Just moments ago, right before everyone's eyes, the man had suddenly burst forth with a speed that was difficult for the naked eye to capture. Then, for some inexplicable reason, he crashed into a building and was buried under the rubble.
This scene left everyone present utterly bewildered.
With one exception.
Liu Yunshuang's eyes widened, her face filled with shock. At the very instant the man vanished, she thought she vaguely saw a flash of golden lightning streak past. After that, the man was sent flying backward.
And at this moment, who exactly was this "third person" who had suddenly appeared in the center of the battlefield...
Unlike the shock of the others, Cipher was looking around with curiosity. She recalled that she seemed to have bumped into something just now. However, Cipher herself hadn't been able to see it clearly either.
Speaking of which, she didn't know what was going on. Viewing Tide Residence seemed to be enveloped by an unknown barrier. It caused Cipher's original journey of about ten kilometers to turn into a journey of nearly a hundred kilometers.
This left Cipher a bit unsure of exactly how far she had run in that short amount of time.
After sorting out her thoughts, Cipher's tail suddenly stiffened, and her expression turned frantic.
"This Cat couldn't have accidentally killed someone by bumping into them, right! It's over, it's over, I hope I don't have to pay compensation, meow!"
Only when Cipher saw the surrounding situation clearly did she realize that the facts seemed different from what she had imagined.
"Did I just barge into a circle of enemies?"
Looking at the group surrounding her, Cipher was quite speechless. However, when she caught sight of her target, her face instantly lit up with a smile, and her previous anxiety vanished completely.
"Great, if anything really happens, I'll just have Director Liu help me with the reimbursement!"
Liu Yunshuang (°ー°〃): You're saying that right in front of me, aren't you?
After complaining inwardly, she finally had the chance to carefully examine the newcomer.
Is this the Cat Phantom Thief? But she looks a bit different?
The Cat Phantom Thief before her had a more curvaceous figure, yet her waist was as slender as a willow. The proportions of her long legs were so exaggerated they were almost unreal, and her stunningly beautiful face glowed with a porcelain-white luster under the light. Even her cat ears held a hint of seductive charm.
Liu Yunshuang's mind gradually fell into a state of confusion.
As for the others, they simply didn't dare to make a move. After all, she had buried their boss alive in an instant—wouldn't rushing forward be seeking death?
Jiang Qingning was also warily watching the Cat Girl.
Not a martial artist, and she doesn't seem… like an Ability User either.
Jiang Qingning's brow furrowed, and she subconsciously took two steps back.
As for Cipher, she completely ignored everyone's movements. Instead, she walked over to Liu Yunshuang with light steps and examined her carefully.
"Your injuries aren't light, but as long as you're still alive, it's fine."
Liu Yunshuang's mouth twitched, but she finally couldn't help asking, "Who exactly are you?"
Hearing this, Cipher lightly stroked her lower lip with a jade-like finger and said casually, "Haven't you been putting out a warrant for me all this time? Speaking of which, This Cat once openly swiped the dessert off your desk."
"What?! So it was you who did that! And there I was, thinking I'd eaten it myself without remembering!"
"Hahaha, sorry! I just had a sudden craving back then, so I forgot to leave a note. It won't happen next time. And besides, it was your cake that tempted me first—you can't blame me!"
Liu Yunshuang (●—●): Is that what I meant?! And how can you say such shameless things with such a self-righteous tone?
Liu Yunshuang took a deep breath and looked directly into the other's blue eyes with a burning gaze.
"You are the rumored Cat Phantom Thief? What is your purpose in coming here!"
Upon hearing this, Cipher casually spread her hands and said seriously, "Since I stole and ate your food, This Cat felt bad, so I specifically came to save your life. Of course, since you live here, you're surely not short on money. This Cat won't mind if you reward me with a few small goals afterward."
"Deal, it's a promise!"
After hearing the request, Liu Yunshuang readily agreed without the slightest hesitation.
But now it was Cipher's turn to be choked up.
Her original intention had been to say it casually, but now… was the truth that she had asked for too little?
Watching the other person sit down on the spot as if she had won, Cipher's mood instantly turned sour. But at this moment, she was too embarrassed to go back on her word. She could only comfort herself that the other person was just talking big.
On the other side, after noticing the Cat Girl's subtle micro-expression, a flash of realization crossed Liu Yunshuang's eyes.
"Who are you, and why are you interfering in this matter?" Jiang Qingning asked in a low tone, seeing the two of them chatting as if no one else was around.
"For a generous reward, of course. After all, the pockets of people living here definitely aren't lacking in good things!" Cipher replied with her hands on her hips, looking as if it were only natural.
Hearing this, Jiang Qingning simply gave Cipher a silent glance.
Just as Cipher thought a fight was about to break out, she saw Jiang Qingning directly put away her weapon and say politely, "In that case, I will give you face today. Please do as you wish with the rest."
With those words, Jiang Qingning turned and left without stopping.
But the moment she took her first step, a sense of crisis sliced through her nerves like a sharp blade. Her pupils shrank, and she immediately activated her Supernatural Ability without hesitation, her graceful figure instantly melting into the darkness.
At the same time, the moment she turned, Cipher transformed into a golden bolt of lightning and vanished from her spot.
Regrettably, even as fast as Cipher was, she only managed to grab a piece of shadow this time.
She had let the other person escape.
After all, Cipher hadn't expected her to retreat so suddenly. It caused her movements to be a beat slower due to a momentary lapse in attention.
This made Cipher complain unhappily, "This Cat isn't some kind of monster—is there a need to run so fast?"
Meanwhile, on the other side, Jiang Qingning wasn't sure what happened after she left. However, her intuition told her that if her decision just now hadn't been crisp and decisive enough, combined with the other's momentary carelessness, she definitely wouldn't have been able to leave.
This narrow escape from death left Jiang Qingning breaking out in a cold sweat.
Actually, ever since meeting Acheron, she hadn't dared to underestimate anyone, especially those "ordinary people."
And the feeling this Cipher gave her was—extremely dangerous...
Back to Cipher.
She shook her tail helplessly. Although she could rely on her speed to find the other person, the problem was that she really couldn't leave right now.
With that thought, Cipher had to give up on continuing the pursuit.
"What a convenient Supernatural Ability."
As Cipher returned the way she came, the surrounding crowd was completely stunned.
This time, they had all seen it with their own eyes.
This Cat Girl had actually vanished from the spot in the blink of an eye.
With such abnormal speed, it was simply no different from teleportation.
But before the crowd could marvel for even two seconds, a sharp pain spread from their abdomens, and their eyelids felt as heavy as lead.
"Thump! Thump!"
In a series of dull thuds, dozens of people collapsed to the ground like puppets with their strings cut.
When the dust settled, only Cipher and Liu Yunshuang remained standing as firm as pines.
Seeing this scene again, Liu Yunshuang's heart had already gone numb.
Facing the Cat Girl before her, even Liu Yunshuang—who had already broken through to the Grandmaster level—could not see a single trace of the other's movement.
Seeing Cipher slowly walk over to her, she was about to ask something when a sudden movement erupted from the rubble. Both Cipher and Liu Yunshuang turned their heads toward the sound.
"Boom!"
Dust soared into the sky as a black shadow shot out from the ruins like a cannonball. The speed was so fast that the surrounding debris hung suspended in mid-air, as if time had paused.
This person was none other than the man who had been sent flying by Cipher earlier.
"Go to hell!"
The man's face was now distorted, like a demon crawling out from hell, as he roared in rage.
"Watch out!" Liu Yunshuang subconsciously warned.
At this moment, the man's speed had clearly reached a completely new level. Liu Yunshuang found that she could no longer capture any of his movements—and this was clearly the work of his Supernatural Ability.
Swoosh!!!
At this very moment—
In the man's eyes, a brief instant stretched into something as long as a day and a night, incredibly drawn out.
The whistling wind in his ears seemed to vanish, and time itself appeared to fall into stagnation.
Not just himself, but everything around him had come to a standstill.
"What an interesting ability. Now— you should barely be able to 'keep up' with my speed, right?"
In the frozen time and space, a playful voice rang out.
The man's dull gaze followed the sound.
He clearly saw a sweet smile rise on Cipher's previously motionless, beautiful face.