TDU Chapter 167: Trump Card
Chapter 167 Trump Card
‘I see now…’ Qi Xia nodded, silently acknowledging the brilliance of the game’s designer.
The {rope}, deceptively unassuming, appeared to be a weapon suited for cowards—yet it inflicted pain that far exceeded expectations. When two hesitant combatants wielded {ropes}, the likelihood of one succumbing to rage became dangerously high. And once that rage took hold, the prospect of escalating into lethal violence became inevitable.
Thus, in this deck of cards, the seemingly innocuous {rope} might very well be the spark that ignites total chaos.
The two men endured the searing pain, exchanging several vicious lashes before the ten seconds elapsed. When the time ran out, they cast their {ropes} aside in frustration and returned begrudgingly to their original positions.
However, this time, the aftermath was markedly different. Both bore visible signs of distress—Doctor Zhao clutched his lower abdomen, while Zi Chen gripped his arm tightly. Their pained expressions betrayed a newfound awareness of the {10-second action time}, as though the reality of the rule had finally sunk in.
Their eyes gleamed with a tense resolve, bodies taut and primed for the next confrontation.
“Sixth round, please draw a card.”
Qi Xia's gaze flicked toward Su Shan, who remained motionless, showing no inclination to draw a card. Without hesitation, he extended his hand and claimed the next card himself.
His collection was still solid—{shield}, {knife}, {stick}, {stone}, {stone}.
Regardless of what this new card held, Qi Xia felt confident he wouldn’t be at a disadvantage. He could easily adjust his strategy to accommodate it.
However, the moment his eyes fell on the card, his pupils constricted involuntarily.
A handgun was emblazoned on its surface, cold and ominous. Above it, the word {JOKER} was printed in bold English letters.
‘Is this... a trump card?’
Qi Xia steadied his breath, carefully sliding the card into his hand as his thoughts churned.
Terrestrial Chicken had mentioned the presence of two {vital cards} and one {fatal card} within the deck. But was this {JOKER} card a {vital card} or a {fatal card}?
‘Calm down. Think this through.’ Qi Xia exhaled slowly, brushing his fingertips across his forehead as he scrutinized the card once more. This development was far from anything he had anticipated.
A handgun required only a single moment to end a life. It stripped away hesitation and left no room for second chances. Whether its wielder was a coward or a killer, they needed no more than a fleeting second of intent to pull the trigger.
Regret, if it ever came, would arrive only after the trigger was pulled.
With this thought lingering, Qi Xia turned his gaze toward the glass room. It was compact—no more than a dozen paces separated Doctor Zhao and Zi Chen.
At such close quarters, the handgun carried an overwhelming advantage.
But then... should he play this {gun} in the next round? And what if the opponent countered with a {shield}?
Qi Xia had to concede that the sudden appearance of this {handgun} had caught him off guard. For the first time, his expression betrayed the slightest crack in composure.
If Su Shan noticed this slip and anticipated his move by playing a {shield}, the situation could quickly spiral out of control.
‘Wait a moment..’ Qi Xia’s thoughts raced as a realization struck him—the {shield} in this game was made of wood!
It couldn’t possibly block a {gun}!
This card was a sure-win!
As Qi Xia deliberated, Su Shan placed her card on the table. "I've made my move," she said, her tone steady.
Qi Xia looked up, his expression carefully neutral. He knew he had revealed a momentary lapse, and this round wasn’t the time to play the {gun}. Although the bullet could pierce wood, its force would likely be diminished. If he wanted a decisive and fatal strike against the opponent’s {combatant}, he needed absolute certainty.
For now, Qi Xia quietly placed a {stick} on the table.
"Please reveal your cards."
Su Shan laid down yet another {rope}.
As Qi Xia had anticipated, this was clearly her {rope phase}. He felt a twinge of regret for not playing the {handgun} outright, but after some reflection, he reassured himself that caution was justified—every move here carried life-or-death stakes.
Doctor Zhao, having learned from his earlier hesitation, didn’t waste a second. He snatched the stick before it even touched the ground and charged forward.
Before Zi Chen could so much as reach for the rope, Doctor Zhao struck, knocking him down with a swift blow.
Without pausing, he followed up with five or six ferocious swings of the stick, each one echoing through the glass room.
It could only be said that this was truly a case of ‘reaping what you sow.’ Had Zi Chen not pinned Doctor Zhao to the ground with a brick earlier, Doctor Zhao wouldn’t have harbored such fury.
"Zi Chen..." Su Shan stood up, her expression tense and anxious as her gaze remained fixed on the glass room. Panic flickered in her eyes. "Stop... Tell him to stop hitting!" She turned toward Qi Xia, her voice trembling. "Have him stop this instant!"
"He’ll stop when the time’s up," Qi Xia replied calmly.
Hearing this, Su Shan’s expression darkened. A trace of displeasure crossed her face, but she eventually sat back down. Her voice turned cold as she said, "Qi Xia, just admit defeat. I drew the {vital card}."
"Hm?" Qi Xia was momentarily taken aback, his eyes narrowing as he regarded her. "Do you expect me to believe you?"
"Whether you believe it or not, I drew the {vital card} during the second round," Su Shan replied coolly. "But I’ve been seeking the best possible outcome, so I held off playing it. I thought I could find a way to save everyone."
Qi Xia studied her, his eyes narrowing. Her expression was unreadable, and he couldn't discern the truth of her words. This woman hid her thoughts well.
Ten seconds had passed, and Terrestrial Chicken’s voice cut through the tense silence, instructing the two combatants to cease their actions.
Yet, Qi Xia and Su Shan remained motionless, their gazes fixed on each other.
"You claim to have drawn the {vital card}, so what does it look like?" Qi Xia inquired, his voice steady but his eyes sharp with suspicion.
Su Shan slowly extended her thumb and index finger, forming a handgun shape.
"It's a one-hit kill prop," she said calmly. "Nothing can stop it."
Qi Xia hesitated, the weight of her words settling heavily in his mind. His gaze shifted as he fell into deep thought.
That could still be a lie.
If it was false, the situation would be even more dire. The woman before him was too astute. She might have deduced the true nature of the {vital card} merely through her own speculation, an insight that made her a formidable opponent.
"So, if you admit defeat now, we don't have to fight to the death. You might even avoid dying," Su Shan offered.
Qi Xia looked at her, knowing full well that despite her intellect, she lacked the depth of experience. She didn’t understand that this cursed place operated under its own set of {rules}. Those {Participants} who enter {Terrestrial}-grade games, willingly putting their lives on the line, had already sealed their fate. To lose meant death, and to try to escape was no different.
"I won’t admit defeat," Qi Xia replied. "I entered this chicken's game to kill my opponent and claim victory."
"Are you all out of your mind?!" Su Shan's voice trembled, her composure unraveling. "If we keep killing each other in this game, how can anyone make it out in the end? Do you really think any of us will gather three thousand six hundred {Dào} by slaughtering our way through?!"
Qi Xia didn’t answer. He had come to this cursed place twice—no, to be precise, this was the third time. He had shed his illusions long ago. Confusion and hesitation had long abandoned him. Now, his only purpose was to survive, to adhere to the rules, to claw his way back to freedom—and find Yu Nian’An.
“Enough, Su Shan. Just keep going.” Qi Xia’s tone was flat as he silently drew another card.
Su Shan hesitated for a long time before finally reaching out to draw a card.
The air between them grew tense as they each glanced at their cards.
Both frowned simultaneously.
Su Shan really drew a {gun}.
And Qi Xia.. had drawn a {fatal card}.
