Chapter 379 – Siege! On the Verge of Breaking Out!

“What exactly is 『Sin』 trying to do?”

At this moment, everyone hiding inside the mountain wall was pondering this question.

Unfortunately, they would never get an answer to this question.

Because…

“Had enough of watching?”

Crow, clad in black robes, suddenly spoke.

“Since you’ve seen enough, come out now.”

As these icy words left Crow’s lips, all the Underground Professionals present immediately turned their heads toward one direction.

Their gazes were utterly cold and detached.

“————!?”

The expressions of those inside the mountain wall changed, their hearts sinking.

Especially Bai Ruxiang and Bai Xiaoyan, whose faces turned deathly pale, devoid of any color.

This was because the Underground Professionals’ gazes were focused precisely on their location.

Yes.

They had been discovered.

“Not planning to come out?” Crow said indifferently. “Did you think you could fool me?”

Although Su Ming’s group had all taken special alchemical potions that could conceal their aura and even scent, preventing Hell Beasts from detecting their presence, Crow’s perception was no joke.

If Su Ming’s group had remained completely still, Crow might not have necessarily detected them.

But with that sudden burst of immense spiritual energy and Spirit Power just now, if Crow still hadn’t noticed, then his perception would truly be worthless.

Of course, even without the recent outburst of spiritual energy and Spirit Power, Crow and the others knew there must be others here besides themselves.

After all…

“Those companions of yours left outside for support directly crossed paths with us when we entered,”

the Ruthless Man beside Crow suddenly spoke.

“Don’t you want to know how they’re doing now?”

These words made the hearts of those inside the mountain wall, which had just sunk, instantly leap into their throats.

Even Su Ming was no exception.

“Commander!”

Chi Qian looked at Su Ming, anxiety unavoidably appearing in her eyes.

There was no helping it.

Mu Yan, Feng Qing’er, Tong Xinyao, and the others were all outside.

The expressions of the others changed repeatedly, until every last one of them became extremely grim.

“Xuefei!”

“Lady Xuefei…!?”

Even Bai Ruxiang and Bai Xiaoyan cried out involuntarily.

Bai Xuefei was also outside, responsible for support.

Of course, Qiao Liang’s biological younger brother and Zhu Qian’s collateral relatives were also outside, becoming the people the Ruthless Man mentioned who had directly crossed paths with them.

So, how were they doing now?

Just thinking about this question made an emotion surge within everyone’s hearts.

Su Ming’s face also turned cold, and he was the first to stand up.

He walked out.

Seeing this, Chi Qian, Xu Xiayan, and the others exchanged glances, then stood up with equally heavy expressions.

“Commander!”

Bai Ruxiang and Bai Xiaoyan instinctively stood up to follow.

However, Xu Xiayan stopped them.

“You stay here. Don’t come out.”

Saying this, Xu Xiayan also walked out.

Chi Qian, Wang Di, Wang Qian, Qiao Liang, Zhu Qian, and the others followed without hesitation.

Only Bai Ruxiang and Bai Xiaoyan remained—one biting her lip tightly, the other with tears glistening in her eyes—wanting to follow but unable to do so.

They clearly understood that if they followed, they would only be a burden.With strength not even reaching Four-Star level, facing those Underground Professionals who could even capture Nightmare Species Mutants alive, they were simply too weak to be any weaker.

If they went out now, not only would they be unable to help in any way, but they might even become a burden to Su Ming and the others.

Rather than becoming such a hindrance, it would be better to continue hiding—at least that way they wouldn’t drag others down.

Thinking this, Bai Ruxiang forcibly suppressed her impulse to rush forward. Holding Bai Xiaoyan, who was nestled against her chest too afraid to even lift her head, she turned away.

Su Ming and his group slowly emerged from the mountain wall, coming face to face with all members of 『Sin』.

As soon as they appeared, the gazes of the Underground Professionals grew even colder, thick with palpable Killing Intent.

Even the girl silently retreating to the side—curled up like a kitten licking her wounds with a small tongue while clutching a Divine Artifact—couldn’t help but cast a concerned glance their way.

The atmosphere grew extremely oppressive and heavy, teetering on the brink of eruption.

“So you are here after all,” the Ruthless Man’s eyes swept over Su Ming’s group. “I must say, I’m surprised that a Professional team from Tianfeng City would dare come here, also targeting this Hell Beast?”

Clearly, someone appearing here was quite unexpected for the Ruthless Man.

In his view, this was the tenth layer of the Midnight Labyrinth, inhabited by a Nightmare Species Mutant. Logically, no fool should have come here seeking their own death.

It seemed this Ruthless Man didn’t know that not only was 『Sin』 after the Nightmare Species Mutant, but even Tianfeng City had learned this place was occupied by Hell Beasts and sent people to scout.

Unfortunately, this undoubtedly led everyone into a major crisis.

Xu Xiayan stepped forward, looking at the Ruthless Man.

“You must be Li Wu, Vice Captain of 『Sin』, the famous Seven-Star Professional of the underground world, correct?”

Li Wu—this was the real name of the Vice Captain of the largest mercenary organization in the underground world, 『Sin』, an S-class criminal wanted by Tianfeng City for twenty years.

Namely, the ruthless man before them.

“That’s me.”

The Ruthless Man—Li Wu—acknowledged his identity indifferently.

This made Wang Di, Wang Qian, and others who had held a sliver of hope instinctively clench their fists.

The reason was simple.

The person before them was a Seven-Star Professional, the Peak of human Professionals, a genuine apex existence.

For a group whose highest members were only Six-Star Professionals, this was undoubtedly bad news.

“Your reputation precedes you, Vice Captain Li,” Xu Xiayan, appearing psychologically prepared, said calmly. “I never expected people from your underground world to come to this Midnight Labyrinth too?”

Xu Xiayan showed little fear, remaining exceptionally calm, even maintaining a demeanor of neither humility nor arrogance.

At least, that’s how it appeared on the surface.

Li Wu watched such a Xu Xiayan without changing expression.

“You want to ask how we got past your Tianfeng City forces surrounding the outside, right?” Li Wu sneered. “Did you really think a bunch of soldiers and so-called S-class teams full of greenhorns could stop us?”

“Then what about the people outside?” Chi Qian finally couldn’t help speaking up. “What happened to our support team waiting out there?”Chi Qian’s questioning was met with an infuriating answer.

“Not sure,” Li Wu replied expressionlessly. “When we came in, we killed everyone who dared to stand in our way. As for whether any fish slipped through the net, that’s unclear.”

Upon hearing this, both Xu Xiayan and Chi Qian flew into a rage.

“Bastards!”

“How dare you do this…!?”

Wang Di and Wang Qian also couldn’t control their emotions.

Even Qiao Liang and Zhu Qian were visibly agitated, their chests heaving.

Hidden within the mountain crevice, Bai Ruxiang and Bai Xiaoyan, already pale-faced, grew even paler at Li Wu’s words.

Undoubtedly, the comrades waiting outside were likely in grave danger.

Facing at least a hundred ruthless underground Upper-Rank Professionals, including a Seven-Star Professional like Li Wu, their fate would surely be tragic.

Moreover, among these enemies was that terrifying young woman holding a Divine Artifact, who had been quietly licking her wounds nearby all along.

Against such a group of adversaries, the mere sixty or so Upper-Rank Professionals outside stood no chance.

“You filthy executioners!”

Chi Qian was the first to lose control of her emotions, erupting with a terrifying Aura as she charged toward the enemy.

Among those present, Chi Qian was undoubtedly the most concerned about the safety of their comrades outside.

Having already lost companions once before, hearing news that her comrades might again be in mortal danger made her more furious and agitated than anyone else.

At this moment, Chi Qian only wanted to rush out recklessly.

But Su Ming stopped her.

“You’re no match for him,” Su Ming said with unusual calmness. “Don’t throw your life away.”

“But…!?” Chi Qian’s eyes turned red.

“Don’t worry, Mu Yan and the others are fine,” Su Ming stated directly. “I just checked – the contracts they signed with me are still in effect.”

Hearing this, Chi Qian’s eyes lit up.

The contracts still being in effect meant the signatories were still alive.

Otherwise, the contracts would have spontaneously combusted and become void.

Since the contracts Mu Yan and the others signed with Su Ming were still active, it proved they were still alive.

“Don’t forget, before we came, I prepared quite a few good things for you.”

Su Ming smiled at Chi Qian.

Knowing there might be dangers in the Midnight Labyrinth beforehand, Su Ming had naturally made preparations for emergencies.

As a precaution, Su Ming had given Chi Qian and the others two items from the System’s inventory – one for survival and one for escape.

With these System-provided items at their disposal, even in danger, Chi Qian and the others could cling to life and preserve their survival.

Reminded by Su Ming, Chi Qian finally recalled this matter, and the heavy stone in her heart slowly settled.

But while Chi Qian relented, the enemies were preparing to strike.

“You don’t actually think you can walk out of here alive, do you?”

Li Wu’s sudden words made everyone’s bodies stiffen simultaneously.

“Go!”

Xu Xiayan didn’t hesitate any longer. At her command, she rushed toward the exit.

“Go!”

“Hurry!”Wang Di, Wang Qian, Qiao Liang, Zhu Qian, and the others reacted instantly—or rather, they had long been prepared, waiting for this very moment.

Immediately, no one dared to hesitate where they stood. As one, they dashed toward the basin’s exit.

Faced with a Seven-Star Professional and over a hundred Upper-Rank Professionals, even if Xu Xiayan and the others were all Six-Star, they stood no chance.

To put it plainly, Li Wu alone was enough to contend with their numerous Six-Star Professionals, let alone the hundred or so Upper-Rank Professionals surrounding them, and even a monster capable of single-handedly crushing a Nightmare Species Mutant.

There was no chance of victory.

Absolutely none.

Escape!

This was the only path to survival!

However, Li Wu had also been waiting for this moment.

“Trying to run?”

A heavy axe materialized in Li Wu’s grasp, causing the Vice Captain of Sin to be enveloped in a terrifying Aura and Qi. In a flash, he leaped high into the air.

At that very instant, the Underground Professionals surged forward like phantoms, chasing after Xu Xiayan and the others.

But Xu Xiayan was no fool.

“Split up!”

With just one command, she made her intentions clear to everyone.

It was exactly as it sounded: separate and flee, avoiding concentration that would give the enemy a chance to wipe them all out at once.

This way, they might still have a chance to escape successfully.

Unfortunately…

“Boom!”

Li Wu, who had leaped high into the air, shot forward like a missile, accompanied by a sharp whistling sound, and reached the basin’s entrance ahead of them. With a heavy swing of his massive axe against the mountain wall, he utterly demolished it.

Countless rocks cascaded down from the shattered wall, blocking the basin’s only exit.

“What…!?”

The faces of those who had been preparing to split up and flee, planning to circle around and charge into the exit, twisted in horror.

“Damn it!”

Xu Xiayan and Chi Qian wore expressions of acute anxiety.

The two had tacitly dashed toward their original hiding spot, intending to retrieve Bai Ruxiang and Bai Xiaoyan before making a break for it. But with Li Wu’s move, not only was retrieving them impossible, even escaping alone seemed unlikely.

“Rocks of this magnitude…!?”

Wang Di, however, flashed a fierce expression. Instead of retreating, he advanced, gripping a massive steel Spear, ready to blast the obstructing pile of rocks and clear a path for everyone.

“Naive.”

A cold voice rang out, forcing Wang Di to halt his charge.

“Whoosh!”

Li Wu swung his axe, standing like an unbreachable guardian before the blocked path, sealing off everyone’s only hope of survival.

Witnessing this, a sense of despair crept into the hearts of the group.

“Attack!”

Li Wu didn’t engage directly. Instead, he coldly issued orders, blocking the sole escape route as the Underground Professionals began their siege in full force.

“Tch!”

Chi Qian clicked her tongue in frustration.

“It seems we can’t leave after all.”

Xu Xiayan’s face was filled with a bitter smile.

Almost everyone realized they were facing a life-threatening predicament.

With this realization, they found themselves besieged by all the Underground Professionals.

A fierce battle—or rather, a one-sided encirclement—unfolded across the basin.

Among those present, only the underground Sorcerers restraining the Hell Beasts refrained from taking action.The girl holding the Divine Artifact had not made a move either, still silently licking her wounds in the corner, with only a pair of eyes growing increasingly crimson.

As for Su Ming…

He had not moved from the very beginning.

This was an unavoidable circumstance.

“Finally, this moment has come.”

Crow, clad in black robes, stood blocking Su Ming’s path, his voice resonating as if from the depths of Hell, filled with a chilling aura.

An unprecedented Killing Intent surged from his body, overwhelming and pressing down on Su Ming like a tidal wave.

In response, Su Ming remained expressionless, only his eyes fixed on Crow flickering faintly.

Within them, a cold light shimmered.

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(End of Chapter)