Chapter 26
The group of accomplices instantly lost their nerve, faces drained of color, too late to run, all being tossed out of the vehicle by Xiao Jin, becoming food for the zombie horde.
This scene unfolded in just a few minutes.
The people present had varied expressions.
Jia Lan frowned deeply while looking at Shen Li and Xiao Jin, feeling they were acting strange today; normally, they avoided the fat lady like the plague, yet today they proactively stood up for her?
Xue Yinzhou’s eyes flashed with interest, but he said nothing and merely remained a cold observer from start to finish, turning away to leave.
The City Lord’s face showed displeasure, a dark gleam flickering in his eyes, but he said nothing, only ordered that future harassment of females by beastmen be strictly prohibited and would be severely punished.
Shen Tang was surprised that Xiao Jin would voluntarily step in to protect her, feeling astonished.
Xiao Jin strode up to her, but merely snorted coldly, his voice as icy and disdainful as always, “Don’t keep indulging in these disgraceful foolish acts. What, only putting on airs here? Used all your tricks on us p>
He only despised her for embarrassing him.
Once the farce was over, Shen Tang returned to help other single beastmen in the troop with mental soothing, since on her journey, she needed the protection of male beastmen, so contributing was the least she could do.
The stronger the beastman troop became, the better for her safety.
This time, fortunately, no one tried any physical moves, and things went quite smoothly.
Having completed the task, Shen Tang’s entire spiritual power was exhausted, and she planned to return to the armored vehicle to rest.
Walking down the path, she suddenly felt two extremely malicious gazes; she looked up to see Shi Yin and An Ya not far away, frowning coldly; had these two joined forces?
An Ya also participated in today’s mental soothing task; she didn’t resist joining such tasks, as it earned her a reputation for being kind-hearted and gentle, making young males in the city even more infatuated with her. Sometimes she could also pick out a few talented beastmen as her lackeys, willing to give her all; why not?
Hence, An Ya had witnessed the entire event today, and felt even more jealous of Shen Tang, this ugly freak, clenching her hands tight with nails faintly piercing into her palms.
How did this ugly freak earn the protection of Shen Li and Xiao Jin!
And somehow this weird one was looking better lately; although still very fat, ugly in appearance, not even deserving to be compared to her, yet An Ya was inexplicably irritated by her!
Remembering Shen Li and them frequently standing up for Shen Tang lately, An Ya increasingly viewed Shen Tang as a thorn in her side, wanting the fat lady gone as soon as possible!
If she could achieve this without shedding blood, using a borrowed knife, all the better.
With a shift in thought, An Ya related the matter to Shi Yin, who—this foolish female—furiously stormed over immediately to intimidate Shen Tang.
“Shen Tang, you ugly freak, how dare you seduce Brother Xiao Jin, where do you even get the nerve!” Shi Yin angrily stormed over, blocking her path.
Shen Tang discerned they were again seeking trouble, a glint of coldness crossing her eyes, her expression contemptuous, “Xiao Jin is already my beast husband; what goes on with him and me is your business why p>
Shi Yin grew angrier, “Xiao Jin is the male I fancy; you’re completely unworthy of him! Be sensible and divorce him soon! Or else I’ll be the one to make you look good p>
“Oh? Xiao Jin is your beast husband? Then go call him and see if he’ll answer you.” Shen Tang found it amusing; Xiao Jin, this dog-man, proud and dismissive of her, likely didn’t care much for Shi Yin either; where did this female get her confidence?
Upon hearing this, Shi Yin’s face suddenly turned nastier; her inability to gain favor with Xiao Jin despite continuous expressions of affection, repeatedly ignored by the man, was why she shifted her rage towards Shen Tang.
Powerless anger, self-deception.
Shi Yin was crazed with jealousy; how could this fat lady possess Xiao Jin and Shen Li as beast husbands?
The reason they stood up for her today was merely because she was their partner.
If she were Xiao Jin’s partner, they would undoubtedly protect her so.
This ugly freak simply didn’t deserve it!
But aside from venting rage on Shen Tang, Shi Yin couldn’t do anything else, intensifying her frustration; her gaze sinister, like a cold venomous snake, reaching out intending to slap her face.
“Fighting within the troop is strictly forbidden; if you wish to move, I don’t mind calling over the City Lord to see how his daughter publicly disgraces him!” Shen Tang wouldn’t suffer a loss the second time, grasping her wrist and flinging it aside.
Shi Yin’s frail limbs and thin legs nearly made her stumble to the ground, her face twisted with rage, “You! How dare you lay a hand on me p>
“If you’re sick, go get treated; don’t act mad biting here; I’m no vet.” Shen Tang frowned, lips tugging, dismissive, continuing past the two.
“You dare insult me!” Shi Yin’s face further contorted; this fat lady still dared ignore her, just leaving like that?
Yet Shen Tang had invoked her father, and Shi Yin wasn’t foolish enough to cause trouble for Shi Lun at this juncture, biting her lip, only leaving in frustration.
Meanwhile, Shen Tang returned to rest in the vehicle, a broadcast voice ringing in her mind.
[Beep, congratulations to the host, Shen Li affinity +20 p>
[Beep, congratulations to the host, Xiao Jin affinity +20 p>
[Beep, congratulations to the host, Jia Lan affinity +10 p>
[Beep, congratulations to the host, Xue Yinzhou affinity +10 p>
Shen Tang felt astonished, today earned quite a lot, likely related to her pacifying the troop males.
Though Xiao Jin voiced disdain, internally he couldn’t have been unmoved; no male disdains a gentle kind-hearted female, even if she doesn’t look good, feeling would somewhat grow internally.
In the ensuing days, life didn’t change much; but since entering A-level pollution zone from the B-level, the pollutant levels clearly increased.
One day, the troop faced attacks from 13 S-level pollutants in a single day; if not for Xiao Jin’s intervention, the team might have been decimated.
And as pollutant levels rose, even outside the battlefield, Shen Tang felt these pollutants’ intelligence noticeably increased.
The lowest-grade zombies were akin to those in films, only possessing instinct to attack humans.
But S-level pollutants evidently possessed intelligence, engaging them in strategic combat, often launching night raids.
Despite the troop preparing for such attacks and bolstering night defenses, they still got hit successfully multiple times, losing nearly hundreds.
The City Lord ordered canceling nighttime rest stops; beastmen and females, when not out fighting, were to stay inside the vehicle, speeding forward.
Everyone was incredibly exhausted physically and mentally, morale low, hopes dimming further.
The team led by the City Lord represented nearly half of the city’s elite forces; if unable to rescue the trapped troop, risking this elite unit would not be worthwhile.
Some suggested the City Lord return the way they came.
But having traveled most of the way, the destination remaining was only dozens of kilometers away; how could they turn back halfway?
But the path ahead would only grow more hazardous; unable to see hope would destabilize troop morale.
Shi Yin suddenly brought good news; she discovered precious purification crystal mines several kilometers ahead.
The news greatly boosted morale upon release.
“Is this news true? There’s indeed purification crystal ore found ahead p>
“Our trip wasn’t in vain; locating crystal mines and extracting those purification crystals to bring back would mean massive profit p>
At the shelter, consumables and water sources were polluted, requiring purification before consumption, and with no beastmen possessing purification abilities in the city, clean water and food required purification crystals; hence, such crystals were extremely valuable, fetching high prices in the black market, each purification crystal trading for over ten thousand Star Coins.
Although Shen Tang and Shi Yin didn’t get along, hearing this news delighted her, since acquiring purification crystals would benefit all beastmen in Shelter City.
[System, is there really a purification crystal mine ahead p>