86: You asked me to give you your name, is that my fault?

"What's your progress?"

A voice crackled from the walkie-talkie. Su Chen thought for a moment before replying:

"Progress is great. We've captured the target and will be back shortly."

"Who are you? Why didn't you give the code first!"

The middle-aged man questioned him. This voice definitely didn't belong to one of their organization's members.

"Your people are in my hands, and I'm preparing to take them back for interrogation. It's as simple as that."

"Also, there are some remains of your experimental beast near a pine tree. Remember to come and bury them later."

"Kid, you dare to capture our people? You must have a death wish! If you have the guts, leave a name!"

"Zhang Yuqiang. Remember my name. If you're not satisfied, feel free to come find me anytime."

"Good, Zhang Yuqiang, I'll remember you!"

"It won't take long. Tonight, I'll make you realize the consequences of opposing us."

Zhang Yuqiang, standing nearby, heard everything clearly. He hadn't expected Su Chen to throw him under the bus like this.

"Benefactor Su! Is it appropriate for you to use my name?"

Su Chen tossed the walkie-talkie to Zhang Yuqiang and said, "What's wrong? You said to use your name if something happened. Did I do something wrong?"

"Uh... no."

"But I didn't mean for you to use it like this!"

I had long prepared to sacrifice myself for the Association, but that was a sentiment; in reality, I still want to live a few more days.

I'm only a Second Rank Ability User. If the Heavenly Fiend Cult marks me, even ten lives wouldn't be enough to survive!

"You have to look at it from another perspective. Didn't we just get an unexpected harvest because I used your name?"

Unexpected harvest?

Zhang Yuqiang racked his brain but couldn't find the point. "What unexpected harvest?"

"That guy just said he's coming to take revenge on you tonight."

"Maybe we can set up an ambush at the Garrison Area. Wouldn't you say you've gained?"

"If this succeeds, you might even get a promotion. I wish you great fortune in battle."

"I really have to freaking thank you, Benefactor Su!"

[Ding! Gained Zhang Yuqiang's favorability. lottery ticket +0.05.]

Su Chen gave a gentle smile:

"I have truly received your sincere gratitude!"

"Alright, let's not delay. Those with injuries should bandage up, and those without should lend a hand. Move faster."

"Once we've packed up, we're heading to the Garrison Area!"

Su Chen didn't pay much attention to the people from the Ability Association, but he could still chat with the other young people.

They looked like students at first glance. Students are great; I love making friends most of all.

"Classmate, do you have enough bandages? I have some here, use mine."

[Ding! Gained Lin Xiaohui's favorability. lottery ticket +1.]

"Classmate, let me help you apply the iodine."

[Ding! Gained Liu Jielong's favorability. lottery ticket +5.]

...Once everything was ready, they set off.

The Heavenly Fiend Cult members were limping, their movements difficult.

They had just broken each other's limbs, so every step they took now made them grimace in pain.

Finally, at a hillside, one of the Heavenly Fiend Cult members couldn't take it anymore:

"Big brothers, can you slow down a bit? My leg is broken, I can't walk fast."

Zhang Yuqiang barked, "Stop talking and keep moving!"

Su Chen walked over. Thinking about Zhang Yuqiang's pitiful talent, he ultimately took the hand of this Heavenly Fiend Cult member.

"Sorry, it's my fault for not considering that you are injured."

"Zhang Yuqiang, make two stretchers and carry them."

[Ding! Gained Liu Jincai's favorability. lottery ticket +1.]

This kid's talent isn't bad, much better than Zhang Yuqiang's.

Su Chen thought for a moment, then looked at the other Heavenly Fiend Cult members:

"I know you joined the Heavenly Fiend Cult out of desperation. Although you've done wrong, the injured are innocent!"

"If any of you have trouble walking, tell me! I'll have a stretcher made to carry you!"

The hearts of several Heavenly Fiend Cult members warmed, and one even burst into tears.

In the Heavenly Fiend Cult, they were scolded and punished every day; no one ever cared whether they lived or died.

Yet, they hadn't expected this young man to show such meticulous care for villains like them!

Several of them secretly vowed to turn over a new leaf and become better people in the future!

Once they reached the Garrison Area, they would confess everything clearly!

It would be a way to not let this young man's kindness go to waste.

[Ding! Gained Liu Jincai's favorability. lottery ticket +1.]

[Ding! Gained Chen Fu'an's favorability. lottery ticket +1.]

[Ding! Gained...]

...As the pleasant notifications rang out, Su Chen's mood improved slightly. He naturally didn't care about Zhang Yuqiang's attitude.

Which was more important: 0.01 tickets or 1 ticket?

However, he still needed to say a few words to smooth things over with Zhang Yuqiang's side.

He pulled Zhang Yuqiang and the others from the Ability Association to the side:

"I'm doing this for what comes next. A carrot-and-stick approach makes it easier for you to pry information out of them when you get back, doesn't it?"

"We're almost there. Work hard for a bit, brothers."

"If it doesn't work out, I'll take a turn carrying the stretcher later."

"It's fine, leave this to us. You're strong; if we let you carry a stretcher and we run into danger, it'll be a hassle."

"We can handle this dirty work."

...The group continued forward. An Xueshi, who was carrying a stretcher in the back, felt stifled.

She hadn't expected Su Chen to have become this strong—able to one-shot a Fourth-tier Exotic Beast with such high proficiency in his Lightning Element Ability.

Comparing him to Ding Haoze beside her, she realized she had truly made the wrong choice.

If she hadn't thrown a tantrum back then and had gritted her teeth to persevere, the woman standing by Su Chen's side now would be her!

Even if she couldn't get Su Chen, she could have had something with Yang Junlong, right?

One had strength, the other had money; either was a hundred times better than Ding Haoze... As they neared the Garrison Area, Su Chen could already see two powerful experts suspended in the air.

One was a middle-aged man in a military uniform, and the other was an old man in Daoist robes.

Their strength was at least Sixth Rank. Their group was large enough to catch the attention of the two in the air.

The Daoist elder walked through the air, flying toward them.

Watching the elder fly over, Su Chen felt intrigued.

He wondered how high this person's talent was. Should he test the waters?

After the old man landed, Su Chen spoke first:

"Senior, we are students from the Ability Academy. We encountered several Heavenly Fiend Cult members on the way and captured them."

"They have a lot of information on them. I hope it's useful to you."

"You did this?"

The white-bearded elder's brow furrowed slightly. His Divine Sense swept over and found this person was only at First Rank strength, while the captured group were all at Third Rank.

But seeing the members of the Ability Association nod, it was clearly true.

Are young people nowadays already this strong?

Another Prodigy has indeed appeared. However, it was a good thing for them; as long as this person could grow up, he would be a significant figure.

The elder was silent for a long while before slowly nodding:

"Truly, a hero emerges from the youth. Work hard..."

[Ding! Gained Xu Jianyi's favorability. lottery ticket +10.]

Tch.

With this level of talent, he's only on par with my cat. What a waste of my excitement.

Talking to you is simply a waste of my time.

For some reason, Xu Jianyi felt that the person in front of him had an extra hint of... disdain in his eyes when looking at him.

Xu Jianyi thought of something and understood instantly:

"This will be credited to you. The reward will be issued by the Ability Association later. You are..."

"Zhang Yuqiang."

"Zhang Yuqiang, I'll leave you in charge of this. It's getting late; arrange a place for them to rest first."

"Do not wander into the mountain forests after dark; it will be dangerous."

After Xu Jianyi finished speaking, he flew back into the air to his previous position.