Players, Please Board the Train

”Gambling is a fairer game compared to others.” The doctor pressed down on the playing cards on the table. ”Before the cards are revealed, adults, children, men, women, the strong, and the weak all stand on equal footing. Only when the cards are flipped do both sides have the capital to compete.”

”If you were holding cards that would definitely make you lose, what would you do?”

”Pretend my cards are great and make others surrender on their own.” A childish voice answered.

”That only works on people less clever than you. Those as smart as you won’t fall for it.” The doctor added a candy to the table. ”You can increase your stakes.”

”But my cards are so small, I’ll definitely lose.” The child’s voice carried confusion.

”Someone as smart as you would think the same way.” The doctor said: ”However, if the opponent’s cards are truly excellent, you can only lose this round.”

”I lost all my candy.” The cards in view flipped over, and the candy was taken by the doctor.

”The joy of gambling lies in the possibility of both winning and losing.” The doctor’s blurred face seemed to smile as he covered two more cards on the table. ”The weak can defeat the strong.”

Small hands flipped the two cards over, shouting with delight: ”I won!”

The candy returned to the tabletop.”But Doctor, if it’s only about losing, it’s not fun at all.”

”So you must try your best to win, especially during important moments.” The doctor said with a laugh.

Small hands unwrapped the candy, and its sweetness immediately spread. The child mumbled indistinctly: ”If I beat you, Doctor, will you hit me?”

”I might, or I might not.” The doctor turned to fetch a beautiful glass bottle, pouring out a differently colored candy from it. ”After eating the red candy, you must eat a white one, otherwise you’ll get a headache.”

Small hands reached out to grasp the white candy, the child laughing: ”Doctor, this medicine is so sweet...”

...

Xu Huo abruptly opened his eyes, encountering the daylight outside and instinctively raising a hand to shield them.

The empty bottle of Dream Fulfillment Serum still sat on the bedside. He had slept until noon, yet instead of feeling less fatigued upon waking, he had a splitting headache.

Getting up to wash his face in the bathroom, he looked at his reflection in the mirror, his mood hitting rock bottom.

When he uttered those words about gambling in the Hundred-Person Art Gallery, he had vaguely sensed something was wrong. He felt those words had been spoken to him by someone else, yet no such person existed in his memories.

Similarly, last night’s dream should have occurred during his hospitalization for observation. The consulting room’s decor matched his memories, but he had no recollection of the doctor, the card table, or the pills. These seemed grafted into his consciousness out of thin air.

Taking out the bent Identification Fork, he spun it halfway and stabbed it fiercely into his own arm. A holographic projection appeared before the mirror:

”A healthy male with well-proportioned body fat, free of any toxins, with a long-term medication history. Harmless if consumed.”

”However, cannibalism violates human ethics and culinary principles. Not recommended for consumption.”

If the item wasn’t malfunctioning, then his memories were the problem.

But he knew his memories had no gaps; events flowed continuously and logically from one to the next... Someone had tampered with his memories!

A sound came from behind. Xu Huo whirled around.

Yu Qingqing was startled by his gaze. ”What’s wrong with you? You look like you want to eat someone!”

The intensity in his eyes faded. Xu Huo wiped water droplets from his face. ”Aren’t you supposed to be in training?”

”I applied with the team leader. I can train in Ting City from now on.” Yu Qingqing looked at him. ”You slept so long, are you okay?”

”Perfectly fine.” Xu Huo dried his face with a towel. ”Have you eaten?”

”I saved food for you. Double portion.” Yu Qingqing said immediately.

”Lichun didn’t eat any, right? Don’t cook anymore in the future.” Xu Huo said bluntly. ”It tastes terrible.”

Yu Qingqing looked thoroughly displeased but went out to get her wallet anyway.

In the living room, Yuan Yao was playing games with the Painting Woman. Seeing Xu Huo come out, he greeted him cheerfully.

Xu Huo gave a slight nod.

”Going out to eat? My treat.” Yuan Yao stood up, beaming brightly. ”Consider it a welcome for your cousin.”

Yu Qingqing ignored him, changed into high heels, and left.

The Painting Woman’s eyes lit up at the mention of eating out. Immediately forgetting her grudge with Yu Qingqing, she affectionately went to link arms with her. Yu Qingqing couldn’t shake her off, so the two left pressed closely together.

Yuan Yao watched their departing figures with envy, making appreciative sounds. ”Xu Huo, the quality of cousins in your family is just too good. Got any more sisters to spare me one?”

Xu Huo glanced at him. ”Those two aren’t blood-related to me.”

Yuan Yao chuckled. ”Of course I know that! How happy it would be to wake up every day seeing two beautiful sisters fighting!”

Xu Huo saw the two outside, one pulling the other’s hair while the other twisted her wrist, neither willing to let go despite their grimaces. Turning back to look at Yuan Yao’s infatuated grin, he said: ”If your mental health isn’t good, seek treatment at the hospital early.”

Yuan Yao looked horrified. ”This is how a normal man should be!”

Xu Huo couldn’t be bothered with him and entered the elevator first.

The group found a star-rated restaurant. With three players plus the Painting Woman whose stomach was a bottomless pit, the kitchen couldn’t keep up with how fast they ate. Soon the hotel manager came over, offering two bottles of fine wine and enthusiastically offering to comp the meal.

”No need, money’s no object!” Yuan Yao waved a grand hand, throwing several cards on the table. ”I’m hosting this welcome for my cousin! No one steals my thunder!”

Yu Qingqing punched through his bank card with one fist. ”Who’s your cousin?”

Yuan Yao didn’t seem bothered at all, adding: ”A little temper makes a girl even cuter.”

Yu Qingqing inhaled sharply and leaned back. ”I want to kill you.”

Yuan Yao seemed to recall something unpleasant and quickly retracted his smile, saving face by shifting closer to the Painting Woman. ”Cousin, you’re formidable. I was joking, don’t be angry.”

The Painting Woman good-naturedly gave him a smile and pointed at the dishes on the table.

”Just say the word, Sister Lichun!” Yuan Yao simply moved the entire plate of food in front of the Painting Woman.

Just then, Xu Huo’s phone rang. He answered it and said: ”In the private room on the third floor. Come up.”

Shortly after, Zhou Ning, with her two long braids, and the slender Hu Wenhu entered the room.

”Brother Xu.” Hu Wenhu greeted them, his gaze shifting away uncomfortably when he saw the Painting Woman.

”Sit down and have something to eat.” Xu Huo asked the server to bring more bowls and chopsticks.

Zhou Ning thanked him but didn’t seem very enthusiastic.

Xu Huo noticed both were wearing plain, somber-colored clothes and didn’t say much, but Yuan Yao asked about the others.

During the previous confrontation with the Holy Sword Society, Zhou Ning and the others had cooperated with them, so they were somewhat acquainted.

”Didn’t make it out of the game.” Zhou Ning rubbed her bloodshot eyes, holding back tears.

Xu Huo handed her a tissue. ”My condolences.”

”It’s nothing,” Zhou Ning said: ”We’ve been in the game for months now. I was mentally prepared long ago.”

Every player carried their life on their belt. Dying any day wasn’t surprising. It was just that a life could begin without conclusion, its final whereabouts unknown, making it hard not to feel the sorrow for one’s own kind.