Awakening Zhongli Template, Retiring on Terra

He sat in the back seat, resting his elbow on the chair, and asked:

"What's wrong with Croissant? Can you explain it to me? I'm still a bit confused."

Exusiai showed her phone screen. On the chat app interface, there was a dock location. Below it were only five words, simple and clear in meaning:

"I'm trapped, come quickly."

"I don't know the specifics, we just need to go. Texas, can you hurry up? By the time we get there, the fight will be over. Should I drive?"

Texas yanked the steering wheel and stepped on the gas:

"Hold on tight!"

The car made a turn, directly onto hundreds of stone steps that resembled a mountain climb, and went downhill.

Holy crap, is this a movie?

Shi Lei had never expected her to turn onto a road that wasn't a road. The car body bounced violently back and forth because the uneven steps were not gripped by the tires.

It bounced and bounced for nearly two minutes. Finally, they reached the bottom of the stone steps and rushed onto a road by the river. The car that suddenly appeared startled the sedan driving behind it, which quickly braked to avoid a collision.

He felt like his stomach was churning, and the pizza he ate at noon was about to come back up. It was incredibly uncomfortable.

"We're almost there, just hold on a little longer. We're saving ten minutes by coming this way."

Exusiai reached into Texas's pocket and found a box of chocolate bars. She unwrapped one and fed it to Texas first, then took one for herself, and handed one over.

Shi Lei took it and put it directly into his mouth, using the sweetness of the chocolate to swallow the rising smell.

Seeing them so calm and composed, completely unfazed, he wondered if they usually drove this wild.

Exusiai buried her head, checking her handgun and ammunition, her expression extremely focused, as if making final preparations for battle:

"If you get scared later, just hide in the car. Leave the rest to us."

Shi Lei had never felt scared. So far, he hadn't encountered an opponent who could instantly break his Jade Shield. Moreover, besides his elemental skill, he also had an elemental burst hidden up his sleeve.

In the game Genshin, this skill would petrify the target for a few seconds upon hitting them. However, Shi Lei wasn't sure if it would be a few seconds or permanent petrification on Terra. He wouldn't use this move unless absolutely necessary, not even during his Comprehensive Medical Examination.

December 1st, 6:14 PM.

District 22, Lungmen Docks.

Croissant stood guard in front of an open blue container, holding a shield in her left hand and a hammer in her right.

Inside the cramped space, more than a dozen thugs lay scattered. A man in black, suspected to be the leader, stood at a higher position, with crossbowmen in similar black clothes and hats behind him:

"Don't hold on any longer. How much longer can you last? Why don't you step aside, and we'll split the contents fifty-fifty?"

Croissant's breathing was heavy. She was trying to conserve her strength and didn't have time to waste words with these robbers.

"There are so many of us, and only one of you. What's the point of holding on like this? If you lose your life, no matter how valuable the cargo is, it won't matter to you."

"Stop yapping, it's annoying!"

Croissant finally couldn't take it anymore and retorted.

She hid at the entrance of the container, guarding the passage that only one person could pass through. When facing crossbowmen, she raised her shield; when facing thugs, she swung her hammer, using the geographical advantage to hold out for a long time.

Calculating the time, they should be here soon, right? It's quite embarrassing to let them see me like this.

"You ungrateful wretch! What the Green Shrimp Gang wants, you'll give it whether you want to or not! Do you know why I haven't launched an attack? You're waiting for reinforcements, and I have them too. Shall we see who arrives first?"

"Ugh..."

Suddenly, the faint sounds of thugs screaming could be heard from a distance. Croissant narrowed her eyes and grinned:

"Looks like my side arrived first."

In less than a moment, men in black rushed over:

"Boss, someone's breaking in! They're so fierce, our brothers can't hold on."

In fact, the boss of the Green Shrimp Gang didn't know what was at the very back of the container. He could only vaguely see a motorcycle near the entrance. Initially, a few thugs tried to snatch it and were beaten, then more and more people were called. Even with his personal command, he couldn't subdue the opponent.

Seeing that the sunk cost was increasing, and retreat was no longer an option.

"You have to hold on even if you can't! The Golden Hook Gang will be here soon. If we retreat now, won't the other gangs on the docks laugh at us? Hold the line!"

"Dada da da da..."

Croissant vaguely heard the sound of rapid handgun fire, knowing that Exusiai had arrived. Although she was equipped with rubber bullets instead of live rounds, they still hurt when they hit.

"Boss, they're killing their way over!"

"No, the brothers can't hold on!"

At the same time, two hundred dockworkers with golden fish hooks embroidered on their clothes, armed with weapons, rushed in from outside the dock and formed a pincer movement with the Green Shrimp Gang.

032 Vortex of Heavenly Revelation!

Exusiai hadn't fought for many days and was itching for a fight, charging at the forefront. For any enemy who dared to block her, she raised her handgun and sprayed rubber bullets.

Texas was not as wild, positioned in the middle of the entire team. She could provide support to Exusiai at any time and also ensure the safety of those behind her. Shi Lei lagged about four or five paces behind Exusiai, his hands spread, ready to refresh his Jade Shield at any moment.

Honestly, they were already messengers before they joined Penguin Logistics. When facing enemies head-on, they instinctively dodged, completely forgetting about their shields.

However, it's perfectly normal not to be used to it, as this is everyone's first time fighting as a group.

"Hahahaha, all of you fall before me!"

Exusiai's shooting talent is incredible; it feels like every bullet she fires hits the head. If these weren't rubber bullets, these guys would have been shot in the head long ago.

Hiding among the numerous red and blue shipping containers, the black-clad figures trying to rush in for close combat were easily rendered helpless by Texas, who used her sword sheath to knock them away, preventing them from getting close.

"She's over here, hurry!"

Exusiai leaped and rolled off the container, her aim still impeccable, each bullet locking onto a target.

Shi Lei quickened his pace, walking alongside Texas. He quickly spotted Croissant, who was cornered.

Holding a hammer in one hand and a shield in the other, she looked like a war god amidst the fallen grunts.

"Don't get too cocky just yet, I have reinforcements coming too. Today, you'll regret crossing me!"

Upon hearing this, Shi Lei immediately stepped onto the containers and climbed them, wanting to get a better vantage point for information. He scanned his surroundings and quickly spotted a large, dark mass of people heading their way, roughly estimated to be around one to two hundred.

Especially in the dock, filled with cargo boxes and containers, so many people created a visually impactful scene.

"I'll go stop them."

With that, Shi Lei scrambled down the containers and ran towards the approaching crowd. After about fifty to sixty meters, he jumped off the containers and stood on the edge of the dock.

Seeing him standing alone in the passage, the leading members of the Golden Hook Gang couldn't help but scoff.

"Look at that guy, is he an idiot? Just him alone, trying to stop all of us?"

"Maybe, what if he really wants to fight all of us? Hahahaha."

The Golden Hook Gang members continued to advance with smiles, quickly closing the distance to about twenty meters. Shi Lei's expression turned serious. With his hands clasped behind his back, he warned them:

"Don't come any closer, or I will act."

Unexpectedly, his words caused the Golden Hook Gang members to burst into laughter. They even pointed at him, their playful gazes looking at him like a clown:

"Hahahaha, did you hear that? This guy really thinks he can fight all of us?"

A man dressed more finely, who appeared to be the leader of the Golden Hook Gang, stepped forward. He chuckled lightly upon hearing this:

"Then you go ahead. If you win, the first merit is yours."

"Alright, then you better watch, boss. I, Little Ma of Golden Hook, am not known for nothing."

Seeing that his warning was ineffective, Shi Lei crossed his arms.

Instantly, the sky changed!

Dark clouds spread out like ripples, layer upon layer, adopting a rocky brown hue. A colossal star-rock broke through the clouds, falling like a fleeting meteor. With incredible speed, it plummeted from the heavens!

The Golden Hook Gang members were stunned, having never witnessed such a breathtaking spectacle. Their mouths hung open in astonishment, and some were so tense they forgot to breathe.

The meteor falling from the sky grew larger and faster in their eyes. In less than two seconds, it was nearing the ground.

"With the star of the celestial rock descending, the heavens decree darkness."

The moment Shi Lei finished speaking, the star-rock, having reached its maximum velocity, slammed into the ground. A tremendous explosion erupted, leaving behind a large, web-like crater.

"BOOM!!!"

Witnessing this, the Golden Hook Gang members froze in place, dumbfounded.

Shi Lei maintained his stance with his arms crossed, staring in the direction of the crowd, and said coldly:

"Take one more step, and I will act."

The leader of the Golden Hook Gang slowly ran his hand over his chest, still reeling from the shock of what had just happened.

God, what in the world was that? Even Originium Arts, I've never seen anything fall from the sky like that.

And Green Shrimp Gang, Shrimp Gang, your mom's shrimp!

Messing with someone this powerful, forget one Golden Hook Gang, ten wouldn't be enough to die. They came to help for money, not to lose their lives.

"Retreat... quickly retreat..."

The leader of the Golden Hook Gang's legs trembled, almost giving way. As he turned, he stumbled, nearly falling. The other gang members, like startled birds, fled in a panic.

Little Ma of the Golden Hook Gang, who had been so boastful earlier, was now deathly pale. His mouth hung slightly open, intending to apologize. But upon seeing the man's indifferent gaze, his heart skipped a beat. He immediately knelt on the cold ground, repeatedly kowtowing and begging for forgiveness.

Only when he looked up and saw the man turn away, as if no longer pursuing the matter, did he flee the scene as if his life depended on it.

Shi Lei had only walked a few steps when he encountered Texas.

She had just been fighting in a confined space. When she saw the anomaly in the sky, she looked up for a moment. However, the meteor fell too quickly. After two to three seconds, a loud boom sounded, and she quickly leaped onto a container to investigate.

As she walked back, she saw the fleeing crowd in the distance. The stark visual contrast made her realize at a glance that the meteor falling from the sky was Shi Lei's doing.

"..."

Exusiai emptied her magazine and, finding no more rubber bullets, dealt with the last few grunts with her bare hands.

She had her back to the dock just now and didn't notice the anomaly in the sky, only hearing a loud noise.

Meanwhile, the members of the Green Shrimp Gang present were mostly unconscious. Although their leader was conscious, he happened to jump off a container when Shi Lei unleashed his elemental burst. Later, he heard the loud noise and ran to the intersection to check. Seeing the Golden Hook Gang members fleeing from a distance, he stamped his feet in anger.

Exusiai flew up and kicked him down, finishing him off until he was unconscious. Only then did she look up at Texas on the container and ask:

"What just happened?"

Texas didn't answer directly, instead tilting her head to look at Shi Lei. Seeing that he didn't make a shushing gesture or shake his head, she replied vaguely:

"Shi Lei... he made a move."

"Made a move? Doesn't he only know how to protect people? But why did I hear an explosion just now?"

Exusiai muttered to herself, not taking it to heart. She surveyed the scene and called out to Croissant:

"Croissant, it's all handled. What should we do with these guys next?"

Croissant locked the container door, not wanting Exusiai to see the motorcycles inside too early:

"They probably often rob individual businesses and small shops. Call the Lungmen Guard Department to deal with them."

Meanwhile.

A middle-aged man with orange hair and dragon horns, standing atop a tall building, along with Lin Gerei, who was wearing a coat, both noticed the anomaly at Dock District 20.

033 We Won't Go Home Sober

December 1st, 6:24 PM

Core City, Central Building.