40: Chapter 40 The Name of the Lone Wolf

The aftershocks of the explosion finally dissipated.

Chen Mo leaned against a stone pillar, gasping for breath.

The wound on his back had completely split open, and blood flowed down his clothes, pooling into a small puddle on the ground.

Lin Wei was beside him, pressing down on his wound; her face was pale, but her hands were steady.

The people around them began to stand up one after another.

Iron Bear was the first to walk over, covered in dust with several bloody gashes on his face.

He glanced at Chen Mo's injury, then at the massive crater, an unreadable expression in his eyes.

"You did this?"

Chen Mo didn't speak.

He just stared at the crater.

Zhang Lie's corpse had completely vanished, leaving only golden fragments scattered across the ground.

His subordinates were either dead or had fled; the encirclement had long since collapsed.

Old Zhou walked out from the crowd, his expression grim.

"The casualty count is in," he said. "Five dead, over a dozen injured."

Iron Bear's fists tightened.

"Those bastards..."

"They ran," Old Zhou said. "But they won't get far."

He looked toward Chen Mo.

"You knew all along?"

Chen Mo nodded.

"I knew from the first day."

"Why didn't you tell us in advance?"

Chen Mo looked at him.

"Because you wouldn't have believed me."

Old Zhou fell silent.

He couldn't argue with that.

If Chen Mo had said 'someone is going to ambush you' on the first day, would the people at the summit have believed him?

No.

They would have thought Chen Mo was trying to sow discord or manipulate them.

Only by letting the traitors reveal themselves could everyone see clearly.

Iron Bear suddenly laughed.

"You're a fucking monster."

He turned and roared at the people around him:

"What are you all standing around for? Clean up the battlefield and treat the wounded! Those who want to die can stay here; those who want to live, follow me!"

The crowd began to move.

Chen Mo leaned against the stone pillar, watching them work.

Lin Wei was still pressing on his wound, her hands trembling slightly.

"You need to rest," she said.

Chen Mo shook his head.

"Not yet."

He pushed Lin Wei's hand away and struggled to stand up.

His back burned with pain, but he endured it.

He walked to the edge of the crater, crouched down, and picked up a golden fragment.

[Obtained: Transformed One Fragment ×1]

[Can be used to craft items to resist the will of the ghost realm]

Chen Mo put the fragment in his pocket.

Then he turned and looked at the golden door.

The door was still there.

The palm-shaped indentation was still waiting for him.

But he didn't walk toward it.

Old Zhou walked over and stood beside him.

"Not going in?"

Chen Mo shook his head.

"Going in now would be a death sentence."

Old Zhou was stunned for a moment.

"Are your injuries that severe?"

"It's not the injuries," Chen Mo said. "It's the state."

He pointed to his chest.

"This place isn't ready yet."

Old Zhou was silent for a few seconds.

Then he nodded.

"You're smarter than I thought."

Chen Mo didn't say anything.

He just stared at the door for a long time.

Then he turned and walked toward the pickup truck.

Lin Wei supported him, step by step.

Iron Bear caught up to them.

"Hey."

Chen Mo stopped.

Iron Bear stood before him; the two-meter-tall giant's expression was complex.

"You just saved me," he said, "twice."

Chen Mo remained silent.

"I owe you two lives," Iron Bear said. "If you ever need anything, just ask."

Chen Mo looked at him.

Then he nodded.

"I'll remember that."

Iron Bear grinned.

He held out his hand.

Chen Mo shook it.

The palm was thick and powerful.

But Chen Mo could feel that this time there was no testing, no competition.

Just pure... recognition.

Chen Mo returned to the pickup truck.

Lin Wei started the engine.

The convoy slowly drove away from the Source of the Sequence.

In the rearview mirror, the golden door grew more distant.

So did the ruins, the stone pillars, and the people who had just experienced battle.

Chen Mo leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes.

"Why?" Lin Wei suddenly asked.

"Why what?"

"Why didn't you go in?" she said. "You waited so long."

Chen Mo was silent for a few seconds.

Then he spoke.

"Because if you go in, you don't come back out."

Lin Wei was taken aback.

"What do you mean?"

"Behind that door isn't a path," Chen Mo said. "It's a trap."

He opened his eyes and looked out the window.

"Old Li said that the last person who possessed the Pupil of the Sequence died at the hands of 'one of their own.' That 'one of their own' wasn't anyone else—it was the thing behind the door."

Lin Wei's expression changed.

"Are you saying..."

"The Source of the Sequence isn't meant for people to enter," Chen Mo said. "It's meant for people to die inside."

He paused.

"I need more preparation, more intelligence, and more power."

Lin Wei didn't ask anything else.

She just gripped the steering wheel and continued driving.

The pickup truck traveled along the grey highway.

Behind them, the ruins became increasingly blurred.

Ahead, the lights of the Trading Post flickered in the distance.

Chen Mo closed his eyes and let himself drift off.

On the edge of unconsciousness, he heard the System notification.

[Regional Announcement]

[Chosen One 'Chen Mo' has killed a C-rank Peak Transformed One on the outskirts of the Source of the Sequence]

[Cross-rank Kill · Evaluation: Tactical Great Master]

[Announcement issued to the entire region]

[Obtained Title: Lone Wolf]

[Lone Wolf: All attributes +5% when traveling alone]

The corner of Chen Mo's mouth twitched slightly.

Lone Wolf.

The name suited him quite well.

Then, he completely lost consciousness.

When he woke up, Chen Mo found himself lying on a bed.

White ceiling, white walls, and the smell of disinfectant.

It was the Trading Post's medical room.

Lin Wei sat by the bed; seeing him wake up, she let out a sigh of relief.

"You were unconscious for two days."

Chen Mo sat up.

The wound on his back had been bandaged and no longer pained him.

"Where are the others?"

"They've all gone back," Lin Wei said.

"Iron Bear left with his people, saying to find him on Highway 17 if you need anything. Eagle Eye also left, leaving a message that he owes you a favor. Ying didn't say anything, but her people left some supplies."

Chen Mo nodded.

"And Old Zhou?"

"He's outside," Lin Wei said, "waiting for you to wake up."

Chen Mo stood up and walked out of the medical room.

Old Zhou was behind the supermarket checkout counter; he smiled when he saw him come out.

"You're awake?"

Chen Mo nodded.

Old Zhou took out a metal box from under the counter and placed it in front of him.

"For you."

Chen Mo opened it.

Inside was a map.

A detailed map of the outskirts of the Source of the Sequence, marking every road, every ruin, and every trap.

"This..."

"I drew it when I was young," Old Zhou said. "I originally intended to use it myself, but later I realized I couldn't."

He looked at Chen Mo.

"You're stronger than me. You can make use of it."

Chen Mo was silent for a few seconds.

Then he put the map away.

"Thank you."

Old Zhou waved his hand.

"Go on," he said. "Come back alive."

Chen Mo turned and walked out of the supermarket.

Outside, Lin Wei stood by the pickup truck, waiting for him.

The sunlight shone on her, feeling warm.

Chen Mo walked over and sat in the driver's seat.

Lin Wei got into the passenger seat.

The pickup truck started and drove out of the Trading Post.

In the rearview mirror, the small service area grew more and more distant.

Chen Mo gripped the steering wheel, looking at the road ahead.

The Source of the Sequence—he would go there again.

But not now.

Now, he needed to become stronger first.

Strong enough to get out alive.

Strong enough to come back alive.

The pickup truck receded further along the highway.

Finally, it vanished beneath the grey horizon.