Chapter 56: The Holy Infirmary 23

Chapter 56: The Holy Infirmary 23

The few people across from Qin Fei initially froze in place. After pondering over Qin Fei's words, they couldn't help but feel a chill run down their spines.

Despite this, they had to admit that he made a very valid point.

Qin Fei took the pen from San Tu and, with the nib touching the paper, drew a long, straight line.

"19, 21, 23."

"Let's eliminate these three first."

He glanced at the trio who still didn't quite understand.

Qin Fei hadn't shown San Tu and Ghost Fire the complete doctor's notebook.

As such, they remained partially ignorant about the other players' alter egos.

Yet Qin Fei's mind was exceptionally clear and focused, just as it always was.

These three players' alter egos were derivatives of the prisoners within the prison. If they died in the Surface World, after midnight, the Inner World would be plagued by a horde of wandering prisoners for no reason.

Although he wasn't sure if the alter egos replicated the same level of combat strength as the original prisoners,

the mere thought was chilling enough.

"Number 6 and Number 5 aren't suitable either."

He continued to scribble on the paper.

The conflict between Numbers 5 and 6 had escalated to an intense boiling point. If he were to approach the trio of 567, he'd have to rely solely on ambushes and stealth attacks; the chances of success without such tactics wouldn't be high.

Qin Fei aimed to resolve the issue swiftly and with minimal effort.

They didn't meet his criteria.

So—

Four pairs of eyes focused on the paper simultaneously.

There was only one digit left.

Number 3.

Player Number 3.

In the doctor's notes, Player Number 3's alternate personality was a depression sufferer – gloomy, dispirited, and with no desire to do anything all day.

Back in the Confessional, Phantom and the others had labeled Number 3's alternate personality as "lazy." This was because during clue searches or group discussions, Number 3 would always sprawl like a puddle, neither speaking nor moving, never participating at all.

From this perspective, Number 3 was indeed the most suitable candidate for their needs.

Number 3's alternate personality wouldn't possess excessive aggression. Once it appeared, it was highly likely to hide in some corner of the inner world, making it impossible for players to locate.

Qin Fei nodded in satisfaction.

The decision was made, and they were all in agreement.

"Well then, regarding the specifics of how to proceed…" San Tu looked at Qin Fei rather hesitantly.

"It's alright, don't worry about it."

The young man lifted his slender and elegant neck.

"I'll take care of it."

San Tu was taken aback.

If he had already decided to do it himself, then why had he called them over?

San Tu had initially assumed that after Qin Fei's lengthy preparation, he must have wanted their assistance.

Now, with the doctor's notebook in his possession, Qin Fei held a key to success, giving his words extraordinary weight. He could essentially point in any direction and they would follow.

Qin Fei gazed at the two of them with a slight curve in his brows, "Are you wondering why I would still ask for your opinions if I plan to do it myself?"

"Oh dear."

His long, curled lashes fluttered gently, like the delicate wings of a butterfly in flight.

" Aren't we teammates? Of course, we should inform each other about any situation."

The tone and expression with which he spoke were warm and amiable.

This intimate gesture almost moved San Tu and Ghost Fire to their cores. The psychological barrier they had erected against Qin Fei due to his previous manipulation crumbled abruptly.

So that was how it was? He had already regarded them as teammates!

San Tu couldn't help but feel a subtle sense of self-reproach recalling the various speculations he had entertained about Number 12 in his heart just now.

It turned out that he merely wanted to synchronize information with them. It was she who had been immersed in the corrupt atmosphere of the instances for too long, losing her fundamental trust in others.

Actually, Sanzu didn't entirely believe Qin Fei's words, but the deception in his appearance was too potent. She simply couldn't suppress the emotions rising within her.

Driven by guilt, Sanmu went out of his way to show concern for the person before him: "Are you capable of managing on your own?"

The young man before him waved his hand casually, "Sure, no problem at all."

"Number 3 isn't hard to deal with. Don't worry, it's no big deal."

Nothing was a big deal.

When Qin Fei said this, it was as casual as if he were talking about going out for dinner or taking a post-meal stroll downstairs.

Oddly enough, Qin Fei wasn't intentionally trying to intimidate Zhang Tu and Phantom Flame; he genuinely believed it.

It was as if he had done such tasks countless times without even realizing it.

Swift and precise, his actions were eerily proficient.

Despite living over two decades, the only person he had ever directly confronted was Number 8.

Phantom Flame gazed at Qin Fei, his heart pounding nonstop.

Although he was an E-Rank Streamer, due to his unique innate skill, he had long been under the guild's strict protection.

He was like a trinket, dragged from one instance dungeon to another by various powerful players.

A faint sense of insecurity lingered in Phantom Flame's heart, a result of his personal abilities not matching the environment around him.

He always believed that guild players sticking together for mutual support was the supreme survival strategy in the rule-bound world.

Until he met Qin Fei. Suddenly, he realized something.

It turned out that as long as one possessed outstanding abilities, even a solo player could traverse instance dungeons with ease.

In the face of absolute strength, all additional conditions were mere illusions.

No one else in the room spoke, and silence enveloped the space.

Time flowed soundlessly.

Phantom Flame's gaze remained fixed on Qin Fei. For a long while, he stared until his eyelids grew sore, yet the person across from him showed no sign of getting up to move around.

Finally, Phantom Flame couldn't resist asking, "Why haven't you left yet?"

Didn't you want to fight me?

Though he didn't need the ghost fire to take action, he was both excited and nervous, his emotions fluctuating wildly.

To his surprise, Qin Fei, upon hearing his question, countered, "Go where?"

Ghost Fire: "?"

Three question marks appeared above Ghost Fire's head.

Qin Fei shook his head, looking relaxed as if victory was already in his grasp. "There's no need to be in such a hurry."

It was still early.

If they were to act rashly, what if something unexpected happened after they entered the Inner World?

"Besides, the plan we just discussed was a last resort, to be used only when there's no other choice."

Qin Fei blinked.

"In case someone else makes a move before midnight..."

Then they could simply reap the benefits without lifting a finger.

Ghost Fire acknowledged the advice and nodded repeatedly. Qin Fei, on the other hand, suddenly stood up.

Startled by Qin Fei's unexpected action, Ghost Fire asked, "Didn't you say we'd wait a bit longer?"

Why was he standing up now?

Don't tell him it was just to stretch his legs—he clearly saw Qin Fei heading towards the door!

Qin Fei turned around with an innocent look in his eyes. "I just want to go to Room 1 or 2 to move their bedding over here."

His bed was stained with Number 8's blood, which had now dried into clumps, making it impossible to sleep on.

Qin Fei's words filled Ghost Fire with immense guilt.

Compared to Xiao Qin, he was far too impulsive.

If the person across from him was like a fish in water in this instance, Qin Fei was akin to a duck floundering in a pond, every move he made seemed reckless.

His gaze towards Qin Fei was filled with admiration, his eyes sparkling like rhinestones glued onto a sticker, firmly attached to Qin Fei's face.

San Tu couldn't bear to watch and turned away.

This rookie appearance was truly embarrassing for the guild!

...

In the end, the crucial task of sneaking into Rooms 1 and 2 to steal bedding fell on Ghostfire's shoulders.

He had volunteered for it himself.

According to him, since they were stealing anyway, he just couldn't bring himself to touch the nun's belongings. Stealing some bedding would at least satisfy his appetite somewhat.

Otherwise, the voice of his alternate personality would keep repeating crazily in his ear, making his eardrums feel like they were about to wear out.

After the bedding was retrieved, Qin Fei sent the three of them away. "There's still a tough battle ahead tonight. Go back and rest, conserve your energy."

The wraithfire was pitifully dragged away by San Tu, glancing back every few steps. Meanwhile, Xiao Xiao still wore his trademark blank expression, completely clueless as to why the wraithfire had suddenly changed.

The room returned to silence. Qin Fei lay alone in the room, staring at the ceiling in a daze.

The ghost infant quietly nestled on the soft pillow above Qin Fei's head, curling up like a tiny cat.

Its teddy bear onesie was now soiled, replaced by a yellow duck outfit. The hood was designed as an oversized duck bill, giving the impression that the infant was being held in the mouth of a duck – a rather comical sight.

The ghost infant had become such a scene-stealer that the chat's focus gradually shifted towards it.

"Why does this little thing have so many clothes?"

"Obviously, the streamer must have bought them."

"What a doting streamer!"

The viewers had always assumed that the ghost infant could accompany Qin Fei out of Yin Village because they had entered into a master-slave contract.

In the realm of rules, only streamers with immense power could enter into contracts with NPCs.

The NPCs who were treated as attendants usually received some level of respect from their masters, but many were simply treated as slaves.

The streamer would recklessly order them around, often pushing them to the front lines to face danger, leaving them bruised and battered.

Even those NPCs bound to good masters seldom enjoyed a life as comfortable as Ghost Baby's.

Look at this little fellow!

Since entering the instance dungeon, aside from opening a door for the streamer once, he hadn't done any other work. Yet, he had worn a new outfit after another.

The streamer must have put in a lot of effort to take care of his little attendant, right?

"Raising even an attendant monster so well, my wife is so virtuous! Waaah! What should I do? I can't get enough of it!!"

"Wife! Wife, marry me! Marry me!!"

A group of spirits went into a frenzy in the chat.

In reality, Qin Fei was far less exaggerated than the viewers imagined.

Qin Fei had never raised a child and didn't know how often children needed new clothes. Anyway, he had plenty of extra points, so he splurged in the Central City's store, buying every stylish little outfit available.

In the Realm of Rules, streamers lived on the edge of life and death every day; no one would be foolish enough to get married, pregnant, or have children, which would only court disaster.

The clothes usually gathered dust in the store, but when the administrator saw Qin Fei purchase them all at once, they offered him a fifty percent discount.

Thus, Qin Fei unintentionally earned himself the title of a conscientious male parent. He was oblivious to this.

At that moment, his mind was preoccupied with the various scenarios he might encounter after midnight.

The clock outside the hallway chimed ten times, then eleven.

Qin Fei flipped over and sat up in bed.

Despite not leaving the bedroom, he had observed through the peephole over the past two hours that several groups of people had gone to Room 6.

Footsteps echoed in the corridor, light yet distinct, until they finally subsided after ten o'clock.

At that very moment, footsteps sounded once more.

...

In the pitch-black corridor, Number 3 crouched close to the wall like a stealthy mouse in the darkness, slowly approaching Room 12.

Due to excessive tension, his breathing became labored. To avoid making any extra noise, he clamped his lips with his teeth.

A faint metallic taste of blood tinged with pain spread within his mouth, filling Number 3 with deep regret.

If he could, he would go back two hours in time.

Then he wouldn't have followed Number 19 and the others to provoke Number 6!

The memory of his foolish actions two hours prior made Number 3 wish he could slap himself twice.

Number 19 had found Number 3's room after dinner.

He was accompanied by Numbers 13 and 17.

Team Number 6 successively killed two players, which finally made the others feel uneasy.

Although Number 12 Qin Fei was currently leading the scoreboard, Qin Fei had only killed Number 8 in self-defense. The rest of his points were obtained in the Confessional Room. Moreover, Qin Fei appeared meek and harmless, a stark contrast to the violently frenzied Number 6. Thus, in the eyes of most players, Number 6 posed a more immediate threat.

Number 19's mission was to convince Number 3 to join forces and eliminate Number 6 first.

Number 19 spoke with remarkable composure, "After dinner just now, I saw Number 6 chatting with Number 5 and the others. His eyes kept darting around, looking at every room."

They were undoubtedly searching for their next prey.

Number 6 had become a killing machine.

If they didn't stop him, sooner or later, the knife would swing towards them.

Number 3 hesitated for a moment before nodding in agreement.

Perhaps when assigning roles in this scenario, the game had taken into account each player's inherent nature in some way.

In a nutshell, Number 3 was an indecisive, timid person with terrible execution skills. If one were to select the luckiest individuals in the Rule-bound World, Number 3 would have undoubtedly ranked within the top 1% prior to today. He had cleared several missions, but he had never genuinely contributed to their success. He had simply gone along for the ride and inexplicably survived day after day. Now, Number 19's logical argument had moved him, and without much contemplation, he agreed to join the trio on their mission. The outcome was predictable. At the crucial moment of taking action, he faltered. According to Number 19's plan, one person would distract Numbers 5 and 7 while the others would seize the opportunity to infiltrate the room and eliminate Number 6. The task of distraction fell upon Number 13.

The remaining three would attack one by one, while the other two would ambush and launch a surprise attack.

In a three-on-one scenario, even if Number 6 was exceptionally skilled, it would be challenging to counterattack successfully with a debuff that hindered his condition.

Logically, the only variable in this plan was Number 13.

He needed to distract the other two for at least five minutes, which was indeed a difficult task.

Number 19 didn't anticipate that Number 13 would execute the mission flawlessly, whereas Number 3—

At that moment, Number 19 had already approached Number 6, with Number 3 hiding behind the door.

All he needed to do was wait for Number 19's signal before rushing into the room to assist in holding down Number 6.

But he was trembling uncontrollably!

Shaking like a sieve, his silhouette swayed behind the door, eventually catching Number 6's attention.

Alerted, Number 6 got up and ran towards the exit, even grabbing Number 3 as a shield the moment he stepped out of the room.

He intended to use Number 3 as a shield.

Seeing their ambush fail, Numbers 19 and 17, with gritted teeth, decided to charge straight in for a two-on-one battle.

Unexpectedly, Number 3 suddenly became energized and started assisting Number 6 without any apparent reason.

This delay allowed Numbers 5 and 7 to return.

The situation instantly turned around.

In terms of both numbers and combat strength, Number 19 was at a disadvantage.

Number 19 was almost driven to the brink of death by Number 3's actions!

At first, he thought he had made a mistake and that Number 3 was actually on the same side as Number 6.

But soon, he realized that all of Number 3's actions were due to his erratic behavior!

There had been no prior contact between him and Number 6. The revelation of his location was because he had genuinely panicked to the point of losing all rationality.

And his assistance to Number 6 later was due to his whimsical notion that since they were bound to fail, he might as well switch sides and ally with Number 6.

If glares could slay, Number 19 would have killed Number 3 on the spot.

In Number 3's perspective, although he initially stood on the wrong side, he had eventually helped Number 6. Therefore, even if someone were to suffer misfortune later, it certainly wouldn't be him.

However, what unfolded next exceeded his comprehension.

Number 6 was actually planning to make an example out of him.

"It was your decision to come after me," said Number 6 as he drew a dagger and pressed it against Number 3's neck.

He continued, "So, wouldn't it be reasonable for me to collect some interest now?"

The icy and piercing pain seeped from the surface of his skin into his bones, causing Number 3's teeth to chatter as he wept and begged for mercy on the spot.

Number 6 retracted the dagger.

"You don't have to die."

The muscular man obscured the room's light, casting a chilling shadow over Qin Fei, labeled as Number 3.

"As long as you kill Number 12, I'll spare your life."

How could that be possible!

Number 3 was baffled.

He was the one who betrayed and decided to side with Number 6 on the battlefield. Yet, in the end, why was he still the one being pushed forward by Number 6?

In this regard, Qin Fei surprisingly shared the same line of thought as Number 6.

From Number 6's perspective, Number 3 was the easiest target and posed the least threat once eliminated.

Numbers 13, 17, and 19 were all enraged and had formed an alliance.

Regardless of which one among them Number 6 chose to eliminate, the remaining two might, out of anger and self-preservation, opt for a desperate showdown against him.

There was only Number 3.

Number 3 had sealed his own fate; no one would stand up for him.

That was why Number 6 had said those words.

If Number 3 failed to deal with Number 12, he would have a legitimate reason to claim an additional share of the kill.

More than that, Number 6 was eager to see Number 3 taken down by Number 12.

During their previous venture in the Inner World, Sister Della's actions had made Number 6 realize a fact:

Though he was unsure how Number 12 had managed it, he had successfully won the favor of the Non-Playable Characters (NPCs).

NPCs couldn't be relied upon; they could only count on the players.

Number 12 was incredibly strong, and Number 6 understood that he couldn't defeat him alone.

In fact, even with the assistance of Numbers 5 and 7, victory wasn't guaranteed.

It was because Player 12 still had those two guild members behind him.

He needed to find more people.

Many more.

But they might not listen to him.

If Number 3 were to die at the hands of Number 12 right now, it would make his task much easier.

Number 12, after killing two people in a row, would become just as dangerous as he was.

Moreover, with the higher score on his back, Number 12 was destined to surpass Number 6 and become the primary target for everyone in the dungeon.

Should Number 3 perish,

Everything would fall into place.

Tonight, whether he wanted to or not, he had to go.

Of course, Number 6 didn't actually need to push. Number 3 was already planning on going.

For him, death was inevitable either way, so it was better to die later than sooner.

Besides, as long as something hadn't happened yet, anything was possible.

Perhaps he could manage to save his own life.

Holding onto this unrealistic hope, Number 3 turned off the lights in the hallway an hour ago for easier movement.

He knew full well that this was merely a case of covering one's ears while stealing a bell.

But there was nothing he could do; he was far too nervous. The cover of darkness allowed him to feel slightly more at ease.

Unlike Number 8, who had volunteered to assassinate Qin Fei earlier, Number 3 had no special abilities or life-saving innate skills.

For over an hour after deciding to act against Qin Fei, Number 3 had been lurking in a corner of the hallway, hoping that Number 12 would appear.

Unfortunately, his hopes were dashed.

Number 12 seemed to be an intrinsic part of Qin Fei's room, never showing his face throughout.

Number 6 had given him a deadline till midnight tonight.

Now, as time was almost up, Number 3 had no choice but to take the initiative.

Number 3 walked alone in the corridor, like a fish out of water gasping for breath.

He mentally rehearsed his plan over and over again:

...Calling it a plan was barely more than a pretense.

Number 3's strategy was to knock on Qin Fei's door with utter transparency.

In his hand, he held a dagger – the only thing Number 6 had provided him.

First, he would disguise casual conversation with Number 12.

Then, catching his target completely off guard, he would strike.

...

Inside the room.

Qin Fei was already waiting silently there.

That fellow outside was moving incredibly slow; even his immense patience was starting to wear thin.

Countless comments like "sacrificial lamb," "looking forward to the streamer's massacre" flooded the chat, but Qin Fei didn't notice.

His entire focus was on the doorknob.

Finally, footsteps halted in front of the door.

"Click."

Accompanied by a soft sound, the doorknob gently turned downward.

Of course, it wouldn't budge.

Qin Fei locked the door from the inside.

Taking a step towards the door, Qin Fei moved with extreme delicacy and regulated his breathing to the point where Number 3 outside couldn't detect any sound through the thin door.

With a swift movement, he unlocked the door and pulled it open in one fluid motion.

The corridor was dim, but Qin Fei hadn't turned on the lights in the room either; his eyes had already adjusted to the darkness.

Number 3's face was now fully revealed before him.

Qin Fei's speed in opening the door was so swift that Number 3 didn't have time to react.

He didn't even knock, did he? !

He merely lifted his hand, discreetly pressing against the doorknob, harboring a futile hope of sneaking into the room undetected.

"What's going on?"

The young man before him smiled, politely inquiring with courtesy.

"There's nothing significant."

"Number 19 asked me to come and inquire of you."

"Are you interested in collaborating with us?"

Rehearsed words echoed in his mind, but Number 3's throat seemed to have suddenly swollen, rendering him voiceless.

Calm down! Calm down! Don't be nervous!

Number 3 mentally screamed at himself.

Self-hypnosis proved ineffective; his pounding heart felt like it was about to burst through his chest, and even breathing became a challenge.

No, he couldn't hesitate any longer. The longer he waited, the more he would accomplish nothing!

With a sudden grip, Number 3's right hand, hanging behind his back, clenched tightly around the hard knife handle, causing pain to shoot through his palm.

There was nothing he could do; it wasn't his fault. The blame could only be placed on Numbers 6 and 12 themselves.

Number 6 despised Number 12 to the core and was determined to see him dead.

If Number 12 didn't die...

Then Number 3 would be the one to perish.

With his eyes shut, Number 3 summoned all his strength and swung his knife forward in a fierce strike!

Fuelled by an intense desire for survival, his attack was surprisingly swift. If someone were unprepared, they might really have been pierced by his blade.

But Qin Fei dodged.

"Not just you who has a knife," Qin Fei lamented with a tinge of regret.

In the next moment, a chill ran down Number 3's neck.

A wave of warmth surged outward rapidly.

Gorilla Sweetness lingered in his throat, and No. 3 was already speechless. Now, he felt as if his entire being was submerged underwater.

Something had lodged in his throat, obstructed his airway, and penetrated deep into his lungs.

Number Three attempted to cough, but the action proved futile, his entire body uncontrollably trembling from head to toe.

What, what on earth, is stuck in his throat... He reaches out to try and dislodge it, but his efforts are futile; instead of helping, he only succeeds in widening the wound on his neck.

Number 3 lifted his head, foam tinged with blood surging from his mouth.

His mind grew increasingly dizzy, and his vision blurred. The distinct human figure before his eyes started to dissipate.

Moments later, darkness engulfed the entire world.

"Sorry about this."

In the split second before his consciousness vanished entirely, Number 3 could only make out a gentle male voice saying these words with remarkable ease.