Ten Day Ultimatum Chapter 287

Chapter 287 My Trial

The three of us lowered our heads, and no one spoke.

None of us could accept that this day had truly co.

Seeing that we remained silent with our heads down, White Goat gege smiled, stood up, and said, "To be honest, I would prefer not to go, but I’ve stayed here for far too long... it’s ti to step out and explore."

"Goat ge..." Mister Tiger said softly, "Li—Like I said before... if you need to go, just go... you don’t have to worry about us... after all, we’re just burdens..."

His words felt like an ink-filled pen, deepening the sense of loss in our hearts.

"None of you are a burden. On this {train}, you are my family," White Goat gege said. "I’m about to depart, and before I leave, I don’t wish to hear any words of sorrow."

"Goat ge..." Mister Tiger’s voice choked up. "They say once you beco a {Celestial}, you can co and go freely... but we don’t know your appearance nor na... How am I supposed to find you? How am I supposed to know whether you’ve left or returned... I—"

"Tiger, I promise you," White Goat gege declared. "Once I beco a {Celestial}, I will return. And when I do, I will mark the way with goat horns, guiding you forward."

"Really...?" Mister Tiger asked.

"Really," White Goat gege nodded. "If by then, you are already {Terrestrial-grade}, I will personally visit your ga and assess your progress."

"Okay!" Mister Tiger suddenly stood up, "Goat ge! It's a promise... If I beco {Terrestrial-grade}, as long as I have no news from you, I will refrain from taking any lives."

"Ha!" White Goat gege gave a bitter smile, "Tiger, are you punishing or punishing yourself?"

"I don't care!" Mister Tiger waved his hand, "A promise is a promise! I will wait for your news, no matter how long it takes!"

"Alright," White Goat gege nodded.

Having spoken, White Goat gege turned his head to face Mister Snake. After a brief pause, he retrieved a thick notebook from his pocket and handed it to Mister Snake.

"Goat ge... What is this...?" Mister Snake asked.

"I haven’t exactly been equitable with you," White Goat gege acknowledged, "and that’s why I’ve prepared a way forward for you."

"What...?"

"I’ve crafted a hundred challenging questions," White Goat gege explained, "and should you ever be able to solve them, I will return and ensure you ascend to a {Terrestrial Snake}."

"A hundred challenging questions..." Mister Snake took the notebook and lowered his head. "Goat ge... these aren’t just empty words of comfort, right? With my intellect, how could I ever answer all the riddles you’ve written?"

"It will happen eventually." He smiled at Mister Snake, "This is our mutual vow, a promise we made together."

Mister Snake smiled bitterly. "Goat ge... You're about to leave, but you're still looking out for us... Are you worried that we might lose our motivation to push ahead?"

White Goat gege didn’t answer, instead, he shook his head and said, "I still need both of you to promise one last thing."

"What is it...?"

"Look after Mouse for ," White Goat gege instructed, gesturing toward . "Rember my words—only we have the authority to correct her, and no one else is allowed."

The mont I heard those words, I could no longer hold back.

Tears stread down my face inside the mask, making it unbearably uncomfortable.

White Goat gege was really going to leave. The one who had offered food, shelter, and dignity, despite my failure to earn {Dào}, was leaving.

I'll never see him again.

On this train, there would be no other {Earthly Branches} who cared for like he did.

"White Goat gege..." I stood up, crying so hard I could barely breathe. "White Goat gege please... can you tell your na... can you tell what you look like?..."

Mister Tiger and Mister Black Goat had stopped speaking to . Now, White Goat gege too was going.

He slowly walked over, gently ruffling my hair before pulling into his embrace.

“There’s no need to cry, Mouse...” He said softly, "You don’t need to know what I look like or what my na is. Because when I see you again, I'll recognize you right away. And by then... you’ll notice that even my goat-like voice has changed.”

"But I don’t want you to go..." I clung tightly to White Goat gege’s clothes, feeling that if I let go now, I would lose everything.

"It's ti for you to grow up," White Goat gege said gently, "If I’m no longer here... will you be able to gather {Dào} by yourself?"

"I... I will be able to..." I kept sobbing, feeling a tightness in my chest that made it hard to breathe.

"Then stop crying. Let give you sothing special," While White Goat gege spoke, he retrieved two {Dào} from his chest pocket—both dimd and discolored after what must have been years of wear. "Mouse, these two {Dào} are my lucky charms, given to by my two best xiōngdìs. They’ve been with all this ti; I want you to carry them now."

"Lucky charms...?" I carefully reached out to accept the two {Dào}, as though they were the entirety of my world.

"Next ti we et, give back ten {Dào}, as interest." White Goat gege smiled. “We’ll have plenty of ti to talk then. Can you promise that?"

"I can!" I nodded with all my might.

That night, we watched White Goat gege cross the entire length of the train. Even Mister Black Goat, who I had not seen in a long ti, ca out to witness the ceremony out of respect.

All the {Earthly Branches} respectfully stepped out of their door, standing on both sides of the corridor to welco the birth of a {Celestial-grade}.

Their eyes were filled with complex emotions while I was the only one still crying.

We watched with our own eyes as White Goat gege faded from sight, engulfed by golden light, completely leaving the {train}.

Mister Tiger held and softly said, “Little Mouse... I will ascend up to {Terrestrial-grade} as soon as possible...When that happens, I’ll bring you snacks every day... Just give a couple more days...”

I buried my head in Mister Tiger’s stomach, crying even harder. The three of us were left without a ntor, and I was left without White Goat gege.

After that, Mister Tiger, Mister Snake, and I were sent to different rooms, assigned with new ntors.

Looking at that large number of unfamiliar gege and jiejie, I felt very nervous.

I was soone who couldn't earn {Dào}, so I naturally wasn’t liked by my new ntor.

Only White Goat gege wouldn't despise .

I miss White Goat gege every mont. The two remaining {Dào} in my hands were my entire source of hope, and I often stare at them in a daze.

It’s been over ten days since White Goat gege left...

He should have already returned to the real world by now. That’s great... I—I’m happy for him.

Although I say I’m happy... I can’t help but feel like crying.

White Goat gege... What do you really look like? What’s your na?

When we et again, will you let hear your real voice?

By then, Mister Tiger and Mister Snake will have beco {Terrestrial-grades}, right? I wonder if we’ll still be able to eat at the sa table. When that ti cos... will Mister Tiger still give chicken legs?