The stone wall was thick. Even digging at it with the shovel beside the mine entrance failed to loosen it.
"Stand back!"
Shi Lei's tone brooked no argument. He had Texas take the little girl farther away first. Exusiai was a little slow to catch on, but she still ran to a safe distance.
In an instant, a beam of light illuminated the pitch-black night.
Planet Befall plummeted from the sky, striking the center of the collapsed mine with the precision of a missile. A thunderous boom erupted, sending dust flying everywhere.
"Vortex of Heavenly Revelation!"
The mine entrance, which had been completely sealed off, was smashed into a crater by the massive impact. The sinking ground loosened the rocks blocking the way, revealing a path to safety.
"Holy shit!!!"
It was Exusiai's first time witnessing Shi Lei unleash an Elemental Burst in person, and her shock was written all over her face. Texas, on the other hand, remained much calmer, her expression nearly unchanged.
Amid a rustling sound, a biting cold wind blew into the mine through the gaps between the rocks.
The trapped Infected instantly woke from the cold, as though they had found a sliver of hope in their despair. They desperately clawed at the rocks, trying to escape this damned place.
Standing near the entrance, Shi Lei warned them.
"You're too slow like that. Stand back!"
The Infected inside ignored him completely and kept digging through the rubble with their heads down. He created Rock Spears and fiercely jabbed them into the gaps between the rocks, finally forcing everyone back.
"I'm warning you one last time. Stand back!"
Once no one remained near the rocks, a second meteor descended from the sky. It reduced the piled-up boulders and rubble around the mine entrance to powder in moments.
Although rocks were still clattering down from overhead, the accumulated debris was not even as tall as a person. The remaining gap was enough for the Infected to crawl through.
"We're saved! We're finally saved!"
The trapped Infected fled the mine. There were no middle-aged men among the first to emerge; young men came out first, followed by women and children, while the elderly with mobility issues came out last. Most had black horns and belonged to the Sarkaz race.
The Infected knew who had helped them. Such kindness was rare on Terra. As they passed Shi Lei, they repeatedly expressed their gratitude.
"Kind sir, thank you so much..."
Shi Lei had rescued them to save lives, not to listen to their thanks, so he urged them onward.
"Alright, alright, hurry up and go. Since you've escaped, don't get trapped or captured again."
After thanking him again and again, the Infected quickly left the mine, trying to catch up with Rhodes Island's group.
The little girl who had fainted outside the hot spring also reunited with her family as she had wished. They could hardly believe they would ever meet again in this lifetime and clung tightly to one another.
The scene was deeply moving.
Her family picked up the little girl. As she left, she kept waving at Shi Lei in thanks until she finally disappeared into the night.
Received 3 Roleplay Value based on the host's performance.
Watching the Infected disappear into the distance, Exusiai tightened her collar, huddled her neck, and said.
"Zhongli, give me a shield already. I'm freezing to death!"
Shi Lei smiled and put a Jade Shield around her, then headed toward Texas's car, preparing to return to the hot spring inn for some rest.
"Vroom, vroom!"
Exusiai twisted the handlebar, and the motorcycle engine roared like a beast in the quiet winter night. She switched on the high beams and took the lead. Texas carried Shi Lei and followed the road they had taken before.
As they passed through the town, the three saw from afar that it was brightly lit. Many Ursus with bear ears stood at their doorsteps in thick clothes, holding all kinds of weapons.
Something about this didn't feel right...
Exusiai revved her engine showily, startling the streets. Seeing every household looking their way, she complained.
"Hahaha, what's with these people? Why aren't they asleep in the middle of the night?"
Someone in the crowd suddenly shouted, and the other villagers raised their weapons in response.
Holding all sorts of farm tools and crossbows, they charged down the slope toward them in a terrifying wave.
"Ura!"
"Ura!"
Exusiai jumped in fright, not expecting such an extreme reaction. She had wanted to fire rubber bullets as a warning, but there were too many villagers charging at them, so she could only retreat first.
Texas drove after her as they fled toward the hot spring inn. Shi Lei carefully observed the terrain. When they passed a narrow stretch of road, he used Rock Spears to break open the snow and fallen rocks on both sides, temporarily blocking the path.
He felt that there was something wrong with these villagers. They had the air of a cult. Maybe they should return to the inn as soon as possible, inform the owner of the situation, and leave for Lungmen early.
Shi Lei stared ahead, then suddenly spoke.
"Damn. What about those people?"
Texas did not understand. She glanced at him through the rearview mirror and asked.
"What?"
"Those Infected. They don't even have weapons. They can't put up any real resistance. If the villagers catch them, won't they end up as corpses in the wilderness?"
There was a saying in the world Shi Lei had come from before crossing over.
If you helped someone, you helped them to the end; if you sent Buddha west, you sent him all the way there.
Letting them fend for themselves after rescuing them did seem rather heartless. Especially in a country so hostile toward the Infected, it was even more troublesome.
Texas held the steering wheel and gradually slowed down. There was no confusion in her eyes, only determination.
"What do you want to do?"
"Hmm, the car's too conspicuous. How about we pull over and go back on foot to find them?"
Seeing the car slow down, Exusiai turned back. After learning of Shi Lei's concerns, she patted her chest and promised.
"Hey, no need to make it so complicated. Just ride my motorcycle. Don't worry about overloading it, my off-road driving skills are guaranteed. But Zhongli, I have a question."
"Go ahead?"
"I don't mind escorting those Infected out, but how long are we supposed to escort them?"
How could there possibly be an exact answer to that?
At the very least, they had to help the Infected escape the villagers' pursuit and give them some time to recover.
"I don't know. Save whoever we can. You can't force things like this; we can only do our best. If we escort the Infected for a few kilometers, they should be safe, right?"
To be honest, Shi Lei was not sure either. He could not guarantee that those mad villagers would not stay up all night just to hunt down the Infected.
After confirming the plan, Texas parked the sedan by the roadside. Together with Exusiai and Shi Lei, they squeezed onto the motorcycle like a sandwich.
Shi Lei could not exactly wrap his arms around Exusiai's waist, so he had no choice but to awkwardly grip the metal rings on either side of the seat. Texas was not shy at all, hugging him from behind.
After riding several hundred meters, he felt uncomfortable being squeezed in the middle and suggested to them.
"Stop, stop, stop. How about we get off and walk instead?"
"We don't mind, so what are you worried about? I hear something ahead. Hold on tight!"
The motorcycle bounced violently over the uneven road, nearly numbing Shi Lei's perky backside.
But Exusiai had not been wrong. There really were obvious sounds of fighting ahead, so they turned off the lights and parked at a distance.
As far as the eye could see was a vast Snowfield. Numerous felled tree stumps stood scattered across the land.
A force of around a hundred Ursus soldiers had encountered the Infected in battle at a narrow pass.
On the Infected side stood a heavily armored burly man wielding a massive iron hammer. Like a god of war, he guarded the pass and did not let a single enemy through.
Shi Lei narrowed his eyes and examined the situation by moonlight. The hammer-wielding fellow was quite formidable and probably did not need his help.
"Over there."
Texas seemed to possess Night Vision and quickly spotted the other Infected. Afraid Shi Lei could not see them, she even picked up his hand and pointed toward somewhere to the west.
These Sarkaz Infected hid in the darkness, using every obstacle around them as cover. If they wanted to reunite with their companions, they had to pass through the Ursus soldiers.
The Infected guarding the pass perhaps did not have enough forces to break through and receive them, leaving the situation at an impasse.
Shi Lei frowned, seriously considering how to break the deadlock. Having the Infected charge straight through the Ursus troops was no different from sending them to their deaths. The hammer-wielding Infected had likely not noticed his compatriots, so after guarding the pass long enough, he would retreat instead of charging out to meet them.
In the end, it was up to me again?
These Ursus soldiers wore military uniforms, so they should be official personnel. Showing his face might affect Penguin Logistics's reputation, so it would be best to cover it.
After thinking for a long while, Shi Lei came up with a plan. He roughly sorted it out in his mind, then lowered his voice.
"If I remember correctly, there were around forty or fifty Infected at the mine. You two find an opportunity to help them reunite with the other Infected. As for those Ursus soldiers, leave them to me."
With that, Shi Lei covered his face with one hand. He released Rock Element from thin air and shaped a mask to conceal his face.
Once he was ready, he walked straight out.
As Shi Lei released his power, the rocks beneath his feet began to rise step by step. Layer upon layer, like stairs, they gradually lifted him into the air.
"Sir, look over there!"
Under the moonlight, a Mysterious Masked Man walking upon rock drew the attention of everyone present.
He seemed able to ignore Physical Laws,
Stepping on rocks as he rose higher and higher.
The Mysterious Masked Man stood with his hands behind his back, moving at an unhurried pace. At first glance, he looked as though he were walking on the moon.
At last, he stood thirty meters in the air, looking down upon the Ursus soldiers below as they spread out and kept watch.
A calm voice descended from the sky. Behind him was the bright moon, giving the impression that after breaking through wind and snow, one would find towering mountains rising ahead.
"Retreat."
Just one word robbed the Ursus soldiers of their fighting spirit, making them instinctively step back. The leading officer forcibly suppressed the tremors in his body and slowly raised his head.
The Mysterious Masked Man still had his head lowered, as though he were looking at ants. Simply standing there gave the officer an indescribable sense of overwhelming pressure.
The officer clenched his fists. Knowing what would happen if they persisted, he gave the order with great unwillingness.
"Retreat! Move!"
As though granted a pardon, the soldiers scattered in all directions.
Mudrock's Choice
Seeing the Ursus soldiers who had pursued them all the way flee in panic just like that, the Infected hiding in the darkness could hardly believe their eyes.
Only after Exusiai and Texas approached them and greeted them did they emerge from their hiding places in the forest, their faces full of shock.
Several Sarkaz mercenaries peeked out from behind the pass. The moment they saw their compatriots, they rushed out and embraced one another.
Being able to meet alive within Ursus territory was something that filled them with joy.
Meanwhile, the heavily armored burly man wielding the iron hammer had his full attention on Shi Lei, who was gradually descending.
Although Shi Lei wore a Rock Mask, the Infected who had escaped from the mine still recognized him. They excitedly came before him and actually knelt down to kowtow.
"You are our great benefactor!"
Shi Lei did not accept such treatment and reached out to help them up.
"No, no, no, don't be so polite. We've met twice now; perhaps it was fate. I only did what I should have done. You don't need to take it to heart. Now that the Ursus army is no longer chasing you, leave early and find somewhere safer."
His words were exceptionally well put, making them respect him even more. After all, without comparison, there was no harm.
Since escaping from Kazdel, the Sarkaz Infected present had suffered hardship after hardship along the way. Especially within Ursus territory, they had encountered unprecedented obstacles.
Even farmers working the fields were determined to kill them. This country's hatred for the Infected was stronger than that of any country they had seen before.
Today, the Sarkaz group had lost contact with three teams. The largest group had just reunited with them. Aside from that, two more teams were still missing.
A Sarkaz mercenary focused his gaze on Shi Lei, trying to obtain his help.
"Actually, we still have people missing. You..."
"Enough!"
Mudrock directly interrupted him. Her voice, muffled by her protective gear, sounded heavy and made it difficult to tell whether she was male or female.
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