Should this be called good fortune or misfortune?

Qi Xia had consecutively drawn the “life card” and “death card” within two rounds.

The face of the “death card” was an alarm clock.

Above the alarm clock were clearly written the two words “Death Card.”

And below the card was a line of very small text.

“When this card is played, two other hand cards must be discarded. Both sides are forced to rest for five minutes. The ‘Strategist’ may meet with the ‘Fighter.'”

“What?” Qi Xia frowned and read this passage again. Although he understood the meaning of these words, he couldn’t fathom the significance of this “death card.”

Playing this card actually required discarding two additional cards.

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

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

Moreover, this card stated very clearly that what he got in exchange for discarding two hand cards was “forced rest for both sides.”

The opponent would gain an opportunity to discuss tactics with their “Fighter” without any losses.

Playing this card would increase their own side’s probability of death. Was this the “death card”?

Qi Xia looked up at Su Shan.

She was also slightly frowning.

Qi Xia thought to himself—there was only one “death card,” so why would her expression change?

This could only indicate one situation: she had really drawn the “life card.”

She had discovered that the “life card” was actually a handgun, and at this moment she was hesitating in her heart.

What came next would most likely be “life card” versus “life card.”

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

“Not good…”

Qi Xia looked at his “life card” again.

If he and the opponent simultaneously played their “life cards,” what was the probability that Doctor Zhao would survive?

“Wait… a handgun?”

A thought suddenly lingered constantly in Qi Xia’s mind.

After a moment, he raised his head, feeling as if some idea had opened up within him.

To win this game… it didn’t rely on the “life card”!

Su Shan took out a card at this time and placed it face-down on the table, saying: “Let’s begin. I’ve chosen.”

Qi Xia pondered for a while, his expression darkening, then simultaneously pulled out three cards.

The “death card” and two “stones.”

To win, he must play the “death card”!

The “death card” was the key to winning this game!

The “Strategist” must tell the Fighter the contents of the “life card”!

“Three cards?” Su Shan was slightly startled when she saw Qi Xia’s play. The rules had never mentioned being able to play three cards at once.

Earth-Chicken nodded from the side and said: “Please reveal your cards.”

The two flipped over their cards. Su Shan had played a “Stick.”

Qi Xia had played a “Death Card.”

She took Qi Xia’s “death card” with some confusion and looked at it, reading the text on it several times with a completely puzzled expression.

“Forced rest?”

“Someone has played the ‘death card.’ The game enters rest phase.” Earth-Chicken waved his hand, and the door to the glass room opened.

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

“What’s going on… Qi Xia…” Doctor Zhao still looked very agitated. “How is there rest time?”

“Doctor Zhao, if you have any means… use them now while you can,” Qi Xia looked around and said indifferently. “If you don’t use them now, there won’t be another chance.”

“I…” Doctor Zhao awkwardly bit his teeth. “Qi Xia, I won’t hide it from you. I do have means, but I can’t use them now.”

“What do you need?”

“I need…” Doctor Zhao slowly lowered his head. “I need a woman.”

“Fuck, I really shouldn’t have asked you…” Qi Xia cursed in a low voice. “Forget it. Long story short, I have a few things to explain to you. This is our only chance to communicate.”

“What else needs communicating?” Doctor Zhao asked. “You’ve already drawn the ‘knife,’ right? Give it to me and I’ll kill him.”

“You can’t kill him,” Qi Xia said. “Unless you slit his throat with one stroke, ordinary knife wounds can’t make him die immediately.”

“One stroke… to slit his throat?” As a doctor, Doctor Zhao naturally understood what this meant.

If he only wounded the opponent with the knife, then until the game ended he wouldn’t die. The victory condition of the game was for one side’s “Fighter’s” pulse to stop beating.

This was death in the true sense. When facing a tall man who was defending with all his might and wanted to survive, killing the opponent wasn’t such an easily achieved condition.

“So what’s your idea?” Doctor Zhao asked.

“The next three rounds are crucial,” Qi Xia said. “Doctor Zhao, currently in my hand I have a ‘Handgun,’ a ‘Knife,’ and a ‘Shield.'”

…

“Zichen, how are you?” Su Shan looked at the boy before her with a worried expression.

“I’m fine…” Zichen smiled bitterly. “Su Shan, thanks to you constantly providing me with ‘weapons’ stronger than the opponent’s, I’m still okay for now.”

Su Shan discovered the opponent’s eyes looked extremely frightening. The white of his left eye already had visible cracks.

“Zichen, you don’t look too good…”

“I’m fine.” Zichen blinked, always feeling like there was sand in his eyes. “Su Shan, are there any powerful items coming next?”

“Mm…” Su Shan nodded. “My luck has been fairly good. Right now I have a ‘Handgun,’ a ‘Knife,’ a ‘Stone,’ and two ‘Ropes’ in my hand.”

“A handgun…?” Zichen paused and asked, “So do you… have a strategy?”

“I…” Su Shan pondered slightly for a while and said, “The man I’m gambling against is very intelligent. I’m not sure if I can beat him.”

“It’s alright, Su Shan. I believe in you.” Zichen nodded. “Just do what you think is right. Even if we lose, I have no complaints.”

“But if we lose, we’ll die,” Su Shan said with a dejected expression.

“Without you leading me out of that room, I would have died already,” Zichen said. “No matter what the opponent’s tactics are, give me the ‘knife.’ Even if he has the ‘handgun,’ I’m confident I can kill him.”

Su Shan’s eyes flickered for a moment, then she nodded and said: “I understand.”

The five minutes passed in a flash. Until the time ended, Qi Xia was still explaining something to Doctor Zhao.

And Doctor Zhao already had a completely bewildered expression.

“What are you even talking about…” Doctor Zhao muttered, interrupting Qi Xia. “Is your mind really normal?”

“Trust me…” Qi Xia patted Doctor Zhao’s shoulder. “This is all we can do.”

The four people returned to their original positions.

Each person’s expression was somewhat different.

When Earth-Chicken announced “Game continues,” a stick fell from above Zichen’s head, while nothing fell above Doctor Zhao’s head.

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

Seeing this, Doctor Zhao immediately retreated several steps and began running wildly around the room.

Zichen hadn’t expected that the man who had been so aggressive several minutes ago would now take off running. He could only pick up the stick and chase after him.

But ten seconds was too short. Although Zichen caught up with Doctor Zhao, two consecutive swings of the stick were dodged by him, failing to cause any harm to the opponent.

“You actually ran away…” Zichen looked at Doctor Zhao with resentment and threw the stick into the window behind him.

“What?” Doctor Zhao gasped for breath. “If it were you… wouldn’t you run?”

“Next round I’ll make you die,” Zichen said coldly.

“Who knows who will die,” Doctor Zhao retorted, not to be outdone.

Earth-Chicken gestured again: “Seventh round, please draw a card.”