Author: 颜凉雨 / Yan Liang Yu
Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/
Chapter 187: Meeting
The author has something to say:
Before we start this chapter, let’s review the friends who have previously appeared.
- Captain Yue’s Army: Captain Yue, Su Mingzhan, Tao Anan, Wei Tianhang, Ji Yiming.
- Long Legs, Handsome, Stick Figure, Fair Face (featured in 2/23 Red-Eye flight and 7/23 Story Relay. Despite the story nearing its end, they still don’t have names).
- Camouflage Team: Camouflage Strong Man and Camouflage Teammate 1, 2, 3 (4/23 Moonlight Maze).
- The 6/23 Castle. The team that took on the Happy Line. Still have no names for its members.
- The Colorful Jacket Team: Elegant Gray, Sky Blue, Wine Red, Deep Purple, Bright Orange (7/23 Story Relay) Elegant Gray loves chasing stories.
- Le Xing, Zhao Yukan, Fu Qi, Jing Jinglin, Dong Xi (7/23 Story Relay).
- Han Buting, Li Zijin, Xu Yange, Li Xia, Qi Shan (3/23 the team that originally formed a team with Xiao Xue in Doomsday City, has now been replaced by Li Zijin’s little fanboy, Qi Shan, who has joined the team).
- Teacher Wei’s Team: Wei Menghan, Zou Jun, Zhu Mo, Feng Rang, Ji Yunlei (4/23 Moonlight Maze, and even had a meal of skewers with Wangwang and the others).
- Wang Duanran, Chen Guan, Jiang Dachuan, Gu Nian, Kong Lizhe (6/23 failed to snatch the badge in the Castle Hotel over Wangwang’s team, but in Aeroplane Chess in 10/23, Jiang Dachuan helped Lao Qian regain his confidence and luck).
- Fu Wenqing, Qin Rui, He Lanshan, Wu Yanchao, Zhao Muchen (12/23 Halloween Ghost Hunt. Lost to Wangwang’s team. Currently struggling in 10/23 Aeroplane Chess).
- Sun Jiang (Wangwang’s original teammate who he first matched with in the Owl but later refused to leave Beijing and stayed in the first level).
- Mao Qiping (The Endless Sea merchant who first sold information to Wangwang and the others. Has children at home (poor dad)).
- Fan Peiyang, Zheng Luozhu, Wan Fengmang, Zhang Qian, Teng Ziyan (Mr. Fan has entered the last ten levels).
- Tang Lin (Mr. Fan’s CP).
“Give me some time to digest this.” Yue Shuai, at the other end of the video, was starting to doubt life.
“No problem. I’ll wait for you.” Captain Xu held his phone; his patience was as enduring as his affection.
They looked at each other in silence for three minutes.
Yue Shuai barely finished digesting it, and his stomach ached. “So, you’ve given up the chance to enter the last ten levels, forsaken the temptation to leave early, and chose to shut down the first thirteen levels instead.”
Xu Wang: “Yeah.”
Wu Sheng: “Right.”
Kuang Jinxin: “Yes.”
Qian Ai: “That’s the deal.”
Chi Yingxue: “Hmph.”
“Damn, don’t suddenly crowd over like that.” Yue Shuai was startled by the full screen of faces, and it seemed someone snorted.
“But we can’t do this ourselves. The thirteen Owl Jades must be destroyed in the same night.” Xu Wang’s nose was almost touching the screen, fearing Yue Shuai couldn’t see the sincerity in his eyes.
“No, Wangwang, have you thought about what to do if it fails?” Yue Shuai genuinely worried for them. “You asked me to help you find teams—okay, but if it fails, we have nothing to lose and can continue. But what about you guys? You’ll be stuck in 13/23 forever.”
Xu Wang gave him a disdainful look. “Why so pessimistic? If not once, then twice; if not twice, then three times. Even Song Jiang attacked Zhujiazhuang three times*.”
*It’s a story in Water Margin, often considered the most exciting and moving. Song Jiang tried attacking Zhujiazhuang three times before succeeding the third time using what is basically similar to the Trojan Horse trick.
Yue Shuai remained pessimistic. “What if it really doesn’t work?”
Xu Wang cast a sly glance. “Isn’t that what you guys are for? The cause must be passed on.”
Yue Shuai: “We would not choose one.”
With the die cast, discussing which choice was actually meaningless now. Xu Wang knew, Yue Shuai was just worried for them. It wasn’t merely polite formalities but genuine concern, as if his own team had made such a decision and was worried for these friends.
“How many teams do we need?” Yue Shuai asked again, less irritable, his voice calm.
“Thirteen levels, fifteen teams.”
“Two reserve teams.”
“7/23 Story Relay and 10/23 Aeroplane Chess each need two teams to trigger the level.”
At this moment, Yue Shuai truly felt the seriousness of the other side. They weren’t just rashly rebelling; they were thinking, planning, and preparing.
To want to do, is belief; to be able to do, is skill.
“Do you have any trustworthy teams?” Yue Shuai asked.
“A few,” Xu Wang said. “We’ve interacted with them, so they’re fairly reliable.”
Yue Shuai nodded. “Give me the list. There might be overlaps with my network.”
“Okay, I’ll send it to you after organizing it.” Xu Wang confidently asserted. “There will be overlaps.”
Yue Shuai raised an eyebrow. “That confident?”
Xu Wang: “Not confidence, but trust in you.”
Yue Shuai’s network was vast, like a net covering the sky and earth.
When the video disconnected, Xu Wang turned around, meeting four pairs of puzzled eyes.
“What’s up?” Xu Wang asked.
“Some levels don’t require teams,” Chi Yingxue reminded.
“Mhmm, mhmm.” Kuang Jinxin nodded vigorously. “Like 3/23, 8/23. One can also roam the city alone.”
With teammates having spoken, Qian Ai could only suggest, “Should we connect with Yue Shuai again and tell him we don’t necessarily need so many teams?”
Wu Sheng pondered for a while, seemingly enlightened. “Do you have other considerations?”
Xu Wang looked down. The phone screen was already dark, but on the other end, probably many teams were currently being disturbed. “If possible, I hope each level can be undertaken by a complete team to search for the Owl Jade. For one, if someone on the team has second thoughts, there are others present. Unless the whole team changes their mind, then I’ll accept it. Secondly.” He sighed softly, as if doing so could lessen the heavy burden on his heart a bit. “It would also feel less lonely.”
The companions’ doubts were resolved. The advisor focused on efficiency, while the captain focused on emotions—a perfect combo.
Wu Sheng quietly watched Xu Wang for a while, then suddenly reached out to snatch the phone from his hand and held it firmly in his own.
Xu Wang looked up.
Wu Sheng smiled confidently. “It will definitely succeed.”
Xu Wang unconsciously curved his lips. He felt the suffocating pressure inside him bizarrely lifted by a large extent. “Yes, you never score low.”
Wu Sheng humbly shook his head. “Except when it comes to love letters.”
The three teammates, who were completely forgotten, silently returned to their own suites. One prepared to start a live stream but decided not to eat and instead chat about love with fans; another planned to seriously review the first thirteen levels in preparation for the final battle; the last one wanted to call his older brother to describe both the carpet style and Xiao Sijin, as both were desired, so it was better to take precautions early—oh right—and also to ask for some money. Although closing the first thirteen levels was a good thing, it couldn’t ensure everyone was willing to work for free, so setting up a prize pool was necessary.
Seven days later, in Beijing, at a certain conference center.
“Damn, who the hell came up with this name?” Qin Rui, with purple hair, stood at the entrance of the conference room in front of the welcoming sign, which was exquisitely made and western style. It had “Beijing Owl Travel Group” in golden dazzling characters, with a line of cursive English below.
“I’m more curious about who found this venue.” Wu Yanchao, a true Beijing resident, knew the city inside out. “This place doesn’t just welcome anybody.”
Fu Wenqing didn’t speak. Instead, he was observing the surroundings for fire extinguishers, fire hydrants, and where the emergency exits were until he knew them by heart, he felt at ease.
“You guys were also called here?” Wang Duanran, with a head full of curly hair, yawned continuously. It was clear he was an old acquaintance of Fu Wenqing. He casually asked, “Which level have you reached?”
Fu Wenqing, Wu Yanchao, Qin Rui, He Lanshan, Zhao Muchen: “……”
Seeing the five silent faces across from him, Jiang Dachuan came to a realization and was so happy that he gave a mischievous smile. “Stuck at 10/23 again, aren’t you?”
Qin Rui seriously asked Fu Wenqing, “Can I hit him?”
Fu Wenqing calmed him. “Wait until after the meeting.”
“Stop showing off.” Chen Guan looked down on Jiang Dachuan. “Only your lousy luck with dice can beat them.”
Jiang Dachuan: “……”
Fu, Wu, Qin, He, Zhao: “……”
One stab, piercing six hearts.
As soon as two teams had just entered, another two met at the entrance. Wei Menghan, Zou Jun, Feng Rang, Zhu Mo, Ji Yunlei came from Xicheng, while Han Buting, Li Zijin, Xu Yange, Li Xia, Qi Shan came from Nancheng. They just so happened to bump into each other at the door.
The last time they met was in 8/23. The two teams were in a standoff until the end without communicating, choosing the same day to challenge the level. The details need not to be mentioned. Long story short, they tortured each other severely. In the end, Teacher Wei’s team luckily won, advancing forward, while Han Buting’s team fell back three levels, after which the two teams had no intersection.
Now, by a narrow path, they meet again.
The Owl Walk sign witnessed the awkwardness of the scene.
In the frozen air, it was still Teacher Wei who, with a gardener’s generous heart, first nodded and smiled at the other side. “What a coincidence.”
But that was all. This simple step gave both sides a way out. Without saying anything else, he led his team inside.
Han Buting’s gaze lingered on the tall, slender figure for a long time.
Li Zijin nudged him with an elbow. “What’s the use of just looking? Ask for his phone number.”
“Did you lose your memory?” Li Xia put his hands in his pockets and began chewing gum. “The captain has asked many times. If he doesn’t give it to you, what can you do?”
Xu Yange smiled, not joining in on the gossip.
Qi Shan leaned close to Han Buting and whispered, “Nothing in this world is difficult for those who set their minds to it. Look at me.”
“I’ve added him already,” Han Buting said indifferently.
Qi Shan was surprised. “When?”
“Asked Yue Shuai for it.”
“……” Truly seizing every opportunity.
Xu Yange couldn’t help but become curious. “You added him, and he just accepted?”
Han Buting straightened the collar of his windbreaker, then said righteously, “I used a burner account.”
Inside the venue, it was bustling. A scene of joy and harmony. Among the arriving teams, some knew each other, some didn’t.
For those who knew each other, they warmly reminisced about the past.
Long Legs: “Let’s go to the Moonlight Maze together again if we get the chance. That [(Illusory) Blissful Death*] you gave me, I haven’t had the chance to return it.”
*(欲仙欲死) Idiom referring to when you’re extremely happy, something sad happens. It’s often used to describe a feeling of extreme sensory comfort that is so extremely happy that it feels like dying.
Le Xing: “No need to be so formal. You guys are always in the first five levels. It’s better to save the stationery.”
Handsome: “What the hell did you say?”
Fu Qi, “Oh, practice.”
Fair Face: “Don’t make a scene here.”
Zhao Yukan: “Sit down.”
Stick Figure: “There’s something definitely wrong with Yue Shuai’s WeChat group. What kind of people aren’t being brought in?”
Jing Jinglin: “Yue Shuai”
Dong Xi: “Someone’s talking behind your back.”
Stick Figure: “Damn.”
For those who didn’t know each other, they quickly struck up conversations.
The muscular man in camouflage: “Wow, colorful jackets. Your team uniform is eye-catching.”
Elegant Gray: “Thanks for the praise. Mainly, it’s easy to recognize, so there’s no fear of losing teammates anywhere.”
Muscular man in camouflage: “That’s quite practical. Gray, blue, red, purple, yellow—one color per person—simple and noticeable.”
Bright Orange: “Uh, brother, this is orange.”
Muscular man in camouflage: “No, our team also needs to improve. It’s too monotonous now.”
Camouflage 1, 2, 3, responded excitedly, “Finally, we don’t have to wear camouflage anymore.”
The muscular man in camouflage pondered for a long while. “Jungle camouflage, ruin camouflage, snow camouflage, desert camouflage, tiger stripe camouflage. Very good, that should be enough.”
Camouflage 1, 2, 3 “……”
Aside from Chi Yingxue, Xu Wang’s team sat in the front row corner, able to oversee the whole scene with a turn of the head but without attracting attention. As more people arrived, Xu Wang inevitably became nervous. The words he was about to say had been thoroughly rehearsed in his mind but standing on such a large platform and facing many “bullied” friends made him inexplicably nervous.
“Haa.” A long yawn caught Captain Xu’s attention.
That person was sitting in the second row, diagonally behind them, barely able to keep their eyes open. He was holding on to the last bit of consciousness while complaining to a teammate, “Who set this for ten in the morning? Don’t they know our biological clocks are all set to night owl mode now?”
“He did want to set it for ten at night, but what would the conference center think? What legitimate organization meets at ten at night?” The teammate, obviously more awake, said, “Go ahead, sleep. I’ll wake you when it starts.”
“No,” the person insisted. “What if they start choosing who’s responsible for the levels right away?”
“We’ll do everything we can to avoid the sixth level, okay?”
“Mm, even if it means a knife to my throat, absolutely not.”
The last sentence, spoken as if chewing each word, made Xu Wang wonder how much they disliked the sixth level. He sneaked a glance and was startled.
Unfamiliar, yet vaguely recognizable.
That’s when it was time to consult his advisor. “Hey.” He leaned in towards Wu Sheng, glancing backwards. “Do you remember them?”
Wu Sheng looked back and immediately pulled up the file. “The Castle Hotel, Happy Line. It was the first time we entered 6/23.”
“……” Xu Wang suddenly remembered the wildly dancing brooms and now understood the grudge.
Yue Shuai, like a butterfly, fluttered through the venue, arranging each team in a suitable position, avoiding putting teams with past conflicts too close, though for those who wished to be near each other, he accommodated.
Most of the teams were found by him, and a small part by Xu Wang personally. When they sent out invitations, they explained the whole situation clearly without hiding anything, so the teams that came today all knew why they were gathered. However, they hadn’t created a large group, so each team knew what they were supposed to do but not who else was involved.
Now, everyone was clear about each other.
This was discussed by Xu Wang and Yue Shuai together. Words could be clearly communicated through voice or video, but to truly plan something, it was better for everyone to sit down and talk face-to-face.
With an uncertain future and unknown fortunes or misfortunes, even with a fire in their hearts, they needed to know who they were igniting the prairie with.
Chi Yingxue stood near a window not far from the entrance of the venue, taking a call. There was a pine forest outside that looked serene and lush. “Something’s up?”
Chi Zhuolin: “How’s the venue?”
“No problems. It’s fine.” Chi Yingxue’s tone was indifferent, sounding more like a CEO.
“The money has been transferred to you.”
“I saw it.”
Chi Zhuolin put down his pen, rubbing his temples, suddenly feeling like he’d never be able to get married and have children in his life. Raising a younger brother had already drained all his energy. “Can you tell me now what you’re planning?”
Chi Yingxue was straightforward. “To distribute prize money.”
“To those travel friends of yours?”
“Mm.” Chi Yingxue said, “But not necessarily. It depends on the situation. If needed, then it will be distributed.”
Chi Zhuolin had investigated this so-called Beijing Owl Travel Group when booking the venue, finding no registration or record; today’s attendees were a mystery, though their names and backgrounds, already on his desk, appeared clean with no illegal or dangerous indications. Yet, the group was too diverse, with every profession represented and completely unrelated individuals coming together, which was peculiar.
Losing some money was inconsequential; he was concerned for his brother’s safety.
“Chi Zhuolin.” Suddenly, his name was called from the other end of the phone.
President Chi immediately sat up straight. “Yes?”
“Thank you.” A mumbled reply came, barely audible if he didn’t prick up his ears.
Chi Zhuolin stood there in shock for a while. A mix of fatigue and unconcealable joy washed over him. “Let me know if you need anything else.”
Allowing his brother to feel grateful and even thank him, as long as this organization didn’t crazily test the limits of law and morality, he was set to be the sponsor.
After a few brief words and hanging up, Chi Yingxue frowned slightly, feeling his brother was overly enthusiastic in the end.
<<< || Table of Contents || >>>
Kinky Translations 