Chapter 325

I'm afraid they'll run away.

When Lin Xian said this, not only Hu Lushou but also Sun Chang stared at him in shock, unable to believe what they'd just heard.

Qian Dele and Mo Nika also looked at Lin Xian with strange expressions—they'd assumed the desert bandit act was just talk, but now his tone suggested he wasn't just worse than a bandit chieftain, he was planning to attack Ping'an County.

Kiki chuckled softly beside him, eyes gleaming with mischief; Lin Xian's plans always seemed counterintuitive but were remarkably foresighted.

Lin Xian knew the greatest danger lay in the night.

Even combined, they might not survive the night, but if the villains struck, they'd all be wiped out.

Countless defensive measures couldn't match the destruction caused by Tang Hai and the Crimson World severing the rail line.

The Lianhelieche was about to enter the Wurenqu, and such threats as bandits should be eliminated as early as possible—humans were far smarter than anomalies at creating trouble for their own kind.

He now commanded over four thousand people on the United Train, more than a thousand tactical power-armored troops, and countless berserk-level psychics; their firepower rivaled that of an interstellar military squadron—why should he tiptoe around bandits?

So his only concern was leaving behind any lingering threats.

Through the data packet from J-ge's Iron Alliance command device, he discovered these bandits each controlled their own territory and weren't united—they were entangled in complex interests, and Hu Lushou and the Akse region happened to be linked to several major bandit gangs, which presented Lin Xian with a perfect opportunity.

"Captain Lin…" Hu Lushou's eyes widened: "What… what do you mean?"

"What was your original evacuation date?"

"The day after tomorrow."

"How many convoys?"

"Three, plus ours—four total. The biggest, Dawn Convoy, has over two hundred people and plenty of heavy weapons. The other two, Bifenggang and the Akse Brotherhood, are small—only four to five hundred people total. All checked—no Dark Markers."

"You're cautious."

Lin Xian leaned forward on the sofa, snapped his fingers to signal Hu Lushou closer, then whispered his plan to him.

"Huh?!"

After hearing Lin Xian's plan, Hu Lushou's eyes nearly popped out: "This… this is just…"

Before he could finish, Lin Xian suddenly pulled out an object and dropped it gently into the wine glass before him, producing a tinkling sound, and said in a seductive tone:

"How about it, Boss Hu? Let's cooperate again?"

Hu Lushou stared at the object in the glass, his pupils contracting as he drew a sharp breath: "Fine! I'm all in—relying entirely on you, Captain Lin!"

…

16: 0, Lin Xian's group exited the Black Rose Bar, all wearing sand-proof face masks, then drove straight back along the same route.

Outside Akse, the setting sun blazed fiercely, the horizon shimmering with heat haze.

Two off-road vehicles cut through the desert gravel plain until, in a concealed wind-sheltered dry riverbed, a temporary camp appeared—two armored base vehicles and seven or eight assorted vehicles.

Closer inspection revealed the people there were Chen Sixuan, Lu Chang, and others.

"Chen Laoshi, clear the airspace at three o'clock."

"Received."

Chen Sixuan, clad in desert-camouflage windproof gear, crouched on the base vehicle's roof and fired a single calm shot toward the rear of Lin Xian's approaching vehicles.

Boom!

The sniper rifle's roar echoed across the wasteland; suddenly, a small hidden drone exploded in midair above Lin Xian's vehicles, bursting into a small fireball.

Kiki turned back, frowning: "I've never been able to locate that drone operator—how could his signal reach this far?"

Mo Nika in the backseat smiled: "It's a psychic—well-trained, skilled at concealment—hiding behind that wind-eroded rock behind us."

"I see."

Clank. Clank.

The two off-road vehicles halted before the camp; Lin Xian immediately ordered Lu Chang to pursue the direction Mo Nika indicated.

"He's already gone—can't catch him."

Seeing Lin Xian arrive, Chen Sixuan stepped down from the vehicle, her expression cautious: "He's gone."

Lin Xian glanced back and smiled: "If we spotted their drone, wouldn't it be suspicious not to send someone out to search?"

Xiang Ningjing, accompanied by Bai Xiaoqing and Abai, approached from the front vehicle, scanning the camp curiously: "I thought you called them here because you feared trouble in Akse and needed backup—but you're using them for theater?"

"No, no," Lin Xian chuckled helplessly. "Don't think I'm some genius—I originally called them in because I feared trouble, so my team hid around Akse to support us. But after learning the situation, I changed plans on the fly."

Qian Dele stared at Lin Xian in amazement: "So you knew someone was tailing us all along—and you deliberately didn't eliminate them?"

"Of course," Kiki yawned. "You forgot Lin Xian's a mechanical psychic—he'd never miss a drone trailing him." "But that guy's like a lizard—utterly silent. Truly hidden."

Mo Nika stepped forward, adjusting her windproof scarf in the sandstorm, speaking softly: "The bandits have been following us since we left the Black Rose Bar. They saw us go underground and assumed we were allied with Hu Lushou's convoy—naturally, they investigated our background."

Lin Xian turned to her: "What else did you hear?"

Mo Nika crossed her arms, amused: "A lot. They debated whether my ass or Ningjing's was bigger and more bouncy. They argued how many of us are your concubines, your sexual stamina, Qian's orientation, Kiki's bust size—they dissected every woman here and mocked every man. The language was vile, disgusting. Which part do you want to hear?"

The air froze. Everyone stared at Mo Nika in stunned silence; the atmosphere turned awkward.

Mo Nika looked at the quiet group, shrugged, and smiled wryly: "That's why I said—I don't have a habit of eavesdropping."

Sometimes knowing too much, hearing too much, becomes a burden. Fortunately, Mo Nika's pride set her apart—unlike other women, she accepted men's behind-the-back lustful remarks with amusement, for she saw them as proof of her allure and a way to expose hypocrisy.

Cough. Cough.

Lin Xian cleared his throat, breaking the silence: "Not that. Focus on the bandit intel."

"They've been watching Hu Lushou's convoy like a fat fish," Mo Nika said seriously. "Now they've mapped out the details of every convoy allied with him. Whenever Hu Lushou moves, they're ready to kill the goose that lays the golden egg."

"They now see us as another possible ally of Hu Lushou, which is why they sent someone to tail us after we left the city—to assess our size and combat strength."

Lin Xian nodded. At that moment, Lu Chang returned with a dozen men, looking embarrassed:

"Captain Lin… he got away."

"Good," Lin Xian exhaled deeply.

"Huh?" Lu Chang stared, baffled—how was it good if they didn't catch him?

Lin Xian scanned the desert wasteland as evening approached, his expression turning serious:

"Alright, we're leaving. Hu Lushou said the desert after dark is deadly—we need to return and prepare."

Everyone agreed. Soon, the temporary convoy camp roared to life with engine noise, vanishing into swirling dust.

Akse, Black Rose Bar, basement.

Hu Lushou's face was etched with anxiety as he paced back and forth.

"Damn it, damn it—I just wanted to earn some peace and quiet, why is it so hard?"

Sun Chang stood silently beside him, expressionless. The world had ended—there was no peace. She coldly spoke: "It's getting dark, Boss."

"I know, I know!"

Hu Lushou's eyes darted nervously, then fixed on the glass on the low table.

Inside it lay a dark-golden Life Information Package—the Iron Alliance Command Device.

Hu Lushou knew exactly what it meant: Lin Xian had eliminated an Iron Alliance member, yet he'd walked boldly into Akse with just a few men—meaning the Alliance's chain-threat meant nothing to him, or the Alliance dared not touch him, or perhaps Lin Xian had cracked the package's identification system.

Either way, it proved Lin Xian's methods and team's power were far beyond ordinary.

At that moment, Hu Lushou recalled how, at Hengshan Pass Stadium, Lin Xian had directly forged a Roarer K23 electric rotary machine gun right before his eyes—leaving him stunned. That was the first time he truly grasped the terror of mechanical psychics.

Thinking of it, Hu Lushou stared at the dark-golden device, his gaze hardening.

"Call them."

Sun Chang turned and walked out immediately.

Twenty minutes later, in a private room at the Black Rose Bar, over a dozen people sat—divided into four factions. The largest was the Dawn Convoy, led by a forty-something, slightly overweight man named Lu Zhao, dressed in tactical gear, face like forged gold, stern and expressionless. His convoy had over two hundred people, with multiple electric heavy trucks and anti-air weapons—a formidable mid-sized force.

Another group consisted of three men and two women, radiating tension unlike the others. Their gear was eclectic but meticulously arranged: tactical flashlights, daggers, firearms, water bottles. The Akse Brotherhood was newly formed, assembled from scattered convoy remnants that had survived bandit attacks and crises in the Western Desert. Their leader, Xie Guan, was thirty but looked weathered; after his convoy was destroyed, he united nearby broken groups into the Akse Brotherhood. Their numbers were growing, but weapons and combat strength remained mediocre.

The last group was the Bifenggang Convoy—only sixty-some people, but their vehicles and gear were excellent, their combat power strong. Their leader, Wu Dapeng, was a middle-aged man and the most approachable-looking in the room.

Hu Lushou sat opposite them with his deputy Sun Chang, ordering his men to pour wine for everyone.

"Boss Hu, isn't your evacuation the day after tomorrow? Why summon us now?" Lu Zhao frowned, lowering his voice cautiously. "This afternoon, our people spotted the Sand Scorpion Gang near Duanliu Valley. Those bandits have stopped hiding—they're watching Akse constantly. There must be spies in the city. If they learn we're uniting, we'll be at a disadvantage."

"No problem," Hu Lushou smiled, slapping his chest. "I'm still here with my whole convoy—why should they care? Besides, I've helped them earn tons of money without lifting a finger—I'm their ancestral benefactor. Who'd cut off their own cash flow?"

"Hmph."

Lu Zhao chuckled dryly, eyeing Hu Lushou: "You can fool others, but you know better. This toll scheme was your idea, but you're not irreplaceable to the bandits. They've let you collect tolls for two weeks—they've already planned to devour you whole and take the whole operation for themselves. Why split twenty percent with you?"

He smiled with narrowed eyes: "Brother, you're watching ticks on a tiger's back—but the tiger's watching your life. That's why you came to us to plan your escape, right?"

Xie Guan of the Akse Brotherhood added: "All other convoys in the city have already united. Tomorrow at dawn, they'll enter the Wurenqu. If no new convoys arrive, only our groups remain. If the bandits sense anything, they'll strike."

Wu Dapeng of Bifenggang looked worried: "We've got nearly five hundred people combined—would the bandits really dare storm the city?"

"Hmph!" Lu Zhao snorted, his jowls trembling. "Wu Captain, our five hundred includes women, children, the elderly, the sick—maybe three hundred can fight. The bandits' convoys have no weaklings."

At this, Xie Guan and Wu Dapeng's faces darkened. Wu Dapeng sighed, turning to Hu Lushou: "Boss Hu, didn't you say you could contact the Star Chen Garrison's Chixiao Assault Team? Any news?"

"Yes!"

Lu Zhao added: "Boss Hu, we took your bribes, but you promised a safe route to Quancheng and access to the Chixiao Assault Team. That's what matters to me—otherwise, why would we risk clashing with the bandits to join you?"

Lu Zhao spoke truthfully. His convoy was strong enough to ally with others or simply pay the toll and leave Akse. But he knew the toll was likely a temporary perk. Alliances were good, but the thousands of kilometers of Wurenqu and rumors of anomalies made him uneasy. He preferred battles with certainty, so he approached Hu Lushou for useful intel—and got pulled into this alliance.

The Akse Brotherhood's perspective differed: they were small, weak, with no voice in alliances. Joining meant benefits and protection. So Xie Guan and his team agreed to take the risk—even if the bandits targeted them, they'd fight to the death. Most had lost loved ones to bandits; they carried deep hatred for them—and were Hu Lushou's strongest supporters.

"I'll be straight," Hu Lushou said, adopting an urgent tone. "I gathered you here before dark to tell you: the Chixiao Assault Team can't come. They're stationed at Shashékǒu. Time's running out—our evacuation plan must change!"

"Change? When?"

Hu Lushou's eyes darted, then settled. "Tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" Lu Zhao frowned. "Really?"

"Really," Hu Lushou said seriously.

Wu Dapeng was stunned: "Boss Hu… you're not planning to move with those other convoys before dawn, are you?"

His words struck the others' hearts. Lu Zhao's face darkened: "Boss Hu, those convoys won't care about us."

"No," Hu Lushou waved his hand. "Didn't I say I have connections?"

Lu Zhao regarded him with a scrutinizing gaze: "Are you certain the Red Imp Strike Team will really meet us?"

"Rest easy, everyone," Hu Lushou chuckled, signaling them to stay calm. "If I've arranged it this way, I won't fight a battle without confidence. Keep your nerves steady. Tomorrow, all convoys will assemble as planned, load ample ammunition, and set out fully equipped—but remain vigilant at all times. We should enter the Akse No-Man's Land before noon."

At these words, the room fell suddenly silent.

Xie Guan of the Akse Brotherhood was the first to nod in agreement: "Alright, Boss Hu, I'll return immediately to make arrangements."

Lu Zhao stared intently at Hu Lushou for a long moment, then slammed his thigh and said: "Fine. Since we're allied now, no more second-guessing. In this world, life and death are all gambles. Passing this gate doesn't guarantee the next won't be a single-log bridge. I've seen too much—I don't fear a damn thing!"

Wu Dapeng of the Bifenggang Convoy, however, was visibly tense: "There might be sand bandits watching us in this city. Our assembly tomorrow will draw attention. I suggest we keep quiet tonight."

"That's obvious," Lu Zhao snapped, laughing bitterly. "How much noise could we possibly make? I'm already dodging those sand ants. If we run into some weird entity tonight, that's when trouble starts."

He turned to Xie Guan of the Akse Brotherhood: "Xie, your convoy should drive into the city tonight. Find a spacious spot. If something like last night happens again, no one will save you."

Xie Guan, remembering last night's ordeal, nodded solemnly.

"Alright, that's all. Dismissed," Lu Zhao said, rising first to leave.

Thus ended the secret alliance meeting.

As dusk fell, the atmosphere around Akse grew heavy. Convoy members began meticulously inspecting their vehicles, sealing air intakes with sponges and other materials. After distributing food and supplies, some convoys had already boarded, locking their armored doors and hatches.

In the basement of the Black Rose Bar, Hu Lushou was gathering his "assets."

With his sharp mind, in just two weeks Hu Lushou had earned over a hundred Blood Essences and various rare, valuable supplies.

There was one thing the sand bandits didn't know—or didn't care about: Hu Lushou didn't charge every convoy five people per Blood Essence. Often, he offered cheaper terms or exchanged minor favors, handing out the "Safety Badge" freely. That's why so many convoys arriving in Akse didn't harbor open hostility toward Hu Lushou's convoy.

For large convoys, the "Safety Badge" was a useful tool to avoid minor troubles and gain access to useful intelligence from Hu Lushou. In return, giving up a little benefit was entirely acceptable.

For small convoys, even holding the "Safety Badge" brought no real comfort—they still had to seek alliances with others. In a way, Hu Lushou had done a good thing: to cross the No-Man's Land, alliance was the best way to boost survival rates, and the sand bandits were merely one of many threats.

"Tomorrow might be a brutal fight," Sun Chang said from the basement doorway, her tone as flat as ever.

"Obviously…" Hu Lushou sighed heavily. "We need a relatively safe base before we can truly expand. In this world, before you have strength, everyone sees you as a fat sheep."

He grimaced, staring at his supplies, tears welling in his eyes: "Poor me… I've worked so hard, yet heaven hasn't let me enjoy a single bit of comfort…"

As he spoke, he picked up a bottle of expensive whiskey beside him and took a deep gulp.

Sun Chang rolled her eyes, then turned and began organizing her subordinates for evacuation.

At that moment, beneath the setting sun, a vehicle quietly left Akse, heading toward a deserted roadside motel far down the highway.

Screech—the car kicked up dust and stopped. The doors opened, and two figures scanned the surroundings before stepping inside.

The abandoned motel was in ruins. A few desiccated corpses lay scattered on the floor. Sand coated every table and chair. The two who entered were none other than Wu Dapeng of the Bifenggang Convoy and one of his men.

He shed his earlier amiable expression, his eyes now shadowed. He walked to the center of the lobby, paused, then spoke: "Don't hide. Night's coming. Get it done."

At that moment, a figure nearly indistinguishable from the surroundings stirred. Its light and shadow shifted, revealing a bald young man covered in tattoos. He could change his skin color like a chameleon!

The bald youth chewed gum as he stepped forward.

"Speak."

"Hu changed his plan. He's leaving tomorrow morning. Get back and inform Brother," Wu Dapeng said, his gaze sharp and cruel.

The bald youth frowned: "With the other convoys?"

"No. He's taking the Sand Snake Pass. Claims he's contacted the Red Imp Strike Team."

"Bullshit!" The bald youth laughed harshly. "Who believes that crap? That place is full of our people, hahahaha!"

"I didn't expose him. He's been itching to run. Now he's tricking a few convoys into joining him just to slip away. He thinks we're fools." Wu Dapeng smirked. "He wants to profit from both our Sand Scorpion Gang and the Crimson Bald Eagles. Brother guessed this move from the start. But Brother thought it was clever—he's letting Hu pave the way for us, letting him live a few more days."

The bald youth nodded: "Got it. I'm heading back now. Tomorrow, not a single one of them escapes Akse. Word is he's gotten fat. These hundreds of people will feed us for half a month."

"Also, that Dawn Team—they seem to have some strength."

Wu Dapeng sneered: "No problem. I'll coordinate from within. They won't last long."

"By the way," Wu Dapeng turned to the bald youth, "the convoy I had you tail—what's their background? They've contacted Hu. Maybe they've been fooled too."

"Pfft!"

The bald youth sneered: "A whole vehicle full of good-looking men and women? I thought it was some elite convoy with top-tier resources. Turns out it's just a small group—less than forty people total!"

"You're sure?" Wu Dapeng frowned slightly. "At the bar, I felt something off about them. Only that few? Could they be an elite team of power-users?"

"Bullshit!"

The bald youth scoffed: "I followed them for thirty miles with a drone and never got spotted. No power-users. I checked their camp—ten-odd vehicles, two decent ones, the rest are raw recruits. They can't even catch my shadow. If Boss hadn't ordered me not to stir them up, I'd have taken out a few right then!"

Wu Dapeng's eyes lit up: "Damn, good thing I didn't spook them. These women are top-tier."

"So?" The bald youth raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "You're not worried they'll team up with Hu?"

"Tch!"

Wu Dapeng glared at him: "I'm worried they'll run!"

(End of Chapter)