Chapter 122: You Come with Me!

Chapter 122: Follow me!

An hour later, Chen Jian's squad returned to Wuxue Town.

When they saw Zhao He again, he delivered news that Chen Jian hadn't expected.

The reinforcements from Huadu had already arrived, but now they had left.

They departed in great haste, as if fleeing from something.

Chen Jian instantly realized that their raid on the camp must have been spotted.

Otherwise, there would be nothing in Wuxue Town capable of frightening the Huadu people into fleeing without even investigating, without giving any statement, and without taking any goods.

And after confirming that one of the two was a powerful source-blooded individual, Chen Jian grew more certain of this hypothesis.

Only source-blooded individuals could cross the dense jungle in a short time to reach the vicinity of the camp, and only they could approach within observation distance without being detected by our own drones.

"My lord, what should we do now? Continue pursuing them?"

"They are fleeing toward Jiujiang; if we chase, we might still catch up."

Zhao He probed, asking, while Chen Jian shook his head and replied:

"No need; since they've left, let them go."

"The monster is dead; our mission is complete."

"What comes next is outside our scope of work."

"Understood… wait— the monster is dead??"

Zhao He stared, mouth agape.

He had thought Chen Jian's squad had gone out and returned so quickly because they hadn't found any trace of the monster, merely returning to Wuxue Town to rest temporarily!

That would be normal, after all, the area of Wushan Lake is vast, and these people lacked sufficient intelligence; not finding it, or even spotting it but being unable to defeat it, pulling back temporarily to regroup would be reasonable.

But now you tell me we've already been there and killed the monster??

How long has it been?? Two and a half hours??

Just the round trip would take at least two hours, wouldn't it??

Zhao He sucked in a breath of cold air, once again relieved that he had kept his composure when facing the two from Huadu, refusing to betray the Xia army.

Although they seemed indifferent, someday they would surely learn of his attitude from some place or some person.

And when that time came, his bias toward them might well become a talisman for Wuxue Town.

A smile unconsciously spread across Zhao He's face; he looked at Chen Jian with ingratiation and spoke:

"My lord, since the monster has been eradicated, as I said, Wuxue Town will offer its sincerity to the Xia army."

"Though our produce is not abundant, we still have much."

"Just look; come to Huangshi to find us."

Chen Jian, somewhat absent‑minded, cut off Zhao He's words and turned to He Shuo and the others:

"We'll return to Huangshi at once."

"He Shuo, contact the Ring Merchants' Guild and sell the intelligence we've gathered."

"Negotiate well, strive for a good price."

"Add to that the original reward for this mission, and try to raise their promised compensation from 'Level Three Control' to 'Level Two Control'."

"Zeng Yi and Xie Liu, take the plates from that mech crate."

"Though we didn't find him a great shield, this armor is still fine!"

Meanwhile, on the other side.

Bai Xu hid somewhat disheveled in the cabin of the Mechanical God Sect's steamship, the wooden crate on his back set aside, the single‑shot rifle gripped tightly in his hand.

His expression was tense, his eyes fixed on the riverbank beyond the window, as if fearing someone might burst forth and drag him into the water.

Beside him, Ji Xing also watched the riverbank, but her expression was far more relaxed than Bai Xu's.

Indeed, she carried a faint, almost imperceptible anticipation.

She hoped the Xia army would come after them.

Not because she wanted to clash with them head‑on—she knew she lacked the strength—

but because she was curious how they would treat the Huadu 'deviants' if, guided by Wuxue Town, they captured the instigator.

Alas, the riverbank showed no movement.

No one pursued; it was as if they had no interest in these two escaped rats.

Ji Xing sighed regretfully, then turned to Bai Xu beside her and said:

"After I get you to Jiujiang, my task is done."

"I hope you will pay as promised; after all, this is what I am owed."

"Owed?\" Bai Xu looked up at Ji Xing, frowning, and said:

"Your task is unfinished; our camp was attacked and you did nothing!"

"You failed in your duty as a guard!"

"Not declaring the mission failed on the spot and not terminating the contract already was my mercy; you still expect payment?"

"If you want payment, you must escort me back to Huadu."

"Once you arrive safely, I will settle your wages."

His tone had lost the easy banter he'd shown upon first reaching Wuxue Town, now thick with threat.

Ji Xing met his gaze, speaking each word deliberately:

"Are you threatening me?"

"Do I not have the right to threaten you?"

Bai Xu snorted coldly and continued:

"I come from Huadu, and Huadu's power is not to be trifled with, even in the whole north."

"Don't forget, you no longer belong to the Holy Blood Hall."

"You are merely an ordinary guard now; even though you possess source‑blooded power, what does that matter?"

"If you break the contract, you will lose even the qualification to be a guard."

"And if, because you abandon me midway, my safety is jeopardized, Huadu will spare no effort to hunt you down to the ends of the earth."

"Where could you hide? Like those monsters, hole up in the mountains and become a savage?"

"Think it over— escorting me to Huadu is your most rational choice."

"Besides that."

"There is nothing besides."

Ji Xing cut off Bai Xu, then spoke solemnly:

“You are raising monsters in Wushan Lake, and the monsters you raise have killed innocent civilians in Wuxue Town.”

“That’s going too far—if I spread this matter, do you think Huadu can still survive?”

“You can try.”

Bai Xu showed no fear, looking back at the past, then said:

“First, you have no evidence.”

“Second, do you really think we care?”

“No one will care about the lives of a few civilians, and if our research succeeds, the whole world will be ours!”

“Give up your fantasies and come with me.”

“I can guarantee that the moment you leave, the hunt against you will take effect immediately.”

“I can hire new guards, I—”

“So, this is your true purpose.”

Ji Xing let out a long sigh.

She finally heard the answer she had imagined.

Indeed, from the moment she saw the camp, she realized she could not escape.

Either she would throw her lot in with Huadu.

Or—

Her gaze gradually turned cold.

“You’re right.”

She looked at Bai Xu, speaking each word deliberately:

“I truly have no choice.”

“Then let’s go together.”

“But not me following you.”

“You will follow me!”

“In this world, even the Machine God Sect might fear you a little.”

“But the true killing gods of Huangshi City will certainly not fear you!”

(End of chapter)