Chapter 29: The Puzzle
Officer Li didn't look at Qiao Jiajin. Instead, he turned to Qi Xia and asked, "There's something I need to know—about Han Yimo... You didn't finish what you were saying earlier, did you? What did Han Yimo's death mean? And what does that sword signify?"
Qi Xia squinted, carefully sizing up Officer Li. "Officer, you specialize in criminal investigation. I specialize in fraud. Now you're asking me for advice on a case—doesn't that strike you as strange?"
Officer Li lowered his head helplessly and said, "We've ended up in a place like this. How could 'criminal investigation' possibly be of any use here?"
Qi Xia was silent for a moment, then decided to share the clue he had thought of. "Officer, all I can say is... Han Yimo might have recognized that sword."
"Recognized?" Officer Li furrowed his brow, then nodded thoughtfully. "You mean he had seen that sword before?"
"That's not something you need to worry about right now," Qi Xia said. "You should be more concerned about your own situation."
"What do you mean?"
Qi Xia sighed and turned to leave, but Officer Li grabbed his arm.
"Don't go. What exactly is my 'situation'?"
Lin Ju covered her mouth and nose, leaned close to Officer Li's ear, and whispered, "Officer, since Qi Xia doesn't want to say it, I'll tell you instead. There are two things you need to be careful about."
"Two?"
"First, the only person present who could easily lift that giant sword is that crazy female clerk. She's incredibly strong. In other words, if Han Yimo was really murdered, then she's the prime suspect. You should leave this place as soon as possible."
Officer Li nodded gravely and asked, "And the second?"
"Second, it's your 'teammates.' They don't seem trustworthy."
Officer Li's lips quivered slightly, as if something had occurred to him.
Standing on his side now were: Xiao Ran, the emotional and seemingly not-so-bright kindergarten teacher; Zhang Chenze, the lawyer who was indifferent to everything and only cared about pros and cons; and Dr. Zhao, who had once confronted him and was somewhat self-centered.
If this group of four faced a life-threatening trial, could they truly trust each other?
After a long internal struggle, Officer Li finally spoke. "Qi Xia, no matter what, I'll set up base at the convenience store and explore the nearby areas. If you come across any useful information... you can come find me to exchange."
Qi Xia neither agreed nor refused. He gave Officer Li a faint glance, then turned and walked away.
The others didn't know what to say either, so they followed.
Officer Li stared blankly at the backs of the four as they walked off. After a moment, he returned to the convenience store with Dr. Zhao and Xiao Ran.
He knew all too well that the four outsiders were more trustworthy in a crisis, but they were going to collect "Dao"—in other words, they were walking toward their deaths. Following them wouldn't be safe either.
If he wanted to survive, his best bet was to find a foothold first and plan from there.
...
Qi Xia led the group forward. Before long, they arrived at the square where they had first appeared the day before.
He wanted to confirm something here.
That was the loud bell they had heard at dawn.
Just like yesterday, there was a huge electronic display screen in the center of the square, and above the screen hung a bronze bell.
When Han Yimo was stabbed, the bell had rung.
Lin Ju blinked and said, "I think I've heard the bell ring several times..."
"Several times?" Qiao Jiajin paused. "When?"
Lin Ju's pupils shifted slightly as she recalled. "Do you remember... the man who got his skull smashed in by the 'human sheep' when we first woke up in the room? It seemed like the bell rang when he died, too."
Tiantian seemed to understand. "Does that mean... every time someone dies, the bell rings?"
The others nodded, thinking this guess was likely correct. The bronze bell in front of them seemed to be a death knell, announcing the number of casualties to everyone.
"No," Qi Xia shook his head. "The corridor we went through had at least a thousand rooms. While we were playing the 'games,' people were dying in every room. If this thing were a death knell, we wouldn't have heard it ring only twice."
"Well..." Tiantian thought Qi Xia had a point, but then what was the condition for the bell to ring?
"Huh?" Lin Ju looked up at the display screen and found it completely blank. "I remember there was a line of text on it yesterday."
The others looked up. The words were indeed gone.
"It was something like... 'Resonance'..." Qiao Jiajin stroked his chin. "Did I resonate with 'Disaster'?"
"I heard the resonance of 'Disaster,'" Qi Xia said.
"Oh, right..." Qiao Jiajin nodded. "What does that mean?"
Qi Xia shook his head.
This wasn't something you could figure out just by "guessing." They knew far too little about this city.
What was "Disaster"? What was "Resonance"? And who was the "I"?
"Forget it. Let's go somewhere else."
Qi Xia turned to leave, but suddenly froze.
Before him was a gaunt, smiling face.
No one knew when this face had appeared behind him, but now it was staring straight at him.
Qi Xia's pupils shifted, and he quickly stepped back two paces.
The other three were startled as well. In front of them stood a withered old man, standing on tiptoe, his body bent like a dead tree.
"I remember now..." the old man smiled, revealing his one remaining tooth. "The question you asked me—I remember the answer!"
Feeling a chill run down his spine from the old man's stare, Qi Xia asked, "Are you talking to me?"
The old man licked his cracked lips. "Young man, I know the answer! It's 'betting your life'! As long as you stake your life, everything will be fine!"
He reached out a hand with dirty fingernails, trying to grab Qi Xia.
"We're so close to getting out! If you're willing to stake your life..."
Qi Xia frowned and took a few more steps back. He didn't understand what the old man was talking about, but the man's constant mention of wanting his life was just too eerie.
"Hey, old man. Who are you?" Qiao Jiajin asked suspiciously. "Have you met Qi Xia before?"
The old man's expression shifted, and he turned to look at Qiao Jiajin.
His face twisted as he opened his mouth. "You don't recognize me?"
"Why should I recognize you?"
For a moment, the atmosphere fell silent. The old man's cloudy eyes flickered constantly. After a long pause, he finally seemed to realize something. "I see... So you've already met the 'Celestial Dragon'..."
"Celestial Dragon?" The four exchanged glances.
"There's no hope..." The old man shook his head and slowly turned away. "We can't defeat him... We'll be lost here forever... No wonder the 'Zodiacs' have come back..."
Muttering to himself, he walked away, his back looking utterly dejected.