Ten Day Ultimatum

"Hahm-ga-caan, another lunatic," Qiao Jiajin spat on the ground. "I feel like if we stay here too long, we'll go crazy too."
Qi Xia was deeply unsettled by the old man.

"Qi Xia, are you okay?" Lin Qin asked.
"I'm fine," Qi Xia said, steadying himself. "These people can't deter me. I'm going to participate in those {games}. You don't need to come with me."
"I'll go with you," Lin Qin declared resolutely. "No matter which {game} you enter, I'll be by your side."

Hearing this, Qi Xia halted and turned, fixing Lin Qin with a cold, penetrating stare.
His gaze was icy, sending a shiver down Lin Qin’s spine.
"Wha—What is it?"

"Lin Qin, what's your motive?"
"Motive?" Lin Qin blinked. "Do I need one?"
Qi Xia stared into her eyes. "Why did you approach me? Logically, you should be with the other team. The three of us are nothing like you, let alone comrades."

Lin Qin smiled faintly. "I’ve said it before—I’m intrigued by you. I want to understand what’s on your mind."
"I want to escape this place," Qi Xia stated firmly. "I’ve said it again and again. I want to get out and return to my wife. She can’t live without me. Do you understand?"
Lin Qin blinked, then softly replied, "I understand."

"My wife is Yu Nian’An. She suffered for me and endured all the criticism. She's my other half. I just want to go back to her. That’s all I want. Is that clear?"
"Yes."
"Now that you know what I’m thinking, aren’t you going to leave?" Qi Xia's tone remained cold.

Lin Qin bowed her head slightly, pondered for a moment, and replied, "I’m sorry. I still can’t leave—for other reasons."
Qi Xia frowned, studying her. Though he didn’t sense danger or deceit, he couldn’t grasp her true intentions.
"Do as you wish..." Realizing he couldn’t convince her, he turned and resumed walking.

Qiao Jiajin followed behind him. "Swindler Lad, remember—we agreed: you’ve got the brains, I’ve got the muscle. Let’s team up."
"Do you also have some irresistible reason to get out?"
"Yeah," Qiao Jiajin nodded. "I don’t want to die. I won’t accept this fate."
"Fine, but let’s be clear," Qi Xia glanced at him, speaking coolly. "You and I aren’t friends. If it comes down to only one of us surviving, I won’t hesitate to leave you behind."

"Damn... no sense of loyalty or sacrifice?" Qiao Jiajin shook his head in disbelief. "You’re really unlikeable."
Hearing their exchange, Tian Tian lowered her head in silence.
Everyone else seemed to have a goal.

But her?
Suppose she actually overcame all this and escaped.
Even if she made it back to the real world and resumed her old life, what then? She'd still be stuck, clinging to disgusting old men for survival.

Thinking about it like that... maybe {dying here} wouldn’t be such a bad ending after all.
"Tian Tian, what’s wrong?" Lin Qin asked.
"Nothing."

After leaving the plaza, they found themselves on a street on the far side.
This area looked very different from the street with the convenience store. It was lined with small houses arranged in a crisscrossing pattern. It was hard to say whether anyone lived here.
After walking a short distance, they spotted a figure wearing an animal mask.

The person stood at the door of an old house, hands clasped behind their back.
Qi Xia approached without hesitation.
As he drew near, he saw the figure was wearing a large, foul-smelling mouse mask. Unlike the robust figures they'd seen in masks before, this person had a noticeably thin build.

Qiao Jiajin was the first to speak. "{Mouse Mortal}, right?"
The mouse-headed figure finally acknowledged them, chuckling lightly. "I'm not {Mouse Mortal}, I'm {Mortal Mouse}."
It was a girl—and she had a surprisingly pleasant voice.

This was probably the first time they'd encountered a female behind an animal mask.
"Puk-gaai, don’t get cocky..." Qiao Jiajin snapped. "You think I care what you're called?"
"Mortal Mouse is Mortal Mouse," the girl replied with a giggle. "Names matter. It could be troublesome if you use the wrong one. Not many people visit me. Would you like to join a {trial}?"

Qi Xia glanced at the house behind her and asked, "What are the rules?"
"Mouse-category {trial}. Admission is one {Dào}." Mortal Mouse explained with the cheer of a seasoned salesperson. "You won’t find an easier trial in any other district."
"So, what kind of game is it?" Qi Xia pressed.

Mortal Mouse turned around, opened the door, and stepped inside, revealing a small warehouse.
"My game is called {Warehouse Dào Seeking}. There’s one {Dào} hidden in this room. Only one person can enter at a time. If you find it within five minutes, it’s yours."
Qi Xia sensed something off. "And if we don’t find it?"

"If you can’t find it?" Mortal Mouse giggled. "Then you forfeit your entry. You lose one {Dào}."
"Forfeit a {Dào}?" Qi Xia blinked. "That’s all?"
"What else would happen?" she asked, confused.

What’s going on?
Qi Xia furrowed his brow, thinking. One {Dào} to enter. Find it—you gain one. Fail—you lose one.
It seemed... almost trivial. No serious risk, no net gain.

So what was the point of these games?
"Isn’t this still worth trying?" Tian Tian asked. "Participating could help us better understand what we’re dealing with."
"But..." Qi Xia hesitated. He still couldn’t see the benefit of winning such a game.

"I’ll go first," Tian Tian said, turning to him. "It doesn’t matter if I die."
"What are you talking about?" Lin Qin cut in, clearly alarmed by Tian Tian’s tone.
"Trust me." Tian Tian’s voice was calm. "I’ve realized... whether I escape or not, it won’t change anything."

She turned to Qi Xia and asked for a {Dào}, then handed it to Mortal Mouse.
"So that’s it?" she asked.
"Yes. {Admission} received. The game begins when you enter the room," Mortal Mouse nodded. "Let me go over the rules again. There’s one {Dào} hidden inside. If you find it and bring it out within five minutes, it’s yours."

"Okay, I understand," Tian Tian nodded.
"Are you ready?" Mortal Mouse asked.
"Ready."

"Very good. The game has begun. Good luck."
She stepped out of the warehouse and closed the door behind ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) her, leaving Tian Tian alone in the dimly lit room.