The people of “Extreme Path” looked somewhat puzzled at the old man behind Yan Zhichun. Though filled with doubt, no one dared to make the first move.
The final objective—the display screen—was already placed before their eyes. Retreating now would be too much of a waste.
Everyone wanted to quickly complete the task Yan Zhichun had assigned, but the problem lay in the special nature of the “Extreme Path” organization. No one was familiar with their teammates beside them, which meant they didn’t understand their own people’s “Echoes” and had no way to coordinate “Echo” combinations. They could only try to formulate tactics from an individual perspective.
This undoubtedly increased the difficulty of each person launching an attack.
“I’ve said it before…” Baihu frowned with a gloomy expression, then looked around at everyone and said, “None of you will do. Only he can. Why won’t you listen…”
Yan Zhichun took a deep breath and walked forward, saying: “Baihu, you… what is your position?”
“My ‘position’…” Baihu paused, then shook his head and said, “Such a long time has worn away all my positions… We have no hope left. We will be forever lost here. No wonder even the ‘Zodiacs’ have returned…”
Baihu’s voice became increasingly hoarse, his whole body trembling.
“Perhaps only ‘gambling with life’… only if he gambles his own life… only then will there be any hope…” Baihu paused, then suddenly said again, “But unfortunately, even if he gambles his own life, there’s still the ‘Heavenly-Dragon’ here… How can we possibly achieve liberation from this place?”
Seeing this, Jiang Ruoxue stepped forward, reached out to pull Yan Zhichun, and said in a low voice: “Everyone has their own causes and effects. No need to bother with him.”
Yan Zhichun frowned and said: “But I feel he will be a huge obstacle for us.”
“What’s the use of just guessing? Just ask directly!”
Jiang Ruoxue interrupted Yan Zhichun’s words and immediately reached out to pat Baihu’s shoulder, asking: “Hey! Old man! We’re going to smash the display screen and giant bell. Are you going to interfere or not?”
Everyone around gasped at this scene.
But Baihu didn’t seem to mind. After hearing this, he silently looked at Jiang Ruoxue, then expressionlessly lowered his head: “The giant bell and display screen… these are not originally my responsibility. I’m only in charge of ‘Zodiac Slaughter.'”
Yan Zhichun and Zhoumo looked cautiously at Baihu, prepared to try to protect Jiang Ruoxue if he made a move.
But Baihu showed no intention of taking action. He just stood there like a withered tree, his face complex as he contemplated something.
Jiang Ruoxue felt something wasn’t quite right. Although she had already set the “cause” in motion, this time the “effect” wasn’t going in the direction she expected.
Baihu shouldn’t give up.
“Although that’s what I said, I feel you’re all wrong.” Baihu shook his head. “If you smash the display screen and giant bell behind me, I’m afraid those two above will fly into a rage and attack all the ‘Participants.’ I cannot allow such a situation to occur.”
“What…”
“I cannot protect everyone’s lives and memories, but I dare say I can protect the display screen and giant bell behind me.” Baihu said. “After comprehensive consideration, everyone can only please leave.”
On the rooftop, a young man with his hands clasped together stood before a short, thin girl. Both were looking down at the situation before them, seeming to feel things weren’t looking good.
The young man had a bowl cut with a long, thin braid at the back of his head. Under his leather jacket, he wore a long robe. This was the “Inextinguishable” Jiang Shi.
His body had returned to normal, reverting to his youthful appearance.
“Ninth Sister, ahh—” Jiang Shi yawned, lazily turning his head to look at Bai Jiu. “Now… should we help?”
“Better not.” Bai Jiu shook her head, her twin tails also swaying on her head. “Baihu isn’t our target, and destroying the giant bell isn’t our mission. This incident can only be borne by ‘Extreme Path’ themselves.”
“Then they’re probably going to die.” Jiang Shi reached up to wipe the tears from the corners of his eyes caused by yawning. “Your ‘Liquefaction’ might also be useful. Not going to help?”
“Little Jiang Shi, I need to preserve my faith.” Bai Jiu said. “As for you… you’ve been yawning constantly since earlier. Don’t you really need to sleep for a bit right now?”
“That won’t be necessary.” Jiang Shi said. “After sleeping, I’m afraid I won’t be able to wake up, and besides, I’m not that sleepy… ahh—”
Watching Jiang Shi yawn continuously, Bai Jiu was also infected and opened her mouth to yawn as well.
“Ahh—”
“Oh no!!” Bai Jiu quickly shook her head, forcibly interrupting her own yawn. “Little Jiang Shi! Like this, you’ll make us all drowsy!”
“Hai.” Jiang Shi shook his head. “It’ll be fine once we start moving. No matter what, this time I’ll strictly follow Fifth Brother’s instructions.”
“Oh~” Bai Jiu smiled. “Didn’t realize you were so young yet so ambitious, actually having such determination?”
“As the saying goes, dig deep pits to catch tigers and leopards, hang long lines to fish for golden turtles.” Jiang Shi clasped his hands and slowly squatted down. “Since Fifth Brother has spoken, generals protect their wise lords, migratory birds climb high branches. This subordinate will definitely ensure today that those divine beast bird-people have no return…”
Jiang Shi’s voice grew quieter and quieter.
Although the action hadn’t yet begun, he really did look very sleepy.
Bai Jiu smiled helplessly, then raised her head to look across. Luo Shiyi, leading three people on the opposite rooftop, cast an inquiring gaze toward her.
After all, they had also discovered that Baihu, who was outside the plan, had suddenly begun blocking “Extreme Path’s” attack at this moment. The current situation indicated that all three divine beasts might take action today, and due to the special nature of the “Extreme Path” team, they definitely wouldn’t have a way to formulate tactics targeting Baihu in advance.
So at this time, the “Cat” team should take on the task of killing Baihu, allowing the “Extreme Path” operation to continue.
But after carefully considering the current situation, Bai Jiu still shook her head with a serious expression, making a gesture for Luo Shiyi and the others to continue standing by.
At this moment, as the highest authority on the field, she had to determine the survival of everyone in the “Cat” team.
Xuanwu and Zhu Que had not yet appeared. If “Cat” suffered severe damage from attacking Baihu, all subsequent missions would completely collapse.
So the best method right now was to leave Baihu to “Extreme Path.”
Bai Jiu continued staring seriously at the scene below but discovered some commotion seemed to be occurring within the crowd below.
A fat middle-aged man kept weaving through the crowd and soon came to the side of a middle-aged woman.
“Xiao… Xiao Chan!!” Old Lu cried out in alarm beside Aunt Tong’s ear, startling everyone nearby.
Aunt Tong turned around with a puzzled expression: “Old… Old Lu? How did you get here?”
“I damn well want to ask you the same thing!” Old Lu looked around at the surrounding people with some palpitations. “I saw you walk out from ‘Heaven’s Gate’ and followed out of curiosity, but now why the hell are there so many people?!”