Chapter Ch117.1 - The Cycle of Karma, What Goes Around Comes Around (31.1)

translator: baumkuchen editors: glitterypanda, serefina

The four locks built into all four sides of the lid kept it firmly shut. Even if they wanted to try to pry it open, one, they didnt have the tools, two, they didnt have anything to brace themselves against each of the four boxes were fixed in their spots in the four corners of the room, and three, no one dared break them.

With the precedent of Gan Tang right before their eyes, how would they still dare to take the initiative to rush into action? They had no choice but to focus on investigating those steel panels, and try to grab onto a chance of survival from there.

Seeing Gan Yu take off his glasses, sit down cross-legged, and sketch out the best path the steel ball could take to the end point with his fingertips on the plastic partition board, Yuan Benshan also tried his hand, taking out another steel ball panel.

He was a surgeon, so his hands were much steadier than ordinary peoples, but seeing those bombs, which were densely scattered like honeycombs, his scalp was tingling, he was dripping with sweat, and his fingers were trembling uncontrollably.

Chi Xiaochi knew that he was a

game black hole

. Gan Tang was unconscious. Xu Jiayi was as self aware as Chi Xiaochi was, saying I cant do it after a glance and retreating.

After Meng Qian lifted open the lid, his face turned as ash grey as dirt. What is this?! How could we possibly do this?

Its just you who cant do it. Gan Yus tone was hard, but his words were sufficiently polite. If you cant solve it, please stand to the side.

Then, he turned. Mister Yuan, theres no need to open all four locks, just three is enough to save her. Ill deal with two, and youll deal with one. Does that work with you.

Yuan Benshan gritted his teeth. Yes.

Tears streamed down Qiao Yuns face as she tried in vain to block the water inlet. Hurry up, hurry up!

Gan Yu ignored her, turning to Chi Xiaochi and saying, Sit further away.

Chi Xiaochi ignored him.

Seeing that he wasnt moving, Gan Yus tone finally became a little more urgent. Listen to me.

Chi Xiaochi asked, Youre afraid itll blow up?

Gan Yu said, En.

Chi Xiaochi said, Its good that youre afraid.

He continued to sit by Gan Yus side. If it blows up, itll blow us both up, so its all up to you.

Gan Yus forehead was already bright with sweat. He no longer had the strength to chase Chi Xiaochi off, so he just shook his head and said, Oh, you.

With a gentle tilt of the panel, the steel ball began to roll down from its start point, bumping into the nearest wall and letting out a quiet ting.

Meng Qian felt like just standing was boring, so he could only copy what Chi Xiaochi was doing, going over to watch Yuan Benshan solve the metal ball maze.

Yuan Benshan was currently dealing with his first bomb blocking the path. The little steel ball circled around the bomb, letting out a string of little dings. Every time he heard a clink, the pressure he was feeling doubled. It was as if there was a mountain pressing down on his back, making it so that he could hardly breathe.

Dont come over. As he stared unerringly at the panel, he yelled rudely, Dont disturb me!

Meng Qian lost interest. He returned to standing next to Xu Jiayi, silently criticising, who even wants to watch you, you cold-blooded murderer, no wonder theres an evil air around your body.

Sitting against the wall, Xu Jiayi glanced over at Yuan Benshan out of the corner of his eyes. He stared for a very long time before looking away. He then leaned the back of his head against the wall, closed his eyes and waited.

Chi Xiaochi was also watching the others.

Xu Jiayis actions made his eyebrows rise slightly, but immediately after, he looked away, watching Gan Yu carefully move the little steel ball to the end point.

For a time, the room was dead silent.

However, not long after, Qiao Yun, whose life was hanging by a string, started to get anxious again.

The water had already filled the bottom of the aquarium, nearly reaching her instep.

Qiao Yun knelt down on the ground, clenched her fists, and began to bang on the wall of the aquarium. Are you done yet, ah?! You all are too slow.

Gan Yus eyebrows didnt even twitch. As he skillfully moved the steel ball to brush past the bomb, he clearly and succinctly requested, Tissue.

Chi Xiaochi understood. He grabbed one and helped him wipe the sweat off of his forehead.

He said, Thank you.

After another while, he said again, Tissue.

Chi Xiaochi realised he was sweating a bit too much. Sweat was rolling down his face like beads. However, he didnt think too much of it, just taking it to be due to the tense atmosphere, and grabbed another tissue.

When the tissue left his face, it was already soaked through.

Chi Xiaochi got up to take a look at Yuan Benshan, and sure enough, found that he too was dripping with cold sweat.

He helped wipe it off for him to keep the sweat from obscuring his vision and interfering with the solving of the steel ball maze.

Chi Xiaochi then went to check on Gan Tang. Confirming that her vital signs were still there, and were relatively stable, he let out a slight sigh of relief.

When he came back, he found that Gan Yu was holding the steel ball panel, not moving. His eyes were tightly shut, his forehead was shiny with a thin layer of sweat, and his eyelashes were trembling slightly, making him look weak to the point of making other people nervous.

Chi Xiaochi was startled. Whats wrong?

Gan Yu, his eyes still closed, said, Tissue.

The packet of tissues in Chi Xiaochis hand was running out.

He stuffed the tissue back in his pocket, took off his coat, pushed up his sleeves, and knelt down to help wipe the sweat off of Gan Yu.

Gan Yu was still as polite as ever, smiling and saying, Thank you.

Chi Xiaochi asked, Whats going on?

Gan Yu, Shh.

He turned. His appearance gave Chi Xiaochi a shock.

His originally pale lips had turned completely white. His brows were furrowed slightly, and his gorgeous features were filled with a worrisome weakness.

Chi Xiaochi pursed his lips. Can you still continue?

Gan Yu still said the same thing. Ill do my best.

Chi Xaochi, If only Tang-jie was still here.

Gan Yus words were abnormally short and forceful. Im here. Thats enough.

He closed his eyes again, then focused his gaze on the target once more. He raised his wrists slightly, adjusting the angle.

Gululu, gululu

.

The rolling of the little steel ball became a source of deadly pressure. Every soft sound of rolling felt like it was rolling over his heart.

Even though Chi Xiaochi was helping to wipe away Gan Yus sweat nonstop, gradually, he became unable to keep up with how fast the other was producing sweat.

In a moment of inattention, a drop of sweat fell onto the plastic surface of the panel, making an abnormally loud pa, causing the little steel ball in the panel to jump.

The steel ball in the panel was currently at a corner, and it needed to turn into the entrance of a one-way path. Above and below it were bombs.

And now it was just about to pass through that narrow, millimetre-wide gap.

In that instant, even Chi Xiaochis breath froze.

The sweat rolled around on the panel. Even wiping it off might affect the movement of the steel ball inside, so no one dared to try to wipe it.

While Gan Yu had stopped breathing as he adjusted the direction the steel ball was moving in, behind him, Qiao Yun began to bang loudly on the inside of the aquarium. There was already a hint of tears in her voice. How are you guys not done yet?!

The water had already passed her knees. She had no choice but to stand up, banging everywhere around her, trying to find a path to escape.

Compared to the Qiao Yun who had previously decisively doomed Jia Siyuan to her death just a short while ago, she was like a completely different person.

The frequent banging made Gan Yus eyebrows furrow.

He leaned forward slightly, and said to Chi Xiaochi, Get her to be quiet.

Chi Xiaochi accepted his order. He walked over to the aquarium and knocked back thrice.

He said, If you want to die a few seconds later, I have a suggestion for you.

He pointed at that still-rising water level. Drink water. Drink as much as you can drink.

Gan Yu smiled, thinking, sure enough, thats Chi Xiaochis style.

As he thought this, with a slight tilt of his hand, the steel ball nimbly avoided the two bombs around it and rolled into the safe passage that was a mere few millimetres wide.

Only then, did he straighten back from where he was leaning forward.

Fortunately, Chi Xiaochi had left.

Gan Yu didnt know the real power of the bombs. If he made a mistake, the only thing he could do was to shield the bomb beneath his body. Whether it would affect people who were further away, he didnt know.

Thankfully, hed gotten through safely.

When Yuan Benshan had gotten the steel ball about halfway through the maze, he heard Gan Yu let out a deep sigh.

At the same time, a soft click could be heard from the aquarium.

Qiao Yun, who had had her head lowered gulping water down all this time, acted like shed been saved, reaching out a hand and pressing hard against the lid.

But theyd only opened one lock, so the lid couldnt be lifted.

Gan Yu stably placed the steel ball panel back into the box, closed the lid, then supported his hands against it, trying to get up.

However, after just getting off the ground, he fell back down. A few drops of sweat hit the ground in a rain of plops. Fortunately, Chi Xiaochi caught him around the waist in time.

He defended himself, My legs are numb.

Chi Xiaochi looked at his right leg, which he wasnt daring to put pressure on. En.

Gan Yu said, Take me to the next box.

Chi Xiaochi, En.

sere: damn Qiao Yun is annoying

baum: i mean to be fair to her, shes probably really frightened and guilty. being a little hysterical is kinda understandable.

anyways, I noticed that a bunch of you were confused by the layout of the first room, so i drew out a rough layout of the room for yall. (

here

)