother Goat said to Uncle Tiger, “is that she always tells the truth. She could’ve made up an excuse to lie to me, but she didn’t. That’s what disappoints me.”

“What?” I started to understand why Brother Goat was angry… Did he actually want me to lie to him? But why?

“Rat, you won’t survive here. Go find a place to die.” Brother Goat said. “Death would be a release for you now.”

“I… I…” A chill ran down my spine. I couldn’t understand why someone with such a gentle voice could say something so terrifying.

“Brother Goat… why?” Uncle Tiger asked. “Is this damned place only survivable by lying? Even if we’ve become monsters… can’t we at least try to protect a child?”

“Did you hear her game just now?” Brother Goat countered. “She set up such a weak game that she could’ve been killed by the participants at any moment. You know that once a ‘game’ is designed, it can’t be changed! Those two women today had some conscience, but what about the next time? Should we let her die after we’ve grown attached to her?”

“But… but we can’t just let her…” Uncle Tiger lowered his head slowly. They all seemed heartbroken.

Why were they so sad?

Was it really like what Dad used to say… that I was just a worthless burden?

As long as I was here… none of them would be happy.

Because I was born… Dad left, and a few years later, Mom died because of me too.

Only Grandma was willing to cook potatoes for me.

“I think Brother Goat is right…” Uncle Black Sheep finally spoke. “Keeping this child alive isn’t helping her. She’s barely ten—do you really want her to witness the worst of humanity?”

Even Uncle Snake, who was usually always joking around, had a serious look in his eyes tonight. He shook his head and said, “So letting her die is her salvation? Our hands are already stained with blood—are we really going to drag a child into this too?”

“What kind of thinking is that?” Uncle Black Sheep snapped. “We’re ‘Zodiacs’! Our only way out of here is by killing! Do you really think you’re some kind of saint?”

The argument grew heated. Though I didn’t fully understand their words, I knew it was all because of me.

“Uncles… please don’t fight…” I stood up and bowed to them again. “You’ve already given me two full meals. I’m really, really grateful.”

The uncles fell silent, staring at me. I couldn’t tell what they were thinking.

“Here… these are the ‘Tao’ Brother Goat gave me earlier.” I placed the four small beads on the table. “And today, I also earned a bag of peanuts…”

I took the crumpled packet from my pocket and set it down too.

“I didn’t eat them… please have them, Uncles…”

Seeing that none of them moved, I forced a smile and said, “Please don’t fight because of me… I’m just a worthless burden… I’m not worth it…”

Slowly, I backed toward the door, thanked them one last time, and stepped out.

It’s okay… really, it’s okay…

This wasn’t the first time I’d been abandoned.

Dad left me. The aunt and uncle who took me in later also left me. It’s really okay…

I won’t be sad. And I don’t want the uncles to be sad either.

They’re good people. How could they be sad over someone like me?

But crying behind a mask is so painful—my tears are sticking to my face.

I’ve done nothing but make mistakes my whole life.

Being a child is so hard. Sometimes, being obedient gets you praised. Other times, it gets you scolded.

If I could… I’d want to grow up by tomorrow.

Walking down the hallway, I remembered the year I turned four—when Mom, crying, begged me to kick the chair out from under her. She said she was too scared to do it herself.

I was scared too… But she kept crying and screaming, so in the end, I did as she asked.

That time, I listened to her… but Mom never woke up again after the rope tightened.

After that, no one but Grandma would come near me. They called me a worthless murderer who killed her own mother.

Maybe my existence is just trouble for others. I need to find a place to hide.

Even though I left the room… where should I go?

I miss the village dog, Huang. Maybe he and Grandma were the only ones in the world who ever really liked me.

But it’s fine if no one stays with me… I can just start working earlier.

I’ll live in the storage room from now on. If I’m hungry at night, I’ll go out and find something to eat. During the day, I’ll wait there for the ‘participants’…

“Ah!”

I bumped into something. Looking up, I saw two rabbit sisters.

“A rat…?” They glanced down at me. “Which family’s rat are you? Why are you wandering the halls so late?”

“I…” I thought for a moment. I didn’t belong to anyone anymore. The realization made me cry harder. “Sisters… no one wants me now…”

One of the rabbit sisters hurriedly covered my mouth. “Little one… think carefully. You must have a ‘teacher,’ right? Who is your teacher?”

I knew I’d already caused Brother Goat enough trouble. I couldn’t burden him anymore.

I shook my head and gently pulled her hand away. “Sisters… I really don’t have a teacher. I was just going to ‘work’…”

She still looked uneasy and tried to cover my mouth again, but the other sister spoke up. “It’s too late. She’s said it twice now. The teacher must’ve heard. Let’s take her.”

“Ah…” The first rabbit sister sighed, her eyes suddenly filled with sorrow. “Little rat, you’re so foolish… Our teacher has an arrangement with Earth Dragon… He specifically takes in unwanted girls…”

Their… teacher?

Would their teacher be as kind as Brother Goat?

“Then… will your teacher give me food…?” I whispered. “I don’t eat much—just one boiled potato a day is enough.”

“Food…” The two exchanged glances before sighing. “Little rat… if you can be obedient… you’ll get plenty to eat every day…”

“Obedient?”

I nodded with a smile. That shouldn’t be hard.

Grandma always said I was a good, obedient child. So maybe their teacher would like me too…?

The rabbit sisters led me to a door that smelled foul, unlike any other room I’d seen.

“Little rat… don’t hate us…” one whispered. “We have our own tasks…”

Before I could respond, they pushed me inside. The stench of rot hit me like a wall.