Chapter 613: The Same Destination

Renhou was somewhat perplexed by the true intentions of the three individuals before him. They clearly possessed a winning strategy for his game, yet they chose to abandon it now. Weren't they here to earn "Dao" as well?

"Renhou..." Xiao Cheng turned back before departing and looked at him. "Can you tell me where the nearest 'Di Hou' is?"

"'Di Hou'..." Renhou's eyes narrowed slightly behind his mask, and he inquired in a level tone, "Are you overestimating yourselves? Merely because you can see through my game, do you believe you can defeat 'Di Hou'?"

"I know the difficulty of 'Ren Ji' and 'Di Ji' are on entirely different levels, but I am willing to try," Xiao Cheng stated.

"Then you..."

Before Renhou could finish, a faint bell chimed from the distance.

Tian Tian and Xiao Cheng both froze for a moment, then quickly grasped the situation and looked down at Zheng Yingxiong.

Zheng Yingxiong sighed softly and shook his head. "That's not my brother's 'Hui Xiang' echoing, but my sister's 'Hui Xiang' that has vanished."

Upon hearing this, a hint of disappointment flickered across their faces, but Renhou's expression turned strange.

Xiao Cheng snapped back to attention and looked at Renhou. "So... can you tell us the location of 'Di Hou'?"

Renhou didn't answer immediately. He glanced down at Zheng Yingxiong beside him and then asked, "Just what is this child...?"

Xiao Cheng turned back to look at Tian Tian, only to see her shake her head.

"I don't know," Tian Tian replied. "I simply happened to encounter this child on the road."

Renhou pondered for a long time before speaking. "If I tell you the location of 'Di Hou', will this child be going with you?"

The question caught Tian Tian and Xiao Cheng off guard, as they hadn't discussed it beforehand.

"Little brother." Tian Tian squatted down and asked softly, "The next game site we're heading to is extremely perilous. Do you still wish to come with us?"

"Mm." Zheng Yingxiong nodded. "Jiejie, I want to grow."

"Grow?"

"I want to become stronger and be a real 'Yingxiong'." Zheng Yingxiong reached up to adjust the newspaper crown on his head. "So, regardless of how dangerous the situation is, I must go. It's my opportunity to train myself."

Tian Tian had originally intended to persuade him further, but considering Zheng Yingxiong's earlier demeanor, she suddenly felt that everything he said was genuine.

Although his actions were a bit peculiar, he didn't seem like an ordinary child.

"In that case..." Tian Tian turned to look at Xiao Cheng, then at Renhou.

"As long as you agree to take him, I will tell you the location of 'Di Hou'," Renhou said with a smile. "But with one condition: no matter when you participate in 'Di Hou's game, you must come back and see me."

"What...?"

Renhou stepped forward and leaned in close to Xiao Cheng's ear. At that moment, Xiao Cheng caught the scent of decay from his mask.

"This child is very useful," Renhou whispered with a light laugh, his voice barely audible. "I want him to tell me... whether 'Di Hou' has 'Hui Xiang'."

Xiao Cheng's eyes widened slowly at these words.

Di Hou... 'Hui Xiang'?

"The address of 'Di Hou' is on this piece of paper. Safe travels, I won't see you off," Renhou said as he handed a slip of paper to Xiao Cheng. He patted Xiao Cheng's shoulder, his face full of ambitious expression.

The three exchanged glances, their faces full of confusion, and departed.

"By the way..."

As the three were about to go downstairs, Renhou called out to them.

"What...?" Xiao Cheng asked.

"'Di Hou's game site is utterly captivating—highly addictive, you might say. I suggest you go first thing tomorrow morning; otherwise, you won't gain the advantage." Renhou waved his hand. "I look forward to your triumphant return."

"'Liu Lian Wang Fan'...?" Xiao Cheng and Tian Tian both found it strange to use that idiom for a deadly 'Di Ji' game.

Seeing that Renhou had nothing more to say, the three headed down the stairs and left his game site.

They checked the time of day and considered it carefully. In the end, they decided to return to their base to rest, as it was getting close to evening. They had already expended too much energy during "Tian Ma Shi Ke," so the most prudent choice was to conserve their strength and set out the next day to find 'Di Hou'.

...

Chen Junan and Qiao Jijia had been wandering with the map for a long time and felt they had reached the 'Di Hou' game site, but they couldn't spot any "Sheng Xiao" on the street.

"Damn..." Qiao Jijia scratched his head and looked around. "This place is so quiet. Is there really a 'Di Ji' here?"

"I'm a bit baffled too," Chen Junan said, furrowing his brow in confusion. "But that big rat wouldn't have any reason to lie to us, right?"

The two fell silent, standing there blankly. Already somewhat lost, they now felt even more uncertain of what to do.

"Say..." Qiao Jijia suddenly had an idea. "Jun Nan Zi, do you think 'Di Hou's shop might be closed?"

"Closed for the day? Hiss..." Chen Junan scratched his head as well. "That can't be, right? Then we'd look like total fools. And we don't even have anyone to ask."

"How about we come back early tomorrow?" Qiao Jijia suggested.

"Good grief." Chen Junan felt the situation was awkwardly uncomfortable. "Old Qiao, don't you think we look like customers rushing to buy something, all excited to get to the store, and hey, the owner just up and closed shop."

"Even if it's not closed... we probably couldn't handle it anyway?" Qiao Jijia said with an embarrassed smile. "'Hou Zi'—are they all really that smart?"

"You're making me not dare to agree with that at all," Chen Junan said, wagging a finger. "When it comes to 'smart,' in this world, I only acknowledge Lao Qi as number one, and then me. Any big 'Hou Zi' has to step aside for me."

Qiao Jijia blinked, looking a bit confused.

"But don't get down, Old Qiao. When it comes to 'fighting,' you're definitely the boss around here," Chen Junan said, patting Qiao Jijia's shoulder. "And right after you, it's me..."

Before he could finish, Chen Junan hesitated and added, "Wait, actually, there's that brat Zhang Shan too..."

"Jun Nan Zi... aren't we still trying to find 'Di Hou' right now?"

"Oh, right, don't change the subject." Chen Junan said, "How did we end up talking about Lao Qi and Zhang Shan?"

"I..." Qiao Jijia licked his lips, feeling a bit wronged.

As the two were chatting, they suddenly heard a commotion from not far away.