Ch. 16 - Sleeping in the Wilderness, Quite Daring

The night grew deeper, unbeknownst to all.

Hunger, fatigue, and cold.

In various states, everyone had fallen asleep.

Du Xu leaned against the wall as he slept, murmuring something and fidgeting restlessly.

Zhao Zicheng was asleep, but his body was moving, and had a smile on his face. His excitement was evident, though his smile was excessive, it caused his cheeks to redden and ache.

Suddenly, a low growl emanated from outside the factory in the distance.

But due to the distance, the sound wasn't distinct. Even those who were awake might have dismissed it as a mere illusion.

In the darkness.

Yusheng opened his eyes, his demeanor was unusually calm.

Almost simultaneously, Liu Qingfeng also opened his eyes.

They exchanged glances.

Liu Qingfeng shrugged, adopting an indifferent expression.

Yusheng rose from the darkness and moved silently, gliding through the crowd with precision. He vanished into the shadows.

Liu Qingfeng's eyebrows furrowed slightly then sighed after a while.

"The fate of a lone wolf..."

"Often ends tragically."

He muttered to himself, gazing at the sleeping students around him including the two teachers. He sighed again and closed his eyes.

...

"With God."

"With God."

In the outskirts, a few middle-aged individuals gazed at the distant abandoned factory, locking eyes and murmuring to each other.

Their appearances were diverse.

Some were dressed in suits, others were portly chefs. There was even a man in tattered clothes resembling a beggar.

These individuals, who should have had no connection in their lives, now had fervent expressions.

As though sharing the same belief.

"Today, bask in the starlight."

"God..."

"Is God watching us?"

The man in the suit took a deep breath, clenching his fist abruptly.

The others grew excited as well.

"If this plan goes smoothly, we might have a chance to rise as the servants of God!"

"It's a great blessing."

The man in the suit continued to speak passionately.

Gradually, the group's emotions reached a peak.

Suddenly, a low growl echoed from the distance.

Their voices fell silent.

"A demon?"

The chef's expression visibly tensed as he glanced around nervously, he asked cautiously, "Is it a demon?"

"As the servants of God, I sense fear in you."

"This is the greatest humiliation to God!"

The man in the suit's expression turned cold instantly, his gaze darkening as he looked at the chef. He said, "So what if there's a demon?"

"Tonight, the most talented students from Mo Bei City must die!"

"Even if we have to give our lives!"

"God..."

"Will you redeem us?"

As the man in the suit spoke, the others were gradually infected by his words.

Their emotions stabilized once again.

"Stick to the plan."

"Wait for another half an hour, then take action."

The man in the suit glanced at his watch and spoke.

The others nodded vigorously.

...

In Baichun City.

Being the provincial capital of Jiangbei Province on the northern border of the human territory, the city remained brightly lit even late into the night.

At this moment, the Mo Be Sub-Branch of the city, under the command of the Deputy Branch Master, received an unexpected phone call.

The busy Deputy Branch Master picked up the phone and answered.

A slightly hoarse voice came from the other end.

"Lin Branch Master, how about a deal?"

The Deputy Branch Master paused, furrowing his brows slightly. After a few seconds, he responded calmly, "Go on."

"It's not a big deal, really."

"Just lend us a road."

"In ten minutes, a convoy will enter the city from the north and leave from the south."

"We hope your guards won't trouble them."

The hoarse voice continued, its tone was steady.

The Deputy Branch Master remained composed. 'A cultist group?'

"Lin Branch Master jests. It's the Church of the Ten Thousand Gods," the voice corrected.

The Deputy Branch Master switched the call to speakerphone and placed the phone on the desk. He continued working on some documents then asked in return, "Since this is a trade, what are you offering in return?"

"If I remember correctly, the Lin Branch Master recently organized an assessment for students in remote cities."

"The assessment in Mo Bei City hasn't concluded yet."

"The lives of twelve students in total."

"What do you think?"

"Can we do it?"

The words were spoken calmly, as if recounting a completely ordinary matter, devoid of any killing intent.

The Deputy Branch Master remained silent for a few seconds.

"Every trade requires a guarantee."

"After all, your side has been known to go back on its word. I have no choice."

A light chuckle came from the other end of the line. "Lin Branch Master, this time, I am the initiator of the trade."

"You have no right to negotiate terms."

"Of course, if Mo Ge were to shed its veneer of hypocrisy accumulated over the years and allow these pitiful children to die, I would have nothing to say."

...

"Very well," the Deputy Branch Master said, taking a deep breath, his gaze turning cold. "But if even a single person from Mo Bei City dies..."

"Within the next six months, Jiangbei Province will launch another raid against your cult!"

His voice held a tinge of anger, but in the end, he had to compromise.

"It's the Church of the Ten Thousand Gods!" The voice on the other end was corrected again before hanging up.

The Deputy Branch Master placed the phone on the table and picked up the phone on his desk, making a call and speaking a few words.

Minutes later, the northern gate of Baichun City opened.

Several trucks roared through, kicking up dust as they sped along the road, disappearing into the distance.

...

"Brats!"

"Enjoy the revelry!"

Even in the dead of night, Luo Tian still wore his sunglasses, leaning against an off-road vehicle. Beside him stood a bloodshot-eyed dog.

The dog was quite large.

Its eyes lacked any trace of intelligence, leaving only the primal madness of a beast. A dark red pattern marked its forehead.

However, its neck was adorned with a collar.

Luo Tian casually removed the collar. The dog swiftly turned around, growling softly as it stared at Luo Tian.

"Go away!"

"Get lost!"

With a disdainful kick, Luo Tian sent the dog tumbling. Rolling on the ground, the dog eventually stood up, its eyes now tinged with instinctual fear. It gradually retreated, putting more and more distance between itself and Luo Tian.

But soon, it caught a scent and grew agitated, darting towards the direction of the factory.

Saliva dripped from its sharp teeth, the stench was unbearable.

Meanwhile, Luo Tian leisurely lit a cigarette while squatting on a hillside, admiring his handiwork.

"Heh heh, you little pups, it's time that you find out..."

"What awakened beings truly have to face"

"Sleeping in the wilderness, you all are really bold."

Tsk tsk, Luo Tian clicked his tongue twice, taking a deep drag from his cigarette. He exhaled a stream of smoke, a smile playing on his lips but his eyes held a hint of coldness.

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