The meeting had just ended when a video call from Captain Li came through.
The moment Lin Jingjing answered, she was met with Captain Li's yelling, "You three useless fools! I sent you to deliver food, what's taking so long? Are you trying to slack off?!"
"It's been ages, and you're still not back! Do you think you won't run into any mutant beasts?!"
"You're defenseless! If you actually run into one, you'll be as good as dead!"
He then continued, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
"It might be for the best if you die. At least the logistics department can save some Nutrient Liquid for the refugees."
"You're just Grade D Spirit Level anyway. You can't help with anything. It's better if you die."
Hearing this, the three of them exchanged a glance. 'Is that… concern in his voice?'
'Is Captain Li worried we'll run into mutant beasts on the way back and get killed?'
'That's the only explanation.'
"We're heading back right now, Captain Li. Don't worry, we won't die," Lin Jingjing replied earnestly.
Hearing this, Captain Li snorted. "I hope you can live up to your words."
"I'd hate to see you die so young." He then added, "Who would cook for the frontline soldiers then?"
Afterward, he even muttered, "The food they cook is actually quite good."
After they hung up, the three of them looked at each other and burst out laughing.
"I really thought Captain Li wanted us dead. Turns out he was just afraid we'd die," Shi Feng said, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
"A sharp tongue but a soft heart?" Feng He asked, thinking of the captain's behavior.
"Yeah, I guess so," Lin Jingjing agreed. "He's genuinely disgusted by our incompetence, but he also genuinely doesn't want us to die."
She glanced at the time. It was already nine o'clock; they really should be heading back.
If they ran into a mutant beast, it would be difficult to deal with.
The three of them packed their things, handed off their duties to the logistics chief here, confirmed the meal delivery time for the next day, and then left with their weapons.
The entire forest was on high alert. Soldiers in black combat uniforms were everywhere, with a section on their chests inlaid with orange gems.
There were also red, green, and cyan ones.
Lin Jingjing didn't understand what the gems on their chests represented.
Feng He, however, did. Seeing that there were many soldiers with cyan gems here, she grabbed the other two and hurried them forward with their heads down.
"Their Spirit Levels are very high. We can't afford to mess with them," Feng He said in a low voice.
"How high?" Shi Feng whispered, glancing over out of the corner of his eye.
"S-Class, by the looks of it," Feng He replied.
Hearing that rank, both of them couldn't help but stare.
They were tall and imposing, their faces covered by masks that only revealed their fierce, sharp eyes.
They gripped their guns tightly. Under the glow of the light-orbs, parts of their black combat uniforms blinked with indicator lights.
After walking past this group of people, the three of them breathed a sigh of relief.
Shi Feng patted his chest and exclaimed, "As expected of S-Class. The pressure they give off is intense."
"I feel like they could kill me with a single glare," Lin Jingjing said with a chuckle.
The pressure really was immense.
The three of them returned the way they came, guns in hand. Shi Feng walked in the middle, skipping along with a small red flower in his hand.
"Aren't there supposed to be mutant beasts around here? Why is it so quiet?" Shi Feng asked, looking around.
Then he asked Lin Jingjing, "Sister Lin, do you hear anything?"
Lin Jingjing, who was walking in front, shook her head. "No, but it is too quiet. Feng He, you take the rear. Stay alert."
After giving the warning, Lin Jingjing turned to glance at Shi Feng and found that the guy had tucked the red flower behind his ear.
She was speechless but let him be. Still, she had to give him a necessary reminder. "Don't get too playful. If a mutant beast appears, that scrawny body of yours won't be able to react in time."
The words had barely left her mouth when Lin Jingjing heard something.
A faint vibration came from underfoot. Lin Jingjing stopped in her tracks, raising a hand to signal the two behind her to halt.
Both of them stopped. Shi Feng instantly became vigilant.
Feng He also turned her back to them and began watching their rear.
The vibrations grew stronger, and the noise grew louder.
Lin Jingjing said urgently, "Hide, quick!" With that, she immediately dove into the nearby bushes.
Shi Feng grabbed the light-orb and turned it off before diving headfirst into the bushes as well.
There was a large tree next to Feng He, and she scrambled up it in a few quick moves.
The moment the three of them were hidden, the mutant beast appeared.
It was the same kind of mutant beast they had encountered on their way here—a Steel Beast.
Shi Feng looked at Lin Jingjing beside him and began to make hand signals.
'Should we take them out?'
Lin Jingjing looked at the gun in her arms and then counted the number of mutant beasts.
There were four in total, two fewer than before.
'We can give it a try,' she thought. 'I want to know just how powerful this gun in my hands really is.'
'Even though I've seen it in action, I need to try it myself to truly know.'
She signaled back: 'Take them out.'
'Go tell Feng He.'
After receiving the message, Shi Feng turned to look at Feng He in the tree.
Feng He had been watching the activity below the whole time. When she saw Shi Feng's signals, she gave him an OK sign.
With their communication complete, all three of them raised their guns and focused, aiming for the Steel Beasts' hearts.
All three took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled.
Listening to the approaching footsteps of the mutant beasts, they waited for the right moment and fired one after another.
Orbs of white light shot toward them from below.
Their aim was good, but Lin Jingjing's was better.
Three mutant beasts fell, leaving only the one at the very back.
Watching its companions die, its already scarlet eyes turned an even deeper shade of red. It arched its body, assuming an attack posture.
The three of them immediately rushed out, each stepping onto the body of a dead mutant beast.
Feng He looked down at the beast beneath her feet, whose heart was only half-destroyed, and said disdainfully, "Shi Feng, you really need to practice your aim."
"Look at the one under your feet. One shot, and the heart is completely gone."
Shi Feng glanced over and saw that she was right. There wasn't a trace of red.
Only black scales remained around the gaping hole.
"Nothing I can do. This is as good as my aim gets, even with practice," Shi Feng shrugged.
Lin Jingjing, watching the remaining mutant beast that was still in a combat stance, listened to the other two bickering. She said, exasperated, "What are you two doing? Don't you see there's still one left?"
"Stop arguing."
Scolded by Lin Jingjing, the two of them fell silent and aimed their guns at the last beast.
Lin Jingjing drew the dagger strapped to her leg. She looked at the weapon, which resembled a modern folding knife.
Curiously, she opened it. After unfolding it, she gripped the hilt and pressed a silver button. A purple blade materialized before her.
Feeling like the button could be pressed again, Lin Jingjing pushed it once more. The dagger transformed into a long sword.
A long, purple blade appeared before her, making Lin Jingjing's eyes light up.
'This is cool. I'll have to see how well it works in a bit.'