Chapter 99: 99, Go home!

At this moment, Ren Xiaoshu could only be grateful he had run fast enough, even grateful to have encountered those experimental subjects along the way, otherwise he would never have escaped the volcanic eruption zone.

The volcano’s long-accumulated power finally erupted in full fury, and Qing Zhen, standing amid the ruined city, sighed: “What a shame.”

No one knew what he was lamenting this time.

Someone beside Qing Zhen asked, “Boss, what do we do now?”

But as the words fell, a creature’s earth-shaking roar erupted from the volcano’s crater, its cry seeming to echo across dozens of kilometers in an instant!

Ren Xiaoshu turned sharply, and at the volcano’s peak, a massive claw suddenly gripped the crater’s edge, as if attempting to crawl out!

What creature could dwell within a volcano? What kind of being could survive in molten rock? If even such a horror existed, what of the creature he had once encountered in the river but never seen with his own eyes?

Qing Zhen sighed, “Such things actually exist. Temporarily withdraw westward from the Jingshan. The mission has failed.”

The trusted aide beside him stared blankly at the volcano and muttered, “What in the world is that…”

“Yan Tao, call my incompetent brother,” Qing Zhen said, gazing at the volcano, “If this thing emerges, or if the experimental subjects are driven southward by the eruption, the 113th Barrier will be in danger.”

Yan Tao hesitated—did Qing Zhen believe the barrier would fall? Instinctively, he reached for the satellite phone, only to find it inexplicably dead.

The heat wave from the eruption had already swept across the Jingshan range, where more than one volcano smoldered. Seeing this, Qing Zhen said, “We must leave at once!”

This sea of fire seemed destined to burn and bury the Jingshan’s secrets forever.

Upon receiving the retreat order, Xu Man and others fired systematically while retreating. They did not panic at the eruption’s chaos; instead, they seemed eerily calm.

As they withdrew from the forest’s edge into the city, Qing Zhen’s aide pressed a remote, and in an instant, the boundary between woods and city blazed like a fiery line.

The explosives buried by the Qing family detonated simultaneously, sealing the experimental subjects north of the woods. Even the formidable creatures suffered minor losses, and the survivors beyond the blast’s reach gazed coldly across the infernal barrier at the retreating Qing family.

The experimental subjects did not linger but re-entered the forest, seeking a detour.

Xu Man, panting, returned to Qing Zhen’s side and said, “I’m sorry—I couldn’t bring back Xu Xiancheng.”

“It’s alright,” Qing Zhen shook his head. “Get in the car. We’ll head west; there should still be a path back to the 112th Barrier.”

With that, Qing Zhen turned away, his polished shoes tapping a measured rhythm on the ground.

At the city’s edge, rows of armored trucks, jeeps, and heavy machinery stood parked.

Xu Man remained still. Qing Zhen glanced back: “You want to know why I sent people to save you? Don’t be moved—we’re all just part of a transaction. I saved you because you’re still useful.”

Xu Man’s mouth opened as if to speak.

Instead, Qing Zhen smiled faintly: “Keep your loyalty for another day. I’ve never trusted such things.”

Yet at that moment, a combat officer shouted, “Trouble—the vehicles won’t start! Come check the tires…”

Xu Man froze: “What’s wrong? Did they blow out? We’ve got jacks and patching gear—”

The man grimaced: “Not blown out. Someone cut the tires off…”

Xu Man: “???”

Qing Zhen: “???”

The composed Qing Zhen’s smile slowly stiffened: “…Xu Xiancheng, I’ve never wanted to kill someone more. Xu Man, fetch me a combat uniform…”

Qing Zhen and Xu Man knew Xu Xiancheng had fled south, but they never expected this twist…

To Xu Man, slashing tires was enough, but the other side had severed them entirely?!

With all tires gone, the Qing family had to trek out of Jingshan on foot—not dangerous, just undignified in their white suits…

Behind Qing Zhen, Xu Man whispered, “This mission’s failure may invite punishment from the family.”

Qing Zhen waved it off: “It’s fine. Those old men need someone to do their bidding. I’ll just take a vacation.”

“What about Ren Xiaoshu?” Xu Man asked.

“If he’s alive, he’ll find his way back to the 113th Barrier,” Qing Zhen mused. “Once the satellite phone works again, have Luo Lan keep watch. As for handling him—I’ll decide later. Oh, and send Zhang Jinglin away. He can’t die here. His assassin is likely already en route.”

…

Indeed, it was Ren Xiaoshu who had slashed the Qing family’s tires. They were too distracted battling the experimental subjects to notice—he’d have been a fool not to strike!

Besides, after being chased so long, he had to vent his rage somehow!

The volcano still erupted behind him, smoke blotting out the moon, and its fury only intensified.

Ren Xiaoshu wondered what the creature in the crater truly was—it never fully emerged.

Leaving the city, he witnessed the Qing family’s explosives lighting the woods ablaze, and once again marveled at humanity’s terrifying mastery of firepower.

He retraced his steps southward, expecting scattered experimental subjects but no longer fearing them—not after what he’d faced before.

When shadow’s superhuman strength and speed wielded the black blade, destruction knew no bounds.

Two powers combined into a deadlier force—this was his path forward?

Though it might twist further still.

On the road back to the 113th Barrier, the true threats were not the experimental subjects, but the human-faced worms and wolf packs.

Ren Xiaoshu rode shadow’s back, conserving strength, while shadow moved like a phantom, leaving afterimages with every stride.

Though he looked like a cripple dependent on another’s aid, Ren Xiaoshu cared little…

Along the way, he revisited the rock cave where they’d stayed, only to find new, delicate characters carved above:

“It’s behind you.”

The marks were fresh—he recalled Yang Xiaojin lagging behind when they’d departed. For some reason, the elegant script made him suspect she’d carved it to frighten him.

“You’re something else,” Ren Xiaoshu muttered, pressing on southward.

An hour later, the wildfire from the eruption spread southward, turning Jingshan into a sea of flames. He faintly heard beasts fleeing toward the gorge behind him, but they no longer concerned him.

The journey there had been slow, but returning took half a day. Before the gorge, he paused, gazing at the sheer cliffs and sliver of sky above. No hesitation remained.

If swift enough, neither human-faced worms, wolves, nor solitude could catch him!

Shadow swept through the gorge like wind, and the worms on the cliffs sensed human presence, swarming out—only to find Ren Xiaoshu already beyond the gorge!

The worms lingered on the cliff face, their antennae clinking in silent exchange: “Someone just passed?”

“That was a *person*?!”

As dawn broke, golden light seeped through clouds. Ren Xiaoshu watched, entranced—this expedition had yielded much, though time was short.

Yet returning to the gorge’s edge, he felt an eternity had passed, as if centuries had slipped by.

He wondered how Yan Liuyuan and Xiao Yu were faring—homesickness pierced him like an arrow.

Suddenly, movement stirred in the woods. The wolves, he realized, had lingered near the gorge’s mouth, waiting for him!

As they slowly encircled him, Ren Xiaoshu swayed atop shadow’s back, striding through their ranks without giving them a chance to react!

The wolves halted, silently watching his retreat—faster than them…

Even the wolf king fell mute. They’d been guarding this long for nothing?!