Chapter 80: Breaking Through

Chapter 80: Breaking Through

The night was still.

The only sound was the rhythmic blinking of the car's indicator lights as it pulled over.

Faced with Deputy Mao's kidnapping, Xu Qingran, however, just held his phone and laughed.

Chen Bin instinctively turned to look at him.

Xu Qingran didn't sound the least bit anxious, simply asking, "What did they say?"

"They said if we want Deputy Mao back, we have to exchange him for military supplies, otherwise they'll kill him."

Xu Qingran chuckled, "Fine, let them kill him."

The person on the other end of the phone was silent for a moment.

Xu Qingran: "Handing over military supplies to North City would cause suffering to many of our brothers in the camps. Deputy Mao, as our deputy in Shangnanzhou, would surely take pride in sacrificing himself to uphold our principles."

"If it were me who was captured today, I would advise you the same."

—After all, if such a situation occurred, it would be the captors of Xu Qingran who would die, and such a cruel sight should not be witnessed by his subordinates.

The staff member on the phone seemed dumbfounded, remaining silent for a long time.

Then Xu Qingran chuckled lightly, "Deputy Mao is just going home, he won't die."

"Just carry on with your duties; no need to worry about the rest."

After saying this, Xu Qingran hung up the phone, not mentioning whether he would go to rescue anyone.

The car slowly got back on the road.

However, it took a turn towards the area leading to North City.

Chen Bin, sitting in the passenger seat, noticed Xu Qingran had bypassed the turn to his accommodation and asked, "Colonel, aren't you going to drop me off at the camp first?"

Xu Qingran didn't look at him, a faint smile on his face, "Isn't Mr. Chen from North City? Since we're heading there anyway, might as well take you back to your hometown."

Chen Bin was about to say it wasn't necessary to go through the trouble, but then he heard Xu Qingran leisurely add, "Besides, having a face-to-face conversation with North City's military guards should make it easier for you to report back to them, right?"

The atmosphere in the car suddenly grew tense.

Chen Bin hesitated, about to speak, when Xu Qingran cut him off, "No need to thank me; it's on the way."

"…" Chen Bin could only manage a dry laugh.

After a pause, he smiled slightly and said, "Colonel Xu, the first time I saw you in Red City's South 13 District, I knew you were a rare talent, destined to shine and stand at the pinnacle."

Xu Qingran's lips curled slightly, and he let out a light chuckle without a word.

Chen Bin, with a thick skin, continued, "Colonel Xu, look how fate has brought us together so many times, haven't I always been on your side?"

Xu Qingran finally responded nonchalantly, "I know."

"Otherwise, how could you still be sitting here safely beside me now?"

Chen Bin fell silent.

——Ah, how come nothing can be hidden from this young man.

·

"Wake up!"

The sound of splashing water echoed, followed by a shout.

The noise startled the dark-feathered birds perched on the old tree outside the tent, sending them flapping away.

Inside the tent.

A stainless steel basin was tossed aside, clattering on the ground.

The man, tied up in the corner with wet hair, opened his eyes. His high-prescription glasses, lost during the abduction, forced him to squint at the blurry figure before him.

The back of his head throbbed with pain.

It took Deputy Mao a moment to process that he had been kidnapped.

The North City reconnaissance team, seizing the opportunity of Xu Qingran's absence, attempted to infiltrate the camp and steal supplies, using their tried-and-true methods.

They still thought of East City's defenses as lax, having infiltrated the camp many times in the past.

But Xu Qingran had anticipated their every move, reconfiguring hidden defenses to maintain the illusion of no change. Despite choosing their most familiar and hidden route, North City's team walked right into an East City ambush.

A skirmish broke out.

Deputy Mao, who happened to be nearby, rushed to the scene upon hearing the news. In the chaos, North City operatives recognized him and took him hostage.

...What rotten luck.

Deputy Mao, small and thin, wasn't much of a fighter despite his prestigious title. At nearly fifty and out of practice, he had no way to fight back and could only submit to his captors.

Chen Jianguang, who had crossed paths with the deputy during his twenty years in Southland, pulled up a chair and sat down. "Deputy Mao," he said, "we're old friends, so I'll get straight to the point."

"Your main camp can't play favorites, hogging all the good resources while leaving North City to fend for itself."

Deputy Mao replied calmly, "If North City would just show some goodwill, those resources could be yours."

"Silver Dragon wronged us first. Why should North City be the one to make the first move?" Chen Jianguang said angrily, then smirked at the man in the corner. "Deputy Mao, don't forget it was you who first agreed to help us overthrow every colonel sent to Southland."

"So why the sudden loyalty?"

Deputy Mao pressed his lips together, his youthful face betraying no emotion.

Chen Jianguang sharpened his knife as he spoke, the metallic clangs adding a menacing tone. "It's been a while since you've shared any news from East City."

Before Xu Qingran's arrival, the four cities of Southland had been united against a shared foe.

Deputy Mao's East City had been tasked with secretly relaying intel about external threats and high-ranking officials to North City. Thanks to Deputy Mao's inside help and strategies, previous colonels had suffered greatly at North City's hands.

But since the new colonel took over, Deputy Mao's messages had become few and far between.

"With all your spies, you hardly need one from East City," Deputy Mao replied.

Chen Jianguang snorted, "Our spies are unaware of the military supplies!"

"I am unaware of the military supplies either," Deputy Mao said calmly. "I thought he really intended to quit, but who knew he would come back with so many resources."

Even though he was tied up and thrown into the enemy's camp, he remained unflustered, his attitude as relaxed as if he were at home.

Compared to his usual timid and compliant demeanor, it was like seeing a completely different person.

Chen Jianguang looked skeptical, not fully believing him, and asked, "Didn't you also say that when Silver Dragon sent a new colonel this time, you would be ruthless and eliminate him?"

"It hasn't been long, and not only has he stabilized his position, but he has almost consolidated control over the entire Southland!"

Deputy Mao explained without changing his expression, "You weren't there, so you don't know how difficult it is to eliminate him."

This was a heartfelt statement.

Which colonel would set fire to his own office as soon as he arrived?

Even if there were some traps and hidden weapons inside, he succeeded in dismantling them all.

He doesn't stay in the East City military district either, constantly on the move, causing major incidents wherever he goes. The combined forces of South City and West City couldn't kill him, so what could a somewhat more intelligent deputy like me do? Even if I deployed personnel, none of them could defeat him.

As for using subtle schemes to drug him, Xu Qingran is extremely cautious.

In the East City camp, there was no chance to take action.

This wasn't the first time Chen Jianguang had heard such glowing commendations for Xu Qingran from others.

He pursed his lips and compromised, "But you're still a deputy, can't you use your authority to secure some resources for North City? We don't want to fight and kill, just achieve our objectives, and we'll continue to protect this place for Silver Dragon."

Chen Jianguang stared into Deputy Mao's eyes for a while, then clenched his jaw and reminded, "Besides, you were originally—"

Deputy Mao interrupted, "You're reading too much into it."

"In the past, I had such authority because those colonels didn't want to oversee operations, but now Xu Qingran trusts no one, and the highest command is entirely in his hands."

And he's a notoriously merciless person.

If he found out about such actions, I might meet the same fate as that lieutenant colonel from West City.

Thinking of this, Deputy Mao suddenly allowed a faint smile to cross his face.

Looking up again, he said to Chen Jianguang, "Moreover, the reason I haven't been relaying information to North City is that I quite approve of him as a colonel."

"What I want is a leader who can contribute to the Southland. I don't care about his personality or methods. As long as he can achieve my desired goals, even if he's a deranged individual, I don't mind."

"Lieutenant Colonel Chen, isn't that what your North City military personnel think too?"

Without his glasses, the seemingly weak Deputy Mao looked less childish, and a hint of maturity and acuity appeared in his eyes.

Deputy Mao crossed his legs, adjusted his sitting posture, and added, "Besides, the White King has already acknowledged him as a psychic, so it's even more impossible for me to take action against him."

"You should know, this is our clan's tradition."

Deputy Mao had another secret.

Or rather, something unknown to most people. He was born in North City, and his family was a descendant of the former royal family of North City. He left his hometown after successfully enrolling in the military academy located in the Silver Dragon Andromeda system.

Not long after he left, he heard about the rebellion that occurred in North City.

Upon investigation, he later returned to the Southern Continent but avoided the Northern City. Instead, he went undercover as a Silver Dragon official, monitoring the Southern Army's movements and observing officials' actions for the Northern City Guards. He worked with them both inside and out, expelling intruders and safeguarding the Southern Continent.

The Northern City no longer has a monarchy.

However, since the incident where their ancestors offended the dog packs and later re-established trust with them, the custom among the Northern City's natives has been to respect those chosen by wolf dogs and obey those recognized by the Dog King.

Such recognition is exceedingly rare.

Generally, in the Northern City, such figures are respected elders or sages, and outsiders have never been acknowledged as such. So seeing Xu Qingran with the White Dog left him utterly shocked.

That was the leader of the Tian Guang Mountain dog pack, the most prominent peak in the Northern City.

Moreover, it was unique. Not only had it tamed the Tian Guang Mountain dog pack, but it had also defeated the leaders of all 26 district dog packs in the Northern City. It was the top dog among Northern City wolf dogs, known locally as the 'White King.'

Chen Jianguang was taken aback: "The White King? I thought it was missing?"

"Could this colonel have forced it into a bond?"

Deputy Mao: "No, a mentally unstable Type E arrived in the Western City earlier, collaborating with local poachers to capture the White King. It was said to prefer death over submission, enduring days of captivity and training."

"I'm unsure how Xu Qingran formed a pact with the White King, but he appears unaware of its true status."

Chen Jianguang scratched his head, frustrated.

He thought, Xu Qingran not only wields military resources but now commands the Dog King's allegiance. What's this guy's deal to be so powerful?

"But, you know, for us Northern City guards to suddenly defer to this Silver Dragon officer..."

Chen Jianguang, a burly man, spoke uneasily.

After some reflection, he conceded that his comrades and Deputy Mao had a point.

But after years, submission is a tough sell, especially with many branch camp brothers unfamiliar with Xu Qingran. Without witnessing his strength firsthand, there would definitely be a crisis of trust.

Deputy Mao pondered and suggested: "I see that in the Southern and Western Cities, they either got beaten up by Xu Qingran or participated in his command and were impressed by his strength."

"I can cooperate with you to stage a show."

"Find the right moment for both sides to take a step back, and cooperation will naturally follow."

...

On the small path in front of the Northern City's 22nd District checkpoint.

A silver-black off-road vehicle slowly approached.

Then it stopped and turned off.

The Northern City's checkpoint is different from those of other districts.

Due to the special nature of their residents and the terrain, when the Northwest checkpoint was established, the entry and exit points of the two cities were separated. Therefore, there is usually a mountain path or a tunnel between the two stations.

It was just nightfall.

The small road outside the 22nd District checkpoint was flanked by wild mountains and forests, eerily quiet. The only light source was the stark white light from the 22nd District checkpoint above, and looking up, one could see moths and small insects crashing into the light.

A cold wind blew.

The tall grass rustled as if something had quickly run past.

Xu Qingran glanced sideways, chuckled softly, and then walked slowly towards the spot marked by the large sign for North City District 22.

This checkpoint was quite interesting, built into the side of a small hill.

The door of the checkpoint station was tightly closed.

Next to the door was a palm-sized button, with small characters below it, apparently functioning as a doorbell.

Xu Qingran reached out and pressed it, pressing it repeatedly, four or five times in quick succession.

Unsurprisingly, no one answered.

He listened again.

Unsure whether there were any staff on duty inside the checkpoint station.

While hesitating, a small window high up on the wall next to the checkpoint opened.

The military guard inside the small space was wearing sunglasses at night—probably night-vision sunglasses—and asked nonchalantly, "Who are you? What are you here for?"

Xu Qingran looked up and arched an eyebrow, "Your superior from South Continent, the colonel?"

"I heard you took my deputy a few days ago. I'm here to see how he's doing and also to take a look around North City."

The North City military guard was, of course, aware of this.

But automatically interpreted Xu Qingran's words as here to demand someone's release, and according to the rules, asked, "Our lieutenant colonel said, if you want someone, you have to exchange with supplies!"

"No supplies, no entry into North City!"

Xu Qingran, the type who resists compliance the more others demand it.

Trading military supplies for a person was impossible.

He asked again calmly, "Are you really not going to open the city gate for me? If you don't, don't regret it later."

The guard upstairs: "Can't you understand plain speech? Exchange goods for people!"

Xu Qingran paused for a moment.

Then he turned and walked away.

The guard on the checkpoint tower was taken aback.

Thinking, wouldn't this colonel put up more of a fight?

He shouted in a panic, "You, you better not regret it! If you don't exchange with military supplies, we will kill your deputy!"

Xu Qingran walked leisurely back towards the car, his tone calm and measured, carried by the wind to the heights: "Go ahead."

"There are plenty of people for me to choose from in Silver Dragon, I couldn't care less."

The cold tone made it difficult to tell if he was serious.

Was there any lie in Xu Qingran's words?

In this world, aside from Shen Tingyu, he really didn't care about anyone's life or death. More often, it was just out of morality, adhering to the world's rules, and... out of boredom seeking excitement.

The guard on night duty at the checkpoint station was left speechless.

He thought, how is this different from the rumors he had heard? Wasn't the new colonel supposed to be a brave, resourceful philanthropist deeply caring for the people, bringing benefits like sweet dew to all military guards and residents of Southland?

Xu Qingran commanded, "Get out of the car."

Xu Qingran returned to the car, opened the door, and instead of immediately getting into the driver's seat, he told Chen Bin to get out.

Chen Bin was puzzled, but under the premise of not being able to fight back, he could only obediently comply.

Only then did Xu Qingran get into the car, start the engine, and turn on the headlights, the sound of the throttle roaring under his foot.

His demeanor was like a beast ready to pounce.

Seeing Xu Qingran had no intention of turning around, Chen Bin instantly understood his plan.

His eyes widened in sheer shock.

Xu Qingran activated his spiritual energy.

The faint light beneath his eyes melted the icy coldness in his gaze, slowly curling into a disdainful smile.

In the next moment, the imposing off-road vehicle charged straight towards the city gate.

The checkpoint guards were equally shocked.

—Is this colonel out of his mind?!

Who would dare charge in like this!

The checkpoint gates, designed to block when necessary, were made of quite sturdy materials.

Although backward places like Southland didn't have conditions as good as other star systems, an ordinary military vehicle couldn't break through, right? Even with spiritual energy enhancement, how powerful would one need to be... to break through?

And, charging with a physical vehicle like this, even if it could break through, he would surely get injured!

In a brief moment, countless thoughts raced through the minds of the city guards.

An ordinary vehicle would indeed struggle.

But Xu Qingran's car was a special reward from Silver Dragon, meticulously supervised by Mo Chengfei, using the finest materials, far more durable than ordinary cars. Moreover, it was equipped with offensive capabilities, and with spiritual energy, it could achieve a near 'indestructible' effect.

At most, after crashing through this gate, it would be totaled.

·

A loud bang startled everyone in the checkpoint station.

The massive impact force made the entire checkpoint station tremble slightly.

The off-duty guards in the lounge were instantly awakened, grabbing their weapons and asking their companions groggily, "An earthquake? Is it an earthquake?"

As soon as the words were spoken, there was another violent impact outside.

The floor beneath their feet trembled slightly, and tiny stones fell from the shoddily constructed lounge roof.

Someone adjusted their loosely fitting military cap and muttered, "From the sound, it seems to be coming from outside the checkpoint?"

"Could it be another alien creature invasion?"

"Could it be the X-class demon?!"

"If it's really an X-class, that would be disastrous! We need to run!"

Terrified, several of them rushed out with their weapons, just in time to bump into their on-duty comrades descending from upstairs.

He pushed his night-vision goggles up to his forehead, his single-lidded eyes blinking nervously: "Listen, there's a lunatic outside..."

Just as he finished speaking weakly, the heavy, tightly shut gate at the checkpoint was slammed hard once more.

The old metal door was already dented, as if only a thin layer remained intact.

As the guards from the north city rushed out from the restroom, Xu Qingran made his final collision.

The sturdy gate finally gave way under his relentless force, leaving a gaping hole.

Metal fragments flew everywhere, scattering across the checkpoint station. The tightly shut gate, under assault, triggered the alarm lights, flashing on and off, causing panic.

The silver-black car came to a halt in the middle of the station's passageway. The headlights had shattered on impact, and the front hood was completely mangled, twisted and crumpled, with smoke billowing from the engine compartment.

Although the car had successfully crashed through, not a single part of it remained intact.

In the surrounding silence, the steady drip of liquid leaking from the car could be heard.

The military guards at the 22nd district checkpoint were stunned by this unprecedented spectacle.

With a sharp click, the car door was forcefully kicked open from the inside.

Everyone instinctively raised their guns, all aimed at the car.

A man with slightly curly brown hair stepped out from the driver's seat, his face marked with several shallow cuts from the windshield and window shards, and more serious wounds on his forehead.

But his hand was the most severely injured.

Perhaps during the head-on collision with the checkpoint gate, he had accidentally been impaled by a sharp object inside the car, causing a deep gash. As he exited, his injured hand hung in a slightly dislocated position, dark red blood dripping down his arm, quickly forming a puddle on the ground.

The guards gasped in shock.

Just looking at it made them wince in sympathy for the man stepping out of the car.

Yet, the injured man's expression was eerily calm.

He glanced at them, smirked, and with his other hand, twisted the dislocated hand a few times, easily popping it back into place.

Late at night, to save power, only a few small lights illuminated the checkpoint station's passageway.

Xu Qingran's actions, under such circumstances, had an especially intense visual impact.

A nervous guard's hand trembled, accidentally firing a shot at him.

The beam of psychic energy rushed towards the injured man, startling several guards on the high platform who were on the defensive.

—They hadn't intended to attack anyone yet!

However, their fears did not come to pass.

Xu Qingran was not hit by the psychic attack; to be precise, the beam disintegrated before it could reach him, shattered by his high-level psychic defense. The attack, as thick as a water pipe, collided with his defense, as fragile as an egg hitting a stone.

Xu Qingran smiled at them, his bloodied state making his grin somewhat menacing.

The guard who had just communicated with him stomped in frustration, pointing at him and then at the damaged gate: "You, you, you've wrecked our city gate! If something happens or if there's an invasion, and there's no gate to block it, how are you going to take responsibility?!"

How terrifying.

Such a heavy and sturdy door, even a Type I devil couldn’t break through it. What on earth did he use to break it open? And how can he stand there as if nothing happened? With all those injuries, doesn’t he feel any pain?!

Xu Qingran smiled again upon hearing this.

His tone was casual: "Didn’t I warn you? If you don’t open the door for me, don’t regret whatever happens."

As he spoke, he walked towards them.

His steady steps and demeanor unnerved the guards, who were treating him like a ghost, making them instinctively step back. In the chaos, someone fired another shot at him, but the attack still didn’t hit him.

Xu Qingran narrowed his eyes and reminded them: "I have a *very* bad temper."

"Since you didn’t listen to me, I’ll have to give you a lesson, just like I did in West City."

About half an hour later.

A perfectly intact off-road vehicle drove out of the North City 22nd District station, heading towards the inner area.

The car was an older model, clearly well-used over the years, but its performance was still intact.

Chen Bin, in the passenger seat, glanced back at the checkpoint that was getting farther and farther away, silently shivering at the memory.

How terrifying—and unlucky—he was to witness Xu Qingran beating people up, and then even stealing their military vehicle.

Xu Qingran had only briefly tended to his wounds and, as if nothing had happened, continued driving with him.

Chen Bin barely spoke during the trip, until he finally realized where they were. After a long pause, he finally spoke: "Colonel Xu, are you sure you want to enter through the 22nd District?"

His voice was laced with concern.

Chen Bin had previously explained North City’s organizational structure.

Apart from the military, there were also civilian combat groups in North City. Most were natives with ties to the North City Wolf Dogs, and their average spiritual power was decent. Although they weren’t military guards, their combat abilities were equally strong.

Some had acquired weapons compatible with spiritual power through other means, while others used ordinary sharp weapons.

In North City, they took on responsibilities similar to civilian police, punishing evil and eliminating traitors. They were also the first to confront foreign invaders, protecting public safety. When North City guards couldn’t handle sudden situations in residential areas, they would patrol and expel threats.

Yes, it sounds good.

But it’s only good for the internal members of North City. As capable ordinary residents, they were arrogant and particularly xenophobic. They cooperated and compromised with the military guards, but they would target non-North City military personnel who trespassed.

So these natives were people even the North City guards had to show some respect to.

The 22nd District was the main base area of their organization, and it was filled with their people. Xu Qingran’s striking appearance would immediately reveal him as an outsider. He was also wearing the Silver Dragon Colonel uniform, and if recognized, he would likely face trouble.

Xu Qingran, however, didn’t care: "This is the closest route to the North City headquarters. I don’t want to waste time and money taking a detour."

Chen Bin stopped trying to dissuade him.

The sky began to lighten.

Perhaps Xu Qingran had some strange protagonist buff aura, as the situations he worried about would always happen to him in the worst possible way.

The car was intercepted while crossing the 22nd District.

The interception took place in the suburbs, where there was only a winding road that seemed endless and vast stretches of mountainous forests. From time to time, wolf-like howls could be heard from within.

The group rolled up in their cars, boxing in Xu Qingran and Chen Bin from every angle.

The person in the convertible blocking their way slouched against the hood and gave him a quick once-over, immediately sizing him up: "You from out of town?"

Xu Qingran gave them a once-over.

Besides the humans who were likely locals from North City, there were also a pack of hefty wolfhounds. Aside from their coat colors, they looked very similar to his white dog.

Chen Bin picked out the group and was about to leverage his North City roots to talk them down.

But before he could speak, Xu Qingran beside him cut in first, "Yeah, out-of-towners. The new East City colonel."

The surroundings went dead quiet for a moment.

"Haha, so you're the new colonel?" The person blocking their car widened his eyes, his eyes popping like he'd just heard the funniest thing.

"I say, Colonel, it's one thing to be from the outer city, but you dare to waltz into our turf."

"Do you not know how we handled the last colonel? He probably still doesn't dare to wear spotted boxers, hahahaha!"

Xu Qingran wasn't nervous.

His fingers lightly tapped on the steering wheel, eyeing them like they were putting on a performance.

Perhaps his reaction was too flat, the laughter around him turned awkward and hollow.

They soon quieted down.

Looking at Xu Qingran in the car, he was so calm that it seemed as if he was the one in control.

This sense of aloof superiority, in the eyes of North City people, felt like a provocation.

Chen Bin jumped in to say, "Brothers, the Colonel is mainly here to escort this old-timer back to North City."

"I have a North City ID, we're all North City folks. Please, let him send this old man who's been away for years back to his hometown."

The group gave him a once-over.

Although they weren't about to cut Xu Qingran any slack, they used the opportunity to explain themselves, "Old man, it's not that I don't respect the elderly and cherish the young, unwilling to give way."

"If it were a normal day, there might be some wiggle room."

"But today you came at a really bad time—it's our organization's annual 'civil war' day."

Every year in this summer month, North City residents call it the 'Dog Month.'

Because during this month, they can clearly see the Canis Major constellation in the sky. As people who coexist with the dog packs, which are like guardian beasts of North City, they particularly value this sacred month, with various related activities and rituals.

The organization also designates this day every year as the civil war day.

It's when the chosen ones from District 22 who have established master-pet relationships with wolfhounds gather together to spar and select the strongest of the year. The winner and his wolfhound become the new leaders of the organization for the year.

District 22 also has an unwritten rule on this day every year.

If anyone from outside North City is found entering the district on this day, that person must engage in a group spar with the people who caught them.

If they win, they are allowed to pass.

If they lose, they will be thrown out of North City in a very humiliating manner.

Xu Qingran raised an eyebrow as he listened.

Apart from not risking one’s life, it sounded quite similar to the rules of the Tower of Evil’s arena.

Chen Bin rubbed his forehead.

He appeared worried about Xu Qingran, but actually, he was concerned for these kids.

Yes, Chen Bin had spoken up in a hurry earlier, not out of concern for Xu Qingran.

He was trying to save these people’s lives!

Too bad, they had no clue what kind of tough cookie they were up against.

Especially since this was the child favored by the White King… Speaking of that white dog, why didn’t Xu Qingran bring it along to a place like the North City?

While Chen Bin was still thinking, Xu Qingran had already agreed: “A duel? No problem.”

He even added: “However, I don’t want to fight with the people here right now.”

The group thought he was chickening out and were ready to mock him when he added: “I want to go to your 22nd District headquarters and fight with everyone participating in this duel.”

The North City Wolf Dog Guard: “…?”

What the heck? Is this guy nuts? He can’t even handle a simple fight, and now he’s gunning for our base!

Xu Qingran also asked: “If I join your internal combat arena, does that mean that as long as I take first place, starting from today, I will be your boss for the next year?”

The North City Wolf Dog Guard: “…!!”

So cocky! What a loudmouth!

This made the guy blocking his car laugh angrily.

He clapped his hands and nodded: “Okay, okay, it’s been ages since I’ve met someone as full of themselves as you!”

“It’s rare to find some fun for our brothers and sisters at the base, why not?”

“But don’t blame me for not warning you in advance—everyone at our base has signed a master-companion contract with the guardian beasts of the North City. Fighting within their North City range boosts their spiritual power.”

“You started this, so no whining about fairness if you lose.”

Xu Qingran listened, his smile growing even deeper.

He replied: “That would be perfect.”

The guards missed Xu Qingran’s deeper meaning, seeing only his arrogance.

Fuming, they could only repeat: “Fine, fine!”

“Let’s go right now!”

The off-road vehicle from the checkpoint drove towards the mountain base, flanked by open-top cars.

In the car, Chen Bin rubbed his forehead and sighed again.

What a mess.

·

"So, he's the new colonel from Shangnan Province who managed to piss off Colonel Chen and his men?"

At the headquarters of the Wolf Dog Guard in District 22 of North City, located on a mountain peak.

A middle-aged man sat on a large chair draped with a blanket, pensively rubbing his chin as he gazed at the handsome young man surrounded by the crowd in the distance.

He was Di Yue, the current leader of the North City Wolf Dog Guard. Beside him lay a white dog with deep gray eyes, its sharp gaze constantly scanning the surroundings of the camp, alert to any unusual movements.

Di Yue was one of the rare individuals chosen by one of the wolf kings of the dog packs in North City, specifically the wolf king of Daming Mountain in District 22. He himself was also an exceptionally rare 3S-level psychic, and with the recognition from the wolf king, he had been victorious in all the internal combat tournaments over the years. All the groups in various districts had to follow his orders.

Di Yue was surprised that the rumored new colonel was so young.

He looked... not as tough as most military guys, more like a pretty boy. Could it be that he wanted to follow in the footsteps of a previous colonel by challenging their civilian organization to gain recognition and thus control over North City?

The civilian organizations in North City worked closely with the North City Military Guard.

If they were forced to recognize this new colonel, the Military Guard would most likely have to follow suit, or else face inevitable division.

"That's right, boss! You have no idea how arrogant this colonel is, even more so than the last one!"

"We caught him and wanted to fight him, but he refused, saying he wanted to come up to the main camp to fight you and everyone else!"

Another subordinate nearby looked skeptical: "Is he trying to buy time?"

Di Yue thought the same.

"Hey, I remember that the checkpoint in District 22 is the border of North City," Di Yue suddenly frowned. "Isn't the city gate always closed? How did he get in? Did the North City Military Guard let him through?"

After Di Yue muttered this, he noticed Xu Qingran bandaging his wounds.

He also noticed many scars beneath his dark clothes and suddenly fell silent.

Although he didn't know how Xu Qingran had managed it, it must have been quite intense.

Di Yue had heard Chen Jianguang complain recently that the new colonel from Shangnan Province was deliberately targeting North City.

Despite having sufficient military resources, he stubbornly refused to provide them, and he wasn't even willing to come to North City to negotiate with them, putting on airs. Now that this young colonel had come knocking on their door, Di Yue decided to teach him a lesson for Chen Jianguang.

Outside, Xu Qingran had just finished bandaging his wounds to avoid affecting his performance later.

The guard's main camp was more luxurious than he had expected.

Rather than a stronghold, it was more like a resort. The houses here were simple wooden cabins, but they were exceptionally well-equipped, including modern technology and air conditioning. The camp was surrounded by many silk trees, and it was almost time for them to bloom, filling the air with a faint floral fragrance.

As soon as Xu Qingran finished treating his more serious wounds, Di Yue came up to him.

Despite the early summer weather, Di Yue was still draped in a mink coat, hands on his hips as he said to Xu Qingran, "After all, we're not military personnel, and we're not as skilled with psychic weapons as you are. So, by the rules, you're not allowed to use guns or psychic blades."

"You can only use the weapons we provide."

As soon as Di Yue finished speaking, a subordinate beside him, clanging as he sharpened a knife, quickly handed the freshly sharpened blade to Xu Qingran. His eyes were fiercely intimidating, but it was clearly an act, making it seem rather comical.

Xu Qingran took the knife without hesitation and smiled, "No problem."

Anyway, when it came to fighting, he didn't depend on psychic suppression.

Di Yue added, "The blade has no eyes."

"Although we use ordinary weapons, in a fight, it's inevitable to get injured, big or small. Our rule is not to treat your opponent as a mortal enemy to be beaten to death, but as a capable person, your other task is to ensure you don't get killed."

"Of course, you can also choose to surrender before you feel like you're about to be killed."

"Surrendering, well, that means you've lost."

Di Yue chuckled lightly, with his hands on his hips, and advised, "Young man, don't push yourself too hard."

"If you unfortunately die here, we won't take responsibility, you know."

Xu Qingran seemed not to hear his advice.

After wiping his knife, he looked up and asked, "By the way, can I confirm the prize for coming out on top first?"

His smile, paired with his face, looked particularly harmless: "No hidden meaning, just want you to be mentally prepared."

For example, preparing for a change in leadership.