TDU Chapter 168: Deliberating Tactics
Chapter 168 Deliberating Tactics
Was this a stroke of fortune or a twist of fate?
Qi Xia had drawn a {vital card} and a {fatal card} in back-to-back rounds.
The image on the {fatal card} was an alarm clock, with the words {Fatal Card} prominently displayed above it.
Beneath the clock, in faint, minuscule print, was a set of instructions:
"When this card is played, two cards from the hand must be discarded. Both parties are then forced to rest for five minutes. During this time, the {Strategist} may meet with the {Combatant}."
‘What?’ Qi Xia furrowed his brows, scanning the message again. Though he grasped the literal meaning, the intent behind this {fatal card} eluded him.
Discarding two cards just to activate it?
In essence, playing this card would permanently cap his hand at three cards for the remainder of the game. Who in their right mind would willingly cripple themselves like that, especially in such a perilous situation?
And worse, activating this card enforced a mandatory {rest} for both sides—allowing the opponent to freely strategize with their {combatant} without incurring any cost.
This wasn’t just a setback; it was practically an invitation for disaster. If anything, it was now clear why this card bore the name {fatal}.
Qi Xia lifted his gaze toward Su Shan.
Her faintly furrowed brows did not escape his notice.
There was only one {fatal card}—so why had her expression shifted?
The answer was clear. She had genuinely drawn a {vital card}.
She must have realized that the {vital card} was indeed a handgun and was now hesitating, weighing her options. The next match was poised to pit a {vital card} against another {vital card}.
If Qi Xia's deduction was correct, the game might conclude within three rounds.
‘This is far from favorable...’
Qi Xia’s gaze returned to his {vital card}. If both sides played their {vital cards} simultaneously, what were the odds of Doctor Zhao making it out alive?
‘Hold on… a handgun?’
A sudden thought anchored itself in Qi Xia’s mind.
Moments later, he lifted his head, as though a door in his thoughts had swung open—the key to winning this game… wasn’t tied to the {vital card} at all!
Su Shan placed her card down and said calmly, "Let's go, I've chosen."
Qi Xia paused, his face darkening as he weighed his options. After a long moment of contemplation, he made a decisive move, placing three cards on the table simultaneously—{Fatal card} and two {stones}.
To win, the {fatal card} must be played!
The {fatal card} is the key to victory in this game!
The {Strategist} must reveal the existence of the {vital card} to the {Combatant}!
"Three cards?" Su Shan was momentarily taken aback upon seeing Qi Xia’s move. The rules hadn’t mentioned that three cards could be played at once.
Terrestrial Chicken nodded and declared, "Please reveal your cards."
The two of them turned their cards over simultaneously. Su Shan had played a {stick}, while Qi Xia revealed a {fatal card}.
"Forced to rest?" Su Shan took Qi Xia's {fatal card} and stared at it with a hint of confusion. She read the text several times, her expression filled with doubt.
"Since the {fatal card} has been played, the game will now enter intermission," Terrestrial Chicken declared with a wave of his hand, opening the door to the glass room.
Qi Xia immediately stood up, entered the glass room, and quickly pulled Doctor Zhao into a corner.
"What's going on... Qi Xia..." Doctor Zhao muttered, his unease palpable. "Why is there an intermission?"
"Doctor Zhao, if you have any more tricks up your sleeves... best to lay them out immediately." Qi Xia looked around and said lightly, "If you don't act now, you won't have another chance."
"I..." Doctor Zhao hesitated, gritting his teeth awkwardly. "Qi Xia, I won't hide it from you. I do have a method, but I can't use it now."
"What do you need?"
"I need..." Doctor Zhao lowered his head slowly, his voice dropping. "I need a woman."
"F*ck, I really shouldn't have asked you..." Qi Xia muttered under his breath, frustration evident in his tone. "Forget it. To keep it simple, I have a few things to tell you. This is our only chance to communicate."
"What else do you need to say?" Doctor Zhao asked, confusion mixing with a hint of urgency. "You drew a {knife}, right? Give it to me, I’ll kill him."
"You wouldn't be able to kill him," Qi Xia said, his tone unwavering. "Unless you strike a major vessel, an ordinary knife wound won't claim his life immediately."
"A major vessel...?" Doctor Zhao echoed, his gaze sharpening with understanding. As a doctor, he grasped the implication all too well.
A mere knife cut wouldn't end the fight; death would only come once the pulse of one of the {combatants} ceased. This was the true essence of {death}. When facing a towering man determined to survive and defending with all his might, claiming his life was far from a simple feat.
"So, what’s your plan?" Doctor Zhao inquired.
"The next three rounds are critical," Qi Xia replied, his expression resolute. "Doctor Zhao, I currently possess a {handgun}, a {knife}, and a {shield} in my hands..."
...
"Zi Chen, how are you?" Su Shan asked, her expression tinged with concern as he studied the man before her.
"I'm fine..." Zi Chen offered a wry smile. "Su Shan, thanks to you, I always have {weapons} stronger than my opponent's. For now, I’m alright."
Su Shan's gaze sharpened as she noticed the unsettling sight—there was a visible crack in the white of Zi Chen’s left eye.
"Zi Chen, you don’t look well..."
"It's nothing," Zi Chen murmured, blinking as though trying to dislodge something from his eyes. "Su Shan, do you have any more powerful items?"
"Mhm..." Su Shan nodded, "My luck’s been good. Right now, I’ve got a {handgun}, a {knife}, a {stone}, and two {ropes} in my hands."
"A handgun...?" Zi Chen paused, his curiosity piqued. "Then do you... have a strategy?"
"I..." Su Shan thought for a moment before responding, "My opponent is very clever. I’m not sure if I can beat him."
"It’s alright, Su Shan, I believe in you," Zi Chen said, nodding. "Just follow your instincts. I have no complaints, even if you lose."
"But if we lose, we die," Su Shan replied, her expression dark with disappointment.
"If you hadn't gotten me out of that room, I would have been dead long ago," Zi Chen countered. "No matter what tactics the opponent uses, just give me a {knife}. Even if he has a {handgun}, I can still guarantee I’ll kill him."
Su Shan’s gaze flickered briefly, then she nodded. "Okay."
…
Five minutes slipped by in an instant. Right up until the final moment, Qi Xia was still explaining something to Doctor Zhao.
Doctor Zhao, however, wore a completely bewildered expression, as if his mind had short-circuited.
"Do you even hear yourself..." Doctor Zhao muttered, cutting Qi Xia off. "Are you seriously in your right mind?"
"Trust me." Qi Xia gave Doctor Zhao’s shoulder a reassuring pat. "This is our only way forward."
The four participants returned to their original positions, each wearing an expression that betrayed subtle shifts in emotion.
As Terrestrial Chicken announced the game to {continue}, a stick dropped from above Zi Chen’s head, while nothing appeared in front of Doctor Zhao.
These were the cards both sides had played before the intermission.
Upon seeing this, Doctor Zhao abruptly took several steps back before breaking into a frantic run.
Zi Chen hadn’t anticipated that the man, so aggressive just moments ago, would now flee with his tail between his legs. Left with no choice, Zi Chen chased him down, stick in hand.
But ten seconds was far too short. Though Zi Chen managed to catch up with Doctor Zhao, the latter dodged the stick twice in quick succession, escaping unscathed.
"You actually ran away..." Zi Chen glared at Doctor Zhao, seething with anger, before hurling the stick at the opening behind him.
"What?" Doctor Zhao shot back between ragged breaths. "If it were you... wouldn’t you run too?"
"I’ll kill you in the next round," Zi Chen declared coldly.
"It’s not certain who’ll be the one to die," Doctor Zhao retorted, meeting his gaze with defiance.
Terrestrial Chicken raised its hand once more and announced, "Round seven—please draw a card."
