Chapter 39: This World Can No Longer Be Led by You

Chapter Thirty‑Nine: The world can no longer be left in your hands.

"Two individual rocket launchers, model DZJ19, feel like a lighter, smaller variant of the Type 08, though still single‑use."

"Twelve 60mm mortar shells, all extended‑range, from the same batch we previously captured."

"About half a crate of mixed ammunition—5.8 mm and 7.62 mm, roughly eight hundred rounds, a motley lot; we might salvage a couple hundred still serviceable."

"A large box of grenades, all Model 82‑2P1, twenty‑odd, surprisingly fresh—seems just taken from a sealed environment."

"Two pistols, unidentified model, but oddly .45 caliber—do we even have such guns domestically?"

"And two Type 20 light machine guns, also 7.62 mm versions—unfortunately rusted solid; even if they fired, their power would be negligible."

At a temporary outpost away from the camp, Chen Jian finished inventorying the weapons seized from the demon‑infested stronghold, his tone puzzled:

"Why does all this feel so strange to me?"

"You mentioned those demons usually fight with cold‑steel melee; according to the intel we got from you, if they have firearms they’re mostly scavenged from nearby human settlements—crude or modified guns."

"Yet the weapons we’ve found are all old stock."

"Especially this crate of grenades—clearly not something they’d pick up from trash."

"Either someone is supplying them with arms, or they’ve uncovered a sealed underground facility."

Hearing him, the hitherto silent Xu Lie spoke up.

"The issue you raise is exactly what I’ve been pondering—these Blood Skulls are decidedly odd."

"Those two wraiths appearing here is no coincidence; I have a hunch, though I’m not sure if it’s right."

"Just say it!"

Chen Jian lowered the rocket launcher, locked eyes with Xu Lie, awaiting his reply.

Xu Lie drew a deep breath and answered:

"I suspect the Flower Capital may have struck some deal with the Blood Skulls."

"These weapons almost certainly came from the Flower Capital, meant to boost the Blood Skulls’ combat power."

"As for the other gear you mentioned, I don’t recognize it, but speaking of grenades, the northern region’s largest stockpile is in the Flower Capital—even the Machine God Sect of Jinling sends agents there to procure them."

"They certainly have the means to produce such materiel; I just can’t fathom why they’d do this."

Xu Lie’s voice faded, Chen Jian frowned in thought, then asked:

"So what exactly is the Flower Capital, where is it, and what are these wraiths?"

Before Xu Lie could reply, Xie Liu interjected:

"The Flower Capital lies north of Jinling; it used to be called Spring City, a modest settlement."

"I recall from my childhood—about ten‑odd years ago—it was still quite normal."

"But gradually the rumors about it changed."

"It became a place… overflowing with desire, to be precise, with lust."

"Anyone who goes there seems to be corroded, helplessly enslaved by carnal cravings."

"When I was fifteen, the first time I set out from Jinling on a mission from the Hall of Holy Blood to the Flower Capital, it had already become a city of decadence."

"Everyone indulged in bodily pleasure, using extreme means to satisfy their desires—a horrifying sight."

"They renamed the city from Spring City to Flower Capital, formed a city militia, and created a faith‑based group akin to the Hall of Holy Blood; the so‑called ‘wraiths’ are one role within that group."

"The city’s administration is chaotic, yet astonishingly, amid that milieu they not only survive but their population keeps growing."

"Moreover, over the past two months they’ve slain two fourth‑rank monsters in succession, displaying astonishing combat prowess."

"No one knows how they manage it, but regardless they remain human and still trade with other cities and settlements."

"If they really have allied with the Blood Skulls, the situation turns nasty. In short, we must report this to the Hall of Holy Blood posthaste."

"We cannot tolerate, beyond monsters and heretics, a new enemy arising from within humanity itself!"

Xie Liu’s face wore worry, yet Chen Jian had already grasped the gist.

"The Flower Capital isn’t the point; the real focus is Spring City."

"What is Spring City? Why, it’s one of the nation’s most densely packed hubs of military industry!"

"No wonder they still have so much pre‑Cataclysm equipment; no wonder they’ve managed to thrive in this perilous world."

"They’re living off the legacy of the old era, yet they fail to put that legacy to good use."

"Damn it, handing such fine gear over to those brainless Blood Skulls—what on earth were they thinking?"

"As humans, do they really expect to rely on these monsters to expand their own influence?!"

Chen Jian’s brow knit; he clearly realized that humanity’s living space has been squeezed by those gargantuan monsters not chiefly because the beasts are unbeatable, but because we ourselves cannot unite fully.

"Again the Machine God Sect, again the Holy Blood adherents, and now a mysteriously appearing Flower Capital."

"You’re hopeless, like a helpless Liu Bei."

"This shows how vital the rule of three forming DZB is."

"With unified thought and perception, even the strongest foe can be overcome."

"Without unity, any conflict turns into civil strife at home and incompetence abroad."

"This world can no longer be left in your hands."

Chen Jian had made a momentous decision; he glanced at his teammates, the other three seemed to sense something, said nothing, yet nodded in silent accord.

The people in the outpost fell silent; Xu Lie looked at Chen Jian, sensing a shift in his gaze, though he could not guess what lay behind it.

After a brief rest, Chen Jian rose, glanced at his wristwatch.

Then he spoke:

"By the clock, the main demon force should already have reached the Han River; the battle there ought to be imminent."

"We’ll pull back; if the fight drags, we can lend a hand."

"All right."

"No problem."

The Holy Blood squad rose, and while everyone was gathering the captured gear, Chen Jian silently used his eye‑tracking function to type a few lines onto his smart goggles.

"Our equipment now essentially meets combat requirements."

"Next step: scout the Military Engineering Academy, clear the local monsters."

"If sufficient supplies are found there."

"We’ll make it our base."

"Let’s start anew!"

(End of Chapter)