61: Chapter 61 Go lure the monster away

After finishing their discussion, Song Yang took Bai Jie and Xiao Xue and got into the off-road vehicle.

Zhao Lin and her group of four found a dilapidated car by the roadside that could still start.

The two vehicles, one behind the other, drove toward the hotel.

Before they had gone far, a cockroach as large as an adult's head crawled out from a gap in a pile of collapsed masonry.

Immediately after, they saw an exceptionally plump rat, even larger than an average cat.

Clenching the corpse of a pet cat in its mouth, it leaped down from the broken window of an abandoned building and disappeared into the weeds.

The rat's eyes glowed with an unnatural red light, and its movements were incredibly swift.

"Rats are eating cats now?"

Bai Jie found it hard to believe; the sight before her completely overturned her understanding of the world.

"The world changed a long time ago."

Song Yang spoke flatly, "Those who can't adapt will be weeded out, whether they are humans or animals."

Soon, the silhouette of a relatively intact building appeared ahead; it was the hotel Zhao Lin had mentioned.

The off-road vehicle and the car stopped about a hundred meters away from the hotel.

Everyone got out, their gazes simultaneously turning toward the hotel's main entrance.

Several giant wolfhounds were crouched at the entrance, their mouths filled with fangs.

"That's them. When we came last time, they blocked us too."

Zhao Lin looked at everyone. "If we want to get in, someone has to lure these beasts away."

As soon as she finished speaking, Mike and the two other men behind Zhao Lin all turned their eyes toward Song Yang at almost the same time.

Mike said, "Brother Song, since we're cooperating, you should contribute something to the team, right? I think the task of luring away the pack of dogs should be left to you."

Song Yang frowned, his eyes turning cold. "Why should I be the one to go?"

"Hey!"

Mike's expression darkened. "This is what we've agreed upon! Go if we tell you to, and do as you're told. If we find anything good later, we'll give you an extra share!"

Another foreigner chimed in:

"That's right, Brother Song. With great power comes great responsibility. You look like you've got some skills. Don't worry, we'll take good care of your women."

The three of them faintly surrounded Song Yang, and the atmosphere became tense, as if a fight could break out at any moment.

Zhao Lin stood to the side with her arms crossed, making no move to stop them, clearly condoning Mike's actions.

Song Yang naturally understood that they wanted to use him as cannon fodder.

Fighting in this situation wasn't a good choice.

"Fine, I'll lure them away. But as agreed, I get an extra share of whatever's inside. No one can go back on their word."

Song Yang pretended to agree.

"Don't worry!"

Mike grinned. "We're men of our word! Now go, don't waste time."

Song Yang said no more, turning to Bai Jie and Xiao Xue in the off-road vehicle:

"You stay in the car, lock the doors and windows, and don't come out. I'll be back soon.

Seeing someone approaching, the Mutated Wolfhounds crouching at the hotel entrance immediately raised their heads alertly and stood up.

"Awooo!"

The largest of the wolfhounds gave a low growl and was the first to chase after Song Yang, with the others following closely behind.

"The monsters are gone! Let's get inside quickly!"

Zhao Lin's eyes lit up, and she immediately called to Mike and another blond man, while not forgetting to tell the Japanese man to watch the vehicles.

The Japanese man named Koizumi nodded, his eyes instinctively drifting toward Bai Jie and Xiao Xue in the off-road vehicle.

Zhao Lin, Mike, and the other man quickly moved toward the hotel's main entrance, their figures soon disappearing inside.

Silence temporarily returned to the surroundings.

Koizumi stood where he was and waited for about five minutes. Once he was sure Zhao Lin and the others were deep inside the hotel, he slowly strolled over to the off-road vehicle.

He reached out and tapped on the window next to the driver's seat.

"Knock, knock, knock."

Inside the car, Bai Jie and Xiao Xue immediately became alert.

"What do you want?"

Bai Jie asked coldly through the window.

A smile spread across Koizumi's face, and he said in somewhat stiff Chinese:

"Ladies, it's not safe outside. Why don't you open the door and let me in to protect you?"

"We don't need it! Stay away from us!"

Bai Jie frowned in disgust. "When Song Yang gets back, you're going to regret this!"

"Song Yang?"

The Japanese man burst into laughter as if he had heard the funniest joke in the world.

"Him? Heh, those dogs aren't pushovers. He's probably been torn to shreds by now!"

He leaned closer to the window, his greedy eyes scanning back and forth between Bai Jie's full chest and Xiao Xue's beautiful face.

"Instead of waiting for a dead man, you'd be better off with me. As long as you're obedient, I guarantee you'll live a life of luxury and comfort. How about it?"

With that, the Japanese man turned and walked toward the car they had driven, rummaged through the trunk, and soon returned carrying a sledgehammer.

He weighed the sledgehammer in his hand and approached the off-road vehicle's window once more.

"Ladies, my patience is limited."

"Are you going to open the door yourselves and let me in to 'protect' you, or should I smash this damn window open? I won't be so polite then."

"I suggest you think carefully. If you follow me, at least you'll live. But if you make me angry..."

Before Koizumi could finish, he felt a sudden tightening of his scalp; someone grabbed his hair and yanked him backward with great force!

"Bang!"

Caught off guard, Koizumi lost his balance and his head hit the ground, making him see stars from the pain.

Before he could react, a foot stepped on his face, completely suppressing his attempts to struggle up.

The man struggled to open one eye, and through his blurred vision, a familiar figure came into view.

It was Song Yang!

He was actually standing there in front of him, completely unscathed!

"How can you still be alive?!"

Koizumi found it hard to believe.

Those ferocious Mutated Wolfhounds hadn't torn him to pieces?

What on earth was going on?

The man panicked, shouting with a false sense of bravado:

"What do you want to do?"

But before he could say another word, he noticed an axe had appeared in Song Yang's hand.

"Little Devil, did you really think no one would dare touch you?"

The shadow of death loomed over him.

Koizumi's legs went weak, and he almost collapsed to his knees.

His survival instinct made him shout out every word he could think of.

"Wait! You can't kill me! I'm a foreigner! International law states that you can't harm foreign nationals at will! You have no right to judge me!"

Song Yang's advancing steps halted.

He tilted his head as if he were actually considering the matter.

Seeing Song Yang hesitate, Koizumi thought his words were working. His confidence surged, and he struggled to straighten his back.

"That's right! If you touch me, it'll be a serious international incident! Your country can't handle the responsibility!"

Song Yang didn't speak; he raised the axe again.

Koizumi's bravado instantly deflated again. He backed away, shouting with forced toughness:

"Think carefully! Think about the consequences!"

Song Yang finally came to a stop in front of him, his expression somewhat curious, even carrying a hint of seeking advice:

"International law? Then tell me, in this current situation, which article applies?"

"I..."

Koizumi was momentarily speechless. How could he know the specific article? He could only repeat vaguely.

"Anyway, there are regulations! You just can't touch me!"

"Oh."

Song Yang nodded like a student listening attentively.

"I see,"

His expression was very sincere. "Then I'll go ask King Yama for you and see what his version of international law says."

With a flick of his wrist, the axe swung out.

The man only felt a flash of cold light before the axe slammed into his head.

"Crack!"

The dull sound of the blade entering flesh replaced all of Koizumi's unfinished words.

His eyes widened to the extreme, filled with disbelief; his body swayed twice before he fell straight down.

Blood soon pooled beneath him.