TDU Chapter 290
Chapter 290 Cats’ Remuneration
The bare-bottomed child excitedly looked around the room, then grinned and drooled. "Hehe... this is going to be fun..."
"Celestial Horse, tell me, did I hear that correctly?" Qian Five took a slow step forward. "You must be aware that once I go wild, one of you will draw your last breath here."
The members of the Cats fixed their cold gazes upon the two before them, ready to strike at any given moment.
"Oh Xiao Qian, I meant it in jest," Celestial Horse laughed. "I know your capabilities. How could I be so rash?"
"As long as you know, Celestial Horse," Qian Five replied, waving his hand. The people in the corridor slowly returned to their cells.
"But, you know, I’m getting old, and I tend to forget things..." Celestial Horse chuckled. "Tell me, what exactly do you {Cats} want as payment?"
"Hard assets, nothing less," Qian Five replied. "Provide that to our families in the real world, and we’ll lay down our lives without hesitation."
"Is that to…" Celestial Horse narrowed her eyes, the wrinkles on her face deepening as they creased in unison. "So, in essence, you {Cats} are contingent upon participants returning to the physical world to deliver your compensation?"
"That’s right." Qian Five nodded. "The members of the Cat have spread across four decades, allowing us to receive remittances from people of each era. Our own time may be suspended, but our families’ is not. With those funds, they’re sure to live better lives."
He gave Celestial Horse and Celestial Tiger another appraising glance, then asked with a tone of disdain, "But you {Earthly Branches} can’t even leave here. How exactly do you intend to do business with us?"
"So that’s the case…" Celestial Horse mused. "Is this not blatant unfairness toward us {Earthly Branches}?"
"Which means we can’t entertain you today. Apologies." Qian Five turned to the two men standing a little further away and spoke, "Six, Seven, see them out."
A man and a woman nodded from a distance and walked over slowly.
"Apologies, you two." Song Seven extended his hand, politely gesturing towards the exit. "Five ge has made his decision. Please."
"This way," The other woman also motioned with her hand.
Celestial Horse let out a soft sigh. "Xiao Qian, I truly am left with no choice. Should you decide not to help... we may soon be left with no alternative but to bring bloodshed to this place."
"What...?" Qian Five’s expression hardened. "Celestial Horse, perhaps my ears are playing tricks on me, but we {Cats} are not to be trifled with. Are you seriously considering taking action here?"
Celestial Horse smiled faintly, then, with a swift motion, pierced through the chest of Liu Twenty-one, who stood beside her.
The sound of blood splattering filled the air, and crimson droplets landed on the faces of those nearby.
Liu Twenty-one coughed up blood, his eyes flickering as his hands swung in unison. In an instant, wooden stakes sprouted around Celestial Horse and Celestial Tiger’s feet, locking them in place like a cage.
After sealing their movements, Liu Twenty-one slowly closed his eyes.
Celestial Horse withdrew her hand, pushing Liu Twenty-one to the ground. She looked up, observing that the expressions of Qian Five, Song Seven, Luo Eleven, and the others remained unchanged, as if losing one of their team meant nothing to them.
Qian Five wiped the blood splattered on his face, his expression slowly darkening. "Celestial Horse… your courage is commendable… As a {Celestial}, how could you so carelessly slaughter participants?"
Celestial Horse and Celestial Tiger exchanged a glance, and in an instant, they swung their hands, severing all the wooden stakes surrounding them.
"Yes, I killed him. What of it?"
Qian Five snorted coldly, and a loud bell rang from a distance. He then stretched out his hand, reaching for Celestial Horse’s arm with a swift motion.
Celestial Horse immediately sensed the danger. After taking a step back, she pushed Celestial Tiger forward, placing him squarely in Qian Five's reach.
Celestial Tiger, utterly perplexed, could only stare vacantly at the dwarf before him, whose height was almost identical to his own.
With a resigned sigh, Celestial Horse remarked, "{Conjoined Identity Bloom} Qian Five... your impulsive nature hasn’t changed. What will we do if things go too far and lives are lost?"
"Ha ha!" Qian Five laughed loudly. "How hilarious! You killed my xiōngdì, and now you’re worried about people dying?"
"Xiao Qian... I truly have no choice in this matter," Celestial Horse said with a smile. "Celestial Dragon has granted all {Celestial-grades} full prerogative, permitting us to dispose of any participant as we please... If we cannot locate that individual, we are even authorized to initiate the {Celestial-grade} games. So, even if you wish to challenge us, it changes nothing... This transaction is one you cannot turn away from."
Upon hearing this, Qian Five’s tone finally softened. "You mean... all the current {Celestial-grade} have been mobilized...?" He furrowed his brow in disbelief. "What could have possibly happened to cause such a stir?"
"I’m not sure," Celestial Horse said with a smile, shaking her head. "What I know is that Celestial Dragon has instructed us to find a particular Reverberatee, and should we fail, the repercussions for all of us will be catastrophic."
Qian Five considered the matter carefully, weighing the potential consequences. It seemed that Celestial Horse was risking everything on this venture. However, given that today marked the first day of reincarnation, too few of the {Cats} had acquired their {Reverberation}. If a confrontation erupted, while they may succeed in taking a {Celestial’s} life, it would result in devastating losses for the {Cats}.
"Celestial Horse, enlighten me—what exactly is this {business} you speak of?"
"I’ve told you, find the person," Celestial Horse repeated. "Six days ago, someone triggered a powerful {Reverberation}, and we need to find that person... Unfortunately, this {Reverberatee} appeared during the night, eluding the gaze of all {Earthly Branches}. To hasten the completion of our task, we are left with no choice but to depend on the {participants}."
"Six days ago...?" Qian Five paused, glancing back at Song Seven. That night had been the day {Cats} was completely annihilated.
"That overwhelming {Reverberation}... I need you to take whatever measures are required to find that person," Celestial Horse said gravely. "Fail, and all {Celestial-grade} will face consequences. And you’ll be the ones to bear my fury."
"That's not how business is conducted," Qian Five said, his lips curling into a cold smile as he looked at Liu Twenty-One's corpse. "You killed my xiōngdì, yet demand my service. There’s a price to pay, and I intend to collect."
"Then what do you want...?" Celestial Horse furrowed her brow. "Money is something I cannot provide, but if you propose an alternative, I will endeavor to fulfill your request."
Qian Five released his grip on Celestial Tiger’s hand and smiled once more. "Celestial Horse, all I ask is a {favor}. If the time comes when I require your aid, you will provide it."
The wrinkles on Celestial Horse’s face slowly deepened as she massaged her waist thoughtfully. "Here, at {End Point}...owing you, Qian Five, a favor is hardly a small thing," she said with uncertainty, "The value of this condition is far too significant."
"Don’t worry, you know that we {Cats} neither want to leave nor stir up trouble," Qian Five laughed. "Do we have a deal?"
He extended his right hand in a gesture of goodwill, but Celestial Horse dared not touch it.
Celestial Horse's gaze flickered as she nodded, saying, "Alright, you help me find that {Reverberatee}, and I’ll agree to do a favor for you... But I reserve the right to refuse should the request prove too dangerous."
"Very well," Qian Five acknowledged with a nod, retracting his hand.
TL Note: No, I did not translate this line, ‘but you {Earthly Branches} can’t even leave here,’ incorrectly. Since Celestial Horse didn’t correct Qian Five, this sentence should hold some validity.
So what does this mean? Well, it means we aren’t completely sure if becoming a {Celestial} really grants them the rights to leave {End Point} at will. This matter will be clarified in the future, but not anytime soon.
