MMB Chapter 176 Two people?
Chapter 176 Two people?
Chapter 176 Two people?
Tong Cheng's concerns were justified, as his injuries would be difficult to recover from in a short period of time.
Even if he has recovered somewhat, it would be difficult for him to win against the behind-the-scenes man who once appeared on his stage in his current state.
However, Tong Cheng's strength has greatly increased now. If he were in his prime, he believed that if he encountered this mastermind again as before, he would be confident that he could keep the other party on his stage.
Unlike last time, when they could only spot the other party, this time the mastermind was able to slip away unscathed.
Upon hearing Tong Cheng's words, Li Jiuhe subconsciously touched his face.
He could barely sense the dual presence of the mask and the beach, but he was certain that he was still protected by these two layers.
But as Tong Cheng said, the mastermind behind it is very powerful. As long as they catch the slightest clue, they are very likely to discover Li Jiuhe's existence again.
Luo Shuo had already gone to the bathroom in the ward to wash the blood off his face and hands. He walked out quickly and said, "Just now I tracked that guy's location in one go. Although I was backfired by his (her) ability, I also discovered a strange result."
"What was the result?" Li Jiuhe asked.
"It seems there are two people behind this, and they are currently in different places, in different cities," Luo Shuo said. "I immediately tracked them and found that both of them have the same aura, the aura of the mastermind from last time."
"Have you confirmed their exact location?" Tong Cheng asked.
Luo Shuo nodded: "I persevered for a while before finding the location, which is why I was so badly affected by the backlash just now. One of the bodies is in Xiongfeng Ridge. Minister Shao told us last time that the Guan family lives in Xiongfeng Ridge, so this person is most likely in the Guan family. The other person—is near Yuanmeng City."
"Nearby?" Li Jiuhe immediately became alert.
Luo Shuo said, "It's close to Yuanmeng City, roughly located between Yuanmeng City and the neighboring Lanfeng City."
He paused, then added, "However, this location was set a few minutes ago, so we don't know if that person has moved. According to Boss Tong, Brother Li, if he regains his awareness of your location and knows you're in Yuanmeng City, he might move closer."
Li Jiuhe sat down, his brows furrowed, and muttered to himself, "The same aura on two people?! One in Xiongfeng Ridge, and the other outside Yuanmeng City?"
The words on the death pass quickly appeared.
[I must say, your friend's tracking ability is quite useful. Even if the opponent is far stronger than him, he can still roughly pinpoint their location.]
"So, what is your identity as a friend?" Li Jiuhe immediately asked in his mind.
"We have too little information to know, of course I don't. Do you really think I'm omnipotent?"
However, I suspect this person is quite powerful, and since you're in the open while they're in the shadows, my dear collaborator, you absolutely mustn't get killed this time.
I tried my best.
[Remember, you still owe me the life of a Sequencer. Hmm, how about this? I have a feeling that the Sequence ability of this mastermind you're discussing might fit my feeding requirements. Why don't you kill this person and let me consume him? Not only will you repay the life you owe me, but I won't ask you for any more Sequencers for a while, and I might even tell you some more secrets.]
Li Jiuhe was taken aback: "So, you now know more than I do?"
I have a general understanding, but further verification is needed to confirm it. This secret is too valuable for me to reveal casually; you'll have to make a fair deal with me, won't you?
Li Jiuhe didn't speak, but glanced at his palm and then clenched his fist.
He guessed that this death pass could somehow take him to places that ordinary sequencers could never reach, so it could access many sources of information and find things that he himself might never be able to find in his entire life.
The secret mentioned in the pass might just be the secret I've been searching for.
However, he had already borrowed the life of a sequencer from the other party in advance, and he couldn't keep borrowing indefinitely. Otherwise, he would break his promise to the pass and it might lead to the termination of the cooperation between the two parties.
So for now, we can only wait and deal with the matter of the person behind the scenes before considering obtaining this secret.
After thinking it over, just in case, Li Jiuhe initiated a mission reset, returning the progress to before Luo Shuo had started tracking the mastermind.
I wonder if the person behind the scenes noticed his presence again just now?
After the reset, is it possible to block the other party's perception of him again?
After all, there were two people on the other side, and they were too far away from him. The mission was defined with time and space limitations. Although he didn't know the specific limits, Li Jiuhe guessed that it should be fine within a city. But if it went beyond the city, or if the target's abilities were too strong, then it was hard to say.
However, he had to tell Tong Cheng and the others that the mastermind had reappeared, and that they should be prepared regardless of whether the other party came looking for them.
After telling Tong Cheng the news, Tong Cheng hesitated for a moment and glanced at his phone, which was charging on the other side of the bed.
"Luo Shuo, can you check if the battery is charged yet?"
Luo Shuo walked over and glanced at it, then unplugged the charger and held it in front of Tong Cheng: "Boss, do you want to send a message or make a call? I'll help you with that."
Tong Cheng said, "Find out the phone book, find someone named Mu Nian, and call her."
Luo Shuo quickly searched for the name and soon found it. He then dialed the number and, at Tong Cheng's instruction, turned on the hands-free function.
The phone rang twice and was quickly answered, a woman's clear voice coming from the other end.
"What's wrong, bro? Why have you been disappearing these past few days? I haven't been able to contact you at all."
Tong Cheng coughed twice and laughed, "I was trapped in that place, but thankfully, I saw my teacher one last time."
"Ah! You entered the abandoned cabin and even found Teacher Xu?!" The woman sounded clearly surprised. "How are you now? You seem very weak; are you injured?"
"Yes, the injury is quite serious and I'll need some time to recover." Tong Cheng nodded. "Unfortunately, I've run into a formidable opponent, so I need your help now."
Where are you?
"Yuanmeng Central Hospital"
"I'll take the fastest flight right away."
The woman asked for some more specific information and then hung up the phone.
Luo Shuo put his phone aside and couldn't help but ask, "Boss, is this Mu Nian—"
"Yes, Mu Nian, the head of the seven top investigators at the General Bureau. Don't be fooled by her calling me 'brother,' she actually calls everyone 'brother' or 'sister,' because, according to her, it makes her seem younger."
In fact, apart from Tong Cheng, Li Jiuhe and Luo Shuo were not familiar with the other seven top investigators of the General Bureau. These people usually came and went without a trace, and they had never met most of them.
Among these seven top-level investigators, Mu Nian and Tong Cheng had the best relationship, so Tong Cheng naturally thought of asking her to come and help at this crucial moment.
Even if Mu Nian has a case to deal with, she will put everything aside and come to offer help.
Of course, if Mu Nian were in a similar situation, Tong Cheng would also choose to do the same.
"She should arrive in Yuanmeng City by tomorrow morning at the latest."
With Mu Nian's help, Tong Cheng's tone softened considerably.
However, if he hadn't been injured, he would definitely be the leader of the seven special investigators right now, since he had already absorbed Xu Huaiyuan's Nuo Mask power.
Even the sequence line has jumped from a gold line to a purple-gold line.
All seven of them were previously at the Gold Rank level, and their ranks were all at or above the High Gold Rank, except for Mu Nian, who was already at the Super Gold Rank.
At this moment, Li Yi whispered to Li Jiuhe, "Dad, is someone coming to kill you? Why would they want to kill you?"
Li Jiuhe said, "I'm also looking for the reason. It's okay, with Uncle Tong, Uncle Luo, and Aunt Mu Nian helping me, it's no use who tries to kill me."
"What about Aunt Mali?" Li Yi asked.
Tong Cheng turned his head and asked, "By the way, where's Ma Li?"
He immediately tried to communicate with the mask on Ma Li's face, but found no response.
"I can't locate her. Has the mask on her face fallen off?"
Li Jiuhe nodded: "It should have fallen, but during the time you were away, she not only helped us solve several cases, but also helped me solve the Rubik's Cube haunted house. Otherwise, we wouldn't have been able to rescue you so quickly."
Tong Cheng gave Li Jiuhe a meaningful look: "You don't need to speak up for her. This person is not human; she's on a different level of life. We can't possibly understand her intentions."
"No," Li Jiuhe explained, "She did help us a lot. But she was also afraid that you would punish her after you got out, so I believe that Ma Li was actually conflicted, but she probably wasn't intentionally avoiding you."
After saying that, he turned to look at Luo Shuo.
Luo Shuo nodded hurriedly: "Yes, Boss Tong, I can vouch for that! Ma Li has a very outgoing personality, she says what she thinks, and we've had a pleasant time getting along these past few days. If possible, please don't make things difficult for her, Boss, how about giving her her freedom?"
"Have you forgotten? She originally intended to eat all three of us together." Tong Cheng said expressionlessly. "Call her here, I want to ask her myself."
Luo Shuo and Li Jiuhe exchanged a glance.
Li Jiuhe handed Luo Shuo the hairpin that Ma Li had left in the hotel room. Luo Shuo immediately grabbed it and used his tracking ability to begin tracking Ma Li's location.
However, just a few seconds later, Luo Shuo paused and said, "Coincidentally, she is right at the hospital entrance."
"Huh?" Li Jiuhe looked surprised.
He and Luo Shuo originally thought that Ma Li was afraid of Tong Cheng and had disappeared somewhere, perhaps even left Yuanmeng City. But now Luo Shuo said that she was right at the hospital entrance.
Li Jiuhe winked at Luo Shuo, still thinking that Luo Shuo was deliberately lying to Tong Cheng.
Luo Shuo nodded slightly, his eyes indicating that this was indeed the result of his tracking of Ma Li, who was currently at the hospital entrance.
As Luo Shuo walked out, he said, "Boss, she might not know where our ward is, and she's lost her phone. I'll go get her right now."
Tong Cheng didn't say anything more, just nodded.
He was using most of his energy to heal his wounds, but the black giant hand was too powerful, and the wounds it caused were extraordinary.
Therefore, even though Tong Cheng did his best to repair his body, the process was relatively slow.
At this rate, Tong Cheng suspected that it would probably take another day before he could get out of bed and walk, three days to recover half of his injuries, and about six days to fully recover.
This was the fastest speed he could foresee.
However, if the mastermind is nearby and has already noticed Li Jiuhe, this recovery speed is obviously too slow. Once that guy appears, they will be in a very passive position.
Tong Cheng closed his eyes and pondered silently.
Li Jiuhe sat with Li Yi, waiting for Luo Shuo and Ma Li.
At the entrance of the Central Hospital.
It was 8 p.m., and the entrance was bustling with people, making it seem somewhat chaotic.
Ma Li knew that Tong Cheng had been sent to the Central Hospital, and that Li Jiuhe, Luo Shuo, and others would definitely come to the hospital as well.
So she didn't go back to the hotel, but went straight to the hospital after making her choice.
She wanted to remind Li Jiuhe that the Q card Guo Fan threw before his death had transformed into a strange and evil empress who could appear at any time and attack Li Jiuhe.
Most importantly, Li Jiuhe now also has to protect Li Yi, so the level of danger she faces when confronting the evil empress will significantly increase.
As Ma Li hurried to the door and was about to go to the information desk to ask questions, someone at the door suddenly called out to her.
Ma Li turned her head and saw a strange middle-aged man dressed in simple clothes, squatting in the corner of the flower bed on the right side of the door.
Ma Li pointed to herself: "Are you calling me?"
The man nodded, a gentle smile on his face: "It's you, young lady. Something doesn't seem right. Is something chasing you?"
Ma Li was startled. She carefully examined the strange man and asked, "How did you know?"
The man chuckled and pointed in front of him: "Miss, may I speak with you privately? Perhaps I can help you resolve this."
Ma Li immediately waved her hand: "No thanks, I don't have any money."
"No money required," the man waved his hand in response.
"Are you good at fortune telling, or—"
"You know a little bit of everything," the man interrupted her. "You can even help people overcome calamities. You now have three dark lines between your brows—"
As the man spoke, he dipped his index finger into a bowl of water placed beside his feet and then quickly drew three horizontal lines on the ground.
"This is called the 'Blue Crow Carrying a Lock' sign. One line means financial loss, two lines mean loss of spirit, and three lines... well..."
His lips moved slightly, but the sound was very soft, and Ma Li didn't hear what he said next.
"What did you say?" Ma Li asked in surprise, and subconsciously moved closer.
"Three stripes————"
The man repeated himself, but Ma Li still didn't hear him. She bent down and squatted in front of the man, bringing her head close to him and listening intently.
"Excuse me, I still didn't hear you clearly. Could you please say it again?"
Luo Shuo came down from the inpatient building and quickly passed through the general outpatient building. He didn't see Ma Li along the way.
It wasn't until we arrived at the hospital entrance and looked around that we saw Ma Li squatting alone by the flower bed not far from the entrance.
-
"Ma Li?" Luo Shuo called out to her.
Ma Li looked up and then stood up.
"You've come to the hospital, why aren't you going in? What are you doing squatting here?" Luo Shuo asked.
He observed the surroundings but found no suspicious individuals; only Ma Li was there.
Ma Li replied, "I don't know which ward you are in, and I don't have my phone with me."
Luo Shuo said irritably, "Did you deliberately throw away your phone? Are you afraid to see Boss Tong, so you've been hiding from him?"
""
Ma Li forced a smile, but instead of making excuses, she nodded generously.
"So why have you changed your mind now and aren't afraid of Boss Tong anymore?" Luo Shuo asked.
"We have to face it eventually; we can't hide from it forever," Ma Li said. "Besides, I—can't bear to leave you all."
.
She followed Luo Shuo back to the hospital building and soon arrived at Tong Cheng's ward.
"Auntie Mali!" Li Yi called out softly.
However, she also realized that the atmosphere in the ward seemed a bit off, so she didn't say anything more.
Li Jiuhe then gave Ma Li a wink, signaling her to go to Tong Cheng's bedside and explain things properly.
Tong Cheng opened his eyes and turned his head to look at Ma Li, who was standing by the bed and seemed a little reserved, with a blank expression.
"How did the mask I gave you fall off?"
Ma Li stammered, "My abilities improved, so it—it just fell off by itself. I didn't do it on purpose."
"With your foundation, how could you possibly improve so quickly?" Tong Cheng sneered. "Did you devour a Sequencer?"
Who did you swallow? Tell me honestly!
Luo Shuo and Li Jiuhe really wanted to speak up for Ma Li, but they knew Tong Cheng's temper, so it was best to let Ma Li answer for herself.
"I devoured a few, but they were all people who deserved to die. They were evil sequencers. These people almost killed Brother Li and Brother Luo." Ma Li replied quickly, "Although I also had the idea of devouring them to increase my strength, the fundamental reason was that they were enemies."
Tong Cheng stared at Ma Li with icy eyes and said nothing more.
After a moment, he looked at Li Jiuhe and asked, "Is what she said true?"
"It's true." Li Jiuhe nodded. "She devoured a junior member of the Guan family, and it was these people who ambushed and killed me. She also ate some corpse-controlling flesh, as well as food obtained in the haunted house, and finally, she ate Guo Fan from the Guo family."
"Even Guo Fan was eaten by you?" Tong Cheng asked Ma Li.
Ma Li nodded obediently.
"No wonder you've improved so quickly!" Tong Cheng looked at Li Jiuhe again. "Do you know the Guo family?"
"I only heard about it recently."
"That exquisite little knife you just took out, if I'm not mistaken, should be a 'Liwen Knife,' from the Guo family," Tong Cheng said. "You probably got it after you dealt with Guo Fan, right?"
"Yes." Li Jiuhe nodded.
Since even Tong Cheng could recognize it, he suddenly felt that the knife in his hand had become too hot to handle.
"Only the Guo family possesses the quinoa-patterned blade. They should know more about the sequence patterns, but they refuse to reveal any sequence runes to the outside world," Tong Cheng explained. "This family has a deep foundation, no less than the Guan family, so the quinoa-patterned blade may have special markings, either for self-destruction or for location tracking. If the Guo family discovers Guo Fan's disappearance and starts tracking him, this thing will be a hot potato."
Li Jiuhe asked, "Should I just throw this quinoa-patterned knife away, or give it to the research center at headquarters?"
Tong Cheng shook his head: "They might not dare to take it, because taking it would create a confrontation with the Guo family, and the current director of the General Bureau is also wary of these families. Let the matter of your conflict with Guo Fan remain unresolved. The director of the Yuanmeng Investigation Bureau is also at fault, and he will keep this secret—"
"Xiaoyi, when did you arrive?"
Seeing Li Jiuhe and Tong Cheng chatting, Ma Li knew that Tong Cheng would probably not blame her anymore. She breathed a sigh of relief and walked over to sit down next to Li Yi.
Li Yi whispered, "I ate something, took a nap, and then came to the hospital with my dad. They were all talking about you just now, and my dad and Uncle Luo kept speaking up for you."
"They've all been very kind to me," Mali said with a smile and a nod.
"Auntie Mali, I just heard them say that you don't seem to be human!" Li Yi asked curiously, "But you—don't look like a ghost either."
"I'm not a ghost," Ma Li explained. "I'm an insect."
"A bug! What kind of bug can grow as big as you?" Li Yi was even more curious, looking her up and down.
Suddenly, Li Yi's gaze froze as she saw Ma Li's hand already reaching into the handbag that Li Jiuhe had placed on the chair.
"Auntie Mali, why are you touching my dad's bag?"
Li Yi didn't lower her voice anymore; instead, she raised it.
Because at that moment she saw that Ma Li had already grabbed the black box in the bag that they had just been discussing.
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