TDU Chapter 28: Parting Ways

Chapter 28 Parting Ways

Doctor Zhao stepped out at that moment, his gaze evasive.

From his demeanor, it seemed he wasn't there to intervene but rather to offer Xiao Ran support.

"There aren't four {Dào}, only three remain," Qi Xia stated bluntly.

"Three?!" Xiao Ran frowned deeply. "You lost one?!"

Qi Xia's gaze shifted to Doctor Zhao, standing behind Xiao Ran, his expression now tinged with a hint of darkness and sternness.

Doctor Zhao seemed to sense Qi Xia's gaze and spoke up, "Xiao Ran, it wasn't Qi Xia who lost it. He exchanged one of the {Dào} with the female shop assistant for the fishing hook and line."

"What..." Xiao Ran's eyes twitched slightly. She sighed and turned to Qi Xia, saying, "Fine, it's your business what you do with your {Dào}. Now, I want you to return the two that belong to our team."

"The two that belong to your team...?" Qi Xia's expression hardened.

"Xiao Ran..." Tian Tian, who had remained silent for a while, interjected, "You can't put it that way. If we're being clear, the lost {Dào} was used to save Han Yimo from {your team}, so it doesn't concern us."

"Let me repeat myself—that decision was made solely by Qi Xia and does not involve our team."

"You motherf—" Qiao Jiajin stepped forward, his expression fierce, his Mandarin, previously not fluent, now switched entirely to Cantonese. "I never hit women gě, but you, gal, ‘re completely shameless!"

"Hey... please, calm down," Lin Qin intervened, stepping forward to grasp Qiao Jiajin gently. "Those {Dào} were earned by Qi Xia. Let him decide how to distribute them."

Qiao Jiajin gritted his teeth in frustration, barely containing his anger.

Qi Xia reached out and lightly touched his nose before speaking, "{Mortal Dragon} mentioned that these {Dào} are not just our rewards but also our {stakes} for participating in the games. If you all are ready to wait here to perish, then I won't hand any over."

"What, you've stopped {swindling} and moved on to {robbery}?" Xiao Ran laughed indignantly. "There's no place in this world that is {above the law}. I suggest you reconsider. Is this really the right course of action? We have a police officer here!"

By now, Police Officer Li heard the commotion outside and stepped out.

Initially, the two teams were merely distant from each other, but now they were in a state of mutual hostility, all because of this young teacher named Xiao Ran.

"What's going on?" Police Officer Li asked Doctor Zhao. "I can hear the noise even from inside the building."

"It's nothing serious... Xiao Ran wishes to speak with Qi Xia," Doctor Zhao replied with an awkward smile.

"She {wishes to speak with me}?" Qi Xia's expression grew cold. "Doctor Zhao, you're quite something... Are you certain it's Xiao Ran who wishes to speak with me?"

Qi Xia understood that Xiao Ran was merely a {tool}, and Doctor Zhao was the instigator of this conflict. In consideration of Xiao Ran's intelligence and bravery, she wouldn't have dared to confront Qi Xia and his team of four without someone pushing her to do so.

Disarming the opponent's {tool} could halt the offense, but defeating the opponent {themselves} would put an end to it once and for all.

"I... " Doctor Zhao hesitated for a moment, then said to Qi Xia with some embarrassment, "Qi Xia, you might feel a bit discontented... indeed, you won those {Dào} for us... but they belong to all of us, and we've also made sacrifices... It's only fair you share half with us."

"Is that so?" Qi Xia nodded solemnly and retorted, "But Doctor Zhao, that's not what you said last night when you killed Han Yimo with me."

"What?!" Doctor Zhao's eyes widened in shock. "Wh—What are you talking about, you lunatic?! When did I ever kill Han Yimo with you?"

Police Officer Li and Xiao Ran's expressions instantly shifted.

"You mentioned it last night, didn’t you?" Qi Xia casually rubbed his hands. "You told me, 'His wounds weren't stitched properly, so he won't make it. Fewer people mean less burden and better chances for the rest to survive.'"

"Nonsense!!" Doctor Zhao erupted, veins bulging on his forehead. "Are you trying to smear my name?! Yes, Han Yimo was badly wounded, but I managed to stop the bleeding...! You... you—"

"Why are you so upset?" Qi Xia stepped forward, patting Doctor Zhao's shoulder. Addressing Xiao Ran and Police Officer Li, he added, "Pay no attention to me. I'm just a swindler, and what I said earlier was mere nonsense."

"You...!" Doctor Zhao seethed with anger, at a loss for words.

"Do you enjoy being manipulated and having the truth twisted?" Qi Xia whispered to him. "I detest it too. If you persist with that woman and demand what isn't rightfully yours, I'll be more than willing to teach you all a lesson."

Doctor Zhao was unnerved by Qi Xia's words, finally realizing the true nature of the man before him.

During those past games, despite Qi Xia frequently offering assistance, it didn't mean he could be exploited easily.

At that moment, Xiao Ran appeared to have a realization and murmured to herself, "So that's it... because you're a doctor... if there's an injured person, you feel obligated to care for them. You killed him to rid yourself of that burden."

"I…"

"How could that be?" Qi Xia interjected before Doctor Zhao could respond, shaking his head. "Xiao Ran, what I said earlier was purely fabricated. Please don't take it seriously."

However, the seed of doubt had already quietly taken root in Xiao Ran's heart. How could it be easily uprooted?

"Qi Xia... what's going on here? What really happened?" Police Officer Li asked, his brow furrowed in concern.

Qi Xia regarded the sturdy figure before him, holding a relatively positive impression of the police officer. He could only hope that there was no collusion aimed at coveting his {Dào}.

"Xiao Ran suggested I split the {Dào} between the two teams. What do you think?" Qi Xia inquired.

Police Officer Li was surprised by the proposal, then shook his head firmly. "We've already checked. {Dào} can't be used as currency here, and there's no point in holding onto it. Plus, you won it fair and square, so you should keep it."

"How can you say that?!" Xiao Ran exclaimed, agitated. "Those {Dào} were exchanged with our lives!"

Police Officer Li sighed and replied with a bitter smile, "If you understand that those {Dào} were obtained at the cost of our lives, then you should be even more grateful to Qi Xia for saving you."

"I…"

Xiao Ran was at a loss for words, unable to speak for a moment.

Police Officer Li's words made sense. Without Qi Xia's intervention, she would likely have perished in that dreadful room long ago.

Qi Xia nodded silently, retrieved a small orb from his pocket, and tossed it towards Police Officer Li.

Police Officer Li caught it and opened his hand, revealing a single {Dào}.

"Hm?" He gazed at Qi Xia, puzzled. "What's this for? I'm not participating in any games, so there's no use giving me a {Dào}."

"I'll leave that one with you for now," Qi Xia said, waving his hand dismissively. "Consider it akin to money laundering. With that one in your possession, the two in my hand will be {clean}. So don't bother me anymore."

"This... " Police Officer Li hesitated, still doubtful, but unsure of what to say.

Doctor Zhao and Xiao Ran's expressions were extremely complex, their inner thoughts in turmoil.

After a moment, the collective noticed that Police Officer Li was still standing there, not having moved.

"Copper, is there anything else?" Qiao Jiajin asked.