“Not exactly,” Qian Wu replied. “Because every one of us was already dead when we entered, so theoretically, you can only contact Saturday’s family, not her herself.”
This answer made Qi Xia and Li Shangwu frown, while Qiao Jiajin simply froze in shock.
“But isn’t that strange…?” Li Shangwu pondered before asking again. “Given the scale of the earthquake, why were we the only ones who died? Why are our families completely unharmed?”
“I don’t know,” Qian Wu answered. “And I don’t want to know. Rather than investigating why my family didn’t die, I’d rather they live well.”
“You’re right…” Li Shangwu’s mood visibly improved upon learning that his daughter Xuanxuan might still be alive. But soon, another question surfaced in his mind—
He turned to Qi Xia, hesitating to speak, but Qi Xia understood his unspoken question and sighed. “Officer Li, the fourteen-year-old me has no family.”
“You…” The words Officer Li wanted to say stuck in his throat, rendering him speechless.
Hearing their conversation, Qian Wu couldn’t help but interject, “What… Old Li, you couldn’t reach the fourteen-year-old Qi Xia?”
“No,” Officer Li nodded, his tone layered with implication. “I don’t know where the problem lies.”
“Could it be that Qi Xia has always been like this?” Qian Wu chuckled. “How much of what he tells us is true? It’s not just you—I’m from the same year as Qi Xia, and I couldn’t reach him either.”
“What?”
Both Officer Li and Qi Xia were stunned, but Qi Xia quickly regained his composure and said, “I’ve always kept to myself. It’s normal that you couldn’t reach me.”
“Kept to yourself… I remember you mentioning you had a wife, didn’t you?” Officer Li pressed.
At this, Qian Wu froze momentarily before turning to Qi Xia with a puzzled look.
A wife?
“Yes,” Qi Xia nodded solemnly. “I have a wife. I hope she’s alright.”
Though visibly confused, Qian Wu remained silent. She turned to Shijiu and asked, “Can we try again today?”
Shijiu wiped the sweat from his forehead and shook his head. “No… My ‘conviction’ is running low.”
“Then let’s call it a day,” Qian Wu nodded before addressing Qi Xia and the others. “I’d like to invite you to stay here for the night. Once Shijiu recovers tomorrow, there’s more I’d like to discuss with you.”
The three exchanged glances and found no reason to refuse.
“We have some food. Let’s eat here in the afternoon,” Qian Wu said with a smile before standing to leave.
“Wait,” Li Shangwu called out to her.
“What is it?” Qian Wu turned back.
“Do you… still recruit people into ‘Cat’?”
Hearing this, Qian Wu smiled faintly and nodded. “Of course, Officer Li. You were always meant to be one of ‘Cat.'”
“Me?”
“Like most here, you don’t actually want to leave. You just want to earn money for your daughter, right?”
“Yes… How did you know?”
“Then stay,” Qian Wu nodded. “From today onward, you’re our comrade. I can offer you a sum that will satisfy you.”
Officer Li never expected joining ‘Cat’ would be this easy—no “tests” or “interrogations” required.
“So… does this mean I can’t go by Li Shangwu anymore?” he asked.
“Correct,” Qian Wu confirmed. “That name no longer belongs to you. Starting today, you are a ‘Cat’ wandering the ‘Land of Finality.’ We are ‘Zodiacs’ without titles. We are one and the same.”
Qi Xia and Qiao Jiajin both looked at Officer Li. Though they weren’t particularly close, the thought of parting ways with him now felt unexpectedly bittersweet.
“Why the long faces?” Officer Li laughed heartily. “I’m joining ‘Cat,’ not dying. This Qian Wu—man… woman—seems decent enough. I doubt she’ll stop us from interacting, right?”
“Of course not,” Qian Wu agreed. “You’re free to move as you please. Saturday will inform you of any tasks.”
“Let’s shake on it,” Saturday said flatly, extending her hand. “From now on, remember to shake my hand after every revival. I stick close to Fifth Brother and relay his orders.”
Officer Li reached out hesitantly, their hands brushing briefly before Saturday withdrew hers.
Her lips moved slightly as she murmured something under her breath.
Suddenly, Officer Li heard her voice in his ear: “Testing, testing.”
“Li Shangwu receiving, over,” he responded instinctively.
“Tch, no need to be so formal,” Saturday waved dismissively. “Alright, as long as you can hear me.”
At this moment, Qi Xia suddenly remembered something and glanced at Zheng Yingxiong, who had been hiding behind him.
Zheng Yingxiong took a few deep breaths before whispering, “Faint… but I can still smell it. The fragrance of ‘Echo Transmission.'”
Hearing this, Qi Xia looked up at Saturday and asked, “What’s the name of your ‘Echo’?”
“Tch, ‘Echo Transmission,'” Saturday replied impatiently. “Got any bright ideas, genius? Need me to ‘transmit’ for you too?”
“No, I don’t,” Qi Xia shook his head. After three rounds of verification, it was clear that this child, Zheng Yingxiong, could accurately identify others’ ‘Echoes.’
But how?
Was this his ability?
“That kid…” Qian Wu turned slightly to glance at Zheng Yingxiong behind Qi Xia. “I didn’t ask earlier—is he with you?”
“Yes,” Qi Xia nodded. “Let’s all stay here together for now.”
“Fine,” Qian Wu agreed before turning to Song Qi. “Old Seven, arrange rooms for them.”
“Got it. There are a few rooms behind Twenty-One. I’ll settle them there for now,” Song Qi nodded.
“No, Officer Li doesn’t need to stay behind Twenty-One,” Qian Wu corrected. “Give him the room in front of mine.”
“What…?” Song Qi was stunned. “Fifth Brother, did I hear you right? The room in front of yours is…”
Saturday also frowned. “Tch, Fifth Brother, what’s the deal? Isn’t this guy ‘Li Twenty-Two’?”
“Since when did I say he’d be ‘Twenty-Two’?” Qian Wu’s gaze remained fixed on Li Shangwu. “Starting today, Officer Li is ‘Four.’ He ranks above me.”
The moment these words were spoken, everyone in the room furrowed their brows in confusion.
Four?
“Why?!” Song Qi asked, baffled. “Fifth Brother, you’ve always been the leader of ‘Cat’! What do you mean by giving him ‘Four’?!”
“You’ve misunderstood something,” Qian Wu shook her head, a complicated smile forming on her lips. “I didn’t give him ‘Four’—he gave me ‘Five.'”
This statement left everyone momentarily stunned.
“You… you mean…” Officer Li blinked, as if processing a revelation. “A long time ago… I was ‘Four’ here?”
Qian Wu nodded. Even after nearly seven years, she still remembered that offhand remark—
“You’re just Zhang San, Li Si, Qian Wu, and Saturday.”
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