Han Yimo naturally couldn’t answer this question. He could only guess that it might be caused by some kind of “Echo,” but he had no idea whose “Echo” it was.
“General ‘Chu Tianqiu’ has personally selected ‘Zhao Haibo’ to enter the ‘Cangjie Chess’ to assist. To accept the order, step through the door; to refuse, take five steps back.”
“Accept… the order…?” Zhao Haibo froze for a long moment, pointing a finger at his own nose. “Me?!”
Inside the door, Qi Xia also turned to look at Chu Tianqiu. From his perspective, the person who should be chosen at this moment wasn’t “Zhao Haibo” but “Yun Yao.”
In any type of game where victory and defeat are at stake, “strong luck” is an excellent weapon.
“So you share the same concerns as me…” Qi Xia thought to himself.
In Qi Xia’s estimation, if someone refused the “selection,” it wouldn’t just mean the other side losing a “life”—it could very well result in their own team permanently losing a member.
That was why Chu Tianqiu didn’t choose the uncertain outcome of Yun Yao for the fourth position but went with Dr. Zhao instead.
From Chu Tianqiu’s perspective, Dr. Zhao, as the deputy leader of “Paradise,” at least counted as one of his own.
But Qi Xia felt Chu Tianqiu’s thinking was a bit simplistic—after all, he and Dr. Zhao had gone through the “Weapon Cards” game together.
Dr. Zhao wasn’t exactly a bad person, but he was timid, weak-willed, and lacked execution. His performance in critical moments left much to be desired.
Despite his many flaws, his identity as a neurosurgeon proved that his knowledge wasn’t shallow. This contradiction meant he could unleash a stable “Dissociation” with his extremely cowardly personality. Though not a formidable opponent, he’d still be a troublesome figure.
The upper limit of such a person’s abilities largely depended on the leader’s competence.
When Chu Tianqiu chose Dr. Zhao, he was envisioning that this game wouldn’t just be a simple “brawl”—it was likely to involve “items” as well, and Dr. Zhao was the natural counter to all “items.”
Outside the door, after hearing Di Long’s words, Dr. Zhao slowly took a step back, muttering, “What ‘assistance,’ ‘general’… what does any of this have to do with me?”
Han Yimo scratched his head beside him. “Didn’t the voice from inside the door just say… this was Chu Tianqiu’s order?”
“Exactly because it’s Chu Tianqiu’s order that I find it ridiculous,” Dr. Zhao said. “He knows I’m not the type to fight recklessly. Does he really expect me to join the game? And I’ve never seen such a strange summoning method before—it feels like there’s a trap.”
“Uh…” Han Yimo thought for a few seconds. “So… what are you going to do? Refuse?”
“Of course I’m refusing! What’s in it for me?” Dr. Zhao took another step back. “Let those who enjoy games go ahead, but I’m just not cut out for this!”
With that, he lifted his leg to take another step back, seemingly ready to complete the five steps without hesitation.
“W-Wait a second…” Han Yimo grabbed Dr. Zhao’s arm. “Would refusing… really be okay? Didn’t you hear what that door just said?”
Dr. Zhao, about to retreat further, froze at Han Yimo’s words and shakily asked, “W-What did it say?”
“It sounded like a military order!” Han Yimo exclaimed. “Don’t you read novels?! ‘Military orders must not be disobeyed’—haven’t you heard of that?”
“N-Novels…?” Dr. Zhao forced a bitter smile. “I mostly read serious literature…”
“Who’s talking about that?! Is your high education supposed to impress me?” Han Yimo roared. “Old Zhao, I’m trying to save your life here! This is how it always goes in novels!”
“But what does what happens in novels have to do with this door…?”
“Of course it does!!” Han Yimo shouted. “Don’t you believe the protagonist? This is obviously a ‘portal’! Once you step inside, it’ll be a battlefield. In novels, only two kinds of people die on the battlefield—those who fight bravely and those who desert!”
“…?”
Dr. Zhao was dumbfounded by this explanation.
“By your logic…” Dr. Zhao blinked. “Once this ‘military order’ appears… I’m already doomed?”
“Uh…” Han Yimo seemed to realize the contradiction in his own words and muttered, “Well, that’s just how it is in novels… The overly loyal die on the battlefield, and so do those who disobey orders.”
“Then what should I do…?” Dr. Zhao asked again.
“M-Maybe you should just go in and see?” Han Yimo suggested. “I feel like if you refuse now, you’ll die immediately. But if you go in and stall for a while, death might be delayed…”
“So I’d still die?”
“No, no, no…” Han Yimo thought for a moment. “Actually, side characters like you often have ‘miraculous encounters’… If you can experience one on the battlefield, not only will you survive, but you might even get stronger.”
“Uh…”
Dr. Zhao always felt like he couldn’t quite grasp Han Yimo’s reasoning.
He had excelled academically since childhood, later enrolling in medical school and becoming a neurosurgeon with outstanding grades. He had always been the “neighbor’s kid” everyone admired. Yet, in just a few sentences, Han Yimo had reduced him to a mere side character.
But upon further reflection, he realized Han Yimo might have a point. If this “Zhao Haibo, accept the order” really was a “military command” in some game, refusing outright wouldn’t end well.
Besides, Chu Tianqiu was already his ally—from every angle, he should be ensuring Dr. Zhao’s survival.
“Fine… In that case, I’ll go.”
“Wait…” Han Yimo grabbed him at the last moment.
“What now?”
“Don’t forget about the ‘Extremists’…” Han Yimo said. “That woman still hasn’t come for us yet!”
“I haven’t forgotten,” Dr. Zhao replied.
Dr. Zhao took a deep breath to steel himself, then timidly stepped through the door.
Qi Xia nodded upon seeing this and murmured, “Good… A beautifully executed ‘selection.'”
“Oh…?” Chu Tianqiu smiled. “What do you mean? Complimenting me?”
“Indeed.” Qi Xia nodded. “This move was perfectly timed—I didn’t see it coming.”
“How could that be? Did I take one of your people?”
With exaggerated surprise, Chu Tianqiu smacked his forehead. “My memory… Dr. Zhao is from your room, isn’t he?”
“Yes.” Qi Xia said. “What a predicament… You’ve taken someone from my room. Should I take someone from yours in return?”
“From my room…?” Chu Tianqiu frowned slightly but quickly regained his smile. “Of course, fair is fair.”
Despite his words, Chu Tianqiu was rapidly strategizing in his mind.
The people Qi Xia knew well from his room were essentially just two: “Shape-shifter” Xu Liunian and “Strong Luck” Yun Yao.
Which one would he choose?
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