Chapter 986: A Troublesome Opponent

A Troublesome Opponent

"Stuck with a Playing Card? What suit?" Fang Liangye's attention had completely been drawn away by the Playing Card, and he immediately asked.

Chen Ling pretended to think for a moment,

"It seemed to be... the Queen of Diamonds."

"The Queen of Diamonds..."

Fang Liangye fell into deep thought.

At this moment, countless thoughts flashed through Fang Liangye's mind. What Chen Ling said might sound very far-fetched to others, but to Fang Liangye's ears, it suddenly became credible... He had been kidnapped by the Silver King to the Wuji Domain. If Zou Wei had reported the situation to the higher-ups in time, the Dusk Society would definitely send someone to rescue him!

This could also explain why "Jia Chen" said that person seemed to have a grudge against the Fire-Stealers. The Queen of Diamonds was very likely the advance force of the Dusk Society, specifically here to rescue him!

At this time, the suspicion in Fang Liangye's heart had mostly dissipated... He didn't believe a Rat Party member could fabricate a Queen of Diamonds out of thin air.

Mr. Fu should be the Eight of Spades hiding in the Private Hospital. After all, he had said he had helped the Rat Party multiple times.

"Who is Mr. Fu?"

"He is a Dusk Society member who is very close to us, and he is also in the Wuji Domain."

Chen Ling looked at Fang Liangye's expression when he asked, and a trace of doubt rose in his heart... For some reason, this Ordinary Person seemed very interested in the Dusk Society.

Rumble——

A roar came from a distant passage, and rustling dust fell from above.

"No matter what, let's leave here first!" Wu Duo knew they couldn't delay any longer, and immediately spoke. "The 'Door' is already very close, let's go quickly."

The crowd rapidly moved down a flight of stairs.

Chen Ling mingled in the crowd, looked at their route, and clicked his tongue inwardly...

The Rat Party's escape route wasn't any different from his initial guess. In the complex passages, there must be a hidden route only they knew, and this route must lead deeper underground. This wasn't hard to guess, after all, once encountering an enemy attack, they would all be attacking from the surface downwards.

It was just that their route would be more concealed. It might be able to deceive others, but it couldn't hide from an expert of Hong Xiu's level.

According to the original arrangement, as long as they went deep underground, they would definitely bump into Hong Xiu and then be caught in one net... He could only say that fortunately, he intervened in the encirclement and suppression, and fortunately, Hong Xiu was now one of his own.

"Wait!"

Just as the crowd was about to go deep underground, Fang Liangye suddenly stopped in his tracks.

The crowd turned to look at him simultaneously, doubt flashing in their eyes.

"What's wrong, Fang Liangye?" someone asked.

"...Don't you guys feel that everything is too simple?" Fang Liangye frowned tightly. "This time, the Silver Government dispatched more than one Thief Saint, as well as a large number of Fire-Stealers. It's obvious they are determined to annihilate the Rat Party... Can we really escape from underground so easily?"

"What do you mean?"

"The Fire-Stealers' distribution is too scattered. It doesn't look like a blockade and encirclement at all. Instead, it looks like they want to herd us, forcing us to gather in one place... I always feel that they should have kept a backup plan, wanting to catch us all in one net at the last moment."

Hidden in the crowd, Chen Ling's eyebrows raised slightly...

This Fang Liangye was quite something.

To actually be able to see the essence from the chaotic situation and even guess his original plan... Is this guy really an Ordinary Person?

"You're saying... they might have set an ambush near the 'Door'?" a Rat Party member spoke with a frown. "But how would they know where our 'Door' is?"

"They don't need to know where the 'Door' is, they just need to know that we will definitely run underground. The underground is different from the surface, there are only so many ways to choose to escape... As long as we go down, they will have a way to block us dead."

"Then... then what do we do?"

"..." Fang Liangye pondered for a moment. "Do the opposite, let's run to the surface."

"What?!"

What?

Chen Ling grew even more surprised.

"But we are already almost surrounded by the Fire-Stealers. Running to the surface, isn't that seeking our own doom?" Wu Duo couldn't help asking.

"Just as I said just now, the positions of this group of Fire-Stealers are too scattered. Although they occupy all directions, every direction is very weak. If so many of us join forces to charge at one place, it's very likely we can tear open a gap..."

Fang Liangye said seriously. "Moreover, we have the Queen of Diamonds in the dark. He will definitely tie down the Fire-Stealers' high-tier combat power. Our hope of escaping from the surface is very high."

Chen Ling's gaze towards Fang Liangye had already changed. For some reason, he had a feeling of looking in a mirror...

If they swapped places, all of Fang Liangye's current ideas for Breaking the Deadlock were the methods Chen Ling himself would choose... Thinking in reverse, seeking stability amidst danger, reasonable yet unexpected.

What exactly was the background of this Fang Liangye?

"Fang Liangye's words make a lot of sense." Several Rat Party members pondered for a moment and nodded one after another. "But this method is still a bit risky... Should we follow the original plan and go through the 'Door', or directly charge to the surface... Jia Chen, what do you think?"

Everyone's gaze turned towards Chen Ling.

Chen Ling: ...

"I think... is he overthinking it?" Chen Ling spoke hesitantly. "Perhaps, the underground isn't as dangerous as imagined at all."

Chen Ling had thought about whether to simply reveal his identity, directly lead them through the underground, and leave here directly. After all, Chen Ling knew very well in his heart that there was no one guarding there now. But after careful consideration, he still gave up this method... Not everyone was Hong Xiu, and Chen Ling didn't have absolute trust in the Rat Party before him.

There was another point... One had to know that Fire-Stealers could also "steal faces". Chen Ling couldn't be sure if there were Fire-Stealers mixed into the Rat Party before him.

Chen Ling himself frequently did this kind of thing, so he would be exceptionally guarded in this aspect.

Fang Liangye looked into Chen Ling's eyes, suddenly thought of something, and turned to look at the Rat Party member who just spoke.

"Were you guys together the whole time just now?"

That Rat Party member froze, and subconsciously answered. "The few of us have been running together from the beginning... Except for Jia Chen, he was alone when we found him."

"...Oh?" Fang Liangye's eyes narrowed slightly.

Hearing this familiar tone and the habit of squinting, Chen Ling suddenly had a somewhat bad premonition...

"So, only Mr. Jia Chen was alone and then came here." Fang Liangye spoke in a deep voice. "I want to remind everyone, Fire-Stealers also have the ability to 'steal faces' and can disguise themselves as others...

Moreover, he is also the only one who vaguely vetoed my proposal without putting forward any viewpoint of his own."

Fang Liangye pulled out a Short Blade from his waist and slowly pointed it at Chen Ling, who had a strange expression.

"Mr. 'Jia Chen'... I think it's necessary for you to prove your identity to us."

Chen Ling: .........

【Audience Expectation Value +3】