Zhang Hong's sudden appearance, coordinated with Feng Chiyu's maneuver from behind, instantly trapped Cifera in the narrow alleyway between two buildings.
The alley, wedged between two dilapidated brick buildings, was barely wide enough for two people to pass shoulder-to-shoulder. The towering walls on either side choked the sunlight, leaving only a dismal sliver of sky overhead.
The uneven ground underfoot was littered with loose stones and damp moss, emitting a faint, musty odor.
Cornered like a caged animal, Cifera's only escape route lay upward.
But what made the situation truly desperate were the treacherous climbing conditions on the walls.
These weren't rough, unfinished brick walls. Instead, they were coated with a thick layer of cement plaster that had long lost its adhesive properties. The surface was as smooth as if it had been waxed with low-quality wax, marred by mottled water stains and peeling patches.
Compounding the difficulty, a heavy rain had fallen in the early hours of the morning. With minimal sunlight penetrating the alley, the walls remained damp and exceptionally slippery, offering virtually no reliable handholds.
The only potential handholds were rusty air conditioner condenser brackets jutting out from both walls at a height of about five or six meters, arranged in staggered rows.
These brackets were structurally flimsy, and the aged air conditioners resting on them had paint peeling away to reveal patches of brown rust, clearly showing their age.
For a parkour expert, grasping one of these brackets offered a slim chance of climbing up and escaping.
But for an ordinary person, even with a running start, reaching them would be impossible, let alone finding any foothold on the smooth walls to even begin climbing.
Thus, rather than offering a glimmer of hope, these air conditioner brackets seemed more like mocking reminders of the trapped contestants' despair.
Faced with such a dire situation, did Cifera still stand a chance of escaping?
The live stream's Bullet Comments erupted into heated debate once more.
[Wait, wasn't Zhang Hong trailing behind all this time? How did he suddenly overtake Cifera?]
[I know this area well. Cifera might have looked like she was covering a lot of ground, but she was actually just running back and forth within a limited range. It's no surprise Zhang Hong caught up.]
[Damn, I think Cifera might have overplayed her hand this time. Why didn't she just use her speed to shake off her pursuers like she did at the start?!]
[Ugh, this alleyway is terrible. If the conditions were better, Cifera could have easily climbed up the walls with her bare hands!]
[I was laughing at Zhang Hong for running around with someone's door earlier, but now I realize how brilliant that was! Blocking the alleyway completely!]
[Zhang Hong really knows how to handle cats. He even knows their weakness is doors!]
[Haha, I love this twist! Keep bragging, Cat Fans! Your precious Cifera is about to be eliminated!]
[Damn it...]
Meanwhile, in the broadcast studio:
Host Qiu Qiu, who had been so startled by Cifera's backflip onto the balcony that she teared up, had barely calmed down when Cifera's actions stirred her emotions once again.
Seeing the Bullet Comments filled with predictions of Cifera's downfall, Qiu Qiu, as a die-hard Cat Fan, couldn't find a single reason to argue back.
Yes, in this situation, Cifera has no room to escape. Her only option is to force her way through.
But Cifera was just a lovely girl. No matter how fast she ran or how agile she was, in such a narrow alley, facing two burly men as fierce as wolves, there was no way she could break through.
Just as despair began to set in, Host Qiu Qiu suddenly remembered something—
Perhaps the only one who could save Cifera was that man!
At that moment, Nie Junfeng, who was watching the live stream, felt a burning gaze focus on him.
Turning his head, he saw Host Qiu Qiu looking at him with an expectant expression.
In an instant, Nie Junfeng understood. Without even needing a cue from Qiu Qiu, he cleared his throat and volunteered:
"Contestant Cifera is in grave danger! She's truly caught between a rock and a hard place.
"If I were her, I'd immediately retreat and try to break through Little Feng's position. That might be her only chance.
"But facing Little Zhang, a special forces elite—especially with that door... no, heavy weapon in his hands—she stands absolutely no chance!"
Upon hearing Nie Junfeng's valiant "Poison Milk" endorsement, not only Host Qiu Qiu but also all the Cat Fans in the live stream felt a surge of respect for him.
"Respect!"
They believed that with the "Poison Milk" buff, a miracle might actually happen!
On screen:
When Zhang Hong appeared, Feng Chiyu slowed his pace and came to a halt.
Glaring at Zhang Hong ahead, he called out reproachfully, "Brother Zhang, why'd you rush over so fast? Cifera and I haven't settled the score yet!"
Cifera, ahead of him, shouted back:
"Brother Feng, this isn't a Parkour competition! Capturing the 'fugitive' is our mission. Get serious!"
After scolding Feng Chiyu, Zhang Hong braced the door panel against himself, a triumphant grin spreading across his rugged face:
"Cifera, now we've got you cornered like a rat in a trap. Where do you think you can run now?
"It's over. Surrender!"
Cifera wasn't surprised to see the burly Zhang Hong suddenly materialize ahead.
While deliberately leading Feng Chiyu on a circuitous route earlier, Cifera had been giving Zhang Hong the opportunity to cut her off.
All Zhang Hong needed was Feng Chiyu's location sharing, and as a special forces operative, he could easily calculate the optimal flanking route.
To be honest, if Cifera had truly wanted to shake them off, they wouldn't have even seen her taillights.
The reason she'd been playing along until now was purely for the sake of showmanship, to create a bigger spectacle for the audience and boost her own popularity.
But now, it seemed this anticipated ambush might hold a few surprises after all.
"Little Zhang, that door you brought looks familiar... didn't you swipe it from that villa up ahead? As a Pursuit Team expert, you're stealing our contestants' jobs now?" Cifera teased, her eyes darting around the alley, rapidly assessing the surroundings.
The air conditioning unit brackets high up were within easy reach of her leaping ability.
But she didn't want to use that method. While impressive, it lacked flair.
Nor did she want to reveal her full capabilities all at once. Leaving something for later would keep things interesting.
Right now, there was a much more intriguing way to handle this situation.
With that thought, Cifera accelerated without waiting for Zhang Hong's reply, the slick, wet ground posing no challenge whatsoever to her movements.