Chapter 209: Wu Yue and Shen Que Cross Paths in the Dungeon

Chapter 209: Wu Yue and Shen Que Have a Close Encounter in the Dungeon

For nearly a month, Shen Que had been burning with frustration.

Every time he tried to grind for crystals to feed the Red Lotus Karmic Fire, someone would either steal the first kill before him or clear the dungeon, causing it to vanish.

It was always the same—others swarming in like locusts, sweeping away all the crystals before he could get his hands on them.

After a month of grinding, he had only managed to unlock two stars on the Red Lotus Karmic Fire, and not a single skill had triggered.

Damn it! Worst luck ever!

Entering the newly opened Seamining Village dungeon, Shen Que’s small wooden cabin stood right on the edge of a seaside cliff. One wave crashed in, and the cabin turned into a fish tank, leaving him blowing bubbles underwater.

"Pfft!" Spitting out a mouthful of seawater, Shen Que raged off, running alongside a vehicle as it headed toward town.

Who would’ve thought that after such a streak of bad luck, he’d finally catch a break—witnessing a double-cross in progress in the outskirts.

Shen Que crouched in the bushes, waiting for both sides to finish fighting so he could swoop in and mop them up.

He had initially planned to smash the car window and charge in, but the driver turned out to be surprisingly nimble, swerving the vehicle just enough to throw him off and prevent him from boarding.

Still, even if Shen Que was down on his luck, he was a violent force to be reckoned with—an all-rounder fighter with combat skills maxed.

He swiftly leaped onto the car, deftly dodging gunfire as he lunged for the driver’s seat.

The moment the driver jumped out, Shen Que locked onto their throat.

One foot on the gas, one hand on the wheel, Shen Que growled, "Give it up, or I’ll snap your neck."

No response.

Narrowing his eyes dangerously, Shen Que tightened his grip, drawing a sickening crack of shifting bones. "I said... give it—"

A pause. "Captain."

Shen Que, "..."

Eyes widening in shock, Shen Que turned to glance at the rearview mirror, then blinked again in disbelief.

The person whose neck he was gripping... wasn’t...

"Wu Yue?!"

Wu Yue nodded. Shen Que, unable to retract his strength in time, heard a sharp *crack*—Wu Yue’s jaw had been dislocated.

Shen Que / Wu Yue, "..."

Another *crack* followed as Shen Que, stunned, instinctively snapped Wu Yue’s jaw back into place.

Wu Yue tested her jaw. "Thanks, Captain."

Shen Que replied stiffly, "D-don’t mention it."

His face flushed with embarrassment, Shen Que wanted to let go, but the car was still moving—he couldn’t let Wu Yue go flying to her death.

Fortunately, sensing his hesitation, Wu Yue wriggled around and scrambled back into the car.

Wu Yue, "Captain, shift over there."

Shen Que quietly took over from Wu Yue and sat in the passenger seat. As soon as he turned his head, he saw the shattered window he had just broken himself.

Shen Que, "...."

The silence was deafening.

Shen Que's first instinct was to secretly check the fated partners system, only to find that Seamist Town had an independent character panel, and the fated partners system couldn't be accessed for now. He finally let out a sigh of relief.

Phew... that’s a relief...

But just as he was halfway relaxed—

Wu Yue, "Captain, long time no see."

Shen Que lowered his gaze, "Mm."

This was their first reunion since he left after the completion of the first phase of the farming district.

Wu Yue glanced at the rearview mirror, "Captain, have you been busy lately?"

Shen Que shook his head, "Not busy."

Just roaming around aimlessly through empty resource dungeons.

Wu Yue nodded, "Are you with your predestined one?"

Shen Que's heart instantly tightened. After hesitating for a second, he carefully chose his words,

He said, "We were together a while ago, but recently I've been soloing dungeons."

Wu Yue looked at him, "Why not run them together?"

Shen Que, "I thought she had other things to do, so I didn’t wanna bug her.

By the time I wanted to ask, I got busy too, so we temporarily parted ways."

The first phase of the DX001 cleanup operation was nearing its end, and the Palace, now freed up, was starting to cause trouble again.

Wu Yue nodded, "Mm."

The car sped along the main road in the suburbs at an extremely high speed. The wind whipped into the car through the broken window.

Again and again, *smack smack*, like it was smacking Shen Que in the face.

The wind tossed his white hair wildly. Shen Que edged over, leaning toward the driver's side. Wu Yue instinctively moved closer to the car door.

Shen Que blinked. Wu Yue remained composed, like it was no big deal.

Shen Que wasn’t sure if it was just his imagination, but he felt like Wu Yue’s expression was kinda weird this time.

Wu Yue drove the car to her cabin, her tone all business, "Yesterday afternoon, I hit the town toll station and looted four trucks.

That’s why the owner of this car came after me. I suspect they didn’t report this to others to keep it hush-hush, so this place is still safe."

Shen Que nodded, "What’s the plan now?"

Wu Yue distributed the spare high-level gear, weapons, and utility weapons to Shen Que. Once again, Blaze’s badass captain, the #4 ranked all-rounder in the alliance, got to enjoy the perks of getting carried.

Wu Yue, "Ghost fires pop up in the suburbs at night. Collecting them drops large amounts of bomb-making materials."

I plan to grind ghost fires all night and use the identity cards I got today to get into town and make enough bombs.

Then..."

Shen Que's eyes widened slightly. The dungeon had only been open for a day and a night; while others were still fighting small monsters and swinging hammers, Wu Yue was already thinking about mass-producing bombs.

Shen Que realized that this "then" would undoubtedly be world-shaking and mind-blowing.

Wu Yue smiled, "We're pressed for time. To quickly squeeze out every resource in the dungeon within a short period,

I plan to occupy this town, kidnap the mayor, and open the vault.

Use suicide bombing threats to force them to hand over all their resources. Otherwise..."

Wu Yue smiled chillingly, "Blow up the entire town—everyone dies."

Shen Que, "....." He was too terrified to speak.

Now he finally understood why Fu Yixue had been so opposed to using bombs in the previous story dungeons.

This thing was absolutely inhuman!!

Not just inhuman—it even works against ghosts!!

Watching Wu Yue stood with hands on hips, reveling in her grand scheme, his lips twitched and asked,

"And the number of participants for this plan is...?"

Wu Yue pointed at herself, then at Shen Que, "Two. You and me."

She was pumped, "Originally, I wasn’t confident doing it alone, but now that you're here, Captain!

You move faster than me, fight better, and can tank way more damage. If anything happens, you charge ahead, and I’ll have your back!"

Shen Que, "....Gee, thanks."

Wu Yue waved a hand, "We’re teammates—no need to be polite."

Seeing the boss hell-bent on this with no room for negotiation, Shen Que could only comply. "So, the detailed game plan for this operation..."

Wu Yue blinked, "Nope."

Shen Que, "None?"

Wu Yue nodded, "Right. I haven’t even scouted the town yet—how could I have a concrete plan?

We’ll wing it. A go in guns blazing."

Shen Que, "....Isn’t that kinda reckless?"

Wu Yue paused, and Shen Que quickly corrected himself, "I mean, maybe a tad dangerous?"

Wu Yue nodded solemnly, "Your concern makes sense."

Shen Que couldn’t help but let out a relieved sigh, "Right, right."

Wu Yue, "Then I’ll go alone. You stay."

Shen Que almost choked on air. If going together was risky, going alone might as well be suicide!

He opened his mouth to protest, but noticed Wu Yue sitting there with her head hanging low, silent.

It suddenly struck him—

Today’s Wu Yue wasn't herself.