Chapter 72, 3 AM: "Their deaths are all related to you."...

"What are you doing?!"

Seeing that Wang Jianping's hand was about to be placed in the forbidden area, Liang Jun mustered all her strength and slapped his hand down hard.

Wang Jianping was stunned for a moment after being hit.

His hands were covered by medical rubber gloves for years, and the backs of his hands, with their tight skin, turned red at a visible speed, with half of his palm clearly imprinted on them.

"What are you doing? Trying to sacrifice yourself willingly?"

People really do want to laugh when they're speechless.

That's what Liang Jun thought.

Her eyes were glued to Wang Jianping's every move, as if afraid he might do something unexpected the next second.

Liang Jun really couldn't understand how a chief physician at a top-tier hospital, a man almost her uncle's age, could lose his composure at such a crucial moment.

Seeing that Wang Jianping's lips were tightly pursed into a line, seemingly unwilling to speak, Liang Jun turned her head away and burst out laughing in exasperation.

"Don't think that what you're doing is so great that it will move us all."

Although she was reluctant, she had no choice but to use her position to speak, "Give us a suitable excuse, otherwise, our team doesn't need a member who acts on their own without any reason."

Liang Xuan's tone was indeed a bit harsh. Gu Keke and Luo Chuange, who had spent the most time with her, had never seen her like this before.

Gu Keke's heart pounded. She moved over as quietly as possible, like soothing a cat with its fur standing on end, and slowly stroked Liang Jun's prominent spine.

"Sister Yao..."

Liang Jun didn't have time to pay attention to the actions of the others around her; her piercing gaze was fixed directly on Wang Jianping.

Under the seemingly safe and warm light, Wang Jianping's usually straight back appeared somewhat hunched. His sparse hair was translucent in the light, and it was hard to tell whether it was oil from anxiety or sweat from tension.

After a moment of suffocating silence, Wang Jianping's barely noticeable Adam's apple bobbed, and then he rolled up his right sleeve and, without saying a word, presented his bare right arm to Liang Xuan.

The two blue-green stamps imprinted on the inside of his forearms were beginning to blur.

As if soaked through with sweat, the originally neat edges of the seal began to spread outwards.

Initially, they were separated by a distance. But now, the two streams of blue-green ink, flowing in opposite directions, are gradually spreading towards each other.

It was as if two living tentacles had grasped each other, and once they held hands, they would never separate.

Liang Jun's throat tightened.

She quickly looked at the back of her hand, where the fake stamp had also been applied.

However, the edges of her seal were still relatively intact, without the severe signs of diffusion seen in his seal.

On the other hand, Wang Jianping's entire right forearm had become a turbulent and unpredictable landscape painting.

Liang Jun didn't know what the worst-case scenario was, but she just wanted to rule out the worst possibilities she imagined as much as possible.

She grabbed Wang Jianping's arm and, with the same force she had used to slap his hand earlier, rubbed the two seals together again and again.

Although they looked no different from flowers soaked in water, Wang Jianping's arms were not covered in sweat, and no matter how hard Liang Xun tried, she could not change the situation at all.

When did this happen?

Liang Xun subtly tightened her grip, unconsciously leaving another handprint on the other person's arm. "When did you first notice?"

"Just now, when I was helping you expand the capacity of your wheelchair."

With his other hand, Wang Jianping pried open Liang Yun's fingers, which had turned blue from holding them in. As if nothing had happened, he lowered the sleeve of his right arm again, covering the strange pattern.

"Back then, I rolled up my sleeves for convenience, and that's when I noticed the change in the seal."

He chuckled and shook his head, as if a few more strands of hair had been removed from his head.

"It can't be wiped off. I estimate it will spread aimlessly everywhere, like cancer cells."

Liang Jun's heart skipped a beat.

She took two steps back, her gaze sweeping over everyone except Qi Zhixia. "Are your fake seals also acting strangely?"

Gu Keke, Luo Chuange, and Lao Ren all began checking their seals at the same time, and then, without prior agreement, gave Liang Jun the exact same answer—

"No abnormalities found."

Liang Xuan felt extremely uneasy.

She could actually relax for the time being. Because apart from Wang Jianping, the seals of everyone else present were still intact; at least, the time bombs planted on them hadn't started counting down yet.

But she couldn't be completely at ease. After all, they were all too aware of the system's punishments for players who broke the rules, which could also mean that Wang Jianping's life was beginning its countdown.

"you……"

Liang Jun's voice was choked with sobs. She closed her eyes tightly and shook her head vigorously.

Right now, it's crucial to avoid letting complex emotions control your mind; all you need to do is remain rational and calm.

After a short period of adjustment, Leung Chung is now well.

Are you experiencing any physical discomfort?

Wang Jianping appeared to be even calmer than she was.

He shook his head, speaking as if nothing was wrong, "Like I said, I'm a doctor. If I notice any discomfort, I will definitely tell you immediately."

If this had been said in the past, Liang Jun might have believed it.

But having witnessed Wang Jianping's risky behavior, how could she be sure he wouldn't hide his physical condition?

Qi Zhixia also thought his speech was full of loopholes, and for the first time, she had a different opinion from Wang Jianping.

"Director Wang, you just think that something is wrong with your body and that the system is going to operate on you, so you choose this desperate measure to achieve your so-called wish of 'maximizing the remaining value of your life'."

She gripped the armrests of the wheelchair with both hands, turned around, and stared at his drooping eyelids. "But these are all just your own guesses. No one—including the system—has ever said that the distortion of the fake seal means the end of the player's life."

At this point, Qi Zhixia turned her gaze back to the invisible wall. She leaned forward slightly, using her arms for support.

"If we follow your logic, then I should be the one in the best physical condition in the team right now. So, to be fair, I should do it this time..."

Why are you joining in this nonsense too?

With a slight push, Wang Jianping pushed the wheelchair back significantly, instantly widening the distance between Qi Zhixia and the invisible wall.

"To survive in this kind of game, you can't do it without brains. And among us, you and the captain are our core brains."

Wang Jianping looked at Luo Chuange and Lao Ren standing against the wall. "They are both young and strong and can handle most of the physical work for the team; while Keke is clever and always comes up with important clues at crucial moments."

His tone was so casual that it seemed out of place at this critical moment of life and death.

Liang Jun was like a wary cat, her narrowed eyes flashing with unease.

"Director Wang, what exactly are you trying to say?"

“Everyone in the team has their own role, so you were already a very complete team even before I joined.”

He paused for two seconds, seemingly finding it difficult to speak, "Now that I've become one of you, I have to take on the responsibility of protecting the core brain. That's why I voluntarily took on the role of 'Pusher' to protect Qi Zhixia; now it's my turn to voluntarily step forward to protect the captain."

Protect.

Upon hearing those two words, Liang Xuan paused for a moment.

It was as if, at that moment, everything around me had fallen into a vacuum along with me.

Memory is an abstract and mysterious thing.

People often subconsciously repeat and layer the code of "forgetting," yet they are always able to be swept back into the painful and protracted torrent of memories after unconsciously capturing certain keywords.

Forgetting is the disassembly of memory.

Liang Jun recalled that when she first entered the world of rules, a pair of twin guardian spirits told her to protect herself.

She also remembers that when she was young and helpless and was bullied in the orphanage, an older sister stood up for her and protected her.

But what happened next?

The older sister collapsed in a pool of blood made of piled stones, and the twin guardian spirits almost completely dissipated due to extreme weakness.

The whispers of her inner demons that had plagued her for so long now echoed in Liang Jun's mind once again—

"Their deaths are all related to you."

"Your weakness has harmed everyone."

That familiar yet deadly painful memory surged into her mind once more. It felt as if someone was gripping her throat tightly with an invisible hand.

She felt like she couldn't breathe. A barely perceptible tremor ran through her body, causing her to clutch her clothes tightly.

Liang Jun didn't even hear what Lao Ren said—

"Director Wang, even if you don't do this, we won't say anything."

Old Ren leaned loosely against the wall, then looked him up and down again. "We're all on the same side, you don't really need to flatter me like this..."

"I'm not flattering him, I'm doing this for myself."

Wang Jianping said in a deep voice, "I couldn't have made it this far on my own. So, only by protecting you all can I have any hope of surviving..."

"No problem."

Liang Jun's almost emotionless words coldly interrupted Wang Jianping's attempt to explain.

"I've tried it, and there's no problem."

Everyone turned their attention back to her, and their gazes shifted slightly downwards, finally noticing Liang Jun's outstretched right arm.

Unsuspecting and unimpeded, Liang Jun secretly breathed a sigh of relief as she walked into the stairwell area. She then withdrew her arm and seemingly swung it twice with ease.

Wang Jianping took a deep breath, "You..."

"Don't even think about protecting me," Liang Xun said without turning around, only glancing at the other person out of the corner of her eye before looking away again. "Isn't it better to focus on protecting yourself?"

The temperature seems to be dropping little by little.

Gu Keke stood to the side, her lips pursed. She noticed that Liang Xun seemed to have changed a little, but she couldn't figure out why.

All I knew was that the most important thing to do at that moment was to avoid the topic that was making Liang Jun feel negative.

"Time is running out. Since the players can get through normally, let's hurry upstairs!"

Gu Keke pulled Liang Jun's slightly stiff arm around her, her warmth like a little sun radiating from the smile in her eyes. "Sister Jun, shall we go?"

The sudden emotional shock left Liang Xun somewhat sluggish. She nodded haltingly before following Gu Keke's steps.

Starting from the stairwell, the lighting changed from warm to cool tones.

The light, almost bluish-white, hung high on the ceiling of the stairwell. The crowd gathered before the first step, but hesitated to take a step.

"Qi Zhixia's wheelchair," Luo Chuange took a deep breath, "What do we do?"

"It's nothing."

Wang Jianping turned his head away and coughed lightly twice. Then he said to Qi Zhixia, "Remember to hold onto the handles on both sides." After seeing Qi Zhixia nod in agreement, Wang Jianping bent down and nimbly turned a button on the back of the wheelchair. Then, he placed his hands on the back of the wheelchair and began to fold backward.

Seeing this, Luo Chuange stepped forward to lend a hand. With their combined efforts, the original carbon fiber wheelchair had been transformed into a carbon fiber stretcher, and thanks to the modifications made by Liang Jun, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to describe it as a "bed."

Qi Zhixia lay there, her gray-blue eyes staring directly at the pale white light from the ceiling. After a while, she felt a little excited.

She turned her head to the side. "Are you going to carry me up?"

Wang Jianping responded, "That's right. The self-protecting trolley can be converted into a stretcher, which makes it very convenient to go up stairs."

Gu Keke wanted to help, but Luo Chuange pulled her away.

"You and Sister Jun can go ahead and scout ahead. You don't need to do anything."

He looked to his side and said, "Old Ren, come and carry the stretcher."

Luo Chuange held the front of the stretcher alone and took the lead in going up the steps; Lao Ren and Wang Jianping were responsible for the back of the stretcher respectively, spreading the weight of the handles evenly.

This is no easier than moving pigs at home.

Although carbon fiber is a lightweight material, all of everyone's supplies for the next six days were still placed on it, along with a living person. Even though someone else was bearing the same weight as him, Lao Ren was still panting heavily as he climbed the stairs.

His legs were trembling slightly, and he wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Xia, no offense, but you should lose weight..."

"I?"

Upon hearing the sound, Liang Jun and Gu Keke turned around at the same time. They first noticed Qi Zhixia's emotions, and then glanced at Lao Ren, who was panting heavily, without making a sound.

Lying on the stretcher, Qi Zhixia didn't want to look back at all. She happened to meet the concerned looks of the two people in front of her and rolled her eyes in utter exasperation.

"I only weigh 110 pounds, don't try to manipulate me."

Old Ren chuckled awkwardly, "Oh dear, a girl weighing 110 pounds is actually..."

Luo Chuange frowned, his tone somewhat serious, "Old Ren, you..."

“I’m a head taller than you. Why don’t you lose some weight first? As you get older, you’re more likely to develop high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and high cholesterol. You can ask Director Wang if you don’t believe me.”

Qi Zhixia chuckled, "Forget it, why don't you exercise and get some exercise first, so you won't be exhausted from carrying things up the stairs later."

The "tsk" she made at the end of her sentence was clearly heard by Liang Jun and the other two.

The four exchanged a knowing glance, and no one spoke again, letting Lao Ren continue his rambling.

The stairs weren't very long. After turning a corner, they easily reached the second floor of the emergency aid station.

While the others were adjusting their wheelchairs behind them, Liang Jun and Gu Keke tried around the stairwell, but found no signs of triggering any hidden rules.

The lights on the second floor were even more bluish than those in the stairwell, as if someone had placed a filter in front of them, blurring out some things.

"Where are Jiang Chunhua and the others?"

Thanks to everyone's tireless efforts, Qi Zhixia has regained her sitting posture.

She looked down the corridor but couldn't see the other four people. "Have they already found the infusion room?"

"It should be."

Liang Jun nodded in agreement, and then lifted the cheap PVC curtain in front of them, which emitted a pungent smell.

Blue-green light, like a stamp, filled every corner of the space behind the curtain.

The smell of disinfectant filled the air, but it seemed even stronger than the hospital smell that Liang Jun was familiar with. The faint burning sensation in her nasal mucosa made her feel uncomfortable, and she couldn't help but cough.

However, as her breathing rate increased, Liang Yan's discomfort became more and more intense.

"It smells like formaldehyde."

Wang Jianping's brows were almost furrowed. "Try to hold your breath as much as possible, there might be chlorine in the air."

This is a dangerous gas. Perhaps someone mixed disinfectant with formaldehyde, which caused this situation.

Inhaling too much chlorine gas can cause a feeling of suffocation, and they certainly don't want to collapse just a step away from safety.

The group covered their mouths and noses, carefully searching for the location of the infusion room in the eerie mist.

The worn-out clinic signs would hang on the wall next to the door frame. They passed the finance office, the operating room, and the morgue, but couldn't find the infusion room.

It wasn't until they reached the end of the corridor, in the dimly lit area with the blue-green lights, that they discovered the dilapidated sign for the infusion room.

The blue-green gate was tightly closed.

Just as Liang Jun was about to reach out and push them away, a mechanical, electronic female voice suddenly came from inside the infusion room—

"The emergency aid station is reporting the current time: —"

"Three o'clock in the morning—"

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Author's note: While I was rushing to finish this manuscript, the water tap in my rented apartment suddenly burst...

My house almost got flooded, I'm so unlucky...