Chapter 28: Slaughter in the Wilderness

After Zhang Zehu and Chen Gu exchanged a few mocking insults, the captain, Gale Hammer Gao Feng, cut them off with a stern rebuke. Zhang Zehu, stifling his anger, said no more and stormed off.

"Luo Feng, do you have some history with that man?" Luo Yuan asked, his memory of specific events somewhat hazy.

"Yes," Luo Feng replied calmly. "A while ago, his nephew Zhang Haobai and I had a conflict. I made them pay a hundred million. They must still hold a grudge."

"Heh, Zhang Haobai—such a wastrel. Looks like Zhang Zehu is finished," Luo Yuan thought, a mocking smile curling on his lips.

By dusk, the fully armed Firehammer Squad, seven members in all, left the supply base and ventured into the wilderness.

Upon entering the wild zone, the group began to arrange their formation. Chen Gu opened a large case, revealing a machine gun of solid silver-grey, its barrel gleaming with a metallic sheen. Aside from the gun itself, the case was packed to the brim with belts of ammunition, densely looped and nearly overflowing the box—an impressive stockpile.

"Brother Chen, what kind of gun is that?" Luo Feng asked, puzzled.

"Model M81, twelve-point-seven millimeter caliber. It can fire anywhere from fifty to three hundred rounds a minute—fully adjustable," Chen Gu replied, pride shining in his eyes. "The main body is even fused with grade-three cro-alloy. Even with sustained fire, the heat won't affect accuracy."

"No wonder they call you Cannon Chen," Luo Yuan interjected. "This is like an iron torrent. Still, it doesn’t really fit a martial artist’s style, does it?"

Chen Gu laughed heartily. "As long as the monsters die, the means matter little!"

With ammo belts slung across his body and the machine gun in his hands, Chen Gu marched at the center of the formation, flanked by Luo Yuan and Luo Feng, all protected by the others.

The Twin Crescent Blade Brothers took the lead at the front, while Captain Gao Feng and Zhang Ke brought up the rear.

"We’ll follow this highway," Gao Feng announced. "In about three days, we’ll reach our destination—County-level City 0201."

The highway beneath their feet had long since fallen into ruin, its surface cracked and scarred. Everywhere they looked, the road was littered with the wrecks of cars, trucks, and lorries, some shattered, some rusted, tires discarded haphazardly. Blackened bloodstains marred the pavement, and derelict buildings loomed in the distance—a vision of apocalypse.

"Let’s move!"

The sunset cast its ruddy glow over the silent, decaying highway, abandoned and untended for decades, as the seven-member Firehammer Squad pressed onward.

From the fields and dilapidated villages flanking the road came the chilling roars and howls of monsters, setting nerves on edge. Suddenly, a unicorn wild boar of power between grade G and F appeared ahead.

"Luo Feng, it's yours. Your first battle in the wild zone," called Captain Gao Feng.

"Go for it, Luo Feng," everyone encouraged, Luo Yuan eager to see his current strength.

Grades H, G, and F corresponded to junior, intermediate, and advanced beast soldiers. This unicorn wild boar was clearly close to grade F.

Luo Feng drew his Bloodshadow Blade, shield in his left hand, and charged the monster. The clash was swift and fierce. Observing Luo Feng’s explosive strength and speed, Luo Yuan noted he was already approaching the level of an advanced warrior. From top trainee to advanced warrior in less than a month—he had to admit, Luo Feng was a rare genius. If not for his own “golden finger,” he’d have no hope of catching up.

Soon Luo Feng slew the wild boar and returned with its prized horn. Luo Yuan and the others had watched the whole scene, and from Luo Feng’s quick wit and resourcefulness, it was hard to believe he was still a newcomer.

In Luo Yuan's mind, though, if he fought the unicorn wild boar using only advanced warrior strength, a single strike would have sufficed. The practical experience Wang Qian had taught him proved invaluable.

As Luo Feng came back, everyone welcomed him warmly—he was truly accepted now. Wei Tie even demonstrated how to kill a tiger-cat beast in one blow: swift, direct, and efficient.

Three days passed.

At dawn, along a battered ring road, Firehammer Squad advanced in formation. Suddenly, two massive lion-mastiffs appeared ahead, blood still staining their savage jaws.

"Heavens, those are two beast general-class lion-mastiffs—comparable to human warlords!" Gao Feng exclaimed, panic rippling through the squad.

"I’ll handle this. Time to stretch my muscles," Luo Yuan said, stepping forward. He pulled back his black hood, cracked his neck, and drew the A9 Bloodshadow Blade from his back. Facing the two monsters, a bloodthirsty grin tugged at his lips.

With a sharp hiss, he launched forward, his speed startling. The two lion-mastiffs bristled instantly. Luo Yuan closed in, feet shifting in a curious four-step pattern—the “Streamlight” movement from the Ninefold Thunder Blade. As the beasts lunged with their claws, Luo Yuan twisted his body, dodging with uncanny precision. In the brief instant their bodies crossed, his blade flashed—a cunning, lethal thrust!

With a sickening sound, the blade pierced the vulnerable throat of one lion-mastiff, dropping it instantly. The other, seeing its companion's blood spray forth, let out a guttural snarl and bolted.

Luo Yuan accelerated, overtook it, and before it could react, unleashed the “Thunder Blade,” slicing the monster clean in half. The powerful blade energy crashed on, demolishing a nearby derelict building.

"So strong!" The others were deeply shocked—Luo Yuan was now clearly the top fighter in Firehammer Squad.

"Luo Yuan, I never expected you to be so formidable. Even I struggle against beast general-class lion-mastiffs, let alone killing them in one move. Yet they couldn’t last a heartbeat against you," Gao Feng marveled as he approached.

Luo Yuan just chuckled. "Not bad. Those two were only mid-level beast generals. Nothing worth worrying about."

After stripping the valuable materials from the monsters, Luo Yuan and the others entered their destination—County-level City 0201.

The seven slipped quietly into the outskirts. "For the past three days, we've followed the highway through deserted lands," Chen Gu whispered. "But most monsters live in the cities, in dense clusters of buildings. Towns and city centers are the truly dangerous places!"

Luo Yuan nodded. He'd read on the Warrior Forum about the monsters’ habits; beset by human armies, the creatures had learned to seek the advantage of urban cover.

(Author’s note: Dear readers, please support with tips, votes, and bookmarks. Thank you!)