Chapter 1232: Wild Cat

Chu Tianqiu, Qiao Jiajin, and Zhang Shan had almost completely intimidated all the nearby Sheng Xiao and Can Yu Zhe.

Not only did the Sheng Xiao not dare to approach for trouble, but even the Can Yu Zhe retreated far away.

They had originally planned to take Qian Wu with them, but Qian Wu's complexion suggested he could no longer support continuing the action.

"Qian Wu Zi."

Qiao Jiajin checked Qian Wu's condition. "What are you going to do? Are you going to get off with those people?"

"No..."

Qian Wu waved his hand and shifted his body backward in Di Gou's room, leaning against the wall in the corner to sit down. "'Cat's' tasks are all complete, and mine are only nine-tenths done... Just give me a little more time."

"What kind of joke are you making?"

Qiao Jiajin frowned. "Do you think I want to save you because your tasks aren't finished?"

"I know what you mean..."

Qian Wu gave a bitter smile, pulling out the cigarette that Di Gou had just given him and lighting it with a lighter. "But I really can't go on... I might need a long rest..."

After hearing this, Chu Tianqiu slowly crouched down, staring at Qian Wu's weakened face. "I thought your tasks were all done..."

"Yeah... Basically, they're just about finished."

Qian Wu smiled bitterly again. He looked too exhausted to remove the cigarette from his mouth, so it just hung at the corner, slowly emitting smoke.

"So, what task do you have left?"

Chu Tianqiu asked. "With your body in this state... Can you even complete that last one?"

"Yeah, yeah."

Qiao Jiajin nodded. "Qian Wu Zi, is the final task tough?"

"It's hard for me to describe the difficulty..."

Qian Wu shook his head. "Because I have to 'stay alive'."

"'Stay alive'..."

Chu Tianqiu furrowed his brow. "Is that your last task?"

"Yes."

Qian Wu nodded, his consciousness already starting to blur. "I have to stay alive until the final moment. So, until then, I won't know if I can complete my task..."

Qiao Jiajin looked at Qian Wu's weakened state, not knowing what to say, and tentatively asked, "Do you really not need someone to stay with you?"

"It's fine."

Qian Wu laughed. "Even if I really die... It won't make any difference... It's just that a group of stray cats will disappear from the world..."

"A group of stray cats?"

"Yeah..."

Qian Wu slowly lowered his head, his bangs falling over his eyes. "Would normal people notice if the stray cats on the street disappeared?"

Chu Tianqiu sighed. "Someone would remember them."

"Yes..."

Qian Wu said softly. "I remember. I remember the patterns and scars on every stray cat... I remember their angry cries and their movements when they fight—I remember it all."

The people around him felt a thick wave of sorrow emanating from Qian Wu, even though his face showed no expression.

"Stray cats have bad tempers and don't win over humans easily..."

Qian Wu continued. "But if you feed them with cat food, they'll treat you as one of their own. They'll stand on high walls in the city's corners, watching proudly for your arrival. If I don't remember them, no one will..."

"Qian Wu."

Chu Tianqiu said, "You need to stay alert. Your condition isn't good right now."

"I'm very alert..."

Qian Wu's lips moved slightly, and ash from the cigarette fell onto his leather jacket. "I want to stay alert and lead a group of stray cats to the end. I won't die."

Qiao Jiajin glanced at Chu Tianqiu, and the two of them sensed that Qian Wu's situation was dire. If they all left, the surrounding Ren Ji might rush in and kill him.

But what should they do now?

A faint sound of soft-soled shoes began echoing behind them, as if someone from the Sheng Xiao had pushed through the crowd and approached.

Qiao Jiajin turned to look. The newcomer was a Ren She with a very tattered mask.

"I say..."

He paused. "You punk..."

This Ren She was Qiao Jiajin's first impression of this strange place. Though there was no major grudge, there wasn't much goodwill either.

"Oh? How did you get so tall?"

Ren She stared at Qiao Jiajin without a care. "How interesting?"

"What are you doing here, you punk?"

Qiao Jiajin finished speaking and paused. "...Oh, right, this seems to be your territory—we're the outsiders..."

"Hand the person over to me."

Ren She gestured toward Qian Wu with his chin. "I can take him to my room for shelter."

Zhang Shan and Qiao Jiajin naturally turned their gazes to Chu Tianqiu, as they couldn't tell if the newcomer was friend or foe—they still relied on Chu Tianqiu's judgment.

Chu Tianqiu narrowed his eyes, as if searching his memory. "Ren She—could you be the 'helper' in the Qi Xia game area?"

"None other than myself."

Ren She nodded. "Can you trust me with him now?"

Chu Tianqiu hesitated for a moment, then turned to look at Di Gou.

Although he knew that anyone connected to the Qi Xia room was pre-selected, the "helper" role was quite random, and he didn't have full confidence.

Di Gou caught Chu Tianqiu's gaze and nodded slightly, whispering, "Bai Yang's student."

"Then it's fine."

Chu Tianqiu said, "But if we hand him over to you... You'll be in danger too..."

"Don't worry."

Ren She stepped forward, draping one of Qian Wu's arms over his shoulder. "On the 'Train,' I don't have many advantages, but I do have a lot of friends. Most people will give me face."

As the group watched Ren She slowly lead Qian Wu away, they regrouped and headed toward the car head.

In stark contrast to Di Gou's room was the room of another Di Gou not far away.

Although Qiao Jiajin and the others had clashed fiercely with numerous Sheng Xiao, this other Di Gou remained lazily sprawled on his sofa.

Xiao Xiao, Lin Geng, and Zheng Yingxiong were like ants on a hot pan.

They felt that all sorts of actions had already started outside, so why was this Di Gou still not moving?

Xiao Xiao paced back and forth anxiously, feeling her agitation building to the point of explosion, but she couldn't directly confront a Di Ji. If only she had known, she might have taken Lin Geng and Zheng Yingxiong to act on their own—it would be better than waiting here in agony.

She glanced at Zheng Yingxiong and saw the child standing silently beside Di Gou, staring at him, but Di Gou had a thick skin and remained lounging on the sofa, unfazed by the intense gaze.

Lin Geng, meanwhile, sat in another corner of the room, head down, muttering to herself.

Behind Di Gou's sofa lay Han Yimo, who had long since lost consciousness.

Xiao Xiao looked at the other Ji Dao members and found that everyone had lost their morale, just spacing out in various corners.

She felt like she was leading the most unreliable team.