Qiao Qiao remained frozen in place for a while before snapping back to reality. After the scream, the surroundings became eerily quiet again. She turned her head to look in the direction where the sound had come from, her heart in a turmoil, unsure whether she should go and investigate.
She was afraid of encountering a danger she couldn't handle, yet at the same time worried about missing crucial clues.
After all, the time allotted for this instance was too short. Although it was stated as three days, the duration of one day was definitely not a typical twenty-four-hour period.
Moreover, the scope of this instance was also difficult to fathom, seeming to encompass more than one space. To find all the clues and successfully pass within the extremely short span of three days would be impossible for just one or two people. Furthermore, if she couldn't grasp any clues herself, others might not be willing to share theirs proactively.
In the City of Death, no player would accept someone who only reaped benefits as a teammate for the next instance.
And what she had told Chi Hao earlier about having clues to trade was not really a clue at all. It was merely some possible scenarios that she and Du Heng had inferred.
What she and Du Heng could infer, the incredibly intelligent Chi Hao and Jing Minghe mentioned by You Mi, could surely deduce as well. Therefore, before seeing them again, she had to find more useful clues.
After careful deliberation, Qiao Qiao finally mustered up her courage and walked in the direction of the sound.
She took a step, then paused, her heartbeat quickening with every inch closer.
As she drew nearer, Qiao Qiao placed a hand on her chest, trying to suppress her racing heart.
Gradually, the silence in her ears lessened, replaced by faint, indistinct sounds of breathing. At that moment, behind a flowering branch directly in front of her, the sounds grew clearer.
Hesitating for a moment, Qiao Qiao decisively quickened her pace and circled around. A person, no, more accurately, half a person, lay on the ground, their lower body already dissolved into a pool of blood.
"Chen Mo?" Qiao Qiao whispered the name, her voice trembling. She clearly saw the familiar long thorn embedded in Chen Mo's wrist.
Chen Mo had completely lost consciousness. Although there was still a faint breath, judging by his appearance, he was beyond saving.
This was...
Qiao Qiao swallowed nervously, her peripheral vision scanning the surroundings. She confirmed there were no other unusual movements nearby.
Was this the fate of having all your time taken away?
Watching Chen Mo's state, Qiao Qiao inwardly rejoiced, grateful that she was someone whose time could not be taken.
Chen Mo continued to melt away, eventually becoming nothing but blood, completely devoid of life.
She couldn't save Chen Mo. With a soft apology, she prepared to leave and continue her search for clues. After taking just two steps, she felt something beneath her foot.
·
"Sister You Mi? Are you alright?"
Jing Minghe, dragging his heavily injured body, crawled to You Mi's side. You Mi had had one leg broken by a giant praying mantis while protecting him. In the end, they had joined forces, using their last bit of strength to kill one giant praying mantis, while another was incapacitated and temporarily unable to move.
You Mi had already fainted from the pain. Jing Minghe, worried that she might not survive due to excessive blood loss, gritted his teeth to stay conscious, intending to retrieve the medical kit from You Mi.
Just as Jing Minghe was about to touch the strap of the medical kit, he suddenly heard footsteps approaching rapidly.
Jing Minghe looked up, meeting Gao He's excited and sinister gaze.
"Hahaha! I found it! I finally found it!"
Jing Minghe remembered that Shi Wan had told him that Gao He had taken Chen Mo's time during the last hunt, making him a holder of the Black Butterfly Seal.
Bad!
Jing Minghe inwardly cursed his misfortune.
Gao He stared at Jing Minghe like a famished wolf gazing at long-lost prey, and Jing Minghe was now completely incapable of resisting.
Gao He's eyes were filled with greed as he looked at Jing Minghe. Jing Minghe was not just prey; he was Gao He's hope for survival. Gripping the long thorn in his hand, Jing Minghe's condition clearly indicated an easy victory, requiring no effort from Gao He.
Jing Minghe watched Gao He approach him step by step, a bitter smile forming on his lips.
He didn't know how much time he had left. After Gao He took it, would he still be able to live? Fortunately, he was fortunate that You Mi was someone whose time couldn't be taken, so he didn't have to worry too much about her. He only hoped that Gao He wouldn't trouble the unconscious You Mi after successfully taking his time.
Jing Minghe lowered his gaze and slowly closed his eyes. He couldn't help but wonder if his brother, who had disappeared in the City of Death, would know if he died. Would he be sad? Probably not. After all, he had never seen a sad expression on Lu Fanfei's face in his memory. What a pity.
And Chi Hao, he hoped that this person wouldn't be too sad. Although it was regrettable, having experienced it once wasn't too bad.
"I'm sorry," Gao He grabbed Jing Minghe's wrist. "This is the rule of the game. To survive, I must sacrifice you!"
With that, Gao He raised the long thorn high and plunged it cleanly into Jing Minghe's wrist.
This was the second time Jing Minghe had his time taken. The sensation after being stabbed was both familiar and strange. The world before his eyes plunged into endless darkness once more.
"Ah!"
Despite having lost all sensation, Jing Minghe heard a heart-wrenching scream. Something heavy slammed into him, then was quickly removed.
Jing Minghe wanted to open his eyes, but the moment he had the thought, he completely lost all perception and consciousness.
"Brother, what are you doing?" Sudang Novel Network
"Doing something big."
"Something big?"
"Doesn't it like to play games with humans?"
"It? You mean... the System? The City of Death?"
"Xiao Jing, come find me."
"What?"
"Brother!"
He opened his eyes abruptly. Jing Minghe hadn't even figured out where he was standing when a strong wave of dizziness made him unable to stand steady, and he fell straight down uncontrollably.
However, to his surprise, he didn't fall onto the cold ground but into a warm embrace.
"Minghe."
Hearing Chi Hao's voice, Jing Minghe finally reacted. He had returned from the hunting instance.
"I," Jing Minghe reached out and grabbed Chi Hao's arm, tilting his head slightly. He stared at the handsome face he thought he might never see again and said with a low laugh, "It's so good to be alive. Brother Hao, did you miss me?"
"Yes."
Chi Hao looked at the blood-soaked bandages on Jing Minghe's arm, his heart openly showing his deep concern.
He absolutely did not want to experience another instance that forcibly separated them, leaving him unable to get any news of the other. Chi Hao felt it was imperative to find a way to keep Jing Minghe within his sight.
"Um..." Qiao Qiao asked cautiously, "Where should we go next?"
The hunt ended, and everyone returned to the place they were before entering the hunting instance.