Chapter 168: Tactical Discussion

Is this good luck or bad luck?

Qi Xia had drawn the "Sheng Pai" and "Si Pai" in quick succession over two rounds.

The "Si Pai" featured an image of a nao zhong.

Clearly written above the nao zhong were the words "Si Pai."

Below the card, there was a small line of text.

"When this card is played, discard two other hand cards. Both sides must take a mandatory five-minute break, during which the 'Ce Hua Zhe' may meet with the 'Bo Dou Zhe.'"

"What?" Qi Xia frowned and read the text again. Although he understood the words, he couldn't quite grasp the meaning of the "Si Pai."

Playing this card required him to discard two additional cards.

In other words, after playing it, his hand would remain at three cards until the game ended.

Who would reduce their hand limit to three cards in such a dangerous situation?

Moreover, the card explicitly stated that discarding two cards would only grant a "mandatory break for both sides."

The opponent would gain an opportunity to discuss strategies with the "Bo Dou Zhe" without any losses.

Playing this card would increase the chances of his own side's defeat—that was the essence of the "Si Pai," wasn't it?

Qi Xia looked up at Su Shan.

She was also frowning slightly.

Qi Xia thought to himself that there was only one "Si Pai," so why had her expression changed?

This could only mean one thing: she had truly drawn the "Sheng Pai."

She must have realized that the "Sheng Pai" was actually a handgun, and now she was hesitating.

The next round might very well be "Sheng Pai" against "Sheng Pai."

If Qi Xia's guess was correct, the game could end within three rounds.

"This isn't good…"

Qi Xia glanced again at his "Sheng Pai."

If both he and his opponent played "Sheng Pai" at the same time, what were the odds that Zhao Yisheng would survive?

"Wait… a handgun?"

A thought suddenly lingered in Qi Xia's mind.

After a moment, he lifted his head, feeling as though a new idea had clicked into place.

To win this game… it wasn't about relying on the "Sheng Pai"!

Su Shan took out a card and placed it facedown on the table, saying:

"Let's begin; I've made my choice."

Qi Xia pondered for a moment, his face darkening, then he pulled out three cards at once.

The "Si Pai" and two "Shi Tou" cards.

To win, he had to play the "Si Pai"!

The "Si Pai" was the key to victory in this game!

The "Ce Hua Zhe" must reveal the contents of the "Sheng Pai" to the "Bo Dou Zhe"!

"Three cards?" Su Shan was slightly stunned to see Qi Xia's play, as the rules had never mentioned playing three at once.

Di Ji nodded from the side and said:

"Please reveal your cards."

The two flipped their cards. Su Shan had played a "Gun Zi."

Qi Xia had played the "Si Pai."

She picked up Qi Xia's "Si Pai" with a puzzled look, read the text several times, and showed a face of confusion.

"A mandatory break?"

"Someone has played the 'Si Pai,' so the game enters a break phase." Di Ji waved his hand, and the door to the glass room opened.

Qi Xia stood up immediately, walked into the glass room, and pulled Zhao Yisheng into a corner.

"What's going on… Qi Xia…" Zhao Yisheng still looked far from calm. "How is there even a break time?"

"Zhao Yisheng, if you have any tricks up your sleeve… use them now." Qi Xia scanned the area and said calmly, "If you don't, there won't be another chance."

"I…" Zhao Yisheng bit his lip awkwardly. "Qi Xia, I'll be straight with you. I do have a trick, but I can't use it right now."

"What do you need?"

"I need…" Zhao Yisheng slowly lowered his head. "I need a woman."

"Damn it, I shouldn't have asked…" Qi Xia muttered under his breath. "Forget it, let's keep this short. I have a few things to tell you. This is our only chance to communicate."

"Why do we need to talk more?" Zhao Yisheng asked. "You've got the 'Dao Zi,' right? Give it to me, and I'll kill him."

"You can't kill him." Qi Xia said. "Unless it's a one-strike kill to the throat, an ordinary knife wound won't finish him off."

"A one-strike… to the throat?" As a doctor, Zhao Yisheng naturally understood what that meant.

If it was just a wound from a knife, the opponent wouldn't die until the game ended. The rule for winning was for one side's "Bo Dou Zhe" to have their pulse stop completely.

In the true sense, that meant "death." Facing a tall man who was fully defending himself and desperate to survive, killing him wasn't an easy task.

"So, what's your plan?" Zhao Yisheng asked.

"The next three rounds are crucial." Qi Xia said. "Zhao Yisheng, right now, I have a 'Shou Qiang,' a 'Dao Zi,' and a 'Dun Pai' in my hand."

…

"Zi Chen, how are you holding up?" Su Shan looked at the young man in front of her with concern.

"I'm fine…" Zi Chen gave a bitter smile. "Su Shan, thanks to you always giving me weapons stronger than the opponent's, I'm still okay for now."

Su Shan noticed that his eyes looked alarming—the white of his left eye had visible cracks.

"You don't look good, Zi Chen…"

"It's nothing." Zi Chen blinked, feeling as if there was sand in his eyes. "Su Shan, do you have any more powerful items for the next rounds?"

"Yes…" Su Shan nodded. "I've been pretty lucky. I have a 'Shou Qiang,' a 'Dao Zi,' a 'Shi Tou,' and two 'Sheng Zi' in my hand."

"A 'Shou Qiang'…?" Zi Chen paused and asked, "So… do you have a strategy?"

"I…" Su Shan thought for a moment and said, "The man I'm up against is very clever. I'm not sure if I can beat him."

"It's okay, Su Shan. I believe in you." Zi Chen nodded. "Just do what you think is best. Even if we lose, I won't hold it against you."

"But if we lose, we'll both die." Su Shan said with a look of disappointment.

"Without you getting me out of that room, I would've died already." Zi Chen said. "No matter what strategy he has, give me the 'Dao Zi.' Even if he's got a 'Shou Qiang,' I can still take him down."

Su Shan's eyes flickered for a moment, and she nodded. "I understand."

The five minutes passed in a flash. Even as time ran out, Qi Xia was still explaining something to Zhao Yisheng.

Zhao Yisheng had a completely dazed expression on his face.

"What are you even saying…" Zhao Yisheng murmured, interrupting Qi Xia. "Are you really in your right mind?"

"Trust me…" Qi Xia patted Zhao Yisheng on the shoulder. "It's our only option."

The four returned to their original positions.

Each of them had a different expression.

When Di Ji said, "The game continues," a "Gun Zi" fell from above Zi Chen's head, while nothing appeared above Zhao Yisheng's.

These were the cards both sides had played before the break.

Zhao Yisheng backed away several steps upon seeing this and started running wildly around the room.

Zi Chen hadn't expected the man who had been so aggressive just minutes ago to suddenly bolt, so he grabbed the "Gun Zi" and chased after him.

But the ten seconds were too short. Although Zi Chen caught up to Zhao Yisheng, his two swings of the "Gun Zi" missed, causing no harm.

"You're actually running…" Zi Chen glared at Zhao Yisheng in frustration and tossed the "Gun Zi" into the window behind him.

"What about it?" Zhao Yisheng panted. "If you were in my shoes… wouldn't you run?"

"In the next round, I'll make sure you die." Zi Chen said coldly.

"We'll see who dies." Zhao Yisheng shot back defiantly.

Di Ji gestured again and said:

"Round seven, please draw your cards."