This temptation was something Lin Weiran could not refuse.
She clenched her fists. “Alright, when does the mission start?”
“Tonight. As soon as all the willing participants are gathered, we’ll set off immediately.” The Sage reached out and patted Lin Weiran’s shoulder. “Good child, don’t disappoint me.”
“I will make sure to satisfy you.”
Receiving a firm response, the Sage wheeled himself away, disappearing around the corner.
Lin Weiran remained standing in place until Si Zhe’s treatment was completed, the protective pod opened, and the surgical room’s green light turned on.
Only then did she step inside and carry the man lying on the operating table back to his wheelchair.
Si Zhe remained silent, not mentioning anything about the effects of the treatment.
In the past, Lin Weiran would have asked in detail, insisting on getting some reassuring answers. But today, her mind was filled with the mission the Sage had just assigned her and that Tier 7 zombie, which was bound to bring a storm of bloodshed. She didn’t have the time or attention to spare for words.
One sat, while the other pushed forward.
This scene had long become commonplace for the staff inside the building. Occasionally, when someone passed by, they would whisper behind her back, saying things like, “Fools deserve their suffering” or “Being blinded by love is never a good thing.”
Lin Weiran pretended not to hear. She leaned down and said in a low voice, “Si Zhe, I have to leave for a mission tonight. It might take quite some time, but someone will come by every day to take care of you.”
Si Zhe gave a simple “Mm” in response.
Lin Weiran was still hoping for some words of advice or reassurance from him, but after waiting for a long time and hearing nothing, she straightened up, feeling disappointed.
Forget it.
Why demand so much from Si Zhe when he was at his lowest point?
—
Su Su eventually learned about the “bombshell” that the Research Guild had dropped.
In fact, almost the entire base knew about it.
Even Sun Zhichun, who had just returned, heard about the news from passersby.
“I heard that three Tier 6 ability users from the Ability Users’ Guild have already taken on this mission. Jiang Hong from the Battle Pet Guild and his battle pet will definitely go as well.” Sun Zhichun shared the information he had just gathered before asking, “What about you guys? Are you planning to go?”
Pang Cancan was the first to answer, “Go! Of course we’re going! That’s a Tier 7 zombie, after all!”
Since the Research Guild only needed to rescue the researchers and their data and had no specific requirements regarding the Tier 7 zombie, didn’t that mean everyone could fight for the zombie’s corpse based on their own abilities?
Sun Zhichun looked at Su Su.
“I think the same as Cancan.” Su Su stated her thoughts honestly. “The Northern Base is evolving way too fast. With my current strength, I’m still not strong enough to stand against the other major guilds.”
The conflict at the trade market earlier in the afternoon had caused quite a stir, and the news had spread quickly.
Since Sun Zhichun had been out and about, he naturally knew the backstory of how Su Su had been put in a difficult position.
He agreed, “That’s true. If you want to continue staying in the Northern Base, you need to increase your strength.”
Of course, Su Su wanted to stay here.
Xiao Hei had yet to fully take on a human form, and many doubts remained unresolved. If she returned to the Southern Base now, this journey north would feel too much like starting strong but ending weak.
Besides… she sighed. “The pace of ability evolution in the Northern Base is too fast.”
She was only at Tier 5, and Xiao Hei had finally reached Tier 6, yet now a Tier 7 zombie had appeared!
If she didn’t take the initiative, she would only fall further and further behind in the later stages.
Sun Zhichun agreed with this statement.
The changes in the Northern Base were simply too drastic. The last time he had been here, Tier 5 was already considered strong.
But now, even Tier 6 could be dragged into a group brawl.
“What about you?” Su Su thought of him. “Now that your matter has been settled, what’s your next plan? Are you heading straight back to the Coastal Base?”
Sun Zhichun was silent for a moment.
That had indeed been his plan—to send the ordinary people to the Northern Base, obtain information from the Research Guild regarding the shapeshifting reagent, and then return to his base to decide whether to let his sister’s Eagle King transform early.
Logically speaking, it was time for him to leave.
But… the dark-skinned young man hesitated again and again, before finally affirming his impulse.
“I want to join this mission with you.”
Going back now would seem stable, but he would also lose the chance to advance further.
The Coastal Base was neither too close nor too far from the Northern Base. If something happened in the future and they had to counterattack later, what could he and his sister—two mere Tier 5 ability users—possibly do to hold the line?
Su Su asked, “Are you sure?”
“I’m sure.”
“Then let’s head out together.”
In the end, she didn’t have time to consider whether to join the Battle Pet Guild. For now, she was essentially accepting the Research Guild’s mission under the name of an independent squad.
By nightfall, when everyone gathered outside the base, only then did they realize—just how many people were tempted by the Tier 7 zombie!
The most eye-catching of them were still the three major guilds.
The Ability Users’ Guild had sent three Tier 6 ability users, along with seven or eight Tier 5 ability users. They arrived in four flashy, highly conspicuous modified vehicles, with massive searchlights mounted on top that were bright enough to blind both human and beast eyes.
Once switched on, the vast open space was illuminated as if it were broad daylight.
The Battle Pet Guild only brought two vehicles—one was a low-profile but high-performance off-road vehicle, carrying Jiang Hong and his cheetah. The other was a stretched business vehicle… inside sat Zeng Zhuyue and the blue whale.
The first shapeshifted battle pet of the base made a rare public appearance, attracting countless curious and covetous gazes. In the end, Zeng Zhuyue grew irritated and rolled up the car window, avoiding all the unwanted scrutiny.
The Research Guild sent three vehicles. Half of the people onboard were non-combatant technical personnel, while the other half consisted of combat-type bodyguards they had specifically assigned for protection.
The leader among them was the pure and innocent-looking woman who had appeared beside Huang Yongjun that afternoon. She was dressed in the signature white lab coat of the Research Guild, her gaze occasionally sweeping over the newly arrived ability users. Judging by her appearance alone, she looked utterly harmless and adorable.
The remaining dozen or so vehicles belonged to scattered independent squads that had taken on the mission.
Compared to the three major guilds, their equipment and vehicles were obviously inferior. Most of them consisted of Tier 5 ability users—those with greater strength had long since been recruited by the guilds, making it rare to find any hidden gems among them.
The only team worth noting was Su Su’s squad.
Three Tier 5 ability users, one Tier 6 battle pet, and one area-attack-type battle pet.
Lu Tao swept his gaze roughly over the crowd, the corner of his mouth curling into a mocking smirk. “These people really dare to dream.”
Tier 5 strength, yet they actually dared to covet a Tier 7 zombie’s crystal.
“That’s not necessarily the case. What if they’re after the Energy Disruption Device or the Transformation Serum instead?” Huang Yongjun’s voice was even more disdainful. “After all, missions of this scale are rare. By tagging along with us, they might at least get to sip some of the soup!”
The independent squads who heard this all felt anger but dared not speak out.
Huang Yongjun swept a satisfied gaze over the frustrated expressions of the ability users, until his eyes landed on the very last seven-seater off-road vehicle… That beautiful face left a deep impression on him.
“Huh?”
Lu Tao followed his gaze and frowned as well. “She actually didn’t join the Battle Pet Guild.”
“Isn’t that a good thing?” Huang Yongjun sneered vilely. “Just perfect—along the way, we can teach that arrogant chick a lesson!”
Lu Tao didn’t object. “As long as it doesn’t delay the mission.”
“Of course.”
The open area outside the base’s city walls was vast, with numerous noisy teams in between. Their conversation did not reach Su Su’s ears.
At this moment, she was looking at that stretched business vehicle… Just before Zeng Zhuyue rolled up the window, she seemed to have seen an oversized water bucket inside?
Was it for the blue whale to soak in?
Seeing how others were so considerate of their battle pets, Su Su suddenly felt that she had been far too careless in raising Xiao Hei.
Right at that moment, Jiang Hong, who was in another vehicle, also cast his gaze toward her.
Noticing that she looked back, he simply nodded without coming over for small talk.
The night grew deeper, and once the departure time arrived, the woman at the front—Qi Huiling—raised her voice and said, “Everyone, let’s set out!”
With that, the Research Guild’s vehicles took the lead, heading onto the road out of the base.
One by one, the already-prepared vehicles followed at a steady pace.
In Su Su’s squad, it was Sun Zhichun’s turn to drive for now.
Just before Pang Cancan climbed into the front passenger seat, she suddenly remembered something and teasingly glanced at the black snake nestled in Su Su’s arms.
“Xuan Mang, I’m taking your exclusive front seat. You won’t be mad, right?”
Su Su almost burst out laughing.
The black snake, which had been dozing in her arms, instantly lifted its head and stared at a certain human it found utterly annoying with an eerie gaze.
“Hiss!”
It wanted to smash her like a stinking bug into a puddle of foul water!
Pang Cancan knew when to stop, stifling her laughter as she climbed into the passenger seat.
Xuan Mang. Hahahahahaha—what an over-the-top domineering name!
She couldn’t help but wonder… Would Su Su completely lose interest in calling this name in the future?
Pang Cancan’s thoughts drifted far ahead, but then again, if Zeng Zhuyue could fall in love with a whale, with how possessive and petty this black snake was, who knew? Maybe one day, it really would demand a proper title from Su Su.
Soon, Su Su also took Xiao Hei with her and sat in the back seat.
The scenery outside the car window sped past. She held the smooth and ice-cold black snake, rubbing its head gently.
“Xiao Hei, this journey is still long. Let’s sleep for a while.”
“Hiss!”
In the dimly lit backseat, the black snake stared fixedly at the female, as if waiting for something.
Su Su understood what it wanted to hear.
But she found it hard to say. After thinking for a while, she finally leaned in close to its head and softly called, “Ah Xuan, let’s sleep for a bit.”
At that moment, the black snake felt utterly content!
Hearing this name from the female’s mouth was indeed different from anything else!
On the reclined seat, the thick Xuan Snake coiled around Su Su, loop after loop.
If it had hands, perhaps it would have wrapped them around her waist and pulled her into its embrace.
Hiss, hiss.
The Xuan Snake let out a few soundless hisses, as if trying to call the female’s name:
Su—Su—
At a certain moment, its hissing seemed to overlap with those two syllables, yet it still felt somewhat strained and unnatural.
The black snake noticed the difference and, after a moment of silence, nestled into the crook of Su Su’s neck.
It could not speak human words.