TDU Chapter 287
Chapter 287 My Trial
The three of us lowered our heads, and no one spoke.
None of us could accept that this day had truly come.
Seeing that we remained silent with our heads down, White Goat gege smiled, stood up, and said, "To be honest, I would prefer not to go, but I’ve stayed here for far too long... it’s time to step out and explore."
"Goat ge..." Mister Tiger said softly, "Li—Like I said before... if you need to go, just go... you don’t have to worry about us... after all, we’re just burdens..."
His words felt like an ink-filled pen, deepening the sense of loss in our hearts.
"None of you are a burden. On this {train}, you are my family," White Goat gege said. "I’m about to depart, and before I leave, I don’t wish to hear any words of sorrow."
"Goat ge..." Mister Tiger’s voice choked up. "They say once you become a {Celestial}, you can come and go freely... but we don’t know your appearance nor name... How am I supposed to find you? How am I supposed to know whether you’ve left or returned... I—"
"Tiger, I promise you," White Goat gege declared. "Once I become a {Celestial}, I will return. And when I do, I will mark the way with goat horns, guiding you forward."
"Really...?" Mister Tiger asked.
"Really," White Goat gege nodded. "If by then, you are already {Terrestrial-grade}, I will personally visit your game and assess your progress."
"Okay!" Mister Tiger suddenly stood up, "Goat ge! It's a promise... If I become {Terrestrial-grade}, as long as I have no news from you, I will refrain from taking any lives."
"Ha!" White Goat gege gave a bitter smile, "Tiger, are you punishing me or punishing yourself?"
"I don't care!" Mister Tiger waved his hand, "A promise is a promise! I will wait for your news, no matter how long it takes!"
"Alright," White Goat gege nodded.
Having spoken, White Goat gege turned his head to face Mister Snake. After a brief pause, he retrieved a thick notebook from his pocket and handed it to Mister Snake.
"Goat ge... What is this...?" Mister Snake asked.
"I haven’t exactly been equitable with you," White Goat gege acknowledged, "and that’s why I’ve prepared a way forward for you."
"What...?"
"I’ve crafted a hundred challenging questions," White Goat gege explained, "and should you ever be able to solve them, I will return and ensure you ascend to a {Terrestrial Snake}."
"A hundred challenging questions..." Mister Snake took the notebook and lowered his head. "Goat ge... these aren’t just empty words of comfort, right? With my intellect, how could I ever answer all the riddles you’ve written?"
"It will happen eventually." He smiled at Mister Snake, "This is our mutual vow, a promise we made together."
Mister Snake smiled bitterly. "Goat ge... You're about to leave, but you're still looking out for us... Are you worried that we might lose our motivation to push ahead?"
White Goat gege didn’t answer, instead, he shook his head and said, "I still need both of you to promise me one last thing."
"What is it...?"
"Look after Mouse for me," White Goat gege instructed, gesturing toward me. "Remember my words—only we have the authority to correct her, and no one else is allowed."
The moment I heard those words, I could no longer hold back.
Tears streamed down my face inside the mask, making it unbearably uncomfortable.
White Goat gege was really going to leave. The one who had offered me food, shelter, and dignity, despite my failure to earn {Dào}, was leaving.
I'll never see him again.
On this train, there would be no other {Earthly Branches} who cared for me like he did.
"White Goat gege..." I stood up, crying so hard I could barely breathe. "White Goat gege please... can you tell me your name... can you tell me what you look like?..."
Mister Tiger and Mister Black Goat had stopped speaking to me. Now, White Goat gege too was going.
He slowly walked over, gently ruffling my hair before pulling me into his embrace.
“There’s no need to cry, Mouse...” He said softly, "You don’t need to know what I look like or what my name is. Because when I see you again, I'll recognize you right away. And by then... you’ll notice that even my goat-like voice has changed.”
"But I don’t want you to go..." I clung tightly to White Goat gege’s clothes, feeling that if I let go now, I would lose everything.
"It's time for you to grow up," White Goat gege said gently, "If I’m no longer here... will you be able to gather {Dào} by yourself?"
"I... I will be able to..." I kept sobbing, feeling a tightness in my chest that made it hard to breathe.
"Then stop crying. Let me give you something special," While White Goat gege spoke, he retrieved two {Dào} from his chest pocket—both dimmed and discolored after what must have been years of wear. "Mouse, these two {Dào} are my lucky charms, given to me by my two best xiōngdìs. They’ve been with me all this time; I want you to carry them now."
"Lucky charms...?" I carefully reached out to accept the two {Dào}, as though they were the entirety of my world.
"Next time we meet, give me back ten {Dào}, as interest." White Goat gege smiled. “We’ll have plenty of time to talk then. Can you promise me that?"
"I can!" I nodded with all my might.
That night, we watched White Goat gege cross the entire length of the train. Even Mister Black Goat, who I had not seen in a long time, came out to witness the ceremony out of respect.
All the {Earthly Branches} respectfully stepped out of their door, standing on both sides of the corridor to welcome the birth of a {Celestial-grade}.
Their eyes were filled with complex emotions while I was the only one still crying.
We watched with our own eyes as White Goat gege faded from sight, engulfed by golden light, completely leaving the {train}.
Mister Tiger held me and softly said, “Little Mouse... I will ascend up to {Terrestrial-grade} as soon as possible...When that happens, I’ll bring you snacks every day... Just give me a couple more days...”
I buried my head in Mister Tiger’s stomach, crying even harder. The three of us were left without a mentor, and I was left without White Goat gege.
After that, Mister Tiger, Mister Snake, and I were sent to different rooms, assigned with new mentors.
Looking at that large number of unfamiliar gege and jiejie, I felt very nervous.
I was someone who couldn't earn {Dào}, so I naturally wasn’t liked by my new mentor.
Only White Goat gege wouldn't despise me.
I miss White Goat gege every moment. The two remaining {Dào} in my hands were my entire source of hope, and I often stare at them in a daze.
It’s been over ten days since White Goat gege left...
He should have already returned to the real world by now. That’s great... I—I’m happy for him.
Although I say I’m happy... I can’t help but feel like crying.
White Goat gege... What do you really look like? What’s your name?
When we meet again, will you let me hear your real voice?
By then, Mister Tiger and Mister Snake will have become {Terrestrial-grades}, right? I wonder if we’ll still be able to eat at the same table. When that time comes... will Mister Tiger still give me chicken legs?
I was lost in thought when I saw two men and two women walking toward me.
Ah! Participants!
It's the first batch of participants after I perfected the rules!
I have guests now!
White Goat gege! Wait for me! I’ll definitely earn ten {Dào}, I won’t embarrass you anymore! When we meet next time, I’ll definitely surprise you!
My name is Shu Hua—no—Mortal Mouse.
I am White Goat gege’s favorite disciple, and now, I shall begin my {trial}!
TL Note: Here comes Qi Xia, Lin Qin, Qiao Jiajin, and Tian Tian :’)
