Chapter 201

Tong Bin didn't take offense, continuing to say: "These two people originally belonged to our Qingbei; coming to take them back isn't excessive, right?"

"Not mentioning whether they're here or not," Chen Mu said, "I'd like to ask first: isn't Qingbei known for allowing free coming and going? If so, why are you still insisting on not letting them go?"

Chen Mu spoke while also calculating in his mind.

It was obvious.

Qingbei wasn't unaware of An Ruosuo's usefulness; it's just that previously these support-type ability users had nowhere to go, so Qingbei didn't pay much attention, nor worry they'd run away.

After all, no matter how low their status, it's still better than running outside to feed rats.

However, now with Qiming, Qingbei's monopoly is somewhat broken, and with An Ruosuo as an example, others might also start thinking actively.

No wonder Tong Bin personally came out to settle this.

Originally I thought these words would leave Tong Bin speechless, perhaps even anger him into action the next moment.

However, Tong Bin's scheming is far deeper than Chen Mu imagined.

He only said: "Qingbei certainly allows free coming and going, but the problem is, schools need to process withdrawals, companies need resignation procedures; Qingbei, after all, is a formed organization, with no rules at all—how will it be managed in the future?"

"So, I'm not trying to capture them, nor do I have the authority to punish them; I just want these two to return, complete the departure procedures, and after that, if they're willing to come to your side, Qingbei will certainly not obstruct."

These words were spoken forcefully and reasonably, with logic and evidence.

Chen Mu actually couldn't refute for a moment.

But knowing his words were surely nonsense, once An Ruosuo returns, punishment is inevitable, possibly even a "kill the chicken to scare the monkeys" to warn others.

At this moment Chen Mu suddenly realized a problem.

An Ruosuo is both a heavy burden and an excellent advertisement.

Although for their sake it might lead to war with Qingbei.

But at the same time, we can inform other Qingbei members, especially those oppressed support-type ability users—that even within the school, they have a second option.

For Qiming, this is naturally a good thing.

With Tang Jing, even abilities that seem useless can find suitable use—after all, even Zhu Hao is now being used by her to bore holes in walls.

Chen Mu, Dong Junwei, and others, although they constantly boast about developing Qiming, actually have no short-term plan that can show results.

However, now.

The opportunity is right before our eyes.

Conversely, if we actually return An Ruosuo.

That painstakingly taken first step might die in the womb; Qiming's just-emerged reputation would be extinguished, simultaneously strengthening Qingbei's prestige—obviously not what Qiming wishes to see.

Tong Bin saw Chen Mu hesitating for a long time, thought he was left speechless by the pressure, yet he ultimately underestimated Chen Mu's shamelessness.

"What you say makes sense; for an organization like Qingbei, some necessary procedures are also reasonable." Chen Mu nodded in agreement.

"Thanks for your understanding." Tong Bin smiled.

"But there is still a problem." Chen Mu added.

"What?"

"We really don't have any An Ruosuo here." Chen Mu said with a sincere expression.

Tong Bin sighed: "Looks like we'll have to resort to force?"

"I don't want that either." Chen Mu spread his hands.

"Do you think this place is impregnable, relying on those explosives to sleep soundly?" Tong Bin gave a slight smile.

Chen Mu was about to speak.

Suddenly he heard a rustling sound from behind, as if some animal was gnawing wood.

Chen Mu slightly turned his body, using the corner of his eye to look over.

He saw the storeroom door gradually crumbling, soon forming a shallow groove, the wood turning to powder and falling down.

This startled Chen Mu greatly.

Could this be Tong Bin's ability?

This guy, it's said, never shows his ability in Qingbei, yet now he's acting?

Tong Bin quickly stopped, saying: "I don't know how long your door can hold; sealing the gap below must have taken you a lot of effort. But honestly, in this world destruction is always easier than construction—do you think you can afford to play this game?"

Because the door's thickness is truly too great for modern humans, Tong Bin's ability—whether corrosion or pulverization—can't yet achieve destructive effect in a short time.

But as he said, destruction is always easier than construction.

In a war of attrition, Qiming will always lose.

However, Chen Mu naturally wouldn't back down now, smiling: "If it's just this means, it probably can't scare us; even if you open the door, what then? I estimate your ability can only work on solids for now, and has no effect on humans, right? Otherwise I'd already be a puddle of rotting flesh."

"Of course not just that."

Tong Bin showed no embarrassment at being seen through; instead he confidently smiled and gestured behind him.

Chen Mu was still puzzled when.

Suddenly, from the grass, a huge creature leapt out with a whoosh.

In one jump it covered a long distance, and after a few leaps it reached where everyone stood.

Chen Mu saw it clearly.

It was a frog resembling a small hill.

More accurately, it should be a toad.

This toad, among its kind, isn't particularly large—smaller than a grown bullfrog by several rounds, likely not fully grown—but to modern humans it's no different from an ancient giant beast.

As for frogs and similar animals, their threat to humans is even greater than that of centipedes and similar reptiles.

If that creature flicks its tongue, Chen Mu isn't sure whether his mental power could dodge it.

Remembering He Ying's earlier teachings, he didn't dare move a muscle.

But the fear wasn't that overwhelming.

An Ruosuo had previously said that the Special Ability user who could control the warty toad was none other than Tong Bin's capable subordinate, and Chen Mu was also mentally prepared for that.

He dared to come out alone only because he had some reliance, but before the opponent's trump cards were fully revealed, he also wanted to observe and then decide.

"Let me introduce."

Tong Bin pointed at his subordinate and said, "His name is Wu Zimo."

Then he pointed at the toad and said, "This big guy is his good friend."

Tong Bin continued to laugh: "If this guy jumps into your room, it would probably be quite interesting."

That warty toad stood behind the Qingbei people, really seeming obedient.

Being able to control such a big guy to this extent, the Special Ability user's strength indeed surprised Chen Mu a bit; especially, for a toad of that level, Qiming's cannonballs no longer had any effect on it.

That rough, pitted old skin, even if all grenades were poured down on it, would probably just tickle it.

Of course, Cao Zishan wouldn't be so foolish as to bombard the warty toad with cannonballs.

Chen Mu was somewhat hesitant.

He also had the option of going all-in at this point.

That was to have Cao Zishan and the watchtower unleash all firepower, preferably killing Tong Bin and his gang instantly.

But if this plan failed, the enemy would surely launch a counterattack; if they really blew a big hole in the door and then let the warty toad jump in, things would truly be turned upside down.

Just then.

Chen Mu suddenly heard a familiar sound coming from the grass.