The ghost fire repeated the rules:

“A woman surnamed Li, who carries bones from the east of the village to the west, then from the west back to the east, day after day without ceasing — if you can make her stop, you shall prevail.”

Bai Youwei was exasperated. “As an arbitrator, aren’t you going to explain that?”

The ghost fire was silent.

Of course it could have put things more plainly. But it suspected that Bai Youwei’s repeated demands for clarification were a ploy to find loopholes in the game.

And it absolutely could not give her that opportunity!

This was no ordinary player. It had to be careful, extremely careful — it must not follow in the footsteps of those other arbitrators who had already suffered at her hands.

The ghost fire cautiously retreated a little.

Bai Youwei was baffled. “Why are you moving so far away?”

The ghost fire said: “The rules have been presented. Then… I wish you good luck…”

As it spoke, the flame trembled, and it abruptly vanished — leaving behind only a scattering of tiny sparks, glowing faintly along the path like dim guiding lights.

Bai Youwei was thoroughly annoyed. “That is completely irresponsible!”

Du Lai’s girlfriend said, “Why does it feel like it just turned tail and fled…”

Du Lai said, “That’s just the nature of this arbitrator — it appears and disappears without warning. It may show up again later.”

Shen Mo frowned and looked at the distant sparks. “For now, let’s follow the ghost fire. The actual game area should be just up ahead.”

The four of them had nothing more to say to each other. They exchanged glances, then set off in the direction indicated by the sparks.

The tiny pale-green flames drifted in the air. Each time they passed one, it winked out behind them, leading them forward. Without their noticing, the path carried them deep into the dense forest.

The drizzle had not stopped. Because the trees were thick and their foliage dense, the forest was actually drier than outside.

Visibility was dim. Shen Mo gripped the wheelchair handles and said quietly:

“This game’s rules are a little vague, but at least it’s clear enough that it isn’t a competitive format.”

If it wasn’t competitive, then everyone could let their guard down — for now.

Bai Youwei was distinctly unhappy about this. “Not just ‘a little vague’ — it’s hopelessly vague! Classical Chinese can be interpreted in so many different ways; it’s the easiest kind of language to play word games with. What does ‘without ceasing’ mean? When it says ‘her,’ does it refer to the bone-carrying woman, or someone else? And ‘if you can make her stop’ — what does ‘her’ refer to there? Does it mean stopping the act of carrying bones entirely, or is it enough just to make the bone-carrying woman herself stop? The arbitrator should have explained this, and instead it *ran away*!”

“Classical Chinese needs to be understood in the context of its atmosphere and background,” Shen Mo reassured her. “Maybe once we get there, we’ll understand what’s going on.”

Bai Youwei thought about it, then turned her head toward Du Lai’s girlfriend. “Hey — the Minnan opera piece you mentioned just now, what is its story?”

The black-robed woman had been complaining to Du Lai about not being able to see the path through the black cloth over her head. When she heard Bai Youwei’s question, her attention split — her foot caught on something, and she stumbled, nearly falling.

She was furious, and immediately tried to tear the black cloth off her head, only to have Du Lai clamp it down with both hands.

“Miaoxue,” Du Lai called her name, his expression grave. “Don’t make trouble.”

The black-robed woman grew even angrier. “It’s pitch black in here, and I’ve got black cloth over my face — how am I supposed to walk?! I’m not sitting in a wheelchair! If you’re so capable, carry me on your back!”

Du Lai looked at her for a moment, then bent down. “Alright, I’ll carry you.”

“GET AWAY FROM ME!!!” She didn’t accept it in the slightest, and shoved him away with remarkable force. Du Lai stumbled and fell, landing in the mud and making a complete mess of himself.

“Am I really so shameful?! Then why did you save me?! Why?! Wouldn’t it have been better to just let me die?!”

She was erratic, shrieking hysterically:

“I’m telling you — I *will* make a scene! I’m not afraid of them seeing me!!!”

“Fu Miaoxue!” Du Lai snarled through gritted teeth, scrambling to his feet to stop her — but it was too late!

The soaked black cloth was torn off by force, revealing the woman’s true face —

—