TL: Moonlit
Wen Qingling said, “Good things should be shared with others. It’s not a good habit to be selfish.”
Xiong Shu became excited and exclaimed, “Yeah, let’s go and snatch it!”
Wen Qingling clicked his tongue and said, “What are you talking about, snatching? Is that something civilized people would do? We should reason with them. We are all civilized people, and we should be able to communicate.”
Xiong Shu replied with confusion, “???”
Xiong Shu was filled with question marks in his mind. Looking at the others, he could see that they were all wearing different expressions. It seemed that he wasn’t the only one confused.
After a moment, Xiong Shu hesitantly asked, “So, should we go and reason with them?”
Wen Qingling nodded and said, “Yes, reason with them.”
Ji Rong murmured softly, “I can’t believe that Dr. Wen can reason with people. I find it hard to believe.”
He Lin and Shi Chong nodded in agreement. They didn’t believe it either.
Xiao Hen looked at Wen Qingling’s serious expression and was surprised to see that he genuinely wanted to reason with them. However, he wasn’t sure if his reasoning would be effective.
Wen Qingling took a step forward and headed towards the others with Xiong Shu to reason with them.
Chang Boheng and Wen Chu exchanged a glance, understanding each other’s thoughts. Wen Chu said, “You go with them, I’ll stay at the base.”
Chang Boheng agreed, “Alright, be careful.”
Chang Boheng took a few people and quickly caught up with Wen Qingling and the others, saying, “Take us with you, so we can help if things turn violent.”
Although it might not be necessary, having more people would at least have a deterrent effect.
Wen Qingling didn’t refuse their request. If they wanted to follow, then let them follow.
Several vehicles drove out of Xiang County Base. Chang Boheng, upon Xiao Hen’s invitation, sat in the off-road vehicle with Wen Qingling.
Since their time at Ling City Base, Chang Boheng had wanted to establish a good relationship with Wen Qingling. However, Wen Qingling seemed emotionless, like a machine without feelings, making it difficult for Chang Boheng to approach him. Now, Wen Qingling seemed to have softened a bit compared to before, possibly due to his interactions with Xiao Hen and the others. He seemed to have gained a bit of humanity, although he still maintained his cold demeanor.
Wen Qingling remained silent throughout the journey, while Xiao Hen and Chang Boheng engaged in conversation. Chang Boheng had been invited into the car by Xiao Hen, so he suspected that Xiao Hen wanted to discuss something with him. Chang Boheng asked about the basic situation in Xiang County, with a particular focus on the number of independent organizations and whether Chang Boheng had considered unifying Xiang County.
Xiao Hen’s words struck a chord with Chang Boheng. Although he had brought a considerable number of people with him to Xiang County, they were newcomers who couldn’t act freely. They were always restricted in their actions. Now, with Wen Qingling and the civilization base as their support, it was time to prioritize the plan to unify Xiang County.
Xiao Hen understood that no matter how large the force, there could only be one leader. Otherwise, they would end up like Central Mega City, where the seven generals gathered, and every decision had to be discussed and voted upon. There would be various internal conflicts and power struggles, which would inevitably lead to problems over time.
Compared to the chaos in Central Mega City, Xiao Hen placed greater importance on the development of Civilization City. With Wen Qingling’s presence, no matter how large Civilization City grew, they wouldn’t face the situation of the seven generals vying for power. Wen Qingling would be the ultimate authority, and it might even lead to a situation where his word was final. However, Wen Qingling wasn’t someone who couldn’t be reasoned with. He was insightful and had both strengths and means. He could listen to advise, which made him the best leader.
Hope that what Chang Boheng couldn’t see in Central Mega City, he could see in Wen Qingling.
Wen Qingling, who had been dozing off with his head leaned back against the seat, opened his eyes and asked, “How many people are there in Yue County Base?”
It was clear that he was directing the question to Chang Boheng, as Xiao Hen wasn’t familiar with the power distribution in that area.
Chang Boheng replied, “When Ling City Base was still around, there were rumors that there were nearly ten thousand people in Yue County Base. Now, I’m afraid there are even more.”
Ling City Base was destroyed, but thanks to Xiao Hen’s information, most people managed to survive. These survivors, who had escaped the slaughter by “General,” didn’t dare to approach Ling City and scattered to join nearby bases. The rumor that Yue County Base didn’t accept outsiders might not be entirely true. If a plant-based ability user sought refuge there, would they really refuse?
The criteria for not accepting outsiders probably meant they didn’t accept ordinary people. Those who possessed real abilities couldn’t be excluded.
Unlike when they went to Ling City Base, where Wen Qingling immediately started using his psychic powers to probe, which was discovered by Miao Bo, a fellow psychic, this time was different. They came to reason with them, so they had to be polite.
Several vehicles drove into Yue County one after another. The van that was originally following behind accelerated and moved to the front, taking the lead and assuming the posture of leading the way. The desire to impress Wen Qingling was almost written on the vehicle.
Xiao Hen didn’t argue with Xiong Shu and slowed down to follow behind.
Xiao Hen looked at Wen Qingling in surprise. Wen Qingling, who usually liked to release his psychic powers, didn’t do so this time. It was unusual.
Wen Qingling looked at him coolly. “We’re here to reason with them. We need to be polite.”
Xiao Hen felt helpless. “You don’t really think you can convince them with reason, do you?”
Wen Qingling asked, “Do I look like someone who doesn’t keep their word?”
Xiao Hen replied, “What’s your plan for reasoning with them?”
Wen Qingling answered, “I just want some seeds in exchange for mutated animals. It won’t be a loss for them.”
Xiao Hen asked, “But what if they refuse to make the trade?”
Wen Qingling found it amusing. Trading a pound of food for a pound of meat, why would anyone hesitate about such a good deal? Unless they were overly greedy or had unusual ideas, normal people wouldn’t refuse.
Wen Qingling said, “They will definitely agree.”
Xiao Hen and Chang Boheng fell silent.
Chang Boheng thought to himself that it was good if Wen Qingling was happy. If they could solve the problem with words, it would save them a lot of effort.
After entering Yue County, all they could see were wandering zombies. There was not a single living person in sight, nor did they spot any mutated animals.
The van in front decelerated and was about to make a turn when suddenly an off-road vehicle shot out from the side, grazing the front of the van as it sped by. The van braked abruptly, but its front was still rammed, and Xiong Shu and the others were about to curse when a giant shadow came crashing down. Xiong Shu quickly reversed the vehicle.
“Boom!”
The parts of the smashed sedan scattered, and the chassis pushed the van, sliding for several meters. The van’s windows shattered, and Xiong Shu and the others hadn’t recovered from the series of accidents when a grotesque creature, tall and with a neck-like head, came running towards them.
Originally chasing after the car that had fled, the creature suddenly caught the scent of people inside the van, skidded, and turned back, pouncing on the van. Three decomposed corpse wolves leaped out of the window, fiercely biting into the creature’s arm.
The creature roared angrily, swinging its sturdy arm and tossing the corpse wolves away. It grabbed the van and was about to smash it when a large fireball came crashing down, immediately scorching it black. The creature stumbled, and the van in its hand fell to the ground. A few more fireballs kept the creature backing off.
Ji Rong shouted, “Are you just going to stay in the car and wait to die?!”
Xiong Shu and the others in the vehicle were battered and bloodied, struggling to crawl out. They were stunned and terrified at the sight of the grotesque creature in front of them, and their legs went weak, making it impossible for them to move.
All of this happened too quickly. Chang Boheng’s heart was already in his throat. This was a Level 4 evolved creature, a “Grotesque.” Its combat power was off the charts, and any survivor team on a mission that encountered a “Grotesque” would basically have no chance of survival. In such a critical moment, Wen Qingling and Xiao Hen remained seated, seemingly completely unconcerned about the “Grotesque.”
In fact, they really weren’t concerned.
Wen Qingling turned his head and asked Xiao Hen, “Has Ji Rong become stronger?”
Xiao Hen nodded. Ji Rong was cunning. With Xiao Hen’s transformation, his level increased, and his abilities improved as well, as could be seen from the size of the fireballs he threw.
Wen Qingling transmitted his thoughts to Xiao Hen. “Tell Ji Rong to be careful and not kill it.”
Ji Rong paused his fireball mid-air, looking confused. “Huh?”
Wen Qingling continued transmitting his thoughts. “I smell a conspiracy.”
Ji Rong replied, “…??”
Xiao Hen tapped the steering wheel. “Your plan to convince them with reason may not work. We haven’t even reached the Yue County base, and the trap has already been set.”
They were all intelligent people, and Chang Boheng immediately understood Wen Qingling and Xiao Hen’s meanings. They had been targeted as soon as they entered Yue County. Someone deliberately provoked the “Grotesque” and lured it over here. In the end, whether the “Grotesque” killed the intruders or the intruders killed the “Grotesque,” the Yue County base wouldn’t suffer any losses. If both sides ended up losing, it would be the perfect solution for the Yue County base.
A “Grotesque” appeared in the county town, and its destructive power was still considerable. Even Xiao Hen and his team, with their fighting abilities, had suffered greatly at the hands of the “Grotesque.” It was evident that the “Grotesque” was not only ugly but also fierce.
Ji Rong hesitated and threw another fireball, but the enraged “Grotesque” easily dispersed it with a punch and let out an angry roar. It was about to pounce on Ji Rong when suddenly it stopped and looked around vigilantly.
Wen Qingling looked ahead and asked, “Can we handle it?”
Xiao Hen replied, “We can give it a try.”
The oppressive aura belonging to the Level 8 evolved creature, the “General,” pressed down on the approaching “Grotesque.” The “Grotesque” let out a roar, filled with fear in its voice, and without any desire for further combat, it turned and fled.
Even with only one-third of the “General’s” presence, it was enough to make a Level 4 evolved zombie flee in fear. If the evolution level were higher, they might have discovered the trick, such as the human scent mixed in with the “General’s” aura.
Chang Boheng, sitting in the car, felt his hairs stand on end. Every nerve in his body was screaming danger, danger, danger… All of this happened in an instant, and by the time he reacted, there was no trace of danger, leaving only his profuse cold sweat.
Chang Boheng looked fearfully at the two people in front of him. Wen Qingling and Xiao Hen were still talking as if they were completely unaffected.
Ji Rong walked back, bent down, and leaned against the window of the driver’s seat. “Why didn’t you let me kill it? Are we saving it for Chinese New Year?”
Wen Qingling glanced at him. “Are you a hired thug from the Yue County base? If I let you kill, then you kill?!”
Ji Rong: “…”
Ji Rong: “…Damn!”
He Lin and Shi Chong returned after checking their injuries. “They’re just superficial wounds, nothing serious.”
Wen Qingling looked at the disheveled Xiong Shu and the others, lightly tapping the car window with his slender fingertips. Suddenly, he said, “Get them a car. I think the one that just ran past us is not bad.”
Xiao Hen knew that Wen Qingling was not one to be taken advantage of. The Yue County base really had guts. They didn’t even bother to see who the incoming people were. Digging pits with their eyes closed, they must have done this kind of thing more than once. Judging by their skilled business level, they must have captured many outsiders in their hands.
Xiao Hen said, “You guys stay here. We’ll be right back.”
Xiao Hen started the car and followed the direction the previous car had left in.
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