Chapter 71: Three Questions

Qi Xia listened, his face growing somber. He sighed and said, "Are you being too optimistic? I have no idea how to escape from this godforsaken place."

"Officer Li once said that if anyone could escape from here, it would most likely be Qi Xia."

Qi Xia fell silent afterward.

In his life, things rarely deviated from his expectations. He usually controlled everything with meticulous plans. But ever since arriving here, he had felt powerless on numerous occasions. Everything here seemed to unfold contrary to his plans.

At first, Qi Xia had devised a strategy, relying on "gambling with his life" to obtain "Dao," but he soon encountered the deadly "Di Niu" in the game. Later, Qiao Jiayin and Tiantian died right before his eyes, and despite his immense reluctance, he was utterly unable to stop it.

Now, he had intended to team up with Officer Li to discuss their next moves. But Officer Li was dead. He was forced to team up with Zhang Lüshi. Yet, what kind of person was Zhang Lüshi, really?

"The feeling of not being able to strategize everything is really uncomfortable," Qi Xia muttered to himself. "Zhang Lüshi, can I ask you a few questions?"

"Ask me a few questions?" Zhang Lüshi thought for a moment and said, "Alright, as long as it doesn't involve my privacy, go ahead."

"What's your reason for having to get out?"

"I..." Zhang Lüshi found the question intriguing. "Even if I didn't have a reason to get out, I couldn't possibly be content staying here, could I?"

Qi Xia nodded and asked again, "Do you think 'killing to seize Dao' is feasible?"

"'Killing to seize Dao'..." Zhang Lüshi rested her chin in her hand, carefully considering the question, then replied cautiously, "I think it's feasible, but I don't want to do it. It violates the law."

Qi Xia pondered for a moment and said, "Alright, one last question... Have you ever made a mistake?"

"A mistake?" Zhang Lüshi was taken aback. "Do you mean a crime?"

"Not related to 'law,'" Qi Xia said. "But that kind of error that could alter your entire life's path—one that fills you with regret, makes you despair, and leaves you spending the rest of your life paying for it."

Zhang Lüshi's eyes suddenly turned icy cold. She stared straight at Qi Xia and asked, "What do you mean? Does this question have anything to do with our teaming up?"

She didn't answer, but Qi Xia already knew the truth. It seemed the root of everything lay in the first game. Everyone had lied.

"Alright, I understand. Let's move forward together." Qi Xia nodded and extended his hand to Zhang Lüshi.

Zhang Lüshi looked at him suspiciously for a moment, then slowly reached out and shook his hand.

Lao Lü watched everyone's interactions and felt like an outsider again. It seemed he would need to put in some effort to fit into this group. He knew Qi Xia was no ordinary person, and teaming up with him would greatly increase their chances of obtaining "Dao."

Thinking of this, Lao Lü stepped forward with a chuckle and said to Qi Xia, "Now that you've found your people, I guess I should be on my way?"

Qi Xia nodded expressionlessly and said coolly, "No need to see me off."

"Huh?" Lao Lü was slightly stunned. "Qi, my boy, you're not going to ask me to stay?"

"There's no need." Qi Xia turned away, slowly sat down, and continued examining the lighter in his hand.

Lao Lü stood there awkwardly, having hoped to stage a touching scene of everyone reluctant to let him go and him being forced to stay. But the young man in front of him wasn't buying it at all—what was he to do?

He turned to look at Lin Geng, his eyes carrying a hint of expectation. But Lin Geng knew Qi Xia well; he wouldn't keep a stranger around. After all, the fate of Qiao Jiayin and Tiantian had been caused by that stranger named Xiaoxiao, so Lin Geng ignored Lao Lü.

Seeing no response from Lin Geng, Lao Lü looked toward Zhang Chenze instead. He thought to himself that this woman seemed approachable and probably wouldn't be so heartless. So, he leaned in close to Zhang Lüshi, adjusted her clothes to wrap them more securely, and said, "Little miss, I'm heading out. You take care of yourself, alright?"

To Lao Lü's surprise, Zhang Chenze was even colder than Lin Geng.

"Uncle, don't trouble yourself," Zhang Chenze said coldly. "And just to clarify, unless it's an emergency or a medical situation, please don't touch me."

"You all..." Lao Lü was so frustrated he gritted his teeth, but he had no retort, since it was he who had suggested leaving. He had seen people create their own ways out before, but never someone who used a single step to back themselves onto a cliff.

Now, it was Lao Lü's turn to be reluctant to leave. He walked toward the door, glancing back every few steps, and when no one tried to stop him, he reluctantly stepped outside.

Just as he was about to go, Lao Lü suddenly remembered something and hurried back, saying to the group, "I found a game this morning that requires a team of four—anyone interested?"

Hearing this, Lin Geng and Zhang Chenze both turned to look at Qi Xia.

Qi Xia slowly lifted his head, thought for three seconds, and asked, "What animal?"

Seeing that Qi Xia was indeed interested in "Dao," Lao Lü plopped down on the spot.

"Heh, it's 'Dog'!" Lao Lü said. "This game's all about testing our team's coordination—it's perfect for us!"

"Dog?" Qi Xia was startled and bowed his head in thought for a moment. "Dog" was a "team cooperation" type of game. Lin Geng and Zhang Chenze weren't foolish, and they would follow his instructions, so coordination shouldn't be a problem. The only wildcard was Lao Lü right in front of him. Qi Xia stared at Lao Lü with a complex expression, weighing the feasibility of a team game.

"Qi, my boy, what's wrong? You don't trust me?" Lao Lü grew anxious. "I told you, the more critical the moment, the smarter I get!"

"Lao Lü, can you agree to one condition of mine?" Qi Xia asked.

"Sure! What is it?"

"In the game, everything has to follow my commands."

Lao Lü's eyes darted around for a second, then he nodded, "Okay, anything else?"

"That's it—just that one condition."

"Ah, I thought it was something big!" Lao Lü laughed and waved it off. "Don't worry, Qi, my boy—I'll listen to you when the time comes."

Qi Xia still felt unsure and added, "I might make decisions that seem strange, but to win the game, you have to follow them."

"Ah, got it!" Lao Lü nodded seriously.

Seeing Lao Lü's serious demeanor, Qi Xia decided not to press further. He turned to Zhang Lüshi and asked, "Are you full?"

"Mm." Zhang Chenze picked up a relatively clean piece of scrap paper from the ground and carefully wiped the grease off her hands.

"Though it might not be the best suggestion, do you want to change into Officer Li's clothes?" Qi Xia said.

Zhang Lüshi was startled. She looked at her own soaked clothes, then at Officer Li's blood-stained T-shirt, thought for a moment, and shook her head.

"I have OCD, so I'll just stick with what I'm wearing."