Ch. 97 - Fox in Tiger's Den

Tianyang hurried back to the camp.

Although he had Linfeng's "special mission" as a cover, even if someone found out that he had separated from the main team, it wouldn't be a big deal. However, suspicions would inevitably arise, and there was no need for Tianyang to use that "shield" easily.

As the camp came into view, suddenly, Tianyang heard a dog's bark.

Immediately, a black shadow leaped out from a side alley.

It was a mad dog, covered with fungal growths that seemed to make the creature even more aggressive.

Its head, with a human-like face, roared furiously as it used both its hands and feet, nearly reaching Tianyang in the blink of an eye.

In the next moment, a crimson streak appeared in the monster's line of sight.

This red light split its vision in half, revealing a pitch-black crevice in between!

That was the last image the monster saw. Tianyang frowned and pointed the Crimson Moon Warblade downward, and the dark creature split open in the middle, collapsing and quickly decomposing.

More dogs rushed out of the alley, and Tianyang had to fight and retreat, keeping a distance to avoid being surrounded.

Ten meters forward, beams of azure light streaked across from above Tianyang's head, striking the mad dogs infected with fungal growths.

It turned out the firepower specialist in the elevated position in the camp had spotted him and provided timely cover.

Fortunately, there were only a limited number of these mad dogs. A few minutes later, Tianyang and the firepower specialist had killed most of them. The remaining few turned tail and disappeared into the winding alleys.

Tianyang finally returned to the gate of the camp.

Just as he was about to enter, a figure rushed out from inside the gate, pointing at Tianyang and yelling, "What's wrong with you?! Why didn't you return with the main team and instead stir up a bunch of mad dogs? Are you trying to get us all killed?!"

It was Zhou Wang.

He was furious, looking like he was about to demand answers, his eyes flickering with excitement and a hint of smugness.

Tianyang pushed him away and said, "I don't need to report to you for everything I do. I didn't provoke those mad dogs. They just suddenly ran out. What could I have done?"

Zhou Wang grabbed Tianyang's shoulder and said, "Mr. Yun Ze entrusted me with the camp's security. Now you've threatened the camp's safety. You must report to me!"

Tianyang sneered, "Are you saying that the Yun family's power is so great that it can now interfere with the Night Walkers?"

Zhou Wang couldn't find a retort. He couldn't exactly say "yes," or else he'd risk getting his head bashed in by Yun Ze later.

Just then, Adam's voice came from outside the gate, "What are you two doing?"

It turned out that the exploration team had returned. Tianyang looked over and saw Yun Ze among them.

Yun Ze's expression darkened immediately when he saw Zhou Wang pestering Tianyang.

Zhou Wang still held onto Tianyang and said, "Captain Adam, Mr. Yun Ze. You've come back just in time. This guy doesn't know what he's up to secretly and not only came back alone but also stirred up a pack of mad dogs, almost causing an attack on our camp."

Tianyang put his hand on the handle of his rifle and said, "Take your hands off me!"

Zhou Wang sneered, "What, are you going to shoot me?"

Tianyang smiled meaningfully. "How do you know I won't?"

Yun Ze glanced at Zhou Wang, then at Tianyang, his expression complicated. "Captain Adam, I was just about to ask you why Tianyang didn't return with us."

Adam said calmly, "I gave him a task to go into town alone and check out the current situation in Gemstone Town."

"Oh, I see."

Yun Ze seemed reluctant to pursue further, giving Zhou Wang a fleeting glance. "Did you hear what Captain Adam said? He has a mission on hand, so stop making baseless accusations."

Zhou Wang snorted through his nose and finally let go.

Adam shook his head and instructed the soldiers to bring the collected specimens into the building. While they were collecting specimens, the Yun family's guards had already moved a set of equipment from the car into one of the rooms in the small building.

Now, that room served as a temporary research lab for Kong Zhang and his three students.

These scholars were not interested in the minor conflict that had just occurred. The elderly man led his students into the building with the soldiers, eager to study the collected fungal specimens.

Yun Ze led his group inside to rest. As they passed by Tianyang, he only smiled faintly and said nothing, leaving his thoughts unclear.

A large hand landed on Tianyang's shoulder, and Adam gestured for the youth to follow him.

The two entered a small conference room. Adam removed his longsword from his waist and casually placed it on a table.

He then pulled over a chair and sat down. His weight, plus the armor, made the chair creak under him.

"How did the mission go? Smooth sailing?" Adam asked.

Tianyang leaned against the wall and shook his head. "I can only say we've made some progress, but we're far from completing it."

"You'll have to put in more effort then," Adam said, rubbing his thick neck. "We encountered two more fungal creatures on the way, plus a mad dog controlled by fungi. It's unbelievable how this town has changed. I can barely recognize it anymore."

"Did Kong Zhang find anything?" Tianyang inquired.

Adam shook his head this time. "That old man doesn't talk much on the road, but from his expression, these fungi are no ordinary matter."

"We often encounter strange things in the Inverse Universe. These fungi are just one of them. Shouldn't Night Walkers be used to such things?" Tianyang smiled and asked back.

Adam chuckled heartily. "You're right. Maybe we've been stuck in the base for too long, getting used to the same old routine."

"By the way, are there any other towns open for exploration around here?" Tianyang added. "I met some prospectors on the train."

Adam nodded. "Not long ago, there was an earthquake—not too severe, but it unearthed a town."

Tianyang was puzzled. "What's the situation?"

Adam shrugged. "Nothing much. This town is near Gemstone Town. The road leading to it was blocked before due to the earthquake, but now it's cleared. As you know, Yunxiang is short-staffed. Moreover, this town is even smaller than Gemstone Town, so the minister simply applied to the fortress to open it up for prospectors to explore."

"I see."

Tianyang nodded. A small town of that size indeed didn't require much effort. Besides, whatever the prospectors found there, they would have to pay a fee to the fortress. Moreover, by utilizing them, the fortress could gather information about the town.

He wondered if that town, too, might be occupied by fungi, considering its proximity. Thinking of fungi, Tianyang casually asked, "Didn't they say the fungi in Gemstone Town glow? Why didn't I see any? Could it be related to the recent unusual growth of fungi?"

Adam waved his hand dismissively. "That shouldn't be related. Fungi don't glow all the time. According to our observations, they have a period of 36 hours of darkness after each glow, then repeat."

"We've been in town for about ten hours now. Maybe in a few more hours, they'll light up again. So, you better rest now. Otherwise, once they start glowing, everything will be brightly lit, and you won't be able to sleep."

Tianyang chuckled. "With that in mind, I better get some sleep right away.

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