Volume One: The Planet of Myriad Beasts Chapter 55: Ye Qinru

The slender young man wearing a baseball cap was shocked to see that the bullets ricocheted off the silver-tailed volcanic scorpion; the projectiles could not penetrate its body.

The attacked volcanic scorpion charged at the young man with astonishing speed, arriving before he could even blink.

Click—

Out of bullets. The youth was terrified, his soul nearly fleeing his body, for he saw the scorpion’s tail arching upward—a prelude to venom spray. At this critical moment, a deafening gunshot rang out.

Bang—

The silver-tailed volcanic scorpion was instantly killed with a shot to the head. The young man, too frightened to consider who had saved him, turned and ran more than thirty meters away, changed his magazine, and then dared to look around—but found no sign of the shooter.

On the rooftop, Li Juxu fired a shot to kill the silver-tailed volcanic scorpion, then retreated behind cover, breathing heavily and utterly exhausted. It was already the third night. Seventy-five percent of the settlement was overrun by volcanic scorpions; the remaining twenty-five percent was no safer, as scorpions lurked in the shadows, ready to ambush at any moment.

When the city walls were still intact, shifts could be changed, and rest was possible. Now, rest was unthinkable; eyes had to remain constantly vigilant. One careless moment could mean a surprise attack by a volcanic scorpion. These creatures were masters of concealment, hiding in any corner where they could go unnoticed. By the time they were spotted, their venom was already spraying upon their victim.

Li Juxu and the young woman had been moving from one building rooftop to another, constantly shifting positions. However, the number of rooftops suitable for refuge was dwindling, and their pressure mounting. After days of fighting, the number of volcanic scorpions had not decreased but instead multiplied, with more and more silver-tailed ones appearing.

These silver-tailed scorpions, known as Silver-Tail Fire Scorpions, were not only larger but possessed several times the strength, speed, venom potency, range, and volume compared to ordinary scorpions. Their shells were also tougher. Regular volcanic scorpions could not withstand handgun bullets, and sniper rifles could obliterate them. Yet, when fired upon silver-tailed scorpions, the bullets left only a hole.

The golden war chariot of Young Master Li was made of polyethylene polymer material, capable of resisting venom from ordinary and blue-tailed fire scorpions, but not from the silver-tailed ones. Yesterday afternoon, the golden war chariot had rampaged through several streets, leaving destruction in its wake. However, when it encountered silver-tailed scorpions, it lost two men instantly, including the driver, and the vehicle was riddled with corroded holes, forcing it to retreat. More than twenty hours had passed since then, and the golden war chariot had not reappeared.

The temporary command post had ceased supplying ammunition and weapons; everyone was left to fend for themselves. However, Li Juxu and the young woman were well-stocked with ammunition, having scavenged many weapons and supplies as they moved through the area. Though it felt somewhat unscrupulous to profit from others' misfortune, Li Juxu bore no guilt—if he did not collect them, someone else would.

Many wealthy individuals remained in the settlement, and the roar of war vehicles could be heard occasionally. Most, however, fired from a distance and fled, lacking the performance of the golden war chariot and unwilling to approach the volcanic scorpions closely. Pu Shaoyun was not in Settlement No. 11, but his war vehicle had been seen on several occasions over the past three days, likely operated by his trusted men.

Having a war vehicle was a considerable advantage. The young woman also wanted to bring out the pickup war vehicle, but Li Juxu stopped her. He was not a suppressive fire type soldier; a sniper on a war vehicle would only reduce sniping efficiency. Moreover, the pickup’s durability was limited—it would likely be corroded by venom and rendered useless after a few uses.

The pickup vehicle was, after all, a prized possession of the Sharks; Li Juxu did not want to risk damaging it. Given the current circumstances, his state was better suited to his abilities. More than half the settlement had lost power, shrouded in darkness. Electricity had been diverted to the city walls, as the electromagnetic cannon drained enormous energy, forcing the sacrifice of residential power.

Yesterday, another section of the city wall had collapsed. The original five-meter gap had widened to over nine meters, allowing a flood of volcanic scorpions to pour in, killing many. Regardless of willingness, everyone in the settlement was forced to join the fight against the scorpions. Participation meant risking death, but non-participation meant the same. It was better to fight, to kill a few scorpions, and find some meaning in survival.

Li Juxu, commanding from his vantage point, saved many lives. Unfortunately, many of those rescued soon perished again. He encountered fellow survivors but there was little communication; everyone fought their own battles.

The young woman handed Li Juxu a bottle of purified water, which he drank in one gulp, feeling invigorated. He looked up at her—she had not combed her hair for days, strands tousled, her large eyes bloodshot with visible veins. Both of them desperately needed rest, but circumstances refused them.

“If only we were at Base One,” Li Juxu sighed. Base One was humanity’s first constructed stronghold, equipped with advanced facilities and cutting-edge weapons systems, capable of dealing effectively with volcanic scorpions. Settlement Eleven was merely a temporary refuge—hardly a base—evident from the administrators’ unwillingness to invest heavily.

“We’re already luckier than many,” the young woman said contentedly. Countless people had died these days, yet they were still alive.

“Little Sister!” Li Juxu suddenly called out.

“Hm?” she looked at him, puzzled.

“I still don’t know your name,” he said, his worry palpable.

“Remember this: my name is Ye Qinru!” she blinked playfully.

“What a beautiful name!” Li Juxu smiled. It was the first time he had asked a girl her name of his own accord, and the feeling was strange and wonderful.

Suddenly, a cataclysmic explosion shattered their conversation. Three blocks away, flames soared skyward, a small mushroom cloud rising into the air. The shockwave swept outward like a fierce wind, sending countless volcanic scorpions airborne. Li Juxu and Ye Qinru hastily grasped the nearby iron frame; despite the distance, the gust was so strong it nearly lifted them off their feet.

It appeared to be a small missile or similar weapon detonating. The number of scorpions killed was unknown, but the buildings flanking the explosion site were essentially destroyed.

Li Juxu and Ye Qinru drew their pistols and shot every volcanic scorpion that had been blown onto the rooftop. The scorpions, dazed from their wild ride, lay still and compliant, making them easy targets.

Yet the brief relief vanished quickly. A terrifying rumble echoed from afar; the entire settlement felt the tremor passing underground. Another section of the city wall had collapsed.

This was dire news. The larger the breach, the more scorpions would pour in. The remaining twenty-five percent of the settlement would soon be lost.

“Back to the hotel!” Li Juxu ordered decisively.