Sang Chu asked,
“So if we want to build a base, we need a team like that too?”
Sang Jingwen was quiet for a moment before replying,
“Not necessarily, Sang Sang. The weapon you brought back is terrifyingly strong. Even a level-2 ability user like Sun Hou died instantly. I doubt even a level-3 ability user could withstand it. But to be safe, we should find a chance to test it.”
Sang Chu shook her head.
“Brother, it won’t work on level-3 ability users.”
Lin Muxue and Lu Minfeng both turned toward her at the same time.
“Sang Sang, how do you know that?”
“Do you remember when I first returned and went to save you? I shot at Zhao Feng, but he directly blocked it. It couldn’t hurt him at all.”
Lin Muxue huffed angrily.
“But Zhao Feng isn’t a normal ability user! I filled him full of bullets once and he still lived!”
Lu Minfeng concluded,
“Just to be safe, it would be better to secretly test it on another level-3 user.”
Tu You, who had been silent all this time, suddenly spoke:
【Ah Chu, maybe you could make a deal with that flood dragon.】
Sang Chu paused.
【What do you mean?】
【You took everything from its lair. It can’t advance anymore. But if you give it some resources in exchange for guarding your base, wouldn’t that benefit both sides?】
Sang Chu hesitated.
【The flood dragon is strong, but why would it accept? What if it destroys our city instead?】
【Silly. You still have the spiritual cultivation manual. At that stage, evolution into a true dragon is all that matters. Nothing else compares.】
【…Let me think about it.】
Meanwhile.
Xiao Yifei and another man stood back-to-back, surrounded by a group of armed survivors.
“Yi-ge, everyone knows how powerful you are,” someone sneered. “But after we put that weakening herb in your water, it’s better if you don’t fight back.”
Xiao Yifei glared at them, flames flickering around his hands despite the weakness spreading through his body.
“Why? Why betray me?!”
The leader laughed wildly.
“Don’t you know? There’s a rumor that drinking an ability user’s blood can awaken abilities! You’re good to us, Yi-ge, so don’t resist. Let us take some blood. If everyone awakens abilities, won’t that be great for the base?”
Xiao Yifei snarled,
“Nonsense! That’s a lie and you fools believe it!”
The man standing at his back muttered, “Idiots…”
Another survivor spoke,
“Don’t say that. The boss said the rumor is true. Yi-ge, don’t tell me you don’t want everyone to awaken abilities?”
Xiao Yifei scoffed.
“He claims it’s true? Then why didn’t he give his blood? Why come for me?”
“Who said he didn’t? The boss already offered his blood, and two people awakened abilities! Why do you think we’d take the risk? He said the higher the ability level, the greater the chance. Sorry, Yi-ge. Brothers, do it!”
Betrayal in their eyes, weapons raised.
Xiao Yifei intended to burn them all and break out, but—
His comrade, standing guard behind him, suddenly pushed him away.
“Yi-ge, run! I’ll hold them off!”
Xiao Yifei staggered, then turned back, unwilling to leave someone behind.
“We die together then. I won’t abandon a brother!”
But just as his ability finally collapsed under the poison—
The man behind him, A Sheng, drove a Tang sword straight into his chest.
Xiao Yifei stared down at the blade, blood dripping from his lips.
“W-why…?”
Lu Shiyang laughed,
“Of course it was a trap. Even without your ability, we can’t let you live.”
A Sheng rotated the blade with a smile full of twisted triumph.
“Yi-ge, just think of it as you sacrificing for everyone. We won’t forget you.”
Xiao Yifei spat blood in his face.
“Shameless traitors…”
A Sheng tried to pull the blade out, but Xiao Yifei suddenly spun, impaling himself deeper and driving the blade into A Sheng’s body.
A Sheng gasped. Xiao Yifei wrenched the sword free and—one clean strike—beheaded him.
Blood rained down his face, but Xiao Yifei stood supported by the sword, smiling coldly.
“If I die, I’ll take all of you with me.”
On the road to rescue him, Sang Chu and her group were standing beside the hovercar while she tried to draw a new vehicle model through the wrist device.
She failed miserably.
Sang Jingwen stepped forward.
“Little sister, how about I try?”
Sang Chu scratched her head awkwardly.
“I thought it was automatic…”
Lin Muxue immediately burst out laughing, collapsing against Grandma Lin.
“Sang Xiaochu, you should’ve let Wen-ge do it from the start. You draw worse than me!”
Grandma Lin patted her hand, sighing,
“Xiao Xue, don’t tease her.”
Lu Minfeng then said,
“Ah Chu, I want to discuss something. Since we decided to build a base here in Haishi, it might be better to split up. Traveling together will take too long, and the hovercar isn’t the best for Grandma’s comfort.”
Sang Chu turned to the others.
“Brother, Muxue, what do you think?”
Sang Jingwen kept drawing while answering,
“I’m fine with anything, but I want to go with Sang Sang.”
Lin Muxue looked at Grandma Lin, then at Sang Chu.
“Then I’ll stay with Grandma. I’m tired of running around. And we’re more familiar with Haishi. I think we’ll be fine.”
“And all those voices in my head are driving me crazy,” she added to herself.
Sang Chu nodded.
“Then Minfeng and Muxue stay. Brother, come with me to save Yi-ge.”
(End of Chapter)