Zhang Meng's Ruthlessness
Perhaps she noticed the flash of admiration in Dongfang Yueming's eyes, or perhaps she was startled by her own instinctive action, but Hongxiu's pretty face suddenly flushed red!
I... what am I doing?! Her heart fluttered in panic. How could I act... like this toward a youngster I only just met?!
The sudden embarrassment made her lose her composure in an instant. Her earlier poise and seductive charm vanished without a trace. She did not even dare look Dongfang Yueming in the eye again. Flustered, she blurted out, "I... I'll go get ready!" Then, like a startled fawn, she turned and hurried away.
Watching Hongxiu's somewhat flustered retreat, Dongfang Yueming was a little baffled, but he did not dwell on it.
The most urgent thing is still to improve my strength. He withdrew his gaze and made plans in his heart. Point Allocation is the way to go! Once I've settled down at Black Stone Fortress, I need to find a way to earn more military merits. If I exchange them for a Bone Tempering cultivation technique and break through to the Bone Forging Realm as soon as possible, I should be able to earn more points each day!
Having made up his mind, he prepared to return to the train carriage and seize the time to regulate his breathing for a while.
But just as he took a step, several figures surrounded him with ill intent, blocking his path.
Their leader was a muscular bald man with a scar on his face and a fierce look in his eyes. Three or four martial artists with similarly tough auras and unfriendly expressions followed him. They all looked like capable fighters in the Flesh Refining Realm.
The bald man looked Dongfang Yueming up and down with a sinister grin. His gaze landed on the terminal at Dongfang Yueming's waist, and he made no attempt to hide his greed.
"Kid!" the bald man said in a hoarse voice, his tone full of menace. "You got quite a few military merits just now, didn't you? If you know what's good for you, hand them over! Otherwise... don't blame us if you never make it out of this Gobi Desert!"
Dongfang Yueming raised an eyebrow and swept a cold gaze over the men surrounding him. He noticed that although quite a few martial artists nearby had seen what was happening, they were all watching indifferently. Some even looked as though they were enjoying the show, with no intention of intervening whatsoever.
"Does... no one keep order here?" he asked calmly, his voice betraying neither joy nor anger.
At those words, the bald man burst into harsh, raucous laughter, as though he had just heard the greatest joke in the world!
"Hahahaha! No one keeps order? Kid, were you just born yesterday? You're way too naive!" The bald man slapped his shiny forehead, his face full of mockery. "Where do you think you are? This is the road to the Beast Defense Frontier! We're about to enter the real lawless zone!"
He leaned closer, fixing his fierce gaze on Dongfang Yueming, and lowered his voice. "Let me tell you! Here, the biggest fist makes the rules! As long as you don't go too far or kill anyone and alarm the big shots above, you can do whatever you want! Who's going to care?!"
"I see." Dongfang Yueming nodded, a trace of understanding flashing in his eyes. The weak were prey to the strong, and it seemed that was even more nakedly evident here.
Seeing the look of sudden realization on his face, the bald man grew even more disdainful. "What? You get it now, kid? Don't tell me... you still want to fight us?"
His companions joined in the laughter, looking at Dongfang Yueming as though he were a fool who had no idea what death was.
"Haha, Brother Scar, this kid's so soft and tender, I bet he's barely even seen blood!"
"He dares fight us? One punch would probably knock him flat!"
"Kid, hand over your military merits like a good boy, and you'll suffer a little less!"
Meanwhile, near Black Stone Fortress, an unknown distance away, in a dim forest.
Puchi!
Zhang Meng gritted his teeth and drove the long saber in his hand into the heart of a fallen martial artist in front of him with all his strength! Blood splattered across his face, but he paid it no mind. Instead, a trace of savage satisfaction appeared on his face.
"Good! Well done, Zhang Meng!" A sinister voice rang out. A middle-aged man beside him, dressed in leather armor and with eyes like a venomous snake's, patted Zhang Meng on the shoulder. A satisfied smile appeared on his face. "See that? Killing our own kind earns military merits much faster than going to all the trouble of hunting down those thick-skinned, tough-fleshed Mortal Beasts!"
Zhang Meng hurriedly wiped the savage look from his face and replaced it with a fawning smile. "Yes, yes, yes! The captain is right to correct me! The captain is truly wise!"
The middle-aged man called captain chuckled, pulled a small jade bottle from his robes, and tossed it to Zhang Meng. "This is your reward, a bottle of top-grade Bone Tempering Ointment. It's enough for you to attempt a breakthrough to the Bone Forging Realm tonight! Keep following me and working hard, and you won't be short of benefits!"
"Thank you, Captain! Thank you, Captain!" Zhang Meng caught the jade bottle, overjoyed, and thanked him repeatedly.
He clutched the jade bottle tightly, feeling the warm, soothing aura coming from within it. A trace of icy killing intent flashed in his eyes as he thought viciously:
Dongfang Yueming! Just you wait! Once I break through to the Bone Forging Realm, my strength will increase tremendously! When that happens, I'll make you beg for life and long for death, unable to have either!