Chapter 1253: A Lifeline
Seeing the battle between Black Sheep and Longhorn Beetle reach a fever pitch, Swallow Knowing Spring withdrew her anxious gaze and turned her attention to the "Ant" before her.
When she saw that after she wrote the words "kill the Longhorn Beetle," the "Ant" grabbed her hand and began replying, she felt his writing was slow and abstract. Swallow Knowing Spring didn't dare divide her attention and could only wait quietly.
Soon enough, the "Ant" finished writing and patted Swallow Knowing Spring's palm. She quickly pieced together the crooked radicals in her mind and instantly felt something was off.
The four characters read—
"Who is Longhorn Beetle?"
"You..." Swallow Knowing Spring froze, sensing that the situation had taken an eerie turn.
She wanted to explain, but then realized the other party couldn't hear her at all. Yet transferring all of this through writing on the palm to this "Ant"... wouldn't that be far too cumbersome?
But why didn't this person know about the existence of Longhorn Beetle?
It was said that Longhorn Beetle was the manager of all "Ants," yet the "Ants" themselves didn't know?
Could it be because the other party had "Concealment," causing the "Ants" to be completely unaware of Longhorn Beetle's existence?
But then again, "Ants" were already deaf and blind by nature. Even if Longhorn Beetle didn't have "Concealment," what difference would it make?
"Wait..."
Swallow Knowing Spring's eyes suddenly widened as several subtle clues gradually connected in her mind.
"Weekend...!" She turned back and shouted loudly, "Weekend! Come here!"
"Tsk!!!"
A girl in a black leather jacket stood up sharply from the crowd, dozens of meters away from Swallow Knowing Spring.
"I can never figure you out! Are you bitching with an 'Ant' again?!"
"Stop with the nonsense! Hurry up!" Swallow Knowing Spring yelled.
While Weekend jogged over, Swallow Knowing Spring quickly organized her thoughts.
What was the ultimate goal of their "Liberation of the Ants"?
It was to prevent these "Ants" from searching for eyes in the "Final Land," and instead have them search for eyes on the "Train."
This way, the "Ants" would not only take the scattered "Dao" from the rooms but also swarm toward the "Celestials" carrying eyes. Thousands of "Ants" would become a surprise force, and this battle could be won.
It was precisely because everyone on the "Train" understood the severity of this matter that this "Gate" could only be opened by the most suitable person.
And that person could not reveal themselves.
Longhorn Beetle's "Concealment" destined her to be the most suitable manager of the "Ants." After all, if she appeared, the eyes on her body would be sensed by the "Ants," causing them to attack en masse. So every time she entered the "Cargo Hold," she had to activate "Concealment" in advance.
This wasn't because the "Ants" harbored rebellious intentions; it was simply the rule of survival for the "Ants."
Longhorn Beetle hadn't spoken a word, likely to avoid strengthening the "Extreme Path's" conviction. Speaking meant someone was present, and someone could be targeted. The "Extreme Path" would then attempt to use various "Echoes" to attack her.
Now she was trapped in an awkward position. She couldn't reveal herself, couldn't escape, and couldn't speak. The only way to break free was to kill everyone here.
"Wait... that's still not right..." Swallow Knowing Spring mimicked White Sheep's gesture of stroking her chin as countless clues ran through her mind. "Why can't Longhorn Beetle escape...? If she wanted to leave, she could. So why doesn't she?"
Perhaps even Longhorn Beetle herself hadn't realized that she had never appeared, never spoken a single word, and had only been attacking and killing—yet one "Participant" was about to deduce everything about her from just the four words "Who is Longhorn Beetle" written by an "Ant."
Swallow Knowing Spring closed her eyes, finished stroking her chin, then began rubbing her temples. She muttered to herself, "Swallow Knowing Spring... calm down. Brother Sheep said you're smarter than you think."
Weekend ran over to Swallow Knowing Spring at that moment, panting. "Tsk, what the hell's wrong with you, you bitch? You're in such a rush, I thought you went to battle and forgot your gun."
"Forgot my gun...?" Swallow Knowing Spring's eyes suddenly flew open. "Got it... I understand now..."
She turned to look at the spot where Black Sheep and Longhorn Beetle had been fighting, and a bold idea formed in her mind.
She couldn't leave. Was it because she was carrying something...?
She was "Concealment," so whatever she carried would also become "concealed." If she was holding that thing, she couldn't leave.
If she put that thing down, the consequences would be disastrous.
So she could only stay. So she could only kill.
So she could be hit, because while attacking, she had no way to defend.
So her attacks lacked lethal power—that thing must be very large.
"There's no 'Gate' here for the 'Ants' to leave through... which means she's probably carrying a 'Gate' on her back." Swallow Knowing Spring murmured to herself repeatedly. "It all connects now..."
"Tsk, what exactly have you connected?"
Swallow Knowing Spring turned to Weekend and said, "That old man really does have skill... There really is 'a path to victory' here..."
"Uh..." Weekend paused. "I don't get it. Maybe it's only you, this bitch, who can find that so-called path to victory here. Anyone else would just get lost."
"Oh? Are you complimenting me?" Swallow Knowing Spring asked incredulously.
"How thick-skinned are you?" Weekend said. "Tsk, just tell me already. What do you need me for?"
"Weekend! Send a telepathic message to this 'Ant'!" she said excitedly. "Your 'Telepathy' allows the other party to hear your voice as long as you touch them, right?"
"Theoretically, yes."
"So ears aren't necessary," Swallow Knowing Spring added.
"Tsk, isn't that obvious?" Weekend frowned. "I can transmit it even from kilometers away. It's not about the ears anymore."
"Then that's enough." Swallow Knowing Spring nodded. "I need you to tell this 'Ant' everything about our current situation. If he can reply, he might give us a tactic that leads to victory."
"Uh..." Weekend hesitated. "Where do I start?"
"Start with 'Who is Longhorn Beetle.'"
"Tsk, fine."
Weekend nodded, reached out and touched the "Ant," then began silently conveying the message in her mind.
The "Ant's" fear seemed even stronger than before, as if he had never realized he could still hear.
Moments later, he began nodding frequently, as if hearing extremely good news.
Weekend explained in a few short sentences that Longhorn Beetle was the manager of all "Ants," and that she, as a member of the "Extreme Path," had gathered here with many teammates to kill Longhorn Beetle and liberate the "Ants."
The "Ant's" face twitched continuously after hearing this. So much news hit him like a massive bundle of lifelines, exploding simultaneously in his mind and scattering to every corner of the sky.