Chapter 106 Openness Without Internal Strife (Third Update)
Each martial artist has their own emphasis in utilizing their Battle Qi; this archer is somewhat lacking in defensive capabilities.
In his daily training, he mainly uses his Battle Qi for output, a choice most archers would make.
Even so, it's highly unlikely that the defenses will be breached.
However, stumbling a step or two was inevitable.
However, the gunfire suddenly intensified, and he felt a series of violent jolts in his thighs, calves, and buttocks.
"Oh my god!" The archer staggered a few steps, then suddenly steeled his resolve.
Although he lost his balance, he still drew his bow and arrow, and suddenly turned his head.
Despite losing his balance, the archer was still able to fight back!
It must be said that he was indeed quite confident in his archery skills.
However, as soon as he turned his head, he was stunned to see a black dot less than five meters away, flying rapidly towards him.
"Damn it—another grenade!" He didn't even have time to react before the grenade exploded.
The explosion occurred only two meters, less than three meters, away from him!
A grenade is powerful enough to kill Knight, and at close range, serious injury is not impossible.
What Wu Youren witnessed was that after the explosion, the other party forced forward two more steps before flying away.
Even the longbow he was holding slipped from his grasp, and the arrow he had shot with his back turned had vanished without a trace.
Wu Youren lunged forward, pressing the button for another grenade with his right hand, and started the countdown.
The pistol in his left hand was still firing.
Knight are indeed immune to minor damage, but no one can withstand this kind of continuous damage.
But when he threw another grenade and chased after them, he was dumbfounded. "They're still alive?"
The other person was covered in tatters and bleeding profusely, yet was still struggling.
Hearing his approaching footsteps, the man finally spoke again, "Spare me—spare my life! I'm willing to serve you for life!"
In Great Liang, lifelong loyalty wasn't just lip service; one could sign a contract at the government office, and the corresponding treatment was equivalent to that of a half-slave.
"Finally begging for mercy?" Wu Youren severed the man's neck in one swift motion. "Then I'm relieved!"
He was not a morally perfect person, nor did he reject slaves; the key issue was that he lacked the ability to restrain them!
As for government contracts? What good are they? If the government isn't powerful enough, they're all fake.
Not to mention, given his status, how could he dare to go to the Liang's government office?
Seeing the other person's blood splattered everywhere, Wu Youren composed himself and began digging a pit on the side.
He felt a little sentimental: this archer wasn't very agile, but his defense was quite high!
It seems that similar experience must be gained from real-world practice; this is not an online game.
The pit doesn't need to be too deep, just deep enough to bury the person.
He wouldn't consider preventing the other party from Weird Transformation; in this wasteland, even if the other party Weird Transformation, it wouldn't be him, Wu, who would be harmed!
As long as I can guarantee killing the opponent, that's fine.
He searched the man and found five gold coins and three wooden Weird-Repelling Jue.
"You poor wretch!" Wu Youren hastily buried the man and went to retrieve the bow.
The bow is a little over a meter long, not a particularly typical longbow, but the workmanship is quite exquisite, and it looks very valuable.
It's a bit damaged, but the key features are obvious and it's highly recognizable.
He could neither carry it nor sell it to the military or Intelligence Agency.
His choice was to find a place to bury the bow and then make a marker.
He didn't hold much hope for the future when he drew this bow.
Wu Youren was not good at archery and had no intention of practicing.
Not only is it a waste of time, but carrying a bow around like that is just too conspicuous.
He thought the small dagger at his waist was fine; its main advantage was its practicality.
The material is a bit inferior, but it can be reworked once he becomes stronger. For now, it's good enough and meets his need for a low-key approach.
Even from a professional standpoint, archers are a unit that requires teamwork.
Where could a hostage prince of Jin find a partner?
When Wu Youren returned to the location of the attack, the knife-wielder was still alive.
This Knight had actually bandaged his own neck and was struggling to bandage his chest and abdomen. His vitality was extraordinary.
However, covering the belly is quite difficult; just the intestines and entrails alone caused a large amount of discharge.
Upon seeing him return, the man was so frightened that he let go of the bandages and began digging at the ground with both hands.
This is a gesture of allegiance—I'll be your dog!
Wu Youren glanced at him but ignored him, instead looking at his own package.
He was furious when he saw it, exclaiming, "Damn it—you've ruined several of my water bladders!"
The enemy's knife and arrow both hit the package squarely.
In particular, the knife-wielder's strike, which he used to escape, cleaved through three water bags, leaving long gashes.
A lot of food was spilled all over the place.
Wu Youren could tolerate the loss of food to some extent, as some plants and animals in the mountains had not Weird Transformation and were still edible.
But water is something he truly can't stand; how long could he endure without water?
This time he seized at least five gold coins, enough to buy ten times the amount of food and water, but—is that really the same thing?
In the face of unpredictable disasters, food, water, emergency supplies, and weapons are the most valuable hard currencies.
Gold coins are good, but can they be used for food, drink, saving lives, or even killing monsters?
Sister Hua had left him with a large amount of food and water during their two previous transactions, which he could then purchase from the military if needed.
However, would he dare to eat it? He buried it secretly, making sure no one found out.
He returned to Red Pine to replenish his food and water, but instead of going to the Martial Academy himself, he asked someone to bring it to him.
He dared not let anyone know his thoughts, so he valued these necessities of life far more than ordinary supplies!
Moreover, the package was already damaged, so he had to repack it!
If five gold coins could buy back the food and water he had previously consumed, as well as the combat supplies he had used, he would absolutely not hesitate—
Okay, I'll hesitate for a bit, but I'll probably still change it.
The more he thought about it, the angrier and more heartbroken he became. He had originally wanted to finish off the knife-wielder with one strike, but now he didn't want to waste his own energy on internal strife!
He walked up to the knife-wielder, raised his knife, and stepped on the man's right hand, which was digging at the ground.
The swordsman was at the Knight level; even though he was severely injured and his Battle Qi was greatly depleted, he still possessed considerable strength.
Especially the desperate struggle before death.
He kept struggling, so much so that Wu Youren could barely keep his footing.
"Go to hell!" Wu Youren stomped his foot hard.
With a soft crack, he broke the other man's right arm with his foot, coldly saying, "Still dare to struggle?"
"Slurp," the knife-wielder couldn't even speak, blood seeping out from the bandage on his neck.
However, Wu Youren had become immune to visual perception; at this moment, his heart was filled with violent rage.
It's really not easy to secretly carry a load of food and water by yourself, which takes a lot of time, effort, and favors, and you have to hide from people!
The hardships of surviving in the cracks are truly indescribable to outsiders!
The key is that he can't do this too often; if he gets caught, his intentions—no amount of explanation will help.
Wu Youren had no penchant for torturing prisoners; a dead enemy was a good enemy. Hesitation only led to unforeseen complications.
But at this moment, he couldn't hold back any longer. Stepping on the other person's severed right arm, he viciously chopped off the little finger of his right hand.
"Damn, you're still not convinced, are you?"
Immediately afterwards, the ring finger of the other person's right hand also detached from the palm.
Do you even know how much I've messed up?
The next moment, a third blade flashed past.
"What did I do to you? You attacked without warning, and there were archers too—"
The fourth cut.
"I found three amulets on him to ward off evil spirits. You guys have done this kind of robbery quite a few times, haven't you?"
"You dare to use bows and arrows, but not guns? So you know you're committing crimes?"
"Damn it, no wonder you used a knife instead of a sword. A sword isn't suitable for a sneak attack!"
Swords are really not suitable for sneak attacks, unless it's in a large space or a sudden, face-to-face confrontation.
The sword is the ancestor of all weapons; this saying is truly not without merit. It is suitable for use in ambushes, head-on confrontations, and melee battles.
While muttering to himself, Wu Youren chopped off all ten of the other man's fingers.
Then he severed the man's hands and feet, and slashed his body with countless cuts!
Torture and murder is a cruel thing, but at this moment, his mind was unusually clear!
Why am I always the one who gets wronged?
A few days later, when he recalled that moment, he felt a little scared; his situation at that time was actually somewhat dangerous.
The other side didn't dare use guns, only bows and arrows, because as raiders, they were afraid of attracting attention.
Otherwise, if someone plants a few tripwires, would he even have a chance to retaliate?
He not only fired a gun, but also threw a grenade, which could be heard by anyone within a two- or three-kilometer radius.
Although he was a victim of robbers and could have fought back appropriately, his identity cannot withstand scrutiny.
The Liang people's retaliation was justified, but what about the Jin hostage's question—where did you get your gun? And what about the grenades?
Any Liang could do this, but he couldn't!
Not to mention, he brutally tortured and killed his opponent!
Fortunately, no one in the surrounding area came.
The knife-wielders had even less gear, which was normal; as the main force of the ambush, they couldn't possibly bring a lot of valuables with them.
Wu Youren strongly suspected that these two men had a secret warehouse storing essential survival supplies.
Otherwise, how could they survive in the wild with just what they had on them?
Unfortunately, he couldn't obtain those supplies—he didn't even have time to look for them.
However, he found a bottle of "water purification powder" and a stack of filter paper on the other person!
Using these two methods can make polluted water in the wild drinkable!
After using water purifier powder and boiling the water, it's basically safe to drink. If you add filter paper, you don't even need to boil it!
If we calculate it this way, aside from the loss of some ammunition, we're basically breaking even.
Furthermore, the knife this person is using is also quite exquisite!
It was a curved blade of medium length, with a conventional design and no obvious features.
But it is indeed a masterpiece, comparable to Aslan's weapons.
What's rare is that they're basically 90% new, with at least 85% being brand new!
Chapter 107 A Brainstorm (Fourth Update)
Wu Youren felt a little gratified; this knife was just right for him.
He now has two long weapons, but he's missing a medium-sized one.
He doesn't need to fight on the battlefield, so as for long weapons, a greatsword is basically enough.
The sword is the king of weapons, but it lacks the killing power on the battlefield, and it is not as good as the knife in maneuvering in confined spaces.
He'll definitely take that scimitar with him, and he won't sell it for less than six thousand, even if it's just for money.
Overall, I still made a profit, but why do I still feel a little unsatisfied?
The next moment, an unexpected surprise arrived: a huge wave of warmth surged through his entire body.
This wave of experience points doesn't seem like it's from killing Knight at all; it's more than double that of the archer who just died!
"This luck—it's a bit intoxicating," Wu Youren shook his head. What was going on?
Was it because killing the other party would be more beneficial to the fate of the Jin, or was it because this person had committed too many evil deeds in the past?
He wasn't quite sure, but it didn't matter; he could try again later. As he thought this, he buried the body as well, chopping it into many pieces to cover up the signs of foul play.
Since they've already been tortured to death, it doesn't matter if they're any more cruel.
After the delay on the road, it was already getting dark when he returned to the foot of the mountain.
He deliberately waited until late at night before carrying large bags and small packages up the ridge, where he quietly organized his supplies.
However, it wasn't until midnight that he finished organizing the supplies when a figure floated over silently.
The newcomer was a military Knight. "What did you bring back?"
Wu Youren had sensed something was amiss beforehand, and upon hearing this, he sighed, "Why did you bother to show yourself?"
This is something that's clearly shameful to do, and you're making everyone feel awkward. Is that really meaningful?
"My lord, it's better to see through things than to say them outright; otherwise, the point is lost."
The soldier's nose twitched, and he said quietly, "It's food and water. How much do you distrust the Intelligence Agency?"
Wu Youren was speechless and could only offer an excuse, "This time, I might be detained for a rather long time."
"If you need more, you can ask me," the soldier said sternly. "Would I lack food and water?"
If there's another crystal, it'll be his; this small advance payment is nothing.
The problem is, even your food isn't guaranteed! Wu Youren sighed, "The military's rations—sigh, it's a long story."
"Hehe, so you're a picky eater?" The soldier chuckled at his remark.
He had hardly smiled since they first made contact, so this was truly unusual.
However, both of them also knew in their hearts that this was just joking around, and taking it seriously would be a loss.
Wu Youren thought about it and felt there was no point in hiding it. "I don't trust the Intelligence Agency, but you do?"
"Oh, why don't you trust me?" A playful look appeared in the soldier's eyes.
His expressions were much more varied than usual today, which was clearly abnormal.
Wu Youren didn't want to cause any more trouble, so he said seriously, "It's enough that the adults know about this; there's no need to tell anyone else."
The soldier's eyes gleamed with amusement. "Are you ordering me around?"
"How could I dare?" Wu Youren shook his head hastily. "I'm not worthy!"
"So you're asking me to discuss it?" the soldier continued with a smile. "Then why should I agree to your request?"
"If they don't agree, then forget it," Wu Youren pondered for a moment and made his decision.
The other party was clearly planning to make some demands, but he didn't want to hear them.
Think about it carefully: even if the Intelligence Agency knew he was being wary of the other side—was it really such a big mistake?
There will definitely be a rift between them, and their relationship will be tense for a while. But were their relationships really that good before?
At first, he didn't want people to see his timidity, because that kind of personality profile would not be conducive to his long-term development.
However, compared to the demands the military intends to make, he believes that revealing his true intentions might have more manageable consequences.
Moreover, there might still be room for discussion.
Wu Youren understood, but still added, "I'm mainly not used to eating pre-cooked meals—oh, I mean, marching rations."
"There's no need to explain," the soldier shook his head. "You've already asked me if I trust the Intelligence Agency; isn't that completely unnecessary?"
He hesitated for a moment, then said, "If you don't want it to get out, then join the army—there are plenty of benefits."
"Join the army?" Wu Youren was genuinely taken aback. "With my status?"
The soldier shook his head and scoffed dismissively, "So what if you're someone important? You're just the grandson of a lord."
"And he's already passed away, right?"
Because it involved the Resentment Qi Crystal, he made a special trip to find out what was going on with this hostage from the State of Jin.
As a soldier, he had previously wanted to avoid getting involved in anything related to hostages, but if he really wanted to find out, it would have been very easy.
Calling him a hostage is a bit of an insult to the word "lord's grandson"!
However, the Hostage Prince Corps is true; this was to ensure a strong influence on the nobles of Jin.
A mere seventeenth prince, who is practically dispensable, is simply not enough.
"You even found out about this?" Wu Youren was slightly surprised. "I wonder if you found out about your adoptive father's death?"
He pursed his lips, then licked them, and said with difficulty, "This might anger the Jin, and the Intelligence Agency will also be dissatisfied."
"You're not as important as you think," the soldier stated bluntly. "Once you join the military, the Intelligence Agency? They can't touch you!"
"We can also erase your information. Only the military can clear a hostage's name; no one else can!"
"You enjoy killing monsters? Then we can adjust things and move you to an area where you have more frequent contact with Weird Race."
This left Wu Youren feeling utterly bewildered. The military, a force to be reckoned with, was actually inviting a foreign hostage to join their ranks, and with such enthusiasm?
Even the most imaginative person couldn't have come up with such an absurd idea, right?
Wait, haven't I seen this episode before?
He remained silent for more than ten seconds before replying in a deep voice, "Let's forget about things that are detrimental to the friendship between our two countries—"
"My lord, I really just want to be an ordinary person."
"Heh," the soldier sneered. He didn't have much patience left; his attempts to persuade the other party were failing, and he was getting a little impatient.
"As long as you retain your status as a proton, do you even deserve to be an ordinary person?"
"I am indeed unworthy," Wu Youren said, not angry at all; what the other person said was the truth.
He nodded. "But once I joined the army, I was completely out of control of my own destiny. I'm sorry, sir."
Putting aside the feeling of déjà vu, he expressed serious doubts about the military's true intentions.
And the military's integrity—well, let's not even mention it.
The Knight's face gradually darkened.
However, in the end, he still bluntly stated, "I suggest you reconsider."
"For someone of your status, once an opportunity is missed, it won't come again."
It was clear that he was forcibly suppressing his anger, and his last sentence carried a subtle threat.
Missing the military's invitation might incur their wrath, and even other opportunities might be deliberately sabotaged. Wu Youren understood.
However, he nodded blankly, "Okay, I'll consider it. I need to rest first so I can go get the crystals."
Upon hearing the word "crystallization," the soldier's lips twitched, and miraculously, his complexion improved somewhat.
His voice softened slightly, "Okay, I'll think about it. Tell me what you need."
The boy's words reminded him that if he forced it any further, it was hard to say whether he would even receive the crystals.
To put it another way, if we apply further pressure, and the opponent obtains multiple crystals, will they give them high-quality ones or low-quality ones?
It's best not to easily offend capable people, even if they are relatively weak.
Seeing the boy nod and turn to walk towards the cave, he couldn't help but ask again, "What about the knife on your waist?"
"I picked it up on the road," Wu Youren replied casually, and walked into the cave without looking back.
He has already attracted the other party's attention, so maintaining an appropriate distance is essential.
The soldier just watched him walk in, then shook his head after a long while and disappeared.
In the night breeze, only a faint sigh could be heard.
Two days later, Wu Youren, full of energy, re-entered the white mist.
Three days later, a convoy appeared, unusually, not coming in from outside the mountains, but withdrawing from the valley.
The convoy consisted of more than ten vehicles, traveling on main roads. On some of the convertibles, one could see boxes, which were urns containing ashes.
The Liang does not have the custom of cremation, but when fighting against the Weird Race, those who die will be burned if conditions permit.
These are all warriors who have fought against the Weird Race for a long time, and among them is even Instructor Ke Li!
Wu Youren went into the mountains and didn't receive any news, but everyone in Red Pine knew that their meritorious instructor had returned.
In the following time, several more convoys withdrew, but the number of vehicles was not large and they were scattered.
Two days later, convoys of military vehicles appeared, along with some high-end off-road vehicles.
Someone came to communicate and take over the garrison duties in each area.
However, the Knight who had contact with Wu Youren said that our team is very familiar with this area and has experience in handling it.
If he could earn more merit points, he was willing to continue leading the team and holding out.
For the military, this is a good thing, as blockade missions and combat missions are different.
Troops stationed long-term have a better understanding of the terrain and various unusual situations.
He even recognizes many of the human warriors who frequently appear in the surrounding area.
There might be something fishy going on here, but the military isn't interested in investigating further. They've only stated that the honor won't be promoted much because a major battle is imminent.
You are under lockdown here, seemingly without rest or shifts, but you will not be sent to the front lines afterward.
If you don't accept this, you can go back and rest now!
Six days later, Wu Youren finally emerged from the white mist, looking quite well.
He deliberately chose to appear at night, but before he had taken more than a few steps, the soldier Knight appeared.
He looked the boy up and down, then glanced at the medium-sized curved sword. "You're back. This sword—did you really find it?"
(Another 4 chapters, 12,000 words. Please support with subscriptions, monthly tickets, and recommendation votes.)