Giving Up?

Pain.

Qi Xia cradled his head, his body trembling incessantly.

Lin Qin stood beside Qi Xia, looking at him with a troubled expression.

Although she had seen this scene more than once, Qi Xia's behavior was always unsettling.

Qi Xia always knelt on the ground wailing, the immense pain in his mind far exceeding the knife wound on his shoulder.

After witnessing this, Jiang Ruoxue tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and said:

Your captain seems quite strange. Is he always like this?

It seems like he gets a headache every time someone dies.

Why doesn't he feel pain when he kills someone? Jiang Ruoxue asked.

This...

Lin had no idea about the principle behind Qi Xia's headaches, but according to her memory, Qi Xia did indeed get headaches after each death.

He looks as if he's been hypnotized, Jiang Ruoxue continued, every time he's about to feel sorrow, his brain numbs this feeling with pain.

Upon hearing this, Lin's eyes widened as if he had a moment of enlightenment.

Oh? Do you understand hypnosis? Jiang Ruoxue turned her head and looked at Lin in front of her.

Lin did not answer but instead fell into thought: It makes sense... If it's 'hypnosis', it could indeed have this effect... But that would require extremely advanced hypnosis skills and Qi Xia's full commitment... No one in the country should be able to achieve this level...

After speaking, Lin felt even more puzzled.

If no one in the country can do it, international hypnotists are even less likely.

Hypnosis is different from other psychological counseling methods; if the language used is not one's native tongue, it is difficult for humans to relax their psychological defenses, and it is even less possible to enter a state of unconsciousness.

So, are you a psychiatrist? Jiang Ruoxue asked.

I am a psychological counselor, Lin Qin replied, "Jiang Ruoxue, do you understand hypnosis?"

No, Jiang Ruoxue shook her head, "But I have been hypnotized. At that time, the hypnotist gave me a similar example, saying that under certain specific conditions, humans can 'seal' their emotions through hypnosis. I think Qi Xia is very similar to this situation.

"Yes... This technology can only exist in theory, it's almost impossible for anyone to achieve in reality...

As the two were talking, a heavy footstep sounded, and the Demon Dog finally appeared.

Oh... to make such a mess... He looked at the bald man, golden-haired, and Old Lu who were already dead on the ground, his expression somewhat troubled, "You contestants really fight without any restraint...

As soon as he finished speaking, he came to the side of the barely breathing A Mu, raised his right foot, and viciously crushed the other's head.

Bright red brain matter accompanied by emerald green hair splashed on the ground like fireworks.

Zhang Chenze and Lin Qin both turned their faces away; although they had seen many scenes of death, they still could not bear to see lives being slaughtered like livestock.

"I think I should be on my way," Jiang Ruoxue said with a smile to the two, "If there's nothing else, I'll hang up first and contact you later."

Seeing the Demon Dog coming over, Jiang Ruoxue smiled and said, "If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave first, and we can contact each other later."

The Demon Dog, seeing the other party so understandingly going to their death, seemed to understand something.

He stopped talking, reached out and grabbed Jiang Ruoxue's neck.

Wait... Qi Xia slowly stood up, his expression no longer pained.

What are you doing? The Demon Dog turned to look at him.

We accept this 'spy'. Qi Xia said, covering his shoulder, "From now on, she is a member of our team, you can't kill her."

Everyone present was stunned by this, even Jiang Ruoxue herself was taken aback.

What are you doing... I've never helped you from the beginning.

That doesn't matter, it doesn't violate the rules, does it? Qi Xia looked at the Demon Dog, seriously asking.

The Demon Dog slowly withdrew his hand, took out a very dirty cloth bag from his arms.

Here are twenty 'ultimate paths', along with all the bodies on the ground, now they are all your prizes. The Demon Dog waved his hand, threw the 'ultimate paths' on the ground, and turned to leave.

'Corpses' are also considered prizes... Qi Xia's eyes gradually dimmed, "I'm beginning to hate this damned place."

That's because you don't know the value. Jiang Ruoxue said to Qi Xia, "Bodies are good things, many survivors are living by eating bodies."

Eating bodies...? Lin was stunned, "Is it true or not?"

What, in this place besides 'bodies', can you find anything else to eat?

Before Lin could answer, Lawyer Zhang, not far away, suddenly spoke:

"Criminal Law Article 302, the crime of insulting a corpse. Those who steal, insult, or intentionally destroy corpses, bones, or ashes are sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not more than three years, detention, or control."

Are you okay? Jiang Ruoxue looked puzzled at Lawyer Zhang, "Is the law still in effect here?

Lawyer Zhang was somewhat dazed, she looked down at her hands covered in blood, and continued to say: "Criminal Law Article 232, those who intentionally kill others are sentenced to death, life imprisonment, or fixed-term imprisonment of not less than ten years..."

Jiang Ruoxue and Lin looked at each other and shook their heads one after another.

"You were only defending yourself," Qi Xia said, "I saw that man hit the glass by himself, it has nothing to do with you."

Zhang Chenze then came to his senses, worriedly came to Qi Xia's side, and looked at his wound.

This wound reminded her of Han Yimo.

After Han Yimo's left shoulder was injured, he died soon, will it be Qi Xia's turn this time?

"Everyone, these twenty 'ultimate paths', and those on the bodies...

...You guys divide them." Qi Xia pushed the cloth bag forward.

"We divide them? What about you?" Lawyer Zhang asked.

"I can't stop the bleeding from the wound." Qi Xia silently lowered his head, "Even if I bandage the wound, I won't be able to move in the next few days due to the knife injury, I've lost this game.

"What are you saying..." Lin Qin was instantly a bit flustered, "If you give up now... what does your previous effort count for?"

"Yes, it's not time to give up yet. Let's go back to find Doctor Zhao?" Lawyer Zhang also said with a crying tone.

"It's useless." Qi Xia shook his head, "Even if Doctor Zhao is really willing to help me, it's just to bandage my wound, he can't make my injury lighter in the next few days."

Qi Xia gritted his teeth and stood up, looked at the two people, and his expression was very disappointed.

"I didn't want to give up originally, my wife has been waiting for me at home... but I can't do it, the rest of the matter can only be handed over to you." Qi Xia thought for a while, and then said, "If you don't want to participate in the game anymore, I won't have any opinion, after all, everyone's life is their own."

Jiang Ruoxue, with her arms crossed in front of her chest, casually said, "Qi Xia, are you acting for me to see?"