Translator: 549690339
Lin Zhen glanced at Xu Mao, slightly turned his body to the side to prevent the others from peering into his backpack, then took out a bunch of shiny objects.
“These are C-level Mutated Beast Crystals, worth at least a million each. These fifty are worth more than fifty million. Here, take them.”
Lin Zhen handed the items to Xu Mao, zipped up his backpack quickly, and then said to Shi Lei and Ye Tiancheng, “Captain, Ye Tiancheng, I remember I said before that we should act separately. I never intended to actively join you guys. This money shouldn’t be paid by me. Please transfer twenty-five million each to my account.”
Lin Zhen didn’t mince words. Since Shi Lei and Ye Tiancheng chose to trust Xu Mao, they had to take responsibility for their actions. Lin Zhen would never cover the cost for them.
Shi Lei was speechless. He didn’t think there was anything wrong with Lin Zhen’s request and immediately transferred twenty-five million to him.
Ye Tiancheng, on the other hand, was somewhat reluctant as he grumbled, “So you were planning to make me pay all along. Why did you hesitate for so long then?”
Lin Zhen sneered, “If you don’t believe me, you can take back five of my crystals and negotiate with Xu Mao separately. I have no objections.”
Ye Tiancheng didn’t dare to do it. Although he didn’t like Lin Zhen, at least he found him trustworthy. Xu Mao wasn’t a member of Gale, so Ye Tiancheng couldn’t take the risk.
After transferring twenty-five million to Lin Zhen, Lin Zhen checked his phone and saw that the full fifty million was received.
“Alright, Xu Mao is now your employer. I didn’t pay the money, so you can go with him.”
Shi Lei was taken aback, “You’re not coming with us?”
“Of course not. I didn’t pay any money, so how can I ask him for protection?” Lin Zhen laughed.
Shi Lei shook his head, “That won’t do. As the captain, I can’t let you be in danger alone. You should come with us.”
Despite saying this, Shi Lei still looked to Xu Mao as if he was seeking his opinion.
Xu Mao held the ten mutated beast crystals in his hand while secretly coveting Lin Zhen’s large backpack. He knew it must be filled with more valuable items. If Lin Zhen left, there would be no chance for him to get those things.
Reluctantly, Xu Mao nodded, “Although I only took fifty million from you guys, as an Advanced War General, I can’t let you face danger alone. You should come with me. We have an armored vehicle outside. As long as we get back to the vehicle and avoid the stadium, I can get you out of here safely.”
Lin Zhen looked at Xu Mao and saw through his thoughts. Nevertheless, Lin Zhen decided to go along with this plan.
Xu Mao and his team had already exhausted a lot of energy, so they rested on the rooftop for around two hours before taking action.
During this time, Lin Zhen noticed Ye Tiancheng getting close and cozy with Xu Mao, even closer than Shi Lei. Lin Zhen found this behavior distasteful, especially because Xu Mao was now their main force.
At one point, the two of them snuck away under the pretext of going to the restroom and only returned after a while. When they came back, Lin Zhen noticed that Ye Tiancheng appeared somewhat uneasy and evasive.
Lin Zhen sneered in silence, realizing that Ye Tiancheng could no longer be trusted.
After two hours, everyone gathered their belongings and prepared to leave.
With Xu Mao leading, Ye Tiancheng followed closely, then Shi Lei, and Lin Zhen at the rear. They left the rooftop of the shopping mall.
By now, the streets and alleys of Yi Lan County were teeming with mutated beasts. Xu Mao charted a relatively safe route, clearing the way ahead as they sprinted toward the armored vehicle.
Along the way, Xu Mao demonstrated his strength as an Advanced War General. Encounters with B-level or lower mutated beasts were typically resolved with a single strike. His swift and fierce blade left Lin Zhen secretly impressed. Even with his recent advancement to Gold-ranked Spiritual Mind Master, Lin Zhen still lacked the ability to fight with Advanced War Generals.
The difference in realms was not one easily bridged. If it weren’t Xu Mao’s fatigue after facing the giant palm bear, he wouldn’t even have to fear the monkeys.
Xu Mao exhibited exceptional bravery on their journey. Shi Lei and Ye Tiancheng also lent a hand in the battles. After roughly an hour, they finally caught sight of the armored vehicle.
The vehicle was parked in front of some ruins, with a huge dent in its front bumper and bloodstains scattered on the surface. Lin Zhen even recognized it as the armored vehicle used by the Demon God Squad.
The Demon God Squad had nearly been wiped out, and the vehicle full of loot they collected had become unclaimed property. Lin Zhen hadn’t expected that Xu Mao and his group would be able to drive this vehicle away from the stadium.
“Alright, let’s get on the truck. I told you I could get you out of here safely, didn’t I?”
Xu Mao was panting heavily as he stopped. The battles along the way had drained him considerably. Shi Lei and Ye Tiancheng could help ease some of the pressure, but Lin Zhen seemed to just enjoy the scenery without ever making a move.
Nevertheless, once they got on the vehicle and left, Lin Zhen wouldn’t be able to act so arrogantly anymore.
“Tiancheng, you drive. Just follow the route I told you.” Xu Mao casually instructed.
Ye Tianchenc glanced at Shi Lei and the others before suDDressinc his liDS and taking the driver’s seat. Originally, Shi Lei wanted Xu Mao to sit in the front passenger seat, but Xu Mao stopped him.
“Captain Shi, you take the front passenger seat. I’ll sit in the compartment with our little brother Lin Zhen.”
Shi Lei took the front passenger seat, and Xu Mao enthusiastically invited Lin Zhen into the armored vehicle’s compartment.
There was a metal door between the driving cab and the compartment, which could be opened or closed. The Demon God Squad sealed it so that the compartment had more SPACE to store their spoils of war. Thus, it became an isolated world.
The compartment was densely packed with various war loot. Lin Zhen saw mostly materials from mutated beasts, at least C-level, and although he didn’t see any crystals, just the value of the goods in the compartment exceeded 200 million.
Lin Zhen sat across from Xu Mao, leaning against a pile of mutated bull scales, stretching his body: “So tired, finally heading home.”
Xu Mao sneered and closed his eyes. The armored vehicle started and began to drive towards the outside of the city.
The most significant advantage of this military armored vehicle was its defense. Besides the powerful A-level Mutated Beasts like the giant palm bear, very few mutated beasts could break through the vehicle’s defenses.
Along the way, they ignored some mutated beasts entirely, and the armored vehicle roared towards the outskirts of the city.
They were also quite lucky; the Blue River Bridge appeared ahead, but they hadn’t encountered any large mutant beasts. Although there were a few dangerous situations on the road, they got through them all by relying on the armored vehicle’s solid defense.
Just as they were about to leave the city, Xu Mao opened his half-closed eyes.
“Lin Zhen, we’re almost in a safe zone now. I’ve fought my way through and brought you guys out of the city, and I got this armored vehicle. Don’t you think you should pay me back for all that?”
Lin Zhen raised his eyes to look at him: “What do you want?”
“You have two choices now. One is to leave your backpack behind and ride out of the city, and the other is for me to snatch your backpack and throw you off the truck.”
Xu Mao’s eyes were cold as he stared at Lin Zhen: “Don’t expect your teammates to do anything for you. Ye Tiancheng has already locked this metal door on that side. It was my only request to him, and he surprisingly agreed. So you can’t count on any help.”
Xu Mao was quite complacent, thinking that he had everything under control.
Lin Zhen may be impressive, but his martial strength wasn’t even a sound in the ears of Advanced War Generals like Xu Mao. The kid’s backpack had some good stuff, and together with a truckload of mutated beast materials, this trip would be incredibly profitable.
“It seems I have no choice. If I don’t give you the backpack, you’ll just take it by force. So I’ll take the initiative.”
Lin Zhen said with some helplessness. He first put his Black Dragon Spear aside and then began to take off his backpack.
“At least you know what’s good for you, Lin Zhen. You may not accept it, but I’m always at Long Wind Martial Arts Academy waiting for you. Haha, though the gap between us is too big, I’m afraid you won’t have a chance for revenge.”
“Heh, it’s essential to know the right course of action, or else you might die without knowing how.”
Lin Zhen had already taken off his backpack and handed it to Xu Mao. Xu Mao grinned as he reached out to take it. As for Lin Zhen’s feelings, it wasn’t part of his consideration.
He was no fool. The reason he chose to confront Lin Zhen in the confined space of the compartment was that it wasn’t conducive to the usage of Lin Zhen’s spear, so he was even more unrestrained.
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