114: Chapter 114 Encounter Under the Overpass

The man next to him, known as "Gray Pigeon," did not reply immediately. He leaned against the broken wall, watching the boisterous toughs in the Black Shark camp in the distance, then glanced at the silent members of Train No. 774 huddled in the bus station.

"Don't you find it strange?" Gray Pigeon's voice was flat, devoid of emotion.

"What's strange about it?"

"A team made up entirely of women, facing thugs like Black Shark, yet their reaction wasn't screaming or falling apart, but immediately establishing a defensive position."

Gray Pigeon's gaze finally landed on the only entrance to the bus station. "This Train No. 774 is much more interesting than that bunch of idiots from Black Shark."

On the other side of the ruins, Gu Nanzhi was moving cautiously.

She wore a scavenged, dirty, and tattered men's jacket, had smeared dust on her face and hands, and her hair was a tangled mess.

The "Thousand-Face Weaving Bureau" ability allowed her presence to blend seamlessly into the surrounding environment, making her look like an ordinary scavenger struggling to survive in the ruins.

Several Black Shark members happened to pass by the corner where she was hiding, cursing under their breath.

"Damn it, this hellhole is huge. We've been running around for ages and haven't even seen a shadow of a supply crate."

"What's the rush? The boss said to forget about the supplies for now and get the word out first."

"Exactly. Once that guy surnamed Fang becomes everyone's target, we can just go and finish him off. Won't that save us a lot of trouble?"

Another man lowered his voice and chuckled.

"Do you guys think that pretty boy is really that amazing? Sleeping with him makes you stronger? Isn't that just like those dual-cultivation techniques in storybooks?"

"Who the hell knows? But the boss said someone important up top specifically ordered to capture him alive, so this can't be fake! As long as we keep an eye on him, we'll get our share of the rewards!"

Gu Nanzhi's heart skipped a beat.

She waited for them to walk away before slipping out of the shadows and running quickly in the other direction.

Inside the bus station, the atmosphere was heavy.

"We've got trouble." Mu Waner handed the military tablet in her hand to Fang Che.

On the tablet screen, an anonymous public channel was being flooded with a single message.

[Shocking Secret! Train No. 774 Discovers a Shortcut to Human Enhancement! Team Leader Fang Che Suspected of Possessing a Special Ability That Can Significantly Boost Female Combat Power!]

[According to an insider, all female members on the Train have had relations with him, gaining power through the exchange of bodily fluids!]

[Reliable information: The Black Shark Train has verified that all members of Train No. 774 are high-attribute enhancers!]

Below the message were all sorts of vulgar speculations and discussions, filled with greed and desire.

Teacher Qin Bing's expression turned grim instantly. "They are trying to roast you over a fire!"

Su Qingxue's face also went cold, and the temperature in the surrounding air seemed to drop a few degrees. "Those scumbags!"

Just then, Gu Nanzhi crawled back through an inconspicuous ventilation duct. She ran up to Fang Che, breathless.

"Brother Fang Che, I heard it! The Black Shark people said... said someone important specifically ordered to capture you alive!"

Comparing the two pieces of information, everyone understood.

Fang Che rubbed his nose, his expression somewhat strange. "Am I... becoming the Tang Monk's meat?"

"Then what should we do? Just let them slander you like this?" Jiang Ning was anxious on the side.

"No." Fang Che's mouth twitched slightly. "Since they like making up stories, we'll help them write a more exciting version."

He looked at Mu Waner. "You, use my name to post a new message on the public channel."

Mu Waner was stunned for a moment, then nodded.

Fang Che cleared his throat and spoke slowly.

"Just say that the enhancement method of Train No. 774 does exist."

As soon as he said this, the expressions of Su Qingxue and Teacher Qin Bing changed.

"However," Fang Che changed the subject, "this kind of enhancement is based on a soul bond of absolute loyalty. Those who receive the enhancement will become the 'Guardian Knights' of the host."

"The most critical point, bold it, highlight it in red."

Fang Che's eyes became sharp.

"Once the host dies, all 'Guardian Knights' who have received the enhancement will have their power instantly wiped out. Furthermore, due to the energy backlash, they will completely lose control and turn into monsters that only know how to kill, unable to distinguish friend from foe, until they exhaust themselves to death."

Mu Waner's fingers tapped rapidly on the tablet, her eyes growing brighter.

Teacher Qin Bing also instantly understood Fang Che's intention.

This upgraded version of the rumor directly added a deadly poison to Fang Che, the "Tang Monk's meat."

Want to kill him? Sure, but you have to pay the price of dozens of enhanced people losing control and going crazy.

Want to capture him alive? Even harder. Who can guarantee that he won't choose to commit suicide the moment he is captured, dragging everyone down with him?

This rumor turned the simple logic of "capture Fang Che to get stronger" into an extremely complex risk assessment problem.

Soon, an internal briefing was held.

When Fang Che laid out both versions of the rumors and his counter-strategy, the girls in the team who had just gained their powers turned pale.

Lin Xinyi's hand instinctively tightened around the hilt of her blade, a hint of unconcealable panic in her eyes.

The girls next to her were much the same; they exchanged glances quietly, the confidence they had gained from their increased strength now diluted by an unknown fear.

"Boss, the target has posted a new message!"

Gray Pigeon looked at the latest intelligence popping up on the communicator and remained silent for a long time.

"A piece of prey that actually knows how to coat itself in poison—interesting."

The subordinate next to him was confused. "Then should we still make a move? If this is true, the risk is too high."

"Why not?" Gray Pigeon smiled. "Poison is also the most valuable research sample. Pass on my order: change the plan. Don't engage head-on, find a way to... capture a 'sample' and bring it back."

The order was issued.

On Fang Che's side, operations also began. "Jiang Ning, you take the third squad out, scout along the overpass, and see if there are any supply crates."

"Got it!" Jiang Ning had been waiting impatiently.

She led ten girls and quickly left the bus station.

In secret, Gu Nanzhi, who had already assumed a new identity, followed another Black Shark patrol squad from a distance, deliberately making some noise to lure them in the opposite direction.

Jiang Ning's squad advanced very smoothly.

The view on the overpass was wide open, and a few scattered zombies posed no threat at all.

"Captain, look at that!" A sharp-eyed girl pointed at the location of the broken bridge ahead.

A military-green metal supply crate was wedged between two broken sections of the bridge.

Jiang Ning's eyes lit up, and just as she was about to lead her team over, her brows furrowed sharply.

Below the overpass, another Black Shark team had also spotted the crate and was cursing while trying to figure out how to climb up.

The gazes of both sides met in mid-air, and the smell of gunpowder rose instantly.

Jiang Ning gripped her combat knife, her muscles tensed, ready to fight.

But just then, a feeling of being watched crawled up her spine.

It wasn't the gaze of those Black Shark people; that kind of gaze was filled with naked desire and killing intent, which she was very familiar with.

This was a colder, more objective gaze, like a beast observing its prey before a hunt.

Jiang Ning's movements stiffened. She didn't turn around, but instead, while adjusting her stance, she quickly scanned the distant abandoned building with the corner of her eye.

Behind a broken window on the third floor of one of the buildings, she seemed to see the reflection of a lens.

There's someone else!

Jiang Ning's heart sank. The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.