Chapter Thirty-Two: Coordinates 826.48, 608.12

The burly man who emerged from the shadows had pitch-black skin, stood nearly two meters tall, and was packed with explosive muscles. His eyes glinted with a faint red hue, and he wielded a crude spiked club, his expression fierce to the extreme.

“Are there only three of you?”

Though he couldn’t speak Chinese, the virtual realm provided simultaneous translation, so he had no fear of being misunderstood.

“Three people… do you have eyes like a hawk?”

“Chen Nian” sounded a bit surprised.

“Old Li must have caught their attention as well.”

The voice of Chen Nian within his mind offered a brief explanation.

...

“Enough, let’s finish this!”

Seeing “Chen Nian” supporting his target without much reaction, the big man lost his patience. He hefted the spiked club and charged straight at Chen Nian.

Yet Chen Nian stood motionless.

The club came crashing down with a roar, the speed astonishing, splitting the air with a sound like thunder.

A grin broke across Chen Nian’s face. He raised a foot and kicked out.

The kick shot out faster than any human could hope to achieve, a blur that landed before the club, slamming viciously into the man’s abdomen.

The giant bull of a man was sent flying, as if struck by a speeding car.

Before he could even hit the ground, Chen Nian let go of Wang Yuan, his form flickering to reappear before his opponent.

The bone blade swept out, blood spraying.

A moment later, the massive man crashed to the ground seven or eight meters away, a gaping hole torn through his abdomen, entrails spilling messily around him—he was breathing, but only just.

Chen Nian, meanwhile, returned seamlessly to Wang Yuan’s side, steadying him before he could fall.

“You really know how to put on a show, don’t you?” Chen Nian’s inner voice remarked dryly.

“I’m just adjusting to this body. Besides, it’s normal for a second-tier to crush a first-tier, isn’t it?” With that, he casually raised his hand.

A stone spear, flying from who-knows-where, landed right in his grip.

Under immense force, the spear spun furiously in his hand, but could not advance an inch.

Chen Nian turned, and behind a tree four or five meters away, a burly black man stared at him in utter disbelief, as if unable to comprehend what had just happened.

A soft chuckle escaped Chen Nian as he casually hurled the spear back.

With a sharp whistle, the stone spear pierced the black man’s throat, dropping out behind him.

He clutched his neck, face contorted in agony.

Without a second glance, Chen Nian lifted Wang Yuan and strode toward the teleportation array.

After two or three hundred meters, they heard Old Li’s anxious shouts in the distance.

“Chen Nian! Where are you?”

Clearly, he too had heard Chen Nian’s earlier, reckless yell.

“I’m over here!” Chen Nian called back.

Just then, Chen Nian’s inner voice said, “Alright, step back for now. If things get dangerous, you take over.”

With that, he passed control of the body back.

A wave of exhaustion from the day’s exertions crashed over him, and Wang Yuan, who’d felt weightless before, suddenly became oppressively heavy—nearly pulling him down.

Hearing his reply, it wasn’t long before Old Li emerged from the trees.

Seeing Chen Nian safe and sound, dragging the injured man, Old Li let out a deep breath. He strode over, a note of frustration and lingering fear in his voice.

“Chen Nian, I have to say, what you just did was far too reckless.”

Chen Nian wore an apologetic expression, then glanced at the unconscious Wang Yuan.

“I know, but I thought… if I made enough noise, I might attract the pursuers, maybe buy him a little time to escape. I didn’t expect to find him instead of them.”

As he spoke, he noticed blood seeping from Old Li’s right arm.

“You’re hurt? Did you encounter them?”

“It’s already taken care of. Not sure if there are others.” Old Li waved it off.

Truthfully, if he hadn’t heard Chen Nian’s shout, he was confident he could have worn his opponent down without injury.

But Chen Nian’s cry forced him to hurry, which led to his wound. Not that it needed to be said. Chen Nian’s safety was enough.

“Don’t do that again. Your life is just as important. Besides, Wang Yinlong specifically told me to keep you safe.”

Old Li reminded him again.

Chen Nian managed a bleak smile.

“I’ve been terminally ill for years. Life and death don’t mean much to me anymore. If my death could be of use, I wouldn’t hesitate.”

A flash of sympathy crossed Old Li’s eyes, but he said no more.

Seeing Old Li glance deeper into the woods, Chen Nian quickly held him back.

“He’s badly injured. Let’s get back quickly.”

Old Li didn’t argue, keeping a wary eye on their surroundings as he followed Chen Nian.

After several hundred meters, shouts rang out ahead.

“Brother Chen!”

“Coach Li!”

...

“We’re here!” Chen Nian called back.

...

A few minutes later, everyone gathered by the teleportation array.

Nearby lay the body of a burly white man, his body battered and bruised—clearly beaten to death.

“Is he alright?” Chen Nian asked, handing Wang Yuan to Ye Qiang.

Ye Qiang checked Wang Yuan’s wounds and smiled. “He’s fine, just some scrapes. We’ll take him back. By the way, was he conscious when you found him?”

“He was. He said he had urgent intelligence for the legion commander, then passed out,” Chen Nian replied.

Ye Qiang nodded, then hefted Wang Yuan onto his back and stepped into the teleportation array.

“Let’s go—get him to the commander as soon as possible.”

“Right.”

Three teleports later, they were back in the central grid.

Without pause, they hurried toward the lakeside base.

Halfway there, Wang Yuan regained consciousness.

Seeing his surroundings, he finally relaxed.

“By the way, where’s Chen Nian?” he asked, glancing around.

“Right here,” Chen Nian replied, stepping out cautiously.

Wang Yuan shot him a reproachful look. “I know you meant well, but we can’t risk everything for so little. You’re new to the Space Corps, you don’t understand how harsh this world is. And…” He trailed off, then sighed, “Forget it. I still owe you thanks.”

“No need,” Chen Nian replied sheepishly, scratching his head.

Wang Yuan glanced at Chen Nian’s pocket but said nothing more.

...

An hour later, they returned to the lakeside base and reported to Wang Yinlong.

Wang Yinlong took Wang Yuan aside, the two of them speaking in hushed tones.

Chen Nian also withdrew, taking a leaf from his pocket.

On the leaf, written in blood, was a set of coordinates and some blurred words.

“826.48, 608.12

Advanced Mechanical Civilization”