A failed ambush, followed by another attempt. If the first choice of Li Hao was to pick a weaker opponent, then choosing Hai Baihe for the second time was definitely driven by hatred.
Both her legs were grabbed and pulled downwards, causing Hai Baihe to stumble and fall face down on the ground. She grabbed onto the sides of the railway tracks with both hands and engaged in a tug-of-war with this monster. Perhaps because she had unleashed her power once before, this confrontation didn't last long. She crawled a few steps on the ground, dragging the stubborn monster out of the surface.
As soon as the monster exposed itself, Liang Xiao ignited the mop and stabbed it with it. The monster came into contact with the scorching flames and didn't dare to stay for even a second, screaming in agony as it retreated underground.
Hai Baihe got up, dusted off her hands, and smiled bitterly, saying, "Finally, the grudge is settled."
Di Ya frowned, "We need to pick up the pace. The longer we stay here, the more dangerous it becomes."
They had only been out for less than ten minutes when they were attacked twice. With this in mind, it was still unknown whether they could safely reach another subway station.
After all, even though five or six kilometers sounded short, it would still take a considerable amount of time to run that distance. Li Hao was already weakened from blood loss, and he felt dizzy after running just a few steps. But at this moment, he couldn't afford to stop and rest. He had to bite his tongue to stay alert.
However, his stamina gradually waned. He went from being second to last to becoming the last one, feeling discomfort and heaviness in his chest.
When he was a doctor, he often worked overtime and performed surgeries, had little rest, and frequently stayed up late. It put a significant strain on his heart. Later, when his hand was injured and his family needed money, he became a real estate agent through a friend's introduction. He was better at sales than others because he could highlight the health aspects of a property.
He would talk about being free from pollution, away from chemical plants, close to water sources with high negative ion content, low PM2.5 levels, and so on. At first, he would blush and feel guilty while saying these things, but later he became more straightforward. He started earning more money, but it only made his life harder than before.
Sometimes, due to issues with the quality of the houses, buyers would confront him at the sales office entrance. Other sales agents would panic, but he remained calm. Even if these buyers made a scene, the worst they could do was to curse and smash a few things, which was already considered a big deal.
It was still better than being stabbed with a knife as it happened in the past.
When he worked tirelessly for eight hours during surgeries, only to be chased and attacked with a knife, he realized that not all good people would receive good karma.
Since then, he preferred to be a selfish and self-centered person.
His muscles began to ache, and the air in his lungs seemed insufficient. He started gasping harder and harder, and Hai Baihe couldn't bear to see it. "Uncle, I suspect you're having an asthma attack. Come, breathe with me. Inhale! Exhale! Inhale again! Exhale! Good, follow this rhythm."
Li Hao followed along for a few rounds and felt that the pressure in his chest had eased. He was about to thank her when he suddenly felt a severe pain in his back. The impact was enormous, and he felt like his spine was about to break, with his internal organs being injured as well.
Hai Baihe, exceptionally brave, didn't flee but fought back. She rushed over and engaged in a fierce struggle with the monster. Li Hao struggled to open his eyes and saw Liang Xiao and Di Ya also fighting against another monster. He tried to crawl up but felt an itchy sensation in his throat. He coughed a few times and spat out some blood.
He was a doctor, a surgeon to be exact. He knew that unless an ambulance rushed him to the hospital for treatment, this internal bleeding would undoubtedly be fatal.
Unexpectedly, that monster was so powerful that even Hai Baihe couldn't pull it out. He had underestimated it.
Li Hao coughed forcefully, clenched his teeth, and mustered all his strength to collide with the monster. His limbs, including the arm with half of its flesh bitten off, firmly restrained the creature. He shouted to Hai Baihe, "Girl, run!"
Hai Baihe was momentarily stunned. She didn't expect Li Hao to make such a miraculous move. But running was unrealistic. She charged forward, grabbing the mop, and smashed it onto the monster's head. The creature's skull was tough, but it couldn't withstand such a fierce impact.
Li Hao felt an unpleasant stench splatter on his face. His consciousness gradually blurred, and in a hazy state, he felt like he was back in the hospital where he used to work.
He walked out of the operating room and removed his mask, saying, "The patient is out of danger."
"Thank you, thank you!" The faces of the people expressing their gratitude were blurry. They could be old, young, or even children, but without exception, their faces bore expressions of gratitude. "Thank you, doctor. Thank you so much."
Perhaps he never regretted his choices.
Hai Baihe beat the monster's head to a pulp and then checked on Li Hao's condition, "Uncle?"
There was no response.
She reached out and touched his neck. There was no heartbeat.
"What happened to him?" On the other side, Liang Xiao and Di Ya had also successfully dealt with a monster. When they saw Li Hao lying motionless on the ground, they had a foreboding feeling.
"He's dead," Hai Baihe said.
After a moment of silence, she added, "He could have escaped."
If a person starts off in a dignified manner but acts despicably at the critical moment, it always elicits disdain. But if the opposite happens, if a small-minded person who was originally selfish and self-centered suddenly displays bravery at the moment of death, it's particularly poignant.
Just as Liang Xiao was about to console her, Hai Baihe seemed to recover. She crouched down and glanced at the crotch of the two monsters, saying, "Hmm, male?"
These monsters looked humanoid, and their primary sexual characteristics were similar to humans. At a glance, one could distinguish between males and females.
Di Ya's eyes widened, "Could they have a social structure similar to bees or ants?"
Before anyone could respond, a rumbling sound came from a distance. Hai Baihe jumped up, "Damn it! Run!"
Considering they had only traveled less than a kilometer, they decided to turn back. Whether it was Hai Baihe, Liang Xiao, or Di Ya, they were all people who regularly exercised. However, even so, they could hear the rumbling sound growing closer and closer. Hai Baihe's scalp tingled as she silently prayed that the female monster wouldn't be as insane as the Alien Queen.
Otherwise, it was better not to play this game at all.
The collapsing soil increased, and Hai Baihe could even feel the splattering stones and mud hitting her back. It
was a critical moment, and they finally saw the subway station. They crawled and rolled onto the platform. Behind them, the tunnel completely collapsed, burying their escape route.
The three of them stood on the platform, looking at each other. This expedition not only yielded no results but also resulted in the loss of a comrade.