"Kings' paths never cross?" Yun Yao found the expression intriguing. "Are you saying that this Qi Xia person is... as powerful as you?"
"No, he is far stronger than I am," Chu Tianqiu replied, setting aside the chalk in his hand and settling into a chair. "He has yet to endure the necessary trials; if we seek to utilize his strength, we must await the appropriate opportunity."
After Kim Wonhun stepped outside, he glanced at Qi Xia, who was silently waiting at the door, his expression somewhat awkward.
"Will he be coming to see me?" Qi Xia asked.
"No..." Kim Wonhun shook his head. "Chu ge wants me to ask you a question."
"A question?" Qi Xia pondered for a moment before nodding. "It’s sensible to be cautious; what is it that he wants to know?"
"Which day did you arrive here?"
"I arrived here three days ago."
"Three days ago..." Kim Wonhun nodded. "Ge, wait a moment, I'll go relay this."
Qi Xia nodded with a somber expression, but he was already struggling to remain standing.
"Three days ago?" Chu Tianqiu chuckled. "Is that what he said?"
"Yes," Kim Wonhun nodded. "Yah, ge, we all arrived here three days ago, so it’s not surprising nayang... Do you need to ask anything else?"
"No need to engage with him further," Chu Tianqiu replied. "He answered incorrectly this time, so we don’t need to give him another chance."
"Huh?" Kim Wonhun was taken aback. "But, ge... that person looks seriously injured nayang. If we ignore him, he might..."
"Uh..." Kim Wonhun hesitated. "Ge, but you said—"
"It’s not the right time yet." Chu Tianqiu glanced back at Yun Yao. "Yun Yao, could you see him off?"
"Sure, understood." Yun Yao stretched lazily before making her way out.
"Ahshi—ge, if we want to escape, shouldn’t we borrow from the strength of powerful people nayang?" Kim Wonhun asked, looking puzzled. "If that man is really formidable, why not let him join us?"
"He undoubtedly needs to join us; however, the timing is not yet right," Chu Tianqiu remarked with a faint smile. "At present, Qi Xia resembles a wounded snake. He harbors animosity toward everything here, and although he longs for survival and escape, he cannot integrate into {Passage to Heaven} in his current state, nor can we regard him as a true teammate."
Kim Wonhun nodded, albeit still a bit confused.
As Yun Yao stepped outside, her gaze was immediately drawn to Qi Xia standing in the courtyard, one side of his clothing drenched in blood—a sight that was nothing short of shocking.
"Yes," Qi Xia nodded.
"I have a question for you. If the first part of a seven-character password is {YMWDH}, what should the last two characters be?"
"{MS}," Qi Xia answered without hesitation. "Is this what people at {Passage to Heaven} find entertaining?"
"Wow!" Yun Yao was taken aback. "You thought of that in just a second?"
"Considering the English terms for time durations arranged from longest to shortest, after {year, month, week, day, and hour}, the final two must correspond to the initials of {minutes} and {seconds}." Qi Xia explained. "Is this some kind of interview for {Passage to Heaven}?"
"Not quite; it’s merely a personal test of mine," Yun Yao replied with a charming smile. "I am particularly attracted to intelligent individuals. In fact, we lost a teammate while attempting to decipher that password."
"That just shows {Passage to Heaven} isn't all that impressive," Qi Xia responded.
"Not really; it's just that my skills are lacking," Yun Yao corrected with a shake of her head. "If it were Chu Tianqiu, he could probably solve it in a second."
"So when can I meet Chu Tianqiu?" Qi Xia asked. "He’s already kept me waiting for twenty minutes."
"You won't be seeing him," Yun Yao replied with a smile as lovely as a garden in bloom, her eyes narrowing playfully. "You didn't pass the {interview}, so {Passage to Heaven} has no intention of welcoming you."
Upon hearing this, a trace of disbelief crossed Qi Xia's face.
"So the first question was the {interview}," he remarked, staring at Yun Yao. "Was my answer incorrect?"
"I can't say for sure," Yun Yao pouted. "If Chu Tianqiu says you were wrong, then you were wrong."
"I understand," Qi Xia nodded, turning to leave.
"Hey!" Yun Yao called out. "Even though {Passage to Heaven} isn't accepting you, I really like you! I enjoy helping handsome men in distress. How about staying as my {rumored boyfriend}? I’m sure Chu Tianqiu wouldn’t object."
Qi Xia turned back to glance at Yun Yao, a hint of mockery in his expression. "I appreciate your kindness."
"You're so cold," Yun Yao replied, scratching her head before she pulled out a bottle of water from behind her. "Here, take this. Let's be friends?"
Seeing the plastic bottle in her hand, Qi Xia swallowed hard. It had been nearly a day since he last drank water.
"I shall consider myself in your debt for this bottle." Qi Xia said as he reached out to take the bottle. He twisted off the cap, closed his eyes, and downed the water in one go. Given his serious injuries, even if the water were poisoned, he felt there was nothing to fear.
"So sweet..." Qi Xia exhaled, "It seems I’ve been deprived of water for far too long."
"The reason it's so sweet is that I've taken a sip from this bottle," Yun Yao said, revealing a suggestive smile. "So now we've had what you might call an {indirect kiss}, right?"
"Thanks for the water; I'll repay you when I get the chance." Qi Xia casually tossed the empty bottle onto the ground and turned to leave.
As she watched Qi Xia's departing figure, Yun Yao felt a twinge of irritation. "How audacious of him to dismiss the goodwill of an idol of my standing!"
"Has he left?" Chu Tianqiu's voice came from behind Yun Yao.
"His expression doesn’t seem like he’s given up; if anything, it looks like he’s made a resolution." Yun Yao shook her head. "He is truly impressive. I think I’m falling in love."
"Oh? You were just saying you liked me a couple of days ago, and now you've moved on so quickly?" Chu Tianqiu smiled wryly. "I really can't figure you out."
"Don't try to guess the mind of a celebrity," Yun Yao shrugged. "I’m just looking forward to the next time I meet Qi Xia."
The two of them left through the main entrance, and the dilapidated campus fell silent once more. Meanwhile, the adolescent named Kim Wonhun resumed his position at the entrance, cautiously scanning the surroundings as if nothing had happened.
Qi Xia found a broken wall to sit down and rest for half an hour before getting back up and continuing along the road.
After the indirect interaction with Chu Tianqiu, he acquired a clearer comprehension of the {rules} that governed this nightmarish realm. The circumstances were likely far more convoluted than he had initially perceived.
Now, one thought lingered in his mind: to journey to the city's borders and uncover what lay beyond. If a means of escape from this dreadful place truly existed, it would surely be found at the fringes.