Volume One: Planet of Ten Thousand Beasts, Chapter 9: Flying Stones

Based on the direction of the gunshots and the angle of the bullet holes, Li Juxu deduced that the enemy was positioned on the cliff to the left, holding the high ground. This was highly disadvantageous for them. Besides two large boulders on the left cliff, there was also a patch of grass, both capable of hiding people. Li Juxu immediately dismissed the grass and focused his gaze around the two rocks.

It had to be said, the placement of these two boulders was excellent, forming a natural pincer. When facing an attack, one could easily switch positions between them and remain invincible.

Li Juxu was certain the enemy sniper was between the two rocks, closely watching their every move. Yet from his vantage point, he couldn’t spot the sniper unless the enemy fired a shot, revealing their position. He suppressed his anxiety and ignored the negotiations between Cao Gang and the burly man, meticulously searching bit by bit. He had to pinpoint the sniper’s exact location; otherwise, the consequences would be dire.

In the desolate wilderness, the binding force of the Interstellar Treaty was null. They had robbed other teams and been robbed in turn. At their peak, this team had over thirty members, but after countless comings and goings, they had lost track of how many comrades had been replaced—the captain had changed four times already. He counted himself lucky, but he knew survival wasn’t just luck; it was because he was ruthless and cautious.

Robbing valuables was only the first step—a means to lower the enemy’s guard. The second step was to kill and silence witnesses. Those who committed evil feared retaliation; killing all enemies was the safest course. Regardless of how negotiations between Cao Gang and the burly man ended, it would ultimately come down to a fight to the death. The enemy sniper would determine the final outcome.

Li Juxu searched back and forth several times but never spotted the sniper. Just as impatience was about to get the better of him, he suddenly recalled the faint noise mixed with the whizzing bullet sound. If the sniper fired between the two rocks, the canyon’s topography would produce an echo. The faint noise, however, came from the bullet cutting through the air and the dry grass rustling. Before he could confirm this, the negotiation results arrived. Cao Gang, for the sake of his girlfriend Wang Xiaoxin—though he would never admit it, claiming only concern for the team’s safety—decided to lay down arms and surrender.

Li Juxu and the others faced a grim choice: obey their captain and relinquish their weapons, or defy him and become traitors to their own team. Following the captain’s orders meant a high probability of death. In such an environment, without weapons, death was almost certain. Yet, without much thought, the team members laid down their arms.

Disregarding the Interstellar Treaty was a matter of legal constraint; the team was a matter of honor among rogues. Losing credibility meant no future in this lawless world. Even if unwilling, the members had no choice but to comply.

“Thanks!” A shifty-eyed man slipped out from behind the burly man, tossing down a rope and sliding down. He approached the team, confiscating all weapons. Not only did he seize their arms, but he also searched their bodies, taking all supplies. Each time he plundered someone, he smiled sheepishly as if embarrassed, his expression tinged with a hint of bashfulness. To the unwary, he might seem innocent—perhaps it was his first time doing such a thing—but Li Juxu knew better. This was merely a disguise; inwardly, the man longed to kill them all.

Their team were seasoned hunters, battle-hardened veterans. Though disarmed, each member stood behind cover, ready to encircle their foes at a moment’s notice. Unless the shifty-eyed man was confident he could knock them all down instantly, he wouldn’t risk it—and there was no need, as they currently held the advantage. The team gritted their teeth in frustration but endured, unwilling to gamble. They were at a disadvantage; any break in balance would lead to a fight to the death, with a high risk of total annihilation.

Everyone searched for an opening but found none.

“You’ve met all our demands. It’s time to let us go, right?” Cao Gang stared angrily at the burly man. The burly man didn’t go back on his word and nodded toward the member feigning injury.

“Beautiful lady, you’re a good soul. If we lived in peaceful times, you’d be revered by all as a saint. Alas, this is a chaotic era, and your kindness is ill-timed.” The man’s tone carried a hint of regret. He licked Wang Xiaoxin’s fair cheek with a greedy, reluctant gleam in his eyes. Wang Xiaoxin shut her eyes tightly, her face drained of color in fear.

“Go!” The man suddenly shoved her hard. Wang Xiaoxin stumbled and collided with a jagged rock.

Cao Gang had been watching Wang Xiaoxin closely. Seeing this, he dashed from behind cover like a leopard spotting its prey—swift as a shadow. Just as he reached her, a stone the size of an egg shot from his hand like lightning, striking the feigning wounded man squarely in the head.

Crack!

The man’s skull exploded, and he collapsed stiffly to the ground. The force of the stone was terrifying. There was no need for a disguise now; the gaping wound and brains spilling out showed he wouldn’t survive.

Cao Gang’s rise to captain was no accident—he possessed genuine skill. Having taken multiple strength-enhancing potions, he could easily lift 500 pounds with both hands. His signature move was the flying stone—deadly accurate within thirty meters, capable of breaking six-centimeter thick red bricks.

Cao Gang rolled on the ground holding Wang Xiaoxin, slipping into the narrow gap between the two rocks. Two sharp pops rang out as two black bullet holes appeared in the stone, scattering debris.

The entire sequence unfolded in an instant. Wang Xiaoxin was still trembling from shock as fierce gunfire echoed through the canyon, interspersed with a pained, despairing scream. It was Hound. He and Monkey had gone to scout a suspicious area. Since they had climbed the cliff barehanded, they were the most vulnerable when the enemy suddenly attacked—no place to hide or maneuver.

The shifty-eyed man emptied a magazine into Hound, riddling him like a sieve until he tumbled down among the falling rocks.

“You’ll all pay!” The burly man behind the shield roared in fury. Despite holding absolute advantage, they had lost a member. He pulled out a Type 38 submachine gun and unleashed a barrage into the rocky area. Cao Gang and the others had no choice but to crouch tightly behind cover, too afraid to expose themselves. Without weapons, or even with them, they stood no chance against the deadly fire raining down from above.

The Type 38 submachine gun was among the most common weapons used by hunters—fast firing, cheap ammunition. Its drawbacks were high ammo consumption and short range; beyond 150 meters, accuracy dropped sharply. However, it was primarily used for suppressive fire, relying on volume rather than precision, so this was hardly a disadvantage. Cao Gang’s team, Wild Boar’s weapons, were mainly Type 38 submachine guns.