An Feasible Proposal
"Shi Sanjiu." After giving his name and background, the other man added, "I heard you came out of the second game, so I came all this way to find you. I figured we'd probably met in the game."
"Xu Zhi." Xu Huo nodded. "I won the second game."
Shi Sanjiu's eyes lit up. "Good thing I found the right person. I've asked around, and hardly anyone has come out of the second game alive. We both won it, and we've only just come out, so we have plenty of time to prepare."
"Prepare?" Xu Huo looked surprised. "You're planning to enter the third game too?"
Shi Sanjiu said helplessly, "I've come to realize there's no escaping it. I might as well face the facts and prepare early."
As he spoke, he turned toward the city center. "I assume you're planning to break through from here, interfere with the game—or maybe even destroy it. Honestly, the odds of that working are slim."
"You've been inside?" Xu Huo asked.
"How could I have?" Shi Sanjiu patted his backpack. "I just happen to have some suitable equipment with me."
"Are you free right now? We might as well talk about the third game."
Xu Huo was all ears.
They moved into a nearby shop, where Shi Sanjiu took out his own tools and made tea for everyone. "Give it a try. It's a specialty from my hometown. It leaves a lovely fragrance on your lips and teeth."
He took a sip himself, then sighed blissfully. "You could go hungry and skip a meal, but you couldn't do without this tea."
Zhu Xiaojin glanced at him. "You're quite particular."
Shi Sanjiu set down his teacup with elegant poise. "You're too kind. It's a habit I picked up as a child. Make