51: Chapter 51: We'll stop here and search the surrounding area.

The atmosphere turned stiff.

Zhang Zhenhai stared fixedly at Gu Changming, but Gu Changming didn't flinch, calmly meeting his gaze with an expressionless face.

The air between the two seemed to freeze.

But at that moment, Qin Lie hurriedly squeezed between them, a smile on his face and a slightly urgent tone in his voice:

"There's no need for this. What just happened was an accident that no one expected. Now that the Cutters have been dealt with and there's so much loot, we still have to head further in together. Infighting won't do any of us any good."

Gu Changming glanced at him.

Zhang Zhenhai's eyes shifted, and the tension on his face relaxed.

He took half a step back, forced a smile, and nodded at Gu Changming. "Right, sorry. I was just anxious and spoke too harshly. Don't take it to heart."

They had just finished fighting the Cutters and were still in a damaged state; it wouldn't benefit them to have a falling out right now.

As they continued forward, there would be plenty of opportunities to deal with the other party.

Gu Changming raised an eyebrow but didn't respond, simply watching him perform in silence.

After walking back a few steps, Zhang Zhenhai suddenly stopped, turned his head, and said, "No wonder you said it was just luck before."

His tone sounded peaceful, even carrying a hint of a smile, but the meaning behind his words had clearly changed.

Qin Lie was stunned for a moment, not fully reacting yet.

However, Gu Changming understood exactly what the other meant—he was essentially saying Gu Changming didn't have the strength.

Sure enough, a second later...

Zhang Zhenhai continued, "The Shadow Devourers should be much harder to deal with than the Cutters just now. Without luck, you might have died long ago."

The sarcasm in his words was now out in the open.

Gu Changming didn't care; the corners of his mouth curled slightly as he also smiled.

"My luck has always been pretty good."

"I hope so," Zhang Zhenhai nodded in response, then turned and walked back to his team members, busy treating the injured ones.

Although their team didn't have a dedicated Healer, they could quickly restore their combat power using some potions purchased from the Mall.

Seeing that no conflict had broken out, Qin Lie breathed a sigh of relief and leaned toward Gu Changming, lowering his voice and speaking quickly.

"They have more people and coordination. If we really fight, we definitely won't be their match. Just endure it for now. Once we find the niyuan steel and get the items, we'll head back immediately and won't get further entangled with them."

Gu Changming glanced at him with some surprise.

He had thought Qin Lie was just a purely honest person, but he hadn't expected him to be aware of the situation and know when to yield.

Of course, it wasn't that Gu Changming didn't understand either.

It was just that... the five of them didn't yet have the ability to make him weigh his options.

"Mhm," Gu Changming nodded, saying no more.

Meanwhile, over at Zhang Zhenhai's team...

Several people gathered together, discussing under the cover of bandaging their wounds.

Zhang Zhenhai used medical bandages exchanged with points to tighten around a shallow wound on his arm. He didn't look toward Gu Changming but stared at the ground, his tone cold.

"Once we get inside, let him die."

In his original plan, once they reached the Shattered Steel Weaver, he would have Gu Changming draw the fire and share the risk while they took the opportunity to seize it.

If Gu Changming could survive, that would be best. After all, they had taken an escort mission; the employer's survival would help their team's reputation.

But now that the other party was being uncooperative, there was no need to keep him around.

Later, when they reached the Weaver, even if the other party managed to survive, they would find a way to kill him.

Hearing Zhang Zhenhai's words, the team members looked at each other and nodded silently; no one objected.

In this Mystic Realm, it was more than normal for an outsider or two to die.

...

After a brief rest, the team set out again.

Zhang Zhenhai still led the way, advancing according to the previously agreed-upon route.

Bypassing several rusted metal hills and passing through a narrow passage formed by broken pipes, the scene ahead gradually opened up.

It was a relatively flat area, with twisted steel plates and thick alloy cables scattered across the ground.

In the center of the area sat a huge nest woven and tangled from countless silver-gray metal threads.

Zhang Zhenhai raised his hand to signal the team to stop. The team members understood and immediately organized themselves, checking their weapons and armor.

Zhang Zhenhai turned around and shouted to Qin Lie, who was lagging behind, "It's just ahead. We'll be there after a short walk."

His tone was normal, as if the earlier friction had never occurred.

But just as he finished speaking, Gu Changming's voice rang out.

"What kind of place is ahead?"

Zhang Zhenhai's eyes flickered. He was full of annoyance toward this Gu Changming who always had too much to say, but he still pointed and said, "Right there, that Metal Nest. The niyuan steel might be nearby, or even inside the nest."

*Just wait. Once we're inside, everything will be out of your hands.*

But as soon as he finished speaking, Gu Changming followed up:

"There? Is that an area where niyuan steel appears?"

Zhang Zhenhai frowned, about to argue, but saw Gu Changming take out a simple map and shake it in front of him.

The map was the one Qin Lie had given him earlier, with resource points for niyuan steel simply marked in charcoal.

Gu Changming pointed to their current position.

"Isn't niyuan steel found right in this area? There's no need to go further."

The air was silent for a few seconds.

Zhang Zhenhai didn't look at Gu Changming, turning his gaze to Qin Lie instead.

His tone slowed down, but it carried a trace of subtle pressure. "The area ahead has fewer people going in, so it hasn't been mined much. The resources inside will definitely be much richer than what's scattered out here. There might even be other rare materials."

He paused after speaking, as if giving a choice. "Of course, you're the employer, so it's up to you. Wherever you say to go, we'll go."

Qin Lie pressed his lips tight, hesitating.

Finally, he looked at Gu Changming, his eyes filled with a plea for help.

He seemed to hope Gu Changming would say something or simply make the decision for him.

He wasn't a fool; he knew the other party wanted to go inside for their own purposes, but in this situation...

But unfortunately, Gu Changming just looked at him calmly, his gaze indifferent as before, maintaining an attitude of not caring about anything.

He could sense that as long as he agreed, Gu Changming would certainly follow him in.

Qin Lie's Adam's apple bobbed. Finally, he made up his mind, his voice not loud but very clear.

"We're not going further. We'll search around here."

After Qin Lie spoke, Zhang Zhenhai's expression visibly faltered.

Meanwhile, the corners of Gu Changming's usually expressionless mouth twitched upward slightly, revealing a very faint smile.

To be honest, when Qin Lie said those words, he felt a bit gratified.

As the saying goes, good advice is wasted on a ghost destined to die.

Some people deserve to die, but others don't; perhaps they just need someone to give them a pull.

If Qin Lie had continued to be cowardly, letting others manipulate him in everything, Gu Changming would have just watched and wouldn't have bothered.

After all, one chooses their own path; however he wanted to walk it was his business.

But now, the other party seemed to want to struggle a bit.

Even if it was just saying: "We're not going further."

Then he didn't mind lending a hand at this time.