"Alive," the man replied confidently. "There are over a dozen of them, with Shao Qi directing them. I saw them chasing a mutated beast earlier. They probably lost its trail. He's back, though one person is missing, perhaps fallen to the beast."

"Why did those mutated creatures flee earlier?"

"I didn't get a clear view, but I suspect they tampered with the ultrasonic device. Unfortunately, even these two major moves didn't reduce their numbers by half."

"With Shao Qi here, we're outmatched. Let's wait."

Zhou You wasn't sure if Baihu understood him. He repeated himself several times, even using gestures. Then he saw Baihu slowly stroll in a certain direction, occasionally sniffing the ground, resembling a casual walk.

The thick snow concealed any tracks, but Baihu soon unearthed some objects: an empty lighter, food wrappers, and some cigarette butts. Clear evidence of recent human activity.

"Is this the place?" As Baihu halted before a building, Zhou You spotted a half-broken sign outside. It was the old city hall.

"A strategic location indeed, and a cunning plan." Recalling their reasons for being here, Zhou You identified the traitor. When they had fled earlier, he'd only seen Long Gan and Zhuo Hao; the whereabouts of the rest were uncertain.

Thankfully, Zhuo Hao and Long Gan were still alive; otherwise, the casualties would have been severe. But thinking of the unknown number trapped under the ruins, Zhou You's resolve hardened.

"Let's go in and see. Be cautious. If there are too many to handle, you'll have to get us out of there." Zhou You would've been confident at his prime, but now with less than forty percent of his internal energy, a direct confrontation would be risky.

A man and a tiger stealthily entered through a semi-collapsed side. Zhou You suspected guards on the ground floor and proceeded with care. Several buildings of varying heights stood in the municipal courtyard. To get a view towards the supermarket, he'd need to ascend one of the taller buildings, but they looked unstable. Who would dare to hide here?

Zhou You heard hushed voices. He motioned the white tiger to lie low in the snow while he approached silently, using light steps to mask his presence. Hiding behind a large tree, he saw two men seated on the steps, eating.

Curious about their origins, Zhou You refrained from acting, choosing instead to eavesdrop on their conversation.

"Eat quickly. We might be called into action soon. Whether we get out of this city alive remains uncertain."

"Why worry so much? Aren't all our missions perilous? But to think our target this time is from Yang City Base, wasn't our master's rival in the central region?"

"Minions like us aren't privy to such details. Just follow orders. In these times, it's either kill or be killed. Enemies can be numerous."

"True. I've heard this group emerged from the Abyss of Death. We never dared to tread that path. I admire their courage. Hopefully, our arrangements will drain their resources."

"With all the commotion earlier, I reckon most are dead. We'll finish off the rest. If we're lucky, they're all gone."

"Heh, that'd be best." They laughed, which caused Zhou You to frown.

They had been tracking his group the entire way. Their ambush must've been planned, knowing they'd pass by. How were they communicating with the mole?

These gatekeepers were unaware of crucial information. There was no need to keep them alive.

Zhou You swiftly thrust two steel needles into the back of their heads. Their helmets were off, perhaps not expecting enemies so close.

They let out short screams before collapsing. Zhou You lingered to ensure no others were alerted.

Two minutes later, he donned one man's armor and helmet. As he entered the building, the white tiger dragged the two bodies into a corner, covering them with snow and marking them, possibly saving them for later.

After briefly inspecting the first floor, Zhou You found it empty. They were likely hiding in the upper floors. Looking up at the tilted building, a smirk crossed his face. "Time for payback."

Planting two bombs in the wall, he retreated with the tiger. Once at a safe distance, he shot at the bombs. The shots attracted the attention of those above, and before they could investigate, two explosions echoed, causing the building to collapse.

"It's over..." Many thought as they watched the thirty-story building crumble. Their hiding spot on the sixteenth floor, once considered the safest, now entombed them.

They hadn't anticipated a counter-ambush, especially during a rescue.

The explosion caught Shao Qi's attention. Seeing the rising dust, he knew Zhou You was responsible.

Others were unaware. They exclaimed, "Another building's collapsed! Should we evacuate? The structures here might all be unstable."

They had successfully rescued two. With only three teammates unaccounted for, retreat was not an option. Shao Qi commanded, "Miao Miao, guard Lin Yuan Kang. The rest, continue digging."