Chapter 652 – Ask For Trouble, Close Your Eyes

As soon as Ling Mo finished speaking, a few people started to emerge from the buildings on both sides.

Ling Mo counted silently and noted that including Song Jinsen, there were exactly nine people guarding this place.

“Quite a big setup,” Ling Mo said, his expression unchanged.

“We’re waiting here just for you,” Song Jinsen responded confidently, as if he had everything under control.

Ling Mo thought for a moment and then asked, “Did you plan this on purpose?”

Song Jinsen didn’t bother to hide his intentions: “Not entirely. I didn’t bring many people with me, and there aren’t many usable members in this branch either. Instead of spreading our forces to block the doors and risking you slipping away, it’s better to lie in wait here like this. Whichever door you choose, you’ll pass by here.” After speaking, he winked at Ling Mo and added, “See, I guessed right.”

His words carried an air of superiority, which even irritated Mu Chen, who was hiding behind the wall.

“Dammit! Headquarters think they’re all that!” Mu Chen muttered under his breath.

“Don’t say anything,” Xia Na glared at him, “Wait for Ling-Ge’s instructions.”

Just then, Ling Mo spoke again, addressing Song Jinsen calmly: “But Ai Feng didn’t anticipate that you wouldn’t save him.”

“Haha…” Song Jinsen’s smile became a bit stiff, but he quickly regained his composure. “If he survives, he’ll find a way to escape even if he’s badly injured. Besides, we’ve just arrived and don’t know the situation inside the building. Rushing in could get us killed.”

“And those blocking the doors? Your plan sounds good, but weren’t they just sacrifices, mere decoys?” Ling Mo continued to speak indifferently. “I’m curious, it’s one thing to abandon people from the branch, but why are members from your own headquarters team being so easily sacrificed?”

“What did you say?”

Finally, Song Jinsen could no longer smile. He didn’t expect Ling Mo to figure out so much in such a short time.

But after glancing at the people behind him, Song Jinsen took a deep drag on his cigarette and said, “They weren’t real headquarters members, just reserve force…”

“So, you’re admitting it then?” Ling Mo shook his head and said.

Song Jinsen gritted his teeth, and after a while, he finally squeezed out a sentence: “Enough with the useless talk!”

“He usually isn’t this talkative!” Mu Chen couldn’t help but mutter again. “But saying they were easily sacrificed isn’t right; they were obviously killed by zombies…”

“Shut… shut… what’s the phrase again?” Li Yalin also inched closer to Xia Na, peeking out and murmuring.

“It’s ‘shut up,’ Senior Sister,” Xia Na whispered back to her.

Mu Chen was on the verge of tears. How is he supposed to survive like this…

Although they hadn’t managed to probe much, Song Jinsen really didn’t want to continue bantering with Ling Mo.

What kind of probing was this?! Ling Mo was clearly exposing all his secrets!

Moreover, everything Ling Mo said was filled with malice, yet it somehow sounded completely reasonable.

Whether or not it was actually Song Jinsen’s plan, it could easily make the other eight people believe it!

Song Jinsen really didn’t want to continue the idle chit-chat with Ling Mo. He waved his hand and simply commanded, “Attack.”

The eight people exchanged glances. Some hesitated briefly, but a vicious glint quickly appeared in their eyes.

“Let’s get this done. This is a big opportunity to earn merits.”

“If we don’t act, we won’t even be able to return to the branch.”

“Are you kidding? We still have a branch?”

The consequences of Ling Mo’s actions tonight were severe. Not only had he destroyed important experimental subjects and guides from the Niepan headquarters, but he had also killed the branch’s leader and core members.

From the moment No. 0 died, the Niepan branch in Dongming had essentially ceased to exist. Ling Mo had already wiped out the main body of this branch; what remained were merely those who depended on it for survival.

It would be a lie to say they weren’t afraid.

But for the people present, fighting this battle could mean going to the headquarters and living relatively peaceful lives. It was an opportunity they had never dared to imagine before.

If they didn’t fight, they’d have to return to the ruins, constantly living under the threat of zombies.

After just a brief moment of hesitation, the murderous intent in their eyes as they looked at Ling Mo intensified.

Ling Mo’s expression remained calm as his gaze swept across the people slowly closing in on him.

At the same time, he swiftly sent out multiple psychic commands.

“He’s got accomplices behind him, be careful,” one of the members whispered.

“If they don’t dare to show themselves, ignore them for now. Kill him first, and we’ll get everything,” another person said.

These Niepan members were mostly superhumans. Their combat coordination was quite different from those teams with a more military style.

They moved in groups of twos and threes, cautiously waiting for the right moment.

Song Jinsen bit down on his cigarette, feeling somewhat helpless.

He shouted “attack” with flair earlier, but not a single person actually rushed forward.

Ling Mo didn’t need to mock him; Song Jinsen already felt humiliated enough.

These people wanted to earn merits but weren’t willing to risk their lives.

“It looks like I have to take the lead! Branch members are just useless. I thought Ai Feng could amount to something, but he’s disappointing too. Even Shen Le only knows how to make trouble for me. If I don’t take this guy down, I might as well not return,” Song Jinsen grumbled internally. He flicked his jacket open and pulled out two guns from behind his waist.

His posture, with the cigarette dangling from his mouth and a gun in each hand, looked quite dashing, but it still didn’t boost morale.

Everyone was staring at him, making Song Jinsen suspect that Ling Mo’s earlier “nonsense” had actually had some effect…

“A bunch of idiots!”

Song Jinsen’s facial muscles twitched as he raised both of his hands. His eyes suddenly narrowed: “You won’t leave here alive today!”

The weak sound from the suppressor as Song Jinsen pulled the trigger was completely drowned out by his sudden shout.

Most people need to aim before shooting, but Song Jinsen fired the moment he raised his hands.

In such a scenario, even those deliberately wary of him could easily be hit.

However, as Song Jinsen shouted, he realized Ling Mo had already vanished from his original spot.

A series of bullets hit the ground with soft plinks, sending up small sparks.

“Where did he go!”

Song Jinsen’s eyes quickly scanned the area, only to suddenly hear a muffled grunt from behind him.

A superhuman hiding behind a utility pole appeared dazed for a moment, then a bloody hole appeared on his knee. He collapsed, clutching his leg in pain.

“Where is he?”

Song Jinsen cursed under his breath while quickly turning his body, searching for any sign of Ling Mo: “Stay alert. This must be visual deception or some kind of mental guidance!”

The superhuman who was in pain clearly wasn’t experiencing a hallucination, so Song Jinsen ruled out that possibility even as he shouted.

But before he could finish speaking, another superhuman let out a wail of agony.

This superhuman also had mental abilities, yet still couldn’t keep up with Ling Mo. Hearing Song Jinsen, he felt it made sense, so he simply closed his eyes.

No sooner had he shut his eyes than a surge of mental energy slammed into him.

He rejoiced internally, thinking this method worked, and immediately focused his psychic power to counterattack.

Even if he couldn’t kill Ling Mo, at least he could restrain him!

Besides, once he made a move, the credit would be his, and after that, he could focus solely on staying alive.

No matter how powerful Ling Mo was, could he really take down so many superhumans?

However, just as the mental energy approached, it suddenly vanished. Instead, a searing pain erupted on his face.

He screamed and quickly opened his eyes, clutching his blood-soaked cheek.

A nearby superhuman also turned pale. This person had quick reflexes and dodged to the side just as he sensed danger approaching.

If he hadn’t done so, both he and the mental superhuman would’ve been struck down.

“Trying to kill two birds with one stone!” the superhuman thought, breaking out in a cold sweat.

“This lunatic…” Song Jinsen gritted his teeth. From Ling Mo’s attacks, it was evident that in this current state, he could only launch these harassing strikes.

Although no one had died, he had given these already fearful opponents a severe warning.

Moreover, during the process, it felt like he had slapped Song Jinsen hard across the face.

As the mental superhuman got injured, everyone, including Song Jinsen, looked at him with complicated expressions, clearly thinking: “What visual deception?”