Vol 2 Chapter 16.4 (2/2)

“That’s right, at least give us a reason why.”

Naturally, all 3 protested this but Guo Jia was calm as she explained. “Though I didn’t specially say it, it is obvious–” Guo Jia pointed at the 3 in turn as she continued, “Lord Zhang Liao gave the food she took to someone else without permission, Lord Lu Bu took out something that wasn’t from the cauldron to eat, Lord Zhang Fei ate someone else’s food without permission.

… She’s right though.

“That’s way too nitpicky!”

“And the carrot I took out wasn’t even for myself…”

“I didn’t give my food to General Yi De, she ate it herself.”

“Objections overturned.”

Beh–

Everyone stuck out their tongues in dissatisfaction.

But thinking about it another way, it is as she said, Yi De and the rest did violate the rules.

After a long while of protest with no results, the 3 could only give up reluctantly and head to the eating room.

And so, there were only 3 partic.i.p.ants, no survivors, left in the main hall– Me, Meng De and Yun Chang… Ah, there’s 4 including Gan Qing.

Really, I didn’t expect things would progress so quickly.

Yun Chang’s POV

Though I feel bad for my little sister and the rest, I am thankful for this situation as we can quickly enter the final stages of the game.

It was great that I managed to withstand the attack from the chilli in the first round. As expected, there’s no rainbow if there’s rain.

But I know full well, that as we closer we get to the end, the stronger the opponents that are left are.

I lowered my head and looked toward Lord Cao Cao, and saw that she still had her signature confident smile on her.

“… Maa, in any case, it’s my turn now.” Big brother seems to have regained his composure and reached into the cauldron with his chopsticks.

Actually, I had seen through big brother’s actions, and I know that he has been trawling the bottom of the cauldron in the hopes of picking a jade stone. I, too, have been cheering him on in the hopes he may be able to get out of this game safe but what was truly surprising was that even I had a hard time lifting the jade stones out.

Exactly how did Hua Tuo pick it out? Not only is it slippery, it’s also heavy. Have we all judged her wrongly? Or could it be that there’s some technique to it?

“Ah… Celery huh.” Big brother said as he took what he had picked out of the cauldron and placed it in his mouth with a look of pain.

By now, most of everyone’s ingredients has been exposed. There were some who have not admitted to any ingredients thus far, but I doubt that should pose a problem.

“Now then, next is me.” I said as I picked up my chopsticks and reached into the cauldron.

Maybe the others don’t know yet, but for me, I came to realise that there’s a small trick to this game after 4 rounds. Though I call it a trick, it is nothing more than feeling with your chopsticks. Overall, vegetable leaves are the safest, and it is easy to discern their somewhat crunchy feel.

But… Vegetable leaf, vegetable leaf… Why are there none?

I frantically swirled my chopsticks around the bronze cauldron.

Big brother’s tofu then… None either~~~

No, it’s not that there aren’t any anymore… It’s that all the vegetable leaves have disintegrated into the soup.

Who did it?!

I looked angrily at Lord Cao Cao, who only smiled in response. But with this smile, I finally understood what went on.

Lord Cao Cao has destroyed all the vegetable leaves before I noticed!

I really cannot underestimate her huh~~ As expected, she is a strong opponent.

Eh! No choice, if it’s like this, I can only choose between the spicy gingers or the carrots that are swollen from absorbing the soup.

As I thought so, my chopsticks chanced upon something– A carrot.

No way about it– Ahen.

Geh, no matter how many times I eat it, the taste of the soup if really unbearable. Even though I’m someone who likes strong tasting foods, I simply can’t stand this somewhat sourish thing and feel nausea every time I eat.

“My turn now.” Meng De said as she picked up her chopsticks.

For the past few rounds, there has been one point that has been bugging me.

Why? Why has Lord Cao Cao– Why does she always get the tofu that big brother put inside the cauldron?!

Meng De’s POV

— Tofu, good.

It’s only the fourth round but so many have already retired due to all the dangerous foods and special events such that only 3 of us are left.

Of course, I didn’t actually arrange for all of this. Don’t think that I always use schemes for everything. I actually adhere to the principle of fairness in compet.i.tions.

But though fairness is important, compet.i.tion is the key.

I looked at Guan Yu. From her expression, seems like she doesn’t understand why I always get tofu each time. Maa, I don’t blame her, not being able to tell why is quite normal.

As for how I did it, well, it’s actually quite simple. I had moved all the tofu to my side from the very beginning.

The structure of the bronze cauldron consists of a stove in the center with a circular metal plate around the stove. It is in this metal plate which we stir our ingredients. Since Yun Chang sits opposite me, she can never reach to the part of the plate in front of me.

And I, of course, can get the tofu easily.

The amount of tofu left at this point should be sufficient to last me for a few more rounds so as long as luck runs out for Xuan De and Guan Yu, this game is mine.

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