Chapter 244: My Savior

I tried to strike up a few conversations with my "savior," but he seems to have an aloof personality and doesn't really engage with me.

That's probably a good thing, though. Someone with an aloof demeanor often has incredibly high abilities. Even though he doesn't look like he can fly through the skies or burrow into the earth, he's more than capable of protecting me.

Following my "savior," Qi Xia, we actually managed to escape that room.

Although my shoulder is in agony, we really did get out.

I thought that once we escaped, I'd return to the real world, but this dream isn't over yet.

This isn't the real world at all—it's a red city reeking of decay, and I need to think carefully about what part of the story this is...

Is it *Di Fu*?

No, no... maybe *Mo Jie*?

Based on how the plot is unfolding... could I be the child of the *Mo Jie*?

I have to share a tip with you all: if you ever find yourself in a situation like this, never show any surprise about the place. After all, protagonists never get shocked no matter where they end up traveling.

Read a few more novels, and you'll get it.

Whether it's crossing into another world, descending to ancient times, possessing a famous person's body, or being reborn after betrayal, the protagonist has to stay composed and never show surprise—it's just basic web novel stuff.

Look, Qi Xia is surprised, so he's not the protagonist—I am.

Just you wait and see. One day, when I gain invincible power, you all will be my founding team members, and I'll establish a few guilds so you can all become...

Ah, damn it, that hurts!

Why does getting speared by a harpoon hurt so much?!

The pain keeps interrupting my thoughts, making me completely flustered.

In stories, protagonists can get stabbed a dozen times and still stand tall against the wind, but here I am, brought down by a single harpoon.

What that person in the dragon mask said earlier... it's bothering me.

A game that lasts ten days?

Hang on... does that mean every time I come here to play, it uses up ten days?

Then, 260 times... that's 2,600 days...

Over seven years?!

I've been coming here for more than seven years in total?!

I was shocked for a few seconds, but then I quickly realized.

In typical novels, protagonists casually spend tens of thousands of years in seclusion... me? Just seven years...

That's nothing... it's really nothing...

"Time" is the cheapest thing for me.

But what does that line on the screen mean?

"I heard the echo of 'Zhao Zai'..."

It's so vague—probably a clue. As the protagonist, I need to jot it down; it might come in handy later.

The doctor in our group treated my wound, and my "savior," Qi Xia, even went into that female clerk's room to find a needle and thread to stitch me up.

He's so dedicated—for my sake, he's willing to do anything.

Not only did he free me from that endless cycle, but he's also saved my life time and again. He showed up and got Chen Jun Nan killed right away, then led us out of the room, so I'm 100 percent sure he's here to save me.

I didn't expect the night here to be so deep and dark.

And those eight people aren't even building a fire.

I know lighters are hard to find, but come on, at least try. I can't handle this pitch-black environment—if I hear that girl's whispers again, what then?

But... it should be fine, right? After all, my "savior" is with me, so it's not a big problem.

The sounds around me are rustling, and I'm starting to tremble.

I keep feeling like that girl I slandered to death is speaking.

"Why did you say I seduced that old man?"

"Which eye of yours saw me sleeping with him after I was married?"

"What's your real motive for doing this?"

"Open your eyes and see how terribly I died!!"

I suddenly open my eyes, only to find everyone else is already asleep.

This place... it's way too dark!

Something's not right... things are really not right here!

In this kind of darkness... even if that girl's ghost is standing right next to me, I wouldn't see her!

What should I do?!

Where's the fire?

I crawl up in the total blackness, but I keep tripping over things.

I need to light a fire right away... this is bad... really bad...

My shoulder is killing me... it's hurting so much!

Wait... death?

No, no way... am I going to die from this injury?

I... I have no reason to die!

I'm a good person!

Wait...

Am I... really a good person?

All the stupid things I've done in the past are flashing before my eyes right now.

I personally got an innocent girl killed, and I even murdered her parents.

What kind of good person am I?

Slandering people, spreading lies... that's a sin that lands you in the tongue-pulling hell. I've looked it up before... I'm destined for hell, so how can I call myself a good person?

All around me is dead silence, except for the chirping of insects.

I slowly lie down on the ground, and only now do I realize—I'm actually a villain.

So what if I'm the protagonist?

Protagonists with dark pasts can drag down a whole book's rating.

Don't kid yourself... as long as I don't say anything, no one will know, right?

What if I am a villain?

There's no "Chu Qi" here... and that "Qi Hei Jian" isn't going to fly over and punish me for my sins, is it?

Probably not... right?

"Qi Hei Jian"...

I've written that novel seven times in a single day, so I'm way too familiar with its plot.

The way "Qi Hei Jian" kills has echoed in my mind countless times, until I hear that whooshing wind.

Why... is there wind?

In an instant, I feel a heavy weight on my abdomen, like something's pressing down hard.

The next second, there's excruciating pain.

I can't even scream...

What the hell is happening?!

Who... who can save me... I think... I think I've been hurt again...

I never imagined that after getting injured, it would take so long to die. In the midst of this intense pain, I watch the sky gradually lighten, but I can't make a sound...

Have you ever been pierced by something?

I feel like I'm leaking air, unable to speak at all.

I can't move—my spine seems broken...

After who knows how long, everyone in the room crowds around me, looking shocked.

And I see the massive sword impaled in my abdomen.

It's really the "Qi Hei Jian"... I actually got punished for my evils...

But how is that possible?!

"Qi Hei Jian" is something I made up—it can't exist!

Why do the things I create always have such a huge impact on reality?!

Don't just stand there staring at me... I... I need my "savior"...

"Qi Xia... cough, cough..."

I finally manage to speak, but I spit out a mouthful of blood.

"I'm here."

My "savior" comes over and takes my hand.

I need to tell him everything—only if my "savior" knows the full situation can I have a chance to be saved.

"This... this place isn't right... Qi Xia... cough, cough... this couldn't happen... this 'Qi Hei Jian'... absolutely... cough, cough... impossible... Qi Xia... 'Qi Hei Jian' is no..."

I died.

Damn it!

What the hell was I saying?

Who can tell me how to say a complete sentence after getting stabbed by such a huge sword?!

I'm seriously fed up—TV shows and novels have been lying to me, making my dying words sound so stupid!

Looks like I'll have to revise my novel. Next time, I need to describe in detail what happens to people stabbed by "Qi Hei Jian"—they probably can't leave any last words. After all, that sword is enormous!

This time, I've unlocked a new way to die.

Whatever—dying a few times doesn't matter. As long as I go back to that room, my "savior" will still be waiting for me. The fact that "Qi Hei Jian" appeared proves this is the world from the novel!

From now on, as the protagonist in the novel, I'll be unstoppable!

My name is Han Yi Mo.

I'm about to begin...

Wait, I don't even need to lie, because I know the rules.

Qi Xia, my "savior," wait for me—I'm coming back again!