Rat Tide (Please Bookmark and Recommend)

The Rose Squad retreated quickly, though their expressions remained fairly relaxed. After all, City No. 085 was not far from the Military Supply Base. At full speed, General Level martial artists could reach it in four or five hours.

And given the speed of Military Aircraft, support could arrive within half an hour as long as they sent out a distress signal.

"Relax. Ying'er has compiled the statistics—Rat Tides usually break out near the end of the month. It's only the beginning of the month now, and the extreme weather has only lasted three or four days. No matter how unlucky we are, we can't possibly run into a Rat Tide halfway there!" Zhang Yi said half-jokingly.

Shen Hong was uneasy. "Don't let your guard down. Pick up the pace."

Zhou Ying'er, Zheng Ru, Li Min, and the others all carried heavy combat packs filled with monster materials. Even at full speed, they could not move much faster.

Cheng Jin was a General Level martial artist. He quickly caught up. "Ying'er, let me carry that for you!"

"No." Zhou Ying'er refused.

Seeing this, Zhang Yi whistled. "Young Master Cheng, I've got a lot of stuff. How about helping me carry some?"

Cheng Jin nodded. "Sure."

As he spoke, he ran over and removed the heavy metal case from Zhang Yi's back. At the same time, he instructed the Sabertooth Tiger Squad members to help Zheng Ru, Li Min, and the others carry their loads.

After retreating from the northern district to the edge of the suburbs, the group had just stepped onto the highway when they suddenly saw a vast black mass in the distance, spreading rapidly in their direction.

"What's that?" Li Min asked in confusion.

Shen Hong and the others could not help but stop.

Meanwhile, Qiu Cheng and the other Sabertooth Tiger Squad members exchanged glances, each seeing the tension in the others' eyes.

Zhang Yi swept the area with his sniper rifle, and his expression changed dramatically. "This is bad!! It's a Rat Tide!!!"

"What? A Rat Tide?!"

The moment Zhou Ying'er, Zheng Ru, Li Min, and the others heard that, their faces went pale.

Whenever a Rat Tide broke out, large numbers of martial artists died in the Wilderness Zone. Sometimes, even War God-level powerhouses fell!

Shen Hong hurriedly snatched Zhang Yi's sniper rifle and took a look. Her face darkened. "There are at least several hundred thousand rat beasts, and they're headed straight for us!"

"Captain, what do we do?" Zheng Ru and Li Min panicked, looking anxiously at Shen Hong.

"Turn on the location tracking on your communication watches and send an emergency distress signal to the military!" Shen Hong took a deep breath and swiftly calmed down. "The Rat Tide is too fast. We can't outrun them in the Wilderness Zone. Our only option is to return to the city, use the streets and buildings to limit their speed, then circle around and escape by another route. That's our only chance of survival!"

Zhang Yi could not help saying, "Captain, what if a Rat Tide has also broken out in the city..."

Everyone's faces sank.

With a bang, Shen Hong threw her combat pack and shield onto the ground. "Other than your weapons, throw away everything else immediately!"

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Zhou Ying'er and the others hurriedly followed suit, tossing aside their shields and packs.

"Go!" Shen Hong turned and ran toward City No. 085.

The others followed close behind.

Rumble~

Yet the moment they returned to the rows of buildings and streets in the suburbs, the ground began to shake.

Large numbers of rat beasts emerged from every underground passage.

"Damn crow's mouth!!" Shen Hong's face went white.

Despair appeared in Zhou Ying'er, Zheng Ru, Li Min, and the others' eyes.

Only Cheng Jin and the Sabertooth Tiger Squad remained calm.

But at a time like this, Shen Hong and the others had no attention to spare for the Sabertooth Tiger Squad's expressions.

"Before the rat beasts have fully gathered, split up and run. Leave it to fate—if even one of us survives, that's enough!" After saying this, Shen Hong looked at Zhou Ying'er. "Ying'er, follow Cheng Jin!"

"Sister Shen..."

Shen Hong cut her off. "Cheng Jin dared to come here, so he must have a backup plan!"

Cheng Jin frowned. "Captain Shen, no one can be completely certain of escaping a Rat Tide!"

Shen Hong snorted coldly. "Don't give me that nonsense. If you can't even guarantee Ying'er's safety, what gives you the right to pursue her? Enough standing around—run for your lives!"

Whoosh.

With that, she charged first toward a street packed with rat beasts.

Boom! Boom!

Countless rat beasts immediately swarmed toward Shen Hong.

"Take care!" Zhang Yi was the second to leave, also running toward an area with more rat beasts.

The two of them were clearly creating a chance for Zheng Ru, Li Min, and the others.

"Take care!"

"Take care!"

Zheng Ru, Li Min, Cao Yingchun, and the other three each called out before fleeing at full speed.

"Ying'er, don't hesitate! Run! If we don't run now, it'll be too late!" Cheng Jin grabbed Zhou Ying'er by the arm and fled wildly.

The Sabertooth Tiger Squad members followed close behind.

Pfft! Pfft!

Rat beasts attacked one after another, but every single one was killed by the Sabertooth Tiger Squad.

"Head for the top of that skyscraper! Hold on for a while, and the Cheng Family's aircraft will come!" Cheng Jin shouted.

Zhou Ying'er thought of her younger brother and mother. Biting her lip, she allowed Cheng Jin to pull her along by the arm.

Half a minute passed.

The group rushed into the building and quickly climbed the stairs toward the roof.

When they reached the twentieth floor—

"Young Master Cheng, our squad will risk our lives to hold them here and buy you time!" Qiu Cheng shouted.

Cheng Jin said gratefully, "Thank you!"

With that, he led Zhou Ying'er in a rapid sprint toward the rooftop.

Only after reaching the roof did Cheng Jin let out a heavy sigh of relief. He knew he was completely safe now.

"Ying'er, don't worry. We'll definitely make it out alive." Seeing Zhou Ying'er's pale face, Cheng Jin tried to comfort her.

Zhou Ying'er said nothing. She walked to the edge of the roof and looked at the ever-increasing number of rat beasts below. Tears streamed down her face. "Sister Shen, Brother Cao, Sister Ru..."

Cheng Jin stepped forward. "Don't be sad, Ying'er. Good people are blessed by heaven!"

He took out a water pouch and added, "Have some water."

Without thinking much of it, Zhou Ying'er took the water pouch and drank a mouthful.

A smile appeared on Cheng Jin's face. "At most, it'll take a few minutes. The Cheng Family's aircraft will definitely arrive."

However, ten minutes passed.

There was still no sign of any aircraft in the sky.

Cheng Jin immediately grew anxious. "Why hasn't it come yet... Does the Cheng Family want me dead?"

Seeing Cheng Jin in such a panic, Zhou Ying'er felt a surge of guilt. "Cheng Jin, I'm sorry. I dragged you into this."

"Ying'er, it's not your fault. I came here willingly!" Cheng Jin hurriedly said.

"Thank you." Zhou Ying'er was deeply moved.

When Cheng Jin saw the wariness vanish from Zhou Ying'er's face, he was overjoyed. He tentatively placed his hands on her shoulders and said in a deliberately sorrowful tone, "Ying'er, it seems we'll die together this time."

Listening to the rumbling below, Zhou Ying'er's eyes gradually dimmed. "From the moment I entered the Wilderness Zone, I had already prepared myself to die."

"To die beside you, I'll have no regrets in this life!" Cheng Jin said gravely. He did not make any further intimate moves. Instead, he stared at Zhou Ying'er's face and calculated inwardly, Another half minute. The drug should take full effect by then. Zhou Ying'er will be mine... What a pity. Even if I take her body in a situation like this, I won't be able to enjoy it properly.

The half minute crawled by.

Seeing Zhou Ying'er's slightly unfocused eyes, Cheng Jin grew excited.

"Ying'er, before we die, let's enjoy these final moments together!" Unable to wait any longer, he lowered his head to kiss her.

"Mmm..." Zhou Ying'er slowly closed her eyes.

Slap!

Just as Cheng Jin's lips were one centimeter away from Zhou Ying'er's, a faint sound rang out. Zhou Ying'er instantly lost consciousness and collapsed.

Cheng Jin: "..."