The Genius Game - Chapter 22

At this moment, college student Du Jiaojiao exclaimed, “I don’t care anymore! Being hoisted to the ceiling is better than staying on this seesaw! It’s way too hot here!”

With that, she dashed straight toward the center of the seesaw.

Since she was the only one moving, the seesaw began tilting to the left, causing everyone to slide in that direction.

Jian Tanxi and Professor Pan quickly ran a short distance to the right, while Hong Zicheng and Meng Yuening also took a few steps backward, restoring the balance.

Du Jiaojiao had already reached the center of the seesaw and was prying at the bead.

Jian Tanxi urgently said to Professor Pan, “Professor Pan, I need to go to the center too. Please move a bit to the left!”

Professor Pan replied, “Alright.”

The two of them coordinated seamlessly: as Jian Tanxi shifted right, Professor Pan moved left, keeping the seesaw balanced.

Soon, Jian Tanxi also reached the center and began prying at the bead.

College student Du Jiaojiao complained irritably, “What are you doing? I was here first!”

The male college student produced a long rope from his sleeve and lashed out at Jian Tanxi.

The rope carried immense force, and the moment it struck Jian Tanxi, she was pushed back half a meter. It was unclear whether the rope was a supernatural ability or some kind of tool.

The seesaw began tilting to the left again, prompting Professor Pan and office worker Meng Yuening to hurriedly run a few steps to the right to maintain balance.

Jian Tanxi frowned and glanced at Hong Zicheng, though she felt she couldn’t really blame him.

After all, even though they were all teammates, during the bead-grabbing phase, the two teams were opposing sides.

It was understandable that Hong Zicheng would try to stop Jian Tanxi from taking the bead.

Just as Jian Tanxi was about to return to the center, Professor Pan said to her, “Tanxi, forget it. It’s too late for you to go over now. We should focus on how to get out. Once their team is hoisted up, quickly run to the right so the two of us can maintain the seesaw’s balance.”

After a brief thought, Jian Tanxi realized that obtaining the bead might not be a good thing after all, so she gave up on trying to grab it and simply replied to Professor Pan, “Okay.”

Then, she continued moving toward the center. This was to ensure she could quickly run to the right later, avoiding sliding into the sea of fire along with Professor Pan.

On the opposite side, male college student Hong Zicheng said to Jian Tanxi, “Jian Tanxi, why are you so sneaky? You say you’re not going for the bead, but you’re still moving toward the center. Jiaojiao, hurry up! Jian Tanxi is almost here!”

Jian Tanxi was speechless. She really didn’t want to be teamed up with this absurd couple, but the teammates were assigned by the aliens, so there was nothing she could do.

She had no choice but to explain, “I’m moving here so it’ll be easier for me to go to the right later. Once you get the bead and are hoisted up by the rope, you’ll immediately leave the right side of the seesaw. I need to take your place.”

Hong Zicheng said, “Oh, I see.”

He didn’t say anything more after that.

At that moment, college student Du Jiaojiao finally managed to pry out the bead.

Hong Zicheng praised, “Jiaojiao, you’re amazing!”

Du Jiaojiao said happily, “Of course!”

Then, Du Jiaojiao said to office worker Meng Yuening, “Meng Yuening, our team’s victory is all thanks to me and my boyfriend. I was the one who pried out this bead, and my boyfriend stopped the opposing player from coming over. You basically won without lifting a finger. So, if you get any rewards later, you have to share them with me and my boyfriend.”

Meng Yuening sneered coldly, “Leaving the seesaw doesn’t mean you’ve won the game, it just means you’ve escaped the sea of fire. No one knows exactly how to clear this level. Perhaps other players will contribute more later. It’s too early to be thinking about rewards now.”

Du Jiaojiao said unhappily, “What’s with your tone? Are you jealous of me?”

Meng Yuening fell silent.

She smiled faintly and stopped looking at Du Jiaojiao. It seemed she felt it wasn’t worth arguing with her, so she chose not to speak further to avoid escalating the conflict.

At that moment, Bat Superman announced, “The team on the right has obtained the bead and may leave the seesaw.”

Immediately, three ropes descended from the ceiling, securing Du Jiaojiao, Hong Zicheng, and Meng Yuening one by one.

The ropes lifted steadily, hoisting the three higher and higher until they were gradually nearing the ceiling.

Du Jiaojiao remarked, “It’s much cooler up here… but how do we get out?”

Hong Zicheng replied, “I’m not sure either. Let’s observe a bit more.”

As the three were being lifted, Jian Tanxi quickly moved to the right side.

Professor Pan also shifted toward the center.

This way, the two of them maintained the seesaw’s balance, one on the left and one on the right.

Jian Tanxi asked, “Professor Pan, what should we do now?”

Professor Pan responded, “Since there must be a way to clear this level, let’s search for any mechanisms or clues nearby.”

“Alright.”

Jian Tanxi and Professor Pan carefully examined the room.

However, the room was too large, and the flames made it impossible to see clearly into the distance.

They looked for a long time but found no obvious weaknesses.

Meanwhile, Meng Yuening, suspended in mid-air, asked Bat Superman, “Bat Superman, can one rope lift two or three people?”

Bat Superman answered, “No. Each rope can only carry one person, regardless of their weight. If two or more people are on the same rope, it will break instantly, even if they are very light. These are specially made Hogren ropes called ‘One-Person Ropes.’ They intelligently detect the number of people on them.”

Meng Yuening fell silent again.

She had originally planned to use the rope’s momentum to swing over to Jian Tanxi and Professor Pan and pull them up, so at least everyone could escape the sea of fire.

But Bat Superman’s words dashed her hopes.

Jian Tanxi, sensing Meng Yuening’s intention to rescue them, looked up and expressed her gratitude, “Sister Meng, thank you. We’ll definitely find a way out.”

Meng Yuening nodded, “Mm, keep it up. I’ve already checked the ceiling and found no mechanisms or weaknesses. Perhaps the key to escaping lies in the walls or within the sea of fire.”

Her words at least gave Jian Tanxi and Professor Pan a direction to focus on.

Jian Tanxi noticed Professor Pan holding up one hand and waving it around.

She didn’t understand what he was doing at first, but upon closer inspection, she saw an eye in the palm of his hand.

Wherever his hand moved, the eye could see in that direction.

Professor Pan still had both eyes on his face, so was this a third eye?

Could this be Professor Pan’s special ability?

Jian Tanxi felt a sense of admiration and hoped he would find clues quickly.

After a while, Professor Pan withdrew his hand.

Jian Tanxi asked, “Professor Pan, did you discover anything?”

Professor Pan said, “The lower part of this pillar has a small hole, and there seems to be writing below it. But due to the flames, I can’t make out what it says. Other than that, I haven’t found anything.”

Jian Tanxi said, “I have a fireproof gauze robe. Once I put it on, I won’t be burned by the fire. I can jump down to take a look, but if I go down, how will you maintain balance? And how will I get back up later?”

Professor Pan replied, “Maintaining balance isn’t a problem. If we both stand in the middle, the moment you jump, I’ll step one foot to the right and keep the other on the left side of the seesaw. I can balance it alone. As for how you’ll get back up later… doesn’t Hong Zicheng have a prop rope? He could use it to pull you back onto the seesaw.”

Just as Jian Tanxi was about to discuss it with Hong Zicheng, Du Jiaojiao shouted, “My boyfriend’s prop is not for others to use. Figure out another way yourselves.”

Hong Zicheng also said to Jian Tanxi, “Sorry, my girlfriend doesn’t agree, so I can’t use my prop rope to pull you up.”

Jian Tanxi: “…”

Professor Pan: “…”

Meng Yuening couldn’t take it anymore and said to the young couple, “Can you two stop joking around? What kind of time is this to be saying such things? The five of us are a team, understand? If even one person dies here, none of us can get out! Do you two really want to become a pair of doomed lovers here?”

Du Jiaojiao hesitated, “This… this… alright then, I agree to let Hong Zicheng give Jian Tanxi a hand.”

Hong Zicheng said to her, “Jiaojiao, you’re so generous. Don’t worry, I’m only using the rope to pull Jian Tanxi up to secure our final victory and survive with you, nothing else.”

Du Jiaojiao nodded, “Mm, I believe you!”

The others were speechless.

However, in a life-or-death situation, no one paid much attention to what the young couple was saying.

Jian Tanxi followed the plan and walked with Professor Pan to the middle of the seesaw.

Soon, they were both in the center, standing close together.

Jian Tanxi took out the fireproof gauze robe from her personal space, put it on, and said to Professor Pan, “Professor, I’m jumping down now. Quickly move your other foot to the right. I’ll count to three, and we’ll act at the same time.”

Professor Pan: “Okay.”

After counting to three, Jian Tanxi leaped into the sea of flames.

At the same time, Professor Pan stepped his other foot to the right.

He managed to maintain balance on his own.

Jian Tanxi was a bit scared because she wasn’t entirely sure if the fireproof gauze robe would actually work. What if the alien had deceived her…

Fortunately, after landing, she didn’t feel any burning heat. The robe was genuine.

She stood upright in the fire, which reached up to her shoulders.

She realized the room actually had a floor, but it was hidden beneath the flames, making it invisible.

After adjusting for a moment, she walked toward the pillar.

Sure enough, there was a small hole in the pillar, with several lines of text beneath it that read: “This small hole can embed the White Rhinoceros Pearl. Once the White Rhinoceros Pearl is embedded, the fireproof panels on the walls and ceiling will retract to the ground. Note: This room is entirely wooden in structure.”

Jian Tanxi read it several times, feeling confused.

So, she asked Bat Superman, “What is the White Rhinoceros Pearl? What do these lines mean?”

Batman: “No comment.”

At that moment, Meng Yuening from the ceiling asked, “Jian Tanxi, what did you see down there?”

Jian Tanxi then recounted what he had observed.

Meng Yuening said, “Could the White Rhinoceros Pearl be that white bead embedded in the middle of the seesaw earlier?”

Jian Tanxi replied, “Possibly… aside from that bead, there aren’t any others.”

Meng Yuening analyzed, “If the White Rhinoceros Pearl is embedded into that small hole, the fireproof panels in the room will be removed, and this room was originally entirely wooden… Does that mean the reason this room hasn’t caught fire is because of the fireproof panels on the walls and ceiling? Once the panels are removed, the entire room will burn.”