"Alright, let's head back then."
Even if Li Chonglou wasn't in a hurry, Old Wang was. His status wasn't one that allowed him to act carelessly. If he was out for too long, old enemies or even present ill-intentioned individuals might target him.
The trouble he faced would only be greater than Li Chonglou's!
Old Tie immediately turned around, with Li Chonglou naturally following behind. Old Wang also chimed in.
"Kid, you still haven't answered me?"
Li Chonglou said helplessly, "Big brother, you're asking so many things at once, which one do you want me to answer?"
"What's your relationship with Senior Tie?"
Old Wang picked out the most crucial question. Don't underestimate this query; if he understood it, he could grasp Li Chonglou's approximate status and position. With a bit more shrewdness, he could arrange to become friends!
Li Chonglou didn't expect Old Wang to have so many ulterior motives. He simply replied, "Just a subordinate relationship, right, Old Tie?"
The latter part of his sentence carried a hint of resentment, which perfectly matched his mood after encountering the death storm. Old Tie, leading the way, instantly transformed into a little dragon, pretending to be oblivious.
Ask away, I heard nothing!
Li Chonglou was merely testing the waters and didn't dwell on it. However, Old Wang had confirmed his suspicions. This kid indeed had an extraordinary background. Who was Old Tie? He was the former head of the General Bureau!
Even if he wasn't now, a starved camel is still bigger than a horse. Moreover, Old Tie was still alive and well, so how could his status be low?
Although a boss might have hundreds or thousands of employees and subordinates, there probably weren't many who would personally escort him to the most dangerous place in this world. Old Wang used this very fact to assign Li Chonglou a new identity.
Old Tie's chosen successor!
Upon this thought, Old Wang's face lit up with a bright smile. He rubbed his palms together, "Well, little brother, I hope you don't take offense about what happened that night. That's truly a tradition of our Red Coast. It's not that I, your big brother, was bullying you."
Old Wang appeared to be at least ten years older than Li Chonglou. Li Chonglou didn't pay much mind to the term "big brother." However, Old Wang's words reminded him why he had somehow incurred a debt of blood crystals.
"Your name is Old Wang?"
Old Tie had called his name earlier, and Li Chonglou fixed his gaze on Old Wang.
"Just call me Brother Wang."
Old Wang chuckled. Before he could inwardly revel in the small advantage, he was interrupted by Old Tie, who was leading the way.
"Little Li, just call him Old Wang. Don't call him 'brother' or anything like that; it lowers my status as well."
Old Wang chuckled awkwardly and quickly responded, "It's fine, it's fine. Just calling him Old Wang is friendly and shows we're not strangers."
Li Chonglou didn't quibble over these details. But since Old Tie had spoken, he took the opportunity to ask, "Old Wang, I wanted to ask, is it difficult to earn blood crystals here?"
Old Wang was taken aback and instinctively asked, "Did the captain not assign anyone to guide you when you entered?"
Yes, of course, there was. But didn't they require blood crystals to answer questions? When Old Wang realized this, he immediately regretted, "No wonder that Mei Niang, despite taking on fewer clients than us, always seemed to live more comfortably. If I had known, I would have done the same."
Li Chonglou's face darkened suddenly. So, he had been tricked by Mei Niang!
However, his attention was quickly captured by Old Wang's explanation.
"Blood crystals aren't exactly easy to come by. Although residual souls can be exchanged for some, that's usually the smaller portion. Getting attacked by the 'Heizi' twice a month is considered good. And the exotic beasts within the safe zone have already been killed off."
"Of course, the current situation is an exception."
Throughout their conversation, the three of them never stopped moving. Old Wang, in particular, although most of the enemies were dispatched by Old Tie, he always managed to land a finishing blow on one or two. It was slow, but better than nothing.
As he spoke of this, his face clearly showed a look of bliss. Today's excursion was enough for him to slack off in the tavern for a year or two without needing to take on any more missions!
Seeing Old Wang lost in his own happiness, Li Chonglou couldn't help but ask, "So where does the main source come from?"
Old Wang finally remembered that he still had a question to answer, "Oh, the main source? Of course, it's..."
Perhaps unable to stand people answering questions hesitantly, Old Tie in front suddenly interjected, "It's the camp's missions. They sometimes accompany the camp personnel on missions to explore outside the safe zone."
Old Wang rubbed his head awkwardly, but confirmed Old Tie's statement. This was indeed their biggest source of blood crystals. After all, these things were produced by the underground world, and as people who lived long-term in the underground world, the camp personnel...
They had much more time and opportunity to acquire them.
However, Old Wang still added, "The blood crystals we obtain from a single mission are at least ten times more than what we get from exchanging residual souls. But the danger level is also about the same, so we don't go on missions frequently."
Li Chonglou nodded. Old Wang's words aligned with what he had said earlier: blood crystals were generally hard to earn.
However, Old Tie's words piqued his interest, "Old Tie, have you been here before?"
Of course, he had been. Li Chonglou wanted to use this to gauge Old Tie's familiarity with this place.
But Old Tie didn't respond further. Old Wang glanced around and didn't dare to say more.
No matter how powerful or mysterious Li Chonglou's identity was, to him, he was still Old Tie's subordinate. If Old Tie didn't speak, how could he dare to blurt anything out!
Afterward, the three fell silent.
Li Chonglou had long sensed that Old Tie was keeping something from him, but they were all seasoned individuals, and if he didn't want to say it, Li Chonglou wouldn't pry.
As for Old Wang, to Li Chonglou, he was just a passerby.
However, after leaving the beast horde, to accommodate Li Chonglou's speed, the three could only travel at their third-level strength.
"Where did you get injured?"
Old Tie looked back. At such a time, those with strength would not hesitate to rush ahead. But Li Chonglou had always maintained a third-level speed. Any fool could see that.
Li Chonglou merely smiled and said, "Just a minor injury, nothing serious."
I don't believe you!
How could a peak sixth-level expert only dare to use third-level strength due to a minor injury!
However, Old Tie didn't expose him. Instead, Old Wang started chatting again, and Li Chonglou took this opportunity to glean more information about this place or Red Coast from him for free.
Originally, the two of them had already reached the edge of the first two waves of beasts. This time, although they slowed down because of Li Chonglou, it only took a little more time to successfully escape the beast tide range.
It was only then that Li Chonglou realized how lucky he had been, having encountered the weakest wave!