Chapter Forty-Six: Enemies Meet Again

There were no living creatures in the Longevity Garden. No, you didn't misread or mishear—there truly were no living things within the Longevity Garden.

Three days had passed. Wu Yue was surprised to discover something: Li Suizhu hadn't once complained of hunger. Tengshe had eaten a little, at least. As for Wu Yue and Ren Ruyi, they had entirely transcended the stage of needing food to replenish their strength.

The sky was never dark; from time to time, yellow sand drifted down.

“I’m not familiar with uncharted instances like this one,” Tengshe mused. “But nothing should surprise you, for the universe is vast beyond imagination, and the ways of living beings are inexhaustibly varied.”

“But exploration-based instances also hold tremendous opportunities. Sometimes, you may stumble upon a treasure at the roadside; other times, you might scheme and struggle only to end up with worthless junk. Without sufficient assurance, we seldom risk our lives seeking treasure.”

“That’s true,” Wu Yue nodded in deep agreement. “After all, fortune often favors the bold. Rather than seeking treasure, why not seize it?”

Tengshe forced an awkward smile, thinking, must you be so direct? It’s embarrassing to say it aloud, even if that’s what we do.

Li Suizhu snorted coldly, making clear her disdain and dissatisfaction. Ren Ruyi, however, just smiled serenely, unbothered, though from time to time faint blue-green lines flickered between her brows. Wu Yue noticed but didn’t press for an explanation.

There’s a saying: sometimes it’s fate that brings people together from a thousand miles apart, and sometimes adversaries are bound to meet on a narrow path.

Two groups, paths crossing at a narrow mountain valley—truly a tight encounter, entirely unexpected.

“Well, well, Brother Zong Shen, what a coincidence! It’s been a while, but you’re as impressive as ever.” Wu Yue smiled courteously.

The other group consisted of three men and three women—or, perhaps more accurately, four people and two captives.

The captives: one was Zong Shen. The other, a woman whose tattered clothes could not quite conceal her once-evident beauty. Both wore pallid expressions and were tethered together with rope by a woman, stumbling and staggering behind her.

Upon hearing Wu Yue’s words, Zong Shen seemed to regain his senses and shouted, “Wu Yue, kill them!” As soon as the words left his mouth, the woman jerked the rope violently. Zong Shen and the other captive convulsed in agony, their bodies wracked with spasms.

“Sister!”

“Shen Gonglei!”

Li Suizhu and Tengshe cried out almost simultaneously.

“So it’s just that stray dog again,” sneered one of the men. “Found yourself a few more teammates, or are you just lining up to be wiped out? Ha!”

“Wu Yue, kill them!” Zong Shen shouted desperately.

“Quiet them down,” Shen Gonglei said coolly.

“Yes, captain.” The woman grinned viciously.

“So, you intend to make enemies of our Thunder Strike Squad?” Shen Gonglei asked. He found the man opposite him difficult to read—too calm, with the composure of a dragon regarding ants. It gave Shen Gonglei a sense of foreboding.

“There’s no turning back now,” Wu Yue sighed, shaking his head. He raised his hand—and brought it down.

“Captain, Xiao Man—”

“Well done,” Shen Gonglei said without turning around. He could sense that Xiao Man, the woman who had just spoken, was already dead. Yet he hadn’t seen how Wu Yue acted!

Wu Yue spoke: “Zong Shen, really now. How did you end up in the hands of such ordinary people?”

Zong Shen was in a poor state, and couldn’t bother with Wu Yue’s mockery.

“You dare abuse a princess? Kill them for me, and I’ll reward you handsomely!” The previously silent woman suddenly cried out, her tone shrill, her demeanor unhinged.

Hearing this, Shen Gonglei actually breathed a sigh of relief. He called out in a clear voice, “Brother, I once heard a saying: ‘No fight, no acquaintance.’ I suppose that makes us acquainted now. To be honest, I’ve discovered a hidden realm. I couldn’t explore it alone, but with your help… As for these two, do with them as you please.”

With that, he nodded to another man, clad in silver battle armor, futuristic and out of place. The man tugged the rope and began marching toward Wu Yue.

“How dare you! Don’t you know who I am?” the captive princess shrieked.

Wu Yue turned to Li Suizhu. “Is your sister addled in the head?”

For once, Li Suizhu had no mind for bickering. Instead, she was genuinely frightened Wu Yue might actually join forces with Shen Gonglei—the more she thought about it, the more possible it seemed. Gritting her teeth, she stepped forward, a dagger flashing into her hand as she stabbed at the armored man.

The assault came without warning, but the armored man showed no panic. With a sidestep, he dodged. Li Suizhu attacked again, but he continued to evade, never once striking back. Wu Yue took hold of the rope, and the armored man turned and left. Li Suizhu stabbed a few more times, but again, to no avail.

“You wretch!” Li Suizhu hastily dropped her dagger and covered the princess’s mouth. Wu Yue was no kindhearted soul, after all.

Wu Yue could not be bothered with the deranged princess. With a single chop, he broke the iron chain around Zong Shen’s neck. “Brother Zong, how did you fall so low?” he said with a smile.

Zong Shen managed a bitter smile, his gaze toward Wu Yue complex and unreadable. “Never thought I’d be saved by you.”

“Tell me something useful,” Wu Yue said.

Zong Shen frowned. “Aside from Shen Gonglei, the others are not particularly advanced in cultivation. But they possess numerous artifacts—dangerous and unpredictable.”

“So you were wounded by one of these artifacts?”

“No. I was defeated by Shen Gonglei himself.”

Wu Yue was speechless.

“All right. Take time to recover. I’m here now,” Wu Yue assured him.

Zong Shen bowed his head in gratitude, too spent even for jealousy.

“Brother, have you considered my offer?” Shen Gonglei called out, affecting the manner of a brash warrior. “I can guarantee that no one else knows of this secret realm. We’ll be the first to enter. With you on my side… As for those two, they’re yours to dispose of.”

He was confident; after all, in their line of work, ruthlessness and self-interest were the rule. Survival was all that mattered. He didn’t believe Wu Yue would trouble himself over two people who seemed barely friends.

“Captain Shen is too kind,” Wu Yue replied with a smile.

Shen Gonglei hadn’t intended to be so polite, but when he saw Wu Yue shatter the rope with a single chop, he changed his mind. That rope was no ordinary thing; it had been obtained through a perilous mission, and though single-use, it was remarkably sturdy—almost impossible to break. Even Shen Gonglei himself couldn’t have destroyed it so easily.

Wu Yue found it amusing, seeing Shen Gonglei grow more cautious. He could guess why—his chop had carried the power of the Fei Quick Sword, a warning for the opposition.

Now, he was mainly focused on restoring himself. After the world of Endless Summer, he could fully control the power of the Fei Quick Sword, but it still cost him a great deal. The enemy was deep and unfathomable—he could not afford to lose because of the slightest lapse.

It was time to begin.

“Captain Shen, shall we begin?” Wu Yue asked.

“Begin what?” Shen Gonglei replied.

“Begin fighting, of course,” Wu Yue answered, as though it were obvious.

“Why?” Shen Gonglei suddenly felt wronged. After all this, they still had to fight?

Wu Yue raised his brows, righteous and unyielding. “You insulted the people of my homeland. How could I let that pass? But don’t worry—I’ll try to spare your life.”

“Fine, fine, fine!” Shen Gonglei snarled, his face contorted with rage.

“Very well,” Wu Yue smiled faintly.

With a flick of his finger—Fivefold Fire Overlay.

Shen Gonglei suddenly leapt away, and Wu Yue sensed that something was amiss.

A beam of light, thick as an arm, shot toward him.

“Laser cannon!” crowed the armored man, triumphant. A gun barrel had extended from his arm, still steaming with residual heat.

“Combat mode initiated!”