Chapter 145 (1/2)
”Nope,” Chang said, even though he felt a tingling sensation in his back. He raised his hands over his head.
”Oh well, you don't really have a choice right now.” The cold muzzle dug into Chang's waist. ”What you just told me sounds critical to our survival. We have to verify the authenticity of your information. So it's not a threat, but you have to come with us.”
”Bro, listen. If you're smart enough to believe me, you should understand that neither of us has time to waste. Though that Willow is resting temporarily, the migrating animals are right behind our backs. Time doesn't permit me to provide an explanation,” Chang said, hands still raised high above his head. ”Is that how you treat a benefactor who just offered life-saving information to you?”
”It's not up to me to decide how to treat you, we just need to verify...” The bald man insisted, but he couldn't finish his sentence. The next moment the pitch of his voice, as he said the word 'verify', quickly rose to that of a shriek.
”Ahhhhh!”
The cracking of the thigh bone preceded his scream. His knee snapped and bent backward at the most impossible angle, and he pulled the trigger in reflex.
BANG!
The bullet flashed above Chang's waist, as he bent forward due to the kicking momentum. The bullet even ripped a thin piece of skin off the back of his head before rus.h.i.+ng into the void of the red fog.
Chang regained his balance before anyone had time to react. He straightened from his bent position, and with a scalpel in his right hand sliced open the other soldiers' windpipes - before they could pull the triggers.
Problems were resolved, nice and clean. Chang shook his head, flicking a few drop of blood away. He took the backpack with the supplies he just asked for and prepared to leave the store. It'd be hard for him to leave if he delayed, the guards ought to have started gathering right after the gunshot.
Just as how he predicted, while he was securing the strap on his backpack, a small troop emerged. They didn't even care to investigate if their allies were in the store; they chose the most destructive method of eliminating enemies - by indiscriminate shooting.
”Are they even the military anymore? I'd say they've become thugs already.” Chang sneaked another piece of hardtack in his pocket, then broke a window on the other side of the store and disappeared within the thick fog.
Some individual from the special force noticed his figure and chased after it. At the same time, the warning signal started howling at the roof of the store.
'Once each city formed its state, the military has become much more efficient, and their sense of danger improved. They're less humane as well, they no longer need to worry about any political consequences for killing the wrong target.'
There were many thoughts in Chang's head as he dashed away from the store. The amount of guards grew significantly, like someone had spilled some beans. The warning signal also disturbed the birds circling in the sky, their flight patterns broke apart as they impatiently ascended and descended.
At the suburbs of He Bi, Chang's group was waiting for him with the ma.s.sive centipede.
Chang galloped along its side, from its tail to the head. He shouted at his friends, ”Go!Go! Go! I caused some trouble in there!”
”What trouble?” Qing patted the centipede, which wriggled around and then ducked into the forest.
”Words I said caused a riot.” Chang sighed. ”I thought I was doing a favor by telling the military the truth, but they insisted on verifying the information. I had no other choice but to kill them and flee.”
”That sounds like something you would do.” Shui giggled.
”Indeed, always pays for his own unnecessary kindness,” Shui Qing added.
”I a.s.sume no one is after us, right?” Zhizhi sniffed the air, worrying.
”No. Who could spot me in this void anyways,” Chang said. ”I'm not bragging about anything, but who could match my tracking and anti-tracking abilities?”
”I get it, of course. We shall resume our journey to the north.” Zhizhi almost rolled her eyes.
”Yep, to the north.” Chang then added in a murmur, ”Those migrating animals will eventually scatter, they'll find comfortable spots and stay there until they feel the threat coming again. The further north we get, the less dangerous it's going to be. I'd say when we pa.s.s the border of He Nan and get to He Bei province, we should start thinking about slowing down in a relatively bigger city.”
”I agree with you,” Qing said, but his eyes lingered on the birds. ”Look at the f*cking flocks here… How scary...”
A gigantic bird descended towards Qing, its mouthpiece was wide open, ready to pick him up. However, he dodged in time to avoid the huge animal.