325: Open the door and see the guests off

Today, luck wasn't on his side, and it wasn't suitable to continue refreshing new entries for the Gold Beetle.

Qin Shilei was about to turn and leave when his gaze suddenly swept over the pavilion in the back garden.

It seemed like something was missing.

Where was the ice source stone?

Qin Shilei's heart jolted, and with an Instant Step, he arrived inside the pavilion.

The pavilion was empty; the nearly two-meter-tall ice source stone had vanished without a trace.

"Glutton, where is the ice source stone I asked you to guard?"

Qin Shilei's expression turned stern.

The Gold Beetle frantically shook its head, "Master, I didn't eat that stone."

Qin Shilei glared at it, looking around, hoping to find some clues.

A bright light happened to shine into his eyes from the flower bushes.

He stepped to the edge of the flower bushes, bent down, and picked up an egg-sized, translucent stone.

This was indeed the ice source stone, an ice source stone shrunken countless times.

Qin Shilei quickly understood in his mind why the ice source stone had suddenly transformed from nearly two meters tall to only the size of an egg.

It must have been that when his pet advanced to the Platinum Realm, it needed a large amount of spiritual energy. The ice source stone happened to be rich in a massive amount of spiritual energy, so the ice source stone was absorbed until it was only the size of an egg.

Then, when the Gold Beetle was testing its flying ability just now, it kicked up a stone that hit the ice source stone, knocking the ice source stone into the flower bushes.

Qin Shilei was a bit worried whether the ice source stone in his hand would return to its original state, but he found it hard to blame the Gold Beetle, so he could only glare fiercely at the Gold Beetle again.

"Master, I really didn't eat that stone." The Glutton retreated a step, looking terrified.

"Hmph, I told you to guard a stone, and you couldn't even do that properly."

Qin Shilei lectured, "I'll punish you by not allowing you to secretly eat or drool when you're working from now on.

Now, quickly shut your mouth."

He took out a cloth bag and directly put the egg-sized ice source stone inside, temporarily hanging it at his waist.

At this moment, An Qian and Zhang Xiaoli also walked in together.

Upon learning that the Gold Beetle had successfully advanced to Platinum, everyone showed a relieved smile.

The bugs spread across Great Xia finally had hope of being resolved.

After a small gathering with everyone, Qin Shilei and An Qian rode Little Strong and rushed to Beian City overnight.

........

Beian City was still heavily surrounded by overwhelming bugs at this time.

Because of this, City Lord An had no choice but to send people to guard the city walls twenty-four hours a day without interruption.

After being besieged for many days, the Evolutionaries in Beian City were almost driven mad.

A pessimistic mood slowly spread throughout the entire city, and worry hung on everyone's faces.

"Alas, when will these days of being trapped end?"

"City Lord An leads us out of the city to kill bugs every day, but why do these bugs seem to increase the more we kill?"

"I heard that yesterday, Drill Worms appeared in three more places, and hundreds of people died."

"Only those powerful Evolutionaries can go out of the city to earn crystals under the City Lord An's leadership. Are we ordinary Evolutionaries unable to upgrade anymore?"

"Those who go out of the city to earn crystals also face great risks. I heard that three to four thousand people died from the group that went out today."

"If we can't go out to search for supplies, I'm afraid even toilet paper will run out. After using the restroom, we'll only be able to use wooden sticks like in ancient times."

"I'm afraid even wooden sticks will be unavailable. Are we going to have to learn from the Indians and use our hands?"

Currently, Beian City lacked all supplies except for food, which was temporarily sufficient.

Clean water resources, essential daily necessities like toilet paper, and fuel were all in short supply.

Even for food, in a while, it might only be possible to eat it raw.

Because most of the things that could be burned had been burned by the survivors.

Beian City also had not restored power, and it would fall into darkness every night.

In such an environment, although everyone wouldn't die, they lived very oppressively.

Not long after Qin Shilei and An Qian returned to the city Lord's Mansion in Beian City, a large group of people came knocking.

"City Lord An, you must find a way out for everyone." Ji Pengcheng, the military representative, spoke first.

An Qian said expressionlessly, "Now you remember me, the city Lord?"

Ji Pengcheng said respectfully, "City Lord An, we have never been disrespectful to you."

An Qian glanced at him, disdainfully saying, "Don't think I don't know about your covert actions below.

If you really provoke me, don't blame me for not giving you face."

Upon hearing this, Qin Shilei's expression immediately turned cold, "An Qian, what exactly is going on?"

Ji Pengcheng, Wen Zhiyuan, and others immediately felt a murderous aura firmly Lock-On them, fearing that if things went wrong, Qin Shilei would draw his blade and kill.

Wen Zhiyuan hurriedly argued, "We have never disobeyed City Lord An's orders."

Before An Qian could answer, Jin Qiaoqiao interjected, "Isn't it because they are afraid that our city Lord's Mansion's power will become too strong and seize their leadership over Beian City? They resist our city Lord's Mansion's people everywhere. If we post a mission at the Mercenary Guild, they will make it sink into the sea."

Through Jin Qiaoqiao's narration, Qin Shilei learned that the city Lord's Mansion was facing resistance from many sides in Beian City.

Important departments like the Mercenary Guild and the Administrative Hall did not allow anyone from the city Lord's Mansion to interfere at all.

They also frequently used words to corner An Qian, telling the city Lord's Mansion to send more people to participate in the defense on the city walls. This way, they would have no energy to go out of the city to kill bugs and earn crystals, and their strength would stagnate as a result.

"Hmph!" Qin Shilei sneered, "Very well! Qiaoqiao, open the door and see them out."

"Yes, Mr. Qin."

Jin Qiaoqiao waved her right hand, "Everyone, please!"

"Mr. Qin, it's a misunderstanding!" Ji Pengcheng immediately tried to explain, "It was agreed from the beginning that your city Lord's Mansion would not interfere with the affairs of Beian City. As for the mercenary matter, it must have been a coincidence; we definitely did not specifically target the city Lord's Mansion."

"No need to say more."

Qin Shilei said calmly, "From now on, unless a Golden Realm exotic beast appears, the city Lord's Mansion will not participate in the defense of the city walls.

The City Lord An will also no longer organize people to go out of the city to kill bugs. Since they are wary of the city Lord's Mansion everywhere, why should we work so hard to be their nannies?"

Ji Pengcheng and the others immediately panicked upon hearing this.

It wasn't that they were completely unable to go out of the city to kill bugs on their own.

It was just that the risk was too high.

An Qian had only been away for one day today, and when they were killing bugs outside the city, they were besieged by massive numbers of bugs multiple times. Only after losing three to four thousand lives did they finally repel the bugs and escape back to Beian City.

If An Qian truly ignored them, they would find it difficult to continue going out of the city to kill bugs and upgrade, and by then, they could only be trapped and die in Beian City.

Gang Leader Yuan Yuhang, the leader of the Heaven Wolf Gang, suddenly stepped forward, cupped his fists, and said, "City Lord An, I wonder if the city Lord's Mansion is still accepting people?

Our Heaven Wolf Gang hopes to join the city Lord's Mansion as a whole.

From now on, if the City Lord An has any assignments, I, Gang Leader Yuan Yuhang, am willing to serve diligently."

Ji Pengcheng and the others' expressions changed again.

Didn't we agree to come and ask An Qian to solve the problem of Beian City being besieged by bugs? Why did you, Yuan, suddenly pledge allegiance?

Your Heaven Wolf Gang is a first-class force in Beian City. Are you willing to be someone else's subordinate?

An Qian looked at Gang Leader Yuan Yuhang, then exchanged glances with Qin Shilei.

She smiled brightly and said, "It is my honor, An Qian, to gain a great general like Gang Leader Yuan. Welcome to our city Lord's Mansion!"