# 395
**Chapter 395: Split Pursuit**
"We’ve found those two rats."
Atop the Southern Gate, a man as towering as an iron tower suddenly spoke.
"Oh?" The snake woman raised an eyebrow.
"But they were rescued by that group wearing Journey to the West masks," the man said slowly. "Bell Cranel’s pieces are almost used up."
"Doesn’t matter," the snake woman replied casually. "They’ll all die in this fog sooner or later. A bunch of River Realm ants—we can wipe them out ourselves."
"Don’t underestimate them. Two of them still haven’t revealed their full strength," the man said calmly. "And we must ensure Bell Cranel stays hidden. If it dies, this fog will disperse."
"The last piece is currently moving its main body through the fog, constantly switching positions. Nothing will go wrong," the snake woman said lazily. "So, how long are you going to let those two run wild in the fog? A mighty Infinity-level like you, scared of death? A team full of River Realm kids—surely there’s no one stronger than you?"
The man glanced at her. "Can’t hold back anymore?"
The corners of the snake woman’s mouth curled up, her bloodthirsty vertical pupils gleaming. "Since they’ve all gathered together… wouldn’t it be a waste not to wipe them all out? If they scatter again like before, it’ll take forever to track them down…"
The man frowned slightly at her words. After a moment of thought, he nodded. "You’ve got a point. Now that they’re all together, it’s a good opportunity… Can you handle it alone?"
The snake woman chuckled, lifting one of the three black cases behind her. "Of course."
The man glanced at the black case in her hand and snorted coldly. "You sure know how to pick."
"Since we borrowed them, might as well use them," she said, licking her lips with a scarlet tongue. She leapt lightly from the top of the Southern Gate and vanished into the night in an instant.
The man stood alone on the rooftop, his gaze fixed in the direction of Lin Qiye and An Qingyu. After a moment of hesitation, he let out a long sigh.
"Fine… I’ll take the risk this once."
With a wave of his hand, the two black cases behind him vanished into thin air. Then, his figure flickered and disappeared.
---
**Gusu City Center.**
"They’re moving," said the figure wearing the Tang Monk mask.
"Mm," nodded the one beside him, wearing the Sun Wukong mask.
"The snake woman went toward Baili Pangpang’s side. The man’s coming our way—he’s Infinity-level. We can’t beat him head-on," Tang Monk said calmly.
"Perfect," Sun Wukong grinned beneath his mask. "Just as planned."
The two, who had been walking leisurely, suddenly accelerated, darting away from the city center like lightning.
"Huh?"
The man leaping across rooftops paused, a flicker of confusion in his eyes.
"They’re suddenly running away from me? They know I exist—and even know my location…" His eyes narrowed.
He seemed to realize something and looked up. In the dark night sky, several bats circled overhead, hovering around him.
"A Forbidden Ruin that controls creatures… and they run the moment they see me… Looks like they really aren’t that strong."
The man sneered, his suspicions confirmed. Without further hesitation, he accelerated in pursuit.
---
**Inside the office building.**
"Special team reserve squad?" Molly asked in surprise. "I’ve never heard of that."
"Exactly why you haven’t," Baili Pangpang chuckled. "We’re a ghost squad—not even in the archives. Of course you haven’t heard of us."
Molly glanced at Cao Yuan beside him, uncertain. "Are you… Cao Yuan?"
Cao Yuan sighed and removed his mask. "Yeah. Long time no see, Molly."
"If you two are here, then Lin Qiye must be too, right?" Molly asked.
"Of course. He’s the reserve team captain—future captain of the fifth special team," Baili Pangpang grinned. "But for this mission, we split up."
Molly nodded thoughtfully. "But if you’re here to eliminate Bell Cranel, why wear masks?"
Baili Pangpang coughed awkwardly.
"Because we knew we’d be fighting you. Had to hide our faces—otherwise, once we get out of the fog, you’d come after us," he said, pointing at the three 017 squad members tied up like dumplings. "Can’t have that."
"Zheng Zheng? Wang Tian?" Molly exclaimed upon seeing the other two. "Are they okay?"
"Just unconscious."
"But…" Molly gave Baili Pangpang a strange look. "Why did you tie up Sister Zheng like… *that*?"
Baili Pangpang blinked and turned to look.
Among the three 017 squad members, only the beautiful woman from the yacht was tied differently—because Baili Pangpang had done it himself…
And honestly, under his “special technique,” she looked a little *too* enticing.
Baili Pangpang scratched his head, confused. "I tied her up. What’s wrong with that?"
"…" Molly glared at him.
She shot him a fierce look. "Follow me—and keep your masks on."
She turned, using her katana for support, and led them down the hallway into the office where Qin Kai was hiding. Baili Pangpang and the others put their masks back on and followed.
"Captain!" Molly cried as she entered, seeing Qin Kai pale and unconscious on the floor.
She stumbled forward, nearly falling, but Baili Pangpang caught her just in time.
Cao Yuan and Jialan, behind their masks, frowned and stepped forward to check his condition.
"He’s lost too much blood. His injuries are severe," Cao Yuan said grimly. "He won’t last long in this fog. We need to get him out *now*."
Jialan stared at the unconscious Qin Kai, then gently grabbed his wrist. A soft white light flowed into his body.
"You transferred [Immortality] to him?" Cao Yuan asked, surprised as Qin Kai’s pulse stabilized. "Will it heal him?"
Jialan shook her head.
[Immortality] only preserved his current state—it couldn’t heal injuries. It would prevent his condition from worsening, but not cure him.