Chapter 222 What are you doing?

Watching Lu Jiaming take the order and prepare to act with his men, Ye Qingqing and Shen Jie's expressions changed completely.

The two exchanged a glance, both seeing intense anxiety and helplessness in each other's eyes.

Right at that moment, an urgent voice exploded directly in Ye Qingqing's mind.

"No! This guy is too decisive! If this continues, our members hiding on the other floors definitely won't be able to stay hidden!"

It was Sister Qian's voice!

"We have the most people arranged on the seventh and Eighth Floors. Shen Jie set up turrets on those two floors to maximize the players' safety, but because of that, they can't escape this kind of carpet search!"

Ye Qingqing's heart sank to rock bottom. In a voice only she could hear, she responded extremely quietly, "Then... then what should we do?"

For the first time, a rare silence occurred in Sister Qian's voice.

After a long while, that ethereal voice sounded again, carrying a hint of exhaustion and defeat: "Maybe... we should truly surrender. I... really have no confidence left."

"No!"

Ye Qingqing refused flatly in her heart without even thinking.

"Sister Qian! My life, Shen Jie's, and the lives of so many brothers and sisters below were all saved because of your experience and strength! If we truly surrender, what will happen to you? You aren't human right now; I'm afraid... I'm afraid that Su Ze will kill you directly!"

"Better than all of you dying along with me," Gai Qian's voice held a deep sense of helplessness.

"I don't believe it!" Ye Qingqing's tone was exceptionally firm.

"I don't believe that Su Ze truly wants to save more people like you do, Sister Qian! I don't want to hand everyone's lives over to a man who wants to annex us the moment we meet!"

Gai Qian fell silent again.

"Then... are you willing to take a gamble?" Her voice became solemn again. "If we fail, all of us... might die."

"Without meeting you, Sister Qian, my life would have been gone long ago! Even if I die, I'm willing!"

"Good... good sister!" Gai Qian's voice trembled slightly. "If we truly succeed, I will never forget you!"

"Let's not talk about that. Sister Qian, what should we do next?"

"Have Shen Jie find a way to stall him! It would be best to lead him away!"

Gai Qian's thoughts instantly became clear. "Find an opportunity to immediately return inside the [Explosion-Proof Trench]! Previously, I didn't want to involve you all, so I actively had you come out."

"But now that we've decided to gamble, we might as well use the [Explosion-Proof Trench] to make a final stand! At the very least, we must hold out until his strength-boosting state passes!"

"Once his strength drops back to its original level, that will be our chance to turn the tables!!"

"Understood!"

Ye Qingqing's mind steeled, and she immediately sent a message to Shen Jie at top speed through their private channel.

Shen Jie understood instantly.

He took a step forward, a fawning smile squeezed onto his face. "That... Boss Su Ze, our building's structure is complex. It's better if I lead you to find the people; it'll be more efficient!"

Su Ze raised an eyebrow, not even looking at him.

"No need."

Shen Jie's smile froze on his face.

He wanted to say something more, but Su Ze's gaze had already moved away.

Seeing the first step of the plan fail, Ye Qingqing's mind whirred, and she immediately took the second step.

She clutched her lower abdomen, a perfectly timed look of difficulty and bashfulness appearing on her face.

"Boss Su Ze, I... I want to go to the restroom, is that okay?"

Hearing this, Su Ze's expression became somewhat strange as he looked Ye Qingqing up and down.

"Oh? What a coincidence."

He suddenly laughed, revealing a row of white teeth.

"I happen to want to go too."

The smile on Ye Qingqing's face stiffened slightly.

She squeezed out an expression that looked worse than crying: "Then... then Boss Su Ze, you go first?"

"Lead the way."

Su Ze looked at her and spat out those three words.

Ye Qingqing's face turned completely ugly. She stood in place, her feet feeling like they were filled with lead, not knowing how to decline.

Just then, Shen Jie gritted his teeth and took another step forward, putting on a sycophantic look.

"Mr. Su Ze, how about I take you! The men's and women's restrooms aren't in the same place."

Su Ze shook his head and extended a finger, reaching past Shen Jie's shoulder to point straight at Ye Qingqing behind him.

The smile on his face remained unchanged, but his tone brooked no argument.

"I want her."

In an instant, the air seemed to freeze.

Shen Jie wanted to try persuading him again; he stepped closer, seemingly intending to say something to Su Ze.

But in the next moment!

He suddenly lunged like an enraged bull, using all his strength to tightly lock his arms around Su Ze's waist!

"Qingqing! Run!!!"

A beast-like roar erupted from Shen Jie's throat!

This sudden scene left everyone unable to react!

Ye Qingqing's brain went blank for a split second,

But her body's instincts were faster than her thoughts. The moment Shen Jie roared, she spun around and bolted at her top speed toward the Dark Gold Door that had just been opened!

"Open! Open quickly!"

She screamed frantically in her mind!

She knew that Shen Jie was sacrificing his life to buy her this single second!

As long as she could get back into the [Explosion-Proof Trench], as long as the Energy Shield rose again, they still had a glimmer of hope!

Hum—!

As she crossed the threshold, the heavy Dark Gold Door moved in response and began to slowly close!

A layer of pale blue Energy Shield also rose from the ground!

Success!

Just as a hint of relief from surviving a disaster rose in Ye Qingqing's heart, a massive wave of grief instantly overwhelmed her.

Her eyes turned red all at once.

Shen Jie...

She jerked her head back, wanting to catch one last glimpse of him.

However, when her gaze fell upon the spot where Su Ze had just been, she was completely stunned.

There...

There was no one!

Where was Su Ze?

Where was the Su Ze that Shen Jie had grabbed?

A terrifying thought made her entire body go cold.

She whipped her head around, her eyes scanning the entire hall.

Then, she saw him.

Right at the reception desk of the 18th Floor Hall, in the spot where visitors were supposed to be received.

Su Ze was sitting there leisurely, one leg crossed over the other, wearing that heart-palpitating, half-smiling expression.

And in his hand, he was holding someone by the collar with a single hand.

That person was Shen Jie.

At this moment, Shen Jie was like a chicken being held by the neck, his limbs hanging limply, his face full of terror and disbelief, his mouth open but unable to make a sound.

Su Ze held him like that, glancing with great interest at the Energy Shield that had completely activated,

And at Ye Qingqing, who was frozen in place...

He gave a meaningful smile and spoke.

"Ye Qingqing, there are no more Supernatural Entities outside, so... what exactly are you doing?"