Yan Zhichun stood dazed in the center of the field. Sensing something amiss, Zhou Mo and Jiang Ruoxue quickly pushed through the chaotic crowd to reach her side.
Both waited for Yan Zhichun’s instructions, but they clearly saw beads of sweat trickling down her cheeks.
Yes, it was scorching here.
They were encircled by two to three hundred people, all engaged in frenzied movement. Deafening shouts and the sounds of combat filled the air, and the recent “Blazing Burst” unleashed by Bai Hu had sent the surrounding temperatures soaring relentlessly.
“Zhichun…” Jiang Ruoxue called out, “Are you alright?”
“I…” Yan Zhichun shook her head, feeling a wave of dizziness. “I’ve used ‘Soul Snatch’ too many times in succession… It’s fine. We must complete the mission immediately…”
Jiang Ruoxue knew Yan Zhichun had controlled dozens of people in a short span, and her conviction was undoubtedly wavering now. She steadied Yan Zhichun’s weakened shoulders with both hands and said softly, “If you trust me, leave the battlefield to me from here on.”
“Leave it to you…” Yan Zhichun hesitated briefly before replying, “No… Ruoxue… Do you see them…? There are too many enemies…”
“I know, I know.” Jiang Ruoxue patted Yan Zhichun’s shoulder, trying to calm her. “No matter how many enemies there are, it doesn’t matter. Our mission isn’t to kill—it’s the giant clock and the display screen.”
Yan Zhichun nodded. “Right… We have to destroy the giant clock and the display.”
“Stay here and rest for a while. Recover your ‘conviction’ first. I’ll handle the rest.”
“Okay…”
After speaking, Jiang Ruoxue turned to Zhou Mo. “We need to buy time for Dr. Zhao’s team, so we have to keep finding ways to attack Bai Hu. Ignore the surrounding ‘Participants’ and ‘Zodiacs.’ Zhichun has already saved many lives—from here on, they’ll have to find their own way to survive.”
Zhou Mo gave Jiang Ruoxue a slightly uneasy glance. “Tsk, so I should relay this word for word?”
“Yes.” Jiang Ruoxue nodded. “Word for word.”
“Tsk, at a time like this… I’m afraid it’ll shake morale,” Zhou Mo muttered. “In this situation, if even one person chooses to flee, a whole crowd will follow…”
“Broken Window Effect…” Yan Zhichun interjected weakly.
“No, that window won’t break,” Jiang Ruoxue said firmly. “These people aren’t just bound by the ‘Extremists’—they’re held here by ‘Karma.’ Since ‘Karma’ has kept them here, ‘Karma’ will also ensure our victory.”
“What… did you say?” Zhou Mo blinked.
“I said ‘Karma’ will make us win.”
Zheng Yingxiong, standing nearby, looked up at Jiang Ruoxue with a slightly complicated expression.
Because when Jiang Ruoxue uttered those words, there was no scent of ‘Karma’ around her.
But what exactly determined ‘Karma’…?
Though she hadn’t activated ‘Karma,’ the moment she confidently declared those words, faint, imperceptible threads of ‘Karma’ had already begun weaving in the shadows.
This was the ‘Karma’ shaped by human will.
“If even a bitch like you says so…” Zhou Mo stared at Jiang Ruoxue before clicking her tongue. “Tsk, then it must be almost certain.”
“So, transmit the message to the ‘Extremists’—have them keep engaging the enemy head-on to buy time for our rear team,” Jiang Ruoxue continued. “We can’t hold back anymore. Even if we have to temporarily forget the second phase of the mission, we absolutely cannot fail here.”
“Tsk. Got it.”
Zhou Mo took a few steps back and lowered her head to begin transmitting the message.
—
Han Yimo, Dr. Zhao, Xiao Xiao, and Lin Qin hadn’t even completed half a lap around the square before they were abruptly blocked by several strangers.
The group looked up at the four men standing before them, all wielding metal pipes. Though they seemed hostile, they didn’t immediately attack.
“It’s really hot…” Xiao Xiao muttered.
Lin Qin thought for a moment and quickly grasped the situation.
Because their team had been moving along the edge of the square, far from the main crowd, the strangers hadn’t immediately identified them as enemies.
To them, Dr. Zhao’s group might well have been reinforcements arriving from elsewhere.
“What’s the situation…?” The man in the front, wearing an oversized tank top, spoke first. “Is the fight still going on inside?”
“Huh…?” Dr. Zhao paused before catching on. “Yeah… It’s a total mess… Are you planning to charge in?”
“Who’d be dumb enough to charge in now…?” another man in shorts scoffed. “This whole thing is just about claiming credit at the end, isn’t it?”
“Hey, want to team up?” The tank-topped man offered. “I brought everyone from my room—six strong guys. Probably the strongest squad right now. With you four, that makes ten. If we get a thousand ‘Tao,’ everyone gets a hundred. No complaints. Deal?”
Lin Qin almost laughed. These men claimed the mission was just about claiming credit, yet they were trying to recruit them. How could such a flimsy offer work?
Soon, two more of their teammates arrived from either side, standing with the original four.
Upon closer inspection, all six were burly and didn’t seem like the friendly type.
Lin Qin took a subtle step back. Though they hadn’t attacked yet, the situation was just as precarious. Six intimidating men against their four—with only Xiao Xiao being a capable fighter among them.
Neither she, Han Yimo, nor Dr. Zhao possessed combat-oriented ‘Echoes’…
If they refused the offer, a fight might break out. But if they accepted, they’d be dragged back into the battlefield.
Either outcome would attract more ‘reinforcements’—things couldn’t get worse.
Xiao Xiao fanned herself, seemingly no longer paying attention. “So hot…” she murmured.
“We have teammates waiting for us on the other side,” Lin Qin stepped forward decisively. “We were supposed to regroup, and if we don’t show up, they’ll come looking. Maybe we should just go our separate ways?”
The men hesitated, sizing up Lin Qin’s expression. She seemed sincere—not like she was lying on the spot. Reluctantly, they nodded, preferring to avoid infighting among ‘reinforcements.’
Lin Qin tugged at Dr. Zhao and Han Yimo, signaling them to leave.
“Wait…” One of the men frowned, sensing something off about their direction.
Before he could finish, Xiao Xiao suddenly stepped forward, grabbed the tank-topped man by the collar, and hurled him to the ground with a brutal shoulder throw.
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