TDU Chapter 312
Chapter 312 Crumbling Snake
Terrestrial Snake continued to frantically clawing at his face, screaming in agony. Xu Qian watched in horror as he tore bloody scratches across his own skin.
“What’s that geezer doing?” Chen Junnan had no way of seeing what was happening, so he asked anxiously.
“He–He seems to be breaking down,” Xu Qian said, puzzled.
“No way…how ridiculous,” Chen Junnan shouted into the phone. “He’s a {Terrestrial} for god sakes, and he’s losing it just because I challenged him to a life-stake? Shouldn’t this young master be the one to break down.”
“So, what do we do now?” Xu Qian asked. “Just wait for him to completely lose it?”
“Don’t!” Chen Junnan replied. “Have him take the call again.”
“Again?” Xu Qian gave a bitter laugh. “You’re not seriously going to scare him to death, are you?”
“What’s there to fear? I already staked my life on the line, how much worse could it get?”
Xu Qian nodded and stretched the phone line, taking two steps forward. “Uh… Terrestrial Snake, he still wants to talk to you…”
Terrestrial Snake froze, staring blankly at the phone in Xu Qian’s hand.
“Wha–What now?!” he shouted. “That punk wants to kill me! She’s coming! She’s coming right now!”
“Qian jie, don’t mind him, just shove the phone in his face,” Chen Junnan ordered.
Xu Qian had no choice but to slowly extend her hand and offer the phone. Terrestrial Snake finally couldn’t take it anymore and snatched it away.
“What the hell do you want, punk?!” he bellowed into the receiver, his voice hoarse with rage. “You want to stake your life?! Who gave you the gall?!”
“Whoa, calm down,” Chen Junnan said with all seriousness. “You’re not young anymore; you’ve gotta watch your health. And look, there’s no surveillance here, so if you keel over, I’m not gonna be able to explain myself.”
“You–You…” Terrestrial Snake gasped heavily, chest heaving. Regret started to creep in; he’d known Chen Junnan was a troublemaker, yet still carelessly accepted his admission.
But who would’ve thought that this cocky-looking punk would actually dare to stake his life against a {Terrestrial-grade}?
“Punk why are you doing this…?” Terrestrial Snake asked, voice trembling.
“Well, since you’re asking, by the rules, this young master might as well give an explanation,” Chen Junnan said, casually scratching his nose. “Not long ago, a pretty da jie came to play your little game. She didn’t want to comply with your disgusting requests, you slapped her. Four times. Ring a bell?”
“What…?” Terrestrial Snake was in utter disbelief. “Are you out of your mind? I only slapped her four times, I didn’t even do anything else! And you staked your life over that?!”
“You old bastard, do you hear yourself?” Chen Junnan’s voice rang with righteous fury over the line. “You’ve been physically enhanced and this is what you use it for? Hitting women? Tell me, during your time as one of the {Earthly Branches}, have you ever been beaten by another one of your kind?”
“Y–You… even if I was in the wrong, you’re way too worked up!” Terrestrial Snake shouted. “Don’t you realize if I become a participant in this game, there’ll be no more {Question Master}! {She} will come!”
“You mean that crazy woman?” Chen Junnan chuckled. “Let her. I’d love a proper fight with her.”
“L–Let’s do this instead…” Terrestrial Snake stammered, “I’ve got a compromise, something that’ll get us through all forty-eight questions safely. Nobody has to die. And once it’s over, I’ll even throw in a little extra for you…”
“Oh yeah?” Chen Junnan paused. “Sounds tempting. But how are you planning to settle the four slaps you gave her?”
“I–I’ll slap myself! Is that good enough?!”
“Oh? That’s allowed?”
“Y–Yes… of course!” Terrestrial Snake replied.
“Do it.”
At Chen Junnan’s command, Terrestrial Snake raised his hand and smacked himself hard across the face.
{Slap}!
That first slap left Xu Qian completely stunned.
“That one doesn’t count,” Chen Junnan said casually, continuing to dig at his nose with the phone pinned between his head and shoulder. “Wasn’t loud enough. Do it again.”
Terrestrial Snake clenched his jaw, took a breath, and smacked himself hard once more.
{Slap}!
This time, the sound rang loud and clear through the receiver.
“Now that sounded about right,” Chen Junnan nodded. “Old geezer, that’s one down. Three more to go. Keep going.”
{Slap}!
Terrestrial Snake was truly beginning to fear him now. If he didn’t comply, this man just might crush his dream-like paradise.
“Again.”
{Slap}!
{Slap}!
By the time the fourth slap landed, Terrestrial Snake’s face was swollen.
The last time he’d been slapped this hard was by that damned White Terrestrial Goat.
“Th–There, satisfied?” Terrestrial Snake gritted out. “I’ve paid you back with four slaps. Now, listen to me, let’s just—”
“But I don’t agree,” Chen Junnan said with a lazy smile.
“…What?”
“That little ‘let’s survive this together’ proposal of yours—this young master here’s not interested,” Chen Junnan stretched lazily. “Let’s start the life-staking gamble.”
The moment his words fell, a sinister wind suddenly swept through the arena.
“You motherf*cker…” Terrestrial Snake cursed, glancing around in panic. His first instinct was to run, but after just two steps, he came to a halt.
No—he couldn’t run.
Running meant certain death. Staying, at least, held a sliver of hope.
This was all that damned troublemaker’s fault…
He slowly lifted his eyes upwards—where a strange figure had appeared, suspended midair.
The figure was completely shrouded in long, flowing hair, yet stood as if on solid ground, hovering in the air with eerie poise.
Terrestrial Snake swallowed hard, his forked tongue trembling uncontrollably.
That figure raised a hand and slowly parted the hair in front of her face. Beneath it emerged a pallid visage and a bare, ghostly body. She lowered her head and looked directly at Terrestrial Snake, her voice sharp and cold, “I bear the name of {Black Tortoise}.”
Hearing that dangerous voice, Terrestrial Snake could only take a deep breath and feign ignorance. “Wh–What matter brings you to this place?”
“A life-staking gamble brews, yet none sits as umpire. I have come to fill that seat.”
As expected, what must be faced, could never be avoided.
“Th-Then…” Terrestrial Snake’s voice was already trembling. He suddenly realized—after indulging in debauchery and vice for so long—he’d forgotten just how dangerous it was to be one of the {Earthly Branches}.
“Terrestrial Snake, come forth and take your place,” Black Tortoise said coldly.
“C–Could I… could I have a moment?” His eyes darted about as he desperately calculated a way to escape this deadly game.
“No.” Black Tortoise descended smoothly from the air, landing beside the podium in the center of the arena.
Terrestrial Snake knew then—there was no escape. All that remained was to scrape together every last shred of wit and cunning to survive.
After a few seconds of intense thought, a strained smile crept across his face.
Yes… it had been so long since he’d last changed the game, he nearly forgot the {safeguard} he’d built into it.
That reckless troublemaker was still too young; he had overlooked one matter.
What was he now?
A {Terrestrial-grade} Earthly Branch.
Even if that massive ball were to fall straight down on him, it might not kill him outright. After all, back when he designed this game, he’d tested it on his own body.
He might get injured but death wasn’t certain.
The label {Terrestrial-grade} wasn’t just for show. Their physical resilience was something no ordinary participant could ever hope to match.
That was his trump card. His ultimate edge.
TL Note: Rant goes here ( •̯́ ₃ •̯̀)
