Chapter 389: Xingtian

Chapter 389: Xingtian

The arrival of Wu Huairen delighted Xiao Honglian, as his information provided her with greater insight into Zhang Yi’s shelter.

However, it also deepened her doubts.

While Xishan Base lacked access to heavy equipment like operations vehicles, they still possessed an arsenal of weapons. It made no sense that they couldn’t breach a shelter.

In this world, there was no such thing as an impregnable fortress.

So why was Zhang Yi’s shelter still standing strong?

“Could it be that Zhang Yi and his companions are so powerful that Xishan Base couldn’t even approach them?”

Xiao Honglian knew she had to proceed with caution. Acting carelessly without understanding her opponent’s strength could lead to disaster.

She waved Wu Huairen away to prepare and spent a long time deliberating alone.

Eventually, she made a firm decision.

“If there’s truly a risk, Yangsheng Base won’t shoulder it alone.”

“I’ll make sure the other factions get involved, too. That way, not only can we share the risk, but we can also prevent them from attacking my base while I’m away.”

While acting independently might allow her to claim all the spoils, a wise strategist knows to balance profit with caution.

High-risk, high-reward tactics were for gamblers, and gamblers often met terrible ends.

Her first move was to contact her old ally, Wei Dinghai, leader of Chaoyu Base.

Yangsheng Base and Chaoyu Base shared a strategic partnership and were the closest of Tianhai City’s factions.

Moreover, Wei Dinghai had a personal vendetta against Zhang Yi, as one of Chaoyu Base’s superhumans, Wang Ruixuan, had been killed by him.

When the call connected, the two exchanged pleasantries before Xiao Honglian cut to the point.

“That guy, Zhang Yi, isn’t simple. He was able to hold off Xishan Base for so long, and I suspect he might have been involved in their destruction.”

“Neither of us can handle him alone. What do you think about joining forces?”

Wei Dinghai had already sent scouts to investigate Zhang Yi and the shelter but came up empty-handed. He, too, hadn’t dared attack.

Hearing Xiao Honglian’s suggestion, he chuckled.

“If we’re going to strike, just the two of us won’t be enough. Let’s drag everyone else into this fight as well!”

Xiao Honglian’s smile grew wider.

“Great minds think alike.”

---

The two leaders turned their attention to the other factions: Followers of the Snow God and Qingpu Base.

The Followers of the Snow God appeared to be a disorganized cult, while Qingpu Base, made up of steelworkers, was a conservative force.

Both factions were significant players, and if they attacked Zhang Yi while Yangsheng and Chaoyu focused elsewhere, it would be disastrous.

In particular, the Followers of the Snow God, long excluded and resented by Tianhai City’s other factions, were notoriously untrustworthy.

The best strategy was to tie everyone to the same war effort.

Xiao Honglian suggested, “If we join forces, persuading them to attack Zhang Yi should be easy. I’ll handle Qingpu Base, and you take care of the Snow God cult. Deal?”

Wei Dinghai hesitated briefly. “If we all move together, dividing the spoils afterward will be tricky.”

Xiao Honglian snorted and laughed. “Xishan Base’s territory is enormous. No single faction could swallow it all, and we’re already struggling to stabilize our current areas.”

“All I care about are the material and machinery plants in Lu River District. Those are non-negotiable for me.”

Wei Dinghai chuckled. “Fair enough! We don’t need those. But we’ll take more of the food stockpiles and expect extra fuel from you later.”

After a round of negotiations, the two leaders reached an agreement.

They each set off to convince their respective targets to join the campaign against Zhang Yi.

---

Qingpu District lay in the northwest of Tianhai City.

Once home to vast forests and the renowned Qingpu Steel Plant, its underground shelter, Qingpu Shelter, had been built beneath the factory.

The population here consisted mainly of loggers and steelworkers.

Though they weren’t professional soldiers or bodyguards, their raw physical strength and battle readiness made them a force to be reckoned with.

Inside a workshop at the steel plant, a man in his thirties sat on a lathe.

As was common among steelworkers, he looked older than his years, making his exact age difficult to determine.

Clad in a gray work uniform, his unkempt hair only emphasized his high hairline.

His dark face was marked with sparse stubble and acne scars, a testament to irregular sleep patterns.

This man wouldn’t stand out in a crowd of factory workers—he seemed entirely ordinary.

One leg propped on the lathe, he tore pieces off a steamed bun and threw them on the ground.

Two figures crawled on the floor: a scrawny, balding man and a long-haired, doe-eyed individual.

Both wore heavy iron collars around their necks, panting like dogs as they wagged their heads in a humiliating display.

Each time the man tossed a piece of bun, the two figures scrambled and fought for it, saliva dripping from their mouths as they bit and clawed at each other.

The sight brought a delighted grin to the man’s face.

Outside the workshop, a group of people in white combat uniforms approached.

The green leaf emblem on their chests marked them as members of Qingpu Base.

Upon entering, they glanced at the ridiculous scene on the floor and couldn’t help but smirk.

“Boss, someone from Yangsheng Base is here to see you.”

The man feeding the “dogs” looked up. “Oh? That Xiao Honglian? What does she want?”

“She says it’s something important. We don’t know the details—it’s above our pay grade.”

The leader of Qingpu Base, Xingtian, jumped down from the lathe.

“Fine, let’s see what she has to say!”

As he turned to leave, the two “dog-men” grew frantic, straining against their chains.

“Woof! Woof! Woof!”

Panting with their tongues out, they gazed up at Xingtian with fawning eyes, desperate for more food.

Xingtian glanced back, amused by their pathetic display.

“Director Liu, Supervisor Sun, you’re excellent at playing the part of dogs. I can’t believe I wasted time letting you live as humans before!”

He tossed the remaining bun to a subordinate. “They haven’t eaten in three days. Feed them for me. Make sure they stay alive—good dogs are hard to come by!”

The subordinates grinned. “Got it, Boss. Don’t worry!”

As Xingtian walked out of the workshop, the sounds of barking gave way to chilling screams.

Author's Note