Care Guide to Raising a Max Level Leaf in Apocalypse - 91

A darkened expression on Si Yin Yuan

Xiao Xiang and Ji Jiu squatted together, looking like two small mushrooms, listening to the adults’ conversation.

They have to part ways here—one team heading to “Laisain,” and the other team descending into the underground.

While listening, Ji Jiu can’t help but pluck some wild grass, stuff one into Black Mist, then another, turning the initially fist-sized black coal ball into one as big as a soccer ball, now filled with toxic wild grass that is defenseless in his hands.

Si Yin Yuan, who finished the conversation, walked over, observing the two mushrooms on the ground, and said, “Let’s go.”

He picked up one with one hand.

Yu Feichen hesitateed, then said, “Boss, let me take care of Xiao Xiang.”

Xiao Xiang looked a bit afraid of him, stiff and motionless in his hands.

Si Yin Yuan handed the child over to him, “Now that we’re closer, can you listen for the Blood Sect?”

There were two entrances to “Laisain,” and no one knows where they lead.

Xiao Xiang bit his lip, trying to perceive the sounds he memorized before. However, all he heard were the noisy wind and pounding heartbeats.

Too noisy, it’s too noisy outside the base.

He can still hear the sound of mutants chewing bones in the distance.

He broke into a cold sweat, unable to help but shiver.

Then suddenly, his head warmed up. He looks up and finds that its Ji Jiu placing his hand on his head.

Recalling how his owner usually pats his head, Ji Jiu awkwardly rubbed the small, furry head in front of him.

The initially tense mood eased, and Xiao Xiang opened his mouth to silently thank him. He closed his eyes again, and the cacophony disappeared.

In its place, he heard the gentle flow of blood vessels.

The Blood Sect’s headquarters were filled with grim red blood vessels. He relied on listening to the sound of these vessels to determine the location.

“It’s over there,” he suddenly opened his eyes, pointing to a specific location.

Stepping into this wetland, legs sink, making progress difficult. Only vehicles specially modified for “Laisain” could navigate, but even then, the speed would be significantly reduced.

A glance revealed nothing but gray mud, and the moist air made breathing feel heavier.

In reality, “Laisain” was not as desolate as imagined. As a thriving wetland ecosystem, there were still traces of living organisms.

There were reeds too, but these reeds looked too sparse, each standing upright like black spikes.

Si Yin Yuan warned, “Be careful, don’t get too close to those aloe plants.”

Ji Jiu secretly leaned close to his ear, “It seems there’s something down here.”

Indeed, what Hu Yan said was right. The reason this place deviated from typical wetland development and became so species-poor was due to the presence of a terrifying mutant.

That mutant is truly overbearing.

Ji Jiu was annoyed, completely forgetting how he once occupied a building and prevented any mutants from approaching.

Si Yin Yuan also sensed it, turning to the driver, “Be careful, don’t disturb anything below. Just follow the route.”

Ji Jiu saw a waving mud crab; the next second, it got stuck by a sudden purple tongue emerging from the mud.

The tongue moved exceptionally fast, and Ji Jiu couldn’t see the details; in an instant, there was nothing left at the spot.

Only a slowly emerging bubble indicated something coming out.

Xiao Xiang sat in the front passenger seat, eyes closed, guiding the way. The deeper they went, the fewer aloe plants there were. The surroundings became increasingly quiet until, apart from their convoy’s sounds, there were no other noises.

Feng Chuyao frowned, “Why are the Blood Sect’s locations always in such dangerous places? How do they avoid attacks from these mutants?”

Ji Jiu recalled being taken away earlier. In the complex maze-like tunnels, he saw many mutants, but they treated humans as if they didn’t exist—no attacks, no infighting, just calmly passing through.

The Blood Sect’s disciples are accustomed to treating those mutants as if they were air.

He shared this observation, earning a unanimous and puzzled reaction from the others.

The driver in black was one of the participants in the previous search. His ability was “Insect Gu.”

The man in black said, “We did capture quite a few mutants near the Blood Sect. Due to their unusually low aggression, we hoped the research institute could make some discoveries. However, there seemed to be no mutants within the Blood Sect’s internal areas.”

Mutants within the Blood Sect…

Ji Jiu suddenly lowered his head, smiling shyly and innocently, blinking his eyes.

Si Yin Yuan: “…”

This expression was just too familiar—every time this little guy eats something, he uses this expression to argue that he didn’t steal anything.

Si Yin Yuan: “So, did you eat… devour those mutants?”

He glanced at the others and tactfully changed his wording.

Ji Jiu pointed to himself with his finger, “I was bored when I got lost in there.”

And those mutants, once they lost their aggressive tendencies, were like an all-you-can-eat buffet for the little grass.

Back then, a person named Jessie discovered it and was furious.

A rare silence fell inside the car, with only Xiao Xiang earnestly using his ability, “Listener.”

Finally, the sounds from the blood vessels in Xiao Xiang’s ears grew louder, indicating they were near the Blood Sect.

He suddenly lifted his head, “There.”

After saying these two words, he fell silent again.

In the seemingly desolate wetland, a gray opening appeared. Its color matched the damp gray mud around, making it almost indistinguishable if Xiao Xiang hadn’t pointed it out.

The man in black stopped the car, “Should I use my ability to scout first?”

His “Insect Gu” can release thousands of centipedes, convenient for both direct combat and auxiliary exploration. Si Yin Yuan shaked his head, a chilling look in his eyes, “No, break through directly.”

To avoid alerting the enemy.

They can’t give that person a chance to use teleportation ability.

The entrance could accommodate two people. Except for a few staying on the ground, the others, armed with combat rifles, rushed in.

With their trained infiltration skills, they silently entered the Blood Sect’s headquarters.

Similar to the situation back then, the interior was still composed of metal pipes, entwined with thick, exposed red blood vessels, and fluids flowing within.

“Hey!” Someone noticed them, and before making more noise, his body was covered with centipedes, struggling in pain on the ground.

Si Yin Yuan stopped in front of him, “Don’t cry for help; otherwise, these insect gu won’t even leave your corpse behind.”

The man nods in pain, his body invaded by poisonous centipedes. He dare not resist, fearing being bitten by the densely packed insects.

The man in black cooperates, retracting the centipedes.

Once he caught his breath, the man made fearful sounds.

The black robe and hood, used to conceal his deformed appearance, fell off, revealing his entire face.

Surprisingly, he had no mouth.

The area where the mouth should be was replaced by countless small tentacles, a wriggling mass instead of a mouth.

Realizing his face was exposed, he instinctively covered his mouth, eyes filled with agony.

Si Yin Yuan, indifferently said: “Lead the way.”

“Huh… huh…” He couldn’t produce complete sounds.

Ji Jiu was very understanding, “Can’t speak? You can use gestures.”

The disdainful looks he expected never appeared; these people didm’t even change their gaze when looking at him.

His eyes showed a momentary confusion, then suddenly firm: “Huh!”

He won’t easily succumb to intimidation.

“Not talking?” Yu Feichen cracked his knuckles, “So defiant. Let’s fight until you talk.”

For a moment, it’s hard to tell which side looked more like the villain.

The frightened person: “Huh!” Aren’t you humans the ones who boast about morality the most!

Hearing this, Yu Feichen actually stops, after a moment of contemplation: “Sorry, don’t understand.”

Then, he swung a merciless punch.

“Huh!” The person cried in pain, the tentacles in his mouth wriggling more intensely.

After a dozen more fierce punches, they’ve beaten him badly. Now, not only does he not look human in the mouth area, but his entire face was distorted.

The person finally knew to fear, raising his hands in surrender: “Huh… I’ll lead the way.”

Yu Feichen, not satisfied, put down his fist: “Let’s go, don’t play tricks, or you’ll be eaten by centipedes.”

They acted like bandits, each person they encountered on the road was tied up and knocked unconscious, then their clothes were taken and hidden in a corner.

This way, they managed to collect enough clothes for everyone. Pulling the hood over their heads covered half of their faces.

Just from appearances, it’s challenging to tell if they are internal members or not.

Blood Sect members usually don’t pay attention to each other; solitude is their nature. Everyone cared only about themselves.

This characteristic ironically made it easier for their infiltration.

Initially, the person thought of leading them in a roundabout way to stall for time, but unexpectedly, they had an internal map of the Blood Sect.

If they notice he’s deviating from the correct route, they would beat him severely.

There’s no semblance of a regular army; they look like a group of bandits.

Although Ji Jiu is directionally challenged, he has unexpectedly good memory. He memorized the entire Blood Sect map and drew it from memory, concealing his talents.

This also has to thank the arrogance of the guy named Weixian. In the beginning, to make Ji Jiu actively seek him out, he intentionally placed the internal map of the sect in a conspicuous place.

Their first target wasn’t Weixian, but Jiang Yi.

The unfortunate guide, after a few attempts at mischief that were discovered, became obedient. Without saying a word, he led them to the interior where ordinary members of the Blood Sect wouldn’t set foot.

He pointed to a downward path, “Huh.”

The tentacles in his mouth nervously wriggled.

Ji Jiu had memories of this place since he was captured and held in the underground cells.

After verifying that the guide hadn’t lied, the man in black skillfully released a centipede.

The centipede climbed up his legs and bit him.

The poison with strong paralyzing effects immediately rendered him unconscious on the ground.

Si Yin Yuan: “Let’s go.”

He led the way down, and the dim underground cells were filled with a pungent smell of blood.

In some cells, there were no people, only piles of human bones.

Ji Jiu suddenly brightened, “It’s there! I was imprisoned there before!”

They didn’t expect this extravagant place to still preserve such an ostentatious structure.

Luxurious golden-threaded cells caught everyone’s eyes, sharply contrasting with the damp and dark underground prison, as if blatantly suggesting some kind of hidden indulgence.

Si Yin Yuan at the forefront suddenly darkened his face.