Chapter 221: Chapter 19: The Cave (Big Chapter)_2
Xiao Xue spoke with absolute certainty as she gently stroked the Cyclops’s forehead.
The Cyclops, on the other hand, squinted comfortably, enjoying the soothing caress of her soft little hand.
"Hmm, tsk tsk."
How should I put this?
Staring at the Cyclops still nestled in Xiao Xue’s arms, and her slightly confused gaze, Wen Yu thought for a moment, but he still didn’t manage to disclose that the Cyclops was his soul pet.
"Let’s set off. The sooner we solve this problem, the earlier you can return to the military department."
Upon seeing Xiao Xue’s slight nod, Wen Yu took the lead and walked downstairs.
As soon as they reached downstairs, Xiao Xue activated her Soul Realm.
This was a self-protection technique for Soul Masters and also demonstrated Xiao Xue’s cautiousness.
More importantly, it revealed something: Xiao Xue, it seemed, was the type the Dominator had mentioned—those who treated Soul Masters as if they were Summoners, just another kind of professionist.
A flash of purple light flared in mid-air, and then a husky, three meters tall, leaped out of the Soul Realm. Its fur was sleek and glossy, and its bright eyes scanned its surroundings. Then, it silently tucked its tail between its legs and scampered far away.
Animals’ ability to perceive danger is indeed much stronger than humans’.
Xiao Xue quietly communicated with her soul pet, then gently placed the Cyclops back into Wen Yu’s arms.
"I’m sorry, I didn’t know it’s your soul pet..."
Looking at Xiao Xue’s slightly flushed cheeks, Wen Yu smiled at her and her soul pet.
"Its name is Cyclops. It’s a bit naughty."
"Um, well, how come it’s so small?"
Xiao Xue hesitated for a long time before finally asking.
Wen Yu shook his head, indicating he wasn’t going to explain.
"Let’s go find Simba. I haven’t seen him for quite a while."
By the time Wen Yu and the others had left, a trap targeting Wen Yu and the Cyclops was already set up in an old factory district.
SQUEAK.
The harsh sound of a door being pushed open echoed.
Then, Wanping’s figure slowly emerged from the underground space. He moved very slowly, like a decrepit old man.
Guan Tao looked at his old friend before him, sighed lightly, and then spoke.
"Are you ready? The fish has taken the bait."
Wanping slowly nodded, then looked up, meeting Guan Tao’s eyes intently.
After a moment, Wanping’s voice finally sounded.
"Have the Organization’s reinforcements arrived?"
Guan Tao nodded.
"They’re already in position at the trap location."
"Hmm."
Wanping’s reactions were quick at this point.
"Once that dog is dealt with, kill everyone at the scene! Including those from the Organization."
Hearing this, Guan Tao looked at Wanping in surprise.
"If you kill them, what will you do? They’re the only ones who can help you regain control of your body!"
"That’s meaningless!" Wanping answered without hesitation.
"Do you know what their solution is? To turn me into some creature that’s neither human nor monster? I’d rather die! Besides, I truly despise these human traitors! Truly!"
When Wen Yu and his group met up with the people responsible for pinpointing Simba’s location, they were already at the foot of East Mountain.
Xiao Xue stepped forward and chatted with her subordinates for a while before returning to Wen Yu.
"My men say the lion is currently in a cave on the mountain’s far side. Judging by its size, it hasn’t reached Level 4 yet. It looks like this task will be easy. And after all this time, my 3rd Soul Realm finally has a prospect!"
Hearing Xiao Xue’s words, Wen Yu nodded.
"Then let’s get to it."
"By the way, you should have reached Level 4 by now, right? Why haven’t you contracted a fourth soul pet yet?" Xiao Xue asked, striking up a conversation as they followed the guide.
"I have high standards."
"You don’t even fancy that lion? It’s quite powerful!"
Wen Yu noted Xiao Xue’s slight excitement and casually replied, "If Kuangliu had told me you were such a chatterbox, I definitely would have refused his request. After this is over, I’m going to Yanjing to have a word with him!"
Xiao Xue pouted, deliberately falling back a couple of steps. She rolled her eyes exaggeratedly at Wen Yu before slowly moving to the front again.
Xiao Xue had brought five people, all of whom were Third-level professionists.
This alone showed the military’s profound strength; they were truly powerful!
The journey uphill was tough. However, with Xiao Xue, a peak Level 3 professionist; Wen Yu, a Level 4 expert; and Qi Qi, Xiao Xue’s intimidating soul pet, no audacious mutant beasts dared to disturb them. Consequently, they didn’t take long at all!
Less than half an hour later, the leading soldier had led the team to the front of a colossal cave.
"It’s inside," the leading soldier informed Xiao Xue, who was behind him.
"Mm," Xiao Xue responded with a nod and proceeded toward the cave entrance.
WOOF WOOF!
"Boss, I can’t smell Simba in there," the Cyclops communicated.
The Cyclops had a keen sense of smell. Having interacted with Simba before, it could naturally recognize his scent.
"Wait!"
Upon hearing the Cyclops’s warning, Wen Yu immediately stopped Xiao Xue, who was about to enter the cave. He then turned to the soldier who had led the way.
"My soul pet tells me it doesn’t detect the lion’s scent in there."
The soldier furrowed his brows at Wen Yu’s statement.
"That’s impossible. My skill shows the lion is inside."
Wen Yu glanced at the soldier’s serious expression, then turned back to gaze into the pitch-black cave and promptly declared, "My soul pet is never wrong! There’s something wrong with this cave!"
Then, looking seriously at the conflicted Xiao Xue, he stated firmly, "Let’s call off this mission for now. I suspect your man made a mistake. The danger level inside is impossible to determine. If you insist on going in, I won’t accompany you!"
Xiao Xue exchanged glances with Wen Yu. Then, she scrutinized the soldier who had stood motionless from the start. After a long moment, she simply shook her head at Wen Yu.
"He wouldn’t make a mistake. He’s always been my Praetorian Guard. Compared to you, I trust him more."
"Then, goodbye!"
With these parting words, Wen Yu paid no heed to Xiao Xue and the others and started down the mountain.
The absence of Simba’s scent in the cave meant one thing: Simba wasn’t there. Therefore, the cave itself posed no danger. In that situation, Wen Yu certainly wouldn’t waste his efforts on a pointless task.
The second possibility... was that someone was targeting Xiao Xue.
Wen Yu knew that a large organization like the military was bound to have its share of sordid affairs. He wasn’t afraid of trouble, but he absolutely didn’t want to get entangled in it.
These messy affairs were a huge whirlpool; if he got involved, Wen Yu would definitely be used as a pawn by those politicians.
Wen Yu absolutely steered clear of such things.
As for being targeted himself? Wen Yu hadn’t really considered this possibility.
After all, he had very few enemies.
Xiao Xue watched Wen Yu’s retreating figure. Without another word, she turned and walked towards the cave entrance.
Behind her, the other five members followed closely.
One of the soldiers spoke up.
"And they call that Sequence Number 2? He must be a fake! No guts at all!"
The mockery in his tone was thick.
A soldier next to him quickly chimed in.
"I think he was scared stiff by that lion! Look at him, practically wetting his pants as he ran off!"
Once this topic started, everyone except the scout began to criticize Wen Yu.
The military was a place that revered the strong!
These soldiers were utterly disdainful of Wen Yu’s ’gutless’ display!
"Alright, that’s enough from all of you!" Xiao Xue, hearing their increasingly harsh comments, abruptly cut them off.
The cave was very long, possibly an air raid shelter from before the apocalypse. They walked for a good two minutes and still hadn’t reached the end. Furthermore, the ceiling grew progressively lower, and their surroundings became darker.
"Uncle Wang, are you absolutely sure you haven’t made a mistake?" Xiao Xue stopped. She pulled out a glow-stick from her space ring and surveyed the increasingly gloomy environment and the cave ceiling, which was less than three meters high. She couldn’t help but ask.
By now, Xiao Xue also sensed that something was amiss.
The soldiers behind her slowly raised their rifles, carefully observing their surroundings.
They too had noticed the problem.
A ceiling this low couldn’t possibly fit a Third-level mutant lion!
"There’s no mistake," the scout replied slowly, his voice, however, had a strangely mechanical quality.
Xiao Xue narrowed her eyes, sized up the soldier, and then declared, "Retreat!"