Chapter 117: Entering the Karst Cave
“Stop for a moment.”
Just as Yang Yi was about to arrive at Ghost Cavern Ridge while riding his own Beast, Zhou Ming suddenly spoke up and told him to halt.
“Big Brother, what’s wrong?”
Yang Yi had already graduated from high school and had just entered Qinshan Base University this year, so he was not actually that young.
However, his temperament was somewhat lacking, perhaps because he had stayed too long in a greenhouse.
Even though he knew Zhou Ming had come to save him, upon hearing the commanding tone in the other party’s voice, a trace of fear still surfaced on his face.
“You don’t need to know.”
Facing Yang Yi’s question, Zhou Ming did not offer any further explanation, because he was waiting for the Ironthread Snake group behind him to catch up.
Compared to the speed of the Double-headed Gale Wolf, the movement speed of his Ironthread Snake group was clearly much slower.
The maximum connection distance between the Ironthread Snakes and himself was only one kilometer. Beyond that distance, the Spiritual Thread would be unable to perceive them.
Once the Spiritual Seed implanted into the Ironthread Snakes’ minds sensed this, it would instinctively assume that the Beast Tamer had died, resulting in backlash that would kill the Beasts.
Whether out of concern for the lives of his Ironthread Snakes, or because he needed to rely on them to construct the Radar Sensory Domain, Zhou Ming had to wait for the Ironthread Snakes to draw closer to him.
After a short while, Zhou Ming finally spoke again, “We can go now.”
Seeing this, Yang Yi did not dare ask any more questions and immediately rode his own Beast toward the karst cave entrance not far away.
After the two entered the karst cave, Zhou Ming and Yang Yi no longer continued riding the Double-headed Gale Wolf. The environment inside the cave did not support it, whereas the Ironthread Snake group entering the cave was not affected in the slightest.
Not long after the two entered the cave, a fully armed team of hunters arrived in quick succession.
“Boss, they entered the underground karst cave.”
Looking at the cave entrance that resembled a giant abyssal maw, the pursuers did not immediately enter the underground cave.
The Ferocious Beasts they rode were too large, making it difficult to display their strength within the underground karst cave, and firearms would also be restricted in such a complex environment.
As for high-powered weapons like grenades and rocket launchers, anyone who did not want to die would not dare use them.
If the cave collapsed, only Transcendent Masters could survive.
“I’m not blind.”
The leader’s face was filled with viciousness, his bloodshot eyes seeming to burn with rage.
This operation had suffered enormous losses. If the mission failed, more than half of the money he had earned over the past few years by risking his life would be lost.
Seeing the boss flare up, no one else dared to speak further, only waiting for their leader to make a decision.
The burly leader stared at the cave entrance. After pondering for a moment, he finally made a decision.
“Order all the brothers to guard every karst cave entrance we know about. Also notify Poison Sting to help.”
“Boss, if we ask Poison Sting to act, our income will drop by at least one-third.”
Although he did not want to provoke the boss’s anger, losing one-third of the reward meant everyone would get much less. The deputy could not help but remind him.
This time, the leader did not get angry. Instead, he explained the reason.
“Losing one-third at most means earning a bit less on this mission, but if we enter the underground karst cave, we might not come out alive at all.”
“Have you forgotten the person who previously rescued the target? He dared to use poison gas grenades. That means this person is extremely ruthless. Do you want to wear gas masks the entire time while entering the underground karst cave?”
After hearing this, the others exchanged glances and stopped arguing. They were making a living on the edge of a blade, not trying to become cannon fodder sent to their deaths.
With no one raising objections, the others immediately took action.
Inside the karst cave, Zhou Ming relied on the Radar Sensory Domain to confirm that no one was pursuing them, only then slowing his pace.
“The people chasing you didn’t have Professional Beast Tamers?”
With the danger temporarily lifted, Zhou Ming took advantage of the brief safety to learn more intelligence from Yang Yi.
“No.”
Yang Yi immediately explained the reason.
“My father said that among the various factions within the base, no matter what conflicts exist privately, they will keep the situation controlled at the Apprentice Beast Tamer level.”
“Once the power of Professional Beast Tamers is mobilized, it will most likely escalate into a fight to the death, and the city defense army and the base government will also intervene.”
After hearing Yang Yi’s explanation, Zhou Ming pondered slightly and understood that this was because the factions could not afford to lose Professional Beast Tamers.
Moreover, Professional Beast Tamers were indispensable forces against Ferocious Beasts, and the Alliance did not want them to be lost in internal human conflicts.
However, the binding force of this rule was not absolute. Ultimately, it still depended on the interests involved.
Knowing that it was highly unlikely for Professional Beast Tamers to take action, the pressure in Zhou Ming’s heart eased considerably.
“Let’s rest for now. If we want to ensure our safety, we need to go at least to the bottom level of the karst cave.”
“Big Brother, you’re not wearing night-vision goggles?”
Hearing Zhou Ming’s instructions, Yang Yi realized they were temporarily safe. As his tense nerves relaxed, he finally noticed that Zhou Ming was not wearing night-vision goggles.
In the wilderness at night, one could still rely on starlight or moonlight to see the road, but inside an underground karst cave, there was no light source at all. It would not be an exaggeration to say one could not see their own hand in front of their face.
“Do you have dry rations and water on you?”
Zhou Ming ignored Yang Yi’s confusion and instead asked him a question.
“Yes, I brought them.”
Although he did not understand why Big Brother was asking this, Yang Yi still answered immediately.
“Then eat and fill your stomach. The paths inside the karst cave aren’t easy to walk.”
After saying this, Zhou Ming ignored Yang Yi and leaned against a rock to take a short rest.
He had traveled all day and accompanied the other party in fleeing for their lives at night. Even he felt a trace of fatigue.
Seeing that Big Brother did not pay attention to him, Yang Yi still followed Zhou Ming’s instructions and filled his stomach.
As time passed, the darkness of night quietly receded, and the light of dawn once again shone upon the land.
At the entrance where Zhou Ming had previously entered the underground karst cave, a five-man squad arrived. These five were not only well-equipped, but their auras were faint to the point that, if one closed their eyes, they could not sense the others’ presence at all.
“Blood Tiger, I didn’t expect you’d have a day where you’d ask me for help.”
The captain of the five-man squad smiled as he teased the old acquaintance before him.
“Cut the nonsense. This is the target’s photo. You just need to kill him. Also, there’s a guard by his side. He hasn’t directly clashed with us, so we don’t know his exact methods, but he has used poison gas grenades before.”
“A ten-million deposit has already been transferred to your account. After you complete it, you’ll get another ten million.”
After taking the photo handed over by Blood Tiger, Poison Sting glanced at it twice but did not immediately agree.
“Blood Tiger, isn’t this the son of Yang’s Paper Industry’s boss? You’re only giving me twenty million. Don’t you think that’s too little?”
“Poison Sting, don’t be too greedy. We’ve paid a heavy price for this mission.”
Blood Tiger’s deputy immediately shouted at Poison Sting upon hearing this.
Upon hearing those words, Poison Sting’s expression instantly turned cold, and the surrounding atmosphere became somewhat heavy.
“I’ll add another ten million afterward. If you don’t agree, I can only find someone else.”
Blood Tiger was decisive. Seeing the situation, he knew that twenty million would not be enough to send the other party away. In any case, he had originally planned to pay a price of thirty million.
“Heh heh, you’re still straightforward, Blood Tiger. Just wait for the news.”
Poison Sting knew when to advance and when to retreat. He did not continue provoking Blood Tiger and his subordinates, and directly led his own squad into the underground karst cave.