Chapter 253: The Phoenix Man Who Soared Before the Apocalypse (59)

Wang Jidong let out a sigh. “That’s exactly what I don’t know, which is why I’m feeling conflicted. What do you think?”

Old Wang, having lived a long life and seen much of the world, only needed a moment of thought before replying, “Don’t you know where they live? Then go and keep watch there. See if things unfold the way you expect. If they really manage to walk away unscathed, then the power backing them must be formidable. In that case, we can agree to their request. What could someone like that possibly want from us?”

He gave a self-deprecating chuckle. “My old age?”

Wang Jidong’s eyes lit up with realization. He nodded, grabbed his coat, and bolted out the door.

“Dad, wait for me. I’m going to check it out right now—”

Sure enough, just as Wang Jidong had suspected, by the time he arrived, Shen Xiuyan and his group were already surrounded.

He quickly ducked into the shadows of a nearby alley to observe from a safe distance.

The one confronting them was none other than the leader of this base. His gaze toward Shen Xiuyan was filled with hostility.

“So you’re the one Fuzi mentioned, the guy with all the supplies?” The leader sneered. “You’re new here, so maybe you don’t know the rules. To ensure fairness, any supplies exceeding one jin must be handed over. Be smart and hand them over now.”

Shen Xiuyan sighed. As expected, there were still plenty of fools who didn’t know their place…

He refused calmly, “And if I don’t, what are you going to do about it?”

The leader waved his hand, and a group of underlings stepped forward. “If you won’t hand it over, don’t blame us for getting rough. Every base has its own rules.”

“You didn’t mention that when we entered.”

The leader shrugged. “You didn’t ask. Once you’re in, you follow my rules. What I say goes in this base.”

Shen Xiuyan looked him straight in the eye. “So there’s no room for negotiation?”

The leader didn’t like the look in Shen Xiuyan’s eyes. That gaze was like staring into a dead pool of water, as if he didn’t even exist in the other man’s eyes.

He decided not to waste any more words. “Get them!”

He would make this guy regret ever crossing him!

As soon as the words left his mouth, more than a dozen supernatural ability users charged forward, their faces lit with anticipation.

Seriously, why had the boss wasted so much time talking? They should’ve just fought from the start.

Wang Jidong covered his eyes in despair.

He knew it. These people were lunatics, completely unaware of how serious the situation was.

To the other side, this kind of provocation was nothing short of a death wish.

He laughed bitterly at himself. Why had he even held out hope after hearing those words? With that thought, he turned to leave, lifting a foot to get far away from this mess.

This wasn’t a place for an ordinary person like him. In a world ruled by supernatural abilities, if he got hurt, no one would stand up for him…

Just before leaving, he couldn’t help but glance back one last time. Maybe this would be their final moment in the world.

But that one glance froze him in place.

His leg hung awkwardly in midair, and his face twisted into a look of utter disbelief. For a moment, he looked completely ridiculous.

What the hell?!

Why were the four of them standing there calm as ever, while the other side was sprawled all over the ground?

The attackers were moaning in pain, begging for mercy.

He had only looked away for a second—what the hell had happened?!

Shen Xiuyan tugged at his sleeve and crouched down with a cheerful smile. “So, is there still room for negotiation now?”

“Yes, yes! Big Brother, please stop hitting us. I was wrong…”

The base leader was practically peeing himself. Who the hell was this guy? With just a casual move, he had flattened them all like they were nothing…

Shen Xiuyan patted his face. “See? If you’d just been this obedient from the start, we wouldn’t have wasted so much time.”

“Who… who are you?” the leader asked through gritted teeth, wincing as he pulled at the wounds on his face.

Shen Xiuyan chuckled. “That’s not something you need to know. Just understand this—we’re staying here for a few days. Don’t try anything behind our backs. Got it?”

“Yes, yes, we understand. We wouldn’t dare.” They weren’t suicidal enough to try anything. This guy’s strength was terrifying—he could take them all out in an instant. Even if he summoned every supernatural user in the base, they’d just be cannon fodder…

That power, that presence… could he be a Tier 3 ability user?

No, that couldn’t be. He’d seen Tier 3s before, and they weren’t this monstrous.

Could it be Tier 4…?

The thought made him shiver. He didn’t dare continue down that path.

None of the three major bases even had a Tier 4 ability user, and now one had just shown up at their little base…

Was there some hidden agenda behind this? Or—

He shuddered again.

This was bad!

He couldn’t afford to offend this man. No way.

Best to keep his head down and stay out of trouble.

At least the leader was smart enough to grovel convincingly.

After they respectfully escorted Shen Xiuyan back to his lodging, they obediently returned forty Core Crystals.

Seeing Shen Xiuyan’s expression ease a little, they finally let out a collective sigh of relief.

The base leader immediately issued orders: keep your eyes open during this time, and whatever you do, don’t offend those people.

Ugh, who knew when they’d finally leave?

This was torture.

*

“Huff… huff… huff…” Wang Jidong bent over, hands on his knees, gasping for breath.

Old Wang hurried over. “What happened? Why are you in such a rush?”

“Dad, Dad, I think it’s real!” Wang Jidong anxiously recounted everything he had just witnessed.

A smile finally broke across Old Wang’s face. “Then let’s take a gamble. People like that wouldn’t bother lying to us anyway!”

Wang Jidong nodded firmly. “That’s what I think too. I’ll go give them our answer right now!”

“Wait a second.” Old Wang saw his son about to dash off again and quickly stopped him.

Wang Jidong blinked. “What is it?”

Old Wang rubbed his hands nervously. “Um… could you ask if they’d be willing to take a few of my old colleagues too?”

Wang Jidong’s eyes lit up. “Oh right! They’re all scientific researchers too. I remember he said they wouldn’t turn anyone away.”

“Really?” Old Wang was overjoyed. His old colleagues had spent their lives buried in research for the country, just like him. But now, in the Apocalypse, their lives had become unbearably harsh.

He didn’t even dare imagine how those without families would survive in the future.

If they were willing to take them in too, that would be incredible.

Wang Jidong scratched his head. “I think he meant it. Don’t worry, I’ll go ask right now!”

“Good. Go and come back quickly.”

Without looking back, Wang Jidong sprinted toward Shen Xiuyan’s temporary residence, summoning the same determination he once had during his 200-meter exams.

By the time he arrived, he was a bundle of nerves.