CHAPTER 113: CHAPTER 113 REINFORCEMENTS_1

Yao Yao, her face etched with caution, gently set down Wang Zhan, supporting him with all her strength.

However, when the tall man turned his gaze towards the star-crossed pair, Yao Yao shivered as if she had seen an imposing and unshakeable mountain.

Although Wang Zhan felt nothing but a frantic hunger, through Yao Yao’s arm, he could still faintly sense the immense pressure the newcomer exerted on her.

He instinctively tightened his grip on Yao Yao’s arm, one part of him seeking her support, the other offering his own.

His eyes remained fixed on the newcomer. Though his legs felt like jelly and he could collapse at any moment, he asked without a hint of falter in his voice, "Who are you?"

The tall man slowly approached.

Wang Zhan, his vision blurring, finally made out the man’s formidable face. A wave of immense fear and palpable killing intent washed over him, shocking him fully awake. The effects of the Mixed Essence Pills were also steadily kicking in.

However, just as they thought they had reached a dead end, the tall man suddenly praised them.

"Impressive. Worthy of being his son. You managed to flee for your life without any intelligence whatsoever. Your intuition is strong."

Wang Zhan’s eyes narrowed, showing a hint of surprise. ’He’? Was he referring to the father he had never met, Wang Yidao?

Of course, Wang Zhan certainly wouldn’t reveal any of his secrets, not even a tiny bit.

The man didn’t wait for Wang Zhan’s response and stated decisively, "I used to be your father’s subordinate, Li Chengyuan. I was given the mission to safely lead you to the Eastern Battlefield. Don’t doubt me. Take this map. If I were on their side, I wouldn’t need to negotiate with you."

He then pulled out a small bottle. Glancing at Wang Zhan’s personal terminal, he chuckled. "Once that troublesome ’eye’ is turned off, consume this. It will grant you strength, albeit temporarily. As his son, I imagine you’d be quite willing to join me in teaching them a profound lesson. Of course, if you’re afraid, just pretend I never said anything."

Wang Zhan glanced curiously at the personal terminal on his wrist. Is that what he’s referring to? After exchanging a look with Yao Yao, he simply nodded. "Just a bunch of trash. If I have the strength, I’d be more than willing."

"Very well. I’ll go prepare the battlefield."

With that, the man brazenly vanished right before Wang Zhan’s eyes, like a phantom.

「Ao City!」

Edward nearly leaped from his seat, pointing at the face on the screen before his personal terminal, his astonishment palpable. "Him? Quickly, temporarily disable Wang Zhan’s personal terminal!"

Yun Tianyi also stared in disbelief at the man on the screen. The Federation had proclaimed him dead; how could he possibly be in Oceania? Unless he had been on a top-secret mission and had now returned.

Even so, they had clearly heard Li Chengyuan’s words: turn off that ’pesky eye.’

They could, of course, do so, but it would mean Wang Zhan forfeiting his status as a participant. However, with Li Chengyuan present, that naturally wouldn’t be an issue.

With his personal terminal finally shut off, Wang Zhan’s agitated heart at last calmed, and he collapsed to the ground.

It seemed Li Chengyuan was truly mysterious, even possessing the influence to pressure the Federation; otherwise, those high-ranking officials wouldn’t have conceded this much.

When Wang Zhan opened the small bottle, he discovered five or six drops of a crimson elixir. They resembled fresh blood yet felt as pliant as water droplets.

Yao Yao looked at him with concern. "Wang Zhan, do you really want to take this?"

She herself had once fallen into the inescapable pit of the Original Organization because of a vial of Genetic Modification medicine. Who knew what sort of trap these blood-like elixirs concealed?

Wang Zhan took a deep breath, his resolve firming. He tried to reassure her, "We have no choice. Neither you nor I can defeat them. Besides, if he were from the Original Organization, he wouldn’t have bothered negotiating with us."

With that, he tipped one of the blood-red droplets into his mouth. Yao Yao’s heart leaped into her throat.

In the next instant, a medicinal efficacy, countless times more potent than that of the Mixed Essence Pills, exploded from the droplet. In less than a microsecond, Wang Zhan’s famished body and depleted mental energy were completely replenished.

Then, like a breached dam, an unstoppable torrent of medicinal energy surged, wave after wave, violently invading Wang Zhan’s entire body.

"AHH!"

His body pitched forward violently, arms straining to support his weight. Thick veins bulged on his arms, looking as if they might rupture.

Yao Yao watched, her heart tight with worry, but she knew Wang Zhan was right. They had no other option but to endure it. If this truly was a conspiracy, the only thing she could do was get Wang Zhan away quickly before it unfolded, then lie low and wait for a chance to strike back.

But just as she was about to act, a sharp gaze nailed her feet to the ground, making her unable to move.

"Little girl, I told you I wouldn’t harm him, and I won’t. I advise you to wait, or else you’ll only end up hurting him and yourself."

It was Li Chengyuan. He had reappeared nearby, his movements incredibly swift.

「Meanwhile, in the distant part of the Death Forest where Wang Zhan was located.」

SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!

Three figures in black, moving with great speed that kicked up gusts of wind, followed the trail Wang Zhan had left, rapidly closing the distance.

"He should be just ahead!"

The black-clad man with the keenest nose fanned the air, sniffing for any trace of their scent.

A savage grin stretched Yuan Shisan’s lips. "Let’s see where you can run now. Fire the signal flares! Get them to assemble! I’m going to make this place their graveyard!"

At last, Yuan Shisan spotted a wretched figure prostrating on the ground like a dog, and beside him, Yuan Shijiu, watching with concern. A harsh, arrogant laugh escaped him. "Yuan Shijiu! Since you dared to betray the Original Organization, you were destined for our retribution! This is indeed a fine spot. You and this little whelp can have a good burial together!"

Hearing Yuan Shisan’s voice, Yao Yao, clad in a tight black dress, shot to her feet. Her fists clenched, Essence Energy roiling within her, and a resolute glint flashed in her eyes. "So what if you’ve caught up? You’re just here to die!"

The moment Yuan Shisan arrived, Li Chengyuan had vanished, as if he had never been there at all.

Yuan Shisan burst into laughter. "Do you still think I’m the Yuan Shisan I used to be? Yuan Shijiu, you may have progressed, but so have I! What’s more, the Organization has dispatched thirteen genuine Martial General experts this time. Let’s see you try to run now!"

Yao Yao’s eyes narrowed sharply. Thirteen genuine, top-tier Martial General experts? This meant the Original Organization was finally getting serious. These weren’t like those counterfeits produced by earlier genetic experiments?

At this realization, her face paled, then quickly firmed with resolve. She was about to step in front of Wang Zhan, to shield him.

But Wang Zhan, still seated on the ground, let out a hoarse laugh, thick with disdain and sarcasm. "Trash is trash. So what if it ’improves’? At best, it just becomes slightly smellier trash. And you have the gall to show off?"

Yuan Shisan’s expression didn’t change, his features still contorted with savagery. "Still trying to act tough when death is knocking at your door. Utterly clueless. Get them!"

Instantly, the three closed in, tightly encircling Wang Zhan and Yao Yao like prey caught in a net, about to become meat on someone else’s plate. Despite their clear advantage, the black-clad men advanced cautiously, denying Yao Yao any chance to drag one of them down with her. They steadily increased the pressure, searching for the perfect moment to strike.

Yao Yao stood ready, every nerve taut, her gaze fixed on the trio’s every move. But just as she prepared to unleash an attack on the rearmost black-clad man, a strong hand clamped down on her shoulder, holding her in place. It was Wang Zhan.

"Let me handle this. That man spoke the truth; I do have a strength beyond anything I could have ever imagined."

He struggled to his feet, veins bulging on his strained face, panting heavily. Yet, he wore a relaxed smile, as if he didn’t consider these insignificant characters before him a threat in the slightest.

Feeling the incredible power coursing through his body, the seemingly boundless strength and mental energy, he truly felt it. His former self had been far too weak. Compared to who he was now, he had been nothing more than an ant.

But now it was different. In other words, he had stood up!

Yao Yao stared back at Wang Zhan in disbelief. Feeling the almost irresistible power emanating from his hand on her shoulder, her concentration wavered. How is that possible...?

But Wang Zhan’s strength was undeniably real, as palpable as the blood-soaked, perilous Death Forest surrounding them, exuding a power that permitted no doubt.

Wang Zhan grinned. "Who do you think I am? I’m Wang Zhan! Just you wait. I’ll beat them until their own mothers wouldn’t recognize them! And as for that piece of trash, Yuan Shisan, I’ll break both his arms."

He specified two arms because of what Yao Yao had once endured—the darkest period of her life, when she had been reduced to an experimental subject for the Original Organization. Fortunately, those bitter days were now behind her.

But just as they were exchanging these charged glances, Yuan Shisan silently maneuvered behind Wang Zhan. His fist aimed for Wang Zhan’s back, right over the heart, a sneer playing on his lips. "Still daring to be distracted at a time like this? A loach will always be a loach, fit only to squirm in the mud! The moment you see the light, you die! Now, go to hell!"

BANG!

Yuan Shisan’s iron fist struck Wang Zhan squarely on the back, but it was like hitting cotton—there was no reaction at all. Wang Zhan paid him no mind, and even Yao Yao seemed to disregard him completely. An inexplicable sense of dread prickled at Yuan Shisan.

AHH!!

A bloodcurdling scream tore through the air! Yuan Shisan, still in his forward-striking posture, whipped his head around. His heart hammered in his chest; things were spiraling out of control! His first instinct was to flee.

The black-clad man—the one who had clung to Wang Zhan like a tenacious hound, relying on some talent obtained through modification—had his fist crushed by Wang Zhan!

One should know that even if that subordinate’s punch hadn’t been aimed at Wang Zhan, the man himself was a Martial General! How could he be so fragile, like a child with no strength at all?