No one backed down

After Lin Yu, under the identity of "Zhu Ming," briefly recounted the "Director's " "encounters" in the Prison Mountain Realm, Chen Le, Old Wu, Comedian all fell into a long silence.

"The situation is a bit more complicated than we thought... So, the reason the 'Director' knew about the 'Emperor' and the 'Diviner' working together is because he saw the 'Emperor' in the [Instance] and got beaten up by him, is that right?"

Old Wu extracted the most crucial part of what Lin Yu had said and repeated it.

Lin Yu nodded. "That's a fair assessment."

The Comedian said, "Then I need to adjust my evaluation of the 'Director'... His intelligence gathering and reasoning abilities don't seem to be that almost supernatural level."

"But... his ability to survive is truly remarkable."

Chen Le looked at Lin Yu's still calm expression and said, "You don't seem very shocked or surprised..."

"Because I was already shocked when I heard the news."

Lin Yu said this.

Chen Le shrugged. "I don't think you were that shocked back then... It seems you really trusted the 'Director'."

"But then again, when we went to 'Pure Ruins' together the day before yesterday, what you did was quite outrageous... He directly withstood the pursuit of the 'Diviner' and another 'Tier 5' Deity- level 'Player,' while you directly subdued a former Deity."

"You two are truly evenly matched... I thought the 'Designer' couple was already quite something."

"Luckily, you're on our side... and you've also kept the 'Director' very obedient. So even if he rises to a high position in 'Order' in the future, it will actually be a good thing for us."

Chen Le remarked with emotion.

Lin Yu's eye twitched; he was too lazy to explain anything anymore.

"Speaking of which, how's the 'Designer's' 'Tier Advancement' going?"

Old Wu said, "There's nothing to worry about. I've talked to him a lot lately and helped him create quite a few [Item]—although Yu Yang's ideas for designing [Item] are always wildly imaginative and don't quite match my more practical and down-to-earth style, with my help, it'll be easy for him to pass the 'Rank Advancement Trial' and create his own [Exclusive item]."

"As for 'Zhu Ming'... you've already passed the 'Rank Advancement Trial' without a word. Now, where are you at in crafting your [Exclusive item]?"

"The progress is quite ideal. After dealing with the 'Tengshe' in the Nether Void Realm, the most difficult part has been resolved. What I'm writing down are just some minor details," Lin Yu explained casually. "I'll naturally let you know when you need help."

Old Wu nodded. "That's good..."

"However, getting back to the 'Director'," Chen Le said again, "I thought he would be the type to keep all the dangers he encounters from you..."

Although Lin Yu had already changed the subject, Chen Le steered the conversation back to matters related to "Director".

Lin Yu sighed helplessly, "You're absolutely right, Brother Le. He really didn't intend to tell me... It's more accurate to say that I 'knew' these things myself rather than him informing me."

"After all, being forced into this situation, it's hard for him not to rely on my abilities," Lin Yu said in a low voice. "And once he uses [Guest Appearance Invitation], I'll have a way to find out what happened to him."

"So... I didn't just 'hear' about the 'Emperor's' power; I could also 'directly feel' how formidable he was through some means."

"Brother Le, your analogy with our experience in the Nether Void Realm is inaccurate... because in some ways, the power, threat, and destructiveness of the 'Emperor' far surpasses that of the God of Desire."

"That's why I suggested you leave Shenzhen first," Lin Yu said earnestly, looking at the three of them. "Although you are already very strong... this matter may not be so simple."

"So, take them with you—leave tonight, take the southern sea crossing; that route is definitely safe."

Lin Yu repeated his instructions.

After listening to Lin Yu's words and thinking for a moment, the Comedian said, "This is not something the three of us can decide—we need to ask for the opinions of others."

"And, if you want me to be serious... I don't want to leave."

Lin Yu frowned. "Why? I know you guys like to join in the fun... but this time, it really isn't the time."

"This time, the 'Diviner' is serious!"

As Lin Yu spoke, the Comedian chuckled and said, "That's true, but if I don't join in the fun because there's a risk, or I might die, then what's the point of me joining the 'Freedom Alliance'?"

The Comedian said it in a half-joking tone.

However, this is clearly not the only reason he refused to leave.

Another reason...

Old Wu asked, "Zhu Ming... Shenzhen is so dangerous. If we decide to leave tonight, will you come with us?"

Lin Yu shook his head after hearing Old Wu's words. "I want to stay and help the 'Director'."

Old Wu calmly said, "That's also why I'm staying... We... we want to stay and help you."

Chen Le stretched and dusted himself off. "I'm like Comedian and Old Wu... so currently I have three votes left—well, let's go inside and ask how many votes are left."

As Chen Le spoke, he pushed open the door to the God of Cookery's house.

The board games in the living room have clearly reached a fever pitch.

"Damn! Take it!"

Li Nian shouted energetically, jumped onto the sofa, and slammed the cards in his hand onto the coffee table.

Although Li Nian was in high spirits at the moment, judging from the dozen or so white slips of paper stuck to her face, as the initiator of the board game, she had lost more than she had won tonight.

The God of Cookery next to him wasn't in much better shape. Because he had so many strips stuck to his face, he had to lift the strips off his mouth to get a drink of tea, making him look like some kind of masked saint.

But Li Nian and the God of Cookery were still not the biggest losers tonight—next to them, Old Zhou had notes stuck all over his face, the back of his head, and his shoulders.

The only winner was clearly Xiao Yun —she only had two pieces of paper stuck to her forehead and left cheek.

Seeing Chen Le enter with Old Wu, the Comedian, and the newly arrived Zhu Ming, Xiao Yun tilted her head.

"Oh, you're here. I thought you'd be a little later."

Why is Zhu Ming here?

Chen Le raised his hand. "Let's put the cards away and stop playing for now. We have important business to attend to."

Upon hearing Chen Le's words, Old Zhou hurriedly put down his cards, tore off the slips of paper covering his head and face, crumpled them into a ball, and threw them into the trash can. He quickly asked, "What important matter is it? Who are you going to beat up?"

"It's not about attacking anyone in particular," Chen Le glanced at Zhu Ming, "It's that Zhu Ming received information that 'The Diviner' is preparing to wreak havoc in Shenzhen, directly killing the 'Tier 4' members of 'Order' —to this end, 'The Marauders' have even found a 'Tier 5' Player survived the previous Previous Version as an accomplice."

Zhu Ming's advice to us was... that we should take the Cross-Sea Bridge and leave Shenzhen tonight.

"So now we need to vote on whether to stay or leave."

The four card players looked at each other in confusion, but Qianhuan poked her head out from one of the rooms. "What's going on? Why are they leaving already?"

Lin Yu looked at Qianhuan peeking out and asked in surprise, "Why didn't you play board games with them?"

Old Zhou said, "Do we need a 'Magician' with [Professional Item] or even playing Playing Cards to play a card Game? We're not stupid!"

Qianhuan shrugged. "As you can see, they don't include me in their games—but I just happen to need to edit some videos myself."

"So... was that 'Tier 5' thing from earlier... real?"

As Qianhuan spoke, Old Wu nodded. "The news should be credible. I believe Zhu Ming isn't joking, nor is he trying to scare us with unverified information."

Old Zhou frowned. "In that case... the best thing for us to do is pack up and prepare to leave, right?"

"Tier 5 is Deity, right? -- That's no joke. This place is going to be very dangerous from now on."

"We were just here to join in the fun, now there's no need for us to stay any longer..."

Old Zhou spoke, Li Nian scratched his head.

"Wow, I just got here... But it's okay, we're traveling together anyway, let's just find a safer city to stay in for now."

"It's not too late to come back and clean up the mess after everything has settled down."

Hearing that Old Zhou and Li Nian seemed to be voting in favor of leaving, Qianhuan spoke up, "It seems you're all considering this based on the premise of 'leaving together'... Haven't you considered anything else?"

"Zhu Ming, you're not planning to leave, are you?"

Qianhuan looked at Lin Yu and said.

Li Nian looked surprised. "Huh? Sister Zhu Ming, didn't you say the situation was critical and you came to tell us to retreat...? Why didn't you retreat?"

Chen Le sighed, "She's staying to help the 'Director'."

Lin Yu nodded silently.

And after learning about this condition...

The judgment of the people inside the "Freedom Alliance" room was naturally the same as that of the other three.

"Damn it, Zhu Ming, if you're not leaving, why are we? Let's stay and see how deep the 'Marauders' really are!"

"A Tier 5 opponent might be tough, but it's not like we're dealing with an eighth or tenth-tier opponent. We have two Tier 4, five Tier 3, and two second- Tier 2 here, making a total of twenty-seven. What's there to be afraid of!"

Old Zhou immediately switched to "fight him to the death" mode.

Xiao Yun's eyes lit up for once. "Is the 'Marauders' next move aimed at killing the 'Order's' 'Tier 4' members?"

"To be honest... even if you, Zhu Ming, didn't stay, I wouldn't really want to leave."

Now that you're staying, I have even less reason not to stay in this Shenzhen.

The God of Cookery sighed, "I can't leave either; my house is still here."

"I have to protect my personal property."