Chapter 25: Zhou Yang's Death

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He swiftly descended the mountain, heading for the observation point he had chosen earlier. After another ten or so minutes, Fang Mu arrived at his destination.

He set up his sniper rifle, aimed toward the distant mountains, and narrowed his eyes, waiting.

From this vantage, he could easily observe both the first and second corpse sites, as well as the body of the Gale Tiger.

But now, the likelihood of those two approaching the Gale Tiger's corpse was next to none. The area was too exposed, with too many spots offering an easy overlook. Knowing that a sniper like him was stationed here, they would never risk venturing there again.

Thus, the key lay between the first and second corpse sites.

That bald man was seriously wounded; his first thought must be to seek help from his companion. So, as long as Fang Mu found him, he could almost certainly locate the other one as well.

Now, with the D-785 in hand and his injuries and genetic energy fully recovered, on this terrain, as long as he didn't allow the two to get close, and as long as they revealed themselves and he spotted them, then the one left standing in the end would undoubtedly be him!

This was the bare minimum confidence a sniper ought to possess.

He waited patiently, observing carefully.

In fact, he did not have to wait long.

Just a few minutes later, a staggering figure entered his scope.

With the thirty-two times optical sight, Fang Mu saw with unprecedented clarity, as if the man was right before his eyes.

Fang Mu exhaled a long breath, his eyes narrowing.

His judgment was spot on; the man was indeed searching for his companion!

The figure looked severely wounded. Even through the scope, Fang Mu could see some terrifying wounds—he was in a miserable state.

Yet this man was still alive, even able to move?

The vitality of a Bronze-rank Evolver was truly astonishing.

"But, where is his companion?"

Though surprised, Fang Mu quickly sensed something amiss.

He'd seen clearly that the bald man was at the second corpse site, and there had been another at the first. But after Fang Mu fired, the one at the first site vanished. Since then, he hadn't shown himself.

He most likely heard the gunshot; after all this time, he should have made his next move. Yet—

Fang Mu watched the staggering figure through his scope. His expression grew odd.

"Could he have abandoned him and simply run away?"

Fang Mu wondered silently.

He watched the man stagger forward, about to step into a blind spot of his aim. After a moment's hesitation, Fang Mu let out a quiet breath, his gaze growing calm.

Though it was regrettable, things had reached a life-or-death confrontation. He could not afford mercy.

Aiming reticle, target acquired.

A series of shooting parameters flashed through Fang Mu's mind. His finger lightly touched the trigger.

In the next moment—

Boom!

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The gunshot shattered the canyon's tranquility.

In the scope, the staggering figure was flung sideways almost the instant the shot rang out. Blood erupted from his thigh in an instant.

There was no fire—Fang Mu hadn't used incendiary rounds.

A faint, anguished scream, carried over several hundred meters, still reached Fang Mu's ears in broken fragments.

He was already an Iron-rank Evolver, and over such a distance, the other man's hoarse cries, though indistinct, were still audible.

The man collapsed, wailing in agony, shouting something. Fang Mu couldn't see his expression or eyes, but from his body language, he could tell the man was panicked and utterly desperate...

...

...

Zhou Yang was indeed in utter despair. Tears streamed down his face as he screamed, "I'm sorry, I was wrong, I was wrong! Don't kill me, don't kill me!!... Brother Yao! Brother Yao!!! Why?! Why?!!"

A freshly-made hole in his thigh gushed blood. The bullet had not only pierced it but shattered the bone, leaving his right leg twisted and limp. He lay on the ground, unable to get up again.

Zhou Yang wept, his cries hoarse from grief. Never before had he felt such hopelessness.

He was a Bronze-rank Evolver, a close-combat specialist. He'd fought Bronze-rank beasts up close and survived life-and-death moments before.

But this time was different...

This was a first!

Because, even if he wanted to fight back, he couldn't find a target.

The enemy was like a ghost, locking onto him relentlessly. He felt as if, no matter how or where he ran, the next shot could explode at any moment and end his life!

The pressure was suffocating, terrifying in its intensity.

This was the dreadful suppression a top sniper inflicted on his foe.

Suppression that extended even to the mind!

At this moment, Zhou Yang broke. He shouted in panic, feeling as if every hill in Gale Canyon might conceal a bullet meant for him...

His emotional collapse led him to scream and wail.

But his cries and screams were answered only by the echoes bouncing back from the surrounding hills.

A suffocating, invisible pressure tightened around his heart like a venomous snake.

He howled and howled, but gradually, he could no longer make a sound.

At last, his eyes widened, his body trembled and spasmed, despair etched on his face as he lay motionless, breathing his last...

He was dead.

When Fang Mu witnessed this scene through his scope, even he was momentarily stunned.

He hadn't used incendiary rounds, nor had he aimed for the man's head—he'd meant to leave him alive.

Yet, he still died...

Was it the accumulated wounds? Was this shot simply the final straw?

Fang Mu frowned, but then exhaled softly and thought no more of it.

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Dead is dead.

He hadn't intended to let the man live anyway.

"Seems the other one has truly abandoned him."

Fang Mu narrowed his eyes, gazing at the silent mountains.

After so long, the other man had not shown himself, nor had he gone to assist the bald one. It wasn't hard to guess his intentions.

This made Fang Mu frown slightly. He then looked up at the sky.

The sun had already shifted far west, on the verge of setting, with nightfall approaching.

Once night came, a sniper's effectiveness would be greatly reduced due to limited visibility.

Of course, at higher evolutionary levels, this would no longer be a problem. By then, not only would his own vision be further enhanced, but there would also be special gene strains to fuse for improved sight.

But for now, it was a significant issue.

Fang Mu pondered for a moment and decided to change positions.

He had already fired once from this spot; his general location had been exposed. Although the enemy no longer had a sniper and he was relatively safe, caution was still warranted.

After all, the other man was a Bronze-rank Evolver. If he approached by night, Fang Mu could be in danger.

He decided caution was the better part of valor.

...

...

As Fang Mu was shifting his sniping position, Li Yao's face had turned ashen, his eyes icy cold.

He had not only heard the gunshot but also Zhou Yang's desperate screams...

Those words made him fall silent.

For a long time.

"Zhou Yang... I'm sorry. It's not that I didn't want to save you, but if I showed myself, I'd only be another corpse. But rest assured, very soon, I will avenge you and Li Tao..."

Li Yao thought silently to himself.

Time passed; the sun vanished completely and night fell.

Li Yao sat at the foot of a small hill, waiting with a grim expression.

Suddenly, his communicator vibrated.

Li Yao reacted quickly. Seeing the caller, his eyes lit up with anticipation as he answered.

A lazy voice came through: "Li Yao, I've arrived outside Gale Canyon."

Li Yao instantly perked up!

At last, they had arrived!