Chapter 301: Girl Group

Before Song Qi could finish his next sentence, a short sword made from folded newspaper was held in front of his eyes.

He turned his head and saw a strange young man staring at him, muttering:

"Prohibited killing among civilians."

"What?" Song Qi furrowed his brow in confusion. "Civilians?"

Qi Xia slowly stood up. "Song Qi, you said you want to take me away?"

"That's right." Song Qi regained his composure, his face pale. "The 'Mao' team's missions must be completed."

"You're just a group of stragglers now. How do you plan to complete it?"

"It doesn't matter if we die." Song Qi shook his head. "We either all perish here, or we finish the mission. There's no third option."

"How interesting." Qi Xia let out a cold laugh. "Yesterday I still saw you as a brother, but today we're facing each other with blades."

"Brotherhood is brotherhood, and business is business." Song Qi said. "Taking you away this time doesn't mean we can't become brothers later."

"I suppose so." Qi Xia nodded, then asked, "Where are you taking me?"

"Our boss Qian Wu wants to see you." Song Qi said. "I won't say more, but I can guarantee your personal safety."

Qi Xia found it somewhat amusing. "You and your dozen or so people have all lost hands, and you're claiming you can guarantee my safety?"

Song Qi slowly walked up to Qi Xia and whispered, "The truth is... this time, a 'Da Ren Wu' wants to see you, but Wu Ge blocked it. He wants to meet you first, then decide whether to hand you over to the 'Da Ren Wu'."

"'Da Ren Wu'...?" Qi Xia furrowed his brow, and suddenly the image of that old lady and little boy appeared in his mind. Could those two really be 'Tian Ji'?

"So we were willing to lose a hand just to get information about you, all to make Wu Ge's plan go smoothly." Song Qi looked increasingly weak. "You should see that our time is running out. If you don't come with us..."

"Stop." Qi Xia shook his head. "Let's go."

"You agree?" Song Qi said in surprise.

"Yes." Qi Xia stood up. "I'm suddenly interested in the boss you mentioned. I want to meet him."

Qiao Jia Jin and Li Jing Guan exchanged glances, feeling that something was off about this.

"Little liar, are you serious?" Qiao Jia Jin asked. "People who cut off their own hands to find you—can they be good people?"

"Well..." Qi Xia thought for a moment and replied, "First—they cut off their own right hands, not mine, so that's why I'm interested."

"Then I'll go with you." Qiao Jia Jin grabbed his jacket from the table, slung it over his shoulder, and laughed. "They sent over a dozen people to invite you. How can you go alone?"

Li Jing Guan chuckled and stood up. "That's right, Qi Xia. I'll go with you too."

Qi Xia nodded, about to head out when he suddenly remembered something. He turned back, walked over to Han Yi Mo, and whispered:

"Han Yi Mo, this time I go, it's likely to be dangerous. From now on, stick with Su Shan."

"What...?" Han Yi Mo paused, reaching out to grab Qi Xia's wrist. "That doesn't make sense...? What do you mean by 'likely to be dangerous'? You're clearly my sav—"

"You already understand, so why ask what I mean?" Qi Xia pulled his hand away and turned to Su Shan.

He thought for a moment, then led Su Shan to a corner.

"What is it?" Su Shan asked.

"Su Shan, you're a smart person." Qi Xia said. "But your understanding of 'Zhong Yan Zhi Di' is too limited, so I can't fully trust you. In the time ahead, join the games as much as possible. I'm taking back what I said before—go ahead and participate in games of any level without holding back."

"Any level...?"

"That's right." Qi Xia nodded. "Plunge yourself into despair, just like when we first met."

"Plunge into despair?" Su Shan seemed to recall something and nodded cautiously.

"Don't suppress your own thoughts." Qi Xia said. "Being overly cautious might keep you safe for a while, but it will keep you in danger forever."

"So that's it..." Su Shan's eyes seemed to change. "Are you saying that at key moments, I should be like you—decisively risk my own life and my teammates'?"

"That's exactly it, Su Shan." Qi Xia nodded. "To escape this place, a normal person won't cut it—a 'feng zi' will. You have the brains, but you're still too rational in the end."

"You've enlightened me, Qi Xia." Su Shan smiled.

"How long will it take for you to go mad?"

"Quickly." Su Shan replied. "After all, your teammates aren't mine."

"Very good." Qi Xia nodded. "Remember, as long as you gain 'Hui Xiang', anyone's life is expendable."

"Qi Xia, I really wish I'd met you sooner." Su Shan laughed. "If I'm not wrong, I've wasted too much time."

"The best time to plant a tree was ten years ago; the next best is today." Qi Xia nodded at Su Shan, then turned and walked over to Song Qi.

"Let's go."

Qiao Jia Jin put on his jacket, nodded to Li Jing Guan, and the two followed Qi Xia out of the house.

The members of the "Mao" team all raised their right hands to their chests and followed the three out.

In the corner, "Ying Xiong" thought for a moment, picked up his short sword, and trailed far behind them.

Su Shan looked around at the people in the room and said, "Zhao Yi Sheng, Han writer, do you two have time?"

"What...?" The two looked up at her simultaneously.

"I'm planning to join a game and want to take you both along. Is that okay?"

Zhao Yi Sheng and Han Yi Mo thought for a few seconds and said at the same time, "Not convenient."

Su Shan never expected them to refuse so bluntly, not even giving her a chance to lead them to their deaths.

"What about you three...?" She turned to the three girls.

Lin Geng, Qin Ding Dong, Zhang Chen Ze.

"I'm fine with it." Lin Geng said.

"Where Xiao Shan goes, I go." Qin Ding Dong said.

Zhang Chen Ze looked around at the others and nodded. "I agree with the majority. If you three go, I'll go too."

"At critical moments, it's the girls who are reliable." Su Shan smiled at Zhao Yi Sheng and Han Yi Mo. "Doctor, big writer, you two can stay home and do the laundry and cleaning. When we get back with the 'Dao', we'll buy you something to eat."

"Pfft..." Qin Ding Dong covered her mouth and laughed. "Xiao Shan, you're still the same as always."

Lin Geng and Zhang Chen Ze silently watched Su Shan, sensing that her aura had changed. She seemed to be moving closer to Qi Xia—extremely rational, yet with an unpredictable edge.

"Let's go." Su Shan straightened her neat short hair and looked at the three with bright eyes. "From now on, we'll help each other."

The three girls stood up and followed her out the door one by one.

Han Yi Mo was stunned for a moment, then turned and asked, "Did she just insult us?"

"N-no, right?" Zhao Yi Sheng replied.