Zhang Zehu, who had been walking and chatting with his companions outside, couldn't help turning at the sound. At a glance, he spotted Chen Gu and the others standing at the entrance to the small building. His eyes lingered especially on the buzz-cut young man, Luo Feng. Zhang Zehu was so furious his teeth ached!
After the negotiations, the Security Bureau had turned around and stormed straight into his nephew's home! His nephew had been forced to donate a hundred million to the country in his own name, earning himself the title of "One-Star Citizen." That was the only thing that had saved him from prison. Even so, his nephew would still be held for several months of education before being released. There was no avoiding a taste of hardship.
Remembering the panic on his older brother's face and the terror on Zhang Haobai's when the Security Bureau had taken him away, Zhang Zehu grew even angrier.
Suppressing his fury, he called out with a derisive laugh, "Chen the Cannon, your Fire Hammer Squad is supposed to be an Elite Squad. Why are you bringing two rookies along? Aren't you afraid those two deadweights will drag you down to your deaths?"
Elite Squads that worked well together were rarely willing to take on rookies. Even if a rookie was physically fit, they lacked experience and might falter at a critical moment, easily dragging down the veteran team members.
Zhang Zehu and Chen Gu traded a few insults, but when their captain, Gao Feng, came out and barked at them, they both fell silent.
Zhang Zehu sometimes dared to challenge Chen Gu because Chen Gu used firearms. A martial artist who relied on firearms could reach, at most, Junior Warrior Level. After all, guns and other firearms could generally threaten monsters up to Junior Beast General level. As for Zhang Zehu, he was already just a hair's breadth away from War General Level.
But Gao Feng was different. Nicknamed "Double Wind Hammer," he wielded a pair of massive hammers, traditional weapons, and was an Advanced General-Level martial artist in his prime. His strength was on par with Pan Ya, the captain of Tiger Tooth Squad. Zhang Zehu wouldn't dare provoke Gao Feng under any circumstances.
Watching Tiger Tooth Squad disappear into the distance, Luo Zhe stroked his chin and asked, "If we ran into them in the Wilderness Zone, would our squad be strong enough to teach them a good lesson?"
"Cough, cough!"
Chen Gu had gotten a little thirsty after trading insults with Zhang Zehu, and had been drinking some water. Luo Zhe's sudden question made him choke. He looked at Luo Zhe as though he were sizing up a monster.
Chen Gu's stare made Luo Zhe's scalp prickle and raised goosebumps on his arms. "Chen, what's with that look? What are you staring at?"
Chen Gu stroked his chin, still staring straight at Luo Zhe. "When I was your age, forget about picking fights with other squads. Even when we ran into other martial artist squads in the Wilderness Zone, we had to be careful with every move, afraid we might offend them by accident."
"And yet... neither of you has even set foot through the gates of the Wilderness Zone, but one of you has already offended the infamous Mountain-Splitting Tiger, Zhang Zehu, while the other is already looking for a chance to teach Zhang Zehu and his whole squad a lesson. Are young people these days more hot-tempered, or have we just fallen behind the times?"
Just then, Zhang Ke came down from upstairs and chuckled, "Maybe you're just old. We're all a whole generation older than these two brats. They say there's a generation gap every three years. That puts four or five gaps between us. No wonder we can't keep up with the times."
Luo Feng, standing nearby, piled on. "That's understandable. Chen, you're already thirty-four this year, and both your kids have started training at the Dojo. You really are 'old.'"
Chen Gu: "..."
At dusk, the seven members of Fire Hammer Squad left the Supply Base in full gear and entered the Wilderness Zone.
The reddish light of the setting sun fell across the highway before them, abandoned and crumbling after decades without repairs. The seven members of Fire Hammer Squad continued along it.
Luo Zhe and Luo Feng walked on either side of machine-gunner Chen Gu, the three of them in the middle of the formation. The Wei Brothers, their faces as expressionless as ever, served as the vanguard at the very front.
Captain Gao Feng and the good-natured Zhang Ke brought up the rear.
Slowing his pace a little, Luo Zhe glanced at the highway beneath his feet. It had long since fallen into disrepair, its surface split by several deep cracks.
As far as the eye could see, the highway was littered with battered or shattered cars, vans, trucks, and other vehicles. Even a few tires lay scattered here and there. Now and then, he could make out blackened bloodstains on the ground.
He couldn't help thinking, So this is the Wilderness Zone!
Chen Gu, walking in the middle, noticed that Luo Zhe had fallen behind on his left. He barked under his breath, "Luo Zhe, are you sleepwalking? Hurry up and catch up!"
Even though the area around them was wide open and there wasn't a single monster in sight as far as they could see, this was the perfect time to practice their formation. Chen Gu was quite unhappy that Luo Zhe had fallen behind.
One minute onstage took ten years of practice offstage!
Everything had to start with the smallest details. If they let their guard down in these relatively safe conditions, then once they entered a ruined city, they might fall into the habit of spacing out. If they encountered monsters then, Chen Gu, the machine gunner in the protected position, could find himself facing the threat head-on!
Chen Gu's shout brought Luo Zhe back to his senses at once. He quickened his pace to catch up with Chen Gu and Luo Feng, and apologized, "Sorry, Chen. That was my fault."
Chen Gu's expression was stern. "I know this is your first time in the Wilderness Zone, and your first time seeing a place like this. It's only natural to feel excited. But... we're in the Wilderness Zone now, and we have to be careful about everything! One mistake from you or me could cost the lives of everyone in the squad!"
"I hope you understand." Chen Gu's tone softened a little. He patted Luo Zhe on the shoulder. "Don't hold it against me for being so harsh. Since I brought you and Luo Feng into the Wilderness Zone, I have to take responsibility for your lives, Luo Feng's, and those of everyone else in the squad!"
Luo Zhe shook his head and answered earnestly, "I understand, Chen!"
The squad continued forward. Gradually, the plains disappeared beyond the horizon, and fields, woods, and a few ruined villages began to appear around them.
"Roar—"
"Awooo—"
Monster roars gradually rose from both sides of the highway. Soon, they could even see quite a few monsters in the distance. The veteran members of Fire Hammer Squad remained relaxed, though their eyes stayed fixed on their surroundings. The two rookies, Luo Zhe and Luo Feng, didn't dare let their guard down for even a moment. Their bodies were tense, their War Blades gripped tightly, and the veins on their hands stood out. They were clearly gripping them with considerable force.
In a place where monsters were everywhere, their bodies couldn't help but slip into a state of alert. It seemed that the moment any monster charged at them, they would rush out to fight it.
At the rear, Captain Gao Feng had a clear view of Luo Zhe and Luo Feng's condition. He knew that keeping their bodies tense like this for too long would put a heavy strain on them, but there was no point in trying to talk them out of it.
He knew that even if he said something, it wouldn't do any good!
It was a rookie's inevitable affliction!
Suddenly, a lone One-Horned Wild Boar wandered into Gao Feng's view up ahead. It looked to be somewhere between G-class and F-class in strength. Gao Feng's eyes shifted as he thought of a good idea, then called to the two men in front, "Luo Zhe, Luo Feng, there's a One-Horned Wild Boar up ahead, probably around Advanced Beast Soldier level. It's yours."
"This is your first fight since entering the Wilderness Zone!"
Before you continue