"What is this?!" Moxiaoi's face turned grim as she stared at the black arrow, a wave of unease washing over her.

"This must be the trap that bastard mentioned," Xiaobai said, already walking toward the door.

"Be careful, Xiaobai! There might be more traps!"

"That bastard wants us to kill each other, not die before we even step out, right?" He turned to glance at the operating room's corner.

"What is it?" I asked, puzzled, and looked too. Just a pile of old files.

"There's a hidden camera there." With that, he walked out.

"A camera?"

"Really?"

I sifted through the dusty files and found a tiny hidden camera.

"..." I stared at it. Who would go to such lengths for this?

"So that bomb maniac was watching us like this..." Moxiaoi hissed coldly from the side. That arrow must have really shaken her.

Soon, Xiaobai returned, holding a crossbow.

"I found this at the door—a mechanism triggered by that silver wire. Outside's pitch black. Only a faint light at the fork forty meters away..."

He placed the crossbow on the operating table.

"But without arrows, it's useless..." he said regretfully.

"Give it to me!" Moxiaoi snatched the crossbow, yanked the black arrow from the wall, and expertly loaded it.

She spun around, aiming it at Xiaobai.

"Xiaoi?!" I gasped.

"Hey! Heroine~ I just saved your life. Repaying kindness with betrayal so soon?" Xiaobai dramatically raised his hands.

"..." Moxiaoi glared fiercely. "Consider the debt for saving me repaid..." Finally, she lowered the crossbow.

"...Is that how it works?"

"Time to go. I want to leave this hellhole fast." Moxiaoi slung the crossbow over her shoulder.

"Are we really going to kill people?!"

I was confused. How could they accept this so quickly? That killer actually wants us to kill? I looked at Xiaobai—he leaned against the door, indifferent. Moxiaoi was already geared up for battle.

"Xiaobai, that's murder! Are we really doing this?"

"Uh~ Donghui, well..."

"Kill or be killed. Those are your only choices now. Haven't you figured out such a simple truth?" Before Li Xiaobai could finish, Moxiaoi cut in coldly. "Or do you want to die now? Still naive enough to think everything can be solved peacefully? Things like this aren't uncommon. I just never thought it'd happen to me... If you lack that resolve, I might as well shoot you now. Otherwise, you'll just get in the way!" She suddenly raised the crossbow at me.

"You..." What kind of resolve did this woman have? I couldn't understand.

"Ladies... both of you, calm down! We can't fight among ourselves now." Xiaobai stepped forward and pushed down her crossbow. "Time halved or not, all this chatter wasted minutes. If you get in the way later, it'll be worse trouble."

"Seems I've become your burden." That's what it sounded like.

"It's not like that, heh~ Actually, you're the normal one. Reactions like hers... or mine are abnormal..." Xiaobai patted my shoulder, comforting me with a hint of helplessness.

"..." Moxiaoi stood silent, her expression radiating impatience.

"Didn't they say ten people we can save? Rescuing them would buy us time too," Xiaobai said.

"We wasted fifteen minutes. One hour forty-five left. Even saving all ten gives only ten hours. Still not enough for the full twenty-four-hour game," Moxiaoi replied.

"..." I was speechless.

"Then... let's leave first," Xiaobai said.

We looked toward the door. Outside was pitch black. Debris littered the floor. This was the corridor's last room. Left led to a corner—darker than dark, like a horror game boss room. Right had a flickering white light at the hall's end, the corridor's only visible spot.

"I think we should go left," I said weakly.

"Agreed." Xiaobai immediately nodded.

"...No objection." Moxiaoi scanned the dark corner with her crossbow.

"Let's go." I stepped forward, scared by the darkness.

"Wait!" Xiaobai grabbed me. "Don't rush! Be careful. Forgot the trap?"

"Huh~?"

"I'll lead. Donghui, middle. You!" He pointed at Moxiaoi. "Rear guard. Cover our backs."

"..." She glared but moved to the back, crossbow ready.

"..." I stayed silent. Even a fool knew Xiaobai was protecting me. Going first was most dangerous after traps like earlier. The middle felt safest.

"Is it okay? Leading is really dangerous," I asked worriedly.

"Him? Even with arrows like that black one, I doubt anything would happen to him no matter how many hit," Moxiaoi said with a meaningful smile. This man... he could survive a direct hit from my oversized handgun! Ordinary people would die instantly from a limb shot... Though I hate him, as a teammate, he feels reliable.

"Why?"

"Enough talk. Search nearby rooms first. Look for flashlights or weapons." Xiaobai waved his hand, ready to move.

"Do you even need weapons?" Moxiaoi laughed.

"Hey! Stop talking and do more!"

"Xiaobai, didn't you say to be quiet?"

"..." Xiaobai's face darkened as he walked ahead.

Xiaobai led, I followed, Moxiaoi covered the rear with her crossbow. We hugged the wall, moving slowly in the pitch black. With each step, Xiaobai extended his foot to probe the path, sweeping the darkness. Following him, with Moxiaoi behind, I felt safe—but uncomfortable. I'm a grown man, yet being protected like this.

"Xiaobai? Probing with your foot seems useless. What if you step on a trap? It'd be more dangerous," I whispered.

"Foolishness has no cure," Moxiaoi said.

"Shut up!"

"Shh~ Find a stick to probe instead," I suggested.

"I'd like a stick too, but the floor's just old files and empty cabinets," Xiaobai stopped and said helplessly.

"Room ahead. Might have useful stuff." Moxiaoi gestured with her crossbow toward a door.

"How are your eyes so sharp?" Xiaobai asked, surprised.

"Trained." She turned back to watch the rear.

"Uh~ Then take it slow." He led us forward.

We reached a room. I checked the doorplate: Ward 605. Sixth floor—we were on the hospital's sixth floor.

Xiaobai hid beside the door, carefully turning the knob. He stayed hidden, not entering immediately. He extended his foot inside, waved his hand around checking for traps (uselessly).

"Clear." He turned to us.

"..." I was speechless.

"You go first," Moxiaoi said.

"Don't trust me?" He strode in but immediately tripped and fell.

"Xiaobai?!" I crouched to help.

"Heh~"

"I'm fine! No need—just slipped..." He stood up, rubbing his head. Probably stepped on paper.

"Inside, be careful." Moxiaoi and I followed.

It was a large, abandoned ward. Our eyes had adjusted to the dark; we could barely make out objects.

"Find anything useful, but be careful," Xiaobai said while rummaging. Moxiaoi searched too, cautiously this time.

Uh~ What should I do? Just stand dumbly at the door.