Author: 木尺素 / Mu Chisu
Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/
Chapter 177
There was only one minute left before the official start of the King’s Game.
In one corner of the cage, Zhou Qian and Bai Zhou were staring at each other. Zhou Qian hadn’t even had the chance to answer him when suddenly, a commotion erupted not far away.
Both Zhou Qian and Bai Zhou instantly stood and looked toward the noise. In that split-second glance, they both realized what was happening and dashed toward it.
But it was already too late—
Two gunshots rang out!
As the gunfire subsided, Xu Feiyu bolted toward the Peach Blossom Legion’s camp and threw herself into her brother’s arms.
Behind her, the two people who had been guarding her lay on the ground, bleeding from gunshot wounds.
Not long before this, Zhou Qian, Bai Zhou, and others had been discussing their theories about the dungeon’s mechanics and how to solve the King’s Game.
Meanwhile, the rest of the players were also occupied, gathering in small groups to plan their strategies for the upcoming game.
The two guarding Xu Feiyu were no exception.
The more they thought about it, the more terrifying the King’s Game seemed—an outright massacre of players by murderers. Nervous, they began discussing tactics in earnest and let their guard down.
That was when it happened.
Taking advantage of their distraction, Xu Feiyu quietly pulled a knife from her bag and cut the ropes binding her feet and waist.
Then she accessed her system panel on her left wrist, entered the trading interface, and retrieved a gun her brother had sent her.
After that, she hid the gun in her sleeve and waited patiently.
She didn’t have to wait long.
Seizing her moment, she locked eyes with her brother across the crowd, then immediately raised the gun and fired at one of her guards. The man didn’t even have time to react before he fell.
Almost simultaneously, Xu Yang fired a second shot from afar, dropping the other guard.
Just like that, two of Zhou Qian’s teammates were dead, and Xu Feiyu had escaped back to her brother.
Now, the siblings stood side by side, guns trained on Zhou Qian’s group.
In response, Hidden Blade’s three disciples raised their guns at the siblings, but compared to the siblings’ cold, ruthless glares, the disciples’ arms trembled slightly, their eyes red with guilt.
Hidden Blade strode over, his face grim. “What happened? Weren’t the three of you watching her?”
At his words, their guilt deepened.
The eldest of his disciples rasped, “We thought her legs were tied up and she was being guarded, so we went aside to discuss the murderers… No excuses. It’s our fault. If not for us… they wouldn’t be dead…”
As he spoke, the only female disciple burst into tears. “Master, it’s my fault. I was the one who dragged them away to check on the murderers. I… I was careless!”
Seeing Hidden Blade’s increasingly displeased expression, He Xiaowei hurried over, frowned at the disciples, then tugged at Hidden Blade’s sleeve and whispered, “Master… what’s done is done. Shouldn’t we focus on—”
“I don’t know. Now’s not the time for that,” Hidden Blade cut him off. His face hardened further. Though he wanted to scold his disciples, he could only sigh heavily.
Nearby, Meng Bie’s eyes were bloodshot.
The two dead players had been with him since the start, newly promoted to S-rank. He’d protected them all this way, only for them to die like this.
“Give me a gun! I’ll kill them!”
He extended a trembling hand toward Hidden Blade’s disciples, fury written across his face. “This is the only way you can make it right!”
“Calm down, all of you!”
Zhou Qian’s voice cut through the tension, sharp and commanding.
He fixed Meng Bie with a steady gaze. “You’re smart. Don’t let anger cloud your judgment. They have far more bullets than we do. If you go in guns blazing, you’ll only die pointlessly.”
“But I—” Meng Bie exhaled sharply, clenching his fists in frustration.
Zhou Qian met his eyes and said quietly, “I’ll avenge them.”
He didn’t raise his voice or swear an oath, but somehow, those simple words calmed Meng Bie completely.
It was as if Zhou Qian’s casual statement carried an undeniable force.
If Zhou Qian said he would avenge them, he would.
Meng Bie believed him. Zhou Qian had the strength and conviction to back up his words. Empty promises were for other people, never Zhou Qian—no matter how impossible they sounded.
Without another glance at Meng Bie, Zhou Qian looked at Bai Zhou and sent him a private message:
“It seems Turtle Fairy’s prophecy was right. Since Feidu brings disaster to everyone and paired with Shan Sheng’s idea… we’ll take down the Xu siblings first.
“And finally… Ke Yuxiao. I’ll kill him myself.”
……
One minute later, the system announced: “The King’s Game has officially begun.”
A loud crash echoed from the cage’s entrance.
Everyone looked up to see a massive die fall from the sky.
The system broadcast:
[Each player’s card now displays a number. Please check your number.]
[The number shown on the die will determine this round’s ‘King’. Players should act according to the die result and subsequent system instructions.]
Zhou Qian glanced at his card. It showed “17”.
He then turned his eyes to the die, waiting calmly.
With so many players and murderers, a regular six-sided die wouldn’t suffice.
Instead, the face of the die turned into a massive electronic screen, flashing random numbers—or at least, so the system claimed.
Thirty seconds later, the screen displayed “59”.
The system announced:
[Player with card number 59, congratulations! You are this round’s King. You have two minutes to choose two numbers.]
Zhou Qian immediately turned to his group. “Who’s 59?”
As expected, a timid voice piped up from a corner.
“I… I am…”
It was a young girl, sounding like a squeaky mosquito out of fear. Zhou Qian moved quickly, reaching her before the system issued its next instruction, and whispered something into her ear.
Once finished, Zhou Qian walked along the bars of the cage and fixed his gaze on a murderer outside.
He rapped the bars loudly. The clanging sound drew the man’s attention. He turned, locking eyes with Zhou Qian.
Zhou Qian smiled. “Hey, want a gift?”
The murderer was tall and thin, dressed in a sleek black tuxedo, looking more like he belonged at an aristocratic ball than a killing field.
He radiated nobility, except for his eyes, sharp and lethal.
Zhou Qian grinned undeterred. “Tell me your number. I’ll give you a suspect.”
……
Inside the cage, everyone received the system’s message identifying the King.
A spotlight beamed down on the timid girl, making her face go deathly pale.
When prompted to pick two numbers, she froze, waiting for Zhou Qian’s signal.
The system’s reminders chimed relentlessly:
[Please make your choice quickly. You have…]
[50 seconds remaining.]
[30 seconds remaining.]
[10 seconds remaining.]
……
Her friends urged her desperately. Drenched in sweat, she panicked. Should she just blurt out random numbers? If she didn’t choose in time, she’d die for breaking the rules!
But if she picked blindly, she’d betray Zhou Qian and those two dead teammates…
What should she do?
She looked at Zhou Qian in despair.
At the final second, he turned and flashed her two fingers with a calm smile.
Relieved, she declared, “95 and 37! I choose those two!”
The system chimed:
[Murderer 95, congratulations. You may perform your ritual.]
[Player 37, leave the cage. Murderer 95 will retrieve you. Cooperate. You have three minutes.]
At the entrance, beside the die, a tall, elegant man in a black tuxedo appeared. His features were strikingly refined, like European royalty.
But his eyes were cold, fixed on the cage as he waited for his prey, a satisfied smile tugging at his lips.
Everyone saw who Murderer 95 was.
Now all eyes turned to see who unlucky Player 37 would be.
In the Peach Blossom camp, someone trembled violently.
Xu Feiyu, once sharp and commanding, now looked pitiful. Sweat drenched her clothes, her damp hair clung to her temples, and her face was ghostly pale.
Clutching her brother Xu Yang’s arm, she shook like a leaf. “H-How is this happening?”
Xu Feiyu had just returned to her brother’s side, finally feeling safe—only to be picked!
“Why… Why is this happening?” she stammered. “I get it now… I know how this King’s Game really works…
“The system gives the King two minutes to choose. That means it’s not random! It’s nothing like the real-life version! Zhou Qian uses that delay to talk to his Kings. He can control every King in his camp!”
She swallowed hard and went on, “Zhou Qian’s side has fifty people—about 62% of all players. The odds are in his favor. With more Kings and more information, he’s got an overwhelming edge! But—but…”
Xu Yang already knew the rest.
To weaponize this, Zhou Qian would need players’ numbers. But how could he know them?
Xu Yang had watched closely. Zhou Qian’s dragon hadn’t appeared once. As a god-tier player himself, he was confident he could counter a mere dragon tool.
Yet somehow… Zhou Qian knew Xu Feiyu’s number anyway!
Xu Yang trembled, throat tight. He hugged his sister and murmured, “It’s okay. You still have a chance. When you meet the murderer, talk to him. Find out who he is. Tell him everything we’ve learned!
“Ke Yuxiao gave me tons of dungeon info. I’ll stay at the gate and watch. If I spot anything about the murderer’s identity, I’ll tell you immediately! You’ll survive this!
“Zhou Qian only has 62%. His advantage isn’t absolute. We’ll beat him.
“We’ll both make it out alive!”
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