Chapter 103: Maybe There

【Looking at this perfect work of art, his heart was deeply satisfied.】

【It proudly puffed out its chest: Master, Big Brother, Third Brother, see this? This is Second Brother's micro-control!】

Lin Mo ignored the Earth Shield Art's boast.

He stepped forward, walking toward the four men.

The nose-ring leader, once full of swagger, now had none left.

Rock spikes had pierced his thigh and shoulder, causing violent spasms from the agony.

But more crushing than physical pain was the terror of facing death.

Especially when he met Lin Mo's eyes—a wave of death's chill surged straight to his crown.

"Mistake… it's all a mistake!"

The nose-ring leader, gritting his teeth against the pain, stammered:

"Lin… Lin Shao! We were forced! It was Zhao Tianling! That bastard made us come!"

"We never wanted to fight you!"

"Please, just let us go like a fart!"

Lin Mo said nothing, only walked slowly toward them.

Seeing pleading was useless, the nose-ring leader screamed hysterically:

"Lin Mo! You can't kill us! We're the elite of the Crazy Shark Guild! If we die, Chairman Zhao won't let you live!"

"Besides… killing is illegal! Even if you're from the Dragon Order class, you can't murder innocents!"

"Innocents?"

Lin Mo let out a light laugh, finally speaking.

He walked to the stone pillar, reached out, and gripped the rock spike piercing the nose-ring leader's shoulder.

"Wearing targeted resistance gear, using banned intrusion scrolls, ambushing me inside the dungeon… that's innocent?"

"Are you kidding me?"

Before he finished speaking,

Lin Mo tensed his arm and yanked hard.

"Aaaahhh—!!!"

The nose-ring leader was ripped clean off the rock spike.

A piercing scream echoed through the entire temple.

Lin Mo casually tossed him to the ground like a dead dog, then moved toward the next one.

On the other side, Han Mengyao moved too.

Her face was icy, her silver spear already sheathed.

For such monsters, she felt no mercy.

She walked to the other two stone pillars, moved swiftly, grabbed one in each hand, and yanked the remaining two assassins off the spikes.

Even as blood splattered her face, she didn't blink.

"Let's go. Send them on their way."

Lin Mo said calmly.

He bent down, grabbed the nose-ring leader by the collar and the tall, thin man by the ankle, dragging both toward the lava pool at the altar's center.

Han Mengyao dragged the other two behind him.

The four assassins were dragged across the broken stone, leaving behind gruesome trails of blood.

"Let go of me! Let go! I don't want to die!"

"Lin Mo, you'll die a terrible death!"

"Help! Someone help!"

Pleas, curses, and screams intertwined.

Listening to these sounds, Lin Mo's heart remained strangely calm.

This was, in truth, his first real killing.

As a transmigrator, his soul still carried the values of a peaceful era from his past life.

Killing was an immensely heavy word to him.

But this world was different.

This world was cannibalistic.

It was a high-martial world where power resided in the self, a chaotic age overrun by demons.

If it had been him lying here today, would these men have shown mercy?

No.

They would have cut off his head without hesitation—even stamped on it twice.

Mercy toward enemies is cruelty toward oneself.

He had only read this phrase in books before.

Now, he was living it.

To survive in this world, he had to learn this lesson.

"Huh…"

Lin Mo exhaled, his gaze growing colder.

"Tsk tsk tsk, so tragic…"

Nearby, Han Mengqing pulled out a bag of sunflower seeds from somewhere.

"But they deserved it—who else would dare try to kill Miss Me?"

"I'm so adorable, and they still tried to kill me? Absolutely heartless!"

Though she spoke of tragedy, her eyes held no sympathy—she was clearly enjoying the spectacle.

For her, right and wrong were simple.

Those who treated her well were good.

Those who wanted to harm her were evil.

When evil died, it was cause for celebration—with firecrackers.

Beside her, Chu Lingxuan looked uneasy.

Watching the four dragged toward death, hearing their desperate screams, her body trembled slightly.

As a knight sworn to protect the weak, her soul instinctively recoiled from killing.

But…

She did not speak to stop them, nor beg for mercy.

Because she knew these men were monsters.

If Lin Mo had been weaker, if they had been less vigilant, it would have been them thrown into the lava.

Chu Lingxuan finally turned away, unable to bear the cruelty.

All she could do,

was stand firmly behind her teammates, no matter their choices.

Finally,

Lin Mo and Han Mengyao dragged the four to the edge of the lava pool at the altar's center.

A wave of scorching heat slammed into their faces.

The lava churned, occasionally bursting open with giant bubbles, spattering crimson sludge.

"No! Don't! I'm sorry! I truly am sorry!"

"Lin Shao! Grandpa Lin! Spare me!"

"I'm my family's only son! I have elderly parents and young children!"

The nose-ring leader wept and wailed, clawing desperately at the ground's cracks.

Even as his nails shattered and bled, he refused to let go.

Lin Mo glanced at him, coldly said:

"You don't know you're wrong—you just know you're about to die."

"No—!!! Lin Mo! You'll die a terrible death! Even as a ghost I'll…"

The nose-ring leader unleashed his final curse.

Lin Mo said no more.

"Go down."

Thud!

He kicked the man straight into the lava pool.

At the same time, he hurled the tall, thin man away with force.

On the other side, Han Mengyao also tossed her two captives into the pool without expression.

"Aaaahhh—"

The screams cut off instantly.

With a few dull thuds, the four vanished into the lava.

A few wisps of smoke rose; their bodies vaporized instantly by the heat.

In an instant, the magma pool calmed again, still churning as if nothing had happened.

Lin Mo stood at the pool's edge, silently watching the roiling magma.

"How do you feel?"

Han Mengyao walked over and stood beside him.

"Fine."

Lin Mo turned his gaze away and brushed the dust off his hands. "Maybe… I'm just naturally a rotten seed?"

Han Mengyao glanced at him, a faint smile curving her lips. "Being a rotten seed is better than being dead."

At that moment,

the system notifications on everyone's panels changed.

【Sacrifice Successful!】

【Current Sacrifices: 4/3】

【Current Rating: S-Rank! (Drop rate for Thunder-Fire Combo Technique materials increased to 100%!)】

"4/3…"

Lin Mo stared at the number, his brow slightly furrowed.

Han Mengyao immediately noticed Lin Mo's unease. "What's wrong, Lin Mo? Something amiss?"

Lin Mo turned to face the three of them and analyzed:

"Look, the rules say sacrificing three is enough to reach S-Rank. Logically, once it hits 3/3, it shouldn't change further."

"But now we've sacrificed four—it's 4/3."

Han Mengyao froze, then instantly understood his meaning, a sharp glint flashing in her eyes:

"You mean… if we keep sacrificing, we might get unexpected rewards?"

"Exactly."

Lin Mo nodded.

Hearing this, Han Mengqing's face lit up with excitement. "Thunder-Fire Combo materials are already worth a fortune—could there be something even better?"

Lin Mo looked at the group and spoke:

"The Crazy Shark Guild has sent in two teams. They won't let us live to escape."

"Fortunately, this dungeon restricts levels to 20–25. Within this range, we're invincible."

"Either way, it's worth a try. Let's wait a little longer."

Han Mengqing was the first to agree:

"I'm fine with it. Whoever comes, we wipe them out!"

"Alright."

Han Mengyao simply spoke softly.

Chu Lingxuan glanced at the group; though reluctant, she nodded.

"If they're evil, and this might boost everyone's rewards… then, let's wait a bit longer."

Seeing the group reach consensus, Lin Mo's lips curled slightly.

I hope my judgment is right.

He then found a relatively clean spot and sat down.

"Xiao Tu, keep watch on the ground. If anyone approaches the temple, alert me immediately."

【【Earth Shield Technique】 instantly perked up: Don't worry, Master! Even an ant crawling within several miles, I'll sense it!】

【【Fireball Technique】, watching his smug younger brother, felt a pang of envy: Enough already, will you? Like you're the only one who can kill instantly.】

【【Fireball Technique】lifted his head: Next wave, I won't give you a chance to shine. I'll show you all—in this family, fire magic is the one true god!】

【【Lightning Strike Technique】 immediately sensed that 【Fireball Technique】 felt his spotlight stolen and was trying to reclaim his elder brother's status.】

【It spoke calmly: Hmph. Flustered?】

【【Fireball Technique】instantly bristled: Flustered? Who's flustered? You wanna fight?】

【【Lightning Strike Technique】: Idiot.】

"…"

Lin Mo's lips twitched slightly.

He was already numb to the daily bickering of these household lunatics.

Let them squabble. As long as they don't slack off when it's time to work.