Chapter 196: The Savior

After the four of them had finished resting, they needed to hurry back to Tianguokou. After all, everyone had sustained injuries, none of which were life-threatening, but without prompt treatment, the next few days would be miserable.

Leaving the Dihu arena behind, the group took about an hour and a half to return to Tianguokou.

Chu Tianqiu was standing in the courtyard, gazing out just as he had the day before.

"Hey!" Qi Xia called out. "Someone's injured—get someone to help right away."

"Huh?" Chu Tianqiu was taken aback. "Okay... I'll go get someone right now."

In no time, five or six people rushed out from Tianguokou and took the three injured individuals away.

Among them, Qi Xia spotted Zhao Yisheng.

"Thank goodness..." Qi Xia said to Zhao Yisheng. "It's a relief you didn't go out. Quickly check them over—everyone's got superficial wounds all over."

"Alright... but I'm not a professional surgeon," Zhao Yisheng replied hesitantly. "I'll do what I can."

He led the three to a classroom, where he gave them a rough examination. Apparently, this classroom was set aside specifically for the injured.

From what could be seen, Zhang Shan had the lightest injuries. He was covered in blood, but no actual wounds could be found.

Next was Qiao Jiajin, who had large areas of abrasions on his hands and legs, as if his skin had been scraped off by a rough stone.

Though not fatal, such wounds caused unimaginable pain for the injured.

Li Xiangling was in the worst shape, with several fractured ribs, plus abrasions on her arm, a sprained left foot, and a moderately penetrating wound on the biceps of her right arm. None of it was life-threatening, but she'd have to rest and couldn't participate in any more games.

After hearing this, Qi Xia nodded, gave Zhao Yisheng a few instructions, and was about to leave when he suddenly froze in place.

A room for the injured...?

He glanced back at Li Xiangling, and something flashed through his mind.

"Resting?"

Qiao Jiajin noticed Qi Xia's odd expression and asked curiously, "Deceiver, what's wrong?"

"Nothing..." Qi Xia's face turned cold as he made up his mind. "You all just focus on recovering. I'll go get you some food."

With a grim expression, he opened the door and muttered to himself, "So that's how it is... Just like Zhang Shan, Li Xiangling won't make it through the night."

When Qi Xia returned to his own classroom, he found Han Yimo sitting inside.

Han Yimo was staring at the sky with a smile on his face—one that was strangely unsettling.

As soon as someone entered, Han Yimo quickly composed himself and turned to Qi Xia.

"You're back?"

Qi Xia furrowed his brow slightly. "Yes, I'm here to get some food."

"Oh, I'll help you with that." Han Yimo stood up, grabbed a few cans from the ground, and added a few bottles of water. "Here you go."

Qi Xia stared into Han Yimo's eyes and silently took the items from him.

"What were you just looking at?" Qi Xia asked.

"I was looking at the sky," Han Yimo said with a smile. "The sky here is mesmerizing."

"Is it?"

Qi Xia glanced out the window. Outside was a dark red sky with a earth-yellow sun.

The sun had faint black lines around its edge, spreading inward from the outer rim.

"Have you ever seen a sky and sun like this?" Han Yimo slowly turned around, smiling as he spoke. "That sun isn't blinding at all—like a yellow ball. I can't find the words to describe it."

"There are all sorts of bizarre things around here; I've gotten used to it," Qi Xia said flatly.

"It's not 'bizarre'... it's 'beautiful'..." Han Yimo replied. "It floats in the sky... and it feels incredibly beautiful to me. It's like... I can't quite say, but I feel like I've seen it somewhere before."

"I think you're just bored," Qi Xia sighed. "Didn't you mention before that you have an unfinished novel? You could use this time to think about it. When we get back to the real world, you can publish it."

"A novel...?" Han Yimo paused slightly. "Oh, right, a novel. Qi Xia, you know, every novel has a savior."

"Does it?"

"Qi Xia, you're my savior."

"I'm a 'savior'...?" Qi Xia thought for a moment. He felt annoyed that Han Yimo had called him that several times before. "I just saved your life once; there's no need to make it sound so grand."

"Ha ha ha!" Han Yimo laughed. "You're right, you're right. Sorry, I didn't choose my words well. Anyway, thanks for saving me."

Qi Xia still felt something was off.

Han Yimo had seemed like a perfectly normal young man before. He was a bit timid, but he hadn't done anything suspicious or unpleasant so far.

So why was he acting so strangely today?

Had he been affected by Zhongyan Zhidi?

Footsteps echoed in the hallway, sounding like someone was running frantically.

"Something's wrong! Something's wrong! Is anyone in charge?!" a voice shouted from outside the door.

Qi Xia recognized it as Lao Lü's voice.

People in the classroom trickled out. They saw Lao Lü, drenched in sweat and looking frantic, as if he'd just emerged from water.

"Where's Chu Tianqiu? Where's that Qi guy?" he yelled, his voice trembling. "Is there anyone smart who can help?"

Qi Xia opened the door and stepped out, just as Chu Tianqiu arrived.

"What happened?" Chu Tianqiu asked.

"That celebrity..." Lao Lü kept patting his chest, trying to catch his breath. "Yun Yao... Yun Yao's in trouble!"

Qi Xia and Chu Tianqiu both looked stunned.

"What happened to her?" Qi Xia asked.

"She's trapped in the game arena..." Lao Lü said. "Oh my goodness... I've never seen anything like this. That rabbit won't let her go..."

"What?" Qi Xia frowned and glanced at Chu Tianqiu.

But Chu Tianqiu looked just as confused.

"Rabbit?" Chu Tianqiu asked. "The Rabbit of the Zodiac?"

"Yes!" Lao Lü nodded vigorously. "It's so weird... Didn't you say you guys killed that rabbit yesterday? Why is there still a 'Shengxiao' standing there today...?"

Chu Tianqiu's face turned pale with shock. "Lao Lü, Qi Xia, you two come with me. Everyone else, stay put and disperse."

"Stay put and disperse?!"

The crowd exchanged puzzled glances, wondering why the priority wasn't rescuing Yun Yao.

Qi Xia took a deep breath and followed Lao Lü to Chu Tianqiu's classroom.

"Close the door..." Chu Tianqiu said, looking dazed.

"What's going on?" Qi Xia asked. "Do you need me to come up with a plan?"

"No... hold on a second..." Chu Tianqiu turned to Lao Lü. "First, tell us exactly what happened."