Chapter 0024: Going Into the Zone Alone

Being a Walker was, at its core, a profession where you gambled with your life.

Back when he had just joined the Hound Shelter, Lin Chuan had told him — everyone had their own reason for becoming a Walker, so he wasn't anything special.

Everyone was gambling.

Wang Ye, Dazhuang, Old Duan — they lost their bet, and so they died.

Qiao Fei and Huizi returning to Zone F32 to kill Yang Beihai for revenge — that was a gamble too.

If that guard hadn't let them through, they would have lost as well.

So Ning Fan understood clearly — without a Spirit Servant, even if he survived this time, there was no guarantee he'd make it through the next.

Worse, he might drag Qiao Fei and Huizi down with him because of his own weakness.

Ning Fan had to take this gamble.

Once you sat down at this table, your life...

Was the chip.

Fortunately, he won.

Qiao Fei studied Ning Fan for a long moment, then finally let out a quiet sigh.

She didn't say anything in response to his words. Instead, she silently produced a Rotface Toad Gall Crystal.

"Eat it."

Ning Fan looked at the Gall Crystal, its color already a little dim, and felt a wave of reluctance rise inside him.

Still, after only a brief hesitation, he grabbed it, closed his eyes, and swallowed it down.

The taste wasn't bad.

At least it was better than Shadow Hound Meat.

The Gall Crystal's hemostatic and pain-relieving effects kicked in quickly. Ning Fan could feel the pain in his body easing considerably.

"Come here."

Qiao Fei tore a strip of cloth from the frayed edge of her sleeve, revealing a pale arm.

Ning Fan wasn't sure what she meant.

But Qiao Fei grabbed his collar without warning, pulled him close, and wrapped the strip of cloth around his head, covering his bloodshot eyes.

"The Miasmic Poison outside the zone is heavy. A wound like this — if it's not treated properly, you'll lose the eye."

Qiao Fei said it plainly.

Because of how close they were, the warm breath from her words drifted right across his face.

And since Qiao Fei's clothes had been torn up a bit during the fighting earlier...

Ning Fan swore it wasn't intentional.

But at eighteen, he was exactly at the age when everything made him curious.

Smack!

A palm landed squarely on the back of his head.

"You get a Spirit Servant and suddenly think you're all that? Already letting your mind wander?"

Qiao Fei shot him a glare.

"Sister Fei, I wasn't—"

Ning Fan's face immediately flushed red.

Sneaking a look wasn't the end of the world, but getting caught in the act was a whole other kind of embarrassing.

"Get out, go help Huizi!"

Qiao Fei waved him off.

"Oh. Okay."

Ning Fan got to his feet and shuffled out, head drooping.

Qiao Fei watched his retreating figure for a long moment, then let out a soft, amused scoff.

"Heh... little brat."

Outside the cave.

"Why are you out already?"

Huizi was in the middle of dragging bodies toward the tree line when he spotted Ning Fan coming out. He waved him over cheerfully. "Perfect timing — give me a hand with this one! I don't know what these guys ate, but they're heavy as pigs."

Ning Fan dutifully helped Huizi hoist a corpse.

As they walked toward the trees, Huizi sensed something was off. "Did Qiao Fei say something to you?"

"N-No, nothing..."

Ning Fan was afraid Huizi would figure out that he'd been sneaking glances at Qiao Fei.

But Huizi just waved a hand dismissively. "Don't overthink it. That's just how Qiao Fei is. And she's new to being in charge, so she's bound to be a little sharp-tongued right now!"

Ning Fan relaxed when he realized Huizi hadn't caught on.

"Brother Hui, has Sister Fei ever given you a hard time too?"

"She's a woman — why would I bother arguing with her?"

Huizi's face turned a little red.

Before long, the two of them had dumped every member of the Hunter Squad into the trees.

Huizi gathered all the weapons and Sola they'd stripped from the bodies and handed them to Ning Fan.

"Once we're back inside the zone, sell this stuff at the Black Market."

After the two returned to the cave, Ning Fan felt a knot of unease in his chest.

He could barely bring himself to look at Qiao Fei.

Qiao Fei, on the other hand, acted as if nothing had happened at all.

"This kid has a Spirit Servant now. It's only Single-Soul Tier, but at least he can handle himself in a regular fight."

Qiao Fei said evenly, "If you two are feeling up to it, we can head out."

Since Qiao Fei wasn't bringing up what had happened, Ning Fan let out a breath and collected himself.

"Sister Fei, I have an idea."

"Go ahead."

"The Hunter Squad showing up gave me something to think about."

Ning Fan steadied his thoughts. "You two have made runs to Zone F27 plenty of times — there must be people there who know your faces, right?"

"Probably a few," Huizi nodded. "We've got a decent reputation in F27. Sometimes we'd bring goods back through there too."

"Then I think the two of you shouldn't show your faces at all. We have no idea what kind of connections War Bear has in Zone F27. After all, War Bear is an F27 team — we're outsiders."

Ning Fan said seriously, "And even though Yang Beihai's shipment technically doesn't exist, will the receiving party fully trust us?"

"Who cares if they trust us or not! We already killed Yang Beihai for them — what, are they going to try and shake us down now?"

Huizi's temper flared.

But Qiao Fei held up a hand to quiet him, then looked back at Ning Fan. "So what you're saying is..."

"I go into Zone F27 alone."

Ning Fan smiled. "My face is unknown there. Nobody in F27 should recognize me. Even the War Bear people — during our earlier run-in, they wouldn't have paid much attention to a newcomer who just joined."

Huizi went quiet, his expression tight.

Qiao Fei narrowed her eyes. "Are you sure? If you run into trouble inside F27, we won't be able to help you."

"I'm sure!"

Ning Fan said with conviction, "I'll find a way to draw the rest of War Bear out."

Qiao Fei lowered her head, deep in thought, seemingly hesitant.

Huizi nudged Ning Fan with a shove. "Kid, if any of the War Bear survivors recognize you, you're done."

To draw War Bear out of the zone, Ning Fan would have to get close to them.

The risk was enormous.

"Brother Hui."

Ning Fan wet his lips. "We can't just wait outside the zone indefinitely for War Bear to come out on their own, can we?"

Huizi froze.

Ning Fan glanced at the small mound of earth inside the cave. Beneath it lay Dazhuang's body.

"If either of you can think of a better plan, we can talk it over. But if not — let's go with mine."

Huizi looked to Qiao Fei.

After a long silence, Qiao Fei finally gave a single nod. "Alright. Watch yourself."

"Got it!"

Ning Fan's eyes lit up. "Here's what we do — let's set a window: between three and five in the afternoon. Every day during that time, you two set up an ambush near the entrance of Zone F27. The moment you see me come out with War Bear on my tail, get ready to move."

"Done."

Qiao Fei nodded again.

After a brief discussion to sort out the rest of the details, the three of them finally set out once more.

Qiao Fei and Huizi escorted Ning Fan to the area near the entrance of Zone F27.

There, the three parted ways.

"Qiao Fei, are you really comfortable letting that kid go off alone like this?"

Once Ning Fan was gone, Huizi immediately turned to her with a worried look.

Qiao Fei met his gaze, thought for a moment, then sighed. "I know. You're afraid of losing someone else from the team."

Huizi paused, but didn't argue.

Qiao Fei continued, "But he said something to me just now that I think makes a lot of sense."

"What did he say?"

"What he said doesn't matter. Huizi, let me ask you something."

Qiao Fei looked him straight in the eye. "If it had been you who needed to go into Zone F27 and draw them out — would you have refused?"

"Of course not!"

Huizi answered, then went completely still.

"Exactly. So if you'd go, why can't he?"

Qiao Fei said quietly, "He has a Spirit Servant now. We don't need to treat him like a child anymore."