Chapter 43 - Accidental Killing and Ambushers Seeking Recommendations Monthly Votes and Follow-up Reads

Self-cutting meridians?

Damn, what kind of suicide artifact is this?

Xu Shu looked at the Tai Chu Scroll prop bag, the thing that looked like a mineral water bottle, and cursed under his breath for such ill fortune.

These past couple of days had truly been vomit-inducing.

He had finally leveled up to 6, hoping to go out and flex his muscles and hunt more monsters, level up even more.

But that very night, Narrow Sleeve Guanyin had paid him a visit, his head almost bashed in, not to mention wasting a prop; the entire second floor of the prison was practically taken over by it.

And today was even more nauseating—this patrol team, as if struck with some kind of madness, had inexplicably ambushed and killed him.

What exactly were they after?

“Wait a second, that method of dying, seems so familiar…”

Xu Shu suddenly grew alert and pondered carefully.

No pain at all, killed instantly with the journey ending immediately, meaning he was dead before his brain could even react.

Totally instant-killed without any time to respond.

This was something even Narrow Sleeve Guanyin hadn’t managed to do.

And that familiar sense of déjà vu…

“Shit, I remember now, at the southwest bridge end, I also died in this inexplicable manner.”

“It must be them.”

“Could it be, they came for this prison with Black Widow in it?

So they killed on sight anyone alive?”

“But what could be here that they would so desperately want, not allowing others to touch?”

“The most valuable thing is just an armory, doesn’t seem worth going so crazy as to kill on sight, right?”

“Unless…

unless Black Widow was deliberately kept here by them?

Now that something’s gone wrong, they’ve come to silence those involved?”

“I remember, the longest anyone’s been imprisoned by Black Widow is like, ten to twenty days now.”

“No wonder it’s been so long, but no patrol team has come to clear her out, could it be that she’s actually being bred here?”

“Tch tch tch, now I get it, you all are deep in conspiracy.”

The more Xu Shu thought about it, the colder his laughter became.

To think that in such a human apocalypse, where common people can hardly find a place to survive under the oppression of monsters…

Yet the patrol soldiers, who should be guarding the peace, were they actually profiteering from this?

Hurting the people of the Wasteland?

Keep in mind, the patrol corps of the Wasteland are selected by the Supervision Bureau from the ranks of those in the Transcendent reserve.

In plain terms, these are the individuals with poor aptitude who, despite training, still can’t meet the starting standards of the Transcendents.

Because they’ve used precious medicines to temper their bodies and practiced the Body Refining Method, they are physically much stronger than the average person and hence could finally become patrol soldiers or part of the garrison.

In other words, these soldiers were all reared on the taxes paid by the city’s civilians, fattened on the blood and flesh of the ordinary people!

But now, they’re doing such dirty deeds, feeding the monsters with human flesh and blood?

This is beyond description, a total moral collapse, utterly unworthy of being called human!

“If you guys want to play this way, then don’t blame me for not being polite.”

A murderous intent began to rise in Xu Shu, yet his gaze became calm as the surface of a still lake.

All of this was just speculation based on his sudden death.

Whether the truth was as he suspected, he would find out after just one more check.

“Tai Chu Scroll, start the journey for me!”

An aura of mystery and murderous intent enveloped Xu Shu.

[Your rage is subsiding, and you’ve reflected on your mistake in seeing the patrol soldiers as the good guys.

You knew to beware of the villains of the Wasteland but forgot that many a villain often wears a sheepskin.]

[“Is anyone there?

This is the Patrol Team, we received a message that there are survivors here, we’ve come to rescue, respond if you receive this.”]

You laughed, they had started off pretending to be good samaritans, but if I don’t open the door, they’ll just break in, huh?

They’re indeed coming for me!

Their acting is so unconvincing!

The corners of Xu Shu’s mouth turned up in a dangerous arc.

“So be it…”

You chose to actively open the safety door from the inside!

“Ladies and gentlemen, I’ve been longing for stars and moon, and you’ve finally arrived!” Your face is filled with excitement, your gaze pure and kind.

As for acting skills, they’re not even fit to carry your shoes.

“Are you the only one trapped here?” Zeng Gui asked you after identifying his identity.

Looking at his pleasant face, you feel a spite in your heart, but for the sake of the greater plan and to lure the tiger out of the mountains, you intentionally lie:

“There’s another person, he’s trapped in a cell.

I found some keys, but they’re incomplete, I couldn’t rescue him.”

They have no suspicions, dismounting from their vehicle, all heavily armed, wary of their surroundings, they follow you into the prison.

You make sure to keep your body sideways to them, this time you won’t leave your back exposed to these guys.

“Officer, it’s been a tough journey, have some water.” You take out many bottled waters you’ve prepared in advance and hand them over.

Oh my God, you’ve already mixed ‘Self-cutting Meridians’ into them, they look indistinguishable if not examined closely.

The Patrol Soldiers are a bit weary, and naturally won’t refuse.

They thank you one after another, praising you as a brave young man.

The Patrol Soldiers drank one by one, water and food being the most precious supplies in the Wasteland, this was equally important for them.

“Short on water, officer?

I’ll get some more, this place used to be a warehouse, there’s plenty of food stored.” You walk towards the corner of the wall, where you’ve prepared your javelin- the steel reinforcement.

“It’s okay, young man, let’s rescue the other person first, we’ll take you to the shelter, time is pressing.

Hmm, this water is really sweet.” Zeng Gui also unscrewed the cap and took a sip, urging you on as he did so.

Of course it’s sweet, because his bottle is the sweet ‘Self-cutting Meridians,’ everyone else’s are just water, only his is different, because you know the strongest enemy is him.

This bottle of “Self-cutting Meridians” was opened and used by him, so the determination is effective.

His voice is thick, carrying the sentimentality of a mature middle-aged man, but you remain unmoved, because you know he’s about to die.

You face them, standing in the corner, ready to start the massacre once they fall into disorder, and you with a smile say, “Welcome death, this is the consequence for ambushing me.”

Following your words, a violent explosion ensued!

The fierce blue flames devoured seven or eight Patrol Soldiers, including Zeng Gui, they couldn’t even let out a scream before being instantly melted by the flames, leaving no traces of bodies.

Seeing the scene on the screen that resembled a gas explosion, Xu Shu was taken aback for a moment.

Does ‘Self-cutting Meridians’ mean self-destruction?

Wait, no, that’s not right!

This wasn’t caused by ‘Self-cutting Meridians’!

There was an ambush from the outside!

Someone attacked with something like a laser cannon!

“We’re under attack!

Enemy attack!

Be on guard!”

The surviving two or three Patrol Soldiers roar, rapidly forming up to counterattack while shouting to each other:

Lao Jiang, you go save people—Ah~

Take those two kids and leave first—Ah~

I—Ah~

The three’s screams were almost simultaneous, they were slightly luckier than their companions, their heads exploded, at least their bodies were left behind.

Xu Shu inhales sharply.

Damn!

I got it wrong!

My timing of death last time was too coincidental, just as I turned my back to the Patrol Team, causing the misunderstanding.

Now, I’ve discovered the real murderer—the one who killed me at the bridgehead— is someone else.

And right now, they’re hidden in the darkness, slaughtering the people inside the prison!

Xu Shu saw that the terrifying blue flame explosion was what caused his instant death without any pain.

The whole person was instantly dissolved; what pain could there be?

Looking at the whole Patrol Team being wiped out in an instant, thinking about their last words, they were actually trying to take you ‘civilians’ out first, you can’t help but feel both guilty and relieved.

You’re relieved that the future now is simulated, you’ve learned everything in advance.

If you were to mistakenly poison and kill Zeng Gui in reality, you would definitely feel remorseful for life.

But now, it’s your time for revenge.

‘Snipers, gunners,’ from the recent explosion and the last deaths of the three Patrol Soldiers, you preliminarily gauge the enemy’s general direction, to the southwest of the prison, that is the bottom left of the “grass” character.

The enemy has arrived, and waiting to die is not in your character; you choose to take the initiative to strike.

You reach the side of the safety door, using the wall as a cover, preparing to pick up the firearms scattered on the ground.

You’re cautious, knowing that rushing out in the face of a sniper is akin to suicide.

Your initial plan involves getting Gu Pan to help you, you clearly remember her saying that her firearms score is top-notch.

You may not understand firearms, but you pick up what looks like a powerful sniper rifle, planning to have Gu Pan use it to counter-snipe the enemy, while you provide support and look for an opportunity to attack from behind.

This is the only way to face a sniper hidden in the shadows.

Suddenly, the wall beside your head cracks, a spiraling bullet penetrates it, hitting your head with precision.

The moment the bullet pierces the wall, your first reaction is—