Xiao Yu didn't care about the bullet. She was already dead and now she was in essence the ghost people used to talk about.
What ghost would be afraid of bullets. She sneered and squinted, suddenly catching a glimpse of Lu Cai's slightly changing expression.
The next second a brief moment of surprise crossed her face.
If her body could have lingered a little longer perhaps she would have been surprised a little longer.
A vengeful spirit suddenly dissipated in the wind. Lu Cai's decree made him clearly feel that the thing he had been imprisoned in was gone.
It was a special bullet. Its pure silver body was common but what was unusual was its core fused with 0.1 milligrams of radium. This was the only weapon developed by the Foundation and indeed the world to date that could be effective against monsters related to dark matter.
The principle was supposedly simple but Lu Cai could no longer recall it. He turned and growled at Zeshia, "Run!"
Even in a desperate situation, Lu Cai didn't forget to synchronize his words with Zeshia. Zeshia understood but he could clearly see the solemnity on Lu Cai's face and noticed the strange disappearance of the unpleasant girl.
His knight was sounding the alarm protecting him with his fragile human body and soul!
If this isn't love!?
If he leaves is he still a dragon!?
Zesia roared. Seeing another bullet looming from the other side of the mist he leaped up with a roar blocking Lu Cai's path with precision.
"Foolish alien! Come and accept the dragon's wrath!!!"
Lu Cai stared at the silver dragon with its wings spread before him, his pupils trembling. A phrase his senior brother often cursed suddenly came to mind.
Are you an idiot?!
But he didn't have time to think about how to translate this curse into Classical Latin. In the midst of a thundering storm Lu Cai unleashed all the spiritual energy he had conserved within him.
"Be still!"
The wind died down, the fog quieted and the clamorous monster roars in his ears seemed to have been paused. Even the fluttering silver wings before his eyes paused briefly.
This pause was brief; Lu Cai could only delay it for about a second but it was enough for him to make another push packing Zeshia up and throwing him into the woods beyond solemnly warning him not to come out.
This time, Lu Cai's words and tone were stern enough to make Zeshia understand the severity of the situation in that one second.
When the time ran out the bullet pierced Lu Cai's side into the thick fog. Exhausted, Lu Cai's ears buzzed and he could faintly hear wailing. Turning, he saw a ghoul reduced to a pool of blood after being struck.
"Did you hit the target?"
A simple inquiry came from within the thick fog and another person quickly replied, "Yes, you did but it doesn't feel right."
Feeling something wrong is normal. Could a ghoul be as massive as a dragon weighing tens of tons or even dozens of tons?
Lu Cai stared intently at a column of tall figures slowly passing through the thick fog ushering in the dawn from the end of the night. Seeing that they were all wearing black uniforms with bright red emblems emblazoned on their collars, Lu Cai's heart finally relaxed.
But before he could greet his colleagues a flash of light flashed through Lu Cai's mind. His spiritual energy drained, his body finally unable to withstand the intense work and he collapsed straight towards the group.
He hoped these colleagues wouldn't mistake him for a monster and kill him.
He hoped Zeshia would be obedient and hide well during this time.
Before he fainted the tiny wish in Lu Cai's heart was stronger than ever.
*
Lu Cai was jolted awake. His head was still buzzing and a muscle throbbed slightly.
His spiritual energy was depleted. He closed his eyes, gritted his teeth and raised his arm to rub his temple with difficulty.
"Hey, you're awake buddy!"
A cheerful greeting came from the side in front of him. Lu Cai looked over and realized he was lying in the back seat of a car, the person speaking being a young man sitting in the passenger seat.
He had short flaxen hair, a full forehead and a youthful, handsome appearance, a face of great fortune. He had headphones in his ears.
Finally, he felt like he was back in the real world.
Lu Cai pulled the corners of his mouth and managed to say, "Thank you."
The young man took off his headphones, turned around and leaned back in his chair looking at him with interest. "Don't thank me. We haven't even asked you yet. Who are you? You managed to stay in that hellhole for so long. You're pretty impressive!"
Lu Cai was stunned. Hadn't they examined him while he was unconscious?
No, he remembered. Pulse diagnosis was a unique method of examination used by their sect. Only by mastering their sect's methods could one understand the secrets.
The Foundation always traveled simply on missions and it was impossible for them to carry a pulse monitor. Therefore, until now they hadn't known their identities.
Lu Cai couldn't help but cough softly a few times, holding onto the back of a chair and slowly sitting up. "Hello, I'm a member of the Foundation from the Northern Base. My name is Lu Cai."
Who knew that after he revealed his identity a brief moment of daze crossed the young man's face.
If he was right even the driver had stepped on the accelerator causing the car to shake erratically.
Lu Cai calmly looked at the driver. He gripped the steering wheel tightly, trembling, his eyes glancing at him intermittently. He was a stocky man with thick eyebrows and large eyes but he was shaking like a sieve, his eyes as confused as a delicate flower.
Suddenly, he had a different association.
No, I can't think about that. Lu Cai, struggling to stop his thoughts from straying into a dragon looked out the window.
The endless barren plains no longer nurtured the promise of life. The gloomy sky which dominated most of the day cast a lifeless, icy veil over the entire area.
Besides their car a black pickup truck followed behind on the wide road maintaining a constant distance between them seemingly traveling together.
Zessia wasn't nearby.
Lu Cai felt a little relieved yet also a little worried.
Could he have rushed over and been killed by the Foundation?
Given their intelligence and personality it didn't seem impossible.
He turned his head, his expression a little more earnest: "Any questions? I can show you the chip card in my phone."
He had to make sure the person in front of him trusted him before he could ask him indirect questions.
Cell phone usage is much lower today than it was thirty years ago which is somewhat linked to the declining quality of life. However, the Foundation has equipped every member with one and most importantly an identity chip is installed in the phone.
Don't ask why they don't just make a hole in the back of their heads to insert the chip. The point is that doing so would greatly increase the chances of being infected by dark matter. The settings in early novels and games shouldn't be taken seriously.
The boy didn't say anything but his wide eyes clearly waited for Lu Cai's confirmation.
Lu Cai with a stern face searched his left and then his right pockets. After searching both he looked at him calmly. "I can't find it."
The boy: "..."
He was so right, so confident.
The boy choked for a moment then waved his hand. "Forget it, forget it. I can't find you so forget it. Anyway, Brother Lin has a magic-suppressing ring on you. No matter who you are, let's wait until we get to the base for an examination."
Lu Cai lowered his head upon hearing this only to discover a leather ring around his ankle. It looked inconspicuous but it had a suppressive effect on many supernatural powers.
Perhaps it was because of this thing that they dared to ride in the same car with him.
He glanced at the boy dimly. The boy seemed to have finally turned the tables smiling again, revealing his fangs. "I'm not sure if you'll survive at the base but let me introduce myself. My name is Yu Xingyan and I'm a member of Team B, the Central Base's Executive Team. The driver is Lao San, our team's logistics leader. He's a top-notch cook and monster-killer!"
Lu Cai glanced at Lao San and thought "Cooking is reliable but monster-killing is a bit of a challenge."
After driving a short distance and passing an old gas station the two cars slowed and stopped for a short rest.
Lu Cai was escorted down the road by Yu Xingyan and met two people who had gotten out of the other car.
The woman was tall and slender wearing a loose jacket. A deep scar ran through her stubbled hair, running from the top of her head to the corner of her eye. However, her brows and features were imposing and this look, on the contrary, added a touch of handsomeness and even a murderous aura to her.
Lu Cai looked back and saw the man behind her. His lips curled in a smile giving Lu Cai the feeling...his looks matched his white suit perfectly.
Same flirtatious, same high-profile.
"Did you find out?" The woman, unconcerned with Lu Cai's presence, got out of the car and walked over to rub Yu Xingyan's head.
Lu Cai looked at her watching her lazily meet his gaze unconcealing the sharp murderous intent in her eyes.
It's a bit irrational, Lu Cai thought expressionlessly.
Yu Xingyan groaned and struggled to free himself. "Sister Feng, stop rubbing me! I finally got it in shape before we left!"
He slithered behind the third brother and whispered, "He said he's a member of the Northern Base but he lost his phone and it has no chip."
The third brother nodded quickly. The 5'9" burly man's seriousness was almost endearing.
The woman addressed as Sister Feng laughed not knowing whether she was laughing at Yu Xingyan's cuteness or at Lu Cai's boldness in saying anything.
The man in the white suit also laughed and with a loving heart he addressed Yu Xingyan, "Xingyan, you believe everything others say. Your interrogation skills are truly lacking."
Yu Xingyan pursed his lips, "If you can do it, go ahead."
Lu Cai finally couldn't help himself: "I'm right here you can ask directly."
He frowned, thinking his tone was sincere but the man in the white suit glanced at him with a teasing look:
"Do you deserve it?"
"What do you deserve?"
A gruff voice suddenly rang out from the gas station. A burly man even more burly than the third brother emerged with two knives tucked onto his waist. He wore greasy clothes, their original color barely visible and glared at the group coldly:
"Fifty yuan a key. How many keys do you want?"
Everyone: "..."
The prices were horrible.
The man in the white suit, choking on his words, glared at him impatiently: "Get a few and fill up our car!"
The burly man glared at him, spat and suddenly smirked: "Boy, are you giving me face?"
Yu Xingyan knew things were going to get bad the moment he heard this. Sure enough the man in the white suit's face darkened: "You fucking want to die don't you?"
Although Lu Cai felt the man in the white suit deserved a beating he didn't need to start a fight after just three words.
He glanced at the ring on his foot; it didn't look good.
Sister Feng rolled her eyes and pushed Yu Xingyan unsure of what she meant.
Yu Xingyan pursed his lips, stumbling forward two steps with a hint of grievance. The next second, Lu Cai watched the burly man who had drawn two knives slowly sheath them at his waist. He turned around and snorted angrily:
"Forget it, I won't argue with you."
Lu Cai was slightly surprised. There was such a supernatural power? The man in the suit was about to say something but Sister Feng gave him a lazy glance: "Knock it out while you're ahead. I'm hurrying back."