Chapter Seventy-One: Letting the Tiger Return to the Mountain

“I’m not your enemy; you can trust me completely.”
Molecular Beast regarded Qin Fei and the Loretta Beast at his side, calm eyes betraying a hint of wariness.
He had already witnessed the battle between the Tigress Saint Beast and the Monkey Beast. If he truly escaped, the chosen child before him would be a formidable obstacle; the Monkey Beast was a foe he couldn’t defeat even in his prime, yet this child’s Digimon was evenly matched with it.
No matter what he said, the boy remained unmoved, only meeting his gaze with thoughtful eyes.
“The crest isn’t with me, and it never will be. But if you let me go, I can lead you to it.”
Molecular Beast tried another approach, still treating the crest as his bargaining chip, reluctant to surrender it. After all, there was another plan simmering in his mind, one that required the crest’s power.
With this in mind, he turned his attention to Suna, knowing she was the only child without a crest.
As for Qin Fei, he naturally wouldn’t possess a crest.
“No. You can tell me where the crest is, and we’ll verify it ourselves. If you’re not lying, we’ll release you.”
Qin Fei was resolute, unmoved by persuasion.
“Qin Fei, let’s just let him out. If the Monkey Beast returns, we’ll all be in danger. Besides, he said he’s the Monkey Beast’s enemy—we should trust him.”
Photon Lang and the others watched Qin Fei, who was still entangled with Molecular Beast, anxiety growing in their hearts.
“I think we should trust Qin Fei. My crest isn’t that important.”
Suna voiced her dissent, still touched by Qin Fei’s earlier willingness to face the high-voltage grid for her crest.
“I helped you obtain another crest before. Are you really so ungrateful?”
Molecular Beast grew angry, but quickly suppressed his emotions, speaking calmly: “It’s not safe here. If you delay, the Monkey Beast’s minions will come to check, and your fate won’t be any better than mine.”
“That’s why you should tell us the crest’s location. We can get it sooner and end this faster.”
Qin Fei’s composure was deeper than Molecular Beast’s, continuously probing his sensitive nerves.
“I forgot to mention—just now, I reconnected the surveillance system I had disabled. Everything happening here will soon reach the Monkey Beast’s ears.”
Molecular Beast’s mechanical eyes glowed dangerously red, a conspiratorial smile on his face. “If you let me go now, I’ll help you fight him. What do you say?”
Taichi and his friends’ expressions changed, surprised by this unexpected move.
Qin Fei instantly realized his oversight; though the animation never mentioned it, it was impossible that such an important prison lacked surveillance.
“Release me, and we can work together.”
Molecular Beast pressed them, his expression almost manic, preferring captivity to revealing anything about the crest.
“What should we do, Qin Fei?”

Hearing Molecular Beast’s sudden hatred, Taichi and the others finally saw through his façade.
Qin Fei frowned; if the Monkey Beast arrived, not only Suna’s crest but even their plan to return to reality would be jeopardized.
At last, Qin Fei glanced at Molecular Beast and said, “Suna, hide behind me. Taichi, Photon Lang, release him.”
“But…”
Taichi, who had wanted to let Molecular Beast out, now hesitated.
“Trust me this time—I know what to do.”
With Qin Fei’s insistence, Taichi and Photon Lang exchanged a glance, gritted their teeth, and released Molecular Beast from his transparent prison.
“Hahaha, I’m finally free!”
Even his mechanical, stiff voice couldn’t hide his joy.
“So, will you tell us where the crest is?”
Taichi asked, his tone full of frustration as he watched Molecular Beast step out.
“You’re so naïve. You really think I’ll tell you after you let me out? Hahaha.”
“Implant Bomb!”
Molecular Beast suddenly raised both hands, releasing a swarm of mini bomb robots from his fingers, all flying straight toward Qin Fei, intent on obliterating him.
“Lolo!”
“Leave it to me, Qin Fei.”
Loretta Beast leapt forward, waving her folding fan to create a thick shield of ice, intercepting all the bombs.
Yet the explosion’s smoke and shards of ice still obscured everyone’s vision.
“Card Swap! Unimon, Holy Shot!”
Seeing the flintlock in Loretta Beast’s hand suddenly aimed behind him, Qin Fei anticipated the move, pulling Suna down and shielding her with his body.
Molecular Beast’s real target was her; the attack was merely a diversion.
“Bang! Bang! Bang!”
“Ah!”
Loretta Beast’s flintlock fired a barrage of light pellets, clearly hitting something.
As the smoke cleared, Molecular Beast’s battered form was revealed. He quickly took flight, and seeing his plan foiled, used the smoke to escape through the door.
Evidently, he had no desire to tangle with them further.

First, he feared Qin Fei and Loretta Beast; second, his injured body had yet to recover its true strength—he dared not face the impending Monkey Beast.
So escape was his only option.
“Chosen children, just wait—I’ll find you!”
Molecular Beast’s bitter words faded as he disappeared, his escape route unknown.
“Qin Fei, Molecular Beast is gone!”
Taichi’s voice was full of discontent, feeling that Qin Fei’s decision had not only cost them Suna’s crest but also released a powerful enemy.
They should have kept Molecular Beast locked in his transparent prison.
Qin Fei helped Suna to her feet, her cheeks flushed, and nodded. “Don’t worry. Everything’s in my plan. Watch—I’ll have Suna’s crest soon enough.”
“You there! What happened?”
“Oh no, it’s the Monkey Beast!”
Just then, the Monkey Beast arrived, furious at the empty prison.
“Damn it, where did Molecular Beast go? Did you let him escape?”
As the Monkey Beast drew nearer, Qin Fei quickly instructed Photon Lang, “I’ll stall the Monkey Beast. Check for the secret passage Molecular Beast used—search deeper beneath this pyramid. I doubt he’s gone far.”
Photon Lang nodded, immediately getting to work.
“No, the Monkey Beast is too strong. Don’t be reckless, Qin Fei! My crest’s not worth everyone risking their lives.”
Suna, anxious as Qin Fei shielded her, doubted they could defeat this formidable enemy.
But Qin Fei gave her a reassuring smile and took out his Digivice.
“Loretta Beast, digivolve!”
“Tigress Saint Beast!”
The Monkey Beast, seeing the familiar figure suddenly appear, burst into excited laughter.
“Haha, so it’s you—the defeated one. This time, I won’t let you escape… Dark Death Ball!”
As the dark energy sphere rushed toward them, Tigress Saint Beast spread her wings, shielding Qin Fei and Suna from the attack.
Qin Fei’s face was calm; he had to hold off the Monkey Beast until Photon Lang found Molecular Beast’s trail.