The next day, the Left Protector of the Blood Lotus Cult engaged in a fierce battle with a shield-bearing warrior on the Pearl Bridge. The warrior ultimately inflicted heavy injuries on the Left Protector in a suicidal counterattack.
Seizing the opportunity, Bai Xiaofei, Yu Xiaojia, and the others pressed the attack. Although injured, the Left Protector still held the upper hand. Bai Xiaofei came up with the idea of using resonance to collapse the bridge, while Yu Xiaojia coordinated by generating strong winds. The suspension cables gradually snapped, and the bridge began to crumble. Taking advantage of the chaos, Bai Xiaofei disrupted the Left Protector and heavily injured him using technological devices. Finally, as the bridge collapsed, Yu Xiaojia hurled a grenade at the Left Protector, sending him plunging into the river below.
Xiaohui collected ammunition, and Bai Xiaofei acquired an exceptional piece of gear—the Blood Saber.
Up in a tree near the riverbank, Lin Xia witnessed everything that had unfolded, watching the shield-bearing warrior's final, suicidal move. She felt a tear welling up in her eyes and even had the impulse to rush down and help, but she knew it was not yet time for her to make a move... Or perhaps she simply wanted to preserve the superior detachment and security of being a prophet.
"Am I living more and more like a mere spectator?" Lin Xia muttered to herself with hesitation. Then, she continued to follow the protagonist group.
***
Deep in the water, a Corpse Brother dragged the Left Protector's body into the depths, thinking, "Such peculiar blood—the Great King will surely love it."
Bai Xiaofei and his group arrived in front of Jinding Mansion, which was Lulu's home. Lulu clapped her hands in excitement. "Here it is! Lulu is going to find Mommy."
However, Bai Xiaofei, Xiaohui, and Yu Xiaojia exchanged uneasy glances. Swarms of Corpse Brothers were roaming around the entrance of the building, and grotesque figures lurked in the hallway windows. It was evident that Corpse Brothers had taken over the place, leaving little hope for Lulu's mother to have survived.
Xiaohui muttered that there shouldn't be so many Corpse Brothers this close to a military evacuation point. With a grim expression, Bai Xiaofei prepared to slaughter his way through them, but as he raised his blade, a tiny, beanstalk-like Little Corpse Brother blocked his path. The child looked to be around three or four years old, clutching a stuffed doll. Its oversized head wobbled as it merely mumbled, "Mommy..."
Holding the Blood Saber aloft, Bai Xiaofei found himself torn between killing and sparing the child.
Just as Bai Xiaofei hesitated, a gigantic Mosquito Corpse Brother swooped down from the building and sucked out the Little Corpse Brother's brains. Enraged, Bai Xiaofei swung his blade. Although the mosquito dodged his initial strike, he used the flat of the Blood Saber like a palm to slap the creature into a bloody pulp.
However, a louder buzzing echoed from inside the building, and a massive swarm of Mosquito Corpse Brothers poured out like a dark cloud. Thinking quickly, Bai Xiaofei spun the Blood Saber like a propeller, cutting down numerous Mosquito Corpse Brothers.
Yet, one mosquito seized the chance to dart toward the hiding spot of Xiaohui, Yu Xiaojia, and Lulu. At that moment, Lulu broke free from Xiaohui's embrace and ran toward Bai Xiaofei, crying out that she wanted to find her mother. Xiaohui and Yu Xiaojia didn't understand Bai Xiaofei's shouted warning at first, only panicking when they saw the Mosquito Corpse Brother lunging at Lulu.
Yu Xiaojia tried to intervene, but fearing she might hurt Lulu, she held back her wind power, allowing the mosquito to dodge. Xiaohui fired her gun, but also missed for fear of accidentally hitting the child. Becky charged over in her giant form, but she was too late.
The Mosquito Corpse Brother plunged its stinger toward Lulu's head, only to be blocked by the sponge head of the Xiaolu suit. Just as everyone let out a sigh of relief, they fell into a new dilemma: Xiaohui wanted to swat the mosquito, but she was terrified of driving its sharp stinger straight into Lulu's brain.
Observing from the shadows, Lin Xia watched the scene quietly from not far away. She pondered to herself, remembering that a building Security Guard would later help them, along with a gecko... never mind. When the gecko showed up, she would teach him a lesson, make a proper entrance, and leave a good impression.
These people were struggling bitterly to survive in a world overrun by Corpse Brothers, and their courage was commendable. Especially Bai Xiaofei, who displayed genuine human struggle when faced with the choice of whether to kill. And Lulu—such an innocent child, still persistently searching for her mother in so environment fraught with danger—was truly heart-wrenching.
Lin Xia considered whether she should step in and help, but she worried that exposing herself would attract even more trouble. She continued to observe, waiting for the most opportune moment.
Over on Bai Xiaofei's side, he was still fighting desperately to fend off the endless stream of Mosquito Corpse Brothers, feeling intensely anxious. He knew that the slightest lapse in concentration would lead to unimaginable consequences. Meanwhile, Xiaohui and Yu Xiaojia racked their brains to find a way to rescue Lulu while remaining vigilant against any other dangers that might emerge from the surroundings. Terrified, Lulu wailed and shrieked as she struggled to figure out how to escape her predicament.
In this tense moment, everyone was fighting a battle against fate.