The Light-type Ability user-now one arm short-had planned to slip away with the other Evolvers.
Hearing Yang Bin's words, his body froze in place.
He snuck a glance at Yang Bin. The man was definitely looking at him. His stomach dropped.
"Uh... is there something you need me for?"
"Naturally." Yang Bin smiled.
"Haozi, keep an eye on him. I'm going to ransack Ma Zhongguo's place."
They already had plenty of supplies, sure-but what kind of bandit leaves empty-handed?
"On it."
Chen Hao responded but didn't reveal himself. Instead, he appeared beside the man and whispered.
"Best not move. My blade's fast-you've felt it."
"......"
The Light-type Ability user didn't dare twitch.
He'd felt it alright. That blade was fast.
Yang Bin walked into Ma Zhongguo's residence, activating True Vision Eye as he went.
They'd only brought two people. Couldn't carry much. So Yang Bin's target wasn't supplies-it was crystals.
If they were going to build their own faction, they'd need plenty of these down the line.
Under True Vision Eye, he quickly spotted a hidden compartment in Ma Zhongguo's bedroom.
Yang Bin popped it open with ease. Sure enough-crystals. A lot of them.
"This old bastard was sitting on a goldmine."
Yang Bin stared at the haul, genuine surprise crossing his face.
There were more crystals here than everything his group had collected combined-tens of thousands at minimum, every tier below sixth represented.
Official forces were official forces. Their crystal acquisition rate was on another level entirely, and this was what remained after Ma Zhongguo had already invested in cultivating all those Evolvers.
Give the man a bit more time, and the force under his command would've been genuinely terrifying.
"Good thing we moved early." Yang Bin exhaled.
Wait any longer and the base would've been crawling with Yaoguang Realm Evolvers. At that point, two guys trying to assassinate Ma Zhongguo? Pure fantasy.
Below Yaoguang Realm was just body tempering-bigger muscles, harder hits, nothing more.
But Yaoguang Realm meant real cultivation. Almost everyone at that stage developed abilities. Fighting outnumbered would've been off the table.
The crystals were already packed in a large burlap sack. Convenient. Yang Bin sealed the top and slung it over his shoulder.
Besides crystals, the residence held plenty of food, drinks, and medicine.
Too bulky to carry. He left it.
He did tear the Star City map off the wall and take that with him.
When Yang Bin emerged from the building, plenty of people noticed the sack on his back.
Luckily it wasn't transparent. They couldn't see what was inside. Otherwise, someone might've been desperate enough to try something.
A whole sack of crystals was the kind of temptation that made people take desperate risks. Anyone who got their hands on it could build a serious faction overnight.
"Haozi, grab him. We're out." Yang Bin called over his shoulder and headed for the base exit.
Their objective was Ma Zhongguo. Ma Zhongguo was dead. Time to go.
As for the rest-Yang Bin had no interest in killing them.
Maybe some of Ma Zhongguo's loyalists were still in there, but Yang Bin couldn't be bothered. Let the military sort it out.
One man hauling a sack, the other hauling a person-the two strolled out of the base under everyone's gaze.
Nobody dared stop them. Everyone had seen what they could do. Getting in their way was just suicide with extra steps.
Every single person in that base wanted them gone as fast as possible.
Even Ma Zhongguo's remaining confidants chose self-preservation, cutting ties with their dead boss without a second thought.
"Bin Ge, heading straight back?" Chen Hao asked.
"Still early. Let's hit the military base first. Get them to come take over here."
"Ma Zhongguo's dead. If the military doesn't step in, this place descends into chaos. A hundred thousand survivors in there-they'll tear each other apart."
"Mm."
"Bin Ge, everyone says you're too ruthless, but I still think deep down you're actually pretty kind." Chen Hao grinned.
"Depends on who we're talking about."
"Remember-be ruthless to enemies. No mercy, or you won't last long in the apocalypse. But don't lose your baseline humanity. Otherwise, what separates us from the zombies?"
"One extra trip might save a hundred thousand innocent people. Why wouldn't I?"
"But if you asked me to personally rescue them, escort them out of Star City-I wouldn't. That kind of thing drags you under."
"So. Apocalypse rule: your own interests come first. Help others only when it costs you nothing."
"Got it!" Chen Hao nodded seriously.
"You two... could you maybe stop chatting? I feel like... I need medical attention here. I'm going to bleed out and die."
The Light-type Ability user on Chen Hao's shoulder finally spoke up.
"Shut up. You're a peak fifth-tier Ability user. You're not dying that easy."
"......"
"Haozi, wrap him up. Can't have him dripping blood the whole way."
"Fine."
Chen Hao ripped the guy's clothes into strips and cinched them tight above the stump, cutting off blood flow.
Then he slapped together a rough bandage and hoisted the man back onto his shoulder.
"......"
Chen Hao pulled out the map, confirmed the Armed Forces Department's location, and the two took off running.
Both were carrying loads-no chance of riding bikes. Running it was.
Except after ten-plus minutes, the guy on Chen Hao's shoulder hit his limit.
"I'm saying... just kill me. If this keeps up, I'll be bounced to death before we even get there."
"Can't. You're still useful." Chen Hao said.
"Then find a goddamn vehicle! Who can take this kind of shaking?!"
"You're a fifth-tier Ability user. You won't shake to death."
"......."
"Actually-let's find a car." Yang Bin spoke up.
"It's over thirty kilometers."
"......"
"Bin... Bin Ge, I think running's fine, actually. Good exercise." Chen Hao said in a small voice.
Clearly, he had trauma.
"You should listen to your captain..." the Light-type Ability user chimed in again. He genuinely could not take another bounce.
"Don't come crying to me later!" Chen Hao said through gritted teeth.
In the end, they found a car abandoned on the roadside.
Keys still in the ignition. Didn't even need to hotwire it.
Yang Bin tossed the sack in the trunk and dropped into the driver's seat.
Chen Hao threw the Light-type Ability user into the back seat, climbed in after him, and immediately buckled his seatbelt.
The engine turned over.
Launch start.