Chapter Twenty-Two: Shock

ps: Will today’s collection break five hundred? Only a dozen or so left—if you’re reading this chapter, brothers, could you raise your hand and add it to your favorites?

Early the next morning, Ke Bei packed up his things and took Li Qianqian to Beicheng, Mingye Community.

Though their belongings were few, it took them most of the day to settle in. That evening, Ke Bei was summoned by Gu Kun to join all the members of the Star Condensing Squad for a feast at the Ten Thousand Flowers Pavilion, where they agreed to head to the Wild Zone in three days.

In the blink of an eye, three days passed. Ke Bei donned his ash-white ice silk battle suit, covered it with tungsten-iron armor, slung a broadsword across his back, and tucked three throwing knives at his waist.

The throwing knives were his lifeline. Although the matter of killing the young man in white had come to an end, Ke Bei dared not relax his vigilance. He had used throwing knives to kill the youth in white, and likewise to deal with Gu Feng and Zheng Yuan. If anyone discovered his skill with throwing knives and traced the clues back to him, it would be hard to handle. Better safe than sorry! Unless facing a life-or-death moment, this secret art mustn’t be lightly revealed.

His strength was still insufficient; he could not yet contend with the Blood Sword Alliance behind the youth in white. Caution was his best defense. That night, while dining with Gu Kun and the others, when the group was seven or eight parts drunk, Ke Bei overheard talk of the recent uproar in Lingfeng City and realized the true identity of the youth he had slain. Cold sweat broke out at once.

The only son of Pei Jian, the leader of the Blood Sword Alliance—one of the three great powers of Lingfeng City!

Such an identity was terrifying! Though the Blood Sword Alliance had shown no reaction so far, caution was paramount.

“Ke Bei!”

The captain Gu Kun’s voice rang out from downstairs.

“Coming,” Ke Bei replied, and hurried downstairs. Just as he was about to open the door, Li Qianqian emerged from her room, silently casting a glance at him.

“Be careful,” Li Qianqian couldn’t help but say.

“Don’t worry,” Ke Bei grinned, turned, opened the door, and ran down.

“You’re looking quite spirited,” Gu Kun joked, eyeing Ke Bei in his ash-white battle suit and cropped hair.

“Heh, captain, where are the others?” Ke Bei scratched his head shyly, glancing around but seeing no one else.

“They’re waiting for us at the city gate. Come on, let’s not keep them waiting.”

“Mm.” Ke Bei nodded, following Gu Kun as they made their way quickly to the gate.

“Captain.” Zhang Wu, holding a massive shield, smiled and nodded at Gu Kun.

“Ke Bei, you’re here. Are you nervous about your first trip to the Wild Zone?” Chen Hu, the logistics man with a huge pack on his back, patted Ke Bei’s shoulder.

“It’s alright. I’ve hunted zombies before,” Ke Bei replied, drawing a breath and smiling at Chen Hu.

“Entering the Wild Zone is different from hunting zombies around the foundation cities. Heh, Ke Bei’s first time outside—don’t let yourself get scared.”

Standing over two meters tall, with arms as thick as Ke Bei’s thighs, Wang Shan laughed heartily and ruffled Ke Bei’s hair.

“Captain, the mission site is here—Wushan City.” Zhao Hai, a wiry man barely one-seventy tall, walked over with a map.

“Mm. The zombies in Wushan City had been nearly cleared out, but for some reason a large number suddenly appeared again recently. The bigwigs suspect the Divine Clan is behind it. Our mission is to investigate and confirm whether the Divine Clan is present.”

Gu Kun glanced at everyone, laying out the task simply.

“Let’s head out. Wushan City isn’t far—three days’ journey at most.”

Sun Ze, who had been leaning against the city wall with his eyes closed, suddenly opened them. He stabbed the ground with his two-and-a-half meter spear.

“Alright, let’s go!” Gu Kun barked, taking the lead.

Zhang Wu, Sun Ze, and Zhao Hai followed closely, while Wang Shan, Chen Hu, and Ke Bei brought up the rear.

“This highway shortens the distance,” Zhao Hai said, looking at the map.

“Let’s move.”

The sun had just leapt above the sea, casting gentle light onto the battered highway as the seven members of Star Condensing Squad advanced along its length.

“Roar~~”

“Awuu~”

From the dried grass beside the road, came waves of zombies’ howls. Of the squad, except for Ke Bei, even Chen Hu—the weakest—was a peak second-level warrior; Zhang Wu was early third-level, Sun Ze and Wang Shan were mid third-level, and aside from the captain, the strongest was the wiry Zhao Hai—a high third-level fighter.

Not yet in the true Wild Zone, and with the squad so powerful, everyone was relaxed.

“Roar!”

Suddenly, a zombie covered in blue fur lunged from the grass!

“Ke Bei, this blue-furred zombie’s yours. Since we haven’t entered the Wild Zone yet, take the chance to sharpen yourself,” Captain Gu Kun said casually, eyeing the hideous creature.

“Don’t underestimate it, Ke Bei. Blue-furred zombies are as tough as second-level warriors,” Zhao Hai cautioned.

Ke Bei smiled, knowing his brothers in the squad truly cared about him.

“Heh, Brother Hai, I’m no pushover. Just a blue-furred zombie—no trouble at all.”

With a metallic rasp, Ke Bei drew his broadsword and rushed at the zombie.

“Captain, Ke Bei’s still a newbie. Even if he’s got good physical strength, isn’t it a bit harsh to pit him against a blue-furred zombie?” Wang Shan voiced his worry.

“That’s right, captain. Training should be gradual. Blue-furred zombies are much tougher than red-furred ones. Facing one for the first time, he might not manage it,” Zhao Hai frowned.

“Who says it’s his first time? Heh, just watch—this kid will surprise you,” Gu Kun smiled, focusing his gaze on Ke Bei.

“Can Ke Bei really handle it?”

The six veteran members of the squad, except for Gu Kun, all watched Ke Bei with doubt and concern. Wang Shan gripped his iron staff at his chest, ready to jump in.

Ke Bei tightened his grip on his broadsword. Facing a blue-furred zombie was nothing new, but he had to finish this fight cleanly and decisively.

He needed to prove to the squad he wouldn’t be a burden!

Dropping half into a crouch, his calf muscles tensed, foot stomping hard as power surged from his spine to his arms.

“Thunder Strike!”

He let out a low growl. His muscles rippled like waves, explosive force converging to a single point. He leapt high, bringing his broadsword down hard on the blue-furred zombie.

Ke Bei landed, turned stylishly, and smiled at Gu Kun and the others. As he stepped forward, a thunderous crash sounded behind him—the blue-furred zombie split in two, collapsing to either side.

The squad’s veterans stared wide-eyed in disbelief.

“This—this guy’s still a rookie? That’s insanity!” Chen Hu swallowed hard. Though he was a peak second-level warrior and could kill a blue-furred zombie, to do it as cleanly as Ke Bei—to split it in two with a single stroke—was impossible.

“What tremendous power!” Zhao Hai’s face showed shock.

Gu Kun knew Ke Bei was strong, but he was still stunned. Ke Bei's strength was approaching third-level, far beyond his expectations.

And that wasn’t all that shocked Gu Kun.

The power unleashed in Ke Bei’s strike was terrifying. To split the steel-hard skin of a blue-furred zombie with one blow—even for Gu Kun at the peak of third-level enhancement—would not be easy.

Yet Ke Bei had done it!

“Incredible explosive force! That strike must be some advanced power technique. This kid’s hiding plenty of secrets!”

Gu Kun stroked his chin, a smile curling his lips.

The stronger his teammates, the stronger the squad. As captain, Gu Kun was naturally delighted.