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Published at 12th of July 2023 07:15:08 AM


Chapter 104

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104 Puppet Jade

Yan Ting's father entered the room, surveyed the people inside, and then bowed slightly, "I am Yan Huiyang. Thank you all for saving my daughter."

Cong Xia smiled and said, "It was nothing. Please have a seat, Brother Yan."

Yan Huiyang and his daughter sat on the sofa. Yan Huiyang said, "I initially wanted to invite you all to stay at my place, but since you have concerns, I won't insist. I have prepared fresh fish, vegetables, and some clean bedding for you all. If you don't mind, I can have this place cleaned up and a generator installed. I don't think you are in a hurry to leave, right?" Yan Huiyang looked meaningfully at them.

Cong Xia smiled and said, "We are not in a hurry. Thank you, Brother Yan."

"Compared to the favor of saving my daughter, these are nothing. Do you have any other needs?"

Liu Fengyu lazily said, "I want to take a hot shower every day. Can you arrange that?" Being a big star, Liu Fengyu was used to being pampered and never shied away from inconveniencing others.

Yan Huiyang's face remained expressionless, but he nodded, "Sure, in Luoyang, we have developed a new type of solar-electric hybrid water heater. I will have water brought here every day. The installation will take about a day, as we need to set up the generator and check the electrical circuits. If you agree, I will have my people start the installation now, and it should be ready for use by tonight."

Zhuang Yao said, "Go ahead and have them install it."

Yan Huiyang patted Yan Ting's back and said, "Go and let them do their work."

Yan Ting nodded and turned to leave.

Yan Huiyang looked at them and said, "If you have no other needs, can we discuss the main matter?"

Although this person's way of speaking was blunt and impolite, it was exactly what they needed in this life-or-death situation. Nobody had the mood to beat around the bush.

Cong Xia said, "Please go ahead."

Yan Huiyang said, "Are you the ones rumored to have wiped out the Eagle Corps and Liu Laoda's gang in Hanzhong?"

Cong Xia remained calm and said, "Yes."

"Do you have a wind-type Natural Power Evolutionist and someone with a special healing ability in your team?"

"Yes."

Yan Huiyang took a deep breath. "My daughter said she remembered being bitten by Wei Zi's dog before she lost consciousness. But when she woke up, there were no injuries. Did you heal her?"

Zhuang Yao said, "Since you already know, why bother asking?"

"I just wanted to confirm," Yan Huiyang looked deeply at them. "Do you know that news about you has reached Beijing?"

"We know. With Beijing being so close and having many flying mutants, there's nothing strange about it."

"So, you also know that there are several mutant organizations in Beijing offering rewards for you?"

"Rewards?" Cong Xia widened his eyes.

Upon hearing this, apart from Zhuang Yao and Cheng Tianbi who remained calm, the others showed expressions of surprise.

Cheng Tianbi narrowed his eyes. "Explain it clearly."

Yan Huiyang said in a low voice, "So, you didn't know. No wonder. I only learned about it recently, just a few days before you came here. Several influential mutant organizations in Beijing have issued rewards for you."

Zhuang Yao raised an eyebrow and sneered, "What's the reward? How much is the bounty?"

"They are offering a reward for the person with the healing ability, alive. The reward is..." Yan Huiyang glanced at each of them. "Anything, including the Puppet Jade."

Cong Xia's heart skipped a beat, and he clenched his fists by his side. The others remained silent.

Yan Huiyang continued, "I don't know why you came to Luoyang, but I heard that you were heading to Beijing. From Hanzhong to Beijing, you shouldn't pass through Luoyang. Perhaps you came here specifically for Wei Zi's Puppet Jade. But I have to warn you, your situation is even more dangerous than Wei Zi's, and the closer you get to Beijing, the more perilous it becomes."

Zhuang Yao chuckled softly. "Interesting. We're actually wanted."

Yan Huiyang crossed his arms and looked at them. "Luoyang has been restless lately, and your arrival has made it even more turbulent. I don't know what your plans are from now on?"

Zhuang Yao sneered, "Since we dare to come, we are naturally prepared. As for those mutant organizations in Beijing, if they want to take us down, they'll have to prove themselves. Of course, if they want to willingly deliver the Puppet Jade to us, why wouldn't we accept it?"

Yan Huiyang raised an eyebrow, seemingly surprised by their confidence, especially coming from a child who appeared to be eleven or twelve years old.

Cong Xia understood that Zhuang Yao's approach was to firmly establish their position in front of Yan Huiyang. Yan Huiyang's straightforward question was clearly a test. If Cong Xia's guess was correct, Yan Huiyang was hesitating between joining forces with them to resist Wei Zi or distancing himself from them for self-preservation. Based on Yan Huiyang's demeanor, it seemed that he was leaning more towards cooperation. Otherwise, he wouldn't have come early in the morning to offer assistance. 

However, the bounty from Beijing also seemed to be pressuring him. Therefore, at this moment, they absolutely couldn't show any worry or retreat. Instead, they needed to instill enough confidence in their ally. Otherwise, this sudden and unexpected bounty would leave them truly isolated in this unfamiliar city.

That would be the worst situation imaginable.

Yan Huiyang said, "You're so confident. I'm genuinely surprised. I suppose you have no concept of the mutant organizations in Beijing."

Cheng Tianbi coldly remarked, "Why don't you enlighten us?"

Yan Huiyang replied, "I don't know much about the situation in Beijing, but I have heard some things about the most influential mutant organizations. After the apocalypse, a large number of people migrated north and south, with about half going to each region. Those who headed north almost all targeted Beijing. After all, it is the capital, with the most abundant military power and resources. It is also the least likely place to be breached and the safest. Those who originally aimed for the southern regions, such as Hainan and Taiwan, were hindered by large sea creatures and had no choice but to head north. Therefore, the surviving group eventually set their sights on Beijing. This led to the accumulation of a large number of mutants and talents in Beijing. 

As a result, over a hundred mutant organizations formed in Beijing, and the most powerful organizations are primarily composed of Nature Force Evolvers or Mind Domain Evolvers. They enjoy the best resources and privileges and have intricate ties with the government. Over the past few months, I have received news from the communication avian mutants who can travel quickly between the two places. I have heard about many peculiar and formidable mutants. Of course, you should also know that Mind Domain Evolvers are the second rarest among mutants, with Nature Force Evolvers being the rarest. However..." Yan Huiyang paused, his gaze intense. 

"A mutant with the ability to heal is extremely rare and unique. Clearly, they are more valuable than the Puppet Jade. The Puppet Jade only makes someone stronger, but this person can make someone invincible. The pace of species evolution has far surpassed modern medicine. Most people die not from bleeding out from wounds, but from mutant bacteria. Often, even a minor injury can be fatal. In such circumstances, with someone who can use energy to heal, do you think those formidable mutants in Beijing would let that go?"

Cong Xia broke out in a cold sweat. If those people knew that their team had both a healer, a Nature Force Evolver, and a Mind Domain Evolver, they would stop at nothing to eliminate them.

Zhuang Yao sneered, "If you're so afraid of those mutants, why bother getting involved with us?"

"I'm not afraid of them, but I need to be cautious. Generally, they aren't interested in us. They're only interested in the Puppet Jade in Wei Zi's hands. It's not our turn to conflict with them. However, now that Wei Zi is under pressure from all sides and needs to expand rapidly, both Zhao Fen and Yao Huang individually may not be as strong as me, but they have joined forces, and Wei Zi's first target for annexation is me. I believe that you didn't travel all the way to Luoyang without a reason. Most likely, you came for the Puppet Jade, which is not surprising. Most of the mutant teams or organizations that come to Luoyang are here for the Puppet Jade. I don't want the Puppet Jade; it's trouble, and I can't afford it. I only want to protect myself. Currently, we have a common enemy. That's why I'm here today, hoping to cooperate with all of you. However, if we are to collaborate, we have to bear the risks brought by the bounty. So..."

"So, you want to test if we have the strength to defeat Wei Zi and also repel the enemies who might attack us enticed by the bounty?" Zhuang Yao interrupted.

Yan Huiyang nodded.

Zhuang Yao smiled and said, "It seems like you have no other choice but to cooperate with us."

Yan Huiyang responded without showing any weakness, "I'm afraid you don't have a better choice than me either."

"In that case, let's skip the time for mutual probing and get straight to the point. Yes, we want the Puppet Jade in Wei Zi's possession. I know many people have tried to snatch it but failed. However, we are determined to obtain it. As for the bounty, anyone who dares to attack us will be mercilessly killed."

Yan Huiyang said firmly, "Alright, let's take this risk together. It's time for you to have an understanding about Wei Zi."

Zhuang Yao took out a notebook and looked at him, saying, "Now, tell us in detail about Wei Zi. Tell us everything you know."

Yan Huiyang cleared his throat and asked, "Before that, can you tell me who exactly has the healing ability? The bounty states that there are five of you plus a cat, so why is there an additional person?"

Cong Xia responded, "That's classified information. However, if you're on the brink of death, we will save you."

Yan Huiyang had already anticipated this outcome and didn't show any disappointment. "Very well, let me talk about Wei Zi. Let's start with the abilities of the Yi brothers, Yi Dong and Yi Nan..."

Yan Huiyang provided them with a detailed introduction to the Wei Zi mutant organization, including its size, composition, and development history. Although it had been less than a year since the apocalypse, the organization had already gone through numerous trials and tribulations, leaving a profound impact. It was no wonder that Yan Huiyang referred to the Puppet Jade as trouble. The Puppet Jade was like Pandora's box. When you possessed it, you could gain unexpected treasures, but you could also encounter unforeseen calamities. The rewards and risks were intertwined, making people unable to resist and become deeply entangled.

Wei Zi had no way back now. If they couldn't protect the Puppet Jade, they would die at any moment. However, once they possessed the Puppet Jade, they would face countless attacks. Even if they wanted to give up the Puppet Jade now, it was impossible. After long-term conflicts, they had made too many enemies. Losing the Puppet Jade would not bring them peace but rather a vengeful retaliation. They had thrived on the Puppet Jade, but it had ultimately pushed them into a desperate situation.

They discussed throughout the afternoon, gaining a comprehensive understanding of Wei Zi's situation. Before leaving, Yan Huiyang handed them a piece of paper. "This is the bounty notice. There are many inaccuracies, and only the picture of the celebrity is genuine. The rest are drawings, but you can take a look." He tossed the paper onto the coffee table and left.

Originally dozing off while listening to their conversation, Liu Fengyu, who was leaning against Tang Yanqiu, suddenly opened his eyes wide and jumped up from the sofa. He grabbed the paper and exclaimed, "Why didn't you show this earlier?" He looked down and became furious. "Damn it, why did they choose this picture of me? It's the worst hairstyle I've ever had!"

"Let me see, let me see." Deng Xiao, who had also been dozing off, became lively. "Brother Liu, it looks pretty cool. Be content. At least my picture isn't there."

Cong Xia patted Deng Xiao and said, "Stop messing around. Let others have a look."

Cong Xia took the paper and laid it on the table for everyone to see.

It was a very simple bounty notice, without the expected words "Wanted" or "Reward." Instead, it resembled a gym advertisement. In the center of the paper was a realistic painting of a giant cat, with the caption stating it was about 8 meters tall. Next to it was a tall vehicle with large tires, about 4 meters high. Next to them were five figures, four adults and one child. 

Apart from a celebrity picture of Liu Fengyu with his name and physical description, the other faces lacked features. However, Tang Yanqiu, wearing protective gear and carrying a large bow, still looked heroic. At the bottom of the image, it said there was a substantial reward for capturing everyone except Liu Fengyu and the person with the bow, alive. Although the Puppet Jade was not explicitly mentioned on this paper, it was apparent that the details of this "highest reward" had already spread.

Deng Xiao remarked, "Currently, only Liu Ge's identity has been recognized." There was a hint of envy in his tone.

Cong Xia said, "That's normal. Liu Ge used to be a well-known celebrity."

Liu Fengyu snorted, "I don't know why they chose such an unflattering picture. It doesn't resemble me at all. It's not even one-tenth as handsome as I am."

Tang Yanqiu frowned, "The direction of the bow is reversed. I'm left-handed."

Zhuang Yao glanced at them, "We should focus on what matters. From this picture, they can't determine who possesses the healing ability. It seems that Sun Ya has been silenced, and the foreigner is quite capable. That's a good thing. I can continue pretending, ensuring the safety of more people."

Liu Fengyu pursed his lips, still quite dissatisfied. However, Deng Xiao seemed eager and pulled at Liu Fengyu's hair. "Liu Ge, let's borrow a camera from someone and take some nice pictures to put on it. Oh, right, the computer earlier, the computer, does it have a front camera?"

Zhuang Yao picked up the laptop and glared at him. "Don't touch it." He turned to Cheng Tianbi and said, "Come to my room. Let's study the videos."

Tang Yanqiu also stood up and said, "I'll come along."

After speaking, the three of them headed towards Zhuang Yao's room.

Deng Xiao shrugged his shoulders. "There's nothing interesting. Why don't we have a meal instead? Cong Ge, when will you cook?"

Still shocked by the bounty notice, Cong Xia slowly regained her senses. "Oh, right, right. Someone is installing the generator outside. We'll cook as soon as they finish."

"That works. I'll go help them." Deng Xiao rolled up his sleeves and went outside.

As he opened the door, several women carrying clean bedding and cleaning tools happened to enter. They bowed respectfully, somewhat apprehensive, and began cleaning the place.

It seemed that Yan Huiyang had made thorough preparations.

As the prospect of finally enjoying a long-awaited meal of vegetables and fruits, taking a hot shower, using electric heating, and sleeping under clean blankets tonight came to mind, Cong Xia's gloomy mood finally eased a bit.





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