Chapter 76 The Person Is No Longer the Same (Fifth Update: Congratulations to Baiyin Menglonglong 3/5)
"Watch out!" the tall, thin Ability User Apprentice shouted upon seeing this, "The influence of high-level demons is very strong!"
At the same time, Wu Youren felt a sudden tightness all over his body, and his hair stood on end instantly.
He could vaguely sense an immense threat locking him in.
At this point, he couldn't care less about anything else, he didn't even consider things like burst fire, and he pulled the trigger hard.
The heavy machine gun spat out long tongues of fire, which then exploded in the air, creating a dazzling barrage of bullets.
"Watch out!" he shouted, a beat slower, "We're being watched too."
The two Knight were fully focused on fighting off the Weird Qi from behind and to the sides, while the front was heavily targeted by machine gun fire, making it difficult for the Weird Qi to get close.
The two were horrified upon hearing this and turned around without hesitation, preparing to engage the enemy. The defenses behind them suddenly became much weaker.
However, so be it if it's weak. Aren't the Weird-Repelling Block that martial artists prepare meant for use in such crucial moments?
In fact, when the two were protecting the boy, the three of them could not effectively lean on each other back to back, which had already caused some damage.
In their view, Wu Youren, who actively moved around, had a lower cultivation level, so his consumption of the Weird-Repelling Block must be the greatest.
However, their protective measures occasionally have loopholes, and it's impossible for them to be completely free of damage.
At the same time, Wu Youren's long burst of fire startled everyone on the main battlefield.
Those are heavy machine gun bullets; Knight Apprentice gets hit, he'll have a hard time keeping his body intact.
The tall, Ability User exclaimed softly, "Ah, has he gone mad?"
"Orderly retreat!" the burly Great Knight commanded decisively, "Move towards heavy firepower!"
Instructor Hong reappeared, gave him a complicated look, and disappeared again without saying a word: You really dare to trust the other party!
She had a fair impression of Wu Youren and believed he was not an impulsive person.
However, no matter what, he is a hostage from the State of Jin. If he harbors any ill intentions, the whole family will be wiped out!
However, the burly man had no other choice; he didn't really expect the three to join the group on their own.
The heavy firepower unit needs to be kept in firing position, while two other personnel must protect the trainees, and there's also a heavy supply of ammunition—
The key point is that Wu Youren had previously made it clear that if someone wanted to leave the mountain, they were free to do as they pleased.
Considering the boy's ability to sense Weird Qi, leaving the main group behind might make it easier for him to escape.
Among those on the main battlefield, there are still many wounded who cannot leave quickly and will need to rely on the enemy's capabilities.
If the mountain won't come to me, I'll come to the mountain. Isn't that all there is to it?
As the two sides drew closer, Wu Youren gradually turned his gun towards the outer perimeter, carefully avoiding the main force in front.
Amidst his frantic barrage of shots, I sensed the potential threat was rapidly diminishing; therefore, it was best to proceed cautiously and steadily.
However, just as the two sides were gradually approaching each other, a faint, soft sound was heard, "Ding."
~~
In this noisy battlefield environment, those with slightly lower cultivation levels would hardly be able to detect anything.
However, there were two Great Knight present. In a flash, the Instructor Hong appeared and picked up an object from the ground.
"Damn, it's a monster!" The burly man also noticed it.
But now is not the time to argue about this. He snorted coldly, "Focus on teamwork. When can't we pick up the spoils?"
Seeing this, Instructor Red Pine, standing beside Wu Youren, couldn't help but mutter, "Just now—I wonder if any strange creatures fell down!"
They were responsible for protecting the boy; the spoils from the main battlefield were none of their concern.
However, they had also killed many Weird Race in the vicinity, so if any treasures appeared, they naturally had the right to collect them.
Unfortunately, their tasks were too heavy and the pressure too great, making it impossible for them to pay attention to anything else.
Only now did they realize with painful regret: there was actually a good chance they had found something valuable!
It's not that they lack common sense, but given the previous situation, if they were still preoccupied with this, they would truly be harming themselves and others!
Now that I see that Hong Da has made a profit, it's impossible not to feel a little regretful!
Compared to the two of them, Wu Youren was more concerned about something else. "Uh, Cynthia, are you alright?"
The female warrior tapped the ground with her cane made of tree branches in her left hand, then pointed to her bandaged waist. "What do you think?"
"That's not my fault," Wu Youren sighed. "Who told you not to stand firmly on my side?"
However, there was no need to waste time on such nonsense, especially since he noticed the tattered straw raincoat still clinging to the other person's shoulder.
"Evacuate slowly first," the burly Great Knight calmly ordered. "Don't get separated from the team; we can't provide assistance."
" Hong Da, we can cover the military's evacuation first!" Red Pine, the instructor, suggested.
"We mentioned it when we went into the mountains; we might be stationed there."
He had previously disagreed with this view, but now he has clearly been spurred into changing his mind.
The key point is that Red Pine not only has Great Knight, but also young students who are exceptionally sensitive to Weird Qi.
Forming an effective combat unit is no problem at all, and their strength will not be lacking!
"What I hate most is this about the Martial Academy!" The burly man gave him a cold look.
"When it comes to risking your lives, you always hesitate; but when it comes to personal gain, you're willing to risk your lives!"
"Don't bring up the Martial Academy all the time," Hong Yan said calmly. "Isn't it human nature to seek advantage and avoid harm?"
However, she then added, "Let's go out together, so as not to interfere with the military's next deployment."
The people they picked up this time brought the latest news from the front lines.
The withdrawal process is well-documented and involved numerous obstacles.
Fortunately, the ordeal ended without serious injury, and two hours later, they retreated to the cat-ear hole dug by Wu Youren.
There's still a lot of Weird Qi outside the mountain, but it's much less intense than yesterday.
This team of people chose to set up camp here and notified the surrounding area that a checkpoint had been established here!
Their most normal reaction at this moment would be to move forward to the vicinity of the Red Pine, rejoin the main force, and rest.
However, both the burly man and Hong Yan said: We'll stay here.
Whether for the military, the Martial Academy, or other departments, opening up this transportation line is an urgent need in the near future.
Since there's a foothold ahead, let's stay here. We'll have to move forward sooner or later anyway.
What's more, there are two readily available Great Knight. A brief stay of a day or two should be enough to deter any troublemakers, right?
That's right, what they want to intimidate is not just the Weird Race, but all the villains!
The main force halted and began setting up camp. Supplies were currently tight, but that didn't matter; they would simply report back to the rear.
With this team's strength, it wouldn't be too difficult for them to forcibly trek from inside the mountain to the outside and open up a corridor to the outside world.
There are also Great Knight- level Weird Race outside the mountains; Wu Youren had sensed several of them before.
However, for either side, it would be somewhat hasty to engage in a decisive battle here at this moment.
While notifying the rear, they also began trying to find out what had happened to this breakout team.
Different people focus on different things.
Wu Youren did not ask any questions; he simply sat there and listened quietly.
The rescued team consisted of sixteen people, including nine Knight.
There were two familiar faces here; they were the two military scouts he had encountered at the patrol post.
However, the thin Knight had an injured eye, while the burly Knight had suffered a heavy blow to the forehead; both of them had bandages wrapped around their heads.
It looks a bit tragic, but given the level of danger, being able to escape with one's life is something to be grateful for.
Cynthia, leaning on her cane, walked over and sat down beside him. " Naimuer, he should be gone."
Wu Youren glanced at her, thought for a moment, and then spoke, "The person you're talking about, let me think—is it the one who injured his arm?"
"You!" The female warrior's chest heaved rapidly, clearly a little angry. "How could you not remember him?"
"Yes, that's right," Wu Youren pondered for a moment, then nodded seriously, "I usually can't be bothered to remember unimportant people."
Cynthia paused, then laughed angrily, "So you've forgotten that I stood up to him for your sake?"
Wu Youren blinked a few times before speaking, "The result of going against him is that I leave?"
Cynthia was speechless. It really wasn't a big deal back then, but it was a bit difficult to explain clearly.
The key point is that everyone around her is a high-level martial artist, and they are talking about the battle against the Weird Race. If she keeps dwelling on these things, her perspective is too narrow.
She could only awkwardly change the subject, "It was those two guys who brought people to the outpost."
It really was those two military scouts with head injuries who, along with their backup, found that place.
The situation was urgent; a large number of Weird Race were in hot pursuit, and they wanted to use the surrounding mechanisms.
For these people in the military, this kind of behavior is perfectly normal in wartime.
Only by making full use of all available resources can we achieve final victory.
But for Cynthia and Naimuer, it was a truly undeserved disaster.
Wu Youren had set up numerous traps around the outpost, but how much supplies could Instructor Ke Li's off-road vehicle possibly carry?
Compared to the sheer size of the Weird Race, it's a drop in the ocean.
All the mechanisms there were triggered, but it only held them off for a short while.
Taking advantage of the opportunity of the collapsed rocks, the group began to retreat. During the retreat, they encountered another military squad that was also withdrawing.
Wu Youren listened to her casually; in his eyes, this was nothing unusual and not worth getting angry about at all.
The next moment, he raised an eyebrow, and a slight smile appeared on his lips—the conversation in the distance was quite interesting.
The soldiers who came out to meet them didn't have much new information on them.
The burly Great Knight's face darkened slightly. "Hmm, this is all the information we have—are they trying to trick us into going to their aid? They have some nerve!"
The slightly thin Knight, who had injured one eye, cautiously explained, "Without calling for backup, even this little bit of news would be difficult to get out."
Someone else chimed in, "The eerie atmosphere inside is getting worse, as you've seen."
Chapter 77 High Price (Sixth Update: Congratulations to the Silver-Tier Cute Dragon 4/5)
"These are two different things," Instructor Hong said casually, without elaborating further.
However, her stance was already very clear: the battlefield situation and obtaining backup were two different issues.
She also heard Cynthia's words. There were some details she didn't understand, but she was certain that the Red Pine trainees had been tricked by the military.
It's unnecessary to argue with the military over a few trainees, but the nature of some issues needs to be clarified.
However, at that moment, the tall, thin Ability User Apprentice spoke up, "Alright, let's just leave it at that."
"Hmm?" The burly Great Knight glanced at him. "You don't seem to be a soldier, do you?"
He's a military expert; he wouldn't fail to recognize one of his own Ability User.
Moreover, the military uniform the other party was wearing clearly didn't fit well.
"I'm from the Inspectorate," the tall, Ability User said, handing the other person a plaque with a blank expression.
The burly man glanced at it only once and waved his hand, "Forget it, what are you, from the Inspectorate, doing getting involved?"
Instructor Hong Yan, however, simply raised his hand, took the sign, glanced at it twice, and then handed it back without saying a word.
"We also need to get some leads," the tall, Ability User replied calmly. "I have some personal matters to attend to."
"Stop asking," Instructor Hong spoke up, "He's Ability User, not an apprentice!"
"Huh?" The burly man was visibly taken aback. "Impossible, right? With the power of your superpower—"
"Exhausted," the tall, Ability User replied expressionlessly. "Can you keep this a secret?"
The burly man and the Instructor Hong exchanged a glance and answered in unison, "No problem!"
The Ability User" is two words shorter than "Ability User Apprentice," but in terms of corresponding treatment, the difference is like night and day.
The two Great Knight discovered that Ability User Apprentice was in danger and decided to come to his rescue.
If it were a genuine Ability User, even Divine Might Knight might passing by, they would probably lend a hand.
And since this person is such a person, requiring everyone to keep it a secret, the outcome is obvious.
"Then I'll have to trouble you," the tall, Ability User said, but there was no hint of asking for a favor on his face.
On the contrary, others could sense to some extent that this person harbored a subtle, underlying resentment.
The two Great Knight exchanged another glance, and the Instructor Hong spoke up, "Take this esteemed official from the Inspectorate to rest."
"I'm not in a hurry," the tall, Ability User said expressionlessly.
The burly man glanced at Instructor Hong, "Don't change the subject, just show us the treasures you've collected."
Hong Yan's face darkened. "Call it out and see if it answers!"
"That's pointless," the burly man said, not angry. "I'll just ask you one question: are you the main source of combat power?"
During the rescue operation, he was undoubtedly the primary combat force.
No one can deny that Chief Instructor Hong was the most efficient at eliminating the Weird Race.
However, when it comes to head-on confrontation and dealing the most damage, the strongman is undoubtedly the one.
He also provided the heavy machine guns and ammunition for the outer battlefields; he absolutely refused to let others reap the benefits.
"Hmph, whoever grabs it keeps it," Instructor Hong retorted defiantly. "Isn't that the rule in military warfare?"
"Not entirely," the burly man replied, "Anyone who seizes spoils of war without authorization and affects the course of the battle—death is the only punishment!"
Both of them are telling the truth.
However, it was clear that Instructor Hong was determined not to give up his spoils. "Did I influence the course of the battle?"
Seeing that the two were arguing, the others could only watch from the sidelines.
Only Wu Youren shook his head slightly, quietly stood up, and returned to his cat-ear cave.
No matter how it's distributed, that treasure will definitely not end up in his hands.
But strangely enough, he could sense that the treasure held an extraordinary attraction for him.
The most experience points he had gained before were from smashing that piece of broken iron. The value of absorbing this strange object was at least three times that amount.
His heart was bleeding, but there was nothing he could do; he didn't even have the right to speak.
Fortunately, he also gained a lot of experience points during this rescue.
He used the large Weird-Breaking Projectile provided by the military to complete his private accumulation, which was a worthwhile move, and he had no reason to complain.
The key issue is that he has accumulated quite a lot of experience points, and he needs to process some of them.
After his expansion, the cat-ear cave became much wider, and one could simply sit and meditate right there.
Originally, the two Great Knight needed to rest at night, but now that there are enough people, some have already started digging a new cave.
Even Knight usually have a hard time getting close to Great Knight, so this is a great opportunity.
Wu Youren was worried about being discovered, so his meditation posture was far from standard, keeping him in a position where he could get up at any time.
Daoist practices emphasize entering a state of tranquility, and many Qi Refining choose to cultivate in deep mountains and forests—this is not just a legend.
But that's the reality; he longed for peace and quiet, but it was unattainable.
When the conditions are not right, then we have to make do. As long as our heart is firm enough in our pursuit of the Way, nothing else matters.
Cynthia wanted to follow him when she saw him leave, but she couldn't bear to leave the lively scene before her.
The two Great Knight fought over the spoils, neither willing to give way.
Finally, Instructor Hong said, "I can compensate you with some money as a reward for your hard work."
If the other party doesn't want money, she can also provide certain resources—the kind for the Great Knight to cultivate with.
It's clear that Instructor Hong is determined to get her hands on the treasure.
Finally, the tall, thin Ability User couldn't hold back any longer, "It seems like you guys don't really have much use for this thing."
99
He was exhausted, but he didn't leave to rest; this was what he was thinking about.
He stated that he had contributed, and that he had depleted a considerable amount of the Weird Race's strength during the previous withdrawal.
Upon hearing him speak, the burly man fell silent. Although the Inspectorate had no authority to supervise the military, it could supervise the military leaders!
He wasn't afraid of the other party, but why cause trouble for his own boss?
But Hong Yan didn't buy into that. She was just an instructor, and her accounts at the Martial Academy were perfectly clear. She didn't need to listen to anyone.
After a few words of argument, the Ability User couldn't hold back any longer, "I'm just curious, what use does a mere martial artist like you have for this?"
These words are not only impolite, they're even a bit offensive. Listen to them, he's just a brute!
However, he didn't think so. In the Great Liang State, the status of Ability User was indeed more prestigious than that of Great Knight.
The key issue is that martial artists have absolutely no use for these strange objects!
If it weren't for his presence Ability User, the ownership of this item would indeed be a matter of contention.
But right now, he's the only one who can directly use the treasure. Are you all fighting over him because you don't take me seriously at all?
But Hong Yan refused to believe it. "Who says Martial Academy can only train martial artists? Can't I have a student Ability User?"
That's absolutely true; many awakened martial artists have emerged from the Red Pine Martial Academy.
No matter how much pressure she is under now, she must persevere and fight for this resource for the Martial Academy. There is absolutely no room for retreat.
If even she, the head instructor, backs down, will other instructors have the courage to fight for their positions in similar situations?
The tall, Ability User sneered, "Your Ability User student? Which one—could you tell me their name?"
"It's inconvenient," Hong Yan replied bluntly, "I don't want to create discord between you two."
"There are only a handful of Ability User from Red Pine," the Inspectorate chuckled.
He confidently stated, "You're quite lucky to have students who are Ability User Apprentice."
The Instructor Hong looked at him and calmly stated, "We rescued you!"
The tall, Ability User was taken aback at first, then his expression straightened, and he nodded slightly. "That's right, I was presumptuous."
It wasn't that he truly felt he was wrong, but rather that he suddenly realized something—
However, it was too late. Hong Yan tilted her head slightly and said thoughtfully, "I was wrong. It's not safe now either."
Then she glanced at the burly man, "The situation is serious; you need to escort them away immediately."
"We're only responsible for the attack," the burly man shook his head. "I didn't even look at that identification tag, so I don't know what you're talking about."
This is where the two of them checked their watches; he stated that he wouldn't get involved in such matters.
If you want to fry, stir-fry, or cook this person, that's your business; the military isn't playing along.
Upon hearing this, the tall, Ability User shuddered—this was utterly disastrous!
He only knew that the status of Ability User was prestigious, but he overlooked the fact that he himself was currently on the front lines of the battlefield.
Worst of all, he overexerted himself in his pursuit of resources, and his current combat strength is severely insufficient.
The Inspectorate is a very powerful department in Great Liang State, but its power is based on a well-established system.
When you get to the very bottom, who cares about oversight? Power born from rules means nothing when order is in chaos!
He had assumed that since the other side had two Great Knight, they would at least follow some rules in their actions.
But he forgot that on the front lines of the battlefield, what everyone values most is strength; if you don't have the strength, you have to endure it.
The situation is now quite clear: this senior instructor of Red Pine might be planning a funeral for himself!
To this end, she specifically communicated with the military, and the two sides reached a basic consensus.
But he didn't want to die, especially after finally escaping from the Weird Domain.
"I can tell you my identity!" He could no longer remain silent. "I'll buy your spoils at a high price!"
The previous statement is nonsense. Forget about whether he can afford to lose face; the key question is, even if he revealed his identity, would it make any difference?
The key point is in the following sentence: Even if you kill me now, what will you gain?
The burly man sneered, " The Inspectorate, high price—how much wealth do you have?"
"Name your price," the tall, Ability User replied calmly, "Just don't go too far!"
An inexperienced person might think he was haggling.
Those who are sensible know that he is indeed bargaining—not for the price of the strange object, but for the value of his life.
"You may have misunderstood," Instructor Hong Yan said seriously, "My harvest is Red Pine's harvest."
"If the Inspectorate feels it's inappropriate, they can ask Red Pine for it. Let's avoid any misunderstandings between us personally."