The atmosphere in the real world grew tense.
Fox-Face’s narrowed, foxy eyes swept over Ape-Face, and a soft, almost inaudible voice, audible only to them, echoed in the dark mental space: "Ape-Face, I’ve always thought you lacked a brain, perhaps because you never had one to begin with."
Ape-Face: "???"
"What do you mean?!" Ape-Face’s massive red pupils blazed with dangerous scarlet glints.
Fox-Face spoke softly, "Even though this is an emergency, if our little master wakes up and finds out you’ve pretty much revealed all her secrets, what do you think will happen to you?"
As soon as Fox-Face spoke, the other masks stiffened. The fury in the enraged Ape-Face's eyes dimmed as if doused by ice water.
"Fox-Face is right. Before she has fully grown, we shouldn't add to her burden. She'll only push us away more," Old-Face said slowly.
Ape-Face remained expressionless, "And you're playing the good guy again? I wonder who was the one who maliciously spoke first."
Despite the sarcasm, Ape-Face knew what needed to be done.
To Xiao Wu and the others, the masks’ conversation lasted only a few seconds. Unaware of the approaching danger, Xiao Wu and the others were still frantically racking their brains for a solution.
But Ape-Face wouldn't give them any more chances to evade.
The black ape beast hovering in the void rumbled, immediately alerting Xiao Wu and the others.
"What's going—"
The last syllable vanished into Zhu Zhuqing’s now vacant gaze.
Zhu Zhuqing, who didn't have strong mental power to begin with, was the first to be caught off guard. Ning Rongrong, who possessed a spirit bone with illusionary wisdom, and Xiao Wu, who already had spirit skills of a mental nature, also met the gaze of those eerie red pupils.
"Not good! It's Ape-Face, capable of mental control!"
By the time the alarm bells rang in their minds, it was too late.
With mental power far superior to theirs, Ape-Face completely suppressed Ning Rongrong and Xiao Wu's consciousness. The memory of Old-Face speaking was directly erased. Under this intense mental control, they obeyed Ape-Face's guidance, self-hypnotizing themselves to forget this memory, never to be recalled.
As for this blank memory—
The three rolled their eyes and fell to the ground one after another.
Seeing Xiao Wu and the others faint, Da Fei Chu felt a pang of regret. "Does this veil have to remain this way forever?"
Lucky God spoke gently, "Hasn't reality proven that a gentle strategy is more effective than using poison to combat poison? At least our little master hasn't collapsed now."
Old-Face: "Though I hate to admit it, the facts are indeed so."
Ape-Face chuckled inwardly, "Go on, spoil her."
The other masks, whose thoughts were connected, also wore forced smiles.
Fox-Face scanned his colleagues, the light in his foxy eyes flickering, "Alright, stop arguing. There's still one most critical issue."
—Tang San.
The eyes of the other masks began to emit a hazy glow.
Old-Face, who had been suspended in mid-air, suddenly vanished and the next moment slowly materialized on Tang Sui's face, covering her originally delicate features.
Tang Sui, like a puppet on strings, raised her head, the dark, aged mask on her face exposed to the air.
Gaining control of the body, Old-Face manipulated Tang Sui's body to turn her stiff neck. She looked towards the glowing blue Vast Sea Universe Cover and, from beneath the mask, her voice spoke, "Tang San, I know you can hear the commotion over here."
A layered echo of an aged, hoarse voice was added to Tang Sui's original tone, creating a dissonant, jarring effect.
"Don't worry, they're fine. They've just lost this memory."
Old-Face, controlling the person, acted like a seasoned negotiator, engaging in a protracted, unhurried conversation with Tang San from afar.
"Our little master requires a massive amount of energy to support this frail body. And you're currently in a predicament, aren't you? If you let us out, not only will our little master awaken, but it will also resolve your current urgent need. It's a win-win situation, so why refuse?"
She asked and answered herself, then suddenly feigned realization, "Could it be that you're worried we'll harm her?"
"You worry too much. We are the ones who least want anything to happen to her."
"Let's make a deal, Tang San."
...
Poison-coated hidden weapons flew out, and in the blink of an eye, several wolf bandits died from these lethal projectiles.
"Everyone, retreat towards the village entrance!"
Tang San raised his hand, and giant spikes from the Blue Silver Emperor vines erupting from the ground pierced the chests of the wolf bandits standing on that spot.
Ma Hongjun and the others, having sustained several injuries from the wolf bandits' wind blade spirit skill attacks, nodded. They retreated step by step, coordinating with Tang San's Blue Silver Emperor traps.
Dai Mubai moved his two thick, powerful tiger paws simultaneously, clamping down on a wolf bandit's gaping maw. He pushed outwards with both hands. The wolf bandit's eyes bulged, and the next moment its entire body was ripped apart from the middle like paper, organs and boiling blood splattering everywhere. Some of the blood even stained Dai Mubai's clothes.
Although Bai Chenxiang's attack power was insufficient, combined with the Zhuge Godly Crossbow and her extreme speed, she became a streak of pale purple light, zipping through the wolf bandits who had surrounded her. She pressed the mechanism in her hand, and the crossbow bolt broke through the air, its immense force carrying the wolf bandits' bodies backward.
Those pale yet resolute faces and the killing intent ignited in their eyes were the last things they saw.
With a high-altitude advantage but lacking speed, Ma Hongjun was forced to dodge the wind blades emitted from the wolf bandits' mouths, his nerves taut. He constantly monitored the battle, using his high-heat phoenix flames to incinerate the wolf bandits that leaped onto the eaves of houses, doing his best to reduce their numbers. He coordinated with Oscar to finish off the wolf bandits that charged at them.
"Entangle!"
Where Tang San, covering their rear, passed, the Blue Silver Grass on the ground grew rapidly into vines, swiftly entangling the nearest wolf bandits. The thorns on their bodies swelled, impaling the wolf bandits trapped in the center like sieves.
The four didn't stop their feet, carving out a bloody path through thorns, retreating amidst dozens of green wind blades surging behind them, heading towards the village entrance.
The ridges of the fields presented a large, open area with nowhere to hide.
The wolf bandits chasing behind Tang San and the others on all fours let out excited, sharp howls. Enraged by the continuous deaths of their companions, they charged frantically in their direction. Other companions they had called for also moved on all fours, exchanging information with roars, beginning to form a semi-encircling pursuit, using their faster beast-like speed to surround Tang San and the others.
"Awoooo—!"
Wolf roars echoed one after another, as did the numerous wolf bandits that quickly filled the cultivated fields.
Tang San and the others' path was cut off, forcing them to stop.
"Xiao San, let's fight them head-on!"
Dai Mubai eyed the enemies vigilantly, a grim killing intent in his eyes.
Tang San took a deep breath, suddenly looked up at the blood moon suspended in the sky, and roared, "I've lured them here as you said. They're about here now, why aren't you making your move!"