Chapter 995: Observer
Dr. Zhao and Xu Liunian had already talked themselves hoarse, but Chu Tianqiu just smiled faintly.
He neither interrupted them nor refuted their words.
"Why on earth?" Dr. Zhao said. "I've only participated in the games a few times in total, and each time it was a narrow escape, barely surviving… Why do you have to pick me?"
"Because you're strong," Chu Tianqiu said. "Every time your 'Echo' is needed, you can release it accurately without fail. Whether you admit it or not, your mental fortitude is stronger than most people here."
"Isn't that obvious…" Dr. Zhao said. "The situations I face when performing surgery on patients are even more intense than using an 'Echo'… It's the same—a large crowd staring at me, and one mistake leads to patient death, ruined reputation, the family hounding me for the rest of their lives. Even though I won't die, it would definitely be worse than death."
"See?" Chu Tianqiu said. "That mindset already surpasses the vast majority of people. Only under absolute high pressure can the strong emerge. You've already experienced enough high pressure. No matter how urgent the situation, it's hard for you to fail, isn't it?"
"But I don't want this!" Dr. Zhao said. "I'm such a vulgar person…?"
He stepped forward, his face full of grievance as he spoke to Chu Tianqiu.
"Everyone says, 'A doctor has a benevolent heart.' Every person who becomes a doctor claims their dream is to 'heal the wounded and rescue the dying'…" Dr. Zhao grabbed his own hair. "But I'm really completely different from them. All I ever thought was, 'Doctors make money,' 'Doctors are easy to marry'… That's the reason I became a doctor. I was never some noble and selfless person. Why do you force me to do noble and selfless things?!"
Chu Tianqiu chuckled lightly and placed his hand on Dr. Zhao's shoulder.
"And that's why you're special," Chu Tianqiu said.
"What…?"
"Even if everyone knows 'doctors make money' and 'doctors are easy to marry,' many still can't become doctors," Chu Tianqiu continued with a smile. "And the few who do become doctors for those reasons will later change their tune, claiming 'a doctor has a benevolent heart' and that their dream is to 'heal the wounded and rescue the dying.' That's the biggest difference between you and them."
"Stop joking…" Dr. Zhao said gloomily. "Even if there really is a difference between me and them, it's a negative difference."
"No, no one in this world likes 'hypocrites,' but some people like 'true villains,'" Chu Tianqiu said. "And I happen to like 'true villains.' You have a very clear understanding of yourself, which is a virtue many people lack."
"You call that a 'virtue'…?"
"Of course. Humans aren't much different from machines," Chu Tianqiu said. "Every machine has its own flaws and defects, but some choose to face them, while others choose to hide them. Only those who face their own flaws can make the whole machine better. Those who conceal them will one day suffer greatly for it. After all, if you hide them for too long, even you yourself won't be willing to admit those flaws exist."
These few words from Chu Tianqiu gradually made Dr. Zhao's expression turn puzzled.
Although he had always been the "neighbor's kid," few had ever affirmed him from this angle.
Most people who acknowledge you will only say you study well, work well, have a bright future, and are promising—but they never understand what kind of person you really are.
A person who is greedy for money and lust, but does his best to treat patients—is he a good person or a bad person?
A doctor who takes red envelopes when given, but still does his best to perform surgery even without them—is he a good person or a bad person?
After all, gossip is a fearsome thing in this world. How dare he show all his strengths and weaknesses to everyone?
"And you, Xu Liunian," Chu Tianqiu turned and said. "Don't you still have something you want to do?"
"Something I want to do…?" Xu Liunian's eyes flickered, then he said, "I don't have anything I want to do anymore… I only know what I 'can't do.' If I'm forced to participate in this game, that would really be the last straw…"
"Don't be naive," Chu Tianqiu said. "What's the difference between your current state and a stray dog… Are you just resigned to your fate like this?"
"What else can I do…?" Xu Liunian retorted. "All the methods I could think of are impossible. Now I can only resign myself… I just hope I don't die horribly again. But whether it's you or Qi Xia, neither of you intends to let me off."
"Ridiculous," Chu Tianqiu said. "Xu Liunian, the reason I never gave up on you all these years is precisely because you've always been resisting… But look at what you've become now?"
"Resist… How else can I resist?" Xu Liunian raised eyes that seemed dead, asking despairingly, "Can you give me a reason to keep resisting?"
As soon as the words fell, everyone present felt an unusual oppressive pressure coming from midair. They all looked up to see a strange figure in a long robe with dark green hair flickering into view in midair before landing on the ground.
"Is it that hard to give a reason?" The figure's voice, half male and half female, suddenly rang out. "The reason is to go 'home'… I thought of a few jokes today. Want to hear them?"
Everyone was momentarily speechless at this sudden apparition, since most of them were seeing Qinglong for the first time.
Zheng Yingxiong immediately covered his nose, as if struck by another heavy blow.
The previously normal atmosphere instantly dropped to freezing point. Even those who had never seen Qinglong knew danger had arrived.
"Whoa~~~~~~"
Before anyone could react, a sound that pierced the sky exploded, sweeping away the tense atmosphere that had just formed.
Everyone was stunned and turned to look at Chen Junnan.
"All you guys, stand at attention!" he yelled. "Qinglong's traveled a thousand miles to come here and tell us jokes—we can't let the place go cold. Wait for my command to start laughing."
Qinglong furrowed his brow upon hearing this. After a few seconds, he still showed a contemptuous look.
"All talk and no action…" Qinglong snorted coldly. "This is how mortals are… No matter how bitter their lives, their mouths are always tough."
"Whoa…" Chen Junnan blinked after hearing this, then turned to look at Qiao Jiajin, as if pondering something.
"What? Did I hit a nerve?"
"Not really…" Chen Junnan shook his head. "I'm just not sure if I should laugh right now… Because this joke really isn't funny at all."
"You…"
Just as Qinglong was about to get angry, Qi Xia interjected: "Is there something wrong with wanting to 'go home'?"
Qinglong paused, clearly showing interest.
"What a foolish thought that is… Qi Xia," Qinglong smiled. "Do you know… what's the difference between a human and a pig?"