The naked little boy looked around excitedly, then grinned as drool dripped from his mouth: “Hehe… something’s about to go down…”
“Tianma, tell me, did I hear wrong?” Qian Wu took a slow step forward. “You know what happens if I lose my temper—enough to leave one of you two here.”
Every member of Team Cat glared coldly at the two before them, ready to strike at any moment.
“Ah, Xiao Qian, I was just joking,” Tianma said with a laugh. “I know what you’re capable of. Why would I be so reckless?”
“Good that you know, Tianma.” Qian Wu waved his hand, and the people in the hallway slowly retreated back into their cells.
“But this old lady’s memory isn’t what it used to be…” Tianma chuckled. “What was it again that you ‘Cats’ wanted as payment?”
“Cold, hard cash,” Qian Wu replied. “Give our real-world families real money, and we’ll sell our lives for you.”
“I see…” Tianma narrowed her eyes slightly, her wrinkles deepening. “So what you ‘Cats’ need… is for participants to wire money back to your families in the real world?”
“Exactly.” Qian Wu nodded. “Right now, Team Cat spans four decades in time. We can receive payments from people in every era. Though our time is frozen, our families aren’t. Once they get the money, they’ll have a better future.”
He gave Tianma and Tianhu another glance, his tone dripping with disdain. “But you ‘Zodiacs’ can’t leave. How do you plan to do business with us?”
“So that’s how it is…” Tianma mused. “This really puts us ‘Zodiacs’ at a disadvantage…”
“Then we can’t entertain you today. My apologies.” Qian Wu turned to two men nearby. “Old Six, Old Seven, see them out.”
A man and a woman in the distance nodded and walked over slowly.
“Sorry, you two,” Song Qi gestured, signaling them to leave. “Fifth Brother’s orders. Please.”
“Please,” the woman echoed, extending her hand.
Tianma sighed softly. “Xiao Qian, I really have no choice. If you refuse to help… we might have to spill blood here today.”
“What…?” Qian Wu’s expression darkened. “Tianma, my ears must be failing me again. Did you just threaten us? Team Cat isn’t some pushover. Do you really want to fight here?”
Tianma smiled faintly, then suddenly thrust her hand forward, piercing straight through Liu Ershi-yi’s chest.
A sickening squelch echoed as blood sprayed, droplets staining everyone’s faces.
Liu Ershi-yi coughed up blood, then his eyes sharpened. With a swift motion, wooden rods shot up around Tianma and Tianhu, trapping them in a cage of splintered wood.
After sealing their movements, Liu Ershi-yi slowly closed his eyes.
Tianma withdrew her hand and shoved him to the ground. She looked up—Qian Wu, Song Qi, Luo Shi-yi, and the others stood unmoved, as if losing a teammate meant nothing to them.
Qian Wu wiped the blood from his face, his expression darkening. “Tianma… you’ve got some nerve. As one of the ‘Celestials,’ you just slaughter participants like that?”
Tianma and Tianhu exchanged a glance, then slashed through the wooden rods binding them.
“Yeah, I killed him. What about it?”
Qian Wu sneered. A distant bell tolled, and he lunged forward, grasping for Tianma’s arm.
Tianma sensed danger and stepped back, shoving Tianhu in front of her—right into Qian Wu’s reach.
Tianhu froze, bewildered, staring at the dwarf who stood at his height.
Tianma sighed in resignation. “‘Twin Flowers’ Qian Wu… still as hot-tempered as ever. What if someone really dies here?”
“Hah!” Qian Wu barked a laugh. “How rich! You kill my brother, then act like you’re worried about casualties?”
“Xiao Qian… I truly have no choice…” Tianma forced a smile. “Tianlong has given all ‘Celestials’ the authority to kill any participant at will. If we can’t find that person, we can even trigger a ‘Celestial’-level game. So even if you fight us, it doesn’t matter—you have to take this job.”
Qian Wu’s tone finally softened.
“You’re saying… all current ‘Celestials’ have been mobilized…?” He frowned in disbelief. “Just how serious is this?”
“I don’t know,” Tianma said, shaking her head with a smile. “All I know is Tianlong wants us to find a special ‘Echo.’ If we fail… we’re all doomed.”
Qian Wu weighed the stakes. Tianma seemed desperate. Today was the first day of the cycle—too few in Team Cat had awakened their ‘Echoes.’ If they fought now, they might take down a ‘Celestial,’ but the casualties would be devastating.
“Tianma, first tell me—what exactly is this ‘business’ you’re proposing?”
“I told you—finding someone.” Tianma repeated. “Six days ago, someone triggered a powerful ‘Echo.’ We need that person. But the ‘Echo’ appeared at night—none of the ‘Zodiacs’ saw them. To complete our mission quickly, we need ‘participants.’”
“Six nights ago…?” Qian Wu stiffened, glancing back at Song Qi.
That was the night Team Cat had been wiped out.
“That massive ‘Echo’… I need you to find that person by any means necessary.” Tianma’s expression turned grave. “Otherwise, all ‘Celestials’ will face punishment—and I won’t let you off easy either.”
“But business isn’t done this way.” Qian Wu glanced at Liu Ershi-yi’s corpse and smirked. “You kill my brother, then demand my help? You’re leaving something behind today.”
“Then what do you want…?” Tianma frowned. “I can’t pay you, so name another condition. This old lady will do her best.”
Qian Wu released Tianhu and grinned. “Tianma, I want a ‘favor.’ If I ever need you, you’ll help me once.”
Tianma’s wrinkles deepened as she rubbed her back.
“In this ‘Land of the End,’ owing Qian Wu a favor is no small thing.” She hesitated. “This price is too steep…”
“Don’t worry. You know Team Cat doesn’t want trouble—or to leave.” Qian Wu smiled. “Deal?”
He extended his right hand, but Tianma didn’t take it.
Her eyes flickered before she nodded. “Fine. Help me find the ‘Echo,’ and I’ll do one thing for you… but if it’s too dangerous, I refuse.”
“Agreed.” Qian Wu nodded and withdrew his hand.
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