Chapter 356: Their Paths

Su Shan, Lin Qian, Qin Dingdong, and Zhang Chenze walked out from a "Ren Ji" game venue, each of them looking a bit tired.

"Xiao Shan, I mean... is that it for today?" Qin Dingdong stretched her neck and said to Su Shan, who was at the front of the group. "Today's been all about puzzles and speed challenges. Are you dragging us into some special training?"

"But it's still not enough..." Su Shan murmured to herself. "Is it really like Qi Xia said, that I have to give up part of my humanity and become even more reckless?"

"What did you say?" Zhang Chenze asked from the side.

"I mean... we might need even harsher 'games.'" Su Shan shook her head. "You all are very smart, and these 'Ren Ji' games are just too easy for our team."

Lin Qian thought for a moment after hearing this and asked, "You're really planning to join a 'Di Ji' game?"

"Yes." Su Shan nodded.

Qin Dingdong blinked and glanced up at the sky. "It's already getting toward evening. Are you sure you want to jump into a 'Di Ji' game right now?"

"You two..." Su Shan looked at Qin Dingdong and Lin Qian. "As seniors, you've both already achieved 'Hui Xiang,' right?"

Zhang Chenze frowned slightly from the side. "'Hui Xiang'?"

Qin Dingdong and Lin Qian, both well-experienced, simply wore expressions of mild indifference.

"You dragged us through five 'Ren Ji' games today just to force yourself into 'Hui Xiang'?" Lin Qian asked.

"Yes." Su Shan nodded. "And I've noticed... 'Dao' seems pretty easy to earn."

"You're smarter than most people, so it might be easy for you." Lin Qian nodded. "But even if you win every 'Ren Ji' game, it doesn't mean you'll collect three thousand six hundred of them in just ten days."

"Is that so...?" Su Shan replied ambiguously. "But I have a feeling I'll find a way to gather three thousand six hundred 'Dao' in a short time."

Lin Qian sighed after hearing this. "I advise you not to do that."

"Not to...?"

"Don't misunderstand." Lin Qian shook her head. "I'm just thinking about your safety."

"Is it that dangerous?" Su Shan pondered. "From what I've observed, 'Ren Ji' games don't threaten lives."

"Anyway, I'll leave it at that." Lin Qian said. "Try not to make a big fuss about collecting three thousand six hundred 'Dao.' If you insist on doing it, don't trust anyone from 'Zhong Yan Zhi Di'—just do it secretly on your own."

"What...?"

Qin Dingdong looked warily at Lin Qian upon hearing this, and Lin Qian returned her gaze. The two exchanged a knowing silence.

"Everyone," Zhang Chenze said, "should we find a place to rest first?"

Su Shan looked at her and said, "I want to take a gamble."

"A gamble?" The others turned to her.

Su Shan pointed a finger down the winding street alley in front of them. "Let's follow this road all the way to the main street. If we happen to run into a 'Di Ji Sheng Xiao,' it'll be our good fortune, and we'll join his game."

"Xiao Shan..." Qin Dingdong shook her head. "You call running into a 'Di Ji Sheng Xiao' good fortune?"

"It might not be yours, but it is mine." Su Shan said. "I have to thank Qi Xia—he showed me how to keep my memories. If he hadn't pulled me out of the cycle of reincarnation, I'd probably still be struggling alone with a few burdensome teammates."

"So what?" Lin Qian asked.

"So I need to find a way to achieve 'Hui Xiang' as soon as possible, otherwise I'll be back on the defensive." Su Shan finished and turned to Qin Dingdong. "By the way, Dingdong, you mentioned before that we used to be close. What exactly is my 'Hui Xiang' ability?"

"Ah?" Qin Dingdong was taken aback. "Xiao Shan, you achieved 'Hui Xiang' last time but don't know your own ability?"

"Yes." Su Shan nodded. "Last time, Qi Xia's tactics were too clever. I died less than a minute after 'Hui Xiang.'"

"Oh, well..." Qin Dingdong gave a bitter smile. "We were indeed good friends back then, seeing each other all the time... but I really don't know what your 'Hui Xiang' is."

"Hmm...?" As a former police officer, Su Shan quickly spotted the logical gap in Qin Dingdong's words. "So that means I didn't remember you, but we still had a 'good friends' relationship...?"

"Um... yes..." Qin Dingdong laughed awkwardly. "I always went to find you and introduced myself each time."

"Then why didn't you keep doing that later?" Su Shan pressed.

"I..."

Seeing Qin Dingdong at a loss for words, Su Shan smiled naturally. After all, this wasn't an interrogation, so there was no need to make the atmosphere too tense. "I was just joking with you. We've been together almost a whole day, so of course I know you're my good friend."

"Oh, really?" Qin Dingdong breathed a sigh of relief. "You scared me for a second there."

Lin Qian watched the two with interest. She knew Qin Dingdong's specialty was portraying herself as a full-of-holes con artist, but her deceptions often hid within those very flaws.

The more you thought you'd caught her slip-up, the more likely you were to fall into her trap.

Whether Su Shan had seen through Qin Dingdong's little scheme or not, she simply urged everyone to gather their spirits and set off again.

In today's five "Ren Ji" games, Su Shan had shone brightly. She seemed to be deliberately aligning her thinking with Qi Xia's, her ideas leaping unpredictably and often involving bold gambles that made others frown.

For instance, right now, she was relying on "fate" to seek out a "Di Ji" game.

Not to mention this little street alley—even if you searched specifically, bad luck could mean hours of effort.

But fate doesn't always follow your plans.

When the group spotted the incredibly gaunt dog-headed figure quietly squatting at the corner, their expressions changed.

This person was dressed differently from other "Di Ji" figures; he was bare-chested with his suit jacket worn over it, exposing his muscular, dog-furred abs as he lounged lazily on the ground.

"Is that a 'Di Gou'?" Qin Dingdong whispered.

Lin Qian suddenly recalled her first real team-up with Qi Xia, which had been in a "Di Gou" game called "Messenger."

Unfortunately, this "Di Gou" looked different from the previous one—it was a breedless brown short-haired hound, appearing exceptionally alert.

"Uh..." The "Di Gou" paused, looking at the four women standing before him, and said expressionlessly, "Ladies, this isn't good... I'm about to clock out."