A section.
Jia Rengui's basement has large divided areas, with four zones designated A, B, C, and D across the entire basement.
What is seen now is section A.
In the middle of the entire zone is section A.
Duan Chen held his breath, his cold eyes scanning the entire visible area. He found no signs of anything amiss here.
Except for the damp feeling in the air.
This moist, sticky sensation felt strangely familiar to him.
The corners of his mouth turned up slightly.
Regarding the distribution of the four sections A, B, C, and D, the first area entered is A. The entire A, B, C, and D combined form a T-shape.
At the very bottom is section A, presented in a rectangular shape.
Sections B, C, and D are arranged side by side at the top of the T-shape.
This means they first enter section A, then section C in the middle, and sections B and D on either side.
As Jia Rengui introduced them, the entire layout became remarkably clear.
However...
Duan Chen also developed a new doubt.
His eyebrows furrowed slightly. "Where is the thing we need to get?"
Jia Rengui wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and hurried out. He walked to Duan Chen's side, his expression laced with hesitation.
"It's in section B on the first floor."
"But... there's no direct passage from section A to section B. We have to go through section C first."
Yuan Yuan couldn't help but interject from the side, a hint of complaint in her voice.
"Why did you build a rundown basement like a laboratory? What good does that do for you? It's just to hide something, isn't it? I've never seen someone as cunning as you!"
If he had spoken in his original voice, Jia Rengui might have been provoked into a furious rage.
However, the current Yuan Yuan was a standard little loli with rosy lips and white teeth.
Although Jia Rengui felt displeased internally, he didn't say much.
He merely gazed at Duan Chen with a pleading look, hoping Duan Chen would agree to his request.
What couldn't Duan Chen agree to?
Or rather, the moment he signed the contract, it already signified his agreement. No matter what happened afterward, all he could do was his best.
"Don't look at me like that..." he frowned and said, "I will do what I need to do perfectly, and don't even think about things I shouldn't do."
Jia Rengui wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and nodded repeatedly.
"Don't worry, don't worry... I believe Brother Bai's strength can definitely help me retrieve the potion."
"According to what's stated in our contract, if Brother Bai can successfully help me rescue the potion, then if only the last bottle remains, I will give all of it to Brother Bai."
"If there are any extra bottles, Brother Bai can have a large portion, and he only needs to leave me one bottle."
He lowered his posture considerably, clearly feeling that he had no right to say anything in this regard.
Duan Chen nodded slightly. These were things that both parties were fully aware of when signing the contract; there was no need to repeat them.
His expression became serious, signaling his teammates to form an offensive formation around him.
Jia Rengui instinctively retreated behind the formation. In a place unseen by others, his small, bean-sized eyes glinted with a sinister light, as if plotting something nefarious.
"Everyone, please be careful... but there shouldn't be too many enemies in my basement."
He babbled on to everyone, his greasy voice easily disrupting their thoughts.
Duan Chen was even reaching his limit, his brow furrowing tighter, so much so that it could have trapped a fly.
He grumbled unhappily and shouted in a low voice.
"Enough, shut your mouth!"
Suddenly being yelled at like this, Jia Rengui's expression turned unpleasant, clearly not expecting to be reprimanded.
But then he seemed to recall something and quickly regained his composure, the light in his eyes growing increasingly malevolent.
If anyone had looked back at this moment, they would have seen Jia Rengui's entire face twisted into an unrecognizable mess.
But at this moment, not a single person turned back.
On Duan Chen's team's mental channel, the conversation was already in full swing.
[Did you see his expression? It looked really scary. Do you think he was thinking about how to tear us all apart?]
[I told you not to look back. Be careful not to make him suspicious.]
[Don't worry, don't worry... how could such a fool notice?]
[But has he really been replaced by a sea monster?]
[Parasitic sea monsters... they are indeed rare.]
[No matter how rare sea monsters are, all sea monsters are enemies that we must eliminate.]
The mental channel call ended. They had arrived at the door.
The large door was open, seemingly welcoming them inside. However, this slightly ajar door made Jia Rengui's face instantly turn pale.
Jia Rengui pointed at the entrance from behind them and shouted.
"They've really gone in... No! We have to hurry! Otherwise, the item will really fall into their hands!"
"Don't worry."
Duan Chen looked back. A mysterious smile played on his lips, his tone unhurried.
"Of course, we'll go in quickly. Don't you think so, Tubby?"
"I told you not to call me Tubby, meow!"
A very unfamiliar voice, with the cry of a small animal, rang out from behind Jia Rengui.
Jia Rengui's pupils constricted.
He hadn't even noticed when another living thing had appeared behind him.
But he didn't have time to notice.
Unbeknownst to him, the people standing in front of him had already spread out, and he himself was now facing the slightly ajar door.
A great force came from behind him, like a soft cushion forcefully kicking his waist. Jia Rengui stumbled a couple of steps and, like a diver, plunged headfirst into the door.
He tried to steady himself by holding onto the door, but it was useless. The thing hanging on him exerted immense force on his waist, kicking him in twice.
Jia Rengui's pained struggles echoed from behind the door, accompanied by confusion and bewilderment.
"Save me... I don't know what's in here! Save me!"
Duan Chen's mouth twitched.
"That was overacting."