Chapter 48: A Gruesome Reversal

“You guys, hurry back to the rooftop. I’ll follow shortly.”

With the situation so urgent, Qiao Xia abandoned gestures and spoke directly to Li Lin Guan and his two companions, intending for them to leave first.

The muscular red-eyed patient was creating a significant disturbance, necessitating a swift resolution. Qiao Xia, abandoning all other thoughts, resolved to activate the “reversal” function of his golden finger.

However, remembering how the “reversal of outcome” function, used to save Li Lin Guan yesterday, had led to an uncontrollable body and an unforeseen princess carry, Qiao Xia harbored concerns about peculiar actions. Thus, it was preferable to face this alone.

Whatever transpired, only he would bear witness.

Moreover, it would prevent a dire scenario—one where his uncontrollable body, in a bid for self-preservation, might abandon Li Lin Guan and his two companions to the red-eyed patient, thereby buying enough time for Qiao Xia to safely reach the rooftop.

Such an outcome was not inconceivable, for the golden finger’s reversal ability existed precisely to alter events.

As long as the outcome shifted, the precise method was irrelevant!

Qiao Xia, burdened by such anxieties, wasn’t merely concerned for the lives of others; he simply wished to avoid resorting to such base methods. While any means might be justified in the face of mortal threat, Qiao Xia refused to become a ruthless individual.

A true man knows what to do, and what not to do.

To live a life clinging to survival, or to live one with valiant fearlessness—both amounted to a single existence.

Of course, Qiao Xia never considered himself altruistic. He was merely an ordinary individual, no different from anyone else in his upbringing—a little kind, afraid of death, yet even more terrified of becoming unlike himself.

To live like that would be to exist as a mere shell, merely clinging to survival day by day. What meaning would such a life hold?

“No way! Though I, Li Lin Guan, am no saint, I won’t abandon my post in battle! Qiao Xia, you saved my life. Even if it’s taken again now, I’ve lived an extra day! It’s worth it!”

However, to Qiao Xia’s surprise, after his declaration, Li Lin Guan merely let out a hearty laugh, making no move to depart with his subordinates.

Li Lin Guan cast aside his backpack, then drew the iron rod tucked into his waistband. A flicker of resolve crossed his features, signaling a momentous decision.

This caused the Ye Dafeng brothers, who knew Li Lin Guan well, to blanch. Both understood that their “Li Ge” was about to do something reckless.

“Li Ge, don’t be rash!”

“Exactly! Let’s just run; we absolutely won’t die here!”

The Ye Dafeng brothers quickly spoke up, but it was too late. Li Lin Guan, iron rod in hand, charged directly at the muscular red-eyed patient.

“You guys, get out of here! Don’t let my death be in vain!”

Watching Li Lin Guan charge forward, Qiao Xia involuntarily clenched his fists. Discarding all other thoughts, he silently uttered the word, “Use.”

The next second, Qiao Xia’s vision plunged into darkness.

The sensation of his body moving beyond his control returned, causing Qiao Xia a slight discomfort, yet this time he offered no resistance.

Regardless of the golden finger’s origins, anything that could save his life was a valuable asset!

A tool is a tool precisely because it is wielded by a person.

Perhaps fueled by anxiety over the unfolding events, Qiao Xia found the passage of time agonizingly slow.

The moment his vision finally cleared, Qiao Xia eagerly gazed ahead, only to find Li Lin Guan and his two companions standing utterly dumbfounded, motionless, staring from a short distance away.

Their stares were a blend of shock, disbelief, and utter bewilderment.

A terrible premonition instantly seized Qiao Xia. Then, sensing something furry clutched in one hand, he slowly lowered his head, his gaze drifting towards his grip.

There, Qiao Xia saw a pair of furious, wide-open red eyes, staring directly back at him.

Though he had already suspected the situation was grim, the sight of a severed human head clutched in one hand and a blood-stained fruit knife in the other was an outcome Qiao Xia found utterly unacceptable!

The gazes from Li Lin Guan and his two companions standing nearby only intensified Qiao Xia’s feeling of wanting to cry but having no tears.

He could explain!

Things weren’t as they seemed!

He wasn’t a murderous psychopath!

At that moment, in addition to the muscular red-eyed patient’s head Qiao Xia held, two more headless corpses lay nearby. Just by observing the clean, precise cuts, Qiao Xia knew they were undeniably his own handiwork.

Damn it, this “reversal of outcome” was a bit extreme. Why were all of them beheadings???

Hold on. In the previous premonition, a stab to the heart hadn’t been enough to kill a red-eyed patient.

Yet, after activating the reversal ability this time, severing the head completely annihilated the red-eyed patient?

To completely kill by destroying the head… wasn’t that a trope from zombie movies?

Could it be that these red-eyed patients were, in fact, zombies?

At that moment, a deluge of mysteries washed over Qiao Xia, threatening to engulf him in an endless ocean of confusion.

However, swiftly recalling that this was no time for distraction, Qiao Xia immediately shook off his bewilderment.

The muscular red-eyed patient’s earlier hammer strike had been exceptionally loud, undoubtedly drawing the attention of other red-eyed patients.

They had to leave, and quickly.

As for the severed head, its hair tightly entangled around his fingers, Qiao Xia attempted to shake it off to no avail. With no time left to dispose of it, he simply barked at the still-stunned Li Lin Guan and his companions, “What are you all staring at? Move it!”

With that, Qiao Xia tucked the fruit knife back into his waistband, his free hand swiftly retrieving the backpack from the ground before he immediately sprinted towards the stairs.

Qiao Xia’s sudden movement jolted Li Lin Guan and his companions back to their senses. They quickly grabbed their food and water, then hurried to follow behind him.

As they scrambled towards the rooftop, Ye Dafeng, who had initially held Qiao Xia in disdain, suddenly realized his previous judgment had been gravely mistaken.

No matter how much he revered Li Ge as the most formidable man, witnessing Qiao Xia’s swift, brutal movements and the merciless, single-stroke decapitation, Ye Dafeng could no longer deny the truth.

Compared to Qiao Xia, Li Ge was utterly outmatched, a mere novice beside a true master, not even on the same level.

No, it would be more accurate to say that Qiao Xia no longer resembled a student at all.

Even common street thugs would, at most, brandish a knife or swing a brick, content once blood was drawn.

Yet, Qiao Xia had killed without so much as a blink, his expressionless demeanor so chilling that Ye Dafeng had instinctively held his breath in terror.