Young Master Wang exclaimed in excitement, "You... You're still alive!" He had experienced the potency of that mutated cobra. No weapon could harm it, and it could easily kill a person with a flick of its tail.

And yet, these two young men emerged unscathed!

Song Xingzhen was equally stunned. He had originally hoped to use them as decoys against the pursuing cobra, thinking they would at least be severely injured if not dead. Yet, they looked completely unharmed. What kind of skills did they possess?

An ecstatic Young Master Wang approached them, saying, "Heroes! It's so good to see you both. Thanks for helping us out earlier. You saved my life. Why not come with me? I'd love to express my gratitude in person."

Shao Qi brushed his hand away, replying coldly, "No need. We're on different paths. Please don't bother us."

Remembering the sight of that unrecognizable corpse, Young Master Wang's legs trembled. He feared Shao Qi might be a homicidal maniac. However, Zhou You looked much more approachable, so he humbly said, "Sir, please join us. My father is Wang Mang. With your skills, you could be a revered elder in our group. You won't have to hunt on your own anymore."

Zhou You, with a half-lidded stare, responded coldly, "We're just passing through. And we're in a hurry. Make way."

Young Master Wang wanted to say more, but a bodyguard pulled him back, fearing the two might kill him on a whim and knowing they wouldn't avenge his death.

Song Xingzhen bowed in gratitude to the duo, "Thank you for your assistance. If you ever need anything, look for us in Yang City. We belong to the Qian Ji Tang."

With a smirk, Shao Qi replied, "First, make sure you leave this place alive." Referring to the foolish Wang, he continued, "Someone as inept as him won’t even know how he dies."

After they departed, Young Master Wang angrily brushed off the bodyguard's hand, complaining, "Why did you pull me back? With their skills, they could've ensured our safety. We could've just compensated them well."

Song Xingzhen, having reached the end of his patience, sarcastically remarked, "Can't you see they're unwilling? With their capabilities, how could they ever be short of money? Best to keep a low profile outside. There's always someone better."

He had previously seen that short man pull out a meteoric iron crossbow as his weapon. Not something just anyone could acquire, even with money.

Zhou You and his companion left the city without a hitch. They occasionally encountered mutant beasts on their way, which were scared off by the murderous aura emanating from them and the scent of high-level mutant beasts. After driving back into the city, they ran into Young Master Wang's group again.

This time, the group was under siege by a pack of mutant hyenas. With over thirty of these powerful creatures surrounding them, even Song Xingzhen believed their end was near.

"Should we help?" Zhou You inquired.

Shao Qi, without hesitation, raised his gun and fired at one of the hyenas. He might come across as ruthless, but he would still help when principles weren't at stake. However, whether he'd kill the saved party afterward would depend on their behavior.

With the assistance of Zhou You and his partner, the pressure on Song Xingzhen was greatly reduced. He finally managed to help Young Master Wang, who, despite being unharmed, was paralyzed with fear.

Shao Qi, upon seeing this, sarcastically commented, "You actually dared to bring this buffoon out from the base and into such dangerous territory? Are you tired of living?"

Song Xingzhen was filled with regret. They knew Young Master Wang was whimsical, but they hadn't anticipated his utter uselessness. Even as a high-level martial artist, the mere sight of a ferocious mutant had him unable to even grip his weapon. It was a complete disgrace.

After defeating over a dozen hyenas, the rest were driven away. The battle was brief, but several of their team members were already injured. Exhausted, they sat on the ground to catch their breath.

A gash across Song Xingzhen's chest bled profusely. Having lost his emergency kit, he approached the duo to express his gratitude, having assumed they wouldn't intervene due to past animosities.

Zhou You tossed him a hemostatic medicine. "Better treat that wound. The city gate isn't far from here; best you hurry."

"Thank you. Might I know your names? If the chance arises, I wish to properly repay you two for your bravery."

"No need for that. We have other matters to attend to."

Song Xingzhen, looking at his injured comrades and the dazed Young Master Wang, pleaded, "Could you two perhaps escort us? I know it's an unreasonable request, but we stand no chance of surviving this journey on our own."

They were in a dire state – injured, weak. Any mutant creature could annihilate them. They had made a misjudgment, thinking it was merely an expedition with Young Master Wang. They'd even hired an exploration team, which turned out to be incompetent, reducing their combat efficiency.

Zhou You shrugged, pointing at Shao Qi, "Ask him. He's our leader." In critical situations, Zhou You knew who to heed. They had already saved this group twice; they'd done their part.

Shao Qi, without making it difficult, nodded, "Load them onto the truck. We're headed to Yang City too. As long as you behave, we can give you a lift. On one condition: when entering Yang City, have Qian Ji Hall mediate to waive our security checks."

Song Xingzhen's first thought was that they might be wanted criminals or had contraband. However, compared to their lives, this demand was reasonable.

"Agreed," responded Song Xingzhen, as he helped the injured onto the truck. The truck, which they used for collecting prey, was filled with mutant beast materials, and a freezer storing mutant meat.