Chapter 17

Just as Lin Yue's taut nerves had barely relaxed for an instant, three sharp whistling sounds suddenly blasted beside his ear!

Watch out!

Wang Gongtou in the distance could only manage to let out a startled cry.

Although only a few days had passed since he arrived in the apocalypse, Lin Yue was no longer the novice he once was; even if he relaxed, he would still maintain a certain vigilance.

At the instant the crossbow bolt left the string, he felt a chill surge from his spine to the top of his head, and his body, acting on instinct, twisted and rolled to the left as far as it could!

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Two crossbow bolts flashing with cold light scraped past his scalp and waist, then slammed hard into Black Tortoise's shell, producing two crisp ding-ding sounds.

However, the ambushers were obviously experienced; the three arrows came in a triangular formation, cutting off most of his escape routes.

Although Lin Yue managed to dodge two of the crossbow bolts, he was still a step too slow.

Pfft!

The third crossbow bolt pierced his right shoulder with pinpoint accuracy; the tremendous force staggered him, and he fell heavily to one knee.

Ugh...

Lin Yue let out a muffled groan from his throat; the intense pain made his vision go dark, and his forehead instantly beaded with cold sweat.

He propped himself up with his left hand against Black Tortoise's thick leg, barely keeping from collapsing.

Damn it...

Two words squeezed out from between his teeth, and killing intent surged in Lin Yue's eyes.

Indeed, a fine scene of the mantis stalking the cicada, with the oriole waiting behind.

Just as he had anticipated, several shadowy figures rose slowly from the windows of the abandoned small building.

The leader was none other than the scar-faced Feng Ge.

Behind him followed four sallow, thin men, their eyes like hungry wolves, gripping weapons such as machetes and pry bars.

One of them was holding the heavy hand crossbow that had just proven effective.

Heh... kid, your reactions are not bad.

Feng Ge led his men, unhurriedly stepping out from the shadows of the ruins.

He looked at Lin Yue, half-kneeling beside Black Tortoise with a crossbow bolt in his shoulder, and wore a smirk like a cat toying with a mouse.

What a fine prize!

Then his gaze swept back and forth between Black Tortoise's hill-like carcass and the lifeless Steel Bone Vulture on the ground, his greed almost tangible.

Kid,

He spoke down to him, his voice full of contempt,

"Be sensible and hand over this turtle and that bird to me, your grandpa, willingly."

He paused, slapped his cheek with the blade of his knife, and his grin grew more ferocious:

"As long as you obey, I can still muster some mercy and spare your life. This deal is a good bargain, right?"

His lackeys behind him burst into jeering laughter, their looks at Lin Yue mixing scorn with pity.

In their eyes, this young man was merely lucky to have obtained that mutant giant turtle.

Now, gravely wounded, he is nothing but fish on a chopping board, ready for anyone to slice.

Lin Yue did not answer right away.

He pushed himself up from the ground, his left hand gripping the bolt in his right shoulder tightly, and gave the group a cold, icy glance.

"You lot are nothing but the trash on the street corner."

Feng Ge's smile froze; he never expected that, at this point, the kid would not only refuse to beg for mercy but dare to speak in such a tone.

"Oh? You've recognized me."

Feng Ge's face darkened, a flicker of impatience flashing in his eyes,

"But it looks like you want to toast then refuse the drink, and eat the punishment. Since you're so eager to die, I'll oblige."

Attack!

He couldn't be bothered with more words, and waved his hand fiercely,

"Break this kid's arms and legs for me!"

Yes, Feng Ge!

The two nearest men responded at once, cruel smiles on their faces, left and right charging forward with knives.

They didn't even consider Black Tortoise worth noticing.

It's just a turtle; no matter how big, it's still a turtle, moving so slowly it's useless except as a meat shield.

Courting death.

Lin Yue spat out two icy words.

Black Tortoise, take care of them!

A roar—

Black Tortoise's head, which had been still as a statue, suddenly moved!

Its speed formed a terrifying contrast with its massive size!

A huge black shadow, accompanied by a vicious wind that tore the air, swept out like lightning!

What?!

The smile on the face of the lackey on the left froze instantly; what was happening before him completely exceeded his comprehension.

Boom!!!

His body seemed to be struck head-on by a train at full speed, his chest caving inward, the sound of breaking bones clearly audible.

The whole person flew backward like a torn sack for over ten meters, slamming into a broken wall, and when he slid down he was already a bloody pulp.

On the other side, Black Tortoise didn't even make any extra movement.

Its right foreleg, as thick as a load-bearing pillar, simply stepped casually to the side!

Boom!!!

The lackey on the right who tried to flank couldn't even utter a scream before Black Tortoise stepped on him, weapon and all, driving him straight into the ground!

When the massive foot lifted, all that remained was a blurred imprint of mud, gravel, and dark red blood.

The sight froze the savage grin on Feng Ge's face.

The two lackeys behind him who had wanted to follow also seemed immobilized, their feet nailed to the spot as the color drained from their faces.

"How…… how could this happen……"

Feng Ge's lips trembled incessantly—weren't turtles supposed to be slow?

Only now did he realize how foolish his decision had been.

In the face of such absolute power, any scheme is a joke!

"I…… gave you a chance."

Lin Yue slowly straightened his body.

His expression blank, he exerted force with his left hand; with a "puff," he wrenched the crossbow bolt from his shoulder, flesh and all, and tossed it to the ground.

The intense pain made him sway, but the killing intent in his eyes grew only fiercer.

He stared at Feng Ge, whose face was ashen and whose footing was in utter disarray, his voice devoid of any warmth:

"Now it's my turn."

Feng Ge shuddered under that corpse‑like stare, then bellowed at the terrified lackey beside him:

"What the hell are you standing there for! Run!"

Before his words even faded, Black Tortoise sprang into action again.

This time, it was 【Savage Collision】!

That twenty‑meter‑long black hillock, radiating an incomparable pressure, came charging at them!

"No——!!"

One of Feng Ge's lackeys, staring at the rapidly approaching behemoth, let out a strange cry and turned to flee.

But his legs had turned to jelly; before he could take two steps, Black Tortoise caught up, its massive head merely giving him a light nudge.

His body flew up as if struck by a full‑swing bat, tracing a high arc through the air before vanishing into the distant ruins.

In the blink of an eye, all that remained beside Feng Ge was the man holding the hand crossbow.

"Feng…… Feng Ge……"

He shook so badly he could barely grip the crossbow, his voice trembling with tears,

"I…… we……"

"Trash!!"

Feng Ge stared at the horrific scene, his eyes blood‑red.

He never imagined things would deteriorate to this extent.

He shoved the lackey beside him aside, yanked two oilcloth‑wrapped objects from his chest, and tore them open.

They were two fist‑sized military‑green incendiary bombs!

"You want me dead? Then we'll all die together!"

Feng Ge, mad with fury, bit open the fuse's pull‑ring with his teeth and roared at Lin Yue.