I Have Yet to Become a Doll Today

As soon as the frog was mentioned, the conversation seemed to have reached a dead end.

For a moment, everyone was silent, and the cave fell into quietude.

But even when they did not speak, time was quietly flowing. Soon Jin Qiu would appear and inform them that the next round of the game was about to begin, putting their lives back on the line.

During the silence, Brother Hui studied Shen MO and Tan Xiao. Gradually, suspicion began to surface in his eyes. “You two aren’t chickening out, are you?” he asked.

“If you’re so brave, why don’t you step up?!” Tan Xiao retorted, glaring at him coldly.

Brother Hui was momentarily taken aback.

He quickly recovered, huffing slightly.

“I would, if I could,” he glanced at Shen MO, “pity I’m not as physically capable as some others here.”

Out of everyone present, only Shen MO could inflict substantial damage on the frog.

“To those more able goes more responsibility. Buddy, it appears you’ll have to brave the front line in the next round,” Brother Hui grinned, his tone audacious and defiant.

Tan Xiao despised Brother Hui’s behaviour, but at the moment, it seemed they had no choice but to rely on Shen Mo.

So, in an act of solidarity, he slapped Shen MO on the shoulder, “I’ll back you up in the next round!”

Shen Mo’s face remained expressionless throughout.

He held a small knife, using the muddy water to wipe off the mucus on it. The cold, fishy smell that emanated resembled that of a typical frog.

“The skin of the frog is thin, making it easy to wound, but the muscle is thick, limiting the depth of penetration of the knife. If we hope to buy time by injuring the frog, I’m afraid we need to identify another weak point,” he suggested.

After finishing his statement, he lifted his muted gaze. His deep, black eyes seemed oppressively forceful, compelling obedience—an authority that his profession bestowed upon him.

“As per the last round, we move immediately after the ball stops. Those who fear dying can stay hidden in the snails, but let me remind you all, the snails can’t protect you forever.”

The faces of the others showed their discomfort.

“What if the frogdoes that again…” someone murmured under their breath.

Their greatest fear was the frog’s speedy emergence with no prior warning. One big gulp, and a person would be swallowed whole. How on earth could they find Jin Qiu then?

“That won’t happen again.”

An unexpected voice resounded.

Everyone recognised the voice as Zhang Hua. They all turned to look at him but noticed that Zhang Hua remained inside the snail shell, showing no intention of coming out. “The frog didn’t eat any worms in the last round, it was hungry. This round it would come out in a rush. As for the next time…” he paused, seeming to count something, and then said quietly, “fewer people will be around, so it won’t be the same.”

This explanation made people uncomfortable, but it also made sense.

Teacher Cheng spoke again, “I also think that the frog won’t suddenly appear again. It’s been wounded, which will undoubtedly affect its sensitivity. It might not even show up in the next round! We cannot be scared off by just one setback! We should press on, we must press on!”

The words of a learned man always elicited disdain but also inexplicably instilled hope.

Indeed.

The frog had been injured. Who knows, it might be so scared that it won’t come out again?

Even if it is large in size, it’s just a timid frog, after all.

Brother Hui spat, gritted his teeth and said, “Damn it, let’s try again. I refuse to believe that finding that damn ball would be this difficult?!”

The others had varying expressions, some showing a sink-or-swim determination while others still hesitated.

Bai Youwei looked at the snail shell in which Zhang Hua was hiding, lost in thought.

Zhang Hua was not a warm-hearted person, so why would he help Shen MO urge everyone to search for the ball together? Did he speak up merely because he couldn’t stand these people’s selfishness?

…No, if he were really righteous, he would have revealed the method to pass the game earlier.

But he didn’t.

Of course, she didn’t either..