Chapter 29: The Mystery
Officer Li did not look at Qiao Jiajin, but instead turned to Qi Xia and asked, "There is indeed something about Han Yimo... You didn't finish what you were saying just now, did you? What does Han Yimo's death represent? And what does that sword mean?"
Qi Xia squinted his eyes and carefully studied Officer Li. "Officer, you specialize in criminal investigation, and I specialize in fraud. Isn't it a bit strange for you to consult me on a case now?"
Officer Li lowered his head helplessly and said, "Since we've ended up in this damn place, how could 'criminal investigation' possibly be of any use?"
After hearing this, Qi Xia was silent for a moment, then decided to tell him the clue he had thought of. "Officer, I can only say... Han Yimo might have known that sword."
"Known?" Officer Li frowned, then nodded thoughtfully. "You mean he had seen that sword before?"
"These aren't things you need to consider," 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 him.
"Don't go. What exactly is my 'situation'?"
Lin Qin covered her mouth and nose, leaned close to Officer Li's ear, and whispered, "Officer, since Qi Xia doesn't want to say, I'll speak for him. There are two things you need to watch out for."
"Two?"
"First, the only one here who could easily lift that giant sword is that crazed female shop assistant. She has immense strength. In other words, if Han Yimo was truly murdered, then the female shop assistant is the prime suspect. You should get out of this place as soon as possible."
Officer Li nodded grimly and asked, "And second?"
"Second, it's your 'teammates.' They don't seem trustworthy."
Officer Li's lips moved slightly, as if something had occurred to him.
Now standing on his side were: a moody kindergarten teacher, Xiao Ran, who didn't seem very bright; a lawyer, Zhang Chenze, who was indifferent to everything and only cared about gains and losses; and a somewhat self-centered Dr. Zhao, who had once confronted him.
Could this group of four trust each other when facing a life-threatening trial?
After a long internal struggle, Officer Li finally spoke. "Qi Xia, regardless, I'll take the convenience store as my base camp and explore the nearby areas. If you have any information... you can also come to me to exchange."
Qi Xia neither agreed nor refused. He gave Officer Li a faint glance and turned away.
The remaining few didn't know what to say and followed him.
Officer Li stared blankly at the backs of the four for a while, then returned to the convenience store with Dr. Zhao and Xiao Ran.
He knew all too well that the four outside were more trustworthy in critical moments, but they were going to collect "Dao" — in other words, they were seeking death.
Following them wasn't safe either.
To survive smoothly now, he had to first find a foothold and then plan for the long term.
...
Qi Xia led the others forward, and before long, they arrived at the square where they had descended yesterday.
He wanted to confirm one thing here: the loud bell sound they had heard in the early morning.
As yesterday, there was a large electronic screen in the center of the square, and above the screen hung a bronze bell.
When Han Yimo was assassinated, the giant bell had rung.
Lin Qin blinked and said, "I seem to have heard the bell several times..."
"Several times?" Qiao Jiajin paused. "When?"
Lin Qin's pupils shifted slightly as she recalled. "Do you remember... the man whose head was shattered by the 'Human Sheep' when we first woke up in the room? When he died, it seemed the bell also rang."
Tiantian seemed to understand. "Could it be that every time someone dies, the bell rings?"
Several people nodded, thinking this guess was on the right track. The bronze bell before them seemed like a death knell, announcing the number of deaths to everyone.
"No," Qi Xia shook his head. "That corridor we went through had at least a thousand rooms. While we were experiencing 'games,' people were dying in every room. If this thing were a death knell, we wouldn't have heard only two rings."
"This..." Tiantian thought Qi Xia was right, but then what was the condition for the giant bell to ring?
"Huh?" Lin Qin looked up at the display screen and found it empty. "I remember there was a line of text on it yesterday."
Everyone looked up. The text was indeed gone.
"It seemed like... 'Echo' or something..." Qiao Jiajin said, rubbing his chin. "I echoed 'Calamity Call'?"
"I heard the echo of 'Calamity Call,'" Qi Xia said.
"Ah, right..." Qiao Jiajin nodded. "What does that mean?"
Qi Xia shook his head.
This wasn't something you could figure out by "guessing." They knew far too little about this city.
What is "Calamity Call"? What is "Echo"? Who is "I"?
"Forget it. Let's go look elsewhere."
Qi Xia turned and was about to leave, but suddenly froze.
Before his eyes was a withered, smiling face.
This face had appeared behind him at some unknown time, and was now staring straight at him.
Qi Xia's pupils shifted as he quickly stepped back two paces.
The other three were also startled. Before them was a withered old man, standing on tiptoe, his body bent like a dead tree.
"I remember..." the old man smiled faintly, revealing his only remaining tooth. "The question you asked me — I remember the answer!"
Stared at by this old man, Qi Xia felt a chill run down his spine. "Are you talking to me?"
The old man pursed his cracked lips. "Young man, I know the answer! It's 'betting your life'! As long as you bet your life, everything will be fine!"
He reached out with a dirty-nailed hand and tried to grab Qi Xia.
"We're already within reach of getting out! As long as you're willing to bet your life..."
Qi Xia frowned and stepped back again. Although he didn't understand what the old man was saying, the old man kept demanding his life — it was 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.
He opened his mouth with a complex expression and asked, "You don't know me?"
"Why should I know you?"
There was a moment of silence. The old man's murky eyes flickered constantly. After a long time, he finally seemed to realize something.
"I see... you... have already met 'Celestial Dragon'..."
"Celestial Dragon?" The four exchanged glances.
"There's no hope..." the old man shook his head and slowly turned around. "We can't defeat him... we're forever lost here... no wonder 'Zodiac' has returned again..."
Muttering to himself, he walked away, his back looking very desolate.