The group fell silent for seconds.
Zou Yidao cursed under his breath. "What a mess." He handed a cigarette to the team leader. "Spill it."
"Three days ago, we were farming Hornets. At least four teams were nearby—us, Sharp Peak, and others. Then some punk from Sharp Peak killed a Hornet, looted a Jade Silk Robe worth 200 credits. You know the rules: drops belong to the killer. But those Sharp Peak bastards claimed the kill. When our guy refused, they killed one of ours and wounded two before running."
Jason snorted. "Serves them right." Wherever Bai Er was hiding, he'd surely masked his city from Sharp Peak's trackers.
"But Sharp Peak won't let this go," the leader warned. "In free zones like this, they'll hunt us to the ends of the earth."
Zou Yidao spat. "We're ex-villagers. No ties to them."
"Sure. Another 'ex-villager' who vanished after getting wrecked by Sharp Peak's enforcer."
"How do we find Bai Er?" Sherry asked.
Zou Yidao pointed at her. "Only Statesmen can use summoning or communication skills. Summoning pulls someone here—if they're unharmed and agree. Communication sends a private message."
Sherry frowned. "Communication costs 2,000 credits. Summoning's 3,000. We can't wait."
"Then we brute-force it," Jason said. "Eliminate cities linked to Sharp Peak, Sharp Talon, and Zen Heart. Narrow it down to nine."
Zou Yidao pulled up a map. "Three under Mask, four under Zen Heart, two neutral. Those nine are our targets."
"Split up," Jason ordered. "Five cities for me, four for you, Sherry."
Zou Yidao laughed. "Save your credits. Free zones cost 100. Guild cities charge whatever they want."
Sherry groaned. "Everything costs credits!"
Jason checked the fees: 300 to 1,000 credits per city. "Damn. We're burning cash meant for Soul Purification."
Zou Yidao tossed him a phone. "Recharge and move. I'll grind in a trash mob zone."
The trio teleported to Dongmulianxie, a snow-blanketed city under Zen Heart. Lifeless trees clawed at the sky, and buildings sagged under ice.
No Bai Er.
"This place is dead," Jason muttered, scanning the leaderboard.
Next stop: Shenshuixuan, a Wild West-themed city under Zen Heart. Sandstone shacks and flickering lanterns cast long shadows.
Still no Bai Er.
Jiamuxia, a Mask guild stronghold, buzzed with paranoia. Players hid behind porcelain masks—single-eye, double-eye, jagged splits.
A masked woman sauntered up. "Looking for the albino? He's in Jiaomujiao. But you'll need a knife to dig him out."
Jason gripped her wrist. "Tell me now. Or I'll break it."
She smirked. "Meet me at midnight. I'll guide you."
A masked man shoved Jason. "Try it, pretty boy, and you'll join your friend in the grave."
Jiaomujiao, a Jiangnan water town, gleamed under moonlight. But its canals ran red with blood.
Bai Er's location flashed on Jason's screen.
Jiaomujiao. Monster Zone 36.
"You're late," a voice hissed. Bai Er stood atop a bridge, flanked by Sharp Peak assassins. "Enjoy the fireworks."
Jason's phone buzzed. A masked woman's photo appeared: "Tick-tock."