Chapter 1173: Rest Time
After using up all three tubes of Lava Wound Recovery Ointment, they eventually turned into a few flat plastic sheets. Lin Sanjiu's left arm gradually began to grow a new elbow, but once it passed the elbow joint, the regeneration halted completely. She shook her half-arm, feeling that it was less functional than before and somewhat cumbersome.
At least they were getting closer to leaving the hospital, assuming the hospital would still let her go. The thought made her feel a bit despondent. Even if the current danger passed, what would happen if the NPCs saw her face again and the alarm started blaring?
"You should hurry," Hei Zeji urged, standing by the door and listening for any movement outside. He seemed uncomfortable having to consider someone else's presence, like a hawk with its feet entangled in a rope. "What did you take out again?"
"Oh, it's noting useful," Lin Sanjiu said, glancing at the packaging of the High-Efficiency Nutrient Solution and noticing a small line of words: "Requires the use of an infusion stand in the patient room." Disappointed, she put it back. Then she approached the door and peeked outside through the crack. "How is it?"
1
"They patrol in groups of four, and there are three groups nearby on our corridor, patrolling non-stop," Hei Zeji said, his demeanor sharpening when dealing with enemies. "The first group always passes by the door of the tea room from the direction of the front counter on the right, walks in a circle, and then returns, which is to our right. The second group usually doesn't come to the corridor in front of the tea room; they mainly check the long corridor on the left and the various rooms on the corridor."
It was hard to imagine that in such a dim and chaotic place, he could observe the terrain and the situation of the guards so clearly just by watching through the crack in the door for a few minutes.
"What about the third group? You said there were three groups," Lin Sanjiu said.
Hei Zeji hesitated.
"I don't know," he said, his dark eyebrows furrowing tightly in the dim light. "Because they don't walk."
Lin Sanjiu was taken aback by this answer and asked softly, "What do you mean by they don't walk?"
"I only saw them once; they were sitting on the long bench opposite this tea room. But before my gaze fell on the bench, I didn't hear any footsteps approaching them. They appeared suddenly, like they materialized out of thin air. After a while, when I turned back and found that the guards were gone, they also disappeared without making a sound."
Both spoke in hushed voices, their vague and fragmented words stirring the air like hot breath. After a pause, Hei Zeji continued in a matter-of-fact tone, "If I can't hear them walk, it means they definitely don't walk.
"Besides the other two patrol groups, because they only patrol a fixed area, I estimate they take a similar amount of time each round. The first group completed a lap and a half during the five minutes you were applying ointment, and the second group barely finished one lap... but the third group is hard to predict."
Lin Sanjiu understood. "So, their next appearance time and location are random."
Although they had to rely on luck again, it didn't matter much to them because they had no other choice.
After pondering for a moment, she asked, "So, how does your combat strength compare to the guards? If we encounter them, can we escape by force?"
Hei Zeji deliberately turned his head, looked at her in the dim light, and genuinely exclaimed, "Where do you get your combat strength?"
This question left her speechless—she just happened to run into Hei Zeji in her current state.
"They are all at a moderate post-human level. As long as they don't touch you, you'll be fine," he said, turning back again. But it was too late; Lin Sanjiu had already heard the excitement that flashed like a spark in his voice. "Even if a single strand of your hair brushes against them, it's considered that you've been caught. Once caught, I won't be able to move either. Opportunities to fight NPCs while being restrained are rare. I didn't expect this place to be one of those opportunities."
"How do you know?" Lin Sanjiu raised her doubts. "Have you been caught before?"
Hei Zeji nodded nonchalantly, still focusing his attention on the corridor outside. "Don't rely on luck. The items for escape are disposable, and I've already thrown them away."
"Why do you talk as if I always rely on luck?" she replied.
She glanced left and right through the crack in the door, noticing that the segment of the corridor outside the tea room was empty at the moment, without any guards. However, footsteps, door opening and closing sounds, and murmurs continuously echoed under the ceiling. She gathered her courage and peeked a little, quickly glancing to the left. The left corridor led directly to the tea room. Although everything looked dim to her, the guards in the corridor would be able to see anyone coming in or out of the tea room with just a glance.
"When the second group finishes checking the entire corridor from far to near and turns around at the entrance of the corridor, it will be our chance to leave," Hei Zeji whispered behind her. "They're about to arrive."
But what about the first group?
As if hearing her thoughts, at that moment, a string of footsteps outside the door gradually became clear as a group of guards appeared, walking side by side in pairs. Each of their figures resembled withered willow branches, twisted and thin. From their direction of patrol just now, it seemed to be the first group, preparing to return to the right corridor.
No need for Hei Zeji to explain; Lin Sanjiu already understood their only breakthrough point: when the first group passes the tea room and continues to the right corridor, the second group will quickly turn around at the entrance of the left corridor. This way, they would be caught in between the backs of the two teams of guards, right within their blind spot.
"Now!" Hei Zeji said in a low voice. Lin Sanjiu immediately gently pulled the tea room door open a little more. She didn't dare to open it completely for fear of making noise. With a pounding heartbeat, she quickly stepped into the corridor through the crack.
Just the act of leaving made Lin Sanjiu's back break into a cold sweat.
At this moment, the eight guards at both ends of the corridor divided into two groups, one on each side, sandwiching her in the center. Lin Sanjiu had moved very lightly; even if she made any noise, it would be drowned out by the footsteps of the guards. In the dimness, all the stooped or elongated backs continued to move step by step towards their respective destinations, and none of them noticed that there was an extra person behind them.
Hei Zeji followed suit and walked out, lifting his chin toward the right corridor and taking the lead. Lin Sanjiu felt as if her heart was boiling in turbulent waters. She glanced left once more and noticed that the security guards were indeed moving away from them towards the distance. With gritted teeth, she silently followed the four security guards ahead to "patrol."
However, just a few steps after they walked out, both of them couldn't help but change their expressions.
They couldn't see it behind the tea room door just now, but when they came out, they found that the right corridor was unexpectedly half as long as the left corridor. It quickly formed a T-shaped intersection. The four guards ahead showed no intention of going further. As soon as they reached the middle of the T-shaped corridor, the two leading guards stopped their steps. The soles of their shoes made a squeaking sound as they rubbed against the floor, and their toes turned slightly as if they were about to twist their necks.
Lin Sanjiu's blood surged in her veins, and without looking at Hei Zeji beside her, she quickly crouched under the nearby bench. If the third group happened to appear at this moment and sit on the chairs, it would be her own bad luck. As she rolled under the chair and tucked herself into the corner of the wall, she looked up and saw that Hei Zeji's feet had already disappeared from their original position.
Being able to get on the ceiling was much better than just hiding under a chair.
She muttered to herself in her mind and then turned to look at the four guards from the first group who were standing on the ground. There were only four of them, but there were a total of nine feet. At this moment, they had all turned in different directions, seemingly unaware of anything unexpected.
The third group of guards didn't appear at this moment, but what came unexpectedly was a broadcast announcement: "This round of lava was from 2:30 to 6:30! The game is over, and now it's rest time. All players and patients must ensure complete rest during this break."