Night of Despair

Chapter 132: Hope Four
 

Regarding Guan Cao’s words, he listened carefully to what was useful and did his own things when it was not.

Unfortunately, when he asked about Tang Haitao, Guan Cao was also unclear about the situation.

After training for a while, he ate some nutritional paste, said goodbye to a tired Guan Cao, and then left to check on the activities of Li Rushan and his group.

Outside the cave, Li Rushan had already dug a simple foundation and was sitting with Aisena, eating nutritional paste and explaining something.

Zhou Xueguang was taking care of the newly moved breeding tank, turning around in the yard with a single hand, his brow furrowed as if pondering something.

“Old Li,” Yu Hong descended the stone steps, surveying the surroundings. “I need a favor first.”

“What is it?” Li Rushan seemed to quickly adjust back from his friend’s departure and stood up to approach.

“It’s still about leg techniques,” Yu Hong thought for a moment, “I’ve got a heavy leg technique that increases combat power, but I lack one that can boost speed.”

He had thought of this idea early on in his training: if he could have a leg technique that increased movement speed, he could greatly shorten his travel time in many places.

“Movement speed?” Li Rushan was puzzled. “Isn’t that just running? Just run more.”

“Speaking of which, since the last time we taught leg techniques, it has been a long time since we’ve practiced together. How about a round?” Yu Hong mused.

“…Fine, that works, but your strength is now too great–we can only practice moves at most. To really spar…probably only enhanced humans can match you,” Li Rushan said with a pause, quickly adding.

“Then let’s just practice techniques. I’m seriously lacking in real combat experience right now. Old Zhou, come and give some pointers too,” Yu Hong said earnestly.

He wouldn’t think that just because he had saved two people, he was invincible. At least until he could handle many firearms, he didn’t feel strong.

And in this dangerous era where firearms often failed to work, his skills were even weaker.

“I’ve actually witnessed combat styles similar to yours among enhanced people,” Zhou Xueguang approached, with a hint of reminiscence.

He and Li Rushan now shared their knowledge without reservation. After carefully inquiring about Yu Hong’s leg techniques, the two synthesized them and provided a set of practical leg technique moves.

After all, the few moves of Basic Survival Leg Technique were not enough; facing many complex environments, Yu Hong had to use his hands as a substitute.

But according to Zhou Xueguang, a true master of leg techniques hardly needs to use hands; a few moves with the legs can settle everything, because the power of the legs far exceeds that of the hands.

Together, the two quickly helped Yu Hong summarize all the details of the practical leg techniques and recorded them on paper.

Next, there was nothing but repeated practice; there were no shortcuts.

Yu Hong planned to incorporate the recorded moves into his Cultivation Technique during enhancement, further perfecting his combat system.

Now that the two biggest problems in the safe house had been solved, energy and water, he was much more settled.

The excavation and use of the Black Mark were also on the schedule.

The most critical point was still the optimization and enhancement of the Cultivation Technique. After the mark was completed, Yu Hong planned to enhance his Cultivation Technique again.

The previous Cultivation Technique optimization had paid off; otherwise, he wouldn’t have even been able to touch the person behind Evil Shadow that last time.

Next, after strengthening the leg technique, he would need a special Inner Strength practice that accelerates the cultivation of Inner Qi.

His current Inner Qi depended solely on the gradual accumulation from practicing the leg technique, which was unbearably slow for Yu Hong.

After recognizing the effect of Inner Qi on the Black Mark and the effect on the mark itself, he decided to rely on his current experience in cultivating Inner Qi to summarize a new simple method of cultivating Inner Qi, then combine and enhance it to create a specialized Inner Strength Cultivation Technique.

Based on the fundamental requirements for strengthening the Black Mark, he had been cultivating Inner Qi for so long, and he had some basic understanding of this energy. With this as a foundation, envisioning a feasible, pure Inner Strength technique was no longer difficult.

If it were at the very beginning, when he was completely ignorant about Inner Qi, he certainly couldn’t have done it, but now, with the foundational Inner Qi from the basic leg technique, his understanding of Inner Qi had far surpassed the past. So…he already had a foundation for devising a pure Inner Strength technique!

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Baihe City.

The United Military’s enhanced troop female soldiers’ barracks.

Stuttering carefully handed over her Enhanced Red Value Detector to the female soldier who came to pick it up.

“When…will you…return it to me?” She hesitated, her hands reluctant to let go of the detector.

That was the treasure Yu Hong had given her; it had saved their squad’s lives before. Its functionality, and more importantly its significance, was very different.

“Don’t worry; the results will be known only after it is examined by the higher-ups. Rest assured, your contribution to the army could potentially save many elite comrades who would otherwise die in missions. Besides, you won’t have any missions during this time, to ensure your safety,” the visitor replied earnestly and sincerely.

“I understand,” Stuttering nodded. If it could help more people survive, as reluctant as her heart was, she still let go.

Allowing the research institute to thoroughly analyze and understand it before massively replicating it was the right way to use the Enhanced Red Value Detector.

“Don’t worry; with Xu’s connections, no one dares to have any ill intentions,” Ou Li approached impatiently from behind. “Moreover, the fifth institute is in the city; if you’re not busy, you can go and inquire about the progress.”

“Okay…” Stuttering stepped back with difficulty, exchanged a salute with the female soldier picking up the detector, and then watched her turn around and quickly walk towards the barracks’ exit.

The female soldier exited the barracks and quickly got into a camouflage military vehicle parked by the roadside.

Two people sat in the military vehicle.

One of them, dressed in a black ladies’ suit with long hair tied up, had a sharp facial expression. It was Wei Hongye’s wife, Qiu Yanxi.

“Did you get the item?” Qiu Yanxi looked at the object in the female soldier’s hands, her expression becoming slightly tense.

“Got it,” the female soldier reached up to her face, and in an instant, she tore off the entire mask, revealing a completely different face.

“Everyone saw that it was someone from the fifth institute who took the detector,” she said with a slight smile, handing over the object to Qiu Yanxi.

Taking the detector, Qiu Yanxi sighed, a familiar yet increasingly strange face of Yu Hong flashing through her mind.

“We didn’t get the herb, but this as a substitute isn’t bad either. If the higher-ups hadn’t left earlier, this wouldn’t even have been our chance.”

Although Yu Hong had saved them, with the high-risk Black Disaster drawing near, Yu Hong was inevitably going to die in the wilderness. The technology he left behind would be sought after by others if she didn’t go after it herself.

Compared to her and her associates, other people wouldn’t regard Yu Hong’s feelings, and might even harm little stammerer Lin Yiyi cruelly.

Instead of that happening, it was better for her to take the initiative. This way, she could ensure the safety of little stammerer Lin Yiyi, as well as help her husband increase his standing and authority in Aurora City. It was two birds with one stone.

“It’s time to head back, ma’am. We’re taking the last batch of ships out tomorrow, we need to prepare.” The female soldier reminded.

“Mhm.” Qiu Yanxi nodded, collecting her thoughts.

The military vehicle slowly started and drove along the now rather deserted road toward the distance.

The next day.

Baihe City port.

There were a total of six ships heading to Aurora City, each a massive cargo vessel carrying evacuees. They were starting up one after another, sailing off into the distant sea.

Shortly, the first five ships had slowly embarked, leaving the harbor.

At the last cargo ship’s side.

A long queue of evacuees was gradually boarding the ship, maintained by the Joint Military soldiers.

Wei Hongye’s family, along with two other families of the same ranking from research institutes, looked slightly anxious as they chatted idly, slowly inching forward in the line.

Not far behind them were the families of important members from research institutes, such as One-Eyed Dragon, and further back, a few knowledgeable and capable small businessmen who had exchanged their accumulated goods for these last spots on the cargo vessel.

Even farther away, many oblivious onlookers watched the activity, completely unaware that they were the last group of people being abandoned.

Buzz!

Accompanied by the sound of the ship’s whistle signaling departure, Wei Hongye and his family also stepped onto the boarding passage.

Wei Shanshan couldn’t resist turning back to look at Baihe City, a trace of confusion fleeting through her eyes.

“Mom, what kind of place is Aurora City? Will it be safer than here?”

“Many important figures have already moved there ahead of time. It’s definitely much safer than here,” Qiu Yanxi smiled reassuringly.

“But with so many important figures there already, will we end up living poorly when we get there?” Wei Shanshan couldn’t help but express her worry.

“It definitely won’t be bad. Your dad has everything prepared. Just trust him,” Qiu Yanxi said with a gentle smile, confident that with the Enhanced Red Value Detector and by uncovering a bit of technology, they could quickly establish themselves after the move.

“Okay… I actually…” Wei Shanshan lowered her head, her expression anxious.

Swoosh…

Suddenly, a subtle sound of the wind arose, catching everyone’s ears.

At first, the sound was very faint, but in just a few seconds, it rapidly grew louder and louder.

“My God!! What is that!??”

Someone standing at a high point cried out in terror.

“Look to the right! Look at the right side!! The cargo ships leaving the harbor!!”

“In the sea! Look in the sea!!”

“Fuck!”

A chorus of voices thick with fear rose into the air.

Just as Wei Hongye and his family were confused about what was happening.

BOOM!!!

A deafening roar accompanied by a huge swell of waves erupted from the sea.

Under the gaze of everyone.

In the port, gradually moving into the deeper seas.

One of the previously departed cargo vessels, a white ship over three hundred meters long, was violently struck midsection by a giant black creature that had surged out from the right side.

The sound of the impact reverberated with the spray of water.

The cargo ship snapped in two instantly, like a child breaking a simple cardboard box, easily severed by the collision.

Moo!!

The black creature briefly leaped out of the sea, revealing a giant head covered in dense, black horns.

It gently re-entered the water, its huge body spanning over three hundred meters, turned a corner, trailing a long plume of black smoke as it charged toward the next ship.

BOOM!!!

The cargo ship that Wei Hongye and his family were about to board was also completely broken in two at that moment.

At the port’s edge, the heavy body of the cargo ship was violently smashed into the air, thrusting onto the empty square and roadway on the shore.

Countless metal fragments flew through the air, striking the people who had not yet reacted, and blood instantly splattered everywhere.

At the same time, across another part of Baihe City’s sky, swarms of massive Multi-eyed Birds flapped their wings, with sharp beaks diving toward the urban area of the city.

Roar!!

The dense cries of the birds plunged the partly abandoned Hope City into total despair.

Because of the departure of the upper echelons, a large number of elite Joint Military forces and plenty of weapons and equipment had silently been taken away.

The people left behind were utterly incapable of defending against the Black Disaster’s incoming monsters.

And the outcome of this was that Baihe City was finished.