The Tulip Inn stood at the junction between the inner and outer sectors, near the bustling Sixth District market and the heavily guarded militia headquarters. The opulent décor of the inn was somewhat marred by the twin .50-caliber anti-aircraft machine guns perched on the rooftop, radiating an unmistakable chill. But in this chaotic wasteland, safety was the ultimate luxury. The presence of such heavy weaponry made it clear that the inn was under the official protection of the Sixth District.
Only the wealthy and powerful stayed here, where security was paramount. As Sun Jiao had remarked, if someone entered your room uninvited, you had the right to shoot first and skip the questions. This made it the perfect place for Jiang Chen to deal with the "tail" they'd been tracking.
Sitting comfortably on a luxurious leather sofa, Jiang Chen grinned as he speared a slice of orange from a fruit can with a toothpick, savoring it under the watchful eyes of two others.
Back in the day, he would have scoffed at canned fruit—too many additives, too many preservatives. But after surviving on nothing but junk food for days, even canned fruit seemed like a health-conscious choice.
"Stop looking at me like that. I'll save you some," Jiang Chen said, rolling his eyes at Sun Jiao's hungry gaze. He gestured with his chin at the man tied up on the floor. "Let's deal with him quickly, and then we can have dinner."
The man on the floor, bound tightly like a trussed-up package, shivered under the weight of Sun Jiao's glare. Hu Lei felt a chill run down his spine as he glanced at the smiling man on the sofa. That smile was scarier than the gun pressed against the back of his head.
"I... I swear, you've got the wrong guy! I didn't..." Hu Lei stammered, cold sweat dripping from his forehead.
A sharp smack from the butt of Sun Jiao's gun cut him off mid-sentence. Her boot pinned his head to the floor as she leaned in close.
"I didn't ask if you were following us," Sun Jiao said coldly, her finger flicking the charging switch of her Sirius energy rifle. A soft hum emanated from the weapon. "I asked who sent you."
Her voice was like a viper's hiss, sending shivers down Jiang Chen's spine. He wasn't used to seeing this side of her—although, on second thought, it wasn't the first time she'd been this fierce.
Since being captured and bound, Hu Lei had refused to say anything useful. He claimed to be nothing more than a refugee from the slums. But refugees didn't just wander into the prosperous Sixth District.
"I really don't know anything! You're breaking the law! The Sixth District militia will never let you get away with this!" Hu Lei shouted, his panicked threats as hollow as they were desperate.
Stupid, Jiang Chen thought. If he hadn't known better, he might have believed the man was just an innocent civilian.
"You've got ten seconds to think carefully," Sun Jiao said icily. She kicked Hu Lei onto his back, her voice dripping with menace. "Every ten seconds, I'll destroy a part of you you'll miss the most."
"No! No, please!" Hu Lei shrieked, struggling to scoot away as Sun Jiao began the countdown.
"Nine."
"I swear, I don't know anything! Please, ma'am, have mercy!"
"Seven." Sun Jiao grabbed a steel bar, her voice unrelenting.
"I—"
"One." She raised the bar high.
"Stop," Jiang Chen interjected casually.
Sun Jiao froze, though the steel bar hovered threateningly above her target.
The room filled with a sour stench. Jiang Chen wrinkled his nose and glanced disdainfully at Hu Lei, who had soiled himself in terror. Pathetic, Jiang Chen thought. If you're going to pretend to be tough, at least see it through to the end.
Not that Jiang Chen was immune to the threat. When Sun Jiao mentioned her plan, he felt a sympathetic ache in his own anatomy.
"I don't enjoy using violence to solve problems," Jiang Chen said, chewing on his toothpick as he smiled at Hu Lei.
Hu Lei, seizing the moment, crawled desperately toward Jiang Chen, babbling thanks.
"But," Jiang Chen continued, his tone darkening, "if you keep pretending, I might have to get creative. Like, say, introducing a starving mutant dog to your lower regions. It'd have a great time."
The smile froze on Hu Lei's face, replaced by pure terror. Jiang Chen felt his legs twitch involuntarily at the vivid image he'd just conjured.
"But violence isn't my style," Jiang Chen added with a smirk. He reached into his pocket and produced a small, glowing violet crystal. "I prefer deals. This shard's yours if you cooperate."
The crystal pulsed faintly in the dim light, and greed replaced fear in Hu Lei's eyes. A shard containing 100 energy points—an unimaginable fortune in the wasteland.
"Of course, you could lie to me," Jiang Chen continued, "but if I were you, I wouldn't. Whatever your boss is paying, I can offer more—assuming you work for me instead."
Jiang Chen watched Hu Lei's expressions shift from terror to avarice. The carrot-and-stick approach had worked like a charm. Soon, the whole story came pouring out.
The Grey Swarm Mercenaries. A ruthless band whose main trade was human trafficking and scavenging survivors. Occasionally, they took on private security contracts for the right price. Their headquarters was a fortified elementary school in Songjiang. Their interest in Jiang Chen had started as a simple case of greed—Grey Swarm captain Zhou Guoping had spotted Jiang Chen flashing a can of fruit and entering a VIP lounge, sparking his covetous imagination.
Zhou wasn't reckless, though. Aware of the Sixth District's strict rules, he wouldn't risk acting within its borders. Instead, he sent Hu Lei to trail Jiang Chen and gather intelligence on whether the man's riches came with dangerous strings attached.
By the time Hu Lei finished spilling his secrets, Jiang Chen was already formulating his next move. He leaned back on the sofa, twirling the violet crystal between his fingers.
"You've done well," Jiang Chen said with a smile that didn't reach his eyes.
As Hu Lei's gaze fixated on the crystal, his greedy grin widened. He had no idea what he'd just unleashed.
A single unit of sub-crystal energy could be exchanged for ten doses of nutrient serum—or better yet, who needed nutrient serums anymore? Hahaha! Hu Lei's mind spun in unrestrained ecstasy. He envisioned splurging for over a month at the most infamous den of indulgence on this wasteland—the Neo Edge Grand Hotel. Yet, that precious sub-crystal still rested in Jiang Chen's hand.
"As long as that man needs me, I won't die. He'll keep giving me plenty of rewards."
Hu Lei's imagination ran wild with dreams of golden-haired maids and luxury. His thoughts, however, were abruptly shattered when his eyes refocused—meeting the gaping black muzzle of a gun.
"Idiot," Jiang Chen sighed, pulling the trigger.
The sharp crack of the shot rang out, and Hu Lei's head snapped back, spraying crimson and fragments across the room. Jiang Chen's hand trembled slightly as the acrid smoke curled from the barrel.
He had prepared himself for this. The dead man had blood-soaked hands, deserving of this fate. But watching a skull split open under his gun still sent a jolt of unease through his chest.
Hu Lei had stayed silent earlier not out of fear for the Grey Moth Mercenaries' reach—they weren't omnipotent, even in the Sixth District. If he had fled far enough, no one could've found him. On the wasteland, even a massive faction struggled to track down a single enemy, let alone these mercenaries.
No, Hu Lei's silence was born from self-preservation. Life was too cheap here. Confessing meant risking immediate execution. But fear had made him pliable, and Jiang Chen's honeyed promises sounded like salvation. Grasping at that lifeline, Hu Lei spilled every secret he knew.
The fool. He'd convinced himself he could strike a deal, even imagining a lucrative future as Jiang Chen's spy in the Grey Moth group. But in this wasteland, loyalty was a meaningless concept, a relic from a forgotten era. Here, survival was madness, and Hu Lei had been little more than a pawn.
Jiang Chen had no interest in the mercenaries' affairs. Their secrets held no value greater than his own survival. Ending Hu Lei's life was the smartest move—a severed tie that ensured no loose ends would threaten him later.
The spray of blood hadn't spared Sun Jiao. She stared at her stained clothes with a mild, unimpressed shrug.
"Blood's a pain to get out of fabric, you know. Next time, let me handle it," she said, her voice as casual as if she were discussing the weather.
There was an unexpected warmth in her tone that touched Jiang Chen. Taking a deep breath, he set the safety on his gun and tossed it aside.
"You have to get used to this," he said.
A faint smile graced Sun Jiao's lips as she set her weapon down and stepped over the lifeless body. Without hesitation, she straddled Jiang Chen's lap, wrapping her arms around him.
The bold move took Jiang Chen by surprise, sending a rush of conflicting emotions through him. The softness pressing against his chest replaced the turmoil with a newfound clarity.
"You'll stay, won't you?"
Her slightly dry yet enticingly vibrant lips brushed close to his ear.
"You know?" Jiang Chen asked, his voice a mix of guarded surprise and resignation.
"Women are perceptive creatures," Sun Jiao replied with a teasing edge. "You don't belong here. But… I hope you'll stay for me."
"I won't leave," Jiang Chen said softly but firmly.
The decision had been made long ago. Initially, his goal had been to amass wealth here before returning to the modern world to enjoy a life of luxury. But now, his ties to this place were undeniable. Perhaps he could find a way to bring Sun Jiao back to his world someday. This wasteland was no place for anyone.
"I believe you," she whispered, her words laced with genuine trust.
A mischievous glint lit her eyes as she added, "If it weren't for the overwhelming stench of blood here, I'd devour you right now."
Amusement and desire mingled in Jiang Chen's chest as he leaned closer, murmuring in her ear. "Then let's wash up first."
"What a gentleman," she teased, running her fingers along his chest. "But don't think you'll get away from me that easily."
She nipped his ear playfully before pulling him toward the bathroom.
Amid the hiss of cascading water, Sun Jiao's playful jabs at Jiang Chen's enhanced physique were soon drowned out by breathless gasps and laughter.
Later, draped in bath towels and still basking in the afterglow, Sun Jiao leaned against the sink, glancing toward the mess outside.
"We've got work to do."
"Dinner first?" Jiang Chen quipped with a lopsided grin.
"After we deal with the unlucky guy out there," Sun Jiao replied, disappearing out of the bathroom with a wry smile.
Jiang Chen sighed, shaking his head as he trailed after her.
Celebrating in the shadow of a corpse… he had to admit, life here was madness.