Chapter 285: Chapter 280: Hongkai’Er Attacks
Liu Yaowu’s face turned deathly pale. Large beads of sweat rolled down his forehead, and he trembled, unable to speak as he remembered Chen Pingchuan’s previous warning.
As expected, Chen Pingchuan’s voice cut through the silence. "I told you not to play any tricks. Why didn’t you listen?" He looked at Liu Yaowu, his eyes completely devoid of warmth.
"Can you not kill me?" Liu Yaowu could genuinely feel the man’s killing intent. He was doomed; if nothing unexpected happened, he wouldn’t escape this time.
"I’ll give you five minutes to convince me." Chen Pingchuan didn’t mention the consequences of failure. There was no need.
Liu Yaowu swallowed hard, his mind racing as his eyes darted around, desperately searching for anything that might save his life. Suddenly, an idea struck him, and his eyes lit up.
"Boss! I know! I know!" Liu Yaowu’s voice trembled with a desperate urgency.
Chen Pingchuan, however, remained indifferent, adding a cold remark, "You have nine minutes left."
Hearing this, Liu Yaowu didn’t dare hesitate any longer. "On the third sublevel of the laboratory, there’s a small aircraft hidden! It can leave through a secret passage."
"But the aircraft can only take three people, and I..." Liu Yaowu had thought this secret would be enough to save his life, but to his dismay, Chen Pingchuan remained unmoved.
"Boss, what do you really want? Can you just tell me?"
"You have seven minutes left."
"I know the code for the original sequence! I can tell you!"
"I can also research the inhibitor! I can solve the problem with your genetic medicine and accelerate your recovery!"
"I can..."
...
Liu Yaowu was on the verge of a breakdown. The pressure from Chen Pingchuan was becoming unbearable. I always thought I wasn’t afraid to die, but now that the moment is here, I suddenly don’t want to. I want to see more of this world, to feel what power is like... I used to think a scholar didn’t need superior fighting ability. How ridiculous I was.
"One minute left."
Chen Pingchuan’s words were like the Reaper’s whisper, sending a chill through Liu Yaowu’s entire body. "I have... what do I have... I have... I can offer you my loyalty." The words tumbled out, driven by desperation. Even as he said them, he felt they were useless—after all, in his own heart, such loyalty was worthless.
However, Chen Pingchuan finally spoke, his voice as cold as ever. "Fine. You get one chance. I hope you cherish it."
As if granted a pardon, Liu Yaowu collapsed onto the ground, nodding repeatedly. "Boss, rest assured. From now on, you’re my one and only boss. I’ll serve you faithfully and never have a second thought."
Just then, the laboratory’s alarms grew more frantic, the walls themselves seeming to vibrate with the piercing sound. It was like a death knell, urging them to act immediately.
"Go! Gather everyone and bring them to me," Chen Pingchuan said. "Let’s test the mettle of these bugs."
Without another glance at the collapsed Liu Yaowu, Chen Pingchuan turned and left. When he found Porcupine, he relayed his decision to the others.
Behind defense door #8, the group stood in a line, fully armed and ready. Even the white-coated Dr. Liu Yaowu had joined the fight. Unlike the others, he was piloting a small exoskeleton equipped with a high-rate-of-fire machine gun capable of powerful penetration.
Chen Pingchuan stood before them like a towering mountain. His eyes were cold, flashing with a sharp brilliance like distant stars. He addressed the group, "Remember what I said. You don’t need to fight the bugs to the death. I have a way for us to leave, so fall back if you can’t hold your position."
"I’ve observed your strength. You aren’t far from reaching level six or seven. Use this battle to push your physical limits."
"Understood?"
"Understood!"
...
"Then... move out!"
RUMBLE!
As metal defense door #8 slid open, they saw that defense door #7 was already starting to deform. Soon, a corrosive liquid ate a hole right through the high-strength alloy.
Liu Yaowu, as the newest member of Chen Pingchuan’s group, was still on edge and eager to prove his worth, so he was the first to act. The hole was too small for the exoskeleton’s heavy machine gun, so instead, he brandished a specially-made energy laser weapon. The weapon’s barrel was a deep, mesmerizing blue that seemed to hint at its thirst for blood. Energy crackled at the muzzle with a sharp SIZZLE.
The next second...
HSSSSSS!
A beam of azure light shot out. It pierced through an untold number of the giant Corpse Worms before finally fading. Astonishingly, one minute later, the space behind door #7 fell silent.
"Boss, what’s the situation over there?" The bizarre quiet left everyone baffled. Porcupine scratched his head and asked with a simple-minded air. He was the only one here who dared to speak to Chen Pingchuan so casually.
"Open the door!" Chen Pingchuan’s voice remained indifferent, yet carried a hint of composure.
Liu Yaowu hastily used the control console to open the gate.
As the gate opened, a striking figure appeared in their line of sight. She was clad in blood-red metal armor covered with intricate patterns that radiated immense power. Under the lights, it gleamed with a cold luster, as if it had just been steeped in fresh blood.
A crimson blade, sheathed at her right waist, resembled a slumbering beast. The scabbard was carved with elaborate patterns, like some ancient totem, and it radiated a faint, murderous aura. It was easy to imagine the blade’s sharp and fearsome glare when unsheathed. Her sensuous waist and exquisite curves created an aura that was both terrifying and captivating. Judging by her figure, she was a woman. She stood there silently, posture perfect, her glossy black hair falling gracefully down her straight back, adding a touch of elegance and ethereal beauty.
"Chen Pingchuan, you really made me work to find you." The woman’s voice was emotionless and mechanical, yet strangely pleasant to the ear. "If I didn’t have an informant watching things here, I probably would never have found you!"
The information hidden in her words, however, made everyone’s expression sour. Lilia and the others all turned to look at Liu Yaowu. In their minds, the only one who could be the informant was Liu Yaowu. He was the outsider.
"What? Why are you all looking at me?"
"It wasn’t me! Maybe it was you, big guy?" Liu Yaowu jabbed a finger toward Porcupine. "Just because you have an honest face doesn’t mean a thing! The ’honest’ ones are always the best liars!"
Seeing Porcupine ignore him, Liu Yaowu shifted his gaze to Wei Hao.