"Heh..." Han Yimo let out a bitter laugh. "Dr. Zhao, you''re overthinking it. As a novelist, the last thing I want to talk about is my own work... If I have some free time, I just want to forget everything about my work and relax."


    "Then let''s talk about something else!" Dr. Zhao had been slowly stitching up the wound, but since this one was circular, it was more complicated to sew than regular wounds. He steadied himself and asked, "Tell me, what do you do to relax besides writing?"


    "I... play games."


    Dr. Zhao nodded. "That''s great. I play games after work too. What games do you play?"


    Due to significant blood loss, Han Yimo''s thoughts were sluggish. After a long pause, he finally said, "League of Legends... there''s a female ninja named ''Akali'' in it. I really like that character."


    "Oh?" Dr. Zhao smiled. "What a coincidence, I also play League of Legends and like Akali."


    Although his tone remained calm, everyone could see his hands tremble slightly. After all, in his many years of practice, this was the first time he had stitched up a wound while the patient was conscious and without anesthesia. It was unclear whether he genuinely liked the character or was simply trying to follow Han Yimo''s lead in the conversation.


    "Dr. Zhao, you like Akali too?" Han Yimo weakly nodded. "I’m fascinated by everything about her... This female ninja called ''The Fist of Shadow,'' I feel her backstory is..."


    Dr. Zhao''s hands paused briefly, then he gently touched Han Yimo''s face and asked, "Han Yimo, can you see me?"


    "Huh?" Han Yimo was confused about why Dr. Zhao suddenly asked this but responded, "I can see you..."


    "Who am I?"


    "You’re Dr. Zhao..."


    Dr. Zhao nodded again and said, "Han Yimo, you''re experiencing hallucinations now. You need to stay alert."


    "Hallucinations?" Han Yimo felt that his state was still normal, and he didn''t understand what Dr. Zhao meant. "Aren''t we having a normal conversation? How could I be hallucinating..."


    "It’s likely a symptom of excessive blood loss. Your brain isn''t getting enough blood. As you said, Akali’s title is ''The Rogue Assassin,'' not ''The Fist of Shadow.''"


    "The Rogue Assassin?" Han Yimo squinted, feeling uncertain. He had never heard that name before. Could this be the result of hallucinations?


    Qiao Jiajin nudged Qi Xia and asked, "Swindler, what are they talking about?"


    "I don''t know." Qi Xia shook his head. "I don''t play games, so I can''t follow."


    "I''ve played video games," Qiao Jiajin shrugged, "but I''ve never heard of the game they''re talking about. Is this hero-based battle game more interesting than ''Fatal Fury''...?"


    Qi Xia didn’t want to engage in this topic and walked aside, finding a clean stone to sit on.


    The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    He was thinking about something else.


    The conversation between Han Yimo and Dr. Zhao had fallen silent, likely due to Han Yimo’s hallucinations preventing the conversation from continuing.


    The atmosphere grew gradually quieter.


    Lin Qiong, feeling she couldn’t help, sat next to Qi Xia.


    "What are you thinking about?" Lin Qiong asked.


    Qi Xia turned to glance at Lin Qiong, his expression cold.


    "This is the second time you’ve asked me ''What are you thinking about,''" Qi Xia said. "Do you always ask your patients such direct questions during psychological consultations?"


    "But you''re not my patient." Lin Qiong shook her head. "We don’t refer to clients as ''patients''; it''s impolite. I’m just genuinely curious. What could someone as smart as you possibly be thinking?"


    "My wife." Qi Xia said wistfully.


    "Your wife?" Lin Qiong nodded silently. "Earlier, you mentioned someone was waiting outside for you. Was that your wife?"


    "Yes," Qi Xia nodded.


    Lin Qiong smiled slightly. "I didn’t expect that answer. So, you''re married?"


    "Why wouldn’t I be married?" Qi Xia felt Lin Qiong’s words carried an underlying tone.


    "I didn’t mean to offend you. But you’re a swindler, so what kind of person would your wife be?"


    "You..." Qi Xia rarely showed anger. He stood up slowly, his gaze icy. "What do you mean? Because I’m a swindler, only someone from a dubious background would marry me?"


    "Ah? I..." Lin Qiong was startled by Qi Xia’s attitude. "I didn’t mean to offend you. I was just curious..."


    "I suggest you stop being curious about me." Qi Xia’s tone remained cold. "I’m a swindler. What I say isn’t the truth."


    Their conversation ended unpleasantly, but Lin Qiong didn’t seem to mind.


    Dr. Zhao had finished stitching the wound.


    "It’s about done..." Dr. Zhao said, wiping the blood from his hands. "We’ve done all we can. Now, we just hope the wound doesn’t get infected."


    "Thank you..." Han Yimo’s lips were pale as he slowly said to Dr. Zhao.


    Once everything had been wrapped up, Qi Xia slowly stood up and addressed the group. "Everyone, it''s time to say goodbye."


    The other eight people looked confused upon hearing this.


    "Goodbye?"


    "Where are you going?" Qiao Jiajin asked.


    "That’s none of your concern," Qi Xia said, looking thoughtfully at the restaurant across the street.


    "You’re not really going to find the ''Dao,'' are you?!" Officer Li froze for a moment.


    "What? Do you have any advice?" Qi Xia seemed to acknowledge this.


    "With all due respect, you’re walking straight into death." Officer Li shook his head helplessly. "Three thousand six hundred ''Dao''! Do you understand what that means? If you’re going to get one ''Dao'' each time, you’d need to clear three thousand six hundred near-death games!"


    "Yes," Qi Xia nodded. "It sounds incredibly unlikely, but there’s still hope, right?"


    "Hope?" Officer Li sighed. "Ten days, three thousand six hundred games. That averages three hundred sixty games per day. Even if you did nothing but clear games all day, there’s not enough time. And even if you don’t do anything, you’ll die after ten days."


    After pausing, he added, "And this ''death'' is based on assuming what the ''Dragon Man'' said is completely true. In other words, even after ten days, we might not die, and this place might not be destroyed. Even if you collect all three thousand six hundred ''Dao,'' he might not let you out."


    "I understand all that." Qi Xia interrupted Officer Li, saying, "But I don’t plan to wait here. Even if I just go out for a walk, it’s better than staying here."


    "But you..." Officer Li still wanted to argue, but the staff lounge door creaked open again.


    The group turned to see the female clerk step out.


    She was completely naked, her mouth covered in grease, holding something in her hand, and her frail body seemed to be little more than skin and bones.


    Zhang Chenze frowned slightly, took off her women’s suit jacket, and walked over to drape it over her.


    She turned to the men, her face showing some anger. "What did you men do in the room? Where are her clothes?"


    Qiao Jiajin shook his head helplessly and said, "It’s too complicated to explain right now. I advise you not to bother with her."


    "You’re such a good person." The female clerk eyed the jacket draped over her, then glanced at Zhang Chenze. "Pity you''re not a man. If you were, I’d definitely sleep with you."


    "Sleep with me?" Zhang Chenze was taken aback. "What are you talking about?"


    "Since I can''t sleep with you, then I’ll give you this..." She opened her filthy hand, revealing a cooked, withered baby’s arm.