Chapter 20: Lived

If Lin Shen knew what Qi Tianfu was thinking, he'd definitely think his mind had been befuddled by lard.

On the way back, Lin Shen had already persuaded Wei Wufu to return the Alloy Egg to him and to go wherever he was supposed to.

Wei Wufu had only one response, saying that since Lin Shen had caught him, he was Lin Shen's man, and would follow wherever Lin Shen went.

Lin Shen didn't say much more, as it was clear Wei Wufu had targeted him, and even if he hadn't been caught, Wei Wufu would surely have found some other way to stick to him.

"It seems that Wei Wufu has also come for Gourd Mountain. What could be inside Gourd Mountain that could attract powerhouses like Bai Shenfei and Wei Wufu?" Lin Shen stopped trying to chase Wei Wufu away and settled him in the guest room of the Lin Family compound, ordering people to secretly watch him.

"Lin Shen, I heard that you've brought Wei Wufu back?" Ye quickly arrived.

"That's right," Lin Shen nodded slightly.

"There must be something wrong with that Wei Wufu. Before, both the Qi and Wang Families sent people to invite him to join, but he refused them all. The Wang Family's Alloy Base Mutator Wang Chuan tried to give him a lesson, but ended up having his Alloy Carapace broken by just one punch," Ye sighed. "Lin Shen, you shouldn't have brought this trouble back."

"If I didn't bring him back, you think he wouldn't have come?" Lin Shen said indifferently, "Let him come. Now there are many who harbor thoughts against our Lin Family. One more doesn't make much difference."

Ye wanted to say something else but was preempted by Lin Shen, "I have already promised Bai Shenfei that I will go to Gourd Mountain with her the day after tomorrow. People from both Qi and Wang Families will join us. Go back and get ready, you'll come with me."

At this, Ye's expression suddenly changed, and he anxiously said, "Lin Shen, are you out of your mind? How can you bring outsiders to Gourd Mountain?"

"I'm not the one taking them to Gourd Mountain; it's Bai Shenfei who's taking us," Lin Shen told him.

"She can't possibly know where Gourd Mountain is. She must want to trick you into taking her there. Tell me exactly what she said," Ye said with a somber expression.

"What use is it to trick me if I don't know where Gourd Mountain is?" Lin Shen recounted the content of his conversation with Bai Shenfei, mostly truthful except for omitting the part about Ye.

"That can't be. If it really was Mr. Lin Zongzheng who asked her to take you to Gourd Mountain, how could I not know about it?" Ye's expression fluctuated unpredictably.

"Ye, I have no choice but to go this time. Where Gourd Mountain is and what's there, you can tell me now, right? We need to prepare in advance," Lin Shen urged, staring at Ye.

"Lin Shen, did Mr. Lin Zongzheng really not tell you anything about Gourd Mountain?" Ye asked, hesitating.

"No," Lin Shen replied straightforwardly.

Ye looked at Lin Shen for quite some time before saying, "If Mr. Lin Zongzheng didn't tell you, there must be a reason. If I tell you, I might accidentally mess things up for them."

"Let's do this: Since we've already agreed to go with Bai Shenfei, we'll go to Gourd Mountain with her first and see what she's really up to," Ye pondered for a moment and then said, "We only have a few Alloy Base Mutators left at home. We need to think about who to take with us. We have to leave at least two Alloy Base Mutators to guard against the Qi and Wang Families exploiting any opportunities."

"No need for that. With Mr. Lin Zongzheng and Mr. Lin Zongzheng not here, even if we took all the Alloy Base Mutators, we wouldn't be a match for the Qi and Wang Families. So, I'm just planning to take you. If that Wei Wufu insists on following, then we'll just bring him along," said Lin Shen.

"This isn't right..." Ye shook his head urgently.

"It's best that they stay at the base to protect the Lin Family's estate. With Mr. Lin Zongzheng and Mr. Lin Zongzheng at Gourd Mountain, we won't suffer a loss," Lin Shen interrupted again.

"What if Mr. Lin Zongzheng and Mr. Lin Zongzheng are trapped and can't get away?" Ye continued to urge.

"If even they can't protect themselves, what use would it be for us to bring a few Alloy Base Mutators?" Lin Shen said calmly, "Ye, it's settled then. If you think it's too dangerous, stay at the base and help me guard the home."

"I have to be by your side, Lin Shen. Even if I risk this old life, I must ensure your safety. Otherwise, how could I face Mr. Lin Zongzheng?" Ye said fervently.

"Then it's decided. Go back and get ready. We'll leave early the day after tomorrow," Lin Shen concluded.

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"All right, I'll go back and prepare," Ye said, making a motion to leave, but in the moment he turned, he suddenly reached out to press against Lin Shen's chest.

Ye's speed was too fast. Without the enhancement of Seven Steps of Conflict, Lin Shen had no chance to react before Ye's palm was pressed against his chest.

Lin Shen only felt an overwhelming force coming at him, causing him to stumble back several steps involuntarily, and that was with Ye forcibly holding back most of his strength in astonishment.

"Lin Shen, you…" Ye looked at Lin Shen with a mixture of surprise and doubt.

"That's right, I'm not an Alloy Mutator, nor a Steel Mutator, I haven't undergone Base Mutation," Lin Shen said calmly.

"Then how did you…" Ye asked, still skeptical.

"Being able to subdue the Supersonic Gunman was purely because Mr. Lin Zongzheng had given me something to protect my life in the past. Unfortunately, it could only be used once. In that situation, I had no other choice but to use it," Lin Shen explained.

"Lin Shen, you really haven't undergone Base Mutation?" Ye still found it hard to believe.

"See for yourself." Lin Shen rolled up his sleeves and extended his arm towards Ye.

Ye carefully felt Lin Shen's skin and bones. After Base Mutation, even without using any Mutator abilities, the body would have changes, especially the bones, which would be denser and harder than those of ordinary people; this was something that couldn't be faked. With one touch, Ye knew for sure that Lin Shen hadn't undergone Base Mutation.

"Lin Shen, it's far too dangerous for you to go to Gourd Mountain without undergoing Base Mutation," Ye said, looking at Lin Shen with a strange expression.

"Don't worry, you'll protect me, won't you? Besides, even if I say I won't go now, would the Qi and Wang families agree? Even if the Qi and Wang families agree, would Bai Shenfei accept it?" Lin Shen retracted his arm and let his sleeve fall back down.

"Lin Shen, rest assured, I, Ye, swear on my life that I will ensure your safety," Ye vowed solemnly.

"That will do. Go back and get ready. I'm relying on you for this journey." After sending off Ye, Lin Shen sank into deep thought.

He felt that the suspicious points about Ye were increasing, making him unreliable. With the Qi and Wang families looking on like hungry tigers, and the intentions of Bai Shenfei and Wei Wufu being hard to predict, this journey was likely fraught with peril.

Lin Shen had his doubts about trusting Bai Shenfei and Ye, because Mr. Lin Zongzheng and his second brother had always said that no matter what happened, they wouldn't let Lin Shen take risks.

So, the idea that they had sent Lin Shen to Gourd Mountain was something he was skeptical of.

If Lin Shen refused to go, it was likely that they would use force; not only would Lin Shen be forced to go to Gourd Mountain, but the Lin Family itself, which his elder brothers and sisters had painstakingly built up over many years, could also suffer a huge blow. Thus, he had no choice.

"I must gather some more chips for myself. I hope that this Fire Seed will be useful." Lin Shen placed the body of the Base Variant Creature, which resembled a javelin, beside his bed and lay down.

The Alloy Egg from Wei Wufu was in Lin Shen's possession, but hatching the egg would take time, maybe too long to be of any immediate use.

"The Supersonic Gunman could certainly be a useful ally, but one isn't enough to deal with such a complex and dangerous situation," Lin Shen regretted not having a few Alloy pets with him; now there really wasn't anywhere he could quickly acquire Alloy pets.

Lin Shen had seldom left the base before; people protected him within the base, and he had no use for such pets.

"It seems what I can truly rely on is only those BUG-like Fire Seeds." As Lin Shen thought, he drifted off into a drowsy sleep.

He didn't know how long he had slept when Lin Shen felt something cool slithering on his body, its chill passing over his skin, causing his hair to stand involuntarily and bringing him to wakefulness.

Lin Shen opened his eyes and immediately his eyes widened, nearly jumping in fright from the bed.

It wasn't that he didn't want to jump, but his body was coiled by something serpent-like, binding him tight as a stick, leaving him unable to leap at all.

"That thing's alive!" Lin Shen, looking at the serpent-like creature raising its head and making eye contact with him, finally saw its true form.

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