They waited. And waited. All the way until noon.

No schemes, no action. The forest was as quiet as if Ye Chong’s group had vanished entirely.

The time for the drone food delivery was approaching.

This time, Bai Youwei didn’t intercept. Shen Mo, Yu Chaohui, A’Long, Tan Xiao, and Zhang Yu all headed out, moving into the forest to intercept the drone.

Bai Youwei said to A’Shalina: “You go too.”

A’Shalina blinked. “What about you?”

Her duty was to protect Bai Youwei.

What if, while they were away, the enemy circled around to go after Bai Youwei on the hillside? Bai Youwei’s fluffy rabbit had already been handed over to Shen Mo. She had no means of defense right now.

“The forest is so large — I’ll find somewhere to hide. If it really isn’t safe, I’ll go to the safety cabin,” Bai Youwei said mildly. “Go on. Without you, the five of them probably can’t manage.”

A’Shalina hesitated for a moment. Thinking of Ye Chong’s methods, she didn’t waste any more time and left quickly.

Everyone had been waiting since yesterday noon until now — they were more than a little eager for action, itching to go head-to-head.

Bai Youwei looked down at the white dots moving across her wristband map, gradually closing in on the northern forest.

She pressed the call key and reminded them: “Don’t get close to the enemy’s safety cabins and traps — try to approach the target area from the outer edges…”

Shen Mo suddenly said: “They’re coming.”

Bai Youwei’s heart jumped slightly. She furrowed her brow and asked: “How many?”

“Eight. They haven’t split up.” Shen Mo had no time to say more — his gaze fixed on the figures appearing ahead, he tightened his grip on the lasso in his hand and moved to engage!

Just then, Bai Youwei’s voice came through the wristband again with instructions:

“Heads up! There is a stocky, muscular man in their group, and a girl with a ponytail. Focus your attacks on those two! For the others — judge their animal role by their reactions!”

Stocky… ponytail…

Shen Mo’s gaze swept over the charging figures and quickly locked onto the targets.

“Tan Xiao! Zhang Yu! Attack the girl!” Shen Mo commanded on the fly. “Yu Chaohui, with me on the muscular man — A’Long, assist!”

The muscular man and the girl quickly realized they had become the targets. They had originally been charging forward with the group in full force, but the moment they saw Shen Mo leading others closing in on them fast, their expressions changed and they both turned and fled!

A direct hit!

Bai Youwei had guessed correctly — the enemy were lower-tier animals! Otherwise there would have been no reason to run!

“Idiots!” Ye Chong’s brow creased, and he shouted the rebuke, shooting out his hand to intercept Tan Xiao and the others giving chase!

Three bamboo spikes, each nearly ten meters long, shot out from his palm — flying straight at Tan Xiao!

The spikes moved blindingly fast. Shen Mo had no time to intercept. In an instant, they pierced through Tan Xiao’s calf and arm!

Tan Xiao cried out in pain and dropped to his knees!

Before he could even react, Ye Chong spread his palm again. Three more bamboo spikes shot out — he was going in for the kill on Tan Xiao!

In a split second of desperation, A’Shalina grabbed Tan Xiao from behind and yanked him back with all her might. The spikes buried themselves deep into the ground, sinking in hard!

At the same time, Shen Mo’s lasso snapped around Ye Chong, the rope pulling taut around his arms, stopping him from raising them!

A’Shalina steadied Tan Xiao and applied mud treatment, then looked up and shouted at a dumbstruck Zhang Yu: “Chase! Go after them!!”

The girl had already fled far away.

Zhang Yu snapped back to his senses and sprinted after her.

Meanwhile, Ye Chong pressed his palms together — and to everyone’s shock, drew a dagger from between his palms, slashing the rope clean through with a violent jerk!

He turned and ran. Whatever item he’d stuffed into his mouth, it launched his speed to a sudden blur!

The moment Ye Chong bolted, the rest of his teammates ran too!

Shen Mo watched Ye Chong bearing down on A’Long and shouted in alarm: “A’Long! Watch out!”

A’Long was in the middle of pursuing the muscular man. Seeming to sense the danger, he hurled an Easter egg over his shoulder in a flash —

Fireworks burst open. Rainbow smoke and colorful streamers scattered and drifted through the air in a dazzling cascade!

Ye Chong and the others charged into the forest — but A’Long was nowhere to be seen.

From behind came a teammate’s cry of surprise. Turning, Ye Chong saw that the “fox” in their group had been struck by Yu Chaohui’s predation key and vanished instantly.

A deep, brooding darkness crossed Ye Chong’s eyes.

—