TDU Chapter 196
Chapter 196 Savior
Once the four had finished tending to themselves, they knew there was no time to waste in returning to {Passage to Heaven}. Though none of their injuries were life-threatening, neglecting them would undoubtedly make the coming days unbearable.
Having left Terrestrial Tiger's venue, they spent about an hour and a half making their way back to {Passage to Heaven}.
As they arrived, Chu Tianqiu, just like the day before, was standing in the courtyard, gazing outward.
"Hey!" Qi Xia called sharply. "Call for assistance, we have several heavily injured people here!"
"Huh?" Chu Tianqiu froze for a moment. "Ok... I'll go get help immediately."
Before long, about six people from Passage to Heaven rushed out and took the three injured individuals back for treatment.
Qi Xia spotted Doctor Zhao among them.
"Thank goodness..." Qi Xia said, approaching Doctor Zhao. "Good thing you didn’t head out today. Quickly, check on them—they’re all covered in bruises."
"Okay... but I'm no expert in surgery," Doctor Zhao said with difficulty. "I'll do the best I can."
He guided the three into the classroom and gave their injuries a quick once-over. This classroom was reportedly dedicated to treating the injured.
From the initial inspection, it seemed that Zhang Shan's injuries were the least severe. Though he was covered in blood, there were no noticeable wounds on his body.
Following was Qiao Jiajin, whose injuries were severe but not life-threatening. His hands and legs were covered in large, deep abrasions, as if his skin had been scraped open with a rough stone. While such wounds wouldn't be fatal, they caused unimaginable pain for the injured person.
The worst off was Li Xiangling. She had several fractured ribs, along with contusions on her arm and a sprained left ankle. Additionally, there was a not-so-serious puncture wound on her right biceps. While none of these injuries were life-threatening, she would need to rest and would no longer be able to participate in any upcoming games.
Qi Xia nodded quietly after hearing the report, about to leave after giving Doctor Zhao a few instructions. However, he suddenly froze in place.
A dedicated room for the injured…?
He turned around to look at Li Xiangling, a fleeting thought racing through his mind.
‘Rest?’
Qiao Jiajin noticed the change in Qi Xia’s expression and asked, puzzled, “You alright, Swindler lad?”
“I’m fine…” Qi Xia's face hardened, a plan already taking shape in his mind. "Take care of your injuries, I'll go fetch some food for you all." With a chilling look on his face, he opened the door, murmuring to himself, "So that’s what’s going on... Like Zhang Shan, Li Xiangling won’t make it by nightfall."
The moment Qi Xia entered his classroom, he saw Han Yimo sitting there, his smile twisted with an enigmatic air as he looked skyward. It was the kind of smile that sent an uneasy shiver down one's spine.
As soon as Han Yimo saw someone enter, he quickly wiped the expression from his face and turned to look at Qi Xia. "You’re back?"
Qi Xia gave a faint frown and replied, "Yes, I came to get some food."
"Oh, let me help you." Han Yimo stood up, picked up a few cans from the ground, and grabbed a couple of bottles of water. "Here you go."
Qi Xia fixed his gaze on Han Yimo's eyes, quietly accepting the object from his hand.
"What were you... looking at just now?" Qi Xia asked.
"I was looking at the sky," Han Yimo said with a smile. "The sky here is mesmerizing."
"Is it?" Qi Xia peered out the window, his eyes drawn to the dark crimson sky and the ochre sun looming in the distance. The outer edge of the sun was streaked with fine black lines, creeping inward.
"Have you ever seen such a sky and sun?" Han Yimo slowly turned, his face adorned with a serene smile. "That sun isn't blinding at all; it resembles a yellow orb. I find it impossible to describe with words."
"The streets here are filled with strange and bizarre sights. I’m beyond surprised by now," Qi Xia replied flatly, his expression neutral.
"It’s not {strange}… it’s {beautiful}..." Han Yimo continued, his voice tinged with wonder. "It floats in the sky... and it fills me with an overwhelming sense of beauty. It seems to be… I can’t quite put my finger on it, but there’s something familiar about it."
"You’re just too bored," Qi Xia sighed, his tone heavy with exasperation. "Didn't you say you had an unfinished novel? Why not use this time to plot it out? When you return to the real world, you could publish it."
"Novel...?" Han Yimo blinked in surprise. "Right, my novel. Qi Xia, did you know? Every (web) novel has a savior."
"Is that so?" Qi Xia answered without much interest, "I don’t read novels very often, so I don’t know much about them."
"Qi Xia, you are my savior."
"I’m a {savior}...?" Qi Xia paused for a moment, his mind turning over the words. He realized that Han Yimo had referred to him as a {savior} multiple times before, which began to grate on his nerves. "I merely saved your life once. There's no need to elevate it to such a lofty title."
"Hahahaha!" Han Yimo chuckled. "Right, right, I misspoke. My apologies. In any case, thank you for saving me."
Qi Xia felt an odd sense of discomfort. Han Yimo had always appeared to be a perfectly normal young man—slightly timid, but he had never done anything strange or repulsive.
But why was his behavior so peculiar today?
Had he been affected by {End Point}?
Suddenly, footsteps echoed down the hallway, quick and erratic, as if someone was running in a panic.
"Help, it’s an emergency! Is there anyone in charge here?!" A voice shouted from outside the door.
Qi Xia easily recognized the voice—it was Ole Lu’s.
People in the classroom shuffled out, and they soon saw the drenched Ole Lu, his face slick with sweat and his clothes clinging to his skin as though he'd just emerged from a river. He looked frantic, desperately searching for someone.
"Where’s Chu Tianqiu? Where’s that youngster Qi?" His voice trembled, his words tumbling out in haste. "Can anyone who’s got a brain help me?!"
Qi Xia opened the door and made his way forward, encountering Chu Tianqiu coming in the opposite direction.
"What happened?" Chu Tianqiu asked.
Ole Lu pounded his chest in an attempt to calm his breath, his face a mask of panic. "That celebrity... Yun Yao... Yun Yao’s in trouble!"
Both Qi Xia and Chu Tianqiu froze at the news, their faces instantly darkening.
"What happened to her?" Qi Xia inquired.
"She’s trapped in a game arena..." Ole Lu said, his voice trembling. "By goodness, I’ve never seen anything like this before... that damn rabbit doesn’t plan on letting her go."
"What?" Qi Xia’s brow furrowed as he exchanged a look with Chu Tianqiu. But the latter’s face mirrored his confusion, just as bewildered by the news.
"Rabbit?" Chu Tianqiu asked, a note of disbelief in his voice. "Mortal Rabbit?"
"Yes!" Ole Lu nodded vigorously. "It’s bizarre... didn’t you say you guys killed that rabbit yesterday? Why is there still an {Earthly Branch} standing there today ah?"
At these words, Chu Tianqiu’s expression shifted to one of alarm. He quickly urged, "Ole Lu, Qi Xia, follow me. Everyone else, disperse and stay put."
"Disperse?!" The others exchanged puzzled glances, clearly unsure of the situation. Wasn’t rescuing Yun Yao their top priority?
Qi Xia exhaled sharply, following Ole Lu as they made their way to Chu Tianqiu’s classroom.
"Close the door..." Chu Tianqiu spoke, his voice distant.
"What exactly has transpired?" Qi Xia asked. "Do you need me to contribute ideas?"
"No... wait a moment first..." Chu Tianqiu turned to look at Ole Lu. "Tell us exactly what happened."
