Li Chengwu and Qi Mountain walked respectfully on the right side of the team, seeing off the leader of the Desert Hunting Team.
Two specially modified cars bore Lord Wang's distinctive red and white paint, quite striking in the monotonous wasteland.
The humming of the motors inside the cars signified the batteries' energy outputting at full force to provide ample propulsion.
Both cars were equipped with old-fashioned batteries weighing over a hundred kilograms.
The heavy lead-acid batteries, although very limited in power output, could only offer a top speed of around one hundred kilometers per hour, with a range well below one hundred kilometers.
But these old-fashioned batteries were easy to forge and allowed the vehicle to travel safely on the bumpy wilderness, without worrying about battery breakage or spontaneous combustion.
A speed of one hundred kilometers per hour already surpassed most transportation means in the wasteland; for instance, Oasis Town only moved at one kilometer per hour.
With just a push on the gas pedal, the modified power vehicle would dart forward, disappearing from sight down Oasis Avenue after passing several villages.
Watching the vehicles disappear, Li Chengwu let out a slight sigh of relief and his mood became increasingly excited.
He led Qi Mountain to the storage vehicle outside, unlocked its door with a warehouse key, and they both entered.
As Li Chengwu selected a suitable weapon, he spoke to Qi Mountain behind him:
"This task was issued by the Oasis, requiring exploration of prehistoric ruins far away. The lord took all seven Level 9 Enhanced People from the team, which indicates that the task is not simple..."
"Based on past experiences, this kind of mission usually lasts four to five days, and we need to be back before then."
"Li Hu and his group have finalized the cooperation details and will soon take action. We must catch up with them, and our speed needs to surpass that armored three-wheeler."
Qi Mountain went blank for a moment, only to realize they couldn't keep up with Chen Shanshan's group using just their feet:
"Then let's take the other cars from the team?"
Li Chengwu frowned slightly:
"Fool, the big cars are the lord's symbol of power. Do you think we're not conspicuous enough?"
"We have to leave sneakily, pretending to go on another errand. This way, even if the interception fails, we can return to the team without suspicion."
"There are three old bicycles in the caravan's trunk, riding them won't attract attention, but the trunk can only be opened from inside the caravan."
"Go find that woman, she's your friend and is currently very favored, living inside the lord's caravan."
Seeing Steward Li looking at him with a half-smile, Qi Mountain secretly felt things were going poorly.
He felt like he was being pushed out!
Even if they failed to intercept and seize Chen Shanshan's group, if things went wrong, this cunning Li Chengwu could pin the blame on him, clearing himself completely.
"I've already spoken to Old Sun, who drives the caravan."
"Go now! There's not much time left."
Steward Li reminded him, but in Qi Mountain's eyes, these words were a death warrant.
Suppressing his displeasure, Qi Mountain left the storage vehicle and walked to the front of the convoy, where the caravan was stationed.
The caravan driver, Master Sun, saw Qi Mountain approaching through the rearview mirror but pretended not to notice.
Sticking close to the window outside, Qi Mountain gently knocked and softly called out:
"Tian Wanrong? Wanrong?!"
A woman slowly approached the window from inside.
Tian Wanrong was wearing only an oversized T-shirt and shorts, her long legs covered in scars and red marks, with a somewhat lethargic expression.
She poured herself a glass of cold water and sat by the table near the window, a look of disdain flashing in her eyes as she gazed at the man outside.
"What do you want?"
The words came out coldly from the woman's mouth.
Qi Mountain sensed something was wrong, but with the urgency of the situation and the scorching sun aggravating his already nervous state, he quickly lowered his voice as he leaned against the window:
"Hurry, open the trunk, we need to get some things to accomplish a big task!"
While urging, Qi Mountain did not forget to sweet-talk a little with deceit:
"Once it's done, we'll have endless food and water. Then I'll take you away, to a far-off place!"
Tian Wanrong let out a cold laugh, exerting the last ounce of strength to open the window a few centimeters:
"First, explain what it is. The lord specially instructed me before leaving not to open the door for idle people."
Through the small window gap, Qi Mountain once again felt the coolness of the air conditioner, inhaling deeply.
He also noticed the woman's indifferent expression.
Realized they were now people from different worlds.
Words that once charmed her were now meaningless to someone of her newfound status.
He hesitated for a moment until she became impatient and was about to shut the window, only then did he reveal the truth:
"Chen, Chen Shanshan and her group, they aren't dead at all!"
Tian Wanrong's expression remained unchanged; she had known this but deliberately didn't inform Qi Mountain.
But now she was more curious about how Qi Mountain managed to return unharmed after encountering them.
Logically, she was merely an accomplice back then, while Qi Mountain was the mastermind with his underlings.
Surviving it herself was lucky enough, how could Qi Mountain have escaped:
"Go on!"
Seeing her intrigued, Qi Mountain cursed inwardly but outwardly maintained a calm facade:
"This morning, when Steward Li and I visited the Hunting Wilderness Guild, we ran into their group. Chen Shanshan and that pretty boy, not only are they alive, but they have grown more powerful..."
"Damn it, our four guys couldn't take on two and failed, letting them advance even further. What a bunch of useless wastrels!"
Remembering how he'd just sent his underlings out, only to end up with this result, Qi Mountain cursed and continued:
"I discovered them in advance, and fortunately they were unaware of my presence. I overheard them preparing to join another Deserters squad to complete a bounty together."
"That's not the main point."
"The main point is that the reward for this bounty task involves the Evolution Agent. Upon completion, you can get the Evolution Agent!"
"Once you take the Evolution Agent, you can become a powerful Evolver like Lord Wang!"
Tian Wanrong narrowed her eyes slightly, already guessing the follow-up:
"You can't handle this alone. Did you tell Steward Li, move him, and plan to follow and ambush Chen Shanshan's group to finally reap the rewards?"
Qi Mountain nodded, leaned against the glass window, and inhaled the thin cool air to ease the heat inside his body:
"That's right, now we're just lacking suitable tools. Otherwise, how can we catch up to them on foot? There are three bicycles in the RV's trunk, only you can open it!"
"Quick, after it's done, Steward Li will become an Evolver and can promote me to be his new steward. Then I'll take you along, and we can all have a good life!"
"Wanrong, just help me one last time!"
Tian Wanrong smiled and nodded:
"Alright, you head to the back."
After closing the window and Qi Mountain left, the woman's smile gradually turned into a cold sneer on her face.
A cowardly traitor afraid of death, an incompetent idler in logistics, she doesn't know what confidence Qi Mountain and Steward Li have to dare challenge Chen Shanshan's group alone.
Tian Wanrong still vividly remembers meeting Lin Feng's eyes in the bathhouse.
Every time she recalls it...
She feels cold sweat breaking out and as if sitting on pins and needles.
But she has no reason to refuse Qi Mountain.
No matter if it succeeds or fails, this is her best chance to rise up.
Tian Wanrong is very aware that her body cannot withstand such violent torment. In a few days, when the lord loses interest, she will end up like the other women in the squad...
Given to the Enhanced People under him, or sold to the Slave Master, extracting the last bit of worth.
Women here are just consumables.
Lord Wang replaces women in his service every two Holy Spring Days.
She must establish her footing and secure a stable position in the squad before then.
And before she can create new demands, eliminating someone in an existing position and taking over is the best method.
Qi Mountain has done so many foolish things along the way, finally helping her this time.
Succeed or fail, Li Chengwu's steward position will fall into her pocket.
Tian Wanrong exerted all her strength to slowly open the RV's trunk door and handed the three bicycles to Qi Mountain in front of her.
Then she immediately closed the car door tightly.
Qi Mountain pushed the three bikes outside the storage vehicle.
Steward Li was already fully armed with his gear.
Among them were two powerful shotguns capable of firing lead steel balls, easily penetrating five-millimeter iron plates at close range.
Even if Chen Shanshan's group hides in an armored tricycle, it wouldn't help.
It just so happened that another unfamiliar Late-stage Enhanced People was beside Li Chengwu.
"This is Zhang Dezhu, a leader of a Deserters squad, quite familiar with the desert folks nearby. He will lead us to find the target."
After hearing the introduction, Qi Mountain secretly became vigilant.
To avoid attracting attention, Li Chengwu did not pick team members from other servants in the squad.
But Qi Mountain didn't expect him to cooperate with outsiders.
Seeing them chatting and laughing, it was apparent they knew each other well.
This guy named Zhang Dezhu might very likely be Steward Li's true confidant.
This won't arouse suspicion from the leader.
"Deserters nearby saw the people you mentioned, the uniquely designed modified tricycle heading towards the left side of Oasis Town."
Zhang Dezhu said, and rode a bicycle, leading the other two through the slowly moving convoy into the left side of the avenue.
"Recently, among the Deserters, there's a growing legend about the Grey Death God..."
"That should be the target you're looking for."
...
"Thanks!"
Chen Shanshan tore off a small piece of jerky and handed it to the eager-looking Deserters in front of her.
From their mouths, she learned that since the last Holy Spring Day ended, a group of ferocious monsters appeared among the Deserters near Oasis Town.
Upon encountering them, the Deserters squads were universally annihilated with no remains left.
Only stains of blood and torn clothing and luggage were left behind.
There were some who've seen them from afar,
they are monstrous creatures covered in gray with a mouth full of fangs.
As more annihilations occurred, they became known as...
The Grey Death God of the Wasteland!
Lin Feng, while eating, looked at the circling Scavenger Vulture group above with a slight frown:
"Searching aimlessly like this won't work, we need to first find a fresh crime scene..."
"Look for clues from where they've been."