Chapter 30: The Rat

"Bloody hell, another nutjob." Qiao Jiajin spat on the ground. "Stay here long enough and we'll all end up cracked." 

The old man's antics had left Qi Xia visibly unsettled. 

"You okay?" Lin Qin asked. 

"Fine." Qi Xia steadied himself. "These lunatics won't stop me. I'm going for the trials. You don't have to follow." 

"I'm with you." Lin Qin stepped forward. "Whatever trial you choose." 

Qi Xia froze mid-stride, turning with an icy stare that made Lin Qin shrink back. 

"What... what's wrong?" 

"Motives, Lin Qin." His voice cut like winter wind. "What's yours?" 

"Motives?" She blinked. "Do I need one?" 

His gaze intensified. "Why cling to me? You should be with the other group. We're not your kind." 

Lin Qin offered a faint smile. "I told you - you fascinate me. I want to understand how you think." 

"My wife's name is Yu Nian'an." The words tumbled out like shrapnel. "She suffered for me. Endured hell. She's my reason to breathe. Clear enough for you?" 

"Crystal." 

"Then why still trail me?" 

Lin Qin lowered her gaze. "Sorry... I can't leave. Not yet." 

Qi Xia studied her - no obvious deceit, yet an impenetrable wall. "Suit yourself," he muttered, resuming his march. 

Qiao Jiajin fell into step beside him. "Deal stands, con man. Your brains, my brawn." 

"Got someone waiting too?" 

"Yeah." The brawler cracked his knuckles. "Not keen on dying, but sitting around's worse." 

"Then know this." Qi Xia's voice turned clinical. "If it comes down to one survivor? I'll ditch you without blinking." 

"You're cold as a fishmonger's slab." Qiao Jiajin snorted. "No wonder you've got no mates." 

Behind them, Sweetie stared at her shoes. 

Everyone had purpose. 

Even if she escaped... 

Back to dim rooms and sweaty clients. Back to being merchandise. 

Maybe death here wasn't the worst option. 

"Sweetie?" Lin Qin touched her arm. 

"Nothing." 

They reached a street of crumbling row houses. A masked figure leaned against a splintered doorframe - smaller than previous enforcers, reeking of mildew. 

"Rat-man?" Qiao Jiajin called. 

The mask tilted. "Not Rat-man. *Human* Rat." A woman's voice, honeyed yet hollow. 

"Same difference, you daft rodent." 

"Names matter here." She giggled, gesturing to her hovel. "Care for a trial? Easiest in the district - only costs one *Dao*." 

Qi Xia eyed the sagging structure. "Rules?" 

Human Rat pushed open the creaking door. Warehouse shelves lined the walls, stacked with moldering crates. 

"Find the hidden *Dao* in five minutes. Win it. Fail?" She shrugged. "You lose your entry fee. No death traps, promise!" 

"Wait." Qi Xia's brow furrowed. "Zero risk? What's the catch?" 

"Perfect for practice!" Sweetie suddenly interjected. "Let me try. If I die... no loss." 

Lin Qin grabbed her arm. "What're you saying?" 

"Truth." Sweetie's smile held winter. "Out there? I'm already dead." 

Before anyone could stop her, she pressed a glowing *Dao* into Human Rat's palm and stepped into the gloom. The door slammed shut with finality. 

"Game begins." The rat-masked woman hummed. "Five minutes. Tic-toc."