C5 Conflict

In under a minute, Hwa Xin reached the cafeteria entrance and noticed a sizable crowd had already gathered. The three at the forefront possessed an air of distinction, exuding a commanding presence that seemed to surpass his own.

Hwa Xin was aware of their formidable strength, which, although likely not on par with Mu Chenyu's, was certainly more than he could handle. With a sense of urgency weighing on him, he managed to keep his composure and spoke up.

"Could you please make some room? My boss is hurt and needs to heal."

"Sure, go ahead. I saw what happened to your boss. He's really something," Wang Hu responded, giving a thumbs-up in genuine admiration before stepping aside.

Next to him, Dung Xuetine's piercing black eyes were fixed on Mu Chenyu, eager to glimpse the face of the man whose might seemed boundless. It was nearly inconceivable that someone could leap from the sixth floor, especially while carrying another person, and live to tell the tale.

Upon hearing Hwa Xin's request, she nodded her small head and cleared a path.

However, Faang Jie, who had been eyeing the woman he fancied watching another man intently, felt a surge of jealousy ignite within him. A spiteful sneer tinged his pale face as he objected, "I disagree. There's not much food left in the cafeteria, and we certainly don't have the surplus to feed someone of your size."

"What did you say?" Hwa Xin, thinking the matter was settled, was about to proceed when he was confronted by a man with gold-rimmed glasses, blocking his way. Anger flared within him, and he was on the verge of lashing out, but the sheer number of people and the intense aura emanating from the man made him hold back, though his voice betrayed his frustration.

Wang Hu and Dong Xuetine were taken aback by Faang Jie's behavior. Dong Xuetine, known for her fiery temper, was ready to confront him head-on. Wang Hu, equally incensed, sought to defuse the situation, preferring to mediate rather than escalate.

It was then that a deep, authoritative voice cut through the tension: "Enter."

The voice, unmistakably Mu Chenyu's, resonated from behind Hwa Xin, brooking no argument.

"Oh." Hwa Xin, momentarily caught off guard by his boss's command, promptly advanced, acting as if Faang Jie wasn't even there.

He simply had to carry out the boss's orders; anything beyond that wasn't his concern.

Her decisive strides caught everyone off guard, freezing even Dong Xueting, who seemed on the verge of an outburst, in her tracks. Curiosity replaced her anger as she watched intently.

Wang Hu remained silent as well.

Faang Jie bristled with a cruel gleam in his eyes as he was blatantly disregarded by an overweight man and a severely wounded individual. His aura surged as he fixed his gaze on Mu Chenyu, contemplating how this injured man would attempt to overcome him. Had he not been injured, Faang Jie might have been outmatched, but now? He smirked at the thought.

Closing the gap to less than a meter, Faang Jie made the first move, lashing out with a kick aimed at Hwa Xin. His smirk grew more contemptuous, prompting gasps and looks of pity from the onlookers, who lacked the courage to intervene.

Dong Xueting leaned forward, her long legs poised to intercept the kick with her expert Taekwondo skills.

Wang Hu's eyes bulged as he kept his focus on Mu Chenyu. The ashen-faced man narrowed his eyes and, with his uninjured right hand, seized the Tang Blade, still sheathed, and hurled it at Faang Jie.

The scabbard collided with Faang Jie's incoming foot, and the clash of forces erupted.

"Bam!"

The scabbard's formidable power, unyielding and overwhelming, neutralized the momentum of Faang Jie's kick, rebounding with a force that sent ripples surging back at him.

Faang Jie stumbled backward, his henchmen scrambling to steady him, only to be pushed back repeatedly by the relentless force.

Meanwhile, other underlings, enraged by their boss's retreat, brandished their weapons and charged with ruthless intent, sparing no thought for mercy.

"How despicable! Hmph!"

As Mu Chenyu's eyes narrowed, pondering whether to draw his blade, Dong Xueting could no longer stand idly by. Her lithe legs lashed out like whips, sending the assailants flying before they could close in on their target.

Her face was flushed with fury, eyes wide as she loudly berated, "A shameless leader breeds shameless followers. What a pair you are!"

"Faang Jie, have you decided to abandon all decency today? Well, this lady is about to give you a lesson in manners."

"Hmph, Dong Xuetine, just you wait. If you cross me, you'll regret it, hehe."

Watching from a distance, Faang Jie saw Dong Xuetine spring into action and realized the day's antics were over. The lingering pain in his leg instilled a wariness of Mu Chenyu's capabilities. Could he even fight back if he wanted to?

With a contemptuous snort, he spat out a threat and retreated with his crew.

"Pfft, as if I'm scared of you," Dong Xuetine retorted defiantly, her presence every bit as commanding as Faang Jie's.

Throughout this, Wang Hu simply smiled without a word, his pupils narrowing at the sight of Mu Chenyu's swift move, clearly recognizing the man's extraordinary skill.

Once Faang Jie had departed, Dong Xuetine eagerly led Hwa Xin to a place where they could rest. She provided them with food and water, and handed Hwa Xin five evolution beads to aid in Mu Chenyu's recovery.

"She's a spirited one," Hwa Xin thought to himself, aware that his boss had piqued Dong Xuetine's interest.

After settling Mu Chenyu down and seeing him begin to heal, Hwa Xin sat quietly beside him, vigilant against any interruptions.

Meanwhile, the other patrons in the cafeteria watched with thick envy as Dong Xuetine tended to the pair. They eyed the disparity between their own physiques and the potential repercussions of crossing Dong Xuetine, holding back their desires.

They could only look on longingly at the food, their mouths watering. It had been days since they'd had a proper meal, and now, faced with such a spread, their hunger was hard to ignore.

Thankfully, they remained still. For if they had acted, given Hwa Xin's size and the newfound strength from the evolution beads he'd been consuming, the outcome would surely have been dire.

Time slipped by quietly, and before we knew it, noon had arrived. Wang Hu and Dong Xuetine had each stopped by once, but seeing that Mu Chenyu showed no signs of awakening, they refrained from interrupting his rest.

With a sudden "Pfft!" Mu Chenyu, after nearly four hours of healing, expelled a mouthful of dark blood and opened his eyes.

"Boss, are you okay?" Hwa Xin, witnessing Mu Chenyu cough up blood, exclaimed with concern.

"It's nothing serious, just some congealed blood. I'm feeling much better now," Mu Chenyu reassured, his heart warmed by Hwa Xin's worried look.

Unbeknownst to him, Hwa Xin had become his most devoted follower. Mu Chenyu believed that since he had taken Hwa Xin under his wing, it was his duty to ensure his safety.

He hadn't anticipated his injuries, though they were expected. His body's agility had absorbed much of the impact upon landing, and it was only the aggravation of old wounds that led to his current condition.

"Fetch Wang Hu and Dong Xuetine for me, I need to speak with them."

Mu Chenyu was puzzled by Hwa Xin's sudden attentiveness, but the thought of his own battered state brought on a headache. His bones were far from healed; relying on the evolution bead would mean a recovery time of at least five or six days. With a Blood Core, the process would be quicker.

Yet, the previous day's injuries had depleted his Blood Core, leaving him with only the option of utilizing the corpse.

The remains of a mutated beast were an exceptional source of nourishment. He had been too severely injured the day before to attend to it, and in the rush to hunt zombies upstairs this morning, he had temporarily forgotten about it.

Now, recalling the size of the mutated dog, easily over four hundred kilograms, he knew the vital energy within its flesh and blood was invaluable for enhancing Qi and blood.

Unlike zombies, riddled with toxins, mutated beasts were different. The Blood Core of a mutated beast, though valuable, wasn't the only part of its remains considered a delicacy.

The flesh and blood could be consumed to bolster one's strength and vitality.

The claws, teeth, and fur could be crafted into weapons and leather armor, making them invaluable treasures.

How could one pass up such an opportunity!

Without asking any questions, Hwa Xin simply nodded and set off to find them.

Before long, Hwa Xin returned with Wang Hu and Dong Xuetine in tow.

From a distance, Wang Hu's booming voice rang out.

"Little brother, how are you feeling now? Haha!"

His boisterous laughter showed no hint of the calculating demeanor he had previously displayed at the door, revealing him to be quite the cunning character.

"Much better, thanks for asking."

Mu Chenyu responded with a neutral tone, neither warm nor cold.

Turning to Dong Xuetine, he continued,

"Thank you for your assistance earlier, Miss. I won't forget it."

"Oh, it was nothing, really. I just couldn't stand Faang Jie's arrogance."

Dong Xuetine seemed slightly uncomfortable with Mu Chenyu's formal gratitude but quickly dismissed it with a wave of her hand.

Mu Chenyu simply nodded, not one for unnecessary pleasantries, but committed to repaying the kindness when the opportunity arose.

"I have a matter I'd like to discuss with you both."

"Earlier, I killed a mutated dog inside that building. I had intended to take its body with me when I left, but I had to flee due to unforeseen circumstances."

"Now, I want to retrieve the corpse of the mutated beast. As compensation, I propose we split it: half for me, half for you. What do you think?"

Mu Chenyu laid out his situation, looking up at the two, eager to hear their thoughts.

Currently, he had no choice but to depend on them, as he was unable to retrieve it himself.

Upon hearing Mu Chenyu's proposal, Wang Hu and the other fell into contemplation. They were aware of the value of a mutated beast's corpse, but also of the significant risk involved in retrieving it now.

After all, there was a First Rank zombie inside the building. Even though it was on the sixth floor, who could say for sure it wouldn't be discovered?

After a moment, Wang Hu looked up at Mu Chenyu with a question.

"How large is the body?" Wang Hu's question indicated he was already considering the proposal, weighing the potential benefits.

"Roughly 400 kilograms," Mu Chenyu replied.

"I'm in. Give me the location, and I'll have my people collect it," Wang Hu said, nodding emphatically upon receiving the information he desired.

"I'm on board as well," Dung Xuetine chimed in.

With the agreements in place, they left to hash out the details among themselves, leaving Mu Chenyu behind to focus on his recovery.