TDU Chapter 372
Chapter 372 Life-Staking Gamble?
Lin Qin flexed her fingers repeatedly, trying to regain sensation as quickly as possible. She glanced at the four {fortune sticks} on her table: two {Defaults}, one {Harsh Wind Clears the Leaves}, and one {Flowers Bloom With Spring Warmth}.
“One of these {fortune sticks} isn’t even mine…”
Rubbing her eyes to confirm she wasn’t imagining things, she picked up the {Harsh Wind Clears the Leaves}.
Lin Qin had no memory of drawing this {fortune stick}. Upon closer inspection, it looked rather particular; it felt strangely unreal.
Although she held it firmly in her hand and could clearly see every character on it, there remained a persistent sense of unreality. Like touching her own left hand with her right: logically, it was a hand, but the feeling differed greatly from touching someone else.
‘Qin… have you made your move?’
Lin Qin glanced toward Qin Dingdong’s room, where thick yellow-green smoke continued to descend. Qin Dingdong’s face had turned a dark purple; the veins on her face were prominently visible, the color deepening into a sinister purple-black—clear signs of poisoning.
Lin Qin realized that the extra {fortune stick} in her possession had come from Qin Dingdong, but it was a {False Commodity}.
This was Qin Dingdong’s usual trick—what was originally her deceitful tactic had now become a pressing problem for Lin Qin—
Could Terrestrial Dog’s game detect counterfeits?
Lin Qin had once been deceived by Qin Dingdong before and had used a {False Commodity} in another game. That time, her entire team was penalized by Terrestrial Monkey for violating the rules.
What was different this time?
This time, the one identifying the {fortune sticks} was not Terrestrial Dog, but a machine.
“But Su Shan…” Lin Qin looked up at Su Shan, whose face was streaked with blood, “why are we choosing to save people this turn…?”
From Lin Qin’s perspective, the most optimal tactic this turn should be to quickly extinguish Terrestrial Dog’s last light, thus saving them all.
Yet Su Shan had abandoned that strategy, opting instead to spend a turn freeing everyone from their {Calamity}.
‘Do you really think it’s necessary to use this turn to {rescue}…?’ Since Su Shan’s strategy is confirmed, this round she has to use this {False Commodity}, otherwise no one can save Qin Dingdong, and once {Winter disappears}, the game is doomed to fail.
Since {no Winter} leads to inevitable death, and {False Commodity} only possibly so, the choice is obvious.
“Su Shan, you really are daring.” Lin Qin smiled wryly as she put the {False Commodity} into the slot. “If all the {fortune sticks} in my hand can’t save anyone, then what will you do?”
Watching the {fortune stick} slowly get swallowed by the slot, Lin Qin’s expression fluctuated. Fortunately, the stick was eventually taken inside the table.
Suddenly, Qin Dingdong’s room changed drastically. The iron grid on the floor showed cracks, and a strong wind suddenly blew down from the ceiling, sweeping through the entire room in an instant.
Blasted down by the forceful wind, Qin Dingdong hit the floor, while the {fortune sticks} scattered around the room. They flung about at random, more hazardous than poison gas itself.
Luckily, the violent gusts didn’t last long. Within seconds, much of the yellow poison gas had been cleared, revealing the room in full.
But Qin Dingdong stayed on the ground for a long time without getting up.
“No… it can’t be…” Su Shan’s eyes widened as she stared intently at Qin Dingdong. Her {glimmer} hadn’t faded yet, so she must still be alive. “You absolutely can’t die… You’re our last hope…”
Terrestrial Dog glanced toward Qin Dingdong’s direction and said coldly, “Player Three’s {wish} complete. Player Four, kindly {draw}.”
The moment the words ended, the room fell into utter silence.
A dozen seconds later, Qin Dingdong shifted slightly, and under everyone’s gaze, she slowly pushed herself upright.
Lin Qin saw that her complexion was still pale with a purple tinge, and the capillaries on her face were clearly visible. It was impossible to say she was unharmed, but at least she was still alive.
“I…” Qin Dingdong had only just opened her mouth to speak when she coughed up a large mouthful of blood. It filled her windpipe, turning her already strained breathing into pure torment.
Each cough felt like her internal organs were being ripped apart, as if they were about to explode.
“Dog tóngxué…” Qin Dingdong steadied her breath, spat out a mouthful of blood, then looked at Terrestrial Dog. “You’ve really crossed the line… I learned all my bad habits from that bastard Chen Junnan, and yet you dare to mess with me?”
Terrestrial Dog looked at Qin Dingdong with keen interest, seemingly waiting for her next move.
Qin Dingdong raised her hand and tapped the glass. “Terrestrial Dog, stake your life with this jiejie.”
But to her surprise, Terrestrial Dog still wore that annoyingly serious expression, as if nothing had happened.
“Hey!!” Qin Dingdong, now irritated, slapped the glass harder. “I’m issuing a life-staking gamble, do you hear me?!”
Terrestrial Dog glanced at the words being mouthed by Qin Dingdong, then looked down to tidy up the three scattered {fortune sticks} on his table. His deep voice came through the speaker: “My utmost condolences, I might be getting old—I can’t hear a word you’re saying.”
“What…?” With a furrowed brow, Qin Dingdong stared at Terrestrial Dog’s sly face and suddenly understood the problem.
This damn game was cleverly designed: the {participants} couldn’t stake their lives with Terrestrial Dog during the game since the sealed glass chambers kept the damn dog from hearing anything.
He only installed speakers inside the chambers, but no microphones.
“What the hell…” Qin Dingdong coughed a few more times, muttering to herself, “If we want to stake our lives… we have to decide that from the very start?”
Then she suddenly remembered something: right after explaining all the rules, Terrestrial Dog immediately locked himself inside the glass room.
On the surface, it looked like he left all the {participants} to discuss strategies on their own, but in reality, he was afraid they would quickly come up with a plan and immediately challenge him to a life-staking gamble.
“Dog tóngxué, with your tail tucked so low…” Qin Dingdong glared at those dog eyes, growing angrier by the second. “Just wait… wait until jiejie, I, regain my strength…”
Now that everyone’s {Calamities} had been partially eased, as long as they held steady for the next three rounds, resolved the disasters one by one, and end the game at the eighth round, they might survive.
“Round Six, Player One, please {draw}.”
Su Shan glanced at the {Default} appearing from the slot, then pressed it back down without hesitation.
She knew Terrestrial Dog’s next target had to be her.
Summer, Autumn, and Winter had all suffered from {Calamity} — only she, {Spring}, remained healthy. If she were Terrestrial Dog, she would definitely inflict {Calamity} on {Spring} now.
TL Note: Rant goes here ( •̯́ ₃ •̯̀)
