Xu Mo’s voice carried a distinct note of interest.
This wasn’t his first time in this coal mine. Every time he came here, he was searching for an object with an exceptionally strong energy fluctuation, but he had never managed to find it.
But coming here with Bai Feifei this time, it seemed they had stumbled upon a bit of a plot point he had never noticed before.
“What’s wrong? What do you mean by man-made?” Bai Feifei asked Xu Mo in her mind.
“Don’t you want to know the truth behind this coal mine? Don’t you want to know the source of all this evil?” Xu Mo chuckled.
“Now, it seems we have a lead. Kill these people first, then blow this place open.”
“Actually, this seems pretty important. How about I just handle it myself in a bit?”
Bai Feifei: “...”
She was momentarily speechless. Why was the Evil God’s way of handling things always to start with murder?
...
By now, Wan Qianhong and her group had emerged from the tunnel, covered in dust, and came face-to-face with the members of the Special Action Team.
Both sides stood their ground, eyeing each other. The atmosphere was subtle and tense; no one spoke at first.
Although the East District Scavengers and the Special Action Team weren't direct enemies, their objectives at this moment were clearly different.
“District Head Wan, what a coincidence to meet you here,” a Rank 4 Scavenger from the Special Action Team said, his tone neither warm nor cold.
“Defying the Inner City’s orders, refusing to hand over the mission to us, and insisting on bringing a sinner along for this operation...”
“I hope you get the results you’re looking for, rather than meeting with some unfortunate accident.”
Yang Shuo, also a Rank 4 Scavenger, knew this man. Hearing those words, his explosive temper immediately flared.
“Huang Cheng, who the hell are you being all passive-aggressive with?”
“This mine has been shaking for a day and a night. There’s no way a mechanical trap like that could still be functional! You put it there, didn’t you?”
He pointed at the sword-feathers on the ground that had nearly killed Wu Xin.
“These arrows are even damn well coated in poison! What the hell are you people plotting!”
Huang Cheng looked at the furious Yang Shuo with a trace of disdain and sneered.
“This mine is full of dangers. We simply left some early-warning devices to prevent sudden attacks from aberrations. Is there a problem with that?”
“If some people are blind, don’t go blaming the world for it.”
Turning back to Wan Qianhong, he said, “District Head Wan, our paths don’t align, so there’s no need for cooperation.”
“This mining area is massive with countless paths. Let us part ways here.”
Huang Cheng raised his hand, making a dismissive gesture toward the fork in the road, signaling for the East District group to leave.
Wan Qianhong didn't actually want to have anything to do with these people either, but she wasn't the one leading the way. She instinctively looked at Bai Feifei.
“It’s right here. Down there... something is wrong.”
Following Xu Mo’s instructions, Bai Feifei whispered her explanation to Wan Qianhong.
This subtle interaction was keenly caught by Huang Cheng. A flash of shock crossed his eyes.
“Wait, I’m not seeing things, am I?”
“District Head Wan, were you just... asking for a sinner’s opinion?!”
Wan Qianhong ignored his rudeness. After hearing Bai Feifei’s words, she scanned the surrounding area.
This section was quite spacious and empty. It was strange for such a large open space to exist beneath the coal mine.
It was indeed a bit suspicious.
“You’re investigating here? Investigating what?”
“There’s nothing here, yet you went through the trouble of setting up traps. It seems quite unnecessary.”
Huang Cheng’s rank and position were lower than Wan Qianhong’s, but he didn't seem to fear her at all. He immediately replied with a barb.
“District Head Wan, I don’t believe you’re my direct superior. Is there any reason I should explain anything to you?”
“We naturally have our own objectives for coming here. They are confidential.”
Huang Cheng’s gaze flickered between Wan Qianhong and Bai Feifei as he continued with a cold laugh.
“As the head of the East District, you trust a sinner this much? You even insisted on protecting her so she could follow you into the mine.”
“You should know that this woman is surrounded by suspicion. If half of the things said about her were confirmed, she’d be facing a death sentence!”
“For a leader of the East District to follow her lead to this extent... it’s practically a dereliction of duty. I will be reporting this later.”
Knowing this conflict started because of her, Bai Feifei stepped forward and spoke up.
“You are allowed to investigate, and so are we.”
Huang Cheng gave her a disdainful look. “Sure. Am I stopping you?”
Bai Feifei said calmly, “Then please, step aside for a moment.”
“We... might need to blast the floor open!”
The moment those words left her mouth, Huang Cheng’s expression of mockery and contempt vanished, replaced by a flash of sheer disbelief.
Then, he sneered and barked, “What did you say? I must have misheard! Or is there something wrong with your head?”
“Your so-called investigation is to blow up the ground beneath our feet?”
“Are you joking? Do you have any idea that we are inside a mine? The walls and the ground are incredibly fragile after the earthquake!”
“Are you trying to kill us all? This could even affect people in other parts of the mine.”
Forget Huang Cheng—even the East District group behind Wan Qianhong was stunned, looking at Bai Feifei in surprise.
They had walked all this way just to start blowing things up?
Huang Cheng’s demeanor had shifted drastically; he seemed to have entered a state of rage. He looked at Wan Qianhong and said:
“District Head Wan, this is the person you value?!”
“This is the person you protected, even though she’s clearly linked to multiple murders?”
“Wan Qianhong, Dawn City isn’t a place where you can just do whatever you want. A sinner like this should have been dead long ago. It’s because of your shielding that she keeps making mistakes.”
“I even have reasonable grounds to suspect that her joining this mission was part of some ulterior motive!”
Huang Cheng spoke rapidly, like a machine gun, firing off accusations against Bai Feifei.
Bai Feifei didn't offer an explanation. She looked troubled, her eyes downcast, hiding her expression.
Her voice carried a hint of pity as she spoke softly.
“Please, just step aside... this is the last chance I’m giving you.”
“Ha?” Huang Cheng almost laughed in rage. “You’re giving me a chance? You’re a damn—”
Before he could finish, Bai Feifei’s body suddenly surged forward, her dagger lunging straight for Huang Cheng’s ribs.
“You’ve wasted my goodwill. Your chance is gone!”
Rate on N.U.
