Chapter 2909: The small town's infrastructure construction is happily underway, 31/32

Even a clay figurine retains three parts of its earthen nature—how much more so Huo Zhaoye.

Being plotted against in this way, Huo Zhaoye's eyes grew cold.

"Since you don't want to go, then none of you will go." He said coldly into the walkie-talkie, "Everyone, listen to my orders—drive off that bunch of scum and find cover!"

Lu Jun's voice also came through the walkie-talkie, thick with suppressed anger: "Monkey, A Lei, follow me up the slope on the right and take the high ground!"

Peace Town's convoy stopped just dodging and began to interlace, blocking.

Huo Zhaoye's driving was superb, maneuvering the off-road vehicle through the rocks, waiting for the opportune moment.

The two mutant camels leading the charge, the most gravely injured, wailed as they fell, then were trampled by their companions behind them, temporarily impeding the herd's assault.

But the remaining four became even more frenzied; seeing they couldn't catch the agile, crafty Peace Town convoy, they turned most of their anger toward that self‑important convoy.

"Now! Disengage! Get behind those boulders!" Huo Zhaoye saw the chance and shouted the command.

Screams, gunfire, and the mutant beasts' howls rose in unison.

Peace Town's people took cover behind the boulders, killed the engines, and quickly checked their vehicles.

Repaying hatred with virtue—how then to repay virtue?

They started with ill intent; we won't be saving them again.

That group were clearly also some capable outlaws; after a bitter fight they lost at least five men and had many wounded, finally putting down the remaining four mutant beasts.

Yet, as soon as the battle ended, they instead gathered the remaining seven or eight, armed, and aggressively charged toward the boulder where Peace Town's convoy was taking cover.

It looked like they intended to vent their recent losses and anger onto Peace Town—the very people who had refused to rescue them.

Jin Chen was the first to open the car door and step out.

The leader of that group was a burly man with a blood‑soaked bandage on his face; seeing the first to step out—a frail, clean‑looking youth who wasn't even holding a proper weapon—he froze, then snorted with laughter.

"I thought they were some tough nuts, hiding so well! Turns out the leader is just a pretty‑boy!"

He spat a mouthful of bloody saliva, then vulgarities poured out: "You cowards, lugging all that baggage into the Experimental Area? You're probably just bringing snacks for the monsters inside!"

His companions behind him joined in the jeering and insults, seemingly trying to regain the face they'd just lost.

"Exactly! They don't even dare face a mutant beast head‑on, just hide and cower—cowards!"

Jin Chen leaned lazily against the car door, wagging his index finger at them.

No.

Then he slightly twitched his fingertip, pointing behind them.

The group, wary, turned their heads back.

All that could be seen was that on the other side of the boulder, the elite squads from the northern and southern towns had already disembarked, their dark muzzles trained on this group of uninvited guests.

The mockery on that group's faces froze instantly, their pupils constricted, and they sucked in a breath of cold air.

!!!

Just who are these people?! Every one of them is armed! How abundant must their supplies be!

Da Shu spat and said, "What are you lot? You just tried to harm us, and now you dare insult Teacher Jin!"

On this side, another car door opened.

That group stiffened in shock and turned their heads.

Huo Zhaoye stepped down from the driver's seat, walked a few steps to Jin Chen's side, placed a hand on Jin Chen's shoulder, glanced over the wretched yet blustering lot before him, and the oppressive pressure and killing intent made the atmosphere stagnate a bit.

Are you looking for death?

That group: ……

Bandage Man: ……

"Is it just… that we cursed that pretty‑boy a few times, and that warrants such a huge reaction?"

Are these people crazy!

They had originally planned to take advantage of the enemy's small numbers to bully them, loot for venting, even grab some supplies—but that scheme fell through completely, and the situation reversed.

What followed was without suspense.

Under the friendly gaze of a dozen gun barrels, those who had just been arrogant were swiftly disarmed.

Peace Town's people also didn't deal a lethal blow; they merely confiscated the weapons and ammo worth something, plus some fuel, leaving them just enough food and water to barely make it back to the nearest outpost.

The bandaged man had his arm twisted behind his back and was pressed to the ground, still struggling and roaring in unwillingness.

Pah! Even if you're feeling smug now, rushing to the Experimental Area won't help! Do you think crystals are that easy to come by?

The monster guarding the crystal vein over there—no one has ever seen its kind; even the squads sent from the big bases of Steel City and Ash Fortress have all fallen on the way! That thing is extremely ferocious! Going there would just be delivering yourselves to death!