Shui Cheng and Guan Gong Dao Wang Biao merely nodded politely but coolly at the overly enthusiastic Xiao Zhen.
Xiao Zhen, however, didn't seem to mind, continuing to smile at the two of them.
Luo Xiao Le watched from the side, holding her arm.
This was bad; her joint was starting to ache before they had even set off.
Still, she silently counted. Including the shifty-looking man who had just run out, there were now five team members in the room.
But there were only four teammates when she accepted the mission.
Wang Biao, as if sensing her confusion, personally clarified.
"For A-class missions and above, the higher-ups will assign a healer to accompany the team to try and ensure everyone's safety."
Luo Xiao Le was somewhat surprised. "So, as long as a healer reports, they can essentially guarantee participation in missions every time? And they receive points after completing them?"
Wang Biao looked at her with admiration. "Smart. That's why healers have iron rice bowls. There are only a few in the base right now."
Seeing Wang Biao's enthusiasm for Luo Xiao Le surpass his own, Xiao Zhen immediately felt indignant. He shot Luo Xiao Le a glare.
"Why are you telling her all this? It's a waste of breath. She might not even make it back alive."
Before Luo Xiao Le could react, Wang Biao glared fiercely at Xiao Zhen. "No matter what, she's from my neighborhood. Watch what you say. If you do this again, I can't guarantee your protection in time."
Xiao Zhen quickly waved his hands. "I was just joking. Don't be offended, don't be offended." He felt a little wronged. Was it necessary? He was a rare healer, yet Wang Biao didn't seem to value him at all.
Luo Xiao Le, aching all over, had no energy to pay attention to this person's foul mouth.
She suddenly remembered the healer Pi Jia Jia from the military base. She wondered if he was still alive.
If they had to bring a healer, that guy, though annoying, was much better than this one.
"Knock, knock, knock." A knock sounded at the door.
Then, a person squeezed through the gap in the door. It was the one who had violently pushed the door open earlier.
He now had a different demeanor, greeting everyone with a very friendly smile.
"I was out of line just now. Please forgive me, everyone. My name is Wei Hong." He then looked at Luo Xiao Le, a barely perceptible cunning smile on his face.
The director of the elite squad was his uncle, who had specially helped him cut the line to secure a spot in the elite squad.
For his first mission, his uncle had said that this other ability user couldn't be touched and that if he encountered danger, he should push this little sprout out directly.
With a natural "scapegoat," he felt the mission would be much easier, and a satisfied smile naturally appeared on his face.
"Departure time has arrived. Transportation is ready. Please, team members, proceed."
The broadcast in the room announced. The group exchanged glances and went downstairs.
...
The car drove out of the gates of Luocheng Base and headed towards the mission area.
Apart from the occasional ragged survivors and a few patrol soldiers, all they saw were shattered scenes smeared with blood.
Gradually, the car drove out of Luocheng Base's warning perimeter.
Eventually, not even a hint of human voices could be heard.
Wang Biao drove the car according to the official location, entering a somewhat dim small forest.
"Doesn't something feel off..." Luo Xiao Le's voice trembled slightly.
It wasn't out of fear.
It was mainly because the weather had been unpredictable lately. Sometimes there was bright sunshine in the morning and strong winds in the afternoon. Without the shelter of Luocheng Base's walls, when a strong, cold wind blew outside, it made Luo Xiao Le's bones ache.
"That's why if you can't handle it, don't pretend you can and come for an S-class mission," Xiao Zhen whispered mockingly at Luo Xiao Le.
"Shh," Shui Cheng, in the front, spoke with great alertness.
Luo Xiao Le was right. The surroundings indeed felt off.
Not only had the wind stopped, but there wasn't even the sound of sparse crows and sparrows. The entire small forest was terrifyingly silent.
Shui Cheng took out his weapon while glancing curiously at Luo Xiao Le.
As a veteran special forces soldier, he had a keen sense for changes in his surroundings and danger. Yet, Luo Xiao Le had noticed the anomaly even before him.
Ordinary young girls rarely trained this kind of ability...
What was her background...
"Roar!" A zombie's roar suddenly erupted from a tree branch overhead!
Then, as if echoing, it carried far through the forest, reverberating in the open space, sending chills down their spines!
"Ah!" Xiao Zhen and Wei Hong were startled by the sudden sound and cried out involuntarily.
Luo Xiao Le struggled to sit up and quickly covered both their mouths, one on each side.
"Shh, don't make a sound." It would interfere with judging the zombie's location.
Only then did the two realize their momentary loss of composure and immediately fell silent.
Like two quails, they huddled nervously in the back seat, trying to minimize their presence.
Luo Xiao Le then removed her hands.
She pulled down her mask and hood, discreetly slipped her hand into her pocket, and took out a small handful of thumbtacks, fiddling with them in her hand.
Wang Biao also stopped the car and took out the Guan Gong knife Luo Xiao Le had reinforced for him.
Luo Xiao Le glanced at it silently. The durability of this knife should be nearing its limit soon.
"Swish!" A figure flashed quickly across a patch of grass in front.
"Watch the left!" Wang Biao warned.
No, there was nothing on the left.
Luo Xiao Le stared intently at a patch of overgrown, wild grass on the right. She saw a black vortex floating above that patch of grass.
A pure, black zombie vortex!
It seemed that was the location of the zombie's head.
"Rustle!" The grass on the left began to move violently.
Shui Cheng and Wang Biao moved simultaneously!
A sharp water ability skill was rapidly unleashed towards the left. Wang Biao also pulled out a small dagger Luo Xiao Le had sold him and quickly threw it towards the grass!
The dagger instantly embedded itself into something behind the grass, making a "thud" sound.
It seemed to have hit.
The others breathed a sigh of relief.
But at that moment, a black shadow from the right, taking advantage of everyone's relaxed state, swiftly lunged towards the right side of the car.
"Crash!" The car window instantly shattered!
Before everyone could even see what it was, they quickly shielded their heads, fearing being cut by glass.
But the thing had already passed through the window and was lunging into the car.
Shui Cheng instinctively unleashed a water ability skill, trying to block it.
Luo Xiao Le, however, was prepared. The moment the glass shattered, she ducked down, avoiding being hit by the glass and without triggering her clothing's defensive function.
She threw something backward towards where a black vortex was approaching, and then the sound of flesh being pierced followed.
"Roar!" It was the zombie's angry roar.
Luo Xiao Le knew clearly; she had pierced the zombie with a thumbtack. The feel of it wouldn't lie.
The next second, that oppressive, fishy smell and force instantly receded.
After a pause.
"It... it left? The zombie is dead?" Wei Hong opened one eye and asked curiously.
At the last moment, they had only seen the water ability appear in Shui Cheng's hand.
"You're so amazing! You could see the zombie's incredibly fast and terrifying trajectory and hit it!" Xiao Zhen said with great admiration.
As expected, besides the renowned Guan Gong Dao, this Shui Cheng was also a formidable fighter!
"What was that thing? You couldn't even see its face. It should be dead, right?" Wei Hong asked, feeling scared and worried.
Luo Xiao Le saw no other vortexes and decisively got out of the car.
She walked around the car, frowning.
Shui Cheng looked at her, daring to get out of the car, with disbelief.
Wang Biao quickly followed Luo Xiao Le and also walked around the car.
"No... that thing isn't dead." His expression also turned serious. "It ran away."