Chapter 1184: Information Gap
Yan Zhichun paused slightly upon receiving Zhou Mo's telepathic message, then stood up and looked out the bookstore window.
Two people in black leather jackets were already standing far in the distance.
With a hint of concern, Yan Zhichun walked out the door and quickly approached the leader.
"Song Qi?" Yan Zhichun asked.
"It's me," the man replied. "Behind me is Ma Shi'er."
Yan Zhichun nodded. "The target has appeared at the Earth Pig location. Hurry, don't wait for the signal."
"Earth Pig..." Song Qi quickly scanned the map in his mind, immediately furrowing his brow. "Damn... the distance is... too far..."
"We guessed wrong," Yan Zhichun said. "Vermilion Bird doesn't know I'm the 'King,' so he didn't descend here. But once Zhou Mo dies, the entire information chain will be broken."
"I'll go right now," Song Qi said seriously. "I hope Fifth Brother can get there before me."
Song Qi gave Yan Zhichun a slight nod, then turned and immediately left with Ma Shi'er.
Jiang Ruoxue, after receiving the information, also ran out the door as quickly as possible and found Bai Jiu standing nearby, awaiting orders.
"Little Jiu'er!"
"Sister Ruoxue!" Bai Jiu waved.
"He's at Zhou Mo's location!" Jiang Ruoxue said. "It seems to be Earth Pig, but I'm not sure of the exact position. Contact them quickly, don't just wait here!"
"Oh! Okay!" Bai Jiu nodded. "It doesn't seem far. Sixth Sister should send a signal."
"Don't wait for the signal!" Jiang Ruoxue said. "Start running! Our Jiu'er's the best, go!"
Bai Jiu rolled her eyes lightly. "Sister Ruoxue, I just look small, I'm not a child."
"Jiu'er is great! Jiu'er, run!"
"Alright, alright..."
...
Before the smoke from the signal flare in Zhou Mo's hand could begin to rise, Vermilion Bird had already flickered into view.
"What are you doing?"
The many "Supreme Path Walkers" behind Zhou Mo wanted to rush forward, but he held up his hand to stop them.
Vermilion Bird smiled and grasped Zhou Mo's hand, gently moving his thumb to block the smoke vent of the signal flare.
His movements were so fast that neither Zhou Mo nor Earth Pig could react in time. After all, the oppressive presence of a "Divine Beast" was always like this.
They were like real cats, toying with a dying mouse.
"Tsk, can't I set off some fireworks?" Zhou Mo steadied himself and said.
"No, you can't." Vermilion Bird smiled, then looked at Earth Pig. "It's already time to board the train. Why haven't you left?"
Earth Pig swallowed slightly and replied, "I have something to deal with today. I wanted to stay a bit longer."
"How strange..." Vermilion Bird looked into the distance. "It seems many 'Participants' are gathered at the doors of various 'Zodiacs.' What are you planning to do?"
"Vermilion Bird," Earth Pig interrupted before Zhou Mo could respond, speaking decisively. "I'm the one breaking the rules this time. What's the point of bothering the 'Participants'?"
"Oh...?"
Vermilion Bird looked at Earth Pig, then squeezed hard. The signal flare in Zhou Mo's hand had already fizzled out, only emitting a small amount of smoke that couldn't rise and just lingered near the ground.
Zhou Mo grew a bit anxious seeing this, but because the prison's supply of signal flares was limited, each "Cat" squad could only carry one.
The most fatal problem was that after the "Cats" killed Black Tortoise, they had split into seven squads. Apart from his own direction, each other squad was following a different group of "Supreme Path Walkers."
In a short time, the combat power at his side was only the six or seven "Supreme Path Walkers" behind him. Now that he couldn't send a location, how was he supposed to gather all the "Cats"?
"How unusual, Little Pig," Vermilion Bird said. "Whenever a 'Zodiac' breaks the rules, their first words to me are always 'I'm innocent.' But you're taking the blame yourself. What are you planning?"
"I already decided when I found out I couldn't ascend to 'Heavenly Pig,'" Earth Pig replied. "Since it's a dead end no matter what, I might as well die gloriously. At least that way, I'll honor the bonds with my companions."
Seeing the two of them start talking, Zhou Mo turned and gave Liu Ershiyi a meaningful look. Liu Ershiyi thought for a moment and nodded.
"Die...?" Vermilion Bird still didn't seem to understand Earth Pig's meaning. "Why would you die?"
"Because today, I'm going to let these 'Participants' enter my door," Earth Pig said. "Isn't that reason enough for me to die?"
"You're young... but your tone is arrogant." Vermilion Bird frowned slightly. Though his words were dismissive, there was a hint of confusion in his heart.
He didn't know why the "Participants" wanted to enter the "Train."
With something this important, why hadn't Azure Dragon and Celestial Dog—both of whom had ears everywhere—heard anything?
"So, all of you are waiting by the 'Zodiacs' for them to open their doors...?" Vermilion Bird asked again.
Before Earth Pig could speak, Zhou Mo waved his hand. "Tsk, you don't need to explain too much to him. 'Rebellion' is 'rebellion.' Why does he need to ask all these questions?"
"'Rebellion'...?" Vermilion Bird grew even more confused. His feeling all day had been strange.
It was as if someone had blocked his ears, and he hadn't received any information at all.
If it was a "rule-breaking" incident, then he and Black Tortoise should have appeared together. Black Tortoise handled "Participants" who broke the rules, while he handled "Zodiacs" who broke the rules.
But now, why had only he shown up?
"Celestial Dog..." Vermilion Bird slowly looked up and directly called out Celestial Dog's name. "With something this big, Azure Dragon hasn't moved at all. Are you deaf, or is he deaf?"
Celestial Dog shuddered in his room but could only pretend not to hear anything.
"You've been acting strange today..." Azure Dragon stared at Celestial Dog. "What's happening down there?"
"Nothing much," Celestial Dog said. "A 'Zodiac' broke the rules. Vermilion Bird is handling it."
"A 'Zodiac' breaking the rules..." Azure Dragon rubbed his temples. The composure he had lost during the earlier battle with Black Tortoise hadn't fully recovered yet.
He felt like killing someone.
Anyone would do—he just wanted to slaughter.
But the "Celestial Level" beings in front of him were all useful to some extent. He needed to focus his remaining rationality as much as possible to avoid laying hands on them.
"What the hell." Vermilion Bird stared at the sky for a long time but still received no response from any "Celestial Level." "Which link is broken...?"
"At 'Earth Pig.'" Zhou Mo slowly closed her eyes and kept murmuring the same phrase. "The person is at 'Earth Pig.'"
Soon, she received several replies. Since most of the "Cats" were following "Supreme Path Walkers" and couldn't immediately confirm the "Earth Pig" location, everyone was asking for the exact coordinates.
Just as Zhou Mo was about to answer, she found Vermilion Bird standing right in front of her. He stared at her with a smile and asked, "What are you discussing?"
"Tsk..." A bead of cold sweat slowly trickled down Zhou Mo's forehead. "None of your business...?"