The Pest-Killer Squad's arrival stayed hidden from neither Shen Cong nor the Bug Warriors. Both sides, by unspoken accord, broke off fighting and settled into defensive postures.

"A-Tai. The strays' main force is here." The Master, crouched behind a tree, spoke to A-Tai.

The bug core in A-Tai's palm flickered red on and off, his face shifting through shadow and light. "Niaomao — count them up. How many brothers dead, how many Mushroom Cannons left?"

Niaomao made a quick tally at once and reported. "Brother Tai, out of a hundred and twelve brothers, twenty-seven are dead — all killed by that tree demon and the snail. Eighty-five brothers left now, sixty-seven Mushroom Cannon rounds still in hand. A portion of the Mushroom Cannons got dropped on the field."

"Dammit, this one cost us dear. All your fault — you had to come settle the score that very night." A-Tai, so lordly and open-handed a moment ago, now ached with the loss and berated the Master.

The red glow in his eyes had faded considerably.

Chided by A-Tai, the Master found the words hard to swallow. "My fault? Who the hell knew the snail was another one the strays had rounded up? That armored one just now — he can control two mutant monsters. That's a goddamn boss-gate BOSS!"

"I'll kill him sooner or later!" A-Tai swore, then stretched out a hand to sense the surroundings. "With this idiot snail here, and the strays back again, tonight's score can't be settled. Big Dog — forget about your settlement, come to my Laicheng District, take the second seat. From now on, A-Tai's got you covered."

"You're pulling out?" the Master said quickly.

A-Tai nodded. "No choice. I've got a feud with Du the Ball King over in Xintai. I've taken heavy losses — he'll definitely come at me now. Big Dog, where there's life there's hope. Don't be small-minded about that scrap of family property. Run with your brother, and sooner or later we'll drag even the Bug Heavenly King off his throne — Mushroom City will be ours!"

The Master was…