Page 39

Pei Qingyu coughed once and said softly, "According to the gambling rules you just told us, the players aren't competing against each other. Naturally, the more people survive, the better our chances of winning against them. What's wrong with me saving someone?"

"That's not how it works..."

No. 6 trembled all over with rage. Realizing he had let something slip, he hurriedly fell silent and continued frantically trying to get around Xun Yin to stop what was happening behind him.

Everything changed in an instant.

Just as Pei Qingyu's and No. 4's bodies were both bent at nearly ninety degrees, No. 4, who had been sobbing bitterly, suddenly pulled hard.

Caught completely off guard, Pei Qingyu was yanked outward, his chest slamming into the doorframe. The sudden pain knocked the breath out of him. Before he could say anything, his vision went black, and he passed out.

No. 4 clambered up Pei Qingyu's limp body, pushing backward as he vaulted over the bar. Pei Qingyu's fingers curled feebly, but in the end, he slumped and fell outward.

"Captain!"

As though sensing something, Xun Yin whipped his head around and immediately lunged over, barely catching Pei Qingyu around the waist. Pei Qingyu was still unconscious, his neck lolling back and his eyes tightly shut.

There seemed to be another sound of something cutting through the air behind him. Furious, Xun Yin kicked back hard. The kick sent No. 6 crashing into the pillar behind him, and he crumpled to the floor in pain.

Xun Yin quickly pulled Pei Qingyu back behind the bar, propping him against himself and deftly massaging his chest. Only after a long while did Pei Qingyu tremble slightly, cough weakly, and feebly open his eyes.

"Captain, does it still hurt? Where's your medicine?"

Pei Qingyu's heart was still beating very fast. Xun Yin questioned him quietly as he lay there dazed and tried to search his pockets, only for Pei Qingyu to seize his wrist.

"I'm not taking it. I'm fine. Just let me catch my breath..." Pei Qingyu shook his head, then turned to look at No. 4, who stood farthest away. He gave a soft laugh. "Repaying kindness with betrayal, huh?"

Clutching the bullet tightly in his palm, No. 4 stood up and backed away, trembling. Xun Yin moved, but Pei Qingyu stopped him.

"Wait. No rush..." Pei Qingyu turned toward No. 6 and tipped his chin up.

No. 6 remained seated on the floor where he had fallen. He shot Xun Yin a hateful look and rasped, "I didn't explain the rules clearly. Whether anyone dies or not, the safe zone keeps shrinking. This is the real Russian roulette. There's only one way to win: be the sole survivor."

No sooner had No. 6 finished speaking than a gunshot suddenly rang out nearby. No. 4, the only one standing, fell at the sound. No. 6 glanced at him coldly, without a trace of surprise. He suddenly crawled toward the four o'clock position, picked up a handgun that had popped out of a hidden compartment, loaded the bullet from No. 4's hand into the magazine, and aimed at Pei Qingyu and Xun Yin.

Xun Yin quickly drew his gun and aimed at No. 6 as well. Still sitting propped up where he was, Pei Qingyu glanced at No. 6 and tilted his head. "Looks like you still weren't telling the truth. We had to rely on No. 4 to test out the final rule for us: after retrieving your bullet, if you don't kill the gun holder in return, you die too."

No. 6 shrugged noncommittally and scoffed. "Heaven and earth destroy those who don't look out for themselves. Only one person can survive in the end. When it really comes down to it, the one beside you will abandon you too and make the same choice I did."

"I won't." Before Pei Qingyu could speak, Xun Yin answered.

"Mm, I know." Pei Qingyu chuckled. He reached out and scratched Xun Yin's palm, then turned to No. 6. "There's no point saying more. Since it's a gamble anyway, let's each try our luck first."

No. 6 gave Xun Yin a wary look and slowly walked over to the roulette wheel. The pointer spun rapidly again, then wobbled to a stop in front of No. 6.

"No, no..."

No. 6 sprang up screaming, his expression gradually crumbling. Xun Yin stepped back to shield Pei Qingyu, keeping his gun trained on No. 6 in bewilderment.

"Calm down. It's not as if you're actually going to die," Xun Yin said coldly.

No. 6's despairing roar abruptly stopped. Pei Qingyu's pupils contracted, and he lunged forward, yanking Xun Yin to the ground. At the same moment, No. 6 swiftly raised his gun and pulled the trigger without hesitation.

Two gunshots rang out, one after the other. Clutching his grazed arm, Pei Qingyu rose and frowned as he looked ahead-No. 6 lay on the floor, the patch of blood on his chest slowly spreading.

"Are you insane? Why did you try to kill us now?" Pei Qingyu staggered forward and grabbed No. 6's clothes, demanding urgently, "Are you still hiding something? Is that why you had to get rid of us?"

"...This Russian roulette is essentially a human-controlled Russian roulette. In other words, where the safe zone lands is controlled by God. I've been here many times. Whoever the pointer lands on last is the one who can survive in the end. Wherever he is becomes the safe zone. Even if everyone else follows the rules perfectly, they're certain to die."

Blood gushed from No. 6's mouth. Struggling to lift his head, he repeated in a murmur, "It landed on me. I had to kill you before my turn. I had to get to your safe zone... I managed it every time. Why this time... heh, heh, heh..."

"Who is God? Is it the bartender?" A chill ran through Pei Qingyu's whole body as he asked urgently.

"It's the bartender. It's God. It's Zhuo Wumian..."

No. 6's voice weakened. His pupils dilated, and he gradually fell silent.

-He was dead.

Pei Qingyu sat there in a daze. Xun Yin came forward to bandage his arm, then helped him slowly to his feet.

"Captain, do we still spin..."

"Spin." Pei Qingyu gritted his teeth and said quietly, "Zhuo Wumian... We'll do things his way and see what exactly he wants."

Amid the smell of blood, the pointer was spun once more, finally stopping in front of Pei Qingyu.

The door behind Pei Qingyu opened silently. He paused, then turned to head outside.

"Captain!" Seeming to anticipate what Pei Qingyu would do, Xun Yin quickly reached out and caught him. "I'll go."

"It has to be me, A-Xun." Pei Qingyu looked back, his lips curving slightly. "The enemy is hidden while we're out in the open. If we follow his rules, there's still room for things to change along the way. If we don't, he can erase us right now."