TDU Chapter 175: Combat Team
Chapter 175 Combat Team
Even if Zhang Shan had not retained his memory, he had heard whispers that {Judgment's Domain} was a group of madmen. But this—this level of madness was beyond what he had imagined.
"Why must we settle this with a game?" Zhang Shan asked, his voice tinged with incredulity.
"Because there is a {referee}," Xiao Xiao replied, a smile curving her lips. "If I eliminate you in the game, the other members of {Passage to Heaven} will have no reason to retaliate, will they?"
The more Qi Xia listened, the more a sense of unease settled over him. "Wait—hold on a second..." He looked up, confusion etched across his face. "Are you... betting me as the stake in this wager?"
"That's right," Xiao Xiao affirmed with a nod.
"What do you take me for?" Qi Xia retorted, his voice laced with disdain. "Even if you win, what does it change? I have no interest in joining you—haven't you grasped that yet?"
"If you refuse, we'll hunt you down every time we cross paths," Xiao Xiao replied, her smile eerily calm. "Unless you choose to cower in {Passage to Heaven} and never show your face again, you'll be trapped here, rotting away, over and over."
Qi Xia was infuriated by this madwoman, his teeth itching with frustration, yet he had no idea how to stop them.
Yun Yao paused, her brow furrowing in thought before she asked, "And if we win? Will you promise never to harass Qi Xia again?"
Xiao Xiao considered the question briefly before replying, "If you win, I give you my word—I will not resort to force in kidnapping him again."
Zhang Shan's expression darkened at her words. "What the hell? Are you fucking playing word games with me?" He scowled, frustration boiling over. "You don’t need to use force—you have other ways, don't you?"
"This is the biggest concession I have ever made as {Adherent of Judgment's Domain}." Xiao Xiao said with a smile. "So, what will it be? Endless bloodshed? Or a single, decisive fight?"
Yun Yao took a moment to consider, her mind calculating the risks. She knew all too well what {Judgment's Domain} was capable of. If they refused, Qi Xia would likely never know peace again.
"What game are you proposing?" Yun Yao asked.
"I know there is a newly built {Terrestrial Tiger} game at the intersection ahead, three-on-three, and no one has set foot in it so far." Xiao Xiao said, "At dawn tomorrow, we’ll settle it there. What do you say?"
‘{Tiger}...?’ Qi Xia paused, his brow furrowing as he turned to Yun Yao, speaking in a low voice. "What kind of game is {Tiger}?"
"You could say it tests {physical strength}, though it’s less demanding than {Ox}. It’s also {combat}-based, but not as intense as {Chicken}. You might call it a test of {teamwork}, but it doesn’t require the same level of cooperation as {Dog}." Yun Yao answered.
Her examples, though detailing {Tiger}'s weaknesses, left Qi Xia with a strange sense of nuance in her words. "So, you're saying... {Tiger} is a game that blends physicality, combat, and teamwork?"
"Exactly."
Seeing the two whispering to each other, Xiao Xiao spoke up again. "I’ll make it clear now—Qi Xia himself is not allowed to participate because we don’t want to kill him just yet. If he participates, the match is void."
After hearing this, Yun Yao and others looked at each other and did not respond.
"So, will you agree or not?" Xiao Xiao pressed, her voice cold. "It's a simple answer."
There was little room for choice. Yun Yao grasped the gravity of the situation. Qi Xia’s strength was undeniable, and if they were to have any hope of escaping {End Point}, they would need to keep him aligned with {Passage to Heaven}.
But was it truly worth rushing into {Terrestrial Tiger} for this reason?
"Who will you send?" Yun Yao asked, "Are the three of you participating personally?"
"That’s not for you to concern yourself with," Xiao Xiao replied, her tone dismissive. "You can choose your strongest team, and we won’t interfere."
Upon hearing this, Yun Yao turned to Qi Xia, she whispered, "What do you think?"
"Do I even have a choice?" Qi Xia muttered, a twinge of disgust in his voice. The situation was beginning to feel unbearable—surrounded by a group of madmen, each with strange powers, all determined to ensnare him, to drag him into their madness and make him one of them.
But then, as he thought about it, a shift occurred in his mind...
Isn’t this, in some ways, a blessing in disguise?
{Passage to Heaven} and {Judgment's Domain} were about to clash openly, leaving him free from direct involvement. The outcome would be as clear as day—no ambiguity about who was stronger and who was weaker.
It was a rare opportunity to observe both sides' strategies up close, from the sidelines, without the risk of being entangled.
“Do you want to agree?” Qi Xia asked.
“Chu Tianqiu is not here, so the decision falls to me," Yun Yao said, "And we certainly want to keep you."
"Then just agree," Qi Xia replied, his tone nonchalant. "If you lose, the next time we meet, I’ll greet you with an {All hail Judgment’s Domain}."
"You suck," Yun Yao muttered, her lips curling in a helpless smile. She turned to Xiao Xiao and said, "Alright, we’ll see you at the {Terrestrial Tiger} at the intersection ahead, at sunrise tomorrow."
With that, the group dispersed, the air thick with unspoken tension.
Given the gravity of the situation, Yun Yao wasted no time and led everyone back to {Passage to Heaven} to discuss their next course of action.
After hearing the details from the group, Chu Tianqiu's expression darkened with a rare seriousness. Without hesitation, he called upon the available members of {Passage to Heaven} and convened an emergency meeting in one of the classrooms.
Many individuals were absent, out participating in the games, leaving only a dozen or so present.
"{Terrestrial Tiger}?" Ole Lu asked, "Has anyone here participated in a {Terrestrial Tiger} game before?"
The room fell silent. No one spoke.
"Zhang Shan has," Chu Tianqiu replied, his voice steady. "He’s quite suited for {Tiger} games."
"Really?" Zhang Shan asked, his brow furrowing in confusion. He had no recollection.
"Yes, and you’ll need to lead the team this time," Chu Tianqiu nodded, his expression serious. "We cannot afford to lose Qi Xia. Thank you for stepping up."
"It’s fine," Zhang Shan said, nodding in agreement. "But who should I pick as teammates?"
Chu Tianqiu scanned the room, his gaze lingering for a moment. When it landed on the faces of those present, it was clear that the second most suitable candidate was not among them. "Qi Xia has a teammate named Qiao Jiajin. Take him with you."
Qi Xia was momentarily taken aback by the suggestion. "Why Qiao Jiajin?"
"Why?" Chu Tianqiu shot Qi Xia a glance. "Because he’s a member of {Passage to Heaven} and is bound to follow my orders. Besides, his combat abilities are exceptional—he’s a perfect fit for {Tiger}."
Qi Xia opened his mouth to protest, but then fell silent, reconsidering.
Qiao Jiajin had been paired with Lin Qin today, and regardless of the circumstances, Lin Qin would undoubtedly find a way to make contact with him. This would significantly increase the chances of Qiao Jiajin triggering his {Reverberation}.
This {Terrestrial Tiger} game was, in fact, an excellent opportunity.
{White Tiger} had once said that escaping from this place hinged on Qiao Jiajin's ability.
But what about {safety}...?
Qi Xia’s gaze lifted, and it immediately fell upon Zhang Shan, towering like a giant in the room. A sense of clarity washed over him. Perhaps he had been overthinking things. If Qiao Jiajin and Zhang Shan couldn’t win this {battle} game together, then Xiao Xiao would truly be an unstoppable force.
Qiao Jiajin teaming up with Zhang Shan was even safer than teaming up with himself.
But what about the third candidate...? Qi Xia also found himself wondering what this team was still lacking.
Chu Tianqiu mulled it over for a moment, then muttered to himself, "It's a shame that Kim Wonhun is no longer here..." But even with Kim Wonhun present, the situation would have remained grim. His personality was too similar to Zhang Shan’s and Qiao Jiajin’s.
After a brief pause, Chu Tianqiu's eyes shifted to the tan, slender girl sitting quietly in the corner.
"Li Xiangling," he called her name.
"Present." The girl, like a gust of wind, sprang to her feet with a swift {whoosh}.
Chu Tianqiu gave a slight smile. "After considering it carefully, you're the most suitable. Two rough, burly men teaming up always has its flaws. You’ll complement their weaknesses."
Li Xiangling returned his smile with a sharp, confident grin, then, to everyone's surprise, performed a fist-and-palm (martial salute). "Understood!"
Qi Xia focused his gaze, noticing that both the palm and back of her hands were covered in thick calluses.
