Through conversations on the way, Qin Ze learned that Niu Zhida belonged to the same mercenary squad.
They are usually responsible for protecting caravans traveling from Jiang City to the Northern Territory.
Their team originally consisted of six people.
On their return journey from the Northern Territory, the other two were injured and are currently recuperating in the city.
It will take at least a month or two to recover.
For mercenaries who live on the edge, time is money.
Unfortunately, they didn't have enough men to continue guarding the caravan.
Just then, Abyss chasm appeared outside Jiang City.
Since they had nothing better to do, the four of them discussed it and decided to go out of the city to hunt strange beasts.
The strongest of the monsters released from the Abyss rift this time is only E-rank, with a maximum strength of peak level two.
The four of them could handle it perfectly well.
However, in order to reduce the casualty rate of warriors, the City Defense Bureau stipulated that teams of five must be formed to leave the city.
Having no other choice, Niu Zhida could only go to the city gate to recruit people.
As luck would have it, Qin Ze was brought along.
The fissure is located more than 40 kilometers north of the city.
Several hundred meters away, Qin Ze could already see the black spatial rift.
The crack is five meters high, as if it was cleaved out by someone with an axe.
Ripples spread continuously in the surrounding space, like water in a pool after a stone has been thrown in, spreading outwards in layers.
There were about twenty martial artists nearby, but only three of them were wearing the City Defense Bureau.
The people gathered leisurely in twos and threes, either resting or chatting, showing no signs of a battlefield.
Qin Ze had expected a fierce battle to take place, but it turned out to be just like a picnic.
All that's missing is to put a tablecloth on the floor.
Niu Zhida whistled.
Looks like we're in luck.
"The alien beasts haven't been released yet."
The Babyface said happily, "Anyway, we charge by the hour. We can go back after guarding the rift for ten hours."
"It's best not to release any alien beasts during this period."
The Skinny Dog and the Blade Man with the knife couldn't help but nod.
I just want to be able to receive my basic living allowance peacefully and without worry.
No matter how much money you earn, you need to be alive to spend it.
Qin Ze suddenly realized.
It turns out that strange beasts didn't always emerge from the rift.
"There aren't many exotic beasts, so why is the City Defense Bureau recruiting martial artists?" Qin Ze asked, puzzled.
Niu Zhida, " Brother Lin, you're probably not a local of Jiang City, are you?"
Qin Ze nodded. "I'm here for tourism."
"No wonder," Niu Zhida explained, " Jiang City is just a remote small town."
"The entire city's City Defense Bureau combined only has three or four hundred people."
"We not only need to stand guard on weekdays, but also patrol the fields to see if any new fissures appear. There are almost no spare personnel."
"With the Abyss Tide approaching, three rifts have appeared outside the city."
" The City Defense Bureau already had a small number of people, and now they are even more stretched thin, so they have no choice but to recruit more."
Qin Ze raised an eyebrow.
Three cracks?
That's not what the news reports say.
In order to avoid causing panic, the news seems to have concealed some of the truth from the general public.
Judging from Niu Zhida's calm and collected demeanor, Qin Ze estimated that the crisis this time was not too serious.
When will the rift close?
Niu Zhida replied, "It could take anywhere from a few days to several weeks."
"If you ask me, the later we close, the better. Otherwise, where will we make money?"
In the eyes of these professional mercenaries, guarding the rift is the task with the lowest risk and the highest reward.
The rift can only release a maximum of two alien beasts at a time.
There were at least twenty martial artists guarding the outside, and they killed it with a single sword.
Moreover, the rifts rarely release alien beasts.
Some of these fissures never saw a single beast appear or disappear.
It's like picking up money for free.
After arriving near the rift, Qin Ze and the others first went to the City Defense Bureau to sign in, and then the timer started.
There were four teams on site, including Qin Ze's group.
One team is responsible for one direction.
Qin Ze and his group were assigned to the east side by the City Defense Bureau.
Once in defensive position, Niu Zhida cursing and swearing.
"Damn it, they're taking advantage of us because we're not locals."
Qin Ze was completely confused.
Is there a specific technique to defensive positioning?
Niu Zhida noticed the confusion in Qin Ze's eyes and explained, "We're facing the crevice from this angle."
"After the monsters were released, we were the first to charge."
"I hate people who get ahead through connections the most!"
The Blade Man sneered, "It was you who insisted on stopping me just now, otherwise I would have made that bastard from the City Defense Bureau move us to another place."
The Babyface soothed, "Alright, alright, don't cause trouble."
"It's just guarding the cracks, not facing the Tide head-on; it's the same everywhere."
The five of them sat down on the ground, and a morning passed by in the blink of an eye.
During this time, not a single strange beast was released from the rift, and Qin Ze kept yawning out of boredom.
Niu Zhida leaned closer to Qin Ze and asked, " Brother Lin, you must come from a martial arts family and have been away training, right?"
Qin Ze remained calm. "What makes you say that?"
Niu Zhida chuckled and said, "I've noticed that you don't know much about common sense. Only those family scions who have been well protected since childhood are like that."
There's one more thing Niu Zhida didn't mention.
Qin Ze is too young.
A level one peak martial artist in their twenties could never be a rogue martial artist without resources.
Qin Ze's face was just someone he randomly picked on the street to get replaced.
Hearing Niu Zhida's words, he just smiled and didn't explain.
Everyone else took it as a tacit agreement.
"When the beasts are released, stand back and don't cause us any trouble," Skinny Dog voice.
He has always looked down on those born with a silver spoon in their mouths.
His entire cultivation level was built up using resources.
I've never seen blood before.
No matter how high one's cultivation level is, such a person would definitely be flustered and overwhelmed when facing strange beasts.
A powerful enemy is not scary; what's truly terrifying is a teammate who's as incompetent as a pig.
Qin Ze ignored the Skinny Dog's disdain and didn't bother to explain.
The Babyface tried to smooth things over. "He's always been outspoken, don't take it to heart."
Just then, the space around the rift began to fluctuate violently.
Niu Zhida's expression changed.
"Prepare for battle, the alien beasts are being released."
Qin Ze peered curiously into the crack.
This was the first time he had ever witnessed a strange beast descend upon the land.
The spatial plane containing the crack is like a mirror on the verge of breaking, with ripples and cracks intertwined.
After a few breaths, a thick, black claw emerged from the crack.
Bang!
Its claws stomped heavily on the ground, kicking up dust.
Next came the second front paw.
"Roar--"
With a deafening roar, the beast revealed its true form.
It was a lizard-like beast, covered in black scales, with a single horn on its head.
Just as Niu Zhida had said, the beast charged towards Qin Ze and his group the moment it appeared.
"Looks like we're still pretty lucky."
"It's just an F-rank alien beast."
"Superior."
At Niu Zhida's command, Skinny Dog and his two companions immediately sprang into action.