Everyone panicked when they saw the aliens. Although Zhuo Ran immediately reminded them to get back in the car, some people couldn't make it because the people who got in earlier refused to open the doors.
A few veterans, along with Shen Zhongyan and Jin Wenye, held off the aliens to buy them time. Old Jin roared at the people in the car, "Damn it, open the doors! Whoever doesn't let others in, I'll kill them later!"
Some people ignored him, while others, seeing that the immediate danger had lessened, opened their car doors to let others squeeze in. But even after getting in, it wasn't safe. The situation was chaotic, and they couldn't escape, so they could only huddle in the cars, trembling.
Something jumped onto their car and leaped around above their heads. Some outside were hitting their car windows with objects. Cracks instantly appeared on the windows of several cars.
Shen Zhongyan, wielding his long sword, cleaved the alien that had attacked the woman at the beginning. Another alien of comparable size lunged at him. He dodged, and more and more aliens surrounded him, trying to find an opening to attack.
Jin Wenye's powers had awakened not long ago, and he was quickly overwhelmed. Others were too preoccupied to help him.
Shen Zhongyan could only maintain peak alertness and resist with all his might. His long sword shimmered with a radiant light. Any alien he touched would be severely injured, if not killed. Shen Zhongyan could feel this and tried to connect with the sword's consciousness.
After shaking off a few aliens, he soared into the air. His long sword stood upright before him. He made hand seals, and the sword let out a hum, its radiance scattering and quickly forming a formation around him.
Seeing this, Zhuo Ran's eyes widened. She shouted to the others, "Quick, get out of the way!"
Some noticed the scene in the air and quickly retreated from the circle. Others were entangled by aliens and couldn't escape.
Shen Zhongyan couldn't control the sword array well. He looked at the sword shadows around him and instantly regretted it, but it was too late. He struggled for a few seconds, then helplessly watched as the sword descended, instantly turning the creatures below into sieves.
"Holy shit, holy shit, that was incredible!"
Old Jin dragged his teammates back rapidly, shouting as he retreated.
Others who could retreat did so. Those who couldn't quickly used objects from above to block, or tried to protect their vital areas.
As the light and shadow vanished, Shen Zhongyan landed back on the ground. His long sword, for some reason, had disappeared. He looked up to see Zhuo Ran walking towards him.
"Are you injured?"
Shen Zhongyan shook his head. Someone in the crowd shouted, "I'm fucking injured!"
Several people had been injured by the sword energy, but thankfully, none of the vital areas were hit.
Jin Wenye called Lin Wan out. She was cautious, knowing she would only be a burden if she came out, and had stayed put.
At this point, she no longer bothered to hide her spiritual spring space. She took out a lot of spiritual spring water to replenish the energy and heal the injured.
Shen Zhongyan's sword array, Lin Wan's space – the others didn't know which to be more astonished by. After their wounds were treated, they sat together to rest, no longer intending to sleep.
They couldn't sleep at all.
They had revealed two major secrets, and Old Jin's group was determined to stick with them, sending Old Jin, the most eloquent one, to get closer to them.
"Brother Shen, what was that ability of yours just now? It was amazing! You wiped out those beasts in one go!"
Shen Zhongyan looked somewhat bewildered. "I don't know. It just came to me then, and I used it."
Old Jin pondered for a moment, then suddenly became excited. "I know! You must be the reincarnation of a great being from a cultivation world. That sword was what you used in your past life, and it's always been with you, coming out to protect you when you're in danger. It must be like that!"
Shen Zhongyan: "..."
"Brother, you watch too many novels," Shen Qian squeezed in and sat with them. He looked at the pale Jin Wenye and said, "Mr. Jin, you should go rest. Everyone can't sleep. There probably won't be any more danger. You look unwell, go rest."
Lin Wan was also worried about him. Jin Wenye had probably expended too much energy at once, and even the spiritual spring water couldn't fully restore him immediately. He looked quite disheveled.
He hesitated for a moment, then stood up and went to the car to rest.
Old Jin said magnanimously, "Brother, why do you call him Mr. Jin? Was he a big boss before?"
Someone chimed in, "He's the CEO of Jin Corporation. He used to be on S City's financial reports frequently."
"So powerful!" Old Jin gave a thumbs-up and sighed, "Life is truly unpredictable. If not for these damn things happening, people like him, we probably would never have met in our lives... Alas, I wish we never had to meet him."
No one liked this world filled with death and suffering.
Better to be a contented dog in times of peace than a displaced person in times of chaos.
"Who isn't?"
Everyone's spirits were somewhat low. They sat in small groups, building fires for warmth. Shen Zhongyan was a little tired and rested for a while. As the sky began to lighten, everyone started boiling water and cooking. After a simple breakfast, they set off.
They were still over a hundred kilometers from Zhuo Ran's designated destination. If they encountered no trouble, they could reach it in two hours.
The seating arrangement was adjusted again. Jin Wenye was groggy from over-exertion, and his special assistant, injured last night, couldn't drive. Lin Wan only had a driver's license and no road experience. Zhuo Ran thus took over as the driver.
Shen Zhongyan was also tired and rested in the passenger seat.
Old Master Jin had been significantly worn down by the events of the past few days. He looked visibly thinner. Several times, he tried to tell Jin Wenye not to worry about him, but Jin Wenye, with a dark expression, rebuffed him.
As his only blood relative, how could he not care?
Zhuo Ran wasn't very good at comforting people other than Zhongyan. She just told him not to overthink it and that they would be fine.
Her car led the way. The road conditions worsened as they went further. It took them over two hours to reach the vicinity of the lake. There was a sign by the road indicating they were twelve point four kilometers from the lake.
She stopped by the roadside, waiting for Old Jin's car to catch up. She asked him to take the lead.
He rolled down his window, and she said, "Don't honk when you go past. Don't make too much noise. If you encounter any real danger, prioritize your own survival."
"What about you?"
"We'll cover the rear."
"Alright."
The cars behind them gradually caught up. Shen Qian, driving the Shen family, had already moved ahead. Some people, upon hearing they would be at the back, immediately voiced their displeasure.
"What if we encounter danger at the front? The strong ones should be at the front."
"Exactly, are you trying to get us killed?"
Zhuo Ran, not bothering to argue with them, simply drove away.
The other group stubbornly followed behind. Su Dan Novel Network
The lake was known as "Ten-Mile Lotus," and with the rivers connected, it was about six to seven kilometers long. The road they were taking was still seven to eight kilometers from the closest point of the lake, making it relatively safe.
However, every team was bound to have someone who courted disaster.