Even though she had thought it through carefully, even though she had made up her mind, when she thought about the inevitable separation, unease still crept in.

It wasn’t that she had that much confidence in Shen Mo, or that Shen Mo was at ease with her — rather, after they had both talked it through, they had found that separation was necessary…

If they didn’t separate, even if they achieved early victories, they could not change the trend of gradually shifting into the disadvantaged position.

So they had to separate.

Bai Youwei let out a long, quiet sigh.

When she came back to herself, she noticed that Tan Xiao and Pan Xiaoxin were both staring at her blankly.

Pan Xiaoxin hesitated and asked: “Weiwei-jie, isn’t Yan Ge still there…?”

Tan Xiao said quietly: “Right — Yan Ge’s side has one King. Can’t we just cooperate with him? That’s better than splitting up, isn’t it…”

Bai Youwei heard this and immediately frowned. “Can it really be the same? If Shen Mo is the King and we run into each other in a game, he’d definitely surrender and yield to me. You go ask Yan Qingwen to surrender and see what happens — who knows what kind of negotiating and bargaining he’d do to squeeze us for everything we’ve got!”

Not that Yan Qingwen was a bad person — it was just that the bond between them and Yan Qingwen was not deep enough for him to willingly give up his position in the Maze War of his own accord!

Pan Xiaoxin and Tan Xiao should have understood this point as well. So why would they still say something like that?

Bai Youwei thought about it briefly and understood.

Pan Xiaoxin and Tan Xiao had no particularly strong desire to collect all the puzzle pieces. They might even… not truly understand the significance of it. So of course they would default to the more conservative approach.

Having figured this out, Bai Youwei felt a moment of quiet surprise.

…Had she taken too much for granted?

Maybe the others didn’t actually want to risk their lives over puzzle pieces. Wouldn’t it be far more comfortable to stay inside the dollhouse, day by day?

Collecting all the puzzle pieces had always been the goal of only a few… More people simply wanted to survive, to muddle along through one day at a time.

As for the truth of the world, the meaning of life, the value of existence… these lofty-sounding propositions — not everyone cared about them.

Bai Youwei sank into silent reflection.

Tan Xiao and Pan Xiaoxin looked at each other, unsure what was going on with her.

After a while, she finally spoke: “Actually… you two can forfeit. Forfeiting carries no penalty — you’d only lose your puzzle pieces…”

“That’s out of the question!” Tan Xiao suddenly blazed up with emotion. “True brothers-in-arms stand by each other through thick and thin! Forfeiting now — what would that look like?! If people found out, how would I ever hold my head up in the world again?!”

Bai Youwei: “…”

Even after all this time together, she had never been able to figure out the way Tan Xiao’s mind worked.

Real, tangible puzzle pieces couldn’t stir his interest. Yet something as intangible and nebulous as loyalty and brotherhood could always get him worked up into a passion?

What was there to get worked up about…

What a character…

Pan Xiaoxin was far more practical than Tan Xiao. He said: “I won’t forfeit either. I’m young. If I enter the war as a Subject, the other side might underestimate me — that gives us an opening to exploit.”

Tan Xiao laughed and ruffled his hair. “Not bad, Xiaoxin! Knowing how to find an opening to exploit!”

Pan Xiaoxin worked hard to shield his head from Tan Xiao’s hand. “Even if we lose… it doesn’t matter. We’d just become Commoners. But we can’t forfeit right now. Weiwei-jie is definitely going to need help in the games…”

Tan Xiao praised him again: “Excellent! Principled and loyal! You’ve got the same spirit I had back when I was blazing a trail through the world!”

Bai Youwei couldn’t help but laugh, and the heavy weight on her mood swept away completely.

Perhaps she had been thinking too narrowly. Tan Xiao and Pan Xiaoxin truly had no great desire for puzzle pieces — but in this game, they had their own reasons for being here just the same.

Bai Youwei smiled and said: “Alright then. Let’s gather our items and puzzle pieces together first, and figure out the best way to arrange them.”

The three of them brought out their individual items and puzzle pieces — odds and ends scattered across the floor.

“Huh?” Tan Xiao made a puzzled sound.

Pan Xiaoxin’s face had shifted as well, holding his item.

“What is it?” Bai Youwei looked at them, her gaze falling on the bronze mirror in Pan Xiaoxin’s hands.

She reached over and took the mirror. Her brow furrowed.

These items…

All of them — had lost their effect.

—