Who broke the glass 17: If he used a syringe, Xun Yin's hand...

"The bell has rung, and the roulette is open. You two had better join the game soon." Seemingly no longer able to stand the way they ignored everyone around them, the person leaning in the shadows by the bar finally spoke, his voice sinister.

Pei Qingyu ignored him, rubbing his tight chest until Xun Yin tried to take out the medicine he carried and feed it to him. Only then did he shake his head slightly and turn to look into the corner.

Four people huddled in the corner, all watching them warily. The one who had just spoken wore a mask marked "6," while the others wore "1," "3," and "4."

Xun Yin looked toward the masks marked "2" and "5" lying in the corner, picked up "2," and gently put it on Pei Qingyu's face.

"You arrived too late and missed the explanation of the rules," Number 6 continued, asking with feigned kindness, "but since you dared to break the rules and trigger the punishment, I suppose you don't care about the rules here anyway?"

"Of course we care." Pei Qingyu spoke, tossing the blame right back in all seriousness. "If you don't tell us the rules and we break them again later, won't you be the ones who suffer?"

Number 6 choked on his words. He stared wide-eyed at Pei Qingyu, who kept coughing softly, for a long moment before finally speaking.

"There are six people here now, and twelve sectors in total. Each person occupies the sector with their number and the one with twice their number. Everyone spins the roulette in the middle together. Whoever's number the pointer lands on has to leave the bar to fetch a bullet from the edge of the hall. If you bring it back within the time limit, you'll be safe. Otherwise, the bullet goes to the gunman, and you'll be shot dead. Understood?"

Pei Qingyu glanced thoughtfully beyond the bar without speaking. Xun Yin frowned slightly. Under these rules, there was no competition between the players. If that really was the case, why had Number 6 been reluctant to tell them the rules?

"All right, let's begin."

Pei Qingyu clearly knew Number 6 was hiding something too, but he paid it no mind. He still hadn't taken his medicine, and his palpitations were growing stronger, forcing him to lean on Xun Yin's hand just to reach the wheel.

"There are twelve rounds in total. This is the first." Number 6 watched a huge "1" appear on the pillar in the center of the bar and urged, "Let's start."

"You still haven't told us what counts as winning, or how to get out alive." Pei Qingyu spun the roulette as he asked casually.

"You'll find out later."

Number 6 stared fixedly at the rapidly spinning pointer. As he watched it slowly stop on Number 3, he laughed delightedly. "Just keep watching."

Chapter 28: Who broke the glass 17: If he used a syringe, Xun Yin's hand...

Emergency lights came on one after another at the entrance to the alley. Pei Qingyan silently cleared away the rubble that had collapsed across the entrance, then turned to glance at the ambulance slowly approaching behind him.

"Captain Yan, I've gained control of the surveillance cameras in the bar below." Song Ranran's voice suddenly came through his earpiece. Pei Qingyan abruptly straightened and strode aside.

"Can you see Xiao Yu and the others?"

"Yes." Song Ranran tapped at her keyboard for a while, and her voice suddenly grew grave. "Captain Yan, Captain Pei's condition is a little..."

She paused, then said something quietly. Pei Qingyan dug his nails hard into his palm. He murmured an acknowledgment, turned, and quickly dialed another number.

"Little Mo." Pei Qingyan gave him the address in a trembling voice. "Get over here right away."

In the underground bar, the game of Russian roulette continued.

Sure enough, Number 3 raced toward his destination, but collapsed on the way back. His agonized screams echoed through the hall along with the sizzling of electricity. Xun Yin and Pei Qingyu exchanged a glance, realizing the first hidden rule: everywhere outside the designated route carried a high-voltage current. One wrong step meant instant death.

Number 1, who was selected afterward, was exceptionally cautious, but ended up being shot dead by the gunman for exceeding the time limit.

The temperature in the underground bar gradually dropped. Pei Qingyu turned his head to suppress another urge to cough and drew Xun Yin's coat tighter around himself. His whole body ached as though he had fallen into an ice cavern, yet he still refused Xun Yin's suggestion that he take his medicine.

This time, the pointer wavered to a stop in front of Number 4.

Number 4's face turned ashen when the pointer selected him. The door behind him at four o'clock slowly opened. He instinctively dodged toward three o'clock, only to let out a sudden scream and pitch straight to the floor.

At the same time, the bartender's voice rang out again, carrying a faint warning. "Players, please follow the rules of the roulette. Honor the stakes you agreed to. Enjoy your experience."

"It's the current."

Pei Qingyu glanced at the spot Number 4 had just touched, leaned close to Xun Yin's ear, and said softly, "The area covered by the current is expanding. Numbers 3 and 1 are dead, so the areas they originally occupied are now completely electrified."

Xun Yin nodded. In the underground bar, the room

for survival

was shrinking. If this trend continued-Xun Yin looked toward Number 6, who had first explained the rules to them, and frowned slightly.

Number 4 seemed to have learned from the previous two players. He moved quickly but with exceptional care. After successfully retrieving the bullet, he hurried back toward the bar, while Number 6, who had been huddling in the corner all along, suddenly moved to the doorway.

Pei Qingyu seemed to realize something was wrong. He straightened out of Xun Yin's arms and stared fixedly at Number 6.

Just as Number 4 came within a step of the bar, Number 6 suddenly straightened and slammed the bar door shut. Caught off guard, Number 4 crashed into it and toppled sideways with a wail.

"No, no!"

Number 4 flailed his arms wildly, trying to grab Number 6, who was closest to him. But Number 6 merely withdrew the hand he had used to close the door and stood there impassively, looking down as Number 4 fell toward the floor.

Smack!

A hand suddenly reached out beside the door and caught Number 4 squarely by the forearm. Pei Qingyu pressed his lips together, arresting Number 4's fall and pulling him into the bar little by little.

"No! What are you doing? Let go!"

Number 6 roared and tried to stop him, only to be blocked outright by Xun Yin, who stood guard beside him.