The Way to Break the Deadlock

Li Qing deactivated the Digitization Mode, and the white shadows before her eyes vanished.

"Very good. Very good."

Fernando held the knife tightly against Giorno's neck, his eyes fixed on Li Qing like a hungry wolf eyeing its prey.

"Come here, into my 'classroom'."

"Rest assured."

Giorno's blood was still dripping from his blade:

"As long as you obey me, I will not kill your companions."

Li Qing remained silent with a gloomy expression, but still took a difficult step forward.

"Etc!"

Abbacchio frowned and warned:

"Li Qing, think it through before you act!"

"That guy's ability is simply unbeatable. If you get caught up in it too, we'll have no hope of continuing the fight."

"Hey, what are you saying?!"

Before Li Qing could answer, Narancia, his forehead covered in cold sweat, shouted uncontrollably:

"Abbacchio, do you want to see Bucciarati die?"

"Fugo."

He turned back to his companion, his expression excited, and shouted, "Fugo, say something too!"

"."

Fugo remained silent, showing no intention of speaking up.

He just stood there silently, looking up at the arrogant Fernando in the distance, seemingly deep in thought.

"Enough!"

Seeing Narancia so agitated and out of control, Abbacchio simply adopted a cold, icy tone:

"Narancia, use your brain and think about it."

Is this the right thing to do?

Ultimately, Abbacchio has only known Bucciarati for a short time, and his joining the gang was merely a way to numb himself in this dangerous manner, allowing him to forget his fallen comrades and dead dreams amidst darkness and violence.

So, strictly speaking, he doesn't have a deep connection with Bucciarati right now.

This background, which leans towards objectivity and neutrality, makes Abbacchio more inclined to use reason to judge issues.

"Li Qing, don't let your emotions get the better of you."

"The promises of Mafia members are like pieces of paper that no one wants in the wastebasket; they can tear them up whenever they want."

"If you are not confident in breaking through the opponent's Stand ability, please do not do such a risky and suicidal thing."

"I"

Li Qing's steps forward faltered.

Ultimately, he wasn't confident he could break through the enemy's Stand ability; he wasn't even 50% sure.

"Even when injured, they cannot be fully conscious; even strong individuals like Giorno and Bucciarati succumb to it."

To be honest

"I'm not confident enough, not even 30% confident."

Li Qing said this in a heavy tone.

Currently, Fernando's Stand ability seems almost invincible.

Although the preparations are extremely tedious, once the conditions of "having something interesting in front of you" and "entering within ten meters of your ability range" are met simultaneously, the enemy will uncontrollably enter a terrible state of wasting time.

If you know his Stand ability beforehand, he'll be easier to deal with; just prepare a ranged attack and take him out from ten meters away.

But now, Giorno and Bucciarati have unknowingly entered the range of his Stand's ability and become prisoners completely controlled by Fernando.

Li Qing is not only facing a seemingly unsolvable ability, but he also carries the lives of two companions on his shoulders.

"It is extremely foolish to gamble with such a low probability of success on one's life."

"But."

Li Qing recalled the unwavering determination Giorno had shown when he climbed down the lava well without hesitation:

"Even something as stupid as this has to be done sometimes."

He sighed deeply, and finally took a slow step forward.

At this moment, Fugo, Narancia, and Abbacchio all focused their attention on Li Qing.

Under their complex and unspoken gazes, Li Qing finally entered Fernando's territory within ten meters of him.

"Ha ha ha ha."

"You're here, you've finally arrived."

"Li Qing, if I can have you, I will be free."

Fernando laughed heartily and wildly, his voice carrying a hint of relief.

At the same time, the "small blackboard" floating behind him also activated its invisible stand ability, leaving Li Qing, who had entered its domain, instantly bewildered.

Li Qing's gaze suddenly became somewhat vacant.

He seemed just like Giorno and Bucciarati before him, completely forgetting what he was supposed to do and completely oblivious to the passage of time.

And so, Li Qing walked forward blankly toward the container full of all sorts of entertainment products.

If things continue like this, he will eventually become completely addicted to the horror of "wasting time".

"Cut"

Seeing Li Qing walking towards them with a blank expression, Fernando's expression changed instantly:

"Sure enough, another piece of trash who can't resist temptation and only knows how to waste time."

"You trash!"

"It should have been cleaned up immediately!"

His voice was filled with an anger that normal people could not understand.

The pistol pointed at Bucciarati was slowly pulled, and the blade pressed closer to Giorno's neck:

"I'm sorry, what I just said was all a lie."

"No, I don't need to apologize."

"These kinds of trash who don't know how to cherish time deserve to be cleaned up. If we let them go, that would be a disservice to my duty as a teacher."

"We'll see. Hehe."

"Once a person enters a state of wasting time, it's like they're dead, forgetting ideals, ambitions, emotions, responsibilities, and all the important things."

At this moment, Li Qing had already walked blankly to Fernando's side.

He completely ignored Fernando beside him, forgot about Bucciarati and Giorno who were in imminent danger, and just stared blankly at the container in front of him, as if he was about to succumb to those entertainment items at any moment.

Looking at Li Qing like this, Fernando expressed a heartbroken and furious anger:

"A person who wastes time is someone who is callous and indifferent like this."

"You are like rats in a cesspool. As long as you can live a comfortable life in the dung heap, you will be permanently mired in this comfort zone."

"Li Qing!"

"Even if I killed the comrade you would risk your life to save right in front of you, you wouldn't even feel it, would you?"

As soon as he finished speaking, a strong killing intent surged from Fernando.

He never lets anyone who wastes time in front of him get away with it, and Giorno and Bucciarati are no exception.

The next second, the blade will slit Giorno's throat, and the bullet will pierce Bucciarati's head.

One of them was watching television, and the other was reading a newspaper; just as Fernando criticized, they were as numb and apathetic as if they were dead.

However.

"Enough!"

Li Qing suddenly turned his head and stared intently at Fernando with his clear, bright eyes, which were not dull at all.

His powerful Riot Games erupted, striking Fernando's cheek with full force in an instant.

Bang!

Caught off guard by the heavy blow, Fernando staggered back two steps.

The blade pressed against Giorno's neck slipped from his hand, and the pistol pointed at Bucciarati also fell to the ground with a violent tremor.

At this moment, time seemed to stand still.

"H-How is this possible?"

Fernando stared in utter shock, his eyes wide with disbelief.

"Are you still conscious?"

"Why... why are you still conscious?!"

"Could it be..."

Fernando, whose cheek was half-crowned by Li Qing, actually had tears of emotion welling up in his eyes:

Are you 'attending class' seriously?

"Has anyone finally understood the principles I've been teaching and overcome their bad habit of wasting time?"

No, you're overthinking it.

"Just like how humans will definitely use their phones while sitting on the toilet, the pursuit of pleasure is human nature."

"Everything in excess is as bad as deficiency. If we try to overcome even this one point completely, we might not even be able to be human!"

Li Qing replied in a cold tone.

"Then why?!"

Fernando let out a devastated roar, "How are you able to stay sober!"

"Because I made the right bet."

"While success couldn't be guaranteed, I still made the right bet—"

Li Qing raised his iron fist again, a mocking smile spreading across his lips:

"Hefty novels, outdated magazines, old-fashioned newspapers that nobody reads anymore, retro-style TV programs, laptops thicker than bricks, and cell phones harder than walnuts."

"How could these twenty-year-old relics possibly interest me?!"

"You want me to waste my time?"

Iron Fist bursts forth once more:

"They should at least give us a smartphone!"