Chapter 1156: Corn

Two voices, one real and one illusory, echoed in Bai Jiu’s ears simultaneously, without the slightest delay.

The sensation was like watching a TV drama unfold in real life, creating an unprecedented sense of surreal disorientation.

Bai Jiu knew they had finally uncovered Xuanwu’s ultimate weakness—but how was he supposed to make sense of the situation before him?

“No good… I can’t handle this alone…”

Without hesitation, Bai Jiu pinched his lower lip between two fingers, tilted his head back, and let out a piercing whistle, summoning every available strategist nearby to his aid.

Upon hearing the signal, “Mad Growth” Ning Shiba, “Shuttle” Cui Shisi, “Gale” Qiu Ershi, and “Flashbang” Feng Shiqi immediately dashed toward Bai Jiu from various corners of the battlefield. Song Qi, standing atop a high vantage point, contemplated for a moment before deciding to split off and join them as well.

Before leaving, he briefly considered the situation and temporarily handed over command of the battlefield to Su Shan, opting to take the experienced Officer Li along with him.

Bai Jiu’s signal this time was too bizarre—it could mean they had found the key to victory, or it could mean they were trapped in an insurmountable crisis. Sensing the urgency, Song Qi wasted no time in heading over.

At the frontlines, combat-type “Echoes” were doing their best to hold back Xuanwu’s assault. But something was off—Xuanwu had stopped using “Plunder,” resorting only to basic melee attacks and “Warp” to slaughter them one-sidedly.

Fortunately, the “Cat” team’s combat experience was formidable. They quickly established a solid defensive line. Though many were injured, only Luo Shiwu had fallen so far.

The fight against Xuanwu had dragged on for so long that even Yun Shijiu, who had been maintaining “Silence,” was now drenched in sweat.

Standing atop another building, he cautiously scanned the surroundings and noticed shadowy figures darting through the streets.

The effects of “Extreme Path” were spreading throughout the city. They had chosen to ambush Xuanwu in an inconspicuous plaza nestled between low-rise buildings—a spot hidden from main roads, shielded from street view, and further concealed by “Silence.” In theory, no one should have noticed the battle raging here—at least not immediately.

But one spark could ignite a wildfire. Sooner or later, other participants and “Zodiacs” would realize an assassination attempt was underway. After all, “Silence” wasn’t a barrier—it couldn’t stop people from entering or leaving, only sound.

Just then, Song Qi and Officer Li hurried past the base of Yun Shijiu’s building.

“Brother Seven!” Yun Shijiu called from the rooftop. “Time’s running out… We might need to move faster.”

Song Qi nodded grimly. The Xuanwu they were fighting had long since ceased to be human. After hours of fierce combat with no decisive breakthrough, their only hope now was Bai Jiu’s plan.

Soon, the “Cat” team’s strategists gathered around Bai Jiu, with Song Qi pushing through the crowd to the front.

Bai Jiu lifted his head, his expression grave. “I need to tell you all what just happened. It might be hard to accept, but I need you to trust me and use this as the basis for our next move.”

……

Qiu Shiliu crouched behind a pile of dry hay in the corner, trembling as she watched the wild girl in front of her struggle to light a fire. She didn’t dare make a sound or move.

The girl had the exact same face as Xuanwu—only younger, her age impossible to guess.

What the hell was going on?

She had been traveling through some bizarre space earlier. If that space connected to all other spaces in the world, then fine—that was at least somewhat comprehensible.

It was like a massive “shuttle machine,” capable of taking her to any corner of the world, known or unknown.

But how could it connect *time* as well?

If this girl really was Xuanwu, then she must be Xuanwu from another era. She shouldn’t exist in any other space at this moment.

“Jiu-jie…” Qiu Shiliu pressed the “Door” to her lips and whispered, so softly even she could barely hear herself. “Can you hear me…?”

No immediate response came from the other end—only faint rustling.

After a pause, a weak voice replied: *”I can hear you… They’ve all gone to the meeting.”*

“Shi-ge?” Qiu Shiliu breathed. “I’m kinda stuck here… Not sure what to do…”

*”Well, you’re asking the wrong guy…”* Jiang Shi chuckled dryly. *”I can’t see a damn thing—just hear your voice in my head. Want me to tell you a story to pass the time?”*

“I’ll pass, Shi-ge,” Qiu Shiliu sighed. “I’ll wait for Jiu-jie.”

*”Why not just talk to her?”* Jiang Shi suddenly suggested. *”At this point, what’s the point of hiding?”*

“Talk…?” Qiu Shiliu blinked. “You mean, like, just walk out, tap her shoulder, and say ‘Hey there, little girl’?”

Jiang Shi pondered for a moment before replying earnestly: *”You could also start with ‘Hark, fiend!’ if you prefer…”*

“Alright, alright… Just rest up, Shi-ge.”

Tucking the “Door” into her pocket, Qiu Shiliu resumed observing the strange child version of Xuanwu.

The girl fumbled with the stove for a while before pulling out a grimy box of matches. After a few failed attempts, she finally struck a spark and lit a fire with a bundle of dry grass.

Once the flames grew, Little Xuanwu reached into her tattered backpack and tossed a stick-like object into the fire. Then she crouched beside the stove, waiting silently.

Qiu Shiliu leaned forward slightly, trying to get a better look.

Soon, she realized something odd—Little Xuanwu seemed to be roasting something.

After a short while, the girl picked up a wooden stick and fished the object out of the fire. It rolled onto the ground with a charred thud.

Qiu Shiliu’s eyes widened.

It was a corn cob.

No—more accurately, a corn cob with barely any kernels left.

Blackened and still smoldering, Little Xuanwu patted out the embers before, to Qiu Shiliu’s utter confusion, shoving it into her mouth.

She jerked back from the heat, blowing on it briefly before taking another bite, chewing laboriously before swallowing the tough, scorched husk.

“What the hell…” Qiu Shiliu grimaced.

Seemingly pleased with the taste, Little Xuanwu retrieved a few more corn cobs from her backpack and tossed them into the fire.

The flames sputtered violently under the weight of the cobs.

As the fire threatened to die out, Little Xuanwu turned and strode straight toward the haystack where Qiu Shiliu was hiding.