Volume 1 Chapter 21: Base Enshrouded in Mist

"Impressive tactics!" Chen Hao's voice was slightly dry, yet he forced himself to remain composed.

"Brother Li is truly extraordinary. My men had eyes but failed to recognize a superior, and they offended you."

He waved his hand, and someone immediately dragged the half-dead fire-wielder away like a stray dog. Chen Hao shifted his tone, speaking with feigned sincerity.

"Brother Li, that thing in the water to the west is no simple matter. If we fight now, we only benefit the beast. I suggest we set aside our grievances and join forces to overcome this obstacle. What do you think?"

Li Hexuan remained unmoved; he saw through Chen Hao’s schemes clearly. However, the monster in the water was indeed a problem.

"A truce is acceptable," Li Hexuan stated. "But this is the last time. If there is a next time, I won't be so easy to talk to."

"Naturally," Chen Hao’s smile returned slightly. "Then let us remain on guard and keep each other informed. I hope we can work together to survive this crisis."

Both sides retreated to their respective camps. The atmosphere at the Thunder God Base grew increasingly heavy; everyone knew this was merely the dead silence before a storm. Zhou Yong immediately led his men to reinforce the defensive perimeter, meticulously recalibrating the newly installed electric traps.

Inside Chen Hao's camp, the mood was equally oppressive.

"Boss Chen, that kid is damn evil! What kind of black magic was that?" The fire-wielder, previously incapacitated by Li Hexuan, had caught his breath, though he was still visibly shaken.

Chen Hao sat in a chair that had been brought over, remaining silent while his fingers tapped rhythmically against the armrest. Beside him, a grim, silent man lowered his voice.

"That kid's ability can control metal and discharge electricity; he's no pushover. Boss, should I go and scout him out tonight?"

Chen Hao waved him off. "No rush. Let’s first see how that thing to the west moves. Fallen Leaf Mountain isn't going anywhere."

In a corner of the shanty town, Jia Shuwen watched the formidable ranks of Chen Hao’s camp from afar, her extinguished ambitions beginning to stir once more. In her eyes, Chen Hao was the true powerhouse, and Li Hexuan had merely gotten lucky. She crept forward like a rat, hoping to reach Chen Hao's camp and trade her "secrets" for a better life.

As she drew near, a guard kicked her away. "Get lost, you bitch! Don't you dare dirty Boss Chen's territory!" The guard spat a glob of phlegm at her feet.

Jia Shuwen collapsed, her mouth filled with dirt; all her fantasies and schemes shattered into dust. To someone like Chen Hao, she wasn't even worth a second glance.

In the backyard of the villa, Su Mengyi paid no mind to the standoff below the mountain. She focused her "Hymn of Life" energy into the freshly turned garden beds. Along the edges, inconspicuous vines began to wind and grow, their dark green stems sprouting inch-long thorns that glimmered with a cold, eerie light. Other strange, subtle grasses broke through the soil, spreading silently and hiding in the shadows. Her control over plants was becoming increasingly profound.

As night deepened, a thick, white fog rose from the water without warning. It churned and rapidly engulfed the entire Fallen Leaf Mountain region, turning the night pitch-black. From the depths of the forbidden western waters, a low, guttural roar—heavy with suffocating violence and hunger—pierced the mist and struck at the hearts of all who heard it.

In Chen Hao's camp, the silent, gaunt man stood like a phantom at the edge of the fog, staring fixedly at the peak of the Thunder God Base. A silent, sinister arc crept across his lips, as if he were savoring a hunt about to begin.

The darkness was like ink. The fog had arrived without a sound, swallowing the entire mountain and its surrounding waters in an instant. It was as thick as congealed glue, and even the wind seemed strangled within it.

At the hilltop villa, Li Hexuan stood by the window with a furrowed brow. This fog was too suspicious; it carried an unidentifiable, malevolent quality.

"Brother Xuan, this fog is too thick—it’s like falling into a pot of milk!" Zhang Nan grumbled, his voice muffled, though his expression remained alert.

Li Hexuan said nothing. He keenly sensed that this mist contained a subtle, unsettling vibration.

Meanwhile, at Chen Hao's camp, the gaunt man known as Yin Jiu sat cross-legged on the bow of a boat. His eyes were closed, but a faint, eerie smile played on his lips. Threads of nearly imperceptible psychic energy, like invisible tentacles, utilized the cover of the fog to silently infiltrate the Thunder God Base. His targets were not strong fighters like Li Hexuan, but rather those at the base who were weak-willed or harborers of resentment.

*The Thunder God Base is too harsh, too many rules...*
*Li Hexuan is too ruthless; following him, we’ll be cannon fodder sooner or later...*
*Boss Chen's side is the real way out; there's food and drink, and you don't have to take this crap...*

Fragmented whispers, like the buzzing of mosquitoes, echoed directly in the minds of certain survivors. Those who were lazy or held grudges against the strict rules began to falter, their faces twisting in struggle. Their weak wills were easily pierced by Yin Jiu’s psychic suggestion, and their hidden discontent flared up like a fire doused in oil.

In a corner of the shanty town, Wang Rui lay on a pile of dry grass. The fog obscured his vision, but the psychic whispers of Yin Jiu drilled clearly into his mind. His resentment toward Li Hexuan was bone-deep, and this power provided the perfect outlet.

"Li Hexuan... why does he get to act like a tyrant!" Wang Rui gritted his teeth, his eyes gleaming with venom. He sat up and, shielded by the fog, scurried through the shanty town like a rat, seeking out others who looked equally unsettled.

"Brothers, this weather is suffocating," Wang Rui whispered, sidling up to two survivors. "Have you ever thought about finding a new way to live?"

Inside the villa, Su Mengyi’s face went pale. She approached Li Hexuan, her brows knit tight. "Mr. Li, this fog... I feel very uncomfortable. It’s as if something filthy is drifting about, making my skin crawl." Her "Hymn of Life" ability was sensitive to psychic fluctuations; while Yin Jiu’s power was hidden, it triggered a deep, soul-level sense of repulsion and disgust in her.

Li Hexuan’s heart stirred; Su Mengyi’s intuition confirmed his suspicions.

"I understand," he said, patting her shoulder to reassure her. "Keep an eye on the garden; don't let those things affect the plants."

He turned to Zhang Nan, his gaze icy. "Nan, take a few men you trust and keep a close watch on the newcomers and those who like to gossip. Especially Wang Rui—don't let him out of your sight."