The Bamboo-Leaf-Head Boy had not meant to hide from Clock Cat. He had only wanted to avoid getting caught in Ma Boni's attempt to divert disaster onto someone else. He had escaped Ma Boni, only to catch Clock Cat's eye instead.
Ma Boni felt no guilt when he saw the Bamboo-Leaf-Head Boy die. He charged toward Xu Qinqin instead. She frowned and suddenly brought her hands together.
"Not good!"
Ma Boni veered right. A Death Torrent came thundering past.
Because Ma Boni had turned, Clock Cat, who had come after him again, took the brunt of it. The Death Torrent struck Clock Cat head-on. Its claws raked the ground as the torrent blasted it into the bamboo grove. Countless stalks fell in an instant, burying it.
"You were trying to kill me too, weren't you?" Ma Boni asked Xu Qinqin, glancing at the bamboo grove with lingering fear.
Xu Qinqin kept her eyes on the grove. Suddenly, she leaped up. The instant she did, Clock Cat burst out of the bamboo, appearing almost as if it had teleported to where she had stood. Its claws struck the ground ahead, leaving a gouge.
"Thousand Hands Point to Heaven!"
Ma Boni growled and attacked Clock Cat again.
But Thousand Hands Point to Heaven struck from above, and Xu Qinqin was directly above Clock Cat.
"Petty!"
Nameless could not help muttering when he saw it.
Clearly, Ma Boni had chosen that attack to get back at Xu Qinqin for what she had just done.
Xu Qinqin's expression did not change. As the finger descended, she tapped her toe against the air. Ripples spread at once, and under the finger's immense pressure, they gave her a push. She drifted clear of the attack and landed safely on the ground.
Clock Cat swiftly dodged the