Luo Li: I really hate you, but as a human-I can't stand aside

Yang Shan's transfer and Qingqiu Ze's "surrender" suddenly made Luo Li's days on the front lines "lively".

Kong Yan'er's team had already become much stronger because of his newly promoted B+ level reinforcement. Now, with the addition of Qingqiu Ze, a flamboyant but powerful sonic controller, and Yang Shan, a patrol team member with impeccable credentials and familiarity with the city's defense system, they have become an emerging force in Zone C that cannot be ignored.

Kong Yan'er was delighted with this and even took the initiative to use her connections to upgrade the team's rating to A-, which meant they could take on higher-risk and higher-reward missions.

The days flew by amidst training, missions, and banter with these lovable clowns.

Luo Li gradually got used to the rhythm of the front line. The [Spacetime] Path became more and more harmonious under the tempering of actual combat. Bloodblade Enma also drank the blood of various vampires, and the dark red blood light on the blade became more intense and lively.

During this time, he took the opportunity to visit Castorice in Zone E several times.

She seemed to have fully adapted to the role of "research assistant," and even helped in an energy analysis project that Yuan Huan was in charge of, thanks to her unique perception of energy, especially the energy of death and life, which made the rigorous senior student look at her with new respect.

Watching her in her white lab coat, quietly sitting in front of the instruments recording data, Luo Li felt both pride and a touch of indescribable bewilderment—his Castorice seemed to be gradually finding her place in this unfamiliar world.

This allowed him to focus his energy on the battle on the front lines with greater peace of mind.

That day, the team received an A-level mission—to eliminate the B+ level mutant "Venom Queen" in an area codenamed "Rotting Swamp," located 120 kilometers northwest of the fortress.

According to intelligence, the "Venom Queen" is a giant spider-like mutant that secretes highly corrosive slime and neurotoxins. It dwells deep within the "Rotting Swamp" and poses a serious threat to a vital supply route.

The mission is quite dangerous, but the reward is extremely generous, offering a whopping 8,000 contribution points.

"Brothers, your chance to make a fortune has arrived!"

Kong Yan'er rubbed her hands together, her eyes shining, at the mission briefing.

"If we land this job, we can live it up for a while!"

"Venom Queen? That sounds really cool!"

Qingqiu Ze was as excited as ever.

"You're in luck, everyone! This live stream is going to be absolutely thrilling and exciting!"

Yang Shan was relatively cautious. "The Rotting Swamp environment is complex, filled with toxic fog, with low visibility, and various lurking dangerous creatures. Everyone must be careful."

Luo Li carefully examined the information on the "Venom Queen" and the terrain map of the Rotting Swamp, silently devising various tactics in his mind.

After thorough preparation, the squad boarded armored personnel carriers and left the "Ironwall" fortress, heading towards the Rotting Swamp.

The closer you get to the Rotting Swamp, the harsher the environment becomes.

The air was thick with the pungent smell of sulfur and decay. The dark red earth was gradually being replaced by bubbling black swamps, and twisted, dead trees stretched towards the sky like ghostly claws. Visibility was less than fifty meters.

"Slow down, we are entering a high-risk area."

Yang Shan, who was driving, reminded the driver in a deep voice to turn on the vehicle's environmental detector and anti-toxic gas filtration system.

The armored vehicle stopped at the edge of the muddy, treacherous swamp, and the group disembarked and trekked into this death zone.

Kong Yan'er released his Clone, one on the left and one on the right, to scout ahead.

Luo Li quietly activated [Remembrance Perception], reading the remaining fragments of information in the environment and avoiding hidden dangers.

Qingqiu Ze wasn't idle either. He used his sonic abilities to conduct a wide-area scan, while simultaneously whispering to the live-streaming equipment hovering beside him, "Did you guys see that? This is the real, harsh environment on the front lines! Every step could be a dance with Death God! Get your attention! Send the gifts!"

The group cautiously advanced deeper into the Rotting Swamp.

They encountered several attacks from swamp crocodiles and flying poisonous insects along the way, but thanks to the team's excellent teamwork, they managed to overcome each threat without serious harm.

As they went deeper, the concentration of toxins in the air increased, and even with the filtration system, everyone felt a bit short of breath.

"We're almost there. Based on the energy signature, the ' Venom Queen's' lair is in that huge Corrosive Fungal Forest ahead."

Kong Yan'er pointed to an area in front of her that emitted a faint phosphorescent glow and was covered with huge, colorful mushroom-shaped fungi.

Just as the team was preparing to formulate their final attack strategy, Qingqiu Ze's sonic scanner suddenly detected unusual activity.

"Wait! Something's happening! At the two o'clock position to the left, about 300 meters away, there's an energy collision and... human cries for help!"

Everyone's expression tightened.

Will they encounter another human team in this place? Or... a trap?

"Let's go take a look!"

Kong Yan'er made a decisive decision.

The Clone silently infiltrated the fungus forest, while the main body quickly approached with Luo Li and the others.

Passing through a huge, slimy mushroom cap, the sight before them made everyone gasp.

On a relatively open swampy area, a team of clearly human superhumans is struggling to hold on.

Their opponents, besides a dozen or so enormous, venom-spitting corrosive spiders, also include three swift B-rank "Boneblade Hunter" whose bodies are covered in hard bone armor!

This squad clearly underestimated the danger of the Rotting Swamp, or perhaps they were just unlucky and attracted too many enemies.

They were completely surrounded, their defensive formation was crumbling, and two team members lay on the ground, their fate unknown.

What made Luo Li frown even more was that among the team that was in dire straits, there was a figure he knew very well, but who was now in a sorry state— Murong Xue!

Her combat suit was torn in several places, covered in mud and venom, her face was deathly pale, and her hand holding the energy sword trembled slightly as she desperately defended herself against the onslaught of a Boneblade Hunter, her eyes filled with despair and fear.

Her teammates were in no better shape; everyone was injured, their energy fluctuations were chaotic, and they were clearly at their limit.

"It's Murong Xue's squad!"

Yang Shan recognized him, his tone complicated.

"What are they doing here? And why have they gotten themselves into trouble with so many people?"

"It looks like they stepped into the ' Venom Queen's' warning range and were surrounded and attacked by her guards."

Kong Yan'er calmly analyzed the situation, her gaze sweeping across the battlefield.

"Three B-rank Boneblade Hunter, a dozen or so C+-rank Corrosive Poison Spiders... Tsk, troublesome."

Should we save him or not?

Qingqiu Ze looked at Kong Yan'er and Luo Li.

The live streaming equipment faithfully recorded this scene, and the chat was already flooded with comments.

Kong Yan'er didn't answer immediately, but looked at Luo Li, the meaning was clear - there are your "old acquaintances" here, your attitude is very important.

Luo Li watched as Murong Xue struggled against the Boneblade Hunter's fierce attacks, her pride and arrogance long since replaced by the instinct for survival, leaving only her disheveled state and despair.

He really disliked Murong Xue.

I hate her unreasonable behavior, her viciousness, and her underhanded methods.

but...

In those few seconds of his silence, another unexpected event occurred!

Taking advantage of its companion's feint, a Boneblade Hunter found an opening in Murong Xue's defenses. Its gleaming bone blade, like a venomous snake emerging from its hole, pierced straight for her heart!

Murong Xue's pupils contracted sharply. She had no time to block or dodge, and could only watch helplessly as death approached, letting out a short and desperate scream.

"Careful!"

Her captain, his eyes blazing with fury, tried to rescue her but was held captive by another hunter.

At this critical moment—

Buzz!

An invisible force enveloped that area.

Time seemed to have been slowed down.

The Boneblade Hunter's deadly thrust, less than ten centimeters from Murong Xue's chest, slowed to a crawl, like a snail's pace.

The frozen expression of terror on Murong Xue's face, and the despair in her teammates' eyes, were all frozen in that instant.

It was Luo Li who made the move.

Although it didn't cover the entire area, it precisely targeted the small space where Murong Xue was in danger.

Immediately afterwards, Luo Li's figure disappeared as if tearing through space, and the next moment he appeared directly beside the slowed Boneblade Hunter.

Bloodblade Enma wasn't even fully drawn; it merely left a dark red afterimage as it precisely sliced through the Boneblade Hunter's relatively vulnerable neck joint, like a hot knife through butter.

Click!

A sickening cracking sound rang out.

The flow rate of time has returned to normal.

The head of the Boneblade Hunter, with an expression of disbelief, separated from its body, spurting out dark green blood. The headless corpse swayed and fell heavily to the ground.

All of this happened in the blink of an eye.

Only after Luo Li sheathed his sword and stood still did Murong Xue collapse to the ground as if all her strength had been drained, panting heavily. Looking at Luo Li's back, her eyes were filled with the bewilderment and shock of surviving a disaster, and... a more complex emotion.

Her teammates were also stunned. They never expected that Luo Li, who had a grudge against Murong Xue, would come to their rescue in their desperate situation.

"What are you all standing there for? Clear out the stragglers!"

Kong Yan'er's voice broke the silence.

He and his Clone, like tigers among sheep, charged towards the corrosive spiders.

Qingqiu Ze also reacted and immediately launched a sonic attack to disrupt the actions of the remaining two Boneblade Hunter.

Yang Shan then raised his shield and went to the front line to provide cover for everyone.

With the addition of Luo Li's fresh force, the battle situation was instantly reversed.

The remaining two Boneblade Hunter were quickly killed by Kong Yan'er's unpredictable [Trickster Hands] attacks and Luo Li's elusive Spacetime abilities.

The corrosive spiders were no match for them and were quickly wiped out.

The battle ended, leaving only the heavy stench of blood and the sizzling sound of corrosive venom on the battlefield.

With the help of the squad's medic, Murong Xue stood up shakily.

She watched Luo Li wiping the bloodstains off the Enma, her lips moved slightly as if she wanted to say something, but in the end she just lowered her head, her voice barely audible.

"... Thanks."

Luo Li glanced at her, her tone flat and devoid of any emotion. "No need to thank me."

He put away Enma, his gaze sweeping over Murong Xue and her terrified teammates, finally settling on the depths of the Corrosive Fungal Forest in the distance, which exuded a dangerous aura.

"I hate you, Murong Xue."

His voice echoed clearly in the silent swamp.

"Neither you as a person, nor the things you've done."

Murong Xue's body trembled, and her head drooped even lower.

"However," Luo Li changed the subject, her tone carrying a calmness and resolve that transcended personal grudges.

"From a human perspective, I cannot stand idly by and watch my fellow human beings be killed by vampires and mutants."

"Especially on the front lines."

His words struck like a hammer blow to everyone's heart.

Kong Yan'er whistled and smiled with appreciation.

Yang Shan patted Luo Li's shoulder heavily.

Qingqiu Ze excitedly roared into the live streaming equipment, "Did you see that, family members! This is my Brother Li! His vision! What is vision?!"

Murong Xue suddenly raised her head and looked at Luo Li, her eyes churning with emotions—shame, embarrassment, but more than anything, a bewilderment at being shocked on a deeper level.

She has always lived in a self-centered world, and is used to using her family background and means to get everything and take revenge on everything.

Until this moment, on the verge of life and death, being saved by the person he hated most, and hearing them say these words.

For the first time, she truly began to reflect on just how ridiculous and... insignificant her past actions had been.

Luo Li didn't look at her again, but turned to Kong Yan'er and said:

"The mission continues."

"The ' Venom Queen ' should have been alerted."

Kong Yan'er nodded, her sharp gaze fixed on the depths of the fungus forest:

"That's right, it's time for the main character to make his appearance."

From the depths of the mushroom forest came a chilling roar, a mixture of churning slime and piercing hiss.

A thicker, more corrosive, and mentally oppressive poisonous fog, like a living thing, spread from the depths of the mushroom forest.

After the incident, the atmosphere within the team seemed to have undergone a subtle change.

A trust and tacit understanding that transcends personal likes and dislikes, belonging to the warriors, is quietly established.

Luo Li gripped the Bloodblade Enma, his eyes burning with fighting spirit.

Saving Murong Xue is a matter of human duty and righteousness.

Now, it's time to accomplish their real objective.

"Venom Queen..."

He muttered to himself, a cold smile curving his lips.

"I'll take your life."