Volume One, Chapter Six: On a Mission
“Lee’s Fried Chicken, delicious aroma wafting for miles, inviting you to share a feast!”
Standing before the sign of Lee’s Fried Chicken, Lu Jing felt a flicker of doubt and kept double-checking.
Had he come to the right place?
Was this truly the address of the Flame Slayers squad?
After hesitating for a moment and pondering it over, he decided, since he was already here, he might as well go in and take a look.
*Creak...*
Lu Jing pushed the door open and poked his head inside. “Is anyone here?”
“The fried chicken isn’t ready yet. Come back in an hour,” came a voice from the kitchen, though no one was visible.
“I’m Lu Jing, here to see Captain Zhao,” he said bluntly.
“Oh, it’s you, kid!”
A greasy middle-aged man lifted the curtain by the back window and appeared. His beard was slick with oil, and as he spoke, a strong scent of cooking grease filled the air, making it hard to get close.
“Hello,” Lu Jing greeted first.
“Hm, you’re the kid who killed five wolf demons that night, huh?”
“Yes.”
Lu Jing made no effort to be polite, letting the man size him up from head to toe.
“Pfft... You, with that small frame, managed to take down five wolf demons?”
The man stroked his chin, clearly skeptical.
“Killing wolf demons isn’t just about strength,” Lu Jing said, tapping his head.
“Tch, you’re mocking me, aren’t you?”
Cao Peng caught on—this kid was slyly poking fun at him.
“Uncle, no, you’re overthinking,” Lu Jing put on an innocent look.
“Tch, you little brat, come with me.”
They passed through the kitchen into the backyard, which was arranged rather casually. On a lounge chair, a young man with sharp, chiseled features was lazily basking in the sun, his striking face outlined by the afternoon light.
“Captain, the kid’s here.”
“Oh.”
Lu Jing paused, stunned. This was the famous captain of the Flame Slayers, a fourth-awakened powerhouse.
He twitched the corner of his mouth.
In his memories, the dignified captain who had perished in battle looked nothing like this scruffy figure in private.
Indeed, heroes are often best admired from afar.
Zhao Yuxuan stretched, flicking the half-smoked cigarette against a dark crystal ashtray, letting ashes fall inside. He chuckled softly.
“So, kid, what’s the matter? Surprised by my looks?”
Lu Jing’s direct stare was hard to miss.
He sighed, “No, I just think Captain Zhao is pretty down-to-earth.”
“Hmph.” That probably wasn’t a compliment.
Zhao Yuxuan took a deep drag and then stubbed out the cigarette.
“Spit it out. What do you want?”
Lu Jing’s actions had been too conspicuous; if he wanted to stay under the radar, he wouldn’t have done that near a camera.
“I want to join the Flame Slayers.”
Lu Jing wanted to grow stronger. To do that, he had to confront beasts. And in the entire Martial City, the ones who encountered the most beasts were none other than the Night Hunters.
“How did you awaken early?”
“I woke up after a sleep.”
Lu Jing knew their curiosity stemmed from this very fact. Naturally, he wanted to whet their appetite. Besides, since he was cheating, he couldn’t reveal too much.
They weren’t lacking in ordinary awakened fighters, nor in capable ones like Lu Jing.
“Really,” Lu Jing said sincerely, waving his hand.
Zhao Yuxuan smiled lazily, “Whatever you say, kid. Then you’ll be a reserve for the Flame Slayers.”
“Yes, Captain.”
Lu Jing smartly gave him a crisp salute.
“Mm.”
Zhao Yuxuan tossed him a wristwatch phone. “Here, take it. You’ll be notified if there’s a mission.”
Lu Jing looked at the pink watch in his hand, lips twitching uncontrollably.
“Captain, can I switch this?”
He was a real man, damn it! Wearing a pink watch? What about his pride?
“No.”
Zhao Yuxuan stretched and flopped back down.
“Oh.”
Lu Jing resigned himself.
Well, as the saying goes: the pinker the gear, the fiercer the fight.
Squinting, Zhao Yuxuan yawned like a graceful cat in the morning sun. “Anything else?”
“Captain, um...” Lu Jing made a thumbs-up gesture and winked.
“Take it and scram.”
Lu Jing closed his eyes, pulled ten spirit stones from his pocket, and tossed them over.
“Alright, I’m off.”
He wisely took the watch and left, not daring to linger after gaining the advantage.
Cao Peng tugged at his sleeve. “Hehe, kid, want to support my business?”
“I refuse. I’m on a diet, no meat or greasy food.”
Looking at Cao Peng’s oily appearance, Lu Jing had no appetite to spare.
“Tch, stingy.”
“Let’s go.”
With his goal achieved, Lu Jing was about to leave when the watch suddenly beeped loudly.
“Beep beep...”
Then a mechanical voice sounded: “Beast attack on the city. All Flame Slayers squad members assemble at the southeast corner outside the city, Zone Three.
Repeating: Beast attack on the city. All Flame Slayers squad members assemble at the southeast corner outside the city, Zone Three.”
“Damn.”
Talk about bad luck.
“Move out.”
The previously lazy Zhao Yuxuan instantly became alert, his eyes burning with resolve.
“Yes, sir.”
Cao Peng yanked off his apron and grabbed the nearby car keys.
Lu Jing wisely followed them, free rides weren’t to be missed.
*Vroom vroom...*
Cao Peng drove the war vehicle swiftly out of the city, fast and with little noise.
An A-class war vehicle.
“Lu Jing, you’ll handle the rear cleanup with Old Cao. Make sure no beast escapes our encirclement.”
“Understood.”
The squad had seven members: two at the front lines, three in the middle wings encircling, one guarding the rear, and a mobile member who could assist teammates or serve as backup.
By the time they reached the designated spot, the others had already arrived.
“Change into battle suits.”
“Yes.”
Lu Jing’s arrival drew no special attention; apparently, they had been informed beforehand.
The Flame Slayers all gathered in another A-class war vehicle.
Cao Peng pulled out an A-class battle suit and handed it to him casually.
Lu Jing touched the familiar suit and, without hesitation, pricked his finger to bind with it. The suit adapted to his body, transforming into armor.
Everyone was surprised.
How was he so skilled?
Had he used this before?
There was no time for questions.
“Alan, brief us on the mission.”
“According to military detection, this is an unusually large number of beasts. Several squads have already engaged them.
Our responsibility is Zone Three. In ten minutes, nearly five hundred beasts will attack, including Red Wild Five-Element Rats, Eight-Direction Thunder Rock Snakes, Bloodthirsty Wolves, and Death Spiders. Most are third-awakened beasts, with many second-awakened ones as well. Everyone, be careful—these are high-level beasts.”
“Understood.”
The team replied in unison.
Beasts were classified into low, high, and royal classes by bloodline strength.
The stronger the bloodline, the faster their evolution, and the greater their power.
Zhao Yuxuan fixed his serious gaze on Lu Jing. “Lu Jing, this mission is very dangerous. You can choose to back out.”
Lu Jing looked at him solemnly. “Captain, I can handle it.”
Zhao Yuxuan fell silent for a moment.
“Captain, don’t worry, I’ve got his back,” Cao Peng said, clapping him on the shoulder like an old friend.
“Alright then.”
“Lu Jing, what’s your usual weapon?”
“Knife.”
“Good.”
Zhao Yuxuan pulled a falling leaf blade from his space converter.
“Here. Return it when you’re done.”
“Got it.”
“Synchronize watches.”
They all checked their watches.
“Five minutes left. Put on your comms earpieces and get ready.”
“Understood.”
Without delay, they set off.
Only the sound of their breathing and footsteps filled the earpieces.
“Captain, we’ve reached the designated position,” Cao Peng and Lu Jing reported almost simultaneously.
“Waiting for you. Be alert. Beasts incoming. Activate the isolation formation.”
“Yes, sir.”
In unison, they pulled out black talisman papers and tossed them into the air. Hands forming seals, they channeled spirit energy.
“Form up.”
Black beams shot skyward, linking to form a massive circle.
“Kill!”
Zhao Yuxuan gave a sharp command, drawing his sword as waves of sword energy descended.
Instantly, the howls of beasts echoed across the heavens.