Mu Qi and Zhang Zhao stood where they were, watching their enemy disappear into the distance.
Once the other person had vanished completely from sight, their tense bodies relaxed all at once. They both let out a long breath, then their legs gave way and they collapsed onto the muddy ground.
"Whew..."
Their ragged breathing rang clear above the rain, gradually settling into a steady rhythm.
Mu Qi slowly closed his eyes and deactivated his "Overdraw" ability. His bulging muscles shrank little by little, and his body returned to normal.
His face, however, had turned deathly pale. His head of white hair had not returned to its former color, either; it remained as white as frost and snow, leaving him looking much more haggard.
Zhang Zhao struggled to his feet and hurried over to his companion. He reached out to help him up, concern written all over his face as he asked,
"How are you feeling? Can you still walk?"
A strained smile crossed Mu Qi's face. He shook his head and said, "I'm all right... My whole body aches, like I've been taken apart and put back together, but I can still walk."
"Rustle, rustle..."
A sudden violent shaking came from the bushes nearby, drowning out the patter of rain against the leaves.
The nerves they had just relaxed snapped taut again. Both men turned toward the sound.
A familiar figure pushed aside the dripping wet bushes and emerged.
It was Peng Ze.
He hurried over to them, his face tense with urgency. Lowering his voice, he called out,
"We need to move, now. The investigators coming here are getting closer. They'll be here in three minutes at most. If they spot us, we won't get away."
Seeing that it was one of their own, Mu Qi and Zhang