"City Intelligent Network Control Center" not far away, on a street, the mechanical monk Jingfa, wearing a yellow robe and a red kasaya, was monitoring the surroundings, searching for the source of the previous explosion.

Suddenly, the building with a sizable courtyard lit up floor by floor, emitting a clear, slightly yellow light.

In the dark, silent city ruins, it was like a lighthouse illuminating an eternal dream.

The mechanical monk Jingfa turned his head and glanced, then strode over.

…

The moment the lights came on, Long Yuehong, Bai Chen, and Jiang Baimian instinctively closed their eyes to adapt to the sudden change in environment.

Only Shang Jianyao, trying hard to keep his eyes open, was almost moved to tears.

"Very vigilant." Jiang Baimian, seeing this scene, nodded in praise.

"Because I don't have sunglasses." Shang Jianyao finally blinked.

Jiang Baimian couldn't follow his train of thought and had to sigh instead:

"It feels a bit like being back at the company now…"

Similarly in a building, similarly illuminated by something like fluorescent lights, similarly with a spacious elevator waiting area.

The only difference was that the hall here was spacious and wide, similar to the "Pangu Biology" internal "activity center," and was paved with seemingly luxurious black stone floor tiles, hanging with transparent, dreamy chandeliers.

"Really, really?" Long Yuehong at the stairwell, guarding against Qiao Chu coming up, didn't dare to turn his head.

"Brighter than the company." Shang Jianyao simply described.

Hearing this sentence, Jiang Baimian first smiled, then frowned:

"Such a dark night, such a city ruin, such a brightly lit building, the only one, wouldn't it be very conspicuous?"

Bai Chen, aiming at the three elevators opposite, understood Jiang Baimian's meaning and pondered:

"Team Leader, are you worried that the mechanical monk Jingfa and other ruin hunters will come because of this?"

"Ordinary ruin hunters don't need to be worried, you said, they will actively stay away from places with anomalies." Jiang Baimian nodded slightly, "But we already know that Jingfa is here. His body is special, he is skilled and daring, he may be attracted here, and he hates women very much. Also, the 'Hyena' bandit group is likely to have entered this ruin, they like to hang around anomalies, waiting for opportunities."

Shang Jianyao thoughtfully said:

"Then it depends on whose name is worse, them or Qiao Chu."

"You want to say who is more unlucky?" Jiang Baimian chuckled, "You really have confidence in our 'Old Task Force,' what if it's the worst situation? They appear at the same time, we are attacked from both sides."

After spending so many days together, she had figured out the relationship between a bad name and bad luck.

As soon as she finished speaking, Shang Jianyao suddenly asked:

"How does Jingfa determine whether someone is female?"

"He is already an 'Eternal,' it's definitely not by relying on organs like the nose and eyes, but a comprehensive judgment of various factors." Jiang Baimian subconsciously replied, "You want to pretend to be a woman, lure him away, and then take off the disguise? Haha, I think it's a bit difficult."

Shang Jianyao seriously replied:

"I'm just wondering, what would happen if Jingfa encountered Qiao Chu?"

Jiang Baimian muttered with some understanding:

"Jingfa doesn't hate women, but is a pervert who hates everyone who can trigger his lust and hit his weakness. He can no longer alleviate the corresponding desires.

"And Qiao Chu's 'Charm' seems to be indiscriminate, not only does it work on women, but it also has a good effect on men, and even animals are no exception.

"Once Jingfa encounters Qiao Chu, he will definitely be charmed instantly, and his mind has been twisted for many years, he will only produce one reaction as a result:

"Torture that target who evokes his affection and desire, and let him die miserably…"

Jiang Baimian's muttering was not low at all, everyone present heard it. Bai Chen nodded imperceptibly, and said without much expression:

"I'm a little looking forward to Jingfa meeting Qiao Chu now…"

"You're so bad." Jiang Baimian laughed out loud.

She immediately restrained her smile and instructed solemnly:

"In short, while waiting for Qiao Chu to come up, take care of the surroundings and don't relax your vigilance, always be prepared for dangerous creatures to break in."

As she spoke, Jiang Baimian got up and opened the window at the end of the elevator hall. Outside was a weed-filled garden.

"If Jingfa comes in through the main entrance, I will use a grenade launcher to stop him for a while, and you can take the opportunity to leave from the window here.

"Our current firepower is not enough to deal with a mechanical monk who is also an Awakened, this is a point that must be admitted, we cannot risk our lives." Jiang Baimian returned to her previous position, leaning back against the wall again, and squatted down, "Okay, Qiao Chu is coming up soon, it must be faster for him to go from the underground engine room to the elevator hall than from the stairwell to the underground engine room."

At least he's familiar with the roads now.

As soon as Jiang Baimian finished speaking, she frowned again:

"Can we determine how big the range of Qiao Chu's depressing ability is? I remember it can affect multiple targets.

"We can't just consider charm, we must not ignore his other Awakened abilities."

Shang Jianyao immediately replied:

"Similar abilities should be weakened by obstacles such as walls and metal doors."

"But we can't be sure that it won't affect us after weakening. If even Bai Chen's position is affected, then how can we snipe Qiao Chu? At that time, everyone will be depressed and want to give up, waiting to die in place." Jiang Baimian said quickly.

Before she finished speaking, she had already stood up:

"Critical information is unclear, this operation is suspended."

"Go to the roof to snipe?" Bai Chen suggested.

Jiang Baimian quickly retorted:

"How confident are you in sniping a target wearing a military exoskeleton?"

"We only have one gun with sniping capabilities."

Bai Chen didn't force it, and said with a slightly dim expression:

"Not very confident."

"Then evacuate here immediately and look for opportunities later." Jiang Baimian gave the order.

"Yes, Team Leader!" Shang Jianyao and the others didn't say much, so as not to waste valuable time.

While observing the environment, Jiang Baimian said to herself in annoyance:

"Why, after getting rid of Qiao Chu, is my thinking still affected to a certain extent? It's not as logically rigorous as normal, and I always ignore some problems…"

At this time, Xiao Chong, carrying a red schoolbag, followed back to the elevator hall and looked up with a disappointed face:

"Not playing anymore?"

"Next time." Jiang Baimian pointed to the window, "Go from here, so as not to run into people coming in from the main entrance, Shang Jianyao, you carry Xiao Chong, go to the front, quick, someone's coming."

As she spoke, Jiang Baimian raised the grenade launcher with one hand and aimed at the main entrance area.

Shang Jianyao picked up Xiao Chong, ran two steps, and jumped directly through the window, landing outside.

Long Yuehong and Bai Chen jumped out of the window in turn.

At this time, Jiang Baimian had already seen the mechanical monk Jingfa wearing a yellow robe and a red kasaya.

Jingfa, because he heard the woman's voice, was running wildly with red light shining brightly in his eyes.

Jiang Baimian didn't hesitate, pulled the trigger, and fired a grenade.

Boom!

In the main entrance area, flames rose, and fragments splashed, causing Jingfa to instinctively dodge.

Jiang Baimian seized the opportunity, quickly ran to the window, and rushed out directly with a vaulting action.

Just a second or two later, the mechanical monk Jingfa broke through the glass wall in the main entrance area, and rushed in from the side amidst the sound of crashing.

Just as he was about to launch a grenade at the window, his head suddenly turned half a circle and looked at one of the elevators.

Then, he ran wildly, with blood-red light in his eyes.

The elevator quickly stopped on the first floor, and slowly opened the car door and the shaft door.

Jingfa raised his arms and aimed all his offensive weapons at the inside.

However, inside there were only cold, gray-black metal walls, and no one.

In Jingfa's daze, the elevator doors closed again and continued to go up.

On the top of this elevator, in the deep, dark space, near the main steel cable, Qiao Chu, wearing a military exoskeleton, stood quietly.

He looked down, his lips tightly pursed.

In the elevator hall on the first floor, Jingfa finally reacted.

He seemed to understand something and frantically pressed the buttons, trying to call another elevator.

…

In the courtyard behind the "City Intelligent Network Control Center."

Jiang Baimian squatted down and moved quickly in the area where the light from the building could not reach.

Soon, she followed Bai Chen and the others according to the electrical signals.

Shang Jianyao squatted halfway in the corner and said in a deep voice:

"Xiao Chong is gone."

"Where did he go?" Jiang Baimian asked in a low voice.

Shang Jianyao picked out the key points and said:

"When we got here, I put him down, he said he wanted to pee, rushed behind the bushes, and then disappeared."

Jiang Baimian thought for a moment, her expression sinking:

"A bit strange, let's leave here as soon as possible."

Shang Jianyao and the others immediately used actions instead of words to answer.

Under Jiang Baimian's leadership, they went straight to the side, trying to climb over the fence and detour back.

They walked through the trees and flowers, getting closer and closer to the goal.

At this moment, that desolate, hoarse roar sounded again not far away.

This roar was even louder than before, as if it was directly in their ears.

Jiang Baimian and the others' minds instantly went blank, and their hearts seemed to be tightly grasped by huge, familiar fear, unable to beat.

After an unknown amount of time, they suddenly heard a soft voice:

"Don't be afraid, stay calm."

Shang Jianyao and the others trembled slightly, and finally woke up, only to feel the fear receding like a tide.

They then looked at the place where the voice came from, and saw a person squatting in the shadow of the fence.

This person was wearing a loose black robe, with long hair, a circle of very dignified beard, and a gentle expression with a hint of solemnity.

Shang Jianyao and the others knew this person, they had met him once in the wilderness before:

Du Heng, who claimed to be an antique scholar and historical researcher.

ps: Asking for recommendation tickets~