Chapter 641 – The Signal to Death
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After connecting with Number 0, Luo Yulong’s search range and intensity both increased significantly.
It was like flipping a switch, bringing a subtle connection that had always existed into the open.
However, for Luo Yulong, it felt more like he had personally opened the door and invited a neighbor—who had been spying with binoculars from across the street—into his home, only to experience the sensation of being “spied upon” right under their nose. What’s more, his consumption of Mental power had begun to surge.
The special abilities Luo Yulong possessed had always been a heavy drain on his Mental power. Now, with external forces intervening and his Mental Sphere being stimulated forcefully, he realized that the previous consumption was nothing but energy-saving mode in comparison.
Now, he was forced to go full throttle, his Mental power being depleted rapidly like ammunition whizzing away.
So, although he was met with mockery as soon as he opened his mouth, Luo Yulong didn’t retort. Instead, he nodded with a pained expression, “I really can’t hold on for too long, this place is so big, I…”
“Don’t stop until you find it,” Ai Feng interrupted him expressionlessly.
His Scarface seemed particularly menacing at that moment. Luo Yulong opened his mouth to speak, but ultimately, he accepted the reality with a look of grievance.
“I understand…” If he couldn’t find the person, he would be drained dry and then turn into an idiot…
This realization made Luo Yulong clench his teeth immediately, his expression suddenly turning somewhat fierce.
“Is Boss doing…”
“Enough,” Ai Feng cut him off.
Ai Feng’s att.i.tude clearly affected the others. They murmured among themselves in hushed, uneasy tones.
It seemed that this matter was indeed a matter of life and death for Ai Feng…
But if Ai Feng was having a hard time, they could not expect a good end either. Thus, it was better to exert all their effort and try to make a notable contribution…
In silence, everyone stopped talking, while Luo Yulong hurriedly searched upward along the path where the corpse had rolled down.
Meanwhile, the search party that had been dispatched earlier was still being picked off one by one.
As Ai Feng and his group continued on their way, they encountered several more corpses. Ai Feng squatted down with a grim expression to confirm their ident.i.ties, then said coldly, “Continue! Their ambush tactics will only make them slip up faster.”
However, after searching through three floors and watching his Mental power rapidly deplete with nothing to show for it, Luo Yulong, under tremendous pressure, quickly became anxious.
“Are we being led around by following these corpses?” Luo Yulong asked cautiously.
Ai Feng had also realized this, but the more he thought about it, the angrier he became.
How audacious did this person have to be to do this on his turf?
Seeing that Ai Feng was silent, Luo Yulong sheepishly nodded and looked around again.
Just as he was getting increasingly frantic, he suddenly caught an unusual signal.
It was brief, but to Luo Yulong, it was a cause for celebration.
He immediately ran forward a distance and captured the signal again: “I’ve sensed it!”
Luo Yulong gazed straight ahead, his voice lowered with excitement as he exclaimed, “The signal is strong, Number 0’s reaction is intense! That’s got to be the target!”
If not, he felt he might actually go insane…
“A reaction from Number 0?” Ai Feng was momentarily stunned, then nodded, “It’s most likely him! Chase after him quickly, we can’t let him get away again!”
To Ai Feng, anything that could trigger a reaction from Number 0 was surely the one that had attacked it before.
As for Mu Chen and the others, even if they were still alive, Number 0 had not sensed them since they entered Dongming City.
This situation could only mean that the Mental connection between them and Number 0 no longer existed.
“Not good! The target has noticed us and is moving!” Luo Yulong’s gaze drifted to the ceiling.
He was anxious too; it had been hard enough to find the target, and now they were actually on the run!
“So sharp? Then it must be him,” Ai Feng asked more excitedly, “Is there anyone else?”
“Yes, but it’s very weak, and there’s only one person, at a distance from the target,” Luo Yulong quickly added, “Should we have someone…”
While speaking, Luo Yulong made a downward cutting motion with his hand.
“I need to think,” Ai Feng frowned, then dismissed the idea, “No need to worry about him, we can’t spread ourselves thin. Caution is paramount.”
“Boss always thinks things through,” Luo Yulong quickly said with a smile.
The floor above was also part of the mall and was quite s.p.a.cious, with a large amount of furniture on display.
The group silently entered through the entrance, with several pairs of eyes vigilantly searching among the various shapes of dark shadows.
One of them had only taken a few steps when he caught sight of a figure out of the corner of his eye. He turned around tensely, only to find that it was just a floor lamp standing there.
“Luo Yulong, where exactly is he?” Ai Feng whispered, holding a knife.
The mall was so empty and quiet that even the sound of a heartbeat could be heard clearly. When Ai Feng spoke, everyone felt that someone might jump out of the darkness at any moment.
“There’s nothing I can do; there’s Mental interference here. The other party is prepared… and he’s constantly moving,” Luo Yulong said after sensing for a moment.
Another was still hiding in a different direction, like a timid mouse.
After thinking it over, Luo Yulong decided to disregard that individual. Just a pest; they might not even be aware they had company.
“Being prepared isn’t scary, but this place is indeed too big. Luckily, there are no part.i.tions… he’s really asking for trouble,” Ai Feng sneered, leaving one person at the entrance before waving his hand to the others.
He gestured with his hands, holding the knife and moving slowly forward.
The rest split into two groups, approaching from the left and right aisles. Although the furniture in between hindered their line of sight, it provided enough cover to rea.s.sure the group.
As long as they spotted the target, even if it was just for a second, the others could arrive in time.
And they were confident they could hold on for that second.
After all, with Luo Yulong following behind, it was impossible for the target to approach them silently.
“Come out, you can’t hide for long,” Ai Feng thought to himself, carefully reaching out to open a wardrobe.
It was pitch-dark inside, empty.
“He’s still ahead,” Luo Yulong immediately nodded when Ai Feng turned to look at him.
“Better be careful, this guy is definitely cunning…” Ai Feng thought warily, continuing to move forward with light steps, inching ahead.
Luo Yulong, following at the rear, actually seemed quite excited.
This time, he was surely going to be credited with a major achievement.
Not only would Ai Feng reward him, but headquarters might also show their appreciation.
So many had come in, yet the most useful turned out to be him.
“It’s tough to find, but didn’t I catch him in the end?” Luo Yulong thought proudly, unable to suppress a sly smile.
However, just as he got distracted, the “signal” from the other party suddenly intensified.
“What the…”
Before Luo Yulong could concentrate, he suddenly grabbed his throat with his mouth open, his body jerked backward, and he disappeared into the darkness in an instant.
“Haven’t found the exact location yet?”
Ai Feng turned around with a frown and asked.
But upon turning, he was stunned: “Where’s Luo Yulong?”
They were only a few meters apart; when did Luo Yulong vanish?!
Ai Feng, with knife in hand, looked around with wide eyes, filled with shock.
It couldn’t be possible that the man had just run off; could he have been attacked right under his nose?
Thinking about it, his attention had indeed been focused on searching, but Luo Yulong was a mental ability user; he wouldn’t fail to notice someone approaching…
Even if it were an Enhancement type with excellent skills, approaching him would surely be detected, especially since he was in a state of full ability search.
Unless the attacker was also a strong mental ability user…
But that was impossible! The only one was firmly locked on by him!
“Luo Yulong!”
Ai Feng called out in a low voice, but there was only darkness around him, no response.
“Playing games with me? I don’t believe you can really slip through my fingers!” Ai Feng muttered, turning his gaze to the side.
They really shouldn’t have split up. Now, when regathering, he’d turn every stone to find him!
But just as Ai Feng reached another aisle, he was stunned once again.
A team member was standing there, motionless among several cabinets, staring at him with a face full of horror.
“No… gone. He was just behind me.” The member pointed behind himself as he spoke.
Just less than ten meters apart, another member had disappeared.
Ai Feng’s expression turned extremely grave as he suddenly realized the opponent’s strategy.
The enemy didn’t intend to confront him head-on but was planning to whittle his team away bit by bit.
“It’s okay, don’t panic. They are outnumbered, and there’s only one of them capable of these sneak attacks…” Ai Feng took a deep breath and said.
However, before he could finish, a sudden clang echoed from within the mall.
Ai Feng and the member both turned their heads toward the source of the noise and immediately gave chase.
Two more people emerged from another pa.s.sage, also heading toward the sound.
“Over there!”
Ai Feng caught a glimpse of a shadow and instantly his face lit up with excitement.
This person had been hiding all along and had launched two successive sneak attacks, finally making a slip.
A mental ability user is nothing but trash once entangled.
With this thought, Ai Feng’s speed increased significantly.
The other three members also rushed forward rapidly, although one lagged a step behind.
But it was this slight delay that made all the difference. As he charged forward, his eyes suddenly bulged, and then his body swayed and vanished among the furniture.
The moment he disappeared, Ai Feng sensed something was off.
He immediately halted and turned his head slowly, sweating profusely.
With just one glance, a chill shot from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.