"Damn! How did you suddenly show up in front of us?!" Baili Pangpang saw it too and was completely dumbfounded.
"Now isn't the time to worry about that!" Shen Qingzhu shouted, swiftly changing direction and vaulting to the left.
As it happened, Lin Qiye chose the same direction at the exact same time.
The two groups that had been blocked from the front and rear all charged left in unison, followed by a barrage of projectiles slicing through the air!
Two of Shen Qingzhu's three underlings were hit simultaneously. After letting out despairing cries, their eyes rolled back and they collapsed unconscious.
Lin Qiye's blade moved so fast it nearly left afterimages as he carved a path through the forest. Cao Yuan clutched the utterly useless spoon in his hand as he desperately chased after him.
Baili Pangpang cried out and darted behind a large tree, avoiding a string of projectiles before scrambling after Lin Qiye and the others.
The group ran for their lives, forcibly crossing the entire rugged old forest before reaching a relatively open clearing. A small stream trickled down from the mountains, its pleasant tinkling echoing through the air.
Lin Qiye took a few steps to the stream, bent down, and scooped up a few mouthfuls of water with his hands. He wiped his face and let out a long breath.
Baili Pangpang simply dropped onto the ground and went limp.
"Qiye... how much farther until we get across the mountain range?"
"Still a long way." Lin Qiye spoke slowly. "From the beginning, the drones have been charging at us from different directions, forcing us to change course several times. By now, we've only advanced four or five kilometers in a straight line from our starting point."
"Are the instructors messing with us? They want us