Chapter 84

Chapter 84

Qian Xing and Lin Junruo ran into Xia Zeqin.

Upon seeing Xia Zeqin, Qian Xing immediately went up to greet him with a smile. “Brother Xia.”

Xia Zeqin gave a faint grunt in response, seemingly indifferent to Qian Xing’s presence. However, he did cast a brief glance at Lin Junruo before taking the initiative to strike up a conversation. “It’s only been a short while, and you already don’t recognize me?”

Lin Junruo’s body trembled as a wave of panic instantly rose in her heart.

To her, Xia Zeqin’s existence was hardly any better than that of a Vampire.

If Xia Zeqin had merely stabbed her in the back, Lin Junruo wouldn’t have been this terrified. She had seen plenty of such things in the Realm of Death and wouldn’t have made such a fuss. The problem lay with Xia Zeqin himself.

He was too strange. Moreover, when he had pushed her out earlier, there had clearly been no danger nearby.

Lin Junruo even had a preposterous suspicion in her heart-

Xia Zeqin wasn’t their Partner; he might even be a companion of the Vampires.

But Xia Zeqin had been with her since the game started, so it was impossible for him to have been possessed by a Vampire. Xia Zeqin was still the same Xia Zeqin she knew, but it was precisely because of this that Lin Junruo found him even more terrifying.

Just who was he?

Qian Xing turned to look at Lin Junruo.

She was afraid.

Qian Xing remembered what Lin Junruo had said before-that Xia Zeqin had pushed her out. It wasn’t surprising that she feared him.

“Brother Xia, Professor Qi and Qin Weiyi killed a few Vampires,” Qian Xing spoke up, changing the subject to help Lin Junruo out of the awkward situation.

Xia Zeqin gave Qian Xing a half-smile.

He clearly noticed Qian Xing’s intention but didn’t call him out. After a faint “Oh,” he continued walking forward.

Qian Xing hurriedly asked, “Brother Xia, where are you going?”

“Naturally, to a place where I can stay,” Xia Zeqin replied. He continued walking without looking back. Xu Tian’s gaze swept over Qian Xing and Lin Junruo for a moment before she followed Xia Zeqin without stopping.

Qian Xing looked at Lin Junruo with some difficulty.

Given Lin Junruo’s current state of mind, she would certainly want to keep her distance from Xia Zeqin. However, he and Xia Zeqin were originally part of the same team. Now that Qin Weiyi no longer needed him in the Surveillance Room, Qian Xing’s personal wish was to follow Xia Zeqin.

Meeting Qian Xing’s eyes, Lin Junruo immediately understood what he was thinking.

She shook her head at him, her face filled with pleading.

“I’m sorry,” Qian Xing said apologetically.

This apology sounded like a nightmare to Lin Junruo.

“Brother Xia and I are on the same team. If you still plan to come with me, I will do my best to protect you,” Qian Xing said. This was the only promise he could make.

Lin Junruo found it laughable.

How could Qian Xing protect her? The protection he spoke of was predicated on him not being in danger himself. In other words, once danger appeared, Xia Zeqin would likely strike at her again, and Qian Xing wouldn’t be able to do anything about it.

She didn’t just find it laughable; she actually laughed out loud.

Qian Xing felt a bit embarrassed.

They had clearly been companions before, yet now, his choice was obviously not friendly toward Lin Junruo. Qian Xing didn’t think he was in the wrong, but facing a girl like Lin Junruo, he still felt somewhat uneasy in his heart.

“No need,” Lin Junruo said.

Qian Xing paused.

He had thought that even if Lin Junruo was reluctant, she would still choose to stay with them. After all, being alone was even more dangerous.
“In the Realm of Death, the only person you can rely on is yourself,” Lin Junruo said.

Then, she gripped her walkie-talkie tightly and turned to leave.

Qian Xing was stunned.

He glanced in the direction Xia Zeqin had gone, then looked hesitantly at Lin Junruo’s departing back. Ultimately, he chose to chase after Xia Zeqin.

Lin Junruo’s mind was exceptionally clear at this moment.

She knew her own capabilities. It was naturally impossible for her to go head-to-head with a Vampire. She wasn’t Qi Shuping, nor was she Qin Weiyi or Lu Jing. She didn’t know the trick to clearing this trial either. Therefore, she only had one goal.

To turtle.

She would hide and survive for as long as possible until the others found a way to break the deadlock, then she would leave with them.

This was the simplest and easiest method. It was also the only choice she had right now that didn’t involve throwing her life away.

Lin Junruo moved cautiously along the walls, avoiding the Vampires’ search parties as she crept back toward the Surveillance Room.

The surveillance system had already been destroyed, so the Vampires likely wouldn’t return there. It was a relatively safe place for the time being. If possible, Lin Junruo hoped she could just turtle in the Surveillance Room until the world ended.

Lin Junruo ducked into the Surveillance Room.

Meanwhile, Qi Shuping and the other two were still struggling to evade the Vampires’ pursuit.

The Bar was only so large, and with the enemy’s superior numbers, finding them wasn’t difficult. They were discovered almost every time they tried to hide. Afterward, they relied on Lu Jing to carry them as they fled. As time dragged on, even Lu Jing began to show signs of exhaustion.

Although they had killed a few more Vampires, Qin Weiyi and Qi Shuping’s expressions grew increasingly grim as they watched Lu Jing’s stamina decline.

When they were discovered yet again, the three of them weren’t as lucky as before.

Lu Jing was running forward with the two of them in tow when they ran straight into a group of Vampires.

They were stuck in the middle of the Corridor. A squad of Vampires blocked the path ahead, and another was closing in from behind. They were sandwiched in the middle with no way out.

Lu Jing silently set Qi Shuping and Qin Weiyi down. He clenched his fists, entering a combat-ready stance, and whispered instructions to Qin Weiyi. “Xiao Qin, I’ll do my best to tie them down in a moment. Run as soon as you see an opening.”

The enemy’s target was Qi Shuping. If he could hold back a few more, there was still a sliver of hope for Qin Weiyi to survive.

Qin Weiyi frowned.

If Lu Jing abandoned them now, the possibility of him escaping alone was clearly much higher.

“Lu Jing,” Qin Weiyi called out.

Lu Jing kept his eyes fixed on the approaching Vampires and let out a short laugh. “I would have died long ago without you. My life was yours to begin with since you saved me. Every extra day I’ve lived has already been a bonus.”

Qin Weiyi felt a pang of guilt.

“I only saved you back then because I saw you could fight. I simply wanted to use you,” Qin Weiyi said.

That had been his original intention. After all, they hadn’t known each other at the time. But after spending this time together, it would be a lie to say there was no bond between them.

“I know,” Lu Jing replied. “I don’t care why you saved me. If you wanted me to do something wicked, I wouldn’t help you. But simply giving my life back to you is what I ought to do.”

Qin Weiyi fell silent.

The more Lu Jing acted this way, the worse he felt.

This was the Realm of Death, a place where betrayal happened constantly. Someone like Lu Jing was an anomaly here. But as he watched the Vampires draw closer, Qin Weiyi had to make a choice.

Staying behind would just be a pointless sacrifice. It was better to take the gamble.

Qin Weiyi’s gaze darkened as he responded, “Fine.”