Chapter 29: The Enigma

Officer Li ignored Qiao Jiajin, turning instead to Qi Xia. "There's something about Han Yimo... You left something unsaid earlier. What does his death signify? What's the deal with that sword?"

Qi Xia narrowed his eyes. "You're the detective, Officer. I'm just a con artist. Isn't it odd you're asking me about a case?"

Li sighed. "In this godforsaken place, what good is detective work?"

After a pause, Qi Xia relented. "Fine. Let's just say Han Yimo might've recognized that sword."

"Recognized?" Li frowned. "You mean he'd seen it before?"

"Not your problem anymore," Qi Xia said dismissively. "Worry about your own situation."

"What situation?"

As Qi Xia turned to leave, Li grabbed his arm. "Explain. What 'situation'?"

Lin Qin stepped closer, whispering behind her hand: "He won't say it, but there are two things you need to watch out for."

"Two?"

"First, the only person strong enough to wield that giant sword is the deranged shopgirl. If Han Yimo was murdered, she's the prime suspect. Get out of here while you can."

Li nodded grimly. "And the second?"

"Your so-called 'teammates.' They're not exactly reliable."

Li's lips tightened. His current allies were Xiao Ran, the emotionally unstable preschool teacher; Zhang Chenze, the self-serving lawyer; and Dr. Zhao, the egocentric doctor he'd clashed with earlier. Could this fragile alliance survive a life-or-death crisis?

After a long silence, Li muttered, "Qi Xia, we'll use the convenience store as our base. If you uncover any intel… maybe we can trade later."

Qi Xia gave him a noncommittal glance and walked away. The others followed awkwardly.

Li watched them disappear. He knew their group might be more dependable, but they were actively chasing danger by collecting "tokens." Staying here wasn't safe either. Survival meant securing a stronghold first.

At the plaza where they'd first arrived, Qi Xia studied the massive electronic screen and the bronze bell above it. The bell had tolled when Han Yimo died.

"I've heard that bell multiple times," Lin Qin realized. "Like when that man's skull was crushed by the 'sheep-masked' creature during orientation."

"So it rings whenever someone dies?" Sweetie ventured.

Qi Xia shook his head. "Thousands of rooms here. If it were a death toll, we'd hear constant ringing. There's another trigger."

The group noticed the screen's previous message – "I heard the Resonance of Calamity" – had vanished.

As they turned to leave, a gnarled face suddenly loomed inches from Qi Xia's. The hunched old man grinned with a single remaining tooth. "I've figured it out! The answer is to gamble your life! Stake everything!"

Qi Xia recoiled as the man's grimy hands clawed at him. "We're so close to escaping! Just gamble—"

"Back off, old man!" Qiao Jiajin barked. "You know Qi Xia?"

The stranger blinked. "You… don't recognize me?" His milky eyes darted between them. "Ah… you've met Tianlong. No hope now… The Zodiacs have returned. We're trapped here forever…"

Muttering to himself, the withered figure shuffled away, leaving the group chilled by his cryptic warnings.