Chapter 29

Officer Li did not look at Qiao Jiajin, but instead asked Qi Xia, "I do indeed have a matter concerning Han Yimo... Did you leave something unsaid just now? What does Han Yimo's death signify? And what about that sword?"

Qi Xia squinted her eyes and carefully examined Officer Li, "Officer, you specialize in criminal investigation, and I specialize in fraud. Isn't it strange for you to consult me about a case?"

Officer Li helplessly lowered his head and said, "We're already in this hellish place, how could 'criminal investigation' possibly be of any use?"

After hearing this, Qi Xia fell silent for a moment and decided to share the clue she had in mind, "Officer, I can only say... Han Yimo might have known that sword."

"Known?" Officer Li frowned and then nodded thoughtfully, "You mean he had seen that sword before?"

"These are not issues you need to worry about," Qi Xia said, "You should be more concerned about your own situation."

"What do you mean?"

Qi Xia sighed, turned to leave, but was held back by Officer Li.

"Don't go, what exactly is my 'situation'?"

Lin Qin covered her nose and mouth, leaned close to Officer Li's ear, and whispered, "Sir, Qi Xia is unwilling to say, but I can tell you. There are two things you need to be careful about."

"Two?"

"Yes, first, the only person who can easily lift that giant sword is the crazy female cashier. She is very strong, which means if Han Yimo was indeed murdered, the female cashier is the primary suspect. You should leave this place as soon as possible."

Officer Li nodded solemnly and asked, "What's the second thing?"

"The second is your 'teammates'; they don't seem very trustworthy."

Officer Li's lips moved slightly, as if he was thinking of something.

Now, on his side, there was Xiao Ran, an emotionally driven and not very smart kindergarten teacher, Zhang Chenze, a lawyer who was indifferent to everything and only cared about benefits, and Doctor Zhao, who had once confronted him and was somewhat self-centered.

Could these four people trust each other if they faced a life-threatening test?

After a long internal struggle, Officer Li finally spoke, "Qi Xia, no matter what, I will use the convenience store as a base and explore the nearby areas. If you have any information... you can come to me to exchange it."

Qi Xia neither agreed nor refused, gave him a faint look, and turned to leave.

The remaining few people, not knowing what to say, followed her.

Officer Li stared at the four people's backs for a moment and then returned to the convenience store with Doctor Zhao and Xiao Ran.

He knew very well that the four people outside were more reliable in critical moments, but they were going to collect 'paths,' in other words, they were looking for death.

Following them was not safe either.

To survive smoothly now, he could only find a base first and then make long-term plans.

...

Qi Xia led the group forward and soon arrived at the square where they had descended yesterday.

She wanted to confirm something here.

It was the loud bell sound she had heard in the morning.

The square was the same as yesterday, with a large electronic display screen in the center, and a bronze bell hanging above it.

When Han Yimo was stabbed, the bell rang.

Lin Qin blinked and said, "I seem to have heard the bell several times..."

"Several times?"

Qiao Jiajin paused and asked, "When?"

Lin Qin's pupils shifted slightly as she recalled, "Do you remember... the man whose skull was shattered by the 'human sheep' when we first woke up in the room? When he died, there seemed to be a bell sound."

Tian Tian seemed to understand something, "Could it be... that the bell rings every time someone dies?"

The others nodded, thinking this guess was likely correct. The bronze bell seemed to be a death knell, announcing the number of deaths to everyone.

"No," Qi Xia shook her head, "The corridor we experienced had at least a thousand rooms. While we were in the 'game,' people were dying in various rooms. If this thing was a death knell, we wouldn't have only heard it twice."

"This..." Tian Tian thought Qi Xia's point was valid, but if so, what were the conditions for the bell to ring?

"Huh?" Lin Qin looked up at the display screen and noticed it was empty, "I remember there was a line of text here yesterday."

Everyone looked up, and indeed, the text had disappeared.

"It seemed to be... something about 'echoes'..." Qiao Jiajin said, stroking his chin, "I echoed 'disaster'?"

"I heard the echo of 'disaster,'" Qi Xia said.

"Ah, right..." Qiao Jiajin nodded, "What does that mean?"

Qi Xia shook her head.

This was not something that could be understood by 'guessing.' They knew too little about this city.

What is 'disaster'? What are 'echoes'? Who is 'I'?

"Never mind, let's go see somewhere else."

Qi Xia turned to leave but suddenly froze.

In front of her was a withered, smiling face.

This face had appeared behind her at some point and was now staring at her intently.

Qi Xia's pupils dilated, and she quickly took two steps back.

The other three were also startled. In front of them was a withered old man, standing on tiptoe, his body bent like a dead tree.

"I've thought of it..." the old man smiled, revealing his last remaining tooth, "I've thought of the answer to your question!"

Qi Xia, feeling a chill down her back from the old man's gaze, 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 bet your life, everything will be fine!"

He extended his dirty-nailed hand to grab Qi Xia.

"We're so close to getting out! As long as you're willing to bet your life..."

Qi Xia frowned and took a few more steps back. Although she didn't understand what the old man was saying, his insistence on her life was too bizarre.

"Hey! Old man, who are you?" Qiao Jiajin asked suspiciously, "Have you met Qi Xia before?"

The old man's expression changed, and he turned to look at Qiao Jiajin.

His face was complex as he opened his mouth and asked, "You don't recognize me?"

"Why should I recognize you?"

The atmosphere became silent for a moment. The old man's cloudy eyes flickered, and after a long time, he finally thought of something, "I see... you... have already met 'Tianlong'..."

"Tianlong?" The four people looked at each other.

"No hope...," the old man shook his head and slowly turned away, "We can't defeat him... We will be lost here forever... No wonder the 'Zodiac' has returned..."

He muttered to himself as he walked away, his back looking very lonely.