CHAPTER 472: CHAPTER 470: HOTEL

Su Mo brushed the ash off her shoulder and gazed at the pitch-black road ahead, her expression chilling, "These people of Ao City are ruthless enough, burying mines. If one were really killed by the blast, they could collect a lot of materials."

"They must be nearby," Lu Chen’s jaw clenched tight, a formless pressure slowly radiating out.

From behind, Jin Han’s shout rang out, "There’s a Level 3 or above Spiritual Ability User here. We can’t cross; we can’t clear the mines!"

After returning to his normal size, Jianxiong angrily puffed up his fists, "These people are despicable, I really want to smash their heads!"

Lu Chen signaled Jin Han and the others not to come over and took a few steps forward. At the same time, a sense of crisis immediately arose in Su Mo’s heart.

A Metal Blade shot toward her from the darkness of the road ahead; her right hand transformed into a Wooden Shield, protecting her chest.

The tip of the blade stuck into the Wooden Shield with a ’whoosh’ sound, Su Mo pursed her lips, pulled out the blade, and peered through the layers of darkness, spotting a tall man hidden in the night.

Her eyes narrowed, and she tossed aside the knife, then reported the position to Lu Chen, "Eight hundred meters away, leaning against the guardrail on the left side of the road."

A chill surged around Lu Chen, and in an instant, he condensed dozens of Ice Blades that shattered the darkness, carrying with them a murderous intent toward the other side.

His absolute control over his power meant the Ice Blades struck the man in the darkness with precision.

In that night, only a scream was heard before silence took over.

In a small house by the road, a burly man leaning by the window felt a sudden dread; the superpower user across the road had been turned into a pincushion, the scene making his skin crawl.

He had instantly killed a Level 4 Gold Element Superpower User! What an astonishing fact!

He immediately pressed the walkie-talkie, sounding the alarm, "A group of people have arrived, the leader estimated to be Level 5 or above. Ah Jin is dead!! Quick, go call the boss!"

Over here, upon hearing that scream, Su Mo gave Lu Chen a thumbs-up, "Your shot was precise, he’s dead."

"Only one died, they got off easy," Jianxiong, now somewhat grimy, tossed aside his burned shirt and said indignantly: "We would have been blown to bits if we had been any slower."

"Cool it, they’re sending people," Su Mo patted his arm, her large eyes not blinking as she stared at the few car lights that had turned on in the darkness.

Several black Hondas came into view.

The cars, spotlessly clean, pulled to a stop in front of the trio; the man inside shielded half of his face, making it difficult to discern his features, but the aura he emitted made Su Mo aware that the newcomer was no simple character.

The car window rolled down, and a pleasant male voice emerged, "Who killed my man?"

He was clad in a well-fitted suit, his hands crossed atop his knees—clean and neat, presenting the appearance of a refined gentleman.

"Killed your man? I was nearly blown to pieces by your explosives. Shouldn’t you start with an apology?" Jianxiong laughed out of irritation, swinging his fist and bending over toward the car window. Yet before he could take a step closer, the people who got out of the following cars instantly flourished colorful superpowers in their hands.

Lu Chen stepped forward and pulled him back, his eyes emotionless and his voice cold and oppressive as he addressed the interior of the car, "You struck first."

The man in the car’s hand trembled for a moment before the car door opened, and a slender man with muscular legs stepped out from under the crisply ironed suit pants.

As Su Mo’s gaze traveled upward from the ground, she took in the sight of the man—blond hair and pale gold pupils, with a handsome profile imbued with an exotic charm.

Between the two men, a silent tension hung in the air; she said nothing, standing calmly at the side.

"Laying landmines at the toll station is just to prevent the external zombies from invading, after all, the zombies inside the city are already a headache enough. Welcome, our distant guests, I’m Rong Yuan, the main force of Ao City Hotel."

To be honest, his attire was extremely odd in the current world.

Lu Chen showed little reaction, only to respond in an extremely indifferent tone, "We will only stay here for one night, and for compensation, I can provide a fair amount of food."

Rong Yuan’s lips held a courteous smile as he turned to his companion, "Go and bring those guests waiting outside in."

"Yes."

"A small part of Ao City is a territory we’ve conquered; coincidentally, this toll station is included within it. However, to provide shelter for a passing strongman for one night is compensation, as well as an honor for me," he said before settling back into his car.

Meanwhile, Jin Han’s team was guided through the minefield and drove into the checkpoint.

"What do they mean by this? A 360-degree change in attitude," Su Mo hooked Lu Chen’s finger.

"Now that the car is scrapped, let’s rest for tonight," the man replied, clasping her hand and taking the initiative to board a Honda, with Jianxiong following closely.

Jin Han drove side by side with Lu Chen and asked through the window, "Are you guys okay? Who are these people?"

Lu Chen leaned against the soft backrest, speaking in a calm voice, "We’re fine, just follow them."

Barely escaping death yet so calm, Jin Han couldn’t help but admire him; he himself would have fought for his life by now.

And so, the group wobbled their way into Ao City.

The car stopped in front of a luxurious hotel. Just a cursory glance at the building’s extensions showed Su Mo the numerous armed men hiding in the shadows.

With its European-style facade, the hotel looked utterly magnificent. If the light fixtures embedded in the stone carvings were lit, it would exude an overwhelming aura of wealth.

Rong Yuan elegantly exited the car, adjusted his attire, and said to Lu Chen, "You may stay here tonight. Someone will show you to your rooms shortly, and I hope you have a pleasant evening."

After killing one of their own, they still offered food and shelter, prompting Su Mo to feel there was more to this man than met the eye.

Rong Yuan didn’t dwell much on the recent events with them, merely instructing his subordinates before passing through the main entrance and disappearing up a spiral staircase.

Jin Han’s team stopped their car at the entrance, leaving two members to guard it, while joining Lu Chen to enter the hotel.

At first glance, the dark exterior walls made Su Mo believe there was no light inside; to her surprise, past a set of doors, was a bright, luxurious crystal glass chandelier.

Inside the lobby, there were seven or eight gambling tables, each surrounded by people of various expressions, chips in one hand and women in the other.

Quite a spectacle, this was the first time Su Mo had seen such a grand gambling scene post-apocalypse.

Their arrival drew many curious glances, especially at the trio of Lu Chen, some showing fear, others on the alert.

"This way, please. If you like, you can come down and join the tables after selecting your rooms," a burly man with a gun at his waist gestured invitingly.

The rooms were lined up hotel-style along the corridor, with exquisite murals hanging on the walls and soft carpets underfoot.