"The pain from my wound is still bearable," Qin Nanyuan managed to say, her voice strong despite the agony. "Let's deal with Qin Wuji first. Don't worry about me."
The hatred in her eyes was unmistakable. A cold smile curved Qin Nanyuan's lips. "Qin Wuji and the Qin family have always wanted me dead, haven't they? Let's see what the Qin family becomes after losing Qin Wuji." She harbored no affection or pity for the family that had given her life but not sustenance. Her cold, disdainful smile sent a pang of worry through the others.
Jun Ci instinctively reached out and clasped Qin Nanyuan's hand. She came back to herself, shook her head, and offered a gentle smile to everyone standing beside her. "Don't worry, I won't do anything foolish. You all don't need to be too concerned."
She was intelligent, sharp, and perceptive. "Attacking them out in the open would have too great an impact and draw too much attention. If we strike within the secret realm, even if they suspect me, they won't be able to do anything." She spoke with utmost seriousness. "Therefore, we must eliminate him in the secret realm first. Otherwise, he's highly likely to cause trouble."
A wave of empathy washed over Duan Chen. If it weren't for Qin Wuji's meddling, they would never have found themselves in this predicament within the zoo. The situation was now crystal clear.
"Where are they most likely to be?" Duan Chen was decisive. Once a decision was made, he acted swiftly. He asked directly.
Qin Nanyuan paused for a moment, then replied thoughtfully, "If I'm not mistaken, they should be in the broadcasting room or the control room." There were only these two possibilities, no third. It was possible they were in the broadcasting room because it was combined with the control room, but if they weren't, then they would absolutely be in the control room, unable to leave, as they needed to monitor the situation outside. The location they had chosen was out of the surveillance's reach, sufficiently hidden.
A calculating gleam appeared in Qin Nanyuan's eyes. "If Qin Wuji is there, it means others are as well. Why don't we take this opportunity to catch them all at once?"
Jun Ci even felt a flicker of excitement at the suggestion. He had long harbored a deep hatred for the Jun family, wishing he didn't share their blood and could have been born into an ordinary family. Wasn't it better to be a normal person?
"To catch them all, a surprise attack is essential," Duan Chen calmly assessed their next move. "Before that, let's recover our spiritual energy and then launch the attack. We must ensure a swift kill and give them no chance to react."
Qin Nanyuan, supporting herself with effort, nodded. Her eyes held a mix of exhilaration and the resolve for revenge.
...
Meanwhile.
Duan Chen and the others' guess was correct. In the control room they were so focused on, a five-person team was present. This team included the injured Qin Wuji. Qin Wuji looked utterly dejected, with a physician tending to his wound nearby. Unlike the meager setup of Duan Chen's group, their five-person team was well-balanced, with a tank, healer, and all the essentials. They even had the coveted healing support.
Qin Wuji grumbled with annoyance. "Don't send me on these missions next time. Whoever wants to go can go. Faking unconsciousness isn't easy; I was directly knocked out." Otherwise, how could they deceive those people? Though he looked down on them in his heart, he had to acknowledge their tactical prowess.
A Jun family member chuckled beside him. "Don't worry, this is the last time. With the functions of this secret realm that we've obtained, do you really think we can't kill them here?"
Upon hearing this, Qin Wuji's expression improved considerably. He naturally believed them; otherwise, he wouldn't have been willing to make such a great sacrifice. He gnawed fiercely on the pancake in his hand. "I certainly hope so. I never want to see that useless woman, Qin Nanyuan, again. Her very existence is a disgrace to our family. Killing her here would be a mercy, saving her from experiencing more cruel things later."
He thought it up beautifully and spoke just as eloquently. In reality, the others shared the same sentiment, sneering dismissively. They felt no sympathy for the "waste" of both families; waste belonged in the trash heap, not in front of people causing annoyance.
Qin Nanyuan and the others, sneaking past the surveillance, overheard these words. It was then they truly began to take notice that other teams might be present, which was why they had avoided the cameras. In the beginning, they hadn't even considered that surveillance could be functional in such an eerie, uncanny environment. The realization that everything they had experienced was orchestrated behind the scenes was sickening.
Qin Nanyuan remained unfazed; not even a flicker crossed her brow. To her, such insults were child's play. Jun Ci, on the other hand, looked even more pained and resentful, which was quite amusing.
Duan Chen mentally filed away everything they said, his mind filtering out all useful information and remembering it. The useless chatter, however, was disregarded. They remained hidden for a long time, each person exceptionally patient. Only when the people inside started eating, and after they had eaten their fill, were lounging lazily on the floor of the control room, did Duan Chen's eyes suddenly sharpen.
Like a nimble black panther, Duan Chen moved silently along the wall, getting closer and closer. Then, he suddenly smashed through the window, entering like a sharp sword. His speed was so great that the people inside had no time to react. By the time they realized what was happening, they saw Duan Chen standing in the center of the room, knife in hand, and their teammate with a gash across his neck, blood splattering the entire control room.
"You...!"
"You're that useless sister of mine's captain?" Qin Wuji exclaimed, a mixture of shock and rage. He had never anticipated his teammate would be so unexpectedly ambushed and killed.