TDU Chapter 324
TL Note: Happy holidays, everyone! As a small humble thank-you, until Feb 18, 2026, all new TDU subs over $10 are 26% OFF when using coupon code HOLIDAY2026 (discount applies to the first payment only). Wishing everyone a joyful season and a wonderful New Year! ❄️💖✨
Edited by Molly Z and SpeedDemon
Chapter 324 Massacre
During the next round, Yun Yao received a call from the taciturn male. Both lifted their receivers but remained silent; after a few seconds, they simultaneously hung up.
The remaining players on the field were no fools; there was no longer any need for pleasantries. One dialed, another received; as long as they abide by the rules, none would risk slipping with needless words.
Now that the iron ball was beside Yun Yao, she decisively pressed {True} on the screen, then picked up the phone to dial the adjacent room.
Though she already suspected the outcome, Yun Yao still wanted to confirm for herself.
Was Chen Junnan really dead…?
The phone rang, and for the first time, Yun Yao found herself waiting unusually long after dialing.
Ten rings sounded, no answer.
Twenty rings sounded, still no answer.
At the twenty-first ring, a young woman finally answered the call. She sounded terrified.
"Hello…?" the young woman said hesitantly.
Yun Yao paused for a moment before replying, "Hello."
She realized this young woman was likely the longtime {subsequent player} of Chen Junnan, though Chen Junnan had never mentioned her. What kind of person was she?
Xu Qian hesitated, then asked, "Is he… dead?"
A flicker of sorrow crossed Yun Yao’s face as she responded, "Most likely. The iron ball landed in the room to my left."
Xu Qian struggled to comprehend.
Could such a man really exist in this world?
Every one of his moves, every expression, had been arrogant yet confident, only to end so abruptly and inexplicably.
"How–How utterly ridiculous!" Xu Qian broke down in frustration. "He left behind this mess, left Terrestrial Snake… to die just like that…?"
Yun Yao’s expression dimmed slightly. She did not truly understand what kind of man Chen Junnan was, only that he was impulsive and reckless, never weighing the consequences of his actions. Even he probably hadn’t anticipated this… tragic outcome.
Could the umpire really be colluding with Terrestrial Snake to cheat? Was there, all along, a second iron ball hanging from the chain above—one at this end, and another at the opposite side?
If that were true, no one could have predicted it in advance and Terrestrial Snake’s cunning was beyond imagination.
Though sadness lingered in Yun Yao’s heart, she refused to dwell on Chen Junnan’s death any longer. The priority now was to win the game.
"Jiěmèi [1], your situation is precarious," Yun Yao remarked. "You and Chen Junnan occupy adjacent odd-numbered rooms. Next round, the iron ball could very well fall upon your head."
Xu Qian paused, then murmured, "So… his name was Chen Junnan?"
Yun Yao let out a deep sigh. "Jiěmèi, now is hardly the time to dwell on that. You need to find a way to survive."
"Ah, right…" Xu Qian nodded, "Yes, I have to stay alive."
"Precisely…" Yun Yao said with a hint of resignation, "For the coming two rounds, I will be remaining silent, so feel free to hang up when you get my call.
"Huh? Why?"
"We’re not friends. I can not trust you."
"Okay… I understand."
After she put down the phone, Yun Yao remained seated, idly toying with the lipstick. Though the iron ball striking Chen Junnan's head was undeniably tragic, it was not entirely without its silver lining; the iron ball was now closer to Terrestrial Snake.
Originally, there was still half a rotation to go before it would return here, but now, the iron ball was already right beside Terrestrial Snake. If the next few rounds were controlled well, there was still a chance to strike him again.
…
The thirtieth round arrived, with only six survivors left on the field.
The iron ball for this round, unsurprisingly, hovered right over Xu Qian.
Although Yun Yao didn’t know this young woman very well, from their brief conversation, she sensed Xu Qian had a decent character and was generally trustworthy. So she selected {False}, if only as a gesture.
Whether it would help or not, this was her last act of kindness.
"The verdict for this round—{True}."
No one showed mercy.
For those remaining, Xu Qian had no reason to survive.
{Boom—!!}
The thunderous sound echoed once again, leaving Yun Yao stunned anew.
This time, the noise didn’t come from the left side where Xu Qian was, but rather from her right.
Yet, this sound was noticeably less intense than the previous round’s, seemingly coming not from the adjacent room but one further over.
"Wait… one room over?"
Yun Yao knew the anxious female on her right was already dead. Beyond her was the man Chen Junnan had warned her to watch out for the taciturn male.
How could this be?
Had the taciturn man died…?
Everyone on the field now seemed caught in confusion. Since the iron ball fell in Chen Junnan’s room during the twenty-seventh round, the killings had become seemingly random, utterly lacking any pattern or reason.
Yun Yao’s eyes widened slowly, Chen Junnan’s words reverberating in her mind: "Superstar, do you believe that from this moment on, I can disregard all rules and make the iron ball land wherever I please?"
Chen Junnan...?
Yun Yao’s heart, like a dying ember, flickered again with sparks of hope.
"Are you still alive...?" She stood up and stared toward the wall on her right, yet her mind was filled with countless questions.
How had Chen Junnan managed this? Why could he control the iron ball at will?
Had he uncovered some hidden rule?
But he clearly wasn’t that clever, so how was he able to transcend the rules?
Before she could fully process this, more questions flooded in. Yun Yao’s phone suddenly rang. It was Zhong Zhen calling, which meant everyone connected to him was dead.
"You must…" Zhong Zhen’s voice was already mid-sentence when she answered.
"Zhong Zhen…?" Yun Yao paused in surprise. "You’re still alive?"
He hesitated, then said, "I’ve said it many times already, no matter who you are or whether you can hear me… According to my calculations, the iron ball is now above the woman to my right. She’s a massive threat. You must take her out, she’s too dangerous!"
An odd feeling stirred within Yun Yao. "What… what are you talking about? Zhong Zhen, haven’t you realise the iron ball’s trajectory has already—"
"You must!!" Zhong Zhen shouted fiercely. "She has a way to somehow control others’ actions. If she survives, everyone who gets her call is as good as dead!!"
"Zh–Zhong Zhen…" Yun Yao's voice wavered with unease. "Can you hear me? The iron ball is no longer moving from {-2}, are you—"
"It’s all entrusted to you! You must kill her!!"
"You—"
"I’ve said it many times already, no matter who you are or whether you can hear me…"
"Can you hear me?"
Yun Yao felt as though Zhong Zhen had fallen under some kind of spell. She listened in silence a while longer, only to realize he was repeating the same words over and over. With no better option, she hung up, still confused.
TL Note: Here’s the updated map with confirmed deaths crossed out. We’re certain that Yun Yao, Terrestrial Snake, Xu Qian, White Dress Female, and Zhong Zhen are alive, but Chen Junnan’s demise is unclear.
Footnote:
[1] Jiěmèi (姐妹) - this is the counterpart to xiōngdì—just the female version. It can be translated to ‘sister’, but can be used to incite closeness to another female, like the English term ‘sis/girl’. Usually the speaker is a lady speaking to another lady.
