Chapter 13: Finding Wu Jing

　　I knew it was safe, so I turned the corner and walked in. As I turned the corner, I saw the iron bed, and Wu Jing was lying on it. My heart skipped a beat, and I hurried over! As I approached, what I saw was the intact Wu Jing, not like in the illusion. That eased my mind a lot! However, she looked as if she were asleep. I went to her bedside and saw her lying flat on the iron bed, half-closed eyes, whites rolled upwards, and a pale complexion.

　　"Xia Ning!""Xia Ning, run... quickly... I'm... holding them back...!" Her voice trembled, weak and shaky.

　　I covered my mouth and burst into tears. Wu Jing didn't even know what she had encountered in the illusion yet she was still telling me to go.

　　"Don't worry about me, Wu Jing. I've already made it out. You need to run... fast..." I cried.

　　I knew that if she died in the illusion, she would die in reality too. I desperately shook her body, trying to wake her up!

　　The iron bed creaked as I shook it.

　　"Wake up, Wu Jing, please wake up!" My tears fell like rain, blurring my vision."Xia Ning!" The teacher also took off her gas mask and hugged me when she saw my state. "Xia Ning, calm down. If you keep going like this, she won't wake up!" Her voice trembled as she spoke.

　　"What do we do now?" I felt utterly useless. Wu Jing was still protecting me even in the illusion, and what was I doing?

　　I suddenly stopped crying, releasing myself from the teacher's embrace and went to Wu Jing's bedside. I picked up a piece of paper filled with words and a syringe filled with medication that we hadn't noticed when we came in!

　　I wiped my eyes with my sleeve, clearing my vision. I read the words on the paper: "I never expected you to come out on your own. So, how about we play a game? If you go back in and find your other friend, I'll give you the antidote. How about that?"

　　Without thinking, I was about to inject myself, but a hand grabbed the syringe!

　　"Xia Ning, don't be so impulsive!" Wei Junliang shouted beside me.

　　"I have to go, I must go!!" I yelled at him, tears streaming down my face. "They are my best friends. They have always stood up for me when I'm in danger. If I don't go to save them now and watch them die beside me, then what kind of person am I?"

　　Wei Junliang fell silent, his eyes complicated as he looked at me, but he showed no intention of releasing the syringe.

　　"Let go!!" I shouted at him again!

　　"Just wait a moment!" The middle-aged policeman's voice came from nearby. He and a few other officers had come in at some point, and in his hand, he held that piece of paper."Professor Li is on his way. Let's wait and see what he has to say," he suggested, and I nodded with uncertainty.

　　The middle-aged policeman gestured towards Wei Junliang, and I anticipated he would release his grip, but to my surprise, he swiftly snatched the syringe from my hand!

　　"Wei Junliang!" I glared at him fiercely, a surge of frustration boiling within me!

　　In a quick stride, I seized his arm and sank my teeth into it!

　　"Ouch... that hurts!" he cried out!

　　Yet, I held my ground, clamping down on his arm while two other policemen moved to intervene, only to be halted by Wei Junliang.

　　"I understand your urgency, but rushing into that place recklessly is like signing your own death warrant. It won't save your friends, and you can't rely on past luck," he managed to speak through the pain.

　　"Each time, the exit from the illusion shifts. Going in blindly risks not only your life but potentially three. Let's hold off and wait for the professor."

　　His words resonated with me, prompting me to reluctantly release his arm, leaving behind a distinct imprint of my bite.

　　As I observed the mark, a pang of remorse washed over me. I bowed my head and whispered, "I'm sorry. I was just desperate to save them."

　　"You're a brave soul, and we're all proud of you," he reassured me in a gentle tone.

　　Shortly after, two policemen fetched a stretcher and gently lifted Wu Jing onto it. We made our way back to solid ground.

　　During the journey, I remained by the teacher's side, while the middle-aged policeman and Wei Junliang trailed behind. Their conversation, barely audible, hinted at discussions about me.

　　Finally, we reached the ground level, where outside the three-story building, a man in his fifties wearing a white coat and black-rimmed glasses awaited us!

　　It was Professor Li.

　　After Wu Jing was carefully placed into the ambulance, attached to an IV drip, we all followed suit, ready to proceed together."Make sure to thoroughly search that underground garage again. There must be another entrance!" the middle-aged policeman shouted to the people outside before the car doors closed.

　　"Are you Professor Li?" I asked the man in his fifties.

　　"Yes, that's me. And you must be Miss Xia Ning," he replied, adjusting his glasses with a friendly smile.

　　His demeanor put me at ease. It wasn't authoritative; instead, he spoke as equals, making me feel welcomed and understood.

　　"Could you tell me more about this hallucinogen?" I asked, feeling considerably calmer.

　　"That's precisely why I'm here!" he said, pulling out the hallucinogen from his pocket, which Wei Junliang had handed to him at some point.

　　"Don't worry; I'll explain everything to you."

　　As the car started, we headed towards the hospital.

　　"The antidote. I haven't found anything to reverse its effects yet, but I've developed a drug that can suppress it. It's already mixed in the vial, and she'll likely fall asleep soon," Professor Li revealed, delivering a piece of fantastic news with a reassuring tone.

　　However, his next words dampened my spirits.

　　"Although she'll be in a coma for three days, she'll still enter the hallucination upon waking. Moreover, there's no telling what she might encounter in there! Also, this suppressant can only be injected once!"

　　"So, don't even think about giving her another shot. If you do, she may never wake up," he emphasized, pointing at the hallucinogen with a serious expression.

　　"You must not use this hallucinogen again!" he urged with genuine concern in his voice.

　　"Why?" I shouted at him in frustration, feeling a surge of emotions overwhelming me.

　　The teacher pulled me back gently, sensing my agitation, his comforting touch calming my racing heart.

　　"Once administered, you have a more than ninety-eight percent chance of dying within the hallucination!" he explained with empathy in his eyes, understanding the fear and desperation in my heart.

　　Taking a deep breath, I realized that getting worked up wouldn't help. In a calm tone, I asked, "What's the plan then?"

　　"Professor Li, can I use this?" Wei Junliang suddenly spoke up, his voice filled with uncertainty and concern.

　　Professor Li glanced at him and replied, "This hallucinogen is off-limits. She has less than a two percent chance of survival, while others have less than a point one percent!"

　　"What do you suggest then?" the middle-aged policeman inquired, his tone reflecting a mix of worry and determination.

　　"I suggest that the police intensify their search efforts while I work on developing the antidote as quickly as possible in the next two days!" Professor Li turned his gaze towards Wu Jing lying on the stretcher, his expression showing a blend of determination and compassion.

　　"And how confident are you about developing the antidote?" I asked, my voice trembling with anticipation and hope.

　　"Um... sorry, I can't disclose that information," he hesitated before finally speaking, his eyes reflecting a subtle but distinct sense of disappointment.

　　In his eyes, I saw a tinge of disappointment, a subtle but distinct sense of it!

　　That feeling of disappointment plunged my heart into the depths.

　　"Xia Ning... It's okay..." Wu Jing murmured softly, as if talking nonsense, her voice barely audible but piercing my heart with agony.

　　Staring at the hallucinogen in Professor Li's hand, I made up my mind. Grabbing his wrist, I sunk my teeth into it!