Chapter 9

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Chapter 9: The End of This Couple

"No, darn it! Why did I sacrifice my finger for that woman? I haven’t even kissed her yet, we’re just ordinary acquaintances with matching couple names. I want to become a musician, and once I do, I can have any woman I want! Darn it, darn it! Cut her, give her a slash quickly!"

Maybe it was because of the previous argument, maybe it was because he couldn’t stand not being able to get close, maybe it was because of Bai Qige’s Soul Interference, which amplified his negative emotions. At this moment, Chu Mushan broke down quickly and started screaming madly.

"Tsk, that’s settled then. I even specially designed three choices to make you feel extremely painful! You brat, wasting my time!"

The mocking smile in his heart turned into a scornful grin. Bai Qige approached Yuan Jingxiang and calmly said, "Love, it never survives tests. Countless expectations, countless disappointments, and in the end, all you get is tears full of pain and sorrow. Now it’s your turn to make a choice. After Chu Mushan’s choice, I am about to strike a blow on your delicate face, leaving a mark from your left temple to your right jaw, completely turning your beauty into ugliness like Zhong Wuyan…"

After a pause, a cold voice rang out, "From now on, the only thing you can rely on is your kind and courageous heart, provided that you can forgive Chu Mushan for what he has done! Now, I give you a chance. You can request, plead, promise benefits, make one person in the group step forward: a woman to endure the disfiguring cut for you, or a man to have their Achilles tendons cut and bear a lifetime of limping pain. So, let’s begin. Let me see who is willing to bear the pain of disfigurement to save a friend, and who is willing to trade a lifelong limping for your lifetime of smiles!"

Yuan Jingxiang felt extremely distressed by Chu Mushan’s choice. As a sentimental woman, deep down she hoped that the great hero would be willing to bear all the pain and wounds for her. But when Chu Mushan chose to sacrifice her appearance for the safety of his own finger, she gave up on this man completely. Looking around, everyone avoided her gaze.

Before the heartbreaking choice with a steep price, the best friends who had pledged to be together for life, and the men who admired their beauty, all retreated. Human cruelty was undoubtedly revealed in this moment, influenced by Bai Qige continually amplifying their negative emotions through Soul Interference. However, for those truly courageous, they could always shine with humanity’s brilliance in crucial moments, though there were no moral exemplars present at this moment.

"Is there anyone willing to step forward? If not, the True Love Test game will end at this moment. There is no genuine love between any of you, only foolish and immature hormone-driven impulses!"

Just as Yuan Jingxiang was about to collapse, a male student with his hands and feet bound stumbled and rolled over. Yuan Jingxiang, seeing this, let out an incredulous exclamation.

"Ye Daxiong, you…"

"You useless fellow finally showed up," Bai Qige was very displeased. He used Soul Interference to amplify the negative emotions of everyone in the scene, except for this guy. Instead, he kept magnifying his positive emotions. But even so, this guy still arrived late, only entering at the last moment. Of course, it was not because Ye Daxiong wanted to show off, but because this guy was naturally timid and cowardly, finally stepping forward now!

"I… I, I am willing to take Jingxiang’s place!" With a stammering tone and a look of imminent collapse, but still managed to force out these words.

"Very good, your stepping forward showed me the necessity of continuing this True Love Test. Now, please tell me, by stepping forward, are you willing to trade a lifetime of being crippled for Yuan Jingxiang to regain his youthful appearance? What are you doing it for? Please don’t deceive me, I have conducted detailed investigations on all of you. Lies will only lead to bloodshed!"

"I… I like Jingxiang…" Blushing, under Bai Qige’s Soul Interference, Ye Daxiong surprisingly had courage and shouted loudly. Bai Qige nodded, turned to the incredulous Yuan Jingxiang, and said:

"How interesting. He is your childhood sweetheart, you grew up together since childhood. But as far as I know, he is not in your heart at all. The reason is simple, he is plain-looking, poorly built, lacks talent in speech, has very poor athletic abilities, and lacks charm. The only thing going for him is his wealthy family, but unfortunately, you are also rich, so you don’t care about his background, and naturally, not about him as a person either! But today, standing up, only he, with loving intentions, is willing to protect you. Will it be the frog’s final leap or the hero’s emergence, remains to be seen. The choice now returns to you. Are you touched?"

Before Yuan Jingxiang could respond, Bai Qige continued, "Yes, from your face, I can see that you are moved by Ye Daxiong’s love, even though he is still so ugly, with no abilities or qualities. But in your eyes now, he is the hero coming on a colorful cloud. So, here’s the question, what are you willing to sacrifice for the hero’s selfless dedication? Is it the pride of living purely, or the regret of falling with no remorse? True love is a mutual effort, no one can forever take without giving back. I have a knife here, which was supposed to be used to cut off Ye Daxiong’s Achilles tendon. But now, I’m willing to hand it over to you, to give Chu Mushan a cut. Use your bloody and sinful hands to save your hero. If you can’t do it, your hero will be crippled for life. Or, be brave and fight me, end this game! Choose!"

Removing the ropes from Yuan Jingxiang’s hands, dropping the knife in front of her, with a mocking smile, Bai Qige waited for her decision. One swing of this knife could lead Yuan Jingxiang and Chu Mushan not only to break up, but also to become sworn enemies.

The plan to separate Chu Mushan and Yuan Jingxiang had reached this stage, with no way out. Though ruthless and unethical, the results were excellent.

Emotions and rationality were in a fierce struggle. Yuan Jingxiang made a difficult decision after a while, stumbling towards Chu Mushan with a pale face.

"Are you crazy? Are you planning to attack me for that stupid guy? Jingxiang, Jingxiang, calm down. Do you remember what I said to you on your birthday a couple of days ago? I said I’m willing to be your wings, to let you be a pure and flawless angel for life. And don’t forget the pink diamond ring I worked hard to get for you!"

"But Ye Daxiong waited outside my house until midnight, then he handed me a wooden carving he spent a month making. He has been doing this for ten years!" Yuan Jingxiang cried.

With a swift motion, blood splattered. Bai Qige couldn’t help but sigh, women are truly miraculous creatures. Ignoring this affection before, now he felt it was precious and once turned hostile, they can be ruthless indeed, a strange kind of emotional creature.

However, it has to be said, Yuan Jingxiang, born into a family of doctors, has excellent knife skills. With one cut, she perfectly avoided the blood vessels and danger points. It seemed terrifying, but it was only a superficial wound. This scene reminded Bai Qige of a story he had heard before.

A female senior at a medical school took up a scalpel to punish her cheating boyfriend, stabbing him twenty-three times. Each stab avoided vital organs, ending up with minor injuries after examination in the hospital.

If Yuan Jingxiang were to practice more, she might reach the level of stabbing without causing harm, Bai Qige really doesn’t see a bright future for Ye Daxiong’s married life.

After stabbing Chu Mushan, Yuan Jingxiang dropped the knife, ran unsteadily to Ye Daxiong, hugged him and cried softly. Surprisingly, Ye Daxiong looked extremely delighted now. If this mission wasn’t about fulfilling him, Bai Qige would have stabbed him to show that every inch of fate comes with a price!

The game wasn’t over yet. Bai Qige ran to Chu Mushan, who was stabbed once and now screaming in anguish.

"Your ugliness, your foolishness, your lowliness, make me laugh. Your choice to sacrifice your girlfriend to save yourself made you lose her. But someone else’s brave choice will bring punishment upon you. Is this my kindness or a test of fate? Who knows. The game and test are not over yet. Throughout life, there will be many difficulties, with enemies and betrayals, maybe from others or to others. But the ending will be the same. You have two choices: first, recognize your own ugliness, admit you are a loser in this test, choose forgiveness without regret, then the game will end completely. Second, choose revenge to continue the game. Tell me, do you choose forgiveness or revenge?"

"Revenge, I will have revenge. How can I let those two wicked people off the hook? I’m telling you, even if I die, I won’t let you off the hook!"

Human nature’s collapse came so easily. Bai Qige did not interfere with Chu Mushan’s choice because the answer was already destined between his twisted brows.

Chu Mushan and Yuan Jingxiang’s breakup was essentially settled. However, if the game continues, it can ensure that they never get back together. Yuan Jingxiang seems moved by Ye Daxiong’s intervention now, but this love is only a temporary product of being touched. How long it will last or if it fulfills Ye Daxiong’s request to help him win Yuan Jingxiang, Bai Qige cannot guarantee. But one thing he is sure of is that by continuing to play and manipulating deliberately, their emotional index will surely rise rapidly.

Therefore, the game must go on!

"You are very ugly and also very crazy, but this hatred and distortion are your true colors, your most sincere emotions at this moment. But are these emotions welcomed by others? Let those who think they are spectators but actually part of the game decide!"

Walking up to the male and female students who thought they were not involved, Bai Qige declared in a cruel and icy tone:

"Challenging games are difficulties everyone must face, no one can escape. Rebirth or death, it is a choice everyone has to confront. Your companion, Chu Mushan, has decided to continue the game in exchange for his ugly and painful revenge. However, he needs your support for this wish. The knife is here, give yourself a deep cut to the bone. When the voluntarily sacrificed outnumber the others, the game will end forcibly. But if you still choose to stay out, please give Chu Mushan or that student with the timer a deep cut to the bone. Such a choice will keep the game going!"

Some cried, some trembled in fear, some even wet themselves, but the final choice was surprising. Chu Mushan endured several cuts because nobody wished to harm themselves to end the game. Bai Qige squatted down beside Chu Mushan, who was shaking in pain, and whispered:

"Revenge is painful, not only for others but also for yourself. You endure the criticism of others’ choices, but that’s not enough. To seek revenge, you must endure more pain. You have two choices: first, forgiving without regrets; second, hurting yourself to gain power for revenge against Ye Daxiong!"

"Fear and pain make people cowardly, but at a certain limit, they can also drive people crazy. Chu Mushan did just that. He took a knife and cut his arm deeply. Bai Qige approached Wild Daxiong with a bloody knife in hand: ‘Hero, when you step forward to bear the glory, don’t forget that some fall into darkness because of your light. Now, the blade from darkness comes with the intention of revenge. You have two choices: uphold the ways of a hero and give yourself ten cuts to bear all malice, or give each person who stood by idly a cut to show that no one can remain a mere spectator forever! This is punishment for their temporary cowardice."

Games, choices, balancing, fear, pain, spreading madness, expanding despair, and the gradually falling drops of blood on the blade witnessed the final outcome of this test of human nature.

"To all participants of the game, thank you for your enthusiasm. Rest assured, the wounds you’ve received are only superficial. The game ends here. First, let us show our respect to the MVP of this game, Chu Mushan, who took thirty-nine cuts and still participated ardently. His spirit is truly commendable."

"Then Bai Qige pointed at Daxiong and Jingxiang: ‘The biggest winner of this game is Ye Daxiong, who took fifteen cuts but perfectly protected Yuan Jingxiang, preventing her from any harm. Next, the shining star of this game is Yuan Jingxiang. Two-thirds of the cuts on you were from her! But let’s thank her skill with the blade, as she made you take multiple cuts but only needed one band-aid to be unscathed!"

"Lastly, Bai Qige bowed: ‘Although the True Love Test game ends here, the test isn’t over. How your relationships develop will be my focus. Remember your gains today. If you forget, maybe one day, I’ll appear again for a new assessment! And finally, thank you for your hospitality!"

Giving a slight bow to the students, now covered in blood and looking crazed, Bai Qige raised his head and took a deep breath.