Chapter 1172: So Many Death Gates?
In the midst of the massive chaos, the "Jidao" members began to infiltrate the crowd smoothly.
The organization of over a hundred people had already lost nearly half its members in the previous mission to destroy the giant bell, and most of the remaining members were injured.
Fortunately, the eight team leaders that Yan Zhichun had appointed earlier were still alive, and the "Jidao" split into eight teams moving in different directions.
Still shaken by what had happened, Yan Zhichun led seven or eight people behind her, moving forward disguised as rioters. They finally reached their destination before dusk, shaken but safe.
The place she arrived at was a bookstore. Hanging eerily at the entrance was a white-spotted snake.
Those behind Yan Zhichun frowned at the sight, frozen in fear. Without a word, Yan Zhichun bypassed the white snake and walked into the bookstore as if she hadn't seen anything.
"Mm mm mm..."
The white-spotted snake waved at Yan Zhichun, as if trying to stop her, but the noose around its neck left it unable to speak.
"Everyone, come in and rest for a bit!" Yan Zhichun turned back to the "Jidao" members behind her. "You've all worked hard traveling all this way. We've arrived."
Though hesitant at first, they relaxed upon remembering that Yan Zhichun was the "Jidao King's" daughter and filed into the bookstore to sit down.
Seeing Yan Zhichun make herself at home in the bookstore, the white snake grew displeased.
He quickly tried to untie the rope around his neck, but having just been hanged, the rope was pulled tight. After struggling for a long time without success, the others could only watch through the glass as the strange "Zodiac" flailed about, unable to tell what he was doing.
"Uh..." one "Jidao" member spoke to Yan Zhichun. "Sis... shouldn't we do something about that 'Zodiac'? Looks like he's about to die."
"No need." Yan Zhichun shook her head, then raised her voice to shout outside the door. "White Snake, don't rush. Take your time hanging. We're not in a hurry to leave."
White Snake kicked his legs in the air, looking extremely anxious.
"Mm mm mm..."
Regardless of whether they were in a hurry to leave, this was White Snake's own "game venue" after all. There was no way "participants" should just waltz in and sit down.
Finally managing to untie the rope around his neck, White Snake stumbled to the ground, coughed harshly a few times, then stood up with a disgusted expression and entered the bookstore.
"What the hell do you think you're doing, damn girl?" White Snake rubbed his neck and cursed. "Who barges into someone's house while they're hanging themselves and just makes themselves at home? All of you, get out and come back in properly."
"Oh, sorry. It's really dangerous outside." Yan Zhichun smiled. "It's safer if we come in early."
"That's still way too much," White Snake said. "This is a legitimate venue, not some shelter. If you came alone, fine, but bringing this many people won't work. I need to charge admission."
"Admission?" Yan Zhichun paused. "I don't think that's necessary... considering the situation we're at now."
"'This' situation?" White Snake raised an eyebrow. "What situation is 'this' situation? Don't try to pull a fast one on me, damn girl. Business is business. If these people won't pay admission, then find some way to join the club. I'm short on members."
Hearing this, Yan Zhichun hesitated slightly. She felt that White Snake's attitude was strange.
It was as if... he had no idea about the plan at all.
"White Snake..." Yan Zhichun slowly stood up, walked over to him, and asked quietly, "Do you know why we're here?"
"Why?" White Snake asked, confused. "Do you need counseling again, damn girl? Let me tell you now, last time was a free session. If you want another one this time, you'll have to join the club."
Yan Zhichun frowned, sensing something was wrong.
Could it be that White Snake had no idea what was happening?
It seemed there was a disconnect in the plan at White Snake's end. Even the "Jidao" members knew that after destroying the giant bell, they needed to evacuate through the positions of eight "Zodiacs," but the person meant to evacuate them didn't know...
Was White Snake never part of the "rebellion plan" at all?
A feeling of unease began to spread through Yan Zhichun's heart. She had a vague sense that she might have chosen a "Death Gate."
...
"What are you playing dumb for?" Jiang Ruoxue stood with her hands on her hips, glaring at the fat ground monkey in front of her.
She had led her group to this casino, thinking they would find shelter, but the ground monkey seemed completely unconcerned about their lives and even looked confused at their arrival.
To make matters worse, Jiang Ruoxue's group was larger than the others, with over a dozen people.
"Playing dumb where?" The ground monkey sat behind the casino counter, legs propped up on the table, a cigarette dangling from his mouth, looking lazy. "I really have no idea why all of you are here. If you're looking to smash, loot, and burn, I suggest you find another place. Robbing my casino is basically a death sentence."
"You!" Jiang Ruoxue stepped forward, looking furious. "I don't know what kind of person you are, but joking like this at a time like this is too much... We risked our lives to get here!"
"Risked your lives?" The ground monkey lazily glanced up. "With all due respect... even if you lose your lives, what does that have to do with me, a law-abiding 'Zodiac'?"
"You heartless old fatso..." Jiang Ruoxue muttered under her breath.
"Huh...?" The ground monkey seemed clearly annoyed. "What kind of talk is that? I'm just doing my job here. Did I provoke you?"
Jiang Ruoxue stepped forward and whispered to the ground monkey, "The people behind me are all 'our people.' No need to keep up the act!"
"What the hell..." The ground monkey frowned, tossing his cigarette into a cup of instant noodles. "Who the hell is 'our people' with you lot... Can't you see I'm a monkey?"
"Damn..." Jiang Ruoxue murmured. "What kind of twisted 'karma' is this... Could it be that I've found a 'Death Gate'?"
"You people are really strange." The ground monkey slowly stood up. "You've been saying nonsense since you walked in. If you're not here to play games, then please don't waste my time doing business. The casino just opened today. Everyone needs to pay an entrance fee. Luck and fortune to you all—may you come and go with wealth."
Jiang Ruoxue's face turned pale as she began to assess the situation. Unfortunately, Zhou Mo still hadn't contacted her, and she couldn't initiate a "telepathic message" on her own.
...
Old Sun led the five people behind him to the location marked "Chen Long" on the map and was instantly dumbfounded.
It was just an empty plot of land. There was no "Zodiac" anywhere.
"Old Sun... why did you bring us here?"
Standing in the empty space, Old Sun looked around blankly, feeling like something had gone wrong with the plan.