"Donghui~ Be careful, take it slow."

Li Xiaobai glared coldly down the corridor. Moxiaoi raised her compound bow, aiming into the unknown darkness ahead. Someone must have arrived there, unseen by me.

But I couldn’t see anything. For now, I’d focus on myself and step out slowly.

"The lighter’s being stubborn!" I cried in panic, noticing it wouldn’t spark.

"Don’t rush. Take it slow."

"Got it~"

I clicked the lighter frantically a few more times. Finally, it caught. I tiptoed back toward the door. Outside, I heard Li Xiaobai, Moxiaoi, and strangers.

"Youngsters, stay calm. Lower your weapons first," came a middle-aged man’s voice.

"Yes, miss, put it down first," added a young man’s voice.

"..." Moxiaoi stayed silent, bow still raised.

Li Xiaobai watched me worriedly but kept glancing at the corridor. Silently, he pulled out the Black Claw Dagger from his coat.

"Young man, don’t panic. We won’t harm you," the middle-aged voice drew closer.

"Stop! Take one more step, and I’ll kill you," Moxiaoi snarled.

"Alright, alright~ Calm down. See? We’re unarmed," a calm young man replied.

"Stop! Don’t speak!" Moxiaoi barked.

The corridor fell silent. They’d been scared by her.

"Hurry, Donghui," Li Xiaobai’s face twisted with worry. He didn’t know what to do—only watching if I’d make it back safely.

"We can help you."

"Yes~ Only together can we escape."

"Miss, please lower your weapon," the young man urged.

"Hmph~" Moxiaoi smirked coldly, whispering to Li Xiaobai, "They’re untrustworthy."

"If they move rashly..." Li Xiaobai muttered darkly.

"I know what to do."

"Good." Xiaobai turned back to help me.

I’d crept to three meters from the door. My toes cramped. Staring at the dense bear traps on the floor, I almost cried.

"Donghui, almost there," Li Xiaobai reached out from the edge.

Suddenly, the lighter died. The ward plunged into darkness.

"Xiaobai!?" I panicked, lost.

"Donghui, don’t shout~ Stay calm. Listen to my voice. Come here. I’ll grab you," his voice cut through the dark, steadying me.

"Oh~ Okay."

"Hey~ Girls, need help?"

"We can assist!"

"We’re happy to help. We’re good people."

So noisy~ Annoying! Their footsteps neared again.

"Shut your [bleep]!" Li Xiaobai roared. In the dark, he grabbed my hand, swept me up in a princess carry—avoiding the traps below.

Princess carry... But urgency left no room for thoughts. Xiaobai set me down safely and turned to face them.

I peeked out. A pot-bellied middle-aged man in a uniform—like a director; a young man in matching uniform; a bespectacled man in a black suit, lawyer-like.

"Hey~ Director Huang, another pretty girl~"

"Seems so~" the pot-bellied man chuckled, lecherous grin spreading.

"And a nurse-student fantasy too~"

"We can help you," the lawyer said, adjusting his glasses. His gaze lingered unsettlingly.

Disgusting~ I hid behind.

"Hey! Stop! I said stop!" Moxiaoi’s face darkened. Words failed—she shot an arrow embedding at their feet.

"Ah! Brat, what’s this?" the lecherous man glared at the black shaft.

"Don’t excite yourselves. We’re here to help."

"Trust us!"

"Die or leave! We’ve no time for you!" Li Xiaobai shouted.

"Kid, who do you think you are?"

"Wait, Director Huang, let me persuade—"

"Shut up!" Moxiaoi roared.

"Hey hey~ Lovely ladies, come to uncle."

"We’ll protect you," the lawyer said.

"Get lost. I don’t want to kill," Xiaobai stepped forward, glaring.

"Do we need trash like you?" Moxiaoi sneered.

"Heh~ Funniest joke, kid. Hand over the women, and I spare you," the director grinned.

"Senile old man? That bald spot and beer belly—what can you do? Hit me? Heh~ Go farm your fields!" Li Xiaobai laughed mockingly.

"You! Kid, know who I am?" Director Huang’s face flushed with rage.

"I don’t care. Mess with us? Look in a mirror first," Moxiaoi taunted coldly.

"You! Brat, I’ll make you scream ‘Daddy’ later!"

Moxiaoi’s face darkened further. She drew a black arrow, nocked it, and aimed.

"Hey! Wait, talk this over—"

"Sweetheart~ Don’t be rash," the lawyer stammered, shaken by the earlier arrow.

"Brain-dead? After harassing us, you say ‘don’t be rash’? School ruined you, salty old man!" Moxiaoi jeered.

The lawyer’s face soured—no one spoke to him like this.

"Hey hey~ Fiery little thing."

"The nurse hiding’s prettier, though flat-chested."

"You’re provoking me, girl!" the lawyer growled.

"Of course~ Do you think I’m cheering you up?" Moxiaoi retorted.

"I said it once: get lost!" Li Xiaobai shouted fiercely.

"Kid, arrogant! We’ll walk over—you three can’t stop us!"

"For a disgusting old man like you, I’d blow your bald spot off!" The bow aimed at the director.

"You!"

"Lower the bow! I said it again!"

"Everyone, calm—"

"Annoying! Kill them!"

"Wait!"

Moxiaoi, fed up, shifted aim to the advancing lawyer. But before she could release—

"Bang!" A gunshot silenced all.

Moxiaoi collapsed. Her bow clattered to the floor. The lawyer held a smoking black pistol (Type 54).

"Moxiaoi!" I rushed to her side.

"Cough~ Cough~" Her face turned ashen. She writhed, blood gushing from her abdomen, staining her white sailor uniform.

"Cough~ Spit~" She pressed the wound, spewing blood.

"Xiaobai~" I helped press it, but blood flowed endlessly.

Li Xiaobai stared at her, expression darkening. His body trembled slightly—shock melting into fury. I’d never seen him so enraged. His eyes widened, handsome face twisted.

"Xiaobai! What do we do?" My voice shook.

He snapped back, tearing off his bandages. Scars covered his torso. He crouched, fumbling to wrap her wound.

"Stop the bleeding first..."

"Cough~ Fool~ Get the bullet out... cough... first..." Moxiaoi gasped, sweating coldly, forcing herself awake.

"Moxiaoi, don’t talk." She passed out.

The air turned icy cold.

Li Xiaobai stood slowly, expression terrifying... This time, I clearly saw his left eye—

A beastly, scarlet pupil!