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I don't know how this wound was inflicted, but the pain it caused to the victim was enough to make even me, a mere observer, tremble in fear. Xiao Ting glanced at the person who had collapsed directly onto the ground.
It was terrifying! The wound started from the left collarbone and completely split open the shoulder and deltoid muscle, exposing the large bone of the shoulder blade. The bone was also fractured, causing the entire left shoulder to cave in.
It seemed that Xiao Guolin's bones were tough enough to withstand a blow that could have severed his arm, as the weapon had lodged itself in his bone. Yes, it was clearly a knife wound.
"We need surgery; otherwise, this arm will be useless," Jack said, sucking in a breath sharply.
"Then let it be useless. I only ask that it doesn't affect my current actions. This arm is already severely hindering me," Xiao Guolin paused. "Make it quick."
Jack turned to look at me. I gritted my teeth and nodded.
At this moment, one thing was clear: Xiao Guolin no longer posed a threat to us; at least his threat had been reduced to a minimum.
Whether or not to render him useless was no longer important; what mattered was taking advantage of our shift in power to extract the truth from him.
"Zhang." While Jack worked on treating Xiao Guolin's wound, he surprisingly called out to me despite the pain.
I stepped closer to him.
"How many Upright Monsters did you take down?" Xiao Guolin immediately asked upon seeing me.
"Seven. All dead."
It must have been Jack who hurt him. Xiao Guolin gritted his teeth and said, "It's fine, no survivors. They won't notice us for a while."
Suddenly, Xiao Guolin let out a deep, muffled grunt. I saw Jack using a bandage to bind his left arm to his body. This action must have been very painful for Xiao Guolin, as I noticed tears welling up in the corners of his eyes.
"Alright, just like yours. In the shortest time possible, I've rendered your left arm useless," Jack said as he moved in front of Xiao Guolin. "I've only stopped the bleeding and provided minimal protection for the wound. If you don't receive deeper treatment soon or if the injury worsens due to intense activity, that arm will be completely useless. It could even threaten your life. The wound is too deep; if it gets infected, it could directly affect your heart and lungs."
Xiao Guolin gasped for breath and replied, "This is already much better. It doesn't hurt as much now."
Jack looked at me with a complex expression, then glanced at Xiao Guolin. Seeing that neither of us responded, he frowned and began treating the wounds on Xiao Guolin's chest and abdomen.
I had hinted to Jack that there was something wrong with Xiao Guolin. I believed he understood my meaning; even if he had a lot of questions, he couldn't ask them in front of Xiao Guolin. I could understand how frustrated he must feel.
"Over there," Xiao Guolin said, raising his right arm that gripped the Black Longsword. The long blade extended like a conductor's baton as he pointed in a direction. "There’s a path. If you follow it naturally, you will eventually reach the core area here—what you call the Eternal Gate."
"That term didn't come from me," I had to correct him. "I heard it from the Hakka People. And you and Cao Mingzhe think so too; at least Cao Mingzhe acknowledges this method. Isn't this a shared perspective between you and Cao Mingzhe?"
"No, not anymore. I don't see it that way now. Although that place remains extremely mysterious to me, I no longer believe it is the Eternal Gate; instead, I feel it is filled with evil. If there is a door there, it should be called the Door of Sin."
Earlier, during the procedure, Xiao Guolin had been leaning on the Black Longsword to stay upright. After pointing out the way for a moment with the long blade, he began to sway as if his strength was giving out.
Perhaps it was due to pain; Jack was stitching up his abdominal wound. Despite Jack's skilled hands and quick movements, the needle piercing through flesh and tightening into knots made a dull creaking sound that sent shivers down my spine.
"I don't know if it's right for you to go near that door, but I'm not going to stop you anymore. Just like yours, no one can be completely trusted—including Song Guilong. He may be keeping you away from that door out of selfishness; at least that's a possibility."
Xiao Guolin took a deep breath and leaned the Black Longsword against the ground. It seemed standing was already a significant burden for him. However, Xiao Guolin showed no intention of sitting down or stopping his speech.
"You can only leave your fate to chance when you approach that door; there's nothing I can do. I have more important matters to attend to."
"Have you ever seen the Eternal Gate?" I asked cautiously.
"I should have, but I don't know what it looks like." Xiao Guolin's bloodied face twisted into a terrifying expression. "It's a contradictory statement, isn't it?"
I nodded. "Yes, what exactly do you mean by that?"
Xiao Guolin shook his head. "It's better not to understand. It's best if you never do."
After a moment of silence, I asked him, "Aren't you coming with us?"
"No." Xiao Guolin raised his right arm, still gripping the Black Longsword, and pointed in another direction. "Song Gang, my daughter calls him Gangzi. That name is more pleasant than Fatty. He and another group are in that direction; they're trapped, and I think I'm the only one who can help them."
With that, Xiao Guolin immediately leaned the Black Longsword back on the ground, but his eyes involuntarily fell on Xiao Ting.
Xiao Ting was already exhausted and frightened; the knife wound on Xiao Guolin's back became the last straw that broke her spirit. She curled up like a cat in Tang Yumo's arms, resting her head on Tang Yumo's thigh, her face pale and in a state of unconsciousness.
In that moment, Xiao Guolin's fierce expression suddenly changed. Even with blood covering his head and face, I could see an undeniable tenderness shining through.
But inside my mind, I kept repeating: He is not Xiao Guolin! He is not Xiao Guolin!! He is not Xiao Guolin!!!
Because from the moment he decided to leave the main group and go off alone to find Fatty, I had resolved to stop him at all costs!
Yet seeing his expression now made my determination waver.
His love and concern for Xiao Ting were not feigned; such genuine feelings cannot be pretended.
If he were not Xiao Guolin, why would he have such deep feelings for Xiao Ting?
If he is Xiao Guolin… no! I screamed in denial within myself. My mind was a chaotic mess.
It wasn't until I saw everyone preparing to leave that I broke free from my self-imposed confinement.
"Zhang, take Xiao Ting outside. I believe you can do it." I felt Jack poke me, and only then did I realize that Xiao Guolin was speaking to me. "Take her through that door before she wakes up. I think you know her personality; she's a strong girl, and I'm worried she won't want to leave me."
I slowly regained my composure, desperately trying to calm myself down. I arranged for everyone to leave this place and head toward the Eternal Gate.
"Zhang, stay for a moment; I have something to say to you." As everyone began to move, Xiao Guolin suddenly addressed me.
I nodded, my eyes casually glancing at Jack. (To Be Continued.)
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