Chapter 253: Step Back, I’m About to Show Off!
Zhang Yangqing’s words were merely a simple question, though they sounded to others like he was being a bit pretentious.
That’s because he had long noticed a group of people tailing their footsteps.
Normally, it should just be others nearby who also hadn’t entered the city and were looking for a place to settle down.
This group hadn’t made a move yet, seemingly waiting for Zhang’s group to run into danger so they could swoop in and reap the benefits, like the proverbial fisherman who profits when the snipe and the clam grapple.
Or perhaps they were waiting for Zhang’s group to gather more food before attempting to wipe them all out in one go.
However, under the leadership of the veteran Lone Wolf, Zhang’s own team had skillfully avoided danger and had not engaged in combat with any fierce beasts.
And the food they had gathered wasn’t much to speak of, either.
So this group just kept following, waiting for another opportunity.
Lone Wolf was puzzled. With all his years of jungle experience, he himself had only just noticed the tail. How had this kid discovered it so much earlier?
And if you knew all along, why didn’t you tell me?
It wasn’t that Zhang Yangqing deliberately kept it a secret. He had assumed Lone Wolf had some deeper plan in mind—perhaps a strategy to lure the enemy deep into a trap and then annihilate them all at once.
Or maybe to lead them into a dangerous area and let the mutated, bizarre insects there attack the stalkers.
As the saying goes, the best way to deceive the enemy is to first deceive your own people.
Zhang Yangqing had even thought of dozens of methods himself; he just couldn’t be bothered to act on them.
And now you’re telling me you just found out?
So my question was perfectly valid, wasn’t it?
At this stage, any Chosen One following the typical path would encounter a situation where their group gets targeted by another team.
In every case, it’s Lone Wolf who first voices suspicion, making everyone else realize something is off.
At that point, to avoid danger, the Chosen Ones would typically choose to abandon some of their food and quit while they’re ahead.
After all, the less food they carry, the less reason the other side has to risk a fight just to steal it.
Everyone’s just trying to survive, not settle some blood feud.
Then, they’d try to use Lone Wolf’s familiarity with the primeval forest to shake off their pursuers.
It might be a bit humiliating, true, but staying alive is what matters.
This was only their first day on the outskirts of the city. They didn’t even know how to get in yet. If they started fighting with locals now, how would they survive the days to come?
Another option was to use the walkie-talkie to call for reinforcements and then fight back head-on.
Choosing a direct confrontation was far too risky. The teammates weren’t that united; some might just flee if the enemy looked too strong.
And there was absolutely no benefit for the Chosen Ones in a direct fight. Who in their right mind would choose that?
Most Chosen Ones would opt for evasion.
But Zhang Yangqing, having nothing better to do, naturally chose the direct confrontation—and without calling for backup, no less.
To put it bluntly, he was looking for an opportunity to flaunt his strength.
In a world where the law of the jungle reigns supreme, power is the only language that matters. If he didn’t show his own capabilities, who was to say this one-eyed kid wouldn’t run off with someone else?
Having just arrived, he had been wondering how to demonstrate his abilities. Now, here were some perfect whetstones delivered right to his doorstep. Why wouldn’t he take advantage?
Meanwhile, from the Hanseatic State, the Awakened Hilda complained, “No wonder the Nightmare World designed that bridge checkpoint to confiscate the Bizarre Crows. If we still had them, wouldn’t this be over in seconds?”
He felt like he was being played by the Nightmare World.
With his skills, he could sense that the auras of those few people weren’t strong; they were just individuals infected by the virus.
Even uninfected Bizarre Insects could be eliminated by the Bizarre Crows. Against infected humans, the crows would have a field day, wouldn’t they?
It seemed the Nightmare World had no intention of letting them pass easily. Yet, even knowing this, he was helpless, completely at the mercy of the Nightmare World’s design.
To survive and escape this bizarre and dangerous forest, one had to stay calm and keep up with Lone Wolf. This required not only a certain level of skill but also help from teammates.
Just making it back to camp alive would be an accomplishment. It seemed they’d only have a chance to search for the Wu Gan fruit in the afternoon.
And when that time came, whether his teammates would be willing to help was another question entirely.
But Zhang Yangqing’s side was different. He not only had crows, but he had two of them.
He just didn’t want to reveal the existence of the Bizarre Crows just yet.
The crows were his safeguard against his teammates—or rather, they were prepared for a scenario where he might need to eliminate his teammates.
Revealing them now would only make his teammates wary of him and might even scare them off.
Besides, if he released the Bizarre Crows now, it would disrupt his plan.
He needed these people to fear him, not the crows.
Back in the primeval forest, Lone Wolf, seeing how utterly calm and unbothered Zhang Yangqing appeared, asked, “Do you have a plan to shake them off?”
Zhang Yangqing shook his head. “No.”
Lone Wolf sighed upon hearing this.
If you have no plan, why act so calm?!
Looks like I’ll have to handle this. This team would fall apart without me!
Just as he was about to devise a countermeasure, Zhang Yangqing added, “But I can kill them all.”
Lone Wolf: “…”
He looked at Zhang Yangqing with a puzzled expression, his eyes full of question marks.
He thought to himself: This is no time for wild boasts!
Zhang Yangqing seemed to read his doubt and shrugged, as if to say: Step back, I’m about to show off.
Lone Wolf spread his hands, Fine, fine. You’re the big shot.
I’d like to see which is stronger—your skills or your talk.
When you get beaten up, don’t blame me for not saving you.
You brought this on yourself!
While the other teammates were still unaware of the situation, Zhang Yangqing suddenly stopped in his tracks.
Facing the dense forest behind him, where sunlight barely penetrated, he called out loudly, “All eight of you can come out now. I won’t even bother criticizing your pathetic tracking skills.”
Everyone: “…”
Those words were staggeringly arrogant, bordering on delusional.
Not only did the enemies feel insulted, but even his own teammates felt a bit slighted.
If their tracking skills are as pathetic as you say, what does that make us for not noticing them at all?
But at this moment, the teammates had no mind to argue with Zhang Yangqing.
Because just as he had said, eight figures emerged from the shadows, each wearing a crow mask but dressed in varied clothing.
Through the eyeholes of their masks, it was clear their intentions were far from friendly.
The others in Zhang Yangqing’s team tensed up, their eyes gleaming with a fierce light.
It was evident that anyone who had survived this long was theoretically a hardened survivor who had fought tooth and nail to get here. They were no saints or pushovers.
Given the chance, they would strike to kill without hesitation.
Yet, the one-eyed kid remained completely composed. It wasn’t an act, nor was it his natural disposition.
He simply felt it was unnecessary.
No matter how strong you all might be, could any of you possibly be stronger than this monstrous ally of mine?
That was the confidence Zhang Yangqing gave him to act cool.
In other words, if someone capable of beating Zhang Yangqing actually appeared, the one-eyed kid wouldn’t even bother resisting. There would be no point.
The atmosphere between the two groups grew tense, poised on the brink of violence.
Lone Wolf, despite saying he’d leave Zhang Yangqing to his own devices, still radiated a threatening aura from behind to intimidate the opposition.
Whether he would actually step in to help, though, was another matter.
After all, the enemy had eight people—a clear numerical advantage.
And that advantage in numbers was the source of their confrontational stance.
At that moment, the leader of the opposing group stepped forward and began, “I have a—”
Before he could finish, a terrifying flash of sword light flickered.
In the dim primeval forest, it was like a beam of judgment cutting through the gloom.
A head soared into the air along the arc of the sword.
It spun over a dozen times before landing on the leaf-strewn ground.
Half of the head was buried among the soft, fallen leaves.
Still, everyone could vaguely see that the mouth on the severed head was wide open, either because it had been speaking or out of sheer shock.
“Ah? Did anyone else have something to say? If so, speak up now. I’m not in a hurry, really. I can kill you after you’ve had your say.”
Zhang Yangqing stepped back two paces with an apologetic look. Sorry about that, my hand slipped. I thought he was about to attack, so I just swung.
Anyway, I’m new here and still short on intel. If you have anything to say, please, do go on. It’ll help me figure out what information is useful.
After all, I’m not just some mindless killer. There are still many rules around here I haven’t figured out yet.
What are you all standing there for? Speak up!
But his words only terrified the enemies even more.
What kind of tactic was this? Kill us after we’ve spoken?
Could you be any more condescending?!
You’re acting like you can kill us whenever you feel like it.
Right now, the group was furious, but after the anger subsided, a cold realization set in.
Something was wrong. He really did seem capable of killing them effortlessly.
After all, when he killed the man at the front just now, none of them had time to react.
The four teammates behind Zhang Yangqing stared wide-eyed, thinking: This guy actually has some serious skills!
Seems he’s not just all talk.
The remaining seven enemies were at a complete loss. You’re this terrifying, what are we supposed to say?
Seeing no one respond, Zhang Yangqing continued, “Don’t be nervous. Weren’t you all here to ambush me?”
His mocking words instantly sent their blood pressure through the roof.
The ambushers, scared stiff by their supposed prey.
If word of this got out, they’d be laughed out of existence.
Part of them wanted to rush him all at once, but the sight of the headless corpse lying on the ground made them think twice.
They had to calm down. This kid’s single-target combat ability was just too overwhelming.
The seven enemies quickly assessed that anyone who stepped into this kid’s attack range would likely be killed instantly.
So one of them spoke up: “Our apologies. We failed to recognize a master. We’ll leave now.”
Even after losing one of their own, they knew they were up against a formidable opponent.
They were just teammates, not family. There was no point wasting time over a dead man here.
He wanted to leave before things escalated further.
But those words sealed their doom.
“If that’s the case, then there’s no reason for any of you to continue existing.”
Zhang Yangqing’s statement sounded unforgiving and even arrogant.
But he had the power to back it up.
People who had no value and had crossed him—by Zhang Yangqing’s principles—had to be eliminated root and branch!
I thought you might have some useful intel for me. If not, then you can die.
As soon as the words left his mouth, a vast and overwhelming sword aura swept out in all directions!
A chilling, deadly energy surged forth, as if piercing the very heavens!
Lone Wolf had no idea how the seven enemies died. All he felt was a world-destroying aura erupting!
When he came back to his senses, a swath of the primeval forest before him had become a vacuum zone.
The near-midday sun streamed down, bringing a wave of heat to the area.
Forget the people—even the colossal ancient trees had been flattened over a wide area.
It was as if a catastrophic collapse had occurred.
Lone Wolf and the three female nurses were speechless with shock, their entire worldview shattered.
In that moment, they recalled all the boastful things Zhang Yangqing had said the day before. A single thought echoed in their minds: So he wasn’t bragging last night… He really is that incredible!
The more they had inwardly scoffed at Zhang Yangqing the previous night, the more foolish they felt now.
The most terrifying thing about Zhang Yangqing was that you always thought he was exaggerating, when in reality, he was merely stating simple facts.
It was just that the facts themselves were utterly terrifying.
