Chapter 33: Life or Death
The sun shone brightly, evaporating the moisture in the primeval mushroom forest. The players suffered in the hot and humid weather.
Sun Yuan searched through Yu Hailong’s pockets and found a piece of chocolate, half a pack of cigarettes, and a lighter when he heard a scream nearby.
He instantly scanned his surroundings and drew his Hunting boomerang, ready to throw at a moment’s notice.
Ao Ao Ao!
A group of people shouted strangely as they rushed over.
“It’s Chu Yuntao’s group!” Zhen Yu held onto Sun Yuan’s sleeves out of fear.
He Ming lay on the ground with a black crossbow bolt sticking out of his left thigh, soaking his jeans in blood.
Li Lie was quick on his feet despite his short stature and was the first to reach He Ming. After looking at the victim’s face, he scolded out unceremoniously.
“Why is it you again?” Li Lie angrily stomped on He Ming’s waist as he pulled out the bolt.
Since they had already robbed He Ming once, he had nothing of value on him anymore. As such, Li Lei focused his gaze on the other person nearby, Sun Yuan.
It had been a day since they last met, but this punk still looked relaxed, as though he was out on a field trip.
How infuriating!
“B-brother Chu!” He Ming swiftly greeted. He dared not complain even when he was shot by a bolt.
“Sun Yuan!” Chu Yuntao ignored He Ming as he stared unkindly at Sun Yuan.
“Lie’zi, why aren’t you searching his body?” Li Minglu questioned as he received the crossbow bolt from Li Lei.
“Huh?” Li Lei was stunned, “Didn’t we rob him already? He shouldn’t be able to find another mushroom in a night, right?”
“If you want to survive in our current environment, you cannot forgo any possibility,” Li Minglu lectured as he approached He Ming.
“I-I don’t have any mushrooms!” Before He Ming could finish speaking, he received a blackeye with two swift punches to his face.
How unlucky!
How did I manage to meet these scum again?
He Ming wanted to cry but had no tears left.
“Did I give you permission to speak?” Li Minglu scolded as he searched through He Ming’s pockets and found two honeydew mushrooms.
“F*ck, how are you so lucky?” Liao Wei was shocked.
This lucky b*stard had collected three honey mushrooms in total.
“You see this?” Li Minglu focused on Li Lei, “Never assume; you should rely on your eyes.”
“I got it, brother Li!” Li Lei admitted his mistake and went over to He Ming and vented his frustration as he kicked.
You made me lose face!
You deserve a beating!
“Stop! Please, I’m begging you, stop!” He Ming protected his head with both arms and pleaded as he cried.
He had lost all hope.
There were at most three hours to the end of the game. He wouldn’t be able to find three honeydew mushrooms even if he was the biological child of the goddess of luck.
He struggled internally before hugging Li Minglu’s legs.
“Brother Li, I’m begging you, please return my mushrooms, or I’ll be killed!”
Peng!
Li Minglu stomped down on He Ming’s face, pushing him away.
Zhen Yu’s heart skipped a beat at the scene because Li Minglu was exceptionally calm when he stomped.
It was apparent that he was a vicious and ruthless person.
“Don’t hit me anymore, brother Li; I know how to quickly get more mushrooms,” He Ming implored.
“Oh?” Li Minglu was startled, “Speak!”
“C-can you give me three mushrooms if I tell you the secret?” He Ming wanted to negotiate.
“Haha!” Li Minglu gave him another kick.
“I was wrong, I was wrong, I don’t want the mushrooms anymore!” He Ming wanted to kick himself. I shouldn’t have come here!
“Speak; I’ll let you have three mushrooms if your secret is useful!” Li Minglu lied.
“You see that pig beside him? That breed of pig can sniff out honeydew mushrooms.” He Ming revealed.
Chu Yuntao and the gang were momentarily stunned before they burst into laughter.
“What’s the meaning of this?” He Ming was dumbfounded at their reaction.
“Yo, Sun Yuan, we meet again!” Li Minglu greeted Sun Yuan and no longer bothered with He Ming.
“Your group seemed to have developed quite well!” Sun Yuan praised.
They had gained over a dozen members, and Li Minglu seemed to have already adapted to the game; he didn’t seem nervous or adverse toward killing and looting.
It could even be said that he found joy in such behaviors.
“I’ve to thank you for your reminder. If it wasn’t for that pig beside you, I never would’ve thought that it was the key to seeking these mushrooms!” Li Minglu laughed with a prideful face, “We managed to recruit new members into the group in exchange for mushrooms.”
“What?” He Ming was shocked. They discovered the secret by themselves, unlike him, who bought the information for 500 points.
Sun Yuan slightly frowned.
Recruiting members?
How was it possible for Li Minglu to do something charitable with his twisted personality?
The recruited members must have had strong combat abilities or were lucky enough to have obtained their own equipment.
Sigh!
Sun Yuan sighed. He had to admit that some of these silver spoons were intelligent and had the foresight to plan ahead.
They could maximize their benefits with their limited resources in a short time.
“Are you pissed?” Chu Yuntao mocked.
They had followed and camped with Li Minglu near a water source for nearly three hours before they managed to catch a pig.
The pig was indeed the expert in sniffing out honeydew mushrooms. It’s just that there weren’t enough mushrooms to go around because they had too many members.
“Why will I be pissed?” Sun Yuan wasn’t one to get jealous.
“Sun Yuan, why don’t you join my team?” Li Minglu suggested. “Give me some face; we can have a meal and enjoy some beer when we get back to school. We’ll bury the hatchet between you and Chu Yuntao; what do you say?”
Although Chu Yuntao didn’t look pleased, he didn’t object to it.
It was because Li Minglu had told him that Sun Yuan was the type of person who usually kept a low profile but would burst out in strength when faced with a crisis.
Their combat power will significantly increase if Sun Yuan joins them.
There will definitely be more towers of god in the future, and players must continue challenging and clearing these towers to grow and survive. An additional Sun Yuan would alleviate their survivability.
Instead of having Sun Yuan as a formidable opponent, it was better to convert and make full use of him as a fellow team member.
Hearing this, He Ming was first shocked before he was green with envy.
This was the second time Li Minglu had extended an invitation to Sun Yuan.
He Ming then felt sad because it was the second time he had been robbed.
You guys can’t keep harvesting the same sheep for wool, right? I’ve already gone bald!
“I’ll say it again; I like to be a lone wolf!” Sun Yuan glanced at the group as he asked, “What now? Do we disband peacefully, or are we having a fight?”
“He actually refused?” He Ming’s jaw dropped. Is this fellow right in the head?
Look at Li Minglu’s group; they had over thirty people…
It was an enormous force!
I would wake up laughing if I could join them.
He Ming suddenly recognized that this was an opportunity for him and quickly spoke up, “Sun Yuan, you’re an idiot to refuse the goodwill of brother Li!”
After scolding Sun Yuan, He Ming then sucked up to Li Minglu like a loyal dog.
“Can you let me into the team, brother Li? I’m willing to work hard and even be a c-cannon fodder.” Although He Ming was unwilling, he didn’t have a choice as surviving was his priority.
“Sorry, but my team isn’t hiring!” Li Minglu flat out rejected him.
“Huh?” He Ming was stunned. I’ve already lowered myself and was willing to be cannon fodder, but you weren’t even willing to give me a chance.
Am I really that useless?
Not hiring?
Then why are you recruiting Sun Yuan?
And why are you so cowardly?
Don’t you have a crossbow?
Shoot him!
He Ming exploded with anger and wanted to kill them but didn’t have the strength to do so.
“You’ll always be welcome into my team!” Li Minglu looked at Sun Yuan magnanimously, “Do as you please!”
Fight?
There were one dead and two injured on the ground before him, with half of his men frightened by the bloody scene.
“Senior is so imposing!” Zhen Yu grinned and felt that she had good eyesight to hug a reliable thigh that no one dared provoke.
“Brother Li, we’ve found another prey!” A voice called out some distance away.
“Go!” Li Minglu made a split-second decision and led the group away to another hunt.
“How dare you scold senior just now; you deserve a beating!” Zhen Yu ran towards He Ming and kicked violently.
“Leave him alone,” Sun Yuan prompted Zhen Yu to leave. He wanted to be able to act on the off chance that Li Minglu’s prey turned out to be Zhuo Wen.
“Why am I so pitiful?” He Ming tore his t-shirt to wrap around his thigh as a makeshift bandage to staunch the wound. He then limped after Li Minglu; he would be dead if he couldn’t join the team.
…
“It’s Chu Yuntao and Li Minglu!” Zhao Siyu’s heart thumped when she saw Chu Yuntao; he wasn’t a good person.
“Quick, run!” Xu Jing urged, but it was already too late.
Three male students blocked off their escape route.
“Don’t be afraid; I’ll keep you safe!” Xu Qingshan said with a nervous look as he gripped a wooden stick with his palms wet with sweat.
There was no way they were getting out of this unharmed; there were too many people.
“Brother Chu, brother Chu, they got a pig!” Liao Wei was excited at the prospect of stumbling upon a fat sheep.
“Hand over all of your honeydew mushrooms and the pig!” Li Lei threatened with a harsh tone.
“How can you be so shameless?” Xu Qingshan exclaimed. “We’ll die without the mushrooms and pig.”
“It’s none of my business if you die.” Li Lei spat as he glanced toward Li Minglu. He would act as soon as the leader signaled him.
“Hand over the stuff, and you’ll still be able-bodied to search for more mushrooms. Otherwise, things won’t end with a crippled limb!” Chu Yuntao threatened as his gaze landed on Zhao Siyu. Her gentle temperament complimented her looks well.
Noticing Chu Yuntao’s gaze, Xu Qingshan stepped up and blocked Zhao Siyu with his body.
“Wow, there’s a hero here to save the beauty!” Chu Yuntao sneered, “Come on, what are you standing around for? If they aren’t giving in, then we’re attacking!”
The flustered Zhao Caiwei immediately shouted when she spotted Sun Yuan and Zhen Yu in the distance, “Sun Yuan, save us!”
~~~
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