The warehouse sprawled across a relatively modest area, roughly a hundred square meters, its chaotic interior strewn with disarray. The nine members of the notorious robbery gang were scattered throughout the space, each occupying their own position. Huddled in a corner, several terrified and disheveled women trembled, their eyes reflecting a mixture of fear and desperation.
The sudden piercing scream of the wretched middle-aged man shattered the eerie stillness, instantly jolting the entire room into heightened alertness. The cacophony of startled voices and shuffling feet filled the air.
At the heart of the chaos, the burly man, exuding an air of authority, stalked the confines of the room, his grip vice-like around the lethal shotgun. A flicker of alarm danced across his face upon witnessing the chaotic tableau before him, causing his brows to knit together in a tense frown. Yet, despite the escalating turmoil, he refrained from hastily pulling the trigger. Instead, his piercing gaze fixated on Xiao, while Su Chen cloaked himself within the windbreaker.
The wretched man scurried over, his face contorted in anguish as he pointed an accusing finger at Su Chen, his words dripping with a mixture of desperation and hatred. "He's the one who butchered our fifth and seventh brothers! That heartless bastard! Our boss's prized shotgun lies within reach. Shouldn't he pay with his life?"
The wretched man's thoughts raced, acknowledging Su Chen's lightning-fast reflexes while belittling his audacity to approach amidst such perilous circumstances. In his mind, no matter how swift Su Chen's blade might be, it paled in comparison to the unforgiving power of a gun.
With a mix of caution and a desire to comprehend, the boss spoke, "Brother, what do you mean by all of this?"
Despite being younger than the wretched middle-aged man, the burly boss showcased greater intellect. As he laid eyes upon Su Chen, he sensed that this man was no ordinary individual, and the revelation of his involvement in the deaths of his two younger brothers only deepened his surprise. Though he held a gun in his hand, he understood that bullets were limited and not to be used casually. Observing Su Chen's composed demeanor in the face of the weapon, the boss recognized that he wasn't a fool. Su Chen's audacity to carry a knife amidst such danger indicated his formidable skills. Even if the boss could shoot him, it was likely that several of his own men would die in the process. Considering the losses already suffered, the boss concluded that a few more deaths wouldn't be worth the vengeance sought for the fifth and seventh brothers.
While he had the means to kill Su Chen, it simply wasn't necessary.
With this thought, the boss's cleverness shone through, surpassing the wretched man's impulsive nature. Perhaps this was the very reason why he held the position of authority while the wretched man remained a mere laborer.
The wretched man was caught off guard, his face displaying a mix of shock and confusion. "Boss, he... he killed the seventh and fifth brothers! He murdered them!"
"Silence! Let me handle this!" The boss bellowed, his voice sending shivers down the spine of the terrified middle-aged man. With trembling knees, he turned towards Su Chen and spoke with forced politeness. "What's your name, buddy?"
"I'm Su Chen," came the reply. Su Chen's eyes betrayed a hint of fear as he glanced at the shotgun, almost as if he anticipated trouble. "Aren't you here to rob me? Well, I'm right here."
Su Chen's words hung in the air, his Miaodao raised ever so slightly, a glimmer of red light dancing along its edge.
In the corner, the gagged girls struggled desperately, their eyes filled with hope as they fixated on Su Chen. Their muffled cries pleaded for salvation, a silent plea for him to be their savior.
There was no denying it—he possessed extraordinary abilities.
The boss, despite his initial shock, managed to regain his composure. Grateful that he hadn't acted rashly, he mustered a polite tone as he addressed Su Chen. "Brother, it seems you possess some unique skills, but we have made a mistake. I came here to accompany you, but you, in turn, have taken lives. Isn't that enough for both sides?"
Su Chen shook his head slowly, a chilling smile playing across his lips, his eyes gleaming with greed. "No, I believe your line of work is quite enticing. I wish to join you."
A brief moment of silence followed, tension thickening in the air.
Hidden in the corner, the girls wore expressions of despair, their hopes dashed.
The boss's fingers loosened their grip on the shotgun, but he maintained a wary distance, "If that's the case, you should have been honest about it from the beginning! Hahaha, well then..."
Before he could finish his words, a deafening explosion engulfed the room. The boss's body disintegrated in a gruesome burst of flesh and blood, leaving nothing but scattered remnants. The shotgun clattered to the ground, forgotten amidst the chaos.
The venue erupted in a chorus of horrified gasps and shocked cries.
It was Su Chen who fired the shot.
Utilizing an explosive knife with deadly precision, he not only decimated the head of a long and thin assailant, but he also obliterated the boss without hesitation. The room was smeared with the gruesome aftermath of this brutal act, the boss torn asunder into two grotesque pieces.
All along, Su Chen harbored an underlying fear, masked by his talkative demeanor. The mere sight of the shotgun had ignited a primal fear within him. HHe hadn't fully recovered from his previous encounter, and a single shot from that weapon would set him back significantly, costing precious time and energy units. "Conversation was never my intention. I wished only to flaunt my sword skills and abilities, creating doubt in their minds regarding my long-range attack capabilities."
There was no point in engaging with such despicable scum. Su Chen had resolved to eliminate the boss and claim the shotgun from the moment he stepped foot into the room. Even if the boss had attempted to negotiate, Su Chen's true objective lay in acquiring the secret firearm concealed in the boss's possession—an objective the boss could never fulfill.
What followed was a merciless massacre.
The flying knife soared through the air, and Su Chen unleashed a relentless fury. Swiftly dispatching the wretched middle-aged man who dared to reach for the fallen shotgun, he left no room for retaliation. The rest of the adversaries, armed with their feeble cold weapons, stood little chance against Su Chen's ferocity. One by one, they fell to his blade, their lives brutally severed.
Amidst the splatter of blood and the agonized cries of the dying, Su Chen stood amidst the gruesome aftermath, his eyes gleaming with a mix of determination and detachment. He retrieved twelve shotguns, their weight a testament to the destruction he had wrought.
Turning his gaze towards the trembling girls huddled on the other side, his expression softened momentarily. Yet, the tension remained palpable, his next move uncertain.
Letting out a heavy sigh, he reluctantly made his decision.
This group of robbers may have amassed a considerable haul, but beyond the shotguns, there was little of value to Su Chen. The burden of carrying unnecessary spoils was not his desire. With a reluctant gesture, he allowed the girls to divide the spoils amongst themselves, their trembling hands reaching for the weapons of their oppressors. Casting a final, lingering glance, Su Chen pointed them in the direction of safety, urging them to find their way to the approaching military.
As they scurried away, fear etched on their faces, Su Chen remained standing amidst the grim scene. The weight of his actions settled heavily upon him.
As for whether they could successfully reunite with the army, Su Chen had no knowledge and no control over the situation.
Among the group of seven or eight girls, who had been subjected to the cruel treatment of the robbery team, some fled in a frenzied hurry, while others clung desperately, refusing to leave. Timidly, a few approached Su Chen, expressing their heartfelt gratitude before reluctantly departing. These scenes painted a vivid picture of the harsh reality they all faced.
Once the warehouse emptied, Su Chen made his way out, seeking a secluded location where he could start working on modifying the shotgun.
During their treacherous journey, some of the girls tragically fell victim to relentless monster attacks. However, those fortunate enough to be in groups managed to narrowly escape the clutches of the creatures. Eventually, a small search team from the army discovered them and safely brought them back to the advancing infantry battalion. Their harrowing experiences quickly made their way to the military's attention, landing on the desk of Liu Chenye, the commander of the infantry battalion, and his adjutant, Su Wenhao.
In recent days, they had been actively gathering any information related to the gifted individuals.
Liu Chenye's face furrowed in concern as he perused the report. "Dark Flowing Fire Laser Knife, black long coat... it's him again! Flowing Fire!" A tinge of worry laced his words. "Many of the survivors who have congregated at the Yuncheng store have claimed encounters with this person... and even the elongated ghosts that relentlessly attacked them fell before his might!"
Su Wenhao chimed in, his voice filled with intrigue. "He's an mysterious individual, exceptionally gifted. He doesn't seem to align himself with the military and tends to keep to himself. But strangely, he gravitates towards places with a higher concentration of survivors, saving lives in one way or another..."
Liu Chenye nodded, his concern deepening. "I'm not entirely convinced he's solely focused on saving people. It seems he's actively hunting down those elongated ghosts, especially in crowded areas..." His voice trailed off, a mix of curiosity and worry lacing his words. "Based on the information we have, it appears his ultimate ability allows him to take down two elongated ghosts. That would classify him as at least a C-rank talent..."
Su Wenhao's excitement was evident as he chimed in, "Exactly! Who would willingly go out to hunt those terrifying creatures? And why keep a distance from the army? Besides, having a C-level talent at this stage is quite rare, usually reserved for the elite squads. There aren't many individuals at that level... If we could recruit him..." His voice trailed off, the prospect of such a powerful ally filling him with anticipation. "But who is he really? Who is this mysterious guy?"
At that moment, a soldier hurriedly rushed in, reporting, his voice trembling with urgency. "Our scouting team has detected a significant influx of monsters approaching our position from the twelve o'clock and three o'clock directions!"