Chapter 98: The Road of Exile, Part 40

Eight armored vehicles burst out of the sandstorm like iron-clad beasts, one after another, never letting up.

The giant lizard on the highway let out a long, piercing shriek. The waterlogged tentacles on its back rose high and lashed down with a crack, striking two of the vehicles at once. Under the sudden wrenching force, both armored cars pitched over and rolled hard across the ground.

Someone inside cried out in terror, “It’s the giant flower lizard!”

Another voice shouted, “Scatter! Don’t let it catch up!”

The remaining six armored vehicles accelerated even harder. Before the lizard’s tentacles could strike again, they veered aside in unison and continued after the RV ahead.

The giant lizard drew back its tentacles, flicked what amounted to a half-tail, and continued its pursuit at an unhurried pace.

Ahead, the RV was already at full speed, but the convoy behind was pressing in tightly, the gap shrinking by the second.

Ye Liuyun deliberately slowed down, dropping back behind the RV, intending to cover Shi Xianyu’s retreat.

But the moment the window opened, before she could even raise her gun, a storm of bullets raked toward her from behind, hammering against the reinforced shell of the armored vehicle.

Some of the rounds pierced the balloons, and chili water burst out in a spray.

Ye Liuyun had no choice but to close the window again. Otherwise, before she hit a single vehicle behind her, she would be drenched in chili water first.

What had once been a deadly weapon against beasts had now become their own restraint.

She glanced at the RV in front, then at the convoy still tailing them, and gritted her teeth, ready to throw everything into one desperate gamble. She had already brought Shi Xianyu and Lu Li this far; there was no reason to stop halfway. No matter what, she would get them out of here.

Just then, a change broke out in the convoy as well. Big Beard opened the roof hatch, stood up, and roared in fury, “Damn it! Who fired just now? Which bastard fired?!”

Radish also shouted at the top of his lungs, “Are you all looking to die? Don’t you know our boss is in the car?!”

A reply came from somewhere in the convoy: “If we don’t fire, how are we supposed to catch them? Headquarters said anyone resisting arrest is to be shot dead!”

“Damn it!” Big Beard cursed. “Shot dead your ass!”

But his shouting was quickly drowned out by a barrage of gunfire.

Countless bullets slammed into the balloon-covered off-road vehicle ahead. Ye Liuyun did not dodge or flinch, continuing to drive close behind the RV, shielding it from the incoming fire.

“These bastards! I’m going to teach them a lesson!” Big Beard was burning with rage. He sat down, gripped the wheel, and drove straight into one of the firing vehicles.

Bang!

The struck vehicle jolted violently. Someone inside poked out half their head and swore, “Big Beard, what the hell are you doing?!”

“I want to see who dares fire now!” Big Beard barked. “Radish! Watch closely! Whoever fires, shoot out their tires!”

Radish picked up his gun and hesitated. “For real?”

Big Beard did not answer directly. He only asked, “When the hyenas were after you, who saved you? When the snake bit you, who saved you?”

Radish heard that, spat on the ground, then lifted his gun and sprang to his feet with ferocious force, his small frame suddenly booming with a thunderous shout: “Whoever dares lay a hand on my boss, I’ll kill them!”

Inside the car that had been hit, someone shouted, “Commander! They’re rebelling—”

Eight armored vehicles had come out together; there could not be no leader among them, and naturally there was someone in charge.

In one gray-green armored vehicle, the man seated in the front passenger seat picked up the radio and said flatly, “Anyone who disobeys orders will be charged with rebellion. The rest, keep pursuing.”

This time, before Big Beard could explode, Radish lost his temper first. He raised his gun and sprayed the nearby armored vehicles’ tires in a furious burst.

Big Beard, meanwhile, went into full demolition mode: whichever vehicle got ahead, he rammed it hard.

One armored vehicle was struck sideways and spun across the road, directly blocking the two or three vehicles behind it, including the commander’s.

“Holy shit!” The driver of the car that got hit slammed on the brakes.

Just as he was about to turn and continue the chase, a female teammate in the same vehicle suddenly spoke up. “Stop.”

The driver had just escaped disaster and replied, “No need to stop. Radish’s aim is lousy. He didn’t hit the tire. Don’t worry.”

The woman said, “Pretend the tire was hit.”

“What?” The man turned in astonishment. “Fangfang, you want to rebel too?”

“Ye Liuyun is my sister,” Fangfang said coldly. “If you dare keep chasing her today, then next time you’re on a mission, don’t bring me along. And if you get poisoned, don’t come to me for the antidote.”

The driver went silent.

The vehicles behind urged them on. “What are you doing up front? Why are you dawdling? Move aside already!”

Under Fangfang’s grim stare, the man hesitated, then stuck his head out of the window and said, “Uh... my car... looks like Big Beard damaged it.”

“Damn it! What a piece of junk!”

The vehicles behind cursed loudly and began to take a detour.

Big Beard had already driven up to Ye Liuyun’s vehicle and was shouting at the top of his lungs, “Boss! We’re here to help you!”

Ye Liuyun’s face changed. She opened the window and snapped, “Are you insane? I’ve been kidnapped, so I had no choice. But you’re choosing to defect on your own—how are you going to explain that when you get back?”

Radish stared at her. “Boss, do you think everyone’s blind?”

Ye Liuyun was left speechless.

Big Beard said carelessly, “What’s there to be afraid of? Worst case, we just go find food at another oasis. Every oasis is short-handed now. Experienced fighters like us? The major oases will be begging us to come.”

Ye Liuyun did not know whether she should feel more moved or more exasperated.

It was true that the major oases were short of people, but their interests were also intertwined. If the other oases found out that Big Beard and Radish had any connection to the flower-toxin parasite, this matter would never end well.

“They’re catching up again.”

Lin Yuan opened the window and cut the balloons free from the car.

Radish turned to look and said boldly, “Only four vehicles? We’ve got three cars on our side. Three against four, and the outcome isn’t decided yet!”

Lin Yuan drew his gun and took aim.

Radish raised his own gun as well.

The two sides raced and chased along the sand-blown highway. As the distance narrowed, the atmosphere grew tighter and tighter, both sides waiting for just the right range before squeezing the trigger.

Looking at the familiar silhouettes of the vehicles in her rearview mirror, Ye Liuyun truly could not understand how things had come to this. She had only wanted to send Lu Li away; she had never imagined she would end up in open conflict with her own team.

As the distance kept closing, Ye Liuyun clenched her teeth and shouted, “Big Beard! Radish! Escort them out first!”

“Boss! What about you?” Radish yelled.

“Don’t worry about me! I’ll buy you time! Go, now!”

Ye Liuyun slammed on the brakes, swinging the car sideways across the middle of the highway and bringing it to a stop.

She closed her eyes, drew a deep breath, then opened the door and stepped out without a single weapon, walking straight into the road to block their way.

The four pursuing vehicles stopped one after another.

A man with an insignia on his sleeve got out of the car and stood at the front, silently staring at Ye Liuyun.

Ye Liuyun steeled herself and walked toward him, step by step, enduring the oppressive force of his presence until she stood before him and said softly, “Sir.”

The man lifted a hand.

Slap.

He delivered a loud, ringing slap across Ye Liuyun’s face.

Ye Liuyun froze. A moment later, her eyes turned red. Biting her lower lip, she raised her hand and slapped him back across the side of the face.

Slap.

The man had not expected her to strike back. He roared, “Ye Liuyun!”

“I am here!” Ye Liuyun shouted back, her voice sharp. “If you think I am in the wrong, then by all means send me to the Oasis Court!”