Ten Day Ultimatum

Chapter 446: A’Jin’s Insight

Terrestrial Horse realised that the collective before her, all dressed in uniformed attires, seemed rather different from the usual participants.

“Do you all... belong to some kind of organization?” she asked, slowly pushing aside Bai Nine’s hand before sweeping her gaze over the group. “Did you come to this game specifically to gain experience?”

“Nope.” Bai Nine shook her head, and the ponytails at her sides swayed with the motion. “It’s actually a good thing you don’t recognize us. If the day ever comes when we show up here with a purpose, that would mean trouble.”

“Save the theatrics.” Terrestrial Horse took a step to the side, extending her left hand. With a slight exertion of strength, she dragged the entire Wooden Ox and Flowing Horse forward, step by step, until she stood before them.

“Huh?” Qiao Jiajin was first startled by her strength but quickly realized something was off. “Damn wait, you’re letting us test it here? Weren’t we supposed to do it on the ice?”

“And what of it?” Terrestrial Horse gave the wheelbarrow a firm shove. “This is my game. My rules. You’ll test it wherever I say.”

“But there’s no ice here,” Qiao Jiajin protested. “Great Horse gal, aren’t you being a bit unreasonable?”

Discover more

Translation Project Management

Novel Shop Access

Exclusive Novel Content

“Forget it, Qiao ge...” Bai Nine tugged at his sleeve. “It’s a free opportunity after all. We should make the most of it.”

Qiao Jiajin sighed, then nodded helplessly. “Alright then.”

“Who’s sitting?” Bai Nine asked.

“No need for that.” Qiao Jiajin walked aside, picked up a medium-sized boulder, and easily carried it over to place it on the seat. “Our main goal isn’t to practice riding; it’s to practice pushing.”

“Wow...” Bai Nine looked at the boulder, which weighed almost as much as a person, a hint of surprise in her eyes. “Qiao ge, you look so thin, yet you’re this strong?”

“Yeah, I’ve got some skill,” Qiao Jiajin said with a nod. “Let’s imagine there’s someone sitting on the wheelbarrow. We’ll split into groups of six and practice pushing it. This basketball court looks about twenty meters wide, so let’s each walk about that distance for a test.”

“Alright, Qiao ge.”

Everyone agreed to Qiao Jiajin’s proposal and began testing the strange wheelbarrow on the flat ground.

Discover more

Webnovel Translation Courses

Digital Novel Library

Romance Novel Genre

Soon enough, they all breathed a collective sigh of relief. Though the wheelbarrow was made entirely of wood, its mortise-and-tenon joints were exceptionally solid. It was perfectly weighted and remarkably well-balanced.

Even more ingenious was its wheel design.

Instead of ordinary wheels, the bottom was fitted with a freely rotating sphere. This allowed the wheelbarrow not only to move forward and backward but also to glide sideways. As long as balance was maintained, it could shift at any angle without tipping over.

After setting the wheelbarrow down, everyone gathered to discuss possible strategies, though Qiao Jiajin spent most of the time listening silently, unable to offer any constructive input.

“Seven people must be ferried back and forth in seven rounds,” Bai Nine said. “Logically, the weakest person should ride first.”

“Oh?” Qiao Jiajin thought for a moment, then nodded. “So that means I’m last?”

“Correct, Qiao ge,” Bai Nine replied with a nod. “We’ve fought you before—over a dozen of us couldn’t take you down. Your stamina and combat skill are both top-tier.”

“Ah... you mean during that {Passage to Heaven’s Total Annihilation Battle}?” Qiao Jiajin scratched his head, looking a little embarrassed. “Actually, it wasn’t just me back then, Swindler lad also lent a hand.”

“Here’s my proposition,” Bai Nine disregarded his modesty and went on, “Since we’ll be treading onto the ice later, the first few rounds will be the hardest as we need to adapt. We should start with the stronger ones pushing the wheelbarrow, so they can quickly figure out the knack and technique. After that, in each subsequent round, one person takes a turn riding. That way, among the six pushing, at least five will have already done it for two rounds, keeping everyone experienced and steady.”

“Veterans leading the newcomers, huh.” Qiu Twenty nodded lazily. “Makes sense. Nine jie’s plan is solid; I have no objections.”

Qiao Jiajin mimicked Qi Xia’s usual habit and stroked his chin. Qi Xia always seemed to gain some new insight whenever he did that.

And indeed, there was an insight to be had.

Qiao Jiajin found the chin to be quite a curious thing—he hadn’t shaved for just three or four days, yet it already felt rough to the touch.

“Qiao ge, what do you think?”

“I...” Qiao Jiajin came back to his senses, frowning slightly. “To be honest, I’m not as smart as you all. The question I’m thinking of might not even be worth asking, so don’t laugh at me if I say it.”

“Go on, let’s hear it.”

“What if someone dies?” Qiao Jiajin blinked as he asked.

“What?”

Qiao Jiajin looked to the ground, gathered his thoughts, and then, with a solemn expression, asked, “You say the game requires seven rounds...what if it actually finishes earlier?”

Just one sentence, and Qiao Jiajin’s meaning was clear to all.

“If one person dies...the game could end in six rounds. If two people...” Feeling that his words might undermine the team’s morale, Qiao Jiajin hastily amended his statement, “I’ve played in other Terrestrial-grade games before, and Swindler lad has warned us as well. These lan-joeng Earthly Branches never play by the book. Although the {rules} say {the person seated is eliminated if struck by the ball}, what if she simply chooses not to attack those seated?”

“Ah?” Bai Nine blinked in surprise. “You mean...”

“If she focuses on killing the {wheelbarrow-pushers}...” Qiao Jiajin sighed, “what will we do then?”

Quiet fell over them; their strategy formed strictly within the bounds of the rules.

But who had ever claimed that the {rules} reflected the true intent of the Earthly Branches?

Their intent had always been killing.

Simply put, Terrestrial Horse had two ways of taking lives. One was to relentlessly target the people seated in the chairs, causing repeated transport failures so that after seven rounds the entire team would face retribution.

The second, simpler method was to strike the {wheelbarrow-pushers} dead with the ball directly; in that case the {wheelbarrow-riders} would be rendered useless and at death’s mercy.

“I understand your concern, Qiao ge,” Bai Nine nodded. “But I doubt she would drive us into a dead end. I’ve heard from Five ge that every game has a {lifeline}. Nowhere within this entire {End Point} exists a game with certain death.

“If that’s the case...” Qiao Jiajin nodded slowly. “She would probably use both methods together; in which case your plan should work.”

“Mm.” Bai Nine remarked quietly. “We don’t have any better options now.”

Terrestrial Horse glanced over at them, impatience gradually showing on her face. “Are you done yet?”

“Almost,” Qiao Jiajin replied. “Terrestrial ma’am, I just want to confirm something with you.”

“Confirm what?”

“If I manage to catch those {balls}... will we really get a reward?”

“Yes.” Terrestrial Horse nodded. “We {Horses} are not allowed to lie within the {rules}, so every word I’ve spoken is true.”

“Do all the {balls} have rewards?”

“Unfortunately not.” Terrestrial Horse let out a cold laugh. “Not every {ball} carries a reward. Which means that even if you risk your life to catch them, you might end up with nothing but a {fracture}. Only a small number of {balls} have rewards written on them.”