Zhu Haowen was speechless again, not at Ke Xun, but at himself.
This was perhaps the "side effect" of focusing too much on the rules. Several days of drawing lots to choose the experimental area had created a mental inertia. Plus, the previous trips up from the underground experimental area were to find clues to the signatures. Now that there was a 70-80% chance the signatures were in the underground experimental area, there was no need to go back up.
As long as they didn't leave the underground area, everyone's numbers wouldn't be refreshed, and they wouldn't need to get new numbers.
It has to be said, people with unconventional thinking often surprise you with a surprise if you just give them a disapproving look.
Wei Dong returned with Qin Ci and Li Yaqing. Although their complexions weren't good, at least they were alive.
"Xiao Ke's method was very useful," Qin Ci handed the earphones back to Ke Xun. "I'm glad to see you're all safe and sound. Did you find anything last night?"
Zhu Haowen said a few words briefly, then added, "So we've decided to stay here from now on."
Qin Ci's eyes flickered slightly, and his voice softened: "I think Huang Pi and Qi Qiang won't agree. Besides, Lab C doesn't have enough people to form a four-person team. I wonder if this rule-breaking situation will cause a backlash."
"Dr. Qin," Ke Xun looked at him with the same gaze one would give a patient with "aftereffects," "Both machines in Lab C are doing the same experiments. Losing two people doesn't matter; there's still one machine available. It doesn't violate the rules.
"And even if Lab C were completely empty, I don't think that would violate the rules either. If we can't leave this painting within a few days, fewer and fewer people will die. When there are only four people left, one of the experiments in one of the labs will be impossible to conduct.
"Furthermore, we used the fainting technique to avoid the experiments in Labs B and D, which is essentially 'lacking test subjects and unable to conduct experiments,' and we didn't see any backlash. So there's no need to worry about the number of people."
"That's right." Qin Ci nodded slightly.
Suddenly, Qi Qiang's voice rang out at the door: "What are you doing? Hurry up and go up!"
Ke Xun looked up and saw him and Huang Pi standing outside. Sure enough, the ones who died in Laboratory C last night were Zhang Hanrui and Xu Zhen.
Ke Xun turned to Mu Yiran and the others: "What do you think? If these two leave the underground and come back, which laboratory's number card will they get?"
"Probably still Laboratory C's number card," Qin Ci said thoughtfully. "After all, the people from the other laboratories haven't left yet, and the number cards they have are still the ones they drew yesterday. If these two draw again, they can only fill the vacancy in Laboratory C."
"It could also be Laboratory A or Laboratory B's number card," Zhu Haowen said. "Although our number cards haven't been refreshed, the number-issuing machine system might refresh and start issuing numbers from Laboratory A."
"The worst-case scenario is that once someone leaves the underground, everyone's number cards will be invalidated, and they'll be forced to get new numbers," Mu Yiran said.
"What are you talking about?!" Qi Qiang looked at everyone warily.
"We're not planning to go up; we'll stay here." Ke Xun didn't beat around the bush and answered him directly, knowing he'd find out eventually anyway.
Combining what the others had said, Qi Qiang vaguely guessed what was going on. His expression shifted between anger and uncertainty. Suddenly, as if remembering something, his face darkened. He grabbed Li Yaqing's hair, pulling her close to him, and glared at everyone, yelling, "You all better go up and get a new number! If you try anything funny, I'll kill her first, then you all!"
Ke Xun guessed that Qi Qiang was afraid that if he went up and got a new number, he'd get a number for Lab C, which would be a life-or-death battle between him and Huang Pi. If he didn't get a new number, they would both still be stuck in Lab C.
Li Yaqing's scalp was being pulled so hard by Qi Qiang that it felt like it was being peeled off. She trembled in pain, her eyes brimming with tears as she looked at Ke Xun: "Brother Ke... save me... save me..."
"Qi Qiang, don't you know your own limitations?" Ke Xun looked at Qi Qiang expressionlessly. "Don't even mention you alone against all of us, even one-on-one, you're no match for me. Let her go first, and we'll all think of a way together. If we all die, you won't be able to escape either. Think about it, doesn't that make sense?"
Qi Qiang remained tense for a while, then slowly released Li Yaqing. Li Yaqing staggered to Ke Xun and threw herself into his arms.
Ke Xun was supporting Li Yaqing while keeping an eye on Qi Qiang for any mischief when he felt a piece of clothing being thrown over his shoulder from behind. He heard Mu Yiran's calm voice: "Put this on."
He saw it was the shirt he had used to wrap the mop head yesterday, and then looked at his bare upper body, his chest glistening with tears—the tears Li Yaqing had just wiped on it.
As Ke Xun was putting on his clothes, he heard Mu Yiran say to Qi Qiang and Huang Pi, "You have two choices: one, go up and get new number cards, in which case you might be assigned to Laboratory A or Laboratory B; two, stay underground and continue in Laboratory C tonight. You should know your chances of survival in Laboratories A and B, but if you choose to stay in Laboratory C, I have a way to ensure your survival. You can consider it before deciding."
"What way?" Qi Qiang asked warily.
"If we deliberately damage the experimental machines here, we'll suffer a backlash," Mu Yiran said calmly. "But if we use something unrecognizable to this world to destroy the machines, perhaps there won't be any problems."
"Good idea!" Ke Xun instantly understood Mu Yiran's idea. "Using a cell phone to cause a short circuit in the machines might even cause an explosion, which would definitely cripple the machines."
Qi Qiang's expression changed for a moment, then he gritted his teeth and said, "Fine, I can stay in Lab C, but you guys have to be responsible for crippling the machines!"
Ke Xun glanced at him, knowing what this guy was thinking—even if the cell phone method failed, he probably believed that his hand speed would be faster than Huang Pi's to save his life.
Huang Pi, who hadn't spoken until now, turned and left, seemingly heading upwards.
Wei Dong was startled and quickly turned to the boss to complain, "He's definitely going up to get a new number!"
Mu Yiran's expression remained unchanged as he walked out. Ke Xun, worried about him, was about to follow when Mu Yiran turned back and said, "Stay here. Two people going will make him more wary."
Ke Xun stopped and added, "Be careful, that guy isn't easy to deal with."
Mu Yiran nodded and stepped out the door.
"If the signature is really in Lab D, what about the people in the other labs?" Zhu Haowen's thoughts were already focused on more important matters.
"What would happen if someone ran away from the lab halfway through?" Qi Qiang asked Qin Ci with a gloomy face.
"There's usually a backlash, but that's just the rule in some of the previous paintings," Qin Ci replied. "We haven't tried this painting, so we can't be completely sure if leaving the designated space will cause any problems."
"I think there will be," Zhu Haowen pointed to the timer on the wall. "Since this thing is counting down at one minute to eleven, it's obviously a reminder to return to our respective labs. It's a pretty obvious constraint."
"Then… what do we do?" Wei Dong was a little anxious. He was alone in Lab B, and he had to rely on fainting spells to get through the torture of experiments at night.
Everyone fell into deep thought until, after a while, Mu Yiran and Huang Pi walked in from outside.
Ke Xun looked at Mu Yiran, who didn't say anything. He didn't know how Mu Yiran had spoken to Huang Pi, but Huang Pi had given up the idea of re-entering the game. Now, all the survivors were gathered in Lab D, killing time while discussing the signing process and how to enter Lab D from other labs.
During this time, Ke Xun went to Lab C.
Zhang Hanrui and Xu Zhen lay collapsed beside the machines.
Xu Zhen, whether from fear, pain, or incontinence caused by the electric current, emitted a foul odor from under her skirt. This capable white-collar worker died without dignity.
Zhang Hanrui's black hair was spread out below her head; a young, beautiful, and vibrant life had been cut short in this inexplicable world of "painting."
Ke Xun was no longer a novice in painting. Along the way, he had witnessed all sorts of deaths, and anger, resentment, and helplessness no longer controlled his emotions.
But this didn't mean he had become numb or indifferent. His father said, "Respecting life is respecting yourself."
Ke Xun moved Zhang Hanrui and Xu Zhen's bodies to a corner of Laboratory C, placing them alongside the bodies of Cai Xiaoyan, Deng Guang, and Zhao Youyi. He then went to Laboratory A, pulled out a sheet from the crib, and covered the bodies with it.
Turning to leave Laboratory C, he saw Mu Yiran standing silently at the door, watching him.
Ke Xun patted the machine beside him and smiled at Mu Yiran: "I both hate and fear this laboratory, and I have some indescribable emotions about it. I suspect I might be a psychopath at heart. Sometimes, thinking back to the night before, I even feel a little bit of willing satisfaction."
Mu Yiran lowered his eyelids, ignoring him, and simply walked in, examining the machine with a flashlight.
Ke Xun took the flashlight and shone it on him, glancing at the door before turning back and lowering his voice: "What did you say to Huang Pi?"
"I just told him," Mu Yiran continued, head down, checking the machine, "that incurring public wrath is the most unwise choice, and it's absolutely impossible for him to leave Hua on his own. So, either die or obey."
And Huang Pi obeyed. Ke Xun chuckled softly; his boss was always so aloof.
"Go to Lab D. There's a toolbox in one of the drawers. Get it." His boss gave the order in a cold, arrogant tone.
"Okay, sir." Ke Xun obediently went to carry out the order.
In Lab D, everyone found a place to sit. No one spoke; some were lost in thought, others were pondering.
Ke Xun took the toolbox and walked out, Zhu Haowen getting up to follow.
Wei Dong whispered to Qin Ci beside him, "Comrade Xiao Zhu is so inconsiderate, always sticking between the two of them like a 100-watt light bulb." Qin Ci thought to himself, "You've been sticking between them quite a bit too, like a floor lamp."