Ultimately, Yun Yao chose a {monkey}-category game.

The mask worn by the {Earthly Branch} at the entrance wasn’t a monkey at all, but the rotting head of a large baboon.

"Well, Qi Xia, are you brave enough to give it a try?" Yun Yao asked.

"Give it a try?" Qi Xia looked first at the baboon, then back at Yun Yao. "I’m curious about {Potent Luck}. Why don’t you give us a demonstration?"

"Have you misunderstood?" Yun Yao shook her head helplessly. "I already told you, the purpose of this team-up is to assess your strength, to prepare for the upcoming game type assignments. How did it suddenly turn into you testing me?"

The three of them didn’t know how to handle her; it seemed this idol was rather willful.

"So you’re saying you won’t intervene at all?" Qi Xia pressed.

"{Mortal Monkey} games are mostly about intelligence or dexterity. Is that really so difficult for you?" Yun Yao smiled as she asked. "If you’re willing, you can even stake your life on them."

"Life-staking challenge?" Qiao Jiajin stiffened. "You can actually stake your life here?"

Qi Xia understood now wasn’t the time for that. He wasn’t familiar with the standards of {Monkey} games. More importantly, he hadn’t activated his {Reverberation}, so gambling with his life could cost him all the information he had painstakingly gathered. With that thought, he sighed and approached the large baboon. "{Mortal Monkey}, correct?"

"Correct." Mortal Monkey nodded. "Would you like to partake in my game?"

"What are the rules?" Qi Xia asked.

"We take turns drawing {Dào} from the box, and whoever draws the last {Dào} wins. ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) The winner takes all the {Dào} on the table." Mortal Monkey’s voice sounded young, almost like a teenager, and he explained the rules clearly.

Qi Xia stroked his chin thoughtfully. "And the {admission}?"

"{Admission} is the number of {Dào you put in the box}. You can put forward as many as you wish, and I’ll match or even exceed that number."

"Wow... this is an {arbitrary admission} game," Yun Yao said, visibly pleased. "If we win, we’ll make a fortune!"

"Heavens, that’s a huge gamble!" Qiao Jiajin exclaimed, turning with excitement and calling to Yun Yao, "Leng-mui! Quick, bring out one thousand eight hundred {Dào}! If Swindler Lad wins, we can go straight home!"

"I don’t have that many," Yun Yao answered, exasperated. "I only brought a small purse—where would I get one thousand eight hundred {Dào}?"

"This cursed place would never allow someone to carry 1,800 {Dào} without being noticed by {Judgment’s Domain}..." Qi Xia muttered, then looked up at Mortal Monkey. "Monkey, how many do you have left?"

"I..." Mortal Monkey hesitated. "I can’t tell you that."

"Afraid I’ll bet your entire fortune?" Qi Xia asked.

"No matter your intentions, I won’t reveal how many {Dào} I own."

"Interesting." Qi Xia nodded. "Let’s begin."

The four of them entered the room, but since this was a {Mortal}-grade game, only Qi Xia could participate. The moment he stepped inside, he realized he’d been deceived. On the table sat not one but two boxes.

"The name of my game is {Boxed Dào}; we each deposit our {Dào} into one of these two boxes." Mortal Monkey tapped the boxes as he explained. "The number of {Dào} I place in will always be greater than yours. Once the game begins, we’ll take turns drawing {Dào} from either box, in any amount we like. But remember—the player who takes the final {Dào}, emptying both boxes, is the winner. To put it simply: the one who claims the last {Dào} wins."

Qi Xia fell into deep thought. He studied the sealed boxes, noting the narrow openings, just big enough for one hand to slip through. Clearly, the real strategy would hinge on whether you played as the {first player} or the {second player}.

"So, who goes first?" Qi Xia asked.

"We’ll decide with rock-paper-scissors," Mortal Monkey said patiently. "The winner chooses who takes the first turn. The loser chooses which box to draw from, but cannot dictate how many {Dào} are taken."

"I see..." Qi Xia nodded slowly.

Yun Yao had been watching quietly and now asked, "Qi Xia, how many do you want to bet?"

"Ten," Qi Xia answered.

"Ten?!" Yun Yao was briefly stunned. "Are you sure you can manage it?"

"More or less."

If it were just one box, Qi Xia would have been confident. But with two boxes, the uncertainty grew. The option to take any number from either box made this game very different from the {Mortal Pig}’s logical puzzle. Here, everything hinged on strategy.

"Yun Yao, the initial rock-paper-scissors is crucial," Qi Xia said quietly. "Can you use your {Potent Luck} to help me?"

"That..." Yun Yao lowered her head, looking troubled. "Sorry, I’m not sure I can."

"Alright." Qi Xia had already expected as much. "Then I’ll do it myself."

Yun Yao nodded apologetically, then began fishing {Dào} out of her bag. "Qi Xia, give me a hand."

She pulled out four and passed them to him. He couldn’t hold them in one hand, so he cupped both hands together like a bowl.

Soon after, Yun Yao found two more and kept rummaging. Her bag seemed bottomless—old cosmetics, wrapping paper, used tissues, even discarded makeup remover pads.

"You really should organize your purse," Qi Xia commented.

"Don’t mind an idol’s purse," Yun Yao shot back, pulling out three more. "How many now?"

"Nine," Qi Xia said helplessly.

"Okay! Okay, here it is." Yun Yao finally pulled out the last {Dào} and placed it in his hands.

Qi Xia cradled the pile of {Dào} and walked up to Mortal Monkey. Raising both hands, he shook them lightly. "Ten pieces. I’ll put them in now."

Mortal Monkey nodded and produced twelve {Dào}. He counted them in front of everyone, then dropped them into the other box.

"Monkey, let’s start with rock-paper-scissors," Qi Xia said. He felt a twinge of unease. In a series of rounds, he could read an opponent’s tendencies, but if it came down to a single match, it was pure luck.

"Monkey, what will you choose?" Qi Xia probed.

"That trick won’t work on me. I won’t answer," Mortal Monkey replied. "Let’s begin."

Qi Xia sighed, resigned to chance.

They played. First round: both chose {Paper}. Second round: both chose {Rock}.

Qi Xia realized this was no ordinary game. The opponent mirrored his exact choices.

Third round: Qi Xia played {Rock}, Mortal Monkey played {Paper}.

"You really thought it through, never playing scissors even once..." Qi Xia muttered.

"The honor is mine," Mortal Monkey replied. "I’ve always been quite adept at rock-paper-scissors."

"Is that so?" Qi Xia’s pupils shifted slightly. His face gave nothing away, but his thoughts hinted at a deeper insight.