Chu Huaijin was responsible for the safety of everyone in this building. If Teacher Cheng truly did carry a contagious toxin, restricting his movement was a reasonable and justified precaution.

“No need.” Shen Mo said. “I’ll find another place for Teacher Cheng to stay — he won’t be here, and you won’t have to worry about the spread of a potential infection source.”

Chu Huaijin asked, “Where are you planning to take him?”

Shen Mo said mildly, “That’s not something you need to concern yourself with. Just know it won’t pose any threat to the safety of the city’s residents.”

Chu Huaijin didn’t press further, and smiled. “I hope the test results come back normal.”

“Here’s hoping.” Shen Mo gave a quiet sigh.

He hoped he was just worrying over nothing.

……

After Chu Huaijin left, Shen Mo was about to head back to his room when he heard the sounds of Tan Xiao and Yu Chaohui bickering.

The two of them, it turned out, had not gone to their respective rooms at all — they’d started another quarrel.

Tan Xiao grabbed Yu Chaohui by the collar without ceremony, lecturing him in the thoroughly rough manner of a street tough: “Who the hell do you think you are, you little underling? What gives you the nerve to be so arrogant?! Daring to boss our boss around — you tired of living? You know the rules of the street or not?!”

Yu Chaohui’s expression was blank. His eyes stared straight ahead. “Let go.”

“Oh, so you’re trying to put on airs with me, are you?” Tan Xiao raged, balling his hands into fists. “I think you’re just asking to be taught a lesson!”

And with that, he swung his fist!

But Yu Chaohui’s reflexes were swift as lightning — he dodged and in the same motion grabbed Tan Xiao’s swinging fist, yanked it hard, then twisted it up, pinning Tan Xiao’s arm behind his back with practiced ease!

He’d come from the military, after all — his fighting technique far outclassed Tan Xiao’s.

But Tan Xiao was full of underhanded tricks. Right then and there he made a sound in the back of his throat, twisted his head, and made as if he were about to spit a thick, heavy gob of saliva at Yu Chaohui’s bent knee!

Yu Chaohui recoiled in revulsion, instinctively stepping back — and Tan Xiao immediately wrenched himself free! Then kicked Yu Chaohui off his feet!

Having gotten the upper hand, Tan Xiao stood with his hands on his hips, roaring with laughter. “You really thought I was gonna spit?! That move is called the Dragon’s Gulp! You don’t have the privilege of learning it!”

Yu Chaohui was furious. He sprang back up ready to counter—

His fist had barely risen when Shen Mo snatched it out of the air.

In an instant, all the fire went out. Not only did Yu Chaohui lower his hand, even Tan Xiao shrank back a little, sheepishly looking at Shen Mo: “Mo ge…”

Shen Mo glanced at him evenly. “Go downstairs and get in some more rounds with the combat instructor. If you ever run into someone who doesn’t mind a bit of gross-out, that move of yours would only have gotten you beaten.”

“Oh…” Tan Xiao scratched his head, then turned and walked off toward the elevator.

Shen Mo looked at Yu Chaohui. “Come with me.”

……

The two of them went to the emergency stairwell.

The light at the stairwell entrance was dim. Shen Mo didn’t speak right away — he lit a cigarette for himself.

He wasn’t someone who smoked regularly, except when his mood was troubled.

Yu Chaohui’s mood wasn’t particularly pleasant either. He harbored a resentment toward Bai Youwei, and couldn’t stomach Tan Xiao’s rough-and-tumble manner — but for Shen Mo, he felt a genuine, heartfelt respect.

He felt that every quality Shen Mo possessed fit the profile of a competent “King.”

And yet…

And yet the commander stood on the same side as these people.

“I’m not trying to challenge anyone.” Yu Chaohui said quietly. “I’m just stating my own view. Commander, I respect her intelligence. But I don’t respect her character. Right now the entire base pools its collective resources to support the King — it’s all for the sake of saving more people. But she… she doesn’t deserve that role.”

Shen Mo took a draw of his cigarette and exhaled the smoke gently. His impassive expression gave nothing away.

He asked Yu Chaohui: “In your view, who gave her that right?”

Yu Chaohui was momentarily taken aback. He looked at Shen Mo.

Shen Mo said: “Not you. Not me. Not the base either. That right was given to her by the maze and the game.

Remember this — I’ll only say it once. Who has the right to be King: the maze and the game understand that far better than you or I do. Go back and think it through carefully. When you’ve thought it through, that’s when you’ll come with us to the maze war.”

—