Chapter 1193: Delay

When Qian Wu let go, he and Zhu Que fell like two felled trees, slowly collapsing in opposite directions.

The heat and the smoke from scorched flesh made it impossible for Qian Wu to even breathe. His throat felt completely ruined, and a sharp pain radiated from his chest.

The few remaining “Cats” rushed forward, reaching out to grab him.

In the chaos, Qian Wu clutched at someone—anyone—trying to replicate their body, but each attempt failed.

He had no idea what his face looked like now. His nostrils, ears, and eyes felt icy cold before searing pain tore through him, scattering his resolve. His mind emptied of all thoughts except survival.

“Fifth Brother!”

Voices of alarm slowly reached his ears—his hearing must have returned. Yet every word sent fresh agony through his eardrums.

But wait… was Zhu Que dead?

Everyone was gathered around him. Did that mean Zhu Que was gone?

If Zhu Que was dead… then maybe he didn’t need to live either.

“Fifth Brother! It’s me!” Song Qi’s voice reached him. “I’m here!”

“Seventh…”

Qian Wu forced his eyes open, but his vision was nothing but a haze of red. He reached out weakly toward the sound of Song Qi’s voice.

“Fifth Brother…” Song Qi seemed to read his thoughts, whispering softly, “You can’t die now.”

“Seventh… you…”

“We still need you,” Song Qi insisted.

A flicker of unease passed through Qian Wu. Summoning the last of his strength, he activated **Twin Blossoms**—and this time, it worked.

Almost instantly, his throat eased, and sensation returned to his face.

When his vision finally cleared, the surviving members of the “Cats” stood around him in a circle.

“Ugh…” Qian Wu slowly pushed himself up. Now identical to Song Qi in build, he scratched absently at the old burn scars on his chest. “Seventh, your scars itch this much?”

“They always have, Fifth Brother,” Song Qi replied.

“Then… what’s the situation now?” Qian Wu turned his head and saw Zhu Que lying motionless on his back.

His body was riddled with wounds that should have killed him long ago. Black fluid seeped from his eyes, nose, and mouth—a grotesque sight.

The team didn’t feel like they’d slain a **divine beast**. It was more like they’d killed a demon.

Yun Shi Jiu lay beside Zhu Que, seemingly unconscious.

“Did we… win?” Qian Wu asked hesitantly.

Song Qi met his gaze with a heavy expression before nodding.

“Yes. We won.”

Something about Song Qi’s reaction felt off. But when Qian Wu glanced at the others, they all looked relieved.

Zhu Que truly seemed incapacitated. The eyes in his throat and mouth must have been incinerated in the attack. He could never have anticipated someone shoving a flare down his throat to burn him from the inside out—sacrificing themselves to take him down.

“I felt like we had help,” Qian Wu murmured, recalling the battle. “We weren’t fighting alone.”

“Right,” Song Qi agreed. “Many people aided us.”

“Tch, damn it…” Zhou Mo stormed over and kicked Song Qi in the thigh. “Where the hell were you? Did you crawl here from Antarctica or what?”

“I was delayed by something,” Song Qi admitted with a bitter smile. “But it’s handled now.”

“Handled my ass! What could be more important than killing Zhu Que?” Zhou Mo kicked him again. “What’s more important than our brothers’ **lives**?”

**”Mad Growth” Ning Shi Ba** and **”Liquefaction” Bai Jiu** quickly stepped in to restrain Zhou Mo. She was furious—perhaps because, deep down, she trusted Song Qi more than anyone. If he’d arrived sooner, more might have survived.

But now, the battlefield was littered with corpses. Only seven or eight “Cats” remained.

“Sixth Sister, calm down…” Bai Jiu pleaded. “Seventh Brother must’ve had a good reason…”

Song Qi stayed silent, offering no explanation.

Qian Wu frowned slightly, then glanced at Ma Shi Er, who had arrived with Song Qi.

His expression was just as grim. Knowing those two, whatever delayed them must have been more critical than their comrades’ lives.

“Enough,” Qian Wu said. “If Seventh doesn’t want to explain, we shouldn’t press him.”

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

“Check on Shi Jiu… Our mission is done…” Qian Wu ordered.

Song Qi hesitated, glancing at his watch as if debating something, then swallowed his words.

Ma Shi Er seemed to understand. He exchanged a look with Liu Er Shi Yi, and the two moved toward Yun Shi Jiu beside Zhu Que.

The “Cats” were seasoned fighters. Even as they advanced, their eyes remained fixed on Zhu Que—no one could be sure he was truly dead.

When they reached Yun Shi Jiu, Liu Er Shi Yi checked his pulse and confirmed he was alive. Together, they hauled him up and carried him back, step by step, away from Zhu Que.

Then Ma Shi Er looked up at Song Qi, his lips barely moving as he mouthed two words:

“Goodbye.”

Song Qi nodded and steeled himself.

*Who… is it?*

Ma Shi Er and Liu Er Shi Yi were supporting Yun Shi Jiu between them. That meant the target had to be one of the three.

First Zhu Que, now Yun Shi Jiu. Who was next?

Zhu Que was placing his bets—selecting the most suitable **Echo**.

Song Qi knew his chances were slim. But if they were to kill Zhu Que, this was their only shot.

Then—Ma Shi Er’s eyes glazed over, twisting into a vicious grin.

His mouth parted slightly, revealing a sinister gleam deep in his throat.

“Damn it…” Song Qi muttered. “Just as planned.”

Before anyone could react, Ma Shi Er unleashed **”Displacement”** with terrifying precision. With a flick of his wrists, Yun Shi Jiu and Liu Er Shi Yi were hurled like bullets straight at the group.

Song Qi and Qian Wu stood shoulder to shoulder, letting their comrades fly past them—only to crash into those behind. Bones cracked. Screams erupted. Neither of them turned to look.

No one could block an attack that fast. Even if it had been aimed at them, they’d have been powerless.

But Zhu Que, ever the cat toying with mice, never struck the leaders first. That flaw would be his downfall.

“Seventh,” Qian Wu murmured. “Was this what you went to handle earlier?”

“More or less,” Song Qi confirmed.