Chapter 28: Partaking Ways
Doctor Zhao also walked out at this moment, his expression evasive.
Judging by his demeanor, he didn't seem like he was here to stop anyone—rather, he looked like he had come to back someone up.
"There aren't four 'Dao,' only three," Qi Xia said.
"Three?!" Xiao Ran frowned deeply. "Did you lose one?"
Qi Xia glanced at Doctor Zhao behind Xiao Ran, a hint of menace in his gaze.
Doctor Zhao seemed to notice Qi Xia's look and could only speak up:
"Xiao Ran, it's not that Qi Xia lost it. He used one of the 'Dao' to trade with that female shop assistant for fishhooks and fishing line."
"What...?" Xiao Ran's eyes twitched slightly, then she sighed and said to Qi Xia, "Fine, using the 'Dao' to make a deal is your own business. Now I want you to give back the two that belong to our team."
"The two that belong to your team...?" Qi Xia's expression turned cold.
"Xiao Ran..." Tian Tian, who had been silent for a while, suddenly interjected, "That's not fair to say. If we really want to be clear about this, the one 'Dao' that was lost was used to save Han Yimo from 'your team.' It has nothing to do with us."
"I told you, that was Qi Xia's own decision to make that deal. It has nothing to do with our team."
"F**k you..." Qiao Jiajin stepped forward, his face fierce. His originally unsteady Mandarin completely switched to Cantonese, "I've never hit a woman before, but you, young lady, have no shame!"
"Hey... calm down!" Lin Qin rushed forward and grabbed Qiao Jiajin, saying, "Those 'Dao' were won by Qi Xia. Let him decide how to distribute them."
Qiao Jiajin pressed his lips together in resentment, barely suppressing his anger.
Qi Xia slowly reached up and rubbed his nose, then said:
"'Human Dragon' said these 'Dao' are both our rewards and our 'chips' for participating in the game. You're planning to wait here and die, so I won't give any of them to you."
"What? You're not going to 'con' them, you're going to 'rob' them instead?" Xiao Ran laughed angrily. "There's no 'lawless place' in this world. I advise you to think carefully. Is this the right thing to do? We have a police officer here!"
Officer Li, hearing the argument outside, also stepped out.
The two teams had no animosity before, but now, because of this kindergarten teacher named Xiao Ran, the atmosphere had become tense and confrontational.
"What's going on?" Officer Li asked Doctor Zhao. "I heard a lot of noise from inside."
"Nothing... Xiao Ran has something to say to Qi Xia," Doctor Zhao said with an awkward smile.
"She 'has something to say to me'?" Qi Xia's face turned cold. "Doctor Zhao, you're something else... Are you sure it's Xiao Ran who has something to say to me?"
Qi Xia knew that Xiao Ran was just a 'pawn,' and that Doctor Zhao was the real instigator. After all, given Xiao Ran's intelligence and courage, unless someone urged her, she wouldn't have dared to confront Qi Xia and his group of four.
Taking out the opponent's 'pawn' could stop their attack, but only taking down the 'person' behind it could solve the problem once and for all.
"I..." Doctor Zhao was stunned, then said to Qi Xia with some embarrassment, "Qi Xia, you might be a little upset... and it's true that you helped us win those 'Dao'... but they belong to all of us. We also made contributions... You should give us half."
"Is that so?" Qi Xia nodded seriously after hearing this, then replied, "But Doctor Zhao, that's not what you said last night when we killed Han Yimo together."
"What?!" Doctor Zhao's eyes bulged at these words. "Wha-what the hell are you talking about?! When did I ever kill Han Yimo with you?!"
Officer Li and Xiao Ran's expressions instantly changed.
"Didn't you say it yourself?" Qi Xia rubbed his hands casually. "You told me, 'That guy's wound wasn't even stitched up properly. He definitely won't make it. One less person means one less burden. The rest of us will have a better chance of getting out.'"
"Bullshit!!" Doctor Zhao was completely enraged by Qi Xia. The veins on his forehead bulged. "Are you trying to frame me?! Even though Han Yimo's wound was indeed difficult to treat, I stopped his bleeding...! You... you..."
"Why are you so angry?" Qi Xia stepped forward, patted Doctor Zhao on the shoulder, and said to Xiao Ran and Officer Li, "Don't mind me. I'm a liar. That was all made up just now."
"You...!" Doctor Zhao's mouth twisted with rage.
"Don't like it when black and white are reversed?" Qi Xia said in a low voice. "I don't like it either. If you and that woman come bothering me again, asking for things that don't belong to you, I'll teach you a lesson."
Doctor Zhao was shaken by these words. He finally understood that the man before him was no pushover.
In the previous games, Qi Xia had extended his help time and again, but that didn't mean he would allow himself to be taken advantage of.
Xiao Ran also seemed to realize something at this moment. She muttered to herself, "So that's it... Because you're a doctor... when someone gets hurt, you have to take care of them. To get rid of that burden, you killed him..."
"I..."
"How could that be?" Before Doctor Zhao could speak, Qi Xia shook his head and denied it. "Xiao Ran, I really made that up just now. Don't believe it."
But the seed of doubt had already taken root in Xiao Ran's heart. It wouldn't be easily uprooted.
"Qi Xia... What's this all about? What happened?" Officer Li asked, frowning.
Qi Xia looked at the sturdy man in front of him. He had a decent impression of this officer and hoped they weren't in cahoots, coveting his 'Dao.'
"Xiao Ran says I should split the 'Dao' with the two of you. What do you think?" Qi Xia asked.
Officer Li was taken aback, then shook his head. "We've already tested it. The 'Dao' can't be used as currency here. Keeping them is useless. Besides, they were won by you. You should hold on to them."
"How can that be?!" Xiao Ran said excitedly. "Those 'Dao' were earned with our lives!"
Officer Li gave a bitter smile. "Since you know they were earned with your lives, you should be even more grateful that Qi Xia saved your life."
"I..."
Xiao Ran choked on her words, unable to speak for a moment.
Officer Li's reasoning wasn't without merit. Without Qi Xia, she would have died in that terrifying room long ago.
Qi Xia nodded silently, took out a small ball from his pocket, and tossed it to Officer Li.
Officer Li caught it, turned it over in his hand, and saw that it was a 'Dao.'
"Hmm?" He looked at Qi Xia with confusion. "What are you doing? I'm not going to participate in the game. Giving me a 'Dao' is useless."
"Leave it with me for now," Qi Xia waved his hand. "Consider it money laundering. That one is yours. Now the two in my hand are 'clean.' Don't bother me anymore."
"This..." Officer Li was still puzzled but didn't know what to say.
Doctor Zhao and Xiao Ran's expressions were even more complicated. Their minds were in turmoil.
After a moment, they saw that Officer Li was still standing there, not leaving.
"Cop? Something else?" Qiao Jiajin asked.