Lao Gao shouted, "Not good! Get inside!"
Running was almost an instinct. The moment the man downstairs turned his gaze on them, they didn't need Lao Gao's warning. They spun around and bolted towards the security door.
As always, Lao Gao stayed behind to cover them. Once the three of them were inside, he grabbed the heavy padlock and clamped it shut on the security door.
But the lock had barely clicked into place when the twisted, contorted man from below came charging up to the thirty-first floor. He slammed his body against the door with bone-jarring force. When that didn't work, his crooked hand shot through the broken glass panel, clawing at the air in a desperate attempt to grab one of them.
They had already backed up several steps. No matter how wildly he lunged, he caught nothing but empty air.
Thank goodness the door was locked. Otherwise, they'd be fighting for their lives again.
…
But could the door really hold against his relentless battering?
Huang Jinghe pointed to the edges of the doorframe, which Lao Gao had only just patched up. "Look, it's already cracking. How long do you think it'll hold? I swear, it's gonna fall."
The words had barely left his mouth when the man outside hurled himself forward again. This time, the door gave way, collapsing inward.
Both Lao Gao and Huang Jinghe instinctively stepped forward to hold it up. But as they braced it, the man's hand snagged a fistful of Lao Gao's shirt.
Seeing that holding the door was pointless, they exchanged a glance. In unison, they shoved it outward, knocking the crazed man to the floor. The heavy door pinned him down, and the hand clutching Lao Gao's shirt tore off a scrap of fabric before falling limp.
Lao Gao shot Huang Jinghe an exasperated look. "You're a real jinx, you know that?"
Huang Jinghe gave a sheepish smile. "Just bad timing. Can't blame me for that."
The two men stood on the fallen door, pressing their weight down to keep the man trapped. Neither dared give him a chance to shove it aside and attack again.
Still, Lan Jin couldn't shake her unease. "Why is he only targeting us? How did he even manage to find us here?"
"It's like something here is drawing him in."
Ling Jiang had just spoken when the pinned man began to howl again. All around them, more howls echoed in answer, as if the creatures were calling to one another.
Ling Jiang's voice grew tense. "He's trying to bring his friends here! Quick, gag him!"
Lao Gao wanted to, but with the man pinned under the door, he would have to let him out to reach his mouth. And once he was free, would they really be able to gag him so easily?
After staring at the door for two seconds, Lao Gao asked, "Can I just finish him off? Look at him. Even if he snapped out of it, he wouldn't survive. Better to end it now, right?"
"You'd still have to get him out to do that, and—"
Before Ling Jiang could finish, Lao Gao moved to where the man's head lay and stomped hard, several times. At last, the struggling stopped. A nauseating stench seeped through the corridor.
Lan Jin shook her head. "And what if the smell draws in more of them?"
Couldn't he think before acting? The idea that howls were a signal was just speculation, but they all knew blood could attract others. Lao Gao's way was reckless.
Hearing her, Lao Gao froze for a moment, then shrugged it off. "Too late now."
The howls in the distance gradually died away.
Relieved, Ling Jiang let her shoulders drop. "I'll grab some tools from upstairs. Let's clear this mess and toss him as far away as possible."
"Got it."
Ling Jiang headed up, but Lan Jin stayed, telling the two men to lift the door.
The instant it was upright, the man who should have been dead sprang to his feet.
Lao Gao cursed loudly. "What the hell! Still not done?!"
This time Huang Jinghe didn't hesitate. Standing at the railing, he kicked the man with all his strength. The blow sent him flying, not just over the edge but several meters out.
They rushed to the railing and looked down. The man lay on the ground, twitching, as if ready to get up again at any second.
So was he dead, or not?
Lan Jin suddenly remembered the worm Lao Gao had vomited out earlier. "Could it be a parasite? When you recovered, you spat one out. Maybe he's the same. If the worm's still inside, even if he's dead, he can still move."
That would explain it. If the person survived and the worm came out, they could return to normal. But if they died before expelling it, they'd remain in a frenzied state. And once dead, even if the worm came out afterward, they wouldn't revive.
In short, the worm had to be removed, or the host would keep fighting—without pain, without fatigue—forever. Her theory fit the situation perfectly. Which meant the only real solution was to force the parasite out.
And they already knew spirit spring water could do it.
But was she supposed to go around making everyone drink it? It wasn't ordinary water, and not just anyone deserved a sip.
Why should she waste it on strangers?
Besides, no one knew how many infected people lurked nearby. Even if the spring water was limitless, that didn't mean she should use it this way.
Lan Jin dismissed the idea almost as quickly as it came.
In fact, none of the others would agree either.
Even if the water could expel the parasite, what if it also boosted strength? What if those people decided to covet the spring water and turn on them? In a world where the rules had collapsed, betrayal was more common than loyalty.
So there was no need for Lan Jin to explain. The others would keep her secret for her.
The four of them had no intention of being that generous.