In a stone house on a street near the plaza.
Huang San and Huang Wu were peering through a crack in the door. A few more unfortunate souls had just entered the plaza, only to be brutally killed by a group of stone figures.
These stone figures were truly formidable, especially their long spears. Once struck, they could pierce a person right through.
"The adult has been gone for a long time. Why haven't they returned?"
"Perhaps the adult is staying in another house, just like us! After all, with so many stone figures, even if the adult is stronger than us, they can't fight them!"
"That's not certain. Perhaps the adult has already made their way towards the city!"
The city held more opportunities, but it was also more dangerous.
The two of them had already seen many factions heading towards the city. Although people were often spotted by patrol squads and screams were heard frequently.
The death rate was high, but the temptation was too great!
"Do you think we should also move towards the city center? These crystals don't seem like enough!" Huang Wu licked his lips, unable to resist the temptation.
Besides, with their strength, although a bit on the weaker side, they were still stronger than those mercenaries, weren't they?
Huang San hesitated for a moment and was about to suggest waiting to see, when he noticed a patrol squad of stone figures passing by.
He asked curiously, "Haven't you noticed that this patrol squad of stone figures seems to be short in number?"
"What's wrong?" Huang Wu leaned over and asked.
"There are two fewer stone figures!"
The two of them counted carefully again, and then a strange expression appeared on their faces.
Every patrol squad of stone figures always consisted of sixteen figures, yet the one that just passed had only fourteen. What was going on?
Huang Wu pondered for a moment, then managed to blurt out, "Could it be that two of the stone figures went to relieve themselves?"
"..."
...
The number of patrol squads of stone figures was decreasing.
Many people hiding in the stone houses had noticed this phenomenon, but they couldn't understand it at all.
Why were the stone figures decreasing in number out of nowhere?
Even though people had occasionally stumbled into the plaza and engaged in battles, the outcomes were almost always one-sided, with the stone figure patrol squads overwhelmingly defeating the intruders.
Despite so many battles, the number of stone figures had not decreased.
Why had their numbers mysteriously dwindled this time? And as they observed, they realized that with each passing patrol squad, the number seemed to be short by one.
They probably never would have thought...
That someone might actually be targeting these stone figures!
After all, these stone figures, which were almost indestructible, were not only powerful but also numerous, and their reinforcements were very quick.
...
"Clang!"
As a patrol squad of stone figures passed the end of the street, a loud noise from behind made them stop.
The loud noise behind them forced them to turn back and hover around a stone house.
Inside the house.
Ye Cangtian, while firmly holding down the struggling stone figure beneath him, couldn't help but glare at Shangguan Yun, "Why did you close the door so loudly? Are you afraid they won't hear?"
"It was an accident!"
Shangguan Yun gave an awkward laugh and pointed outside, "What should we do? It seems they heard the noise coming from our house!"
The stone figure beneath him was struggling, inevitably making some noise.
And now, a few stone figures outside had heard the sound and were anxiously pacing outside the house. They didn't know if these fellows would get desperate and charge into the house!
Ye Cangtian shook his head, "Let's wait for a moment. Let's see if Zhang Liang makes some noise over there to lure them away!"
Currently, besides the two of them secretly hunting stone figures, Zhang Liang and his group were doing the same thing.
After all, relying on just him and Shangguan Yun to deal with six patrol squads of stone figures, even if they could do it, they would be exhausted to death!
Fortunately, not long after, some commotion indeed erupted in the distance.
The few stone figures hovering outside their stone house immediately rushed over upon hearing the noise!
These stone figures were all so foolish!
Perhaps they were truly just stones, and apart from hearing sounds and killing intruders, they possessed no intelligence whatsoever.
...
The patrolling stone figures were rapidly decreasing, which left the people hiding in the stone houses increasingly puzzled!
But even with fewer stone figures, they dared not provoke them. After all, these stone figures were strong and almost unkillable, so these people kept waiting.
Waiting until there were no stone figures nearby!
Almost everyone felt a glimmer of hope. Once the stone figures were gone, they could venture out and explore towards the city.
Otherwise, hiding in these barren, empty stone houses, not only could they not obtain any resources,
but the food they carried would eventually run out!
...
Outside the city!
Two exceptionally beautiful girls were walking towards the city.
They walked at a moderate pace, their backpacks bulging with snacks and provisions.
They also carried a plastic bag containing wild fruits that grew in the ruins.
Compared to the elites who were constantly on edge when entering the ruins, these two delicate women seemed to be on a leisurely outing.
"Yanran, look, look! Such a huge city! This place is so magical. Do you think there will be sesame seed cakes, grilled skewers, or candied hawthorns inside the city?"
"..."
Shangguan Yanran's forehead was filled with black lines. Looking at the magnificent, massive structure, she couldn't help but take a deep breath, "Stop dreaming. This building has been here for who knows how many years. There won't be any food inside, and even if there were, it wouldn't be edible anymore!"
Yao Bao'er was somewhat disappointed. She had been thinking that with such a large place, there must be many people!
If there were many natives, it would be wonderful to try some local delicacies from the ruins!
The two of them had a remarkably smooth journey!
Of course, it depended on how one interpreted "smooth."
During their journey, they encountered beast attacks no less than ten times, but all were fended off thanks to Yao Bao'er's miraculous 'mosquito repellent.'
They also encountered members of other organizations three times: a small mercenary group of about seven or eight people, an armed force of about ten people,
and a killer organization of five people.
These organizations, upon seeing the two beautiful girls, naturally harbored ill intentions. At first, they hospitably invited the girls to travel together, but later they gradually revealed their fangs.
However, none of them succeeded because no one could escape Yao Bao'er's poisoning skills.
So the outcome was—these people all fainted on the road, and their backpacks, filled with snacks, were completely plundered.
Although Yao Bao'er didn't kill these people, in Shangguan Yanran's opinion, being knocked unconscious in the wilderness teeming with fierce beasts was no different from death!
Looking at the harmless Yao Bao'er, who wore a happy smile, Shangguan Yanran couldn't help but murmur, the title "Ten Thousand Slayer" was truly fitting!
Anyone who thought this girl was too weak and easy to bully would absolutely fall into misfortune!
She no longer pondered, raising her head to look at the silhouette of the massive structure in the distance, a hint of distraction in her eyes.
"Is this truly an ancient ruin? In our known history, was there really an ancient era?"
"And my brother and Brother Ye, they should be within that giant city!"
Shangguan Yanran knew the purpose of everyone's trip to the ruins. Perhaps most people had already entered that giant city by now.
Along the way, she had experienced life and death!
She had seen countless ferocious beasts and witnessed the evil side of humanity.
She didn't have Yao Bao'er's mentality of not caring about anything except snacks. She was just an ordinary person.
So now, Shangguan Yanran truly wished to see her brother, or Brother Ye, as soon as possible!