The hatch gave a soft clack as the rusted seal cracked. Air rushed up—hot, damp, and faintly metallic. I saw no movement down the tunnel, but the Qi leaking from below wasn't natural. It pulsed in slow waves, like something alive was breathing beneath the depot.
I stepped back.
"I'm going with backup."
The others regrouped quickly.
Zhou Xue dropped from a wrecked freight crate, her bow slung behind her shoulder. Roulan approached from the east platform, her tonfa still wet with black gore.
I turned to Tang Wei first. "You stay topside. Keep the Jeeps ready. Sweep the outer perimeter. If more come, you pull the rookies out and fall back to the highway. Don't wait."
She nodded, eyes serious. "Got it. I'll take Liang Mei, Qiu, and the others. The streets are quieter, but I'll stay sharp."
Zhou Xue joined her without being asked. "I'll cover her. This bow's useless in a tunnel."
"Good." I glanced to the side. "Roulan. Yifei. You're with me."
