Chapter 1133: Hidden Allies
Bloodshed.
Nonstop bloodshed.
The square where the giant bell once stood had gradually transformed into a living hell. Flames and blood spread in all directions, and the screams coming from everywhere nearly drowned out all conversation.
The people locked in combat on the square could be roughly divided into three categories.
The first category consisted of those solely focused on escape. Their figures darted through the crowd, unwilling to engage, thinking only of fleeing. Some even seemed led by squad-like leaders directing them in various directions, but most of these people would encounter the "Human-grade Zodiacs" at the outermost edge of the encirclement.
The second category was those solely focused on killing. They attacked all fleeing individuals indiscriminately. Regardless of whether the target was a "rebel," if they showed any sign of trying to escape, they would swarm them. If the victim could release an "Echo," they might have a sliver of a chance to survive; if not, they could only be beaten to death on the spot.
The third category comprised those who belonged to neither of the above. They had gone berserk, completely unleashing their killing instincts, locked in a fight to the death with their opponents. You couldn't tell their faction or their purpose—only their desperate will to survive.
Yan Zhichun led her group smoothly to the edge of the square. By now, she had separated from Zhou Mo, Jiang Ruoxue, Aunt Tong, Old Sun, and the others. Each squad leader had taken a small team to break out from one of eight positions.
Just as they were about to escape the square, three "Human-grade Zodiacs" blocked their path.
These three were the Sheep, the Rabbit, and the Horse. Yan Zhichun had no choice but to slow her pace, her gaze turning cautious.
Just three Human-grade Zodiacs—she could easily control them with "Heart Snatch," but she had to remember not to injure them.
After all, attacking a Human-grade Zodiac would definitely provoke the arrival of the "Vermilion Bird." If a single White Tiger had already caused countless casualties, the addition of the Vermilion Bird to the battlefield would mean certain death for everyone present.
The leading Horse-Man took a slow step forward, stared at Yan Zhichun for a moment, then scratched the neck beneath his mask, his expression rather complicated.
The two Zodiacs behind him looked on with some confusion.
The Sheep-Man hesitated, then asked, "Horse, what's wrong?"
The Rabbit-Man beside him also cast a suspicious glance at the Horse.
After a moment, the Horse-Man sidestepped, clearing the path behind him, and said, "They're here to reinforce us, not 'rebels.'"
Yan Zhichun frowned, unsure what he meant, but it seemed like they were being let through.
The situation was urgent—pursuers behind, wolves ahead. If they could leave this place without bloodshed, that would be ideal.
However, the Sheep-Man and Rabbit-Man behind the Horse didn't seem to agree with that statement.
"Reinforcements...?" the Sheep-Man asked doubtfully. "How do you know...?"
"Because before this, this woman was participating in my game," the Horse-Man said. "We set out from the game venue and got separated when we arrived here."
The Sheep-Man squinted behind his mask and stepped forward one pace at a time. He felt something was off.
Although the explanation was plausible, why would a Horse-Man lie for the "rebels"? If word got out, the consequences for him would be devastating.
For now, the only option was to test the waters.
"Hey." The Sheep-Man stared at Yan Zhichun. "I've already talked to the Horse-Man. I know what his game is. Now, if you tell me the content of his game venue, I'll let you go. Otherwise, I'll call everyone around to surround you."
The Horse-Man frowned and was about to step forward, but the Rabbit-Man pulled him back.
Yan Zhichun looked the Sheep-Man up and down, then slowly curled the corners of her mouth.
Using such a cheap deception technique on her?
She called it "deception" because there were only two possibilities: first, the Horse-Man had never mentioned his game content, and the Sheep-Man was just trying to judge from her microexpressions and words whether the Horse-Man was lying. In that case, no matter what she said about the game, the Horse-Man's position would be compromised.
Second, the Horse-Man had actually told them his game content—but there was no way Yan Zhichun could guess a reasonable answer.
So it seemed like an unsolvable problem.
But unfortunately, the gap in their cultivation was too vast.
She had spent seven years talking with that White Sheep every single day. How could she possibly lose to a mere Sheep-Man now?
"Sheep-Man, you must be insane, right?" Yan Zhichun didn't answer his question at all. Instead, she stepped forward to meet him. "The real 'rebels' are still fighting around the square. Instead of helping, you're interrogating me?"
"You..." The Sheep-Man hesitated.
Yan Zhichun used the same trick again. She reached up and ran her fingers through her hair, and at that moment, the Sheep-Man also reached up to adjust his mask.
"If I were a 'rebel,' would I stand here listening to you babble without making a move?" Yan Zhichun continued. "If I were a 'rebel,' would I be able to fabricate a lie to deceive an insignificant stranger like you without any prior communication with the Horse-Man?"
"I..."
The Sheep-Man felt that he might have indeed guessed wrong. After all, the woman's composed demeanor didn't seem like she was lying.
"Besides, have you seen how many people are behind me?" Yan Zhichun pointed at the group behind her. "Have you ever seen such obedient 'rebels' in your life? We have another mission to carry out. Don't block the way."
"You..." The Sheep-Man blinked. "All the 'rebels' are here right now... What other mission could there possibly be?"
"We're going to guard the other three bells," Yan Zhichun answered without hesitation. "If you won't help, I won't say anything. Just don't get in my way."
The Sheep-Man was taken aback, but he didn't want to admit defeat. He softened his tone and asked, "Fine... then... what's the situation inside right now?"
Yan Zhichun chuckled lightly, still not answering his question. Instead, she said, "Don't try to get the easy gains. If you want to know what's going on, go in and see for yourself."
With that, she reached out and pushed the Sheep-Man aside, then gave the Horse-Man a meaningful glance before leading her team out of sight down the street.
As she walked, she replayed the scene in her mind. She didn't know that Horse-Man—so what could have made him help her?
After a long moment of thought, Yan Zhichun arrived at the only answer.
It was that former "Supremists" had now become "Zodiacs."
They carried a dual identity—able to receive her "transmissions" while remaining safe on the periphery as Zodiacs.
The "Supremacy" had only existed for seven years, which meant that even if some Supremists had become Zodiacs, they were most likely only at the Human-grade level.
But she had no idea how many of these "Human-grade" Zodiacs there were...
If possible, she hoped that every other escaping squad would run into their own people.