Is It Really Just Punishment?

Zhou Bai quickly ran to the man's side. The countdown showed 50 seconds remaining. Zhou Bai grabbed the man's hand, but he just laughed and shook it off.

"Hehe! I'm not leaving!"

Zhou Bai reached out to grab him again, but the man dodged and crouched down, trying to hide under a table. Only 30 seconds left!

The viewers were getting anxious. Zhou Bai knew he had little time left. He took a deep breath and struck the man on the neck, knocking him out. He then grabbed the man by his protective suit and lifted him like a ragdoll.

20 seconds!

Zhou Bai dragged him towards the door.

10 seconds!

Just two steps away from the door. At the last moment, Zhou Bai managed to pull the man out of the slaughter room. The door closed behind them.

7:30 AM.

"Ring!"

The disinfection alarm sounded. Zhou Bai locked the door just in time. Through the glass, he saw dust falling from the ceiling inside the slaughter room. The pig hanging on the rack began to rot as the dust settled on it. Then water sprayed down, creating a mist in the room.

The viewers, who had been holding their breath, finally exhaled, realizing their backs were drenched in sweat. They couldn't imagine what would have happened if Zhou Bai and the man had been a few seconds late.

Zhou Bai, now safe, felt a wave of relief wash over him. But he knew he couldn't relax yet. What would be the consequences of entering Slaughter Room No. 8? He watched through the glass as the pig's skin continued to rot. Using such a corrosive substance for disinfection was bizarre.

Lost in thought, Zhou Bai didn't notice the man on the ground waking up.

"Cluck, cluck, cluck..."

Zhou Bai heard the sound and looked down. The man lay at his feet, glaring at him with a twisted expression. His fingers curled, reaching for Zhou Bai's foot. The close-up view made Zhou Bai's skin crawl.

Zhou Bai stepped back, avoiding the man's grasp. He noticed small bumps forming on the man's ears, as if something was trying to emerge. The scene was eerily familiar, reminiscent of his wife's condition in the previous scenario.

Maybe he needed medication? Zhou Bai instinctively thought of getting pills, but the ones he brought from home were in the gatekeeper's room. Just as he was contemplating his next move, he heard footsteps behind him.

"Director Liu, please slow down. The alarm has already sounded. Old Li is probably..."

The voice stopped abruptly as the speaker reached Zhou Bai. Zhou Bai turned to see Director Liu glaring at him.

The viewers from Great Xia held their breath again.

—"It's over. Zhou Bai entered Slaughter Room No. 8 without permission."

—"What will Director Liu do? Cut off Zhou Bai's hand or foot? Or just slit his throat?"

Meanwhile, viewers from other countries were gleeful.

—"Haha, the Chosen One from Great Xia is in trouble for entering Slaughter Room No. 8 without permission."

—"I can't wait to see how Director Liu punishes him."

"Cluck, cluck, cluck..."

The man on the ground tried to lunge at Zhou Bai again.

"Damn it! Old Li..."

Before anyone could finish their sentence, Director Liu rushed forward, slashing down with his knife.

"Ah..."

Old Li clutched his ear in pain, blood seeping through his fingers. Zhou Bai felt a wave of nausea.

"When entering the slaughter room, wear the protective suit properly. When your shift ends, leave immediately. You've broken two rules today. This cut is your lesson."

Old Li, clutching his ear, curled up on the ground. "Director Liu, I know I was wrong. I won't do it again."

Zhou Bai noticed Old Li's eyes were now clear, increasing his confusion. This didn't seem like a simple punishment. Director Liu turned his gaze to Zhou Bai.

Zhou Bai, fully covered in the protective suit, only had his eyes visible. The keys he had been holding had fallen to the ground in his haste, now lying at his feet.

"Good job," Director Liu said before walking away. The others helped Old Li to the infirmary.

Once everyone left, the viewers realized the crisis was over.

—"Maybe the rules about Slaughter Room No. 8 are wrong."

—"How else do you explain Zhou Bai entering without any issues?"

—"And Director Liu even praised him. This is unbelievable."

The experts were also puzzled. In their meeting room, the two sets of rules were written on a whiteboard. They stared at the rules, deep in thought.

"Both the work regulations and the previous gatekeeper's notes mention Slaughter Room No. 8. The doctor also mentioned it."

"It feels like there's a secret in Slaughter Room No. 8."

"If both rules are wrong, it means Slaughter Room No. 8 can be entered freely. But if that's the case, its mysteriousness diminishes."

A young expert voiced his opinion, but his colleagues quickly dismissed him.

"We're researchers. Our discussions need to be logical. Your guess is too subjective."

Feeling unsupported, the young expert fell silent. Meanwhile, spies from other countries reported their findings back to their superiors. Most countries concluded that the work regulation about needing permission to enter Slaughter Room No. 8 and the previous gatekeeper's note about never entering it were both incorrect.

However, with many Chosen Ones already eliminated, those who survived received reminders from their analysis teams.