“M-My lord! It was Song Leyi! She sold all the girls from the class to Boss Huang! She told him you had tons of supplies and convinced him to send people to kill you! She said there were only three people in your shelter, so there was no way you could beat him!”
Every word seemed squeezed out of the dog-headed mutant’s throat.
He was terrified that if he spoke even a second too slowly, his head would roll to the ground.
Hearing this, the killing intent in Lin Mao’s eyes froze for a moment before turning into a cold, dangerous gleam.
Not far away, Wen Rou and Li Ruyue had heard the entire conversation clearly.
The two girls instinctively exchanged glances.
Both could see the same emotions reflected in each other’s eyes:
Relief.
And lingering fear.
They quietly clenched their fists, thankful they had chosen to leave Song Leyi and follow Lin Mao instead.
Otherwise, they might already have become playthings for Boss Huang and his men.
…
Meanwhile, the yellow-haired birdman trembled under Lin Mao’s icy stare.
With a loud thud, he dropped to his knees and repeatedly slammed his head against the ground.
“M-My lord! We failed to recognize greatness before us! If we had known you possessed such terrifying power, we wouldn’t have dared offend you even with a hundred lives! Please spare me! I’m begging you!”
The moment he finished speaking, the dog-headed mutant hurriedly added:
“That’s right, my lord! You’re practically a god descended to earth! Boss Huang isn’t even worthy of carrying your shoes! He’s nothing but an ant you can crush whenever you want!”
“We’re willing to serve you faithfully! We’ll climb mountains of blades and cross seas of fire for you! Just spare our lives!”
Then his eyes suddenly lit up as he remembered something.
“Oh! And those women from Song Leyi’s group—they’re all pretty! They’re still with Boss Huang right now. Just give the order and we’ll tie them up and bring them to you personally. You can enjoy them however you want!”
At the phrase “enjoy them however you want,” Wen Rou frowned slightly.
Li Ruyue silently pressed her lips together, her expression complicated.
Under their watchful eyes, a smile slowly appeared on Lin Mao’s face.
“Oh? That does sound pretty tempting.”
The words were like heavenly music to the two mutants.
Their eyes instantly brightened with joy.
They hurriedly kowtowed again.
“My lord is wise! As long as you spare us, we’ll offer you everything we have!”
But in the very next second, Lin Mao’s smile disappeared.
His voice turned cold and full of disgust.
“Unfortunately, I don’t trust spineless traitors like you.”
“Today you betray Boss Huang to save yourselves. Tomorrow you’d betray me for an even greater reward.”
“As for that bitch Song Leyi…”
Lin Mao sneered.
“I’m not interested in garbage like her.”
The joy on the two mutants’ faces instantly froze.
They opened their mouths, trying desperately to beg again—
But it was already too late.
Lin Mao raised his right hand.
Blinding blue lightning gathered at his fingertips.
“Thunderfall.”
BOOM!!!
Two enormous bolts of lightning descended from the sky like roaring blue dragons.
They struck the birdman and dog-headed mutant directly.
Violent electricity instantly engulfed their bodies.
Accompanied by horrifying screams, both were reduced to ash within a single breath.
Only two piles of blackened dust remained.
Lin Mao casually brushed a bit of ash from his shoulder before turning toward Wen Rou and Li Ruyue.
“I’m heading to the old shelter.”
“You two stay here and don’t move.”
Wen Rou nodded respectfully.
“We understand. Don’t worry. We’ll wait here until you come back.”
Lin Mao gave a slight nod.
Without another word, blue light flickered around his body as he rose into the air and sped toward the old shelter.
…
Wan Yuyan sprinted desperately through the forest.
From time to time, she glanced nervously behind her while shouting at the girls beside her.
“Hurry up! Run faster! If we don’t get away now, we’re finished!”
The dozen girls following her were already exhausted.
Their faces were pale with fear and fatigue.
Their legs felt as heavy as lead.
But after hearing Wan Yuyan’s words, they gritted their teeth and forced themselves to keep running.
Wan Yuyan had originally been the class sports committee member.
Her physical fitness was far better than average even before transmigration.
Not long ago, she had awakened a body enhancement talent, greatly increasing her strength, speed, and endurance.
After Lin Mao left, she naturally ended up taking over many responsibilities in the shelter.
Last night, when she discovered Song Leyi planned to sell the girls to Boss Huang as playthings, she exploded with rage.
After failing to stop her, Wan Yuyan decisively escaped with the girls unwilling to submit.
As she ran, her sharp eyes constantly scanned their surroundings.
The forest was dim.
Dense branches blocked most of the sunlight, leaving only scattered shadows across the ground.
Everything around them was eerily quiet except for hurried footsteps, ragged breathing, and the occasional rustling of leaves.
Then suddenly—
Rustle… rustle…
A strange sound echoed from all directions.
Wan Yuyan’s heart tightened.
She immediately stopped and signaled the others to do the same.
The next moment—
A group of vicious-looking men emerged from the trees like hungry wolves.
They quickly surrounded the girls, cutting off every escape route.
Seeing this, the final traces of hope disappeared from the girls’ faces.
Despair filled their eyes.
Some had already started crying quietly.
Wan Yuyan bit her lip so hard her nails dug into her palms, but she didn’t even notice the pain.
And then—
A figure suddenly appeared in the sky.
It was Lin Mao.
Wan Yuyan’s eyes instantly brightened with hope.
But almost immediately, her expression darkened again.
Back at the shelter, she had watched helplessly as Song Leyi drove Lin Mao away.
Now that things had reached this point, why would he save them?
He was probably here just to watch them suffer.
Maybe even to mock them.
Thinking of this, Wan Yuyan let out a bitter laugh.
“It looks like… we’re really going to die this time.”
The men surrounding the girls also noticed Lin Mao floating in the air.
They stopped advancing and looked up in confusion.
Then one of the burly leaders remembered Boss Huang’s orders.
He waved his hand and shouted:
“Brothers! Kill this guy first! Then grab the women and collect the reward! Move!”
Dozens of men charged forward with weapons raised.
But after only a few steps—
Lin Mao slowly lifted his right hand.
His expression remained completely indifferent.
“Thunder.”
The moment the word left his mouth—
The sky darkened instantly.
Storm clouds gathered overhead.
Countless bolts of lightning tore through the heavens like silver dragons.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!!!
The thunder crashed downward with devastating force toward Boss Huang’s men.
Wan Yuyan and the other girls shut their eyes in terror.
They thought the lightning would kill them too.
After all, Lin Mao didn’t seem like someone who would save them.
But several moments passed.
No pain came.
Not even a trace of heat.
Confused, Wan Yuyan slowly opened her eyes.
The scene before her left every girl completely stunned.
The men who had surrounded them moments ago—
We’re gone.
Every single one of Boss Huang’s subordinates had been reduced to black ash scattered across the ground.
The wind blew gently through the forest, carrying the ashes away.
Not even a single trace of them remained.