When Qian Wu released his hand, he and Zhu Que fell like two felled trees, slowly landing in opposite directions.

The smoke produced by the high temperature and burnt flesh made it impossible for Qian Wu to even breathe. He felt his throat had completely festered, and even his chest cavity was emitting severe pain.

The few remaining “Cats” hurriedly ran forward, each extending their hands to grab Qian Wu.

In the chaos, Qian Wu didn’t know whose hand he grasped, wanting to copy the other person’s body, but after trying several times he failed.

He didn’t know what his facial features had become. He only felt that his nostrils, ears, and eyes were all very cold, followed by heart-piercing pain. This made his conviction completely dissipate in an instant. He couldn’t think of anything in his mind—he only wanted to live.

“Fifth Brother!”

Everyone’s cries of alarm gradually rang out beside his ears. It seemed his hearing had recovered, but hearing every sentence made his ears hurt violently.

But thinking carefully… was Zhu Que dead?

Everyone was gathered around him, so Zhu Que should be dead, right?

If Zhu Que was dead, then there was no need for him to stay alive either.

“Fifth Brother! It’s me!” Song Qi’s voice slowly came through. “I’m here!”

“Old Seven…”

Qian Wu slowly opened his eyes, but before him was nothing but blood red. He slowly reached out his hand, grabbing toward the direction of Song Qi’s voice.

“Fifth Brother…” Song Qi seemed to know Qian Wu’s thoughts. He whispered softly in his ear, “You can’t die right now!”

“Old Seven… you…”

Qian Wu was slightly stunned, an ominous premonition arising in his heart. He could only muster his spirit and activate “Twin Flowers,” and this time it indeed succeeded.

In a very short time, he felt his throat beginning to ease, and the sensations in his facial features were also recovering.

When he finally saw clearly the situation before him, the surviving members of the “Cat” team had all gathered around him.

“Uh…” Qian Wu slowly got up from the ground. Now he and Song Qi had exactly the same build. He reached out to scratch at the old burn scars on his chest, saying, “Old Seven, are your scars this itchy?”

“My scars have always been like this, Fifth Brother.” Song Qi answered.

“Now… what’s the situation?” Qian Wu slowly turned his head back and discovered that Zhu Que had already fallen backward on the ground.

His entire body was covered with various wounds. He looked like he should have died long ago. Now black liquid was flowing from all seven orifices, making the scene particularly horrifying.

Everyone felt that they hadn’t killed some “Divine Beast,” but rather had killed a demon.

Yun Shijiu was lying beside Zhu Que, seemingly having completely lost consciousness.

“Did we win…?” Qian Wu asked with some doubt.

Song Qi looked at Qian Wu with a heavy expression, then nodded:

“Yes, we won.”

Qian Wu felt Song Qi’s expression was a bit strange, but when he turned to look at the other “Cats,” he found that everyone appeared relieved.

It seemed Zhu Que truly couldn’t move anymore. The eyes in his throat and mouth should have been completely burned in this attack. No matter how many schemes he had, he would never have expected someone to stuff a signal flare in their mouth to burn themselves, then perish together with him.

“I feel quite a few people were helping us.” Qian Wu recalled the situation just now and said, “We weren’t fighting alone.”

“Yes.” Song Qi also nodded along. “Indeed quite a few people were helping us.”

“Tsk, damn it…” Zhoumo walked forward and kicked Song Qi in the thigh. “Where the hell did you disappear to just now? Did you run here from fucking Antarctica?”

“I was delayed by something on the road.” Song Qi smiled bitterly with embarrassment. “But fortunately it’s already been resolved.”

“Tsk! Resolved my ass… tell me what matter is more important than killing Zhu Que?” Zhoumo kicked out again. “What matter is more fucking important than the lives of your brothers?”

Ning Shiba with “Wild Growth” and Bai Jiu with “Liquefaction” saw this and hurriedly stepped forward to hold Zhoumo back. She was truly very angry.

Perhaps from the bottom of her heart she trusted Song Qi more than anyone else. She believed that if Song Qi had come earlier, perhaps more people could have survived.

But now the “Cat” team was already littered with corpses, with only seven or eight people remaining.

“Sixth Sister… calm down…” Bai Jiu said from the side. “Seventh Brother must have encountered something extremely important…”

Song Qi listened to several people’s conversation, only keeping his lips tightly closed, not explaining anything.

Qian Wu furrowed his brow slightly, then turned to look at Ma Shi’er who had arrived together with Song Qi.

His expression was similarly heavy. Based on his understanding of these two people, the matter they encountered on the road was probably truly more important than the lives of their brothers.

“Forget it.” Qian Wu said. “Since Old Seven doesn’t want to say, then we don’t need to ask.”

“Thank you, Fifth Brother…” Song Qi said.

“Go see how Nineteen is doing… our mission is complete…” Qian Wu said.

Song Qi opened his mouth wanting to say something, but at this moment he looked down at the watch on his wrist. It seemed there were still some concerns, so he could only swallow his words.

Ma Shi’er saw Song Qi’s appearance and seemed to understand something. He then gave Liu Ershiyi a look, and the two of them walked toward Yun Shijiu beside Zhu Que.

After all, “Cat” had rich combat experience. As they advanced, everyone kept their eyes on Zhu Que’s direction—after all, no one could confirm he was truly dead.

The two arrived beside Yun Shijiu. Liu Ershiyi checked Yun Shijiu’s breathing and found he was indeed still alive. They hurriedly worked together to pull him up, placing him on their shoulders, step by step moving away from Zhu Que.

At this moment, Ma Shi’er raised his head to look at Song Qi. His mouth moved slightly, seeming to utter two words—

“Goodbye.”

Song Qi nodded, then began to mobilize all the conviction in his body.

Exactly… who was it?

Ma Shi’er and Liu Ershiyi supported Yun Shijiu on the left and right as they walked toward everyone. Then it could only be one of the three of them.

Just now it was Zhu Que, now it was Yun Shijiu. Who would be next?

Zhu Que was placing his bets. He was selecting the most suitable “echo.”

Song Qi knew his opportunities were limited, but the hope of killing Zhu Que could only be gambled on this one attack.

The next second, Ma Shi’er’s eyes suddenly lost focus, then a ferocious smile appeared on his face.

He slightly opened his mouth, and a sinister gaze came from deep in his throat.

“A pity…” Song Qi slowly furrowed his brow. “Just as planned.”

Before everyone could react to what was happening, Ma Shi’er immediately released exquisite “Displacement.” With a wave of both hands, Yun Shijiu and Liu Ershiyi beside him floated up, then shot toward everyone like bullets.

Song Qi and Qian Wu stood shoulder to shoulder, allowing the two teammates to brush past them from beside and crash toward the several people behind them. The sounds of cracking bones and screams rang out everywhere, but neither of them turned back to look.

No one could block an attack of this speed. Even if it flew toward the two of them, they could only wait for death.

But fortunately Zhu Que liked to act like a cat, always toying with mice. He wouldn’t kill the leaders first—this would become his fatal flaw.

“Old Seven.” Qian Wu murmured. “Was that what you went to resolve just now?”

“More or less.” Song Qi nodded.