# Chapter 10: Delay
Sizzle~
The campfire was extinguished, and the team members each found a spot to rest. Su Xiao sat by the fire, habitually wanting to take out a cigarette and light it, but ultimately didn't do so.
Feeding Amu was no simple task. Fortunately, Baha had caught five spotted deer and three tree boars. After cooking, Amu had a full meal. For the next two days or so, Amu wouldn't feel too strong a hunger.
Moving the extinguished campfire away, Su Xiao spread a moisture-proof blanket on the ground and lay down. The residual warmth from the ground gradually spread beneath him. Seeming to discover the comfort of the blanket, Bubu Wang also came over, curled up into a ball, and slept beside Su Xiao.
Su Xiao stared at the dark ceiling, his mind beginning to refine his subsequent plan.
There were still 50 hours left before the brand could be stripped. That was a little over two days. The Ranger Squad probably wouldn't go clear the Undead tonight, so there were about 40 hours left.
Early tomorrow morning, the Ranger Squad would complete their side mission, then head to the Contractor Camp to accept the next mission.
Based on Su Xiao's indirect probing, he had basically learned the direction of the Contractor Camp. He couldn't ask for the specific location; that would directly expose his identity.
Originally, Su Xiao planned to return to the Contractor Camp with the Ranger Squad, accept the second mission, then leave the camp to strip the brand.
Just now, Duoluo had started to suspect him. It was a suspicion without any basis. Although she hadn't probed anything out, the seed of distrust had been planted.
Therefore, Su Xiao decided to complete the brand stripping before returning to the Contractor Camp.
With his thoughts completely clear, Su Xiao began to doze off. He appeared to be sleeping soundly, but if anyone approached, he could draw his blade and kill the enemy in an instant.
A night without incident. The next morning.
Morning light streamed into the underground supermarket. The chirping of birds could faintly be heard. The air was cool and fresh, and all things were reviving.
Su Xiao sat up, exhaling white breath. The current climate was late summer. The temperature difference between day and night in this ruined city was huge. The temperature in the latter half of the night could drop to around 0°, while during the day it was a scorching 30°.
"Slept so comfortably. Indeed, sleeping after battle is much sweeter."
Duoluo raised her hands high, fingers interlocking as she stretched. Even though her body formed a C-shape, there wasn't much to see.
"I'm hungry again."
The Little Healer looked at Su Xiao, finding him studying a damaged mechanical arm.
Baha leaped down from a hole in the ceiling, carrying a large cloth bag full of various fruits.
"Ladies and gentlemen, this is breakfast."
"Then I won't be polite."
The group began eating breakfast. The One-Eyed Captain urged everyone to adjust their state as quickly as possible, preparing to continue clearing the Undead early in the morning.
"We really need to hurry. It would be bad if any native residents discovered this ruined city. They're not friendly."
Duoluo also agreed with the One-Eyed Captain's view.
"At least we can't continue until noon."
Baha spoke. As the team's aerial scout, no one could ignore its words. The One-Eyed Captain, Duoluo, and the others all cast questioning glances.
"The temperature dropped this morning. The Undead's aggression is very low."
Baha spat out a fruit pit and tossed a basketball-sized light red fruit to Su Xiao. Su Xiao caught it and took a big bite, his gaze still fixed on the damaged mechanical arm in his hand. This thing had been manufactured within the last ten-plus years.
"The Undead's aggression is lowered? Isn't that a good thing?"
The Little Healer spoke indistinctly, a few strands of golden hair on her head seeming to have a mind of their own, stubbornly sticking up.
"Of course not," Zuosa glanced at the Little Healer and continued coldly, "The Undead's aggression is lowered, but they haven't completely lost their activity. To attract their attention, you have to get closer, which is also more dangerous."
"This young brother is right, Big Milk Girl. Why don't you go seduce them?"
Baha couldn't help but start talking dirty again.
"I don't dare."
The Little Healer shrank her head, cowardly and righteous. She had never lured the Undead before, so of course she didn't know the danger involved.
"The temperature will definitely rise after 10 AM. We'll set out then."
The One-Eyed Captain made the final decision. The Little Healer and Duoluo high-fived each other. Occasionally being able to slack off wasn't bad.
"So, this whole morning is going to be boring?"
Zuosa, holding his blade, looked a bit displeased, but was actually in a good mood. He had also been exhausted yesterday, so he wanted to slack off.
"Since everyone's free, how about a few rounds?"
The Firepower Supporter, who had a very low presence, spoke, pulling out a deck of playing cards.
"Busy."
Su Xiao had already started disassembling the old mechanical arm in his hand. This thing looked crude, but was actually a rough-looking high-tech product.
"Here you go again."
Duoluo looked helplessly at the Firepower Supporter.
"So you're not joining?"
"Of course... I am."
"Count me in."
Baha wasn't interested for its own sake, but because Su Xiao told it to.
The One-Eyed Captain, Firepower Supporter, Duoluo, Baha, and the Little Healer sat in a circle playing cards. Zuosa, holding his blade, watched coldly from the side, with an expression that said, "If I played, I'd definitely win."
Click, click...
Su Xiao tightened the reverse-tooth screws on the metal arm guard, a smile appearing on his face. These people were getting more and more interesting. Duoluo and the One-Eyed Captain had actually started to gang up and probe him.
The whole morning was spent playing cards. Relying on his Alchemy knowledge, Su Xiao barely managed to repair the mechanical arm. This thing looked somewhat like a metal exoskeleton.
At noon that day, the team went up one floor from the underground supermarket and continued clearing the Violators in the mall hall.
...
Puchi.
The long blade slashed through the neck of an Undead. This Undead didn't fall but instead charged forward wildly, crashing into the barrier with a bang. The Firepower Supporter blew it apart with a single shot, exploding into a large mass of flesh and blood that slowly slid down the barrier wall.
"Finally... it's over."
The One-Eyed Captain sat on the ground, looking at the clearing count that had reached 1017, a smile on his face.
"Done. Heading back to camp."
Duoluo's expression also relaxed a lot.
"It's already... four o'clock. It's at least a 30-hour journey back to camp. We have to pass through a forest along the way. There's still plenty of time for the mission. Traveling through the forest at night... isn't that too risky? If we encounter enemies, it'll take us at least a day and a night to get back to camp."
The Little Healer raised an objection. She wanted to play it safe, continue resting here for one more night, set out tomorrow morning, and cross that forest during the day, which would greatly reduce the risk.
"Traveling through the forest at night, what's the danger? If only your courage were as big as this..."
Duoluo let out a 'sinister' laugh and pounced on the Little Healer, groping her chest.
"So itchy! Duoluo, what's wrong with you? Don't put your hand in! Pervert!"
"Hahaha."
Duoluo messed up the Little Healer's hair and said, "Decision made. We set out now."
"You're crazy. What's gotten into you all of a sudden?"
The Little Healer angrily smoothed her golden hair.
"Returning now isn't the best choice, but time spent in the Primordial World is precious. How about we vote?"
The One-Eyed Captain's gaze swept over everyone. This time, he didn't directly make the decision.
"I don't understand what you're tangled up about. I agree to return now."
Zuosa stated his position.
"I don't want to be attacked by some female pervert again, so I'll return."
The Little Healer also stated her position.
"I'm the one who proposed it. Both hands in favor."
Duoluo raised both hands.
"Agreed."
The Firepower Supporter also stated his position.
"Majority in favor. Rest here for half an hour. Set out before 4:30."
"Finally, I can take a hot shower. I'm covered in the smell of blood."
The Little Healer sniffed her sleeve. Actually, there wasn't much smell.
Su Xiao didn't state his position, because before it was his turn to be asked, most of the team members had already passed the motion. It had to be said, Fifth Rank Contractors were unusually sharp, but they were only slightly suspicious, far from the point of directly turning hostile.
Bubu Wang, lying beside Su Xiao, let out a sigh. This was the first time he had seen people so eager to rush into hell. Curiosity is sometimes a very dangerous thing.