Chapter 288: Rendezvous

Cheng Shuili didn't rush to act, but opened the map and first plotted a route.

The hostage stayed nervously behind her, occasionally opening the group chat to check Fengyun Tianxia's movements; you could say they were terrified of breaching the contract.

Cheng Shuili quickly found a route that could be called perfect, waved at Moyu Miji, and the two, one ahead of the other, strained to suppress their footfalls.

Along the way the monsters seemed to sense them, the rustling grew louder, and Moyu Miji was scared almost to the point of stopping in place.

But the leader Cheng Shuili kept moving; if she stopped now, the distance would widen and her safety would have no guarantee at all.

Though there isn't much guarantee now…

Why did things develop like this?

Moyu Miji wanted to cry but had no tears, and didn't want to die here in a pitiful way, so could only follow Cheng Shuili step by step.

Fortunately there was alarm but no danger; the two smoothly bypassed two monsters and kept hurrying along the map.

Cheng Shuili turned her head and glanced at the hostage, seeing the fellow drenched in cold sweat, face as pale as if soaked by acid rain, legs trembling slightly, and she couldn't help furrowing her brow.

This fellow's mental fortitude was worse than expected; taking him along was indeed a burden, but the contract still had some use for now.

"Keep up, don't fall behind."

Her voice wasn't loud, yet carried undeniable authority.

"If you fall behind, I won't turn back for you."

Those words were more effective than any comfort.

Familiar with Moyu Miji, a sudden shiver, they immediately forced down their fear, almost using hands and feet together to keep up, fearing that a slower step would leave them abandoned in this monster‑riddled nightmare.

If they had a weapon they'd of course be unafraid; now cold weapons are obsolete, pistols are obsolete, and the backup micro submachine gun was confiscated.

It would be strange if they weren't scared.

The two sped along the route Cheng Shuili had plotted.

Though this path skirted obvious open areas and potential monster congregations, it was far from smooth.

Sometimes they had to climb slanted, rusted steel frames; other times they had to crawl through low, narrow ducts filled with murky acidic water.

Cheng Shuili moved with agile fluidity, always finding the most stable leverage points.

Moyu Miji was slightly clumsy, nearly slipping several times, causing noticeable noise that drew Cheng Shuili's cold stare, frightening them to the point of soul‑shaking.

The acid rain showed no sign of abating, instead becoming more rapid.

Gray‑yellow rain strands merged into a sheet, visibility dropped further, and the air's pungent sulfur and metallic rust smell was so thick it seemed unbreakable.

After tunneling through a section of duct, the view suddenly cleared.

They seemed to have entered the interior of a relatively intact factory.

Though the roof had several breaches, the acid rain fell like unstrung beads from everywhere, forming murky puddles on the ground, yet most areas finally had shelter.

The omnipresent acrid smell in the air seemed slightly diluted by the factory's heavier engine oil and metallic dust odor.

In the factory's center, a massive, long‑idle mechanical apparatus stood silently, casting a vast shadow.

Beside a relatively dry room near the inner wall, with a smaller ceiling breach, three silhouettes suddenly stood!

That was the control room.

Cheng Shuili slightly furrowed her brow; not without reason, this place was indeed unsafe— the windows were practically floor‑to‑ceiling, unimaginably large, the glass intact yet how much assault could a single pane endure?

Yet they would leave soon, so no need to nitpick the environment.

Speaking of it… Cheng Shuili's gaze shifted back to those silhouettes.

One figure stood tall; even in a baggy raincoat, a sleek silhouette showed beneath—it was Qi Wan Yi. She held an antiquely styled long sword, its tip angled toward the ground, source unknown.

Another held a hammer, it was Ailin, the weapon also being the long‑handled iron hammer previously obtained, clearly a favorite.

The last figure seemed a bit erratic; Liang Shanbo, also known as Jiang Tang, stood on tiptoe, looking around, and when she saw Cheng Shuili and the others emerge, she immediately waved excitedly.

She also held a short blade, but Cheng Shuili, after being influenced by Su Rui over time, instantly recognized that her grip indicated she was more proficient with something else.

"Lao Da!"

Jiang Tang lowered her voice and shouted, her face unable to hide delight and relaxation; when she saw the two, she immediately pulled the door open, as if she could hardly wait to step out and greet them.

Qi Wan Yi's gaze also turned, and upon seeing Cheng Shuili safe, a barely perceptible relief flickered in her eyes, then her sight fell on the especially disheveled, cowering Moyu Miji behind Cheng Shuili.

She furrowed her brow subtly, but asked nothing, merely gave a slight nod: "Lao Da."

Ailin said nothing, her gaze meeting Cheng Shuili's for an instant as a greeting; she curled into a corner, wiping rain off her weapon with tissue paper.

She really does cherish that weapon.

Cheng Shuili briskly entered the room, and familiar with Moyu Miji, they hurried after, as if stepping three paces away from Cheng Shuili would instantly be swallowed by darkness.

"What's the situation?"

Cheng Shuili asked directly, her gaze sweeping over the three, confirming they had no obvious injuries.

"Ailin and I came together, we just arrived," Qi Wan Yi said succinctly, "This place is temporarily safe; we've checked, no monsters lurking. But Xinxue hasn't arrived yet."

Ailin added, "We saw several waves of those mud monsters on the way; thanks to Lao Da's message, we avoided them."

Cheng Shuili nodded and opened the squad channel.

【Wu Ya Zuo Fei Ji】: @Xin Xue Chuji, report your position and status; we have reached the rendezvous point.

The message just went out when a vent opening on the other side of the factory emitted a clank—a light sound—followed by a petite figure stumbling out, it was Xinxue.

Her raincoat was stained with grime, the cuffs even bore slight corrosion marks; her face wore a startled pallor, but upon seeing the four Cheng Shuili, she instantly showed a rescued‑like expression.

"Lao Da! Wan Yi sister! Jiang Tang! Ailin sister!" she practically ran over, "I almost got lost, sob… just now, to dodge monsters I slipped into a dead end, it was a struggle to get out!"

Cheng Shuili patted her shoulder: "Arriving is enough."

The kid isn't the combat type; after a couple of comforting words, what else can be said?

Cheng Shuili's expectations of her subordinates were modest; having one skill was enough, no demand for omniscience. If someone truly had that power, they wouldn't gladly become Cheng Shuili's underling.

Cheng Shuili thought openly; now it's already a good outcome.